JVL celebrates its achievements and looks to the future

JVL’s Annual General Meeting and 5^th Birthday Celebration took place on Sunday November 6^th in London. Around 60 people attended in person, with another 80 participating on-line.

Annual Report

The meeting opened with the presentation by co-Chair Leah Levane of JVL’s pre-circulated Annual Report. The report summarises our work across the board –within the Labour Party and with like-minded left groups, support for industrial action, media presence, activities of our working groups and local groups, as well as the newly-formed JVL Council.

Leah drew attention to particular highlights. The year had seen the continuation, even the intensification, of party disciplinary action against members. One more JVL Executive Committee member had been expelled, and two were currently suspended. We have continued to give advice and support to those, whether JVL members or not, who have been targeted for disciplinary action based on the misuse, indeed abuse, of antisemitism allegations. Our steadfast and principled stand on this issue is widely recognised and appreciated within the party (but not of course by the party leadership and bureaucracy).

We have continued our attempts to use the legal system against such abuses of power, and against unbalanced journalism. We are extremely grateful to the thousands of people who have provided the financial support that our legal work has necessitated.

The context within which JVL works has changed almost beyond recognition from the circumstances when we formed 5 years ago.  In recognition of this JVL is well-advanced with a strategy process to enable us to make an informed choice about the organisation’s future orientation and activities.

The report covered some of the activities of our two local groups (Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire) and three working groups (Education; Anti-Racism Alliances; Environment). (Our educational work even gets a mention in the Forde Report.) Leah touched on our media presence noting the exclusionary behaviour of mainstream media, which matches that of the party; so much of our outreach is through various types of social media. A prized asset is JVL’s remarkable website, being recognised in ever wider circles as the place to go for informative and thought-provoking news and analysis.

Formal business

The Annual Report was presented, discussed and accepted, and the existing Executive Committee members were re-elected as were the members of the recently established JVL Council. Its Convenor, Mike Scott, outlined the Council’s role and the work it has done so far, especially in relation to the strategy review process. Members raised the importance of work with trade unions and suggested creating a Trade Union Liaison Officer or working group to focus the already high priority JVL had been giving to this area of work, including extensive collaboration with Unions. The question of establishing a new officer post was deferred for consideration at the next Members’ Meeting. That will be held in the New Year; its main business will be to agree a strategy for the organisation.

(See below for list of EC and Council members)

Political discussion

Following the completion of the formal business of the meeting, there was a discussion of the current political situation, led by Mike Cushman on JVL in ‘unprecedented’ times: exploring the new political terrain and Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi on We are going to be busy!. This generated animated discussion on both the way forward for the left and the future focus of JVL itself.

5^th Birthday celebration

Following the by now traditional lunch based on beigels from Beigel Bake in Brick Lane (and a few other nutrients as well) we had an afternoon to celebrate 5 years of principled activism. We were delighted to be joined for this by a number of those from outside JVL who have been working with us in shared and comradely endeavour. Our Mistress of Ceremonies led us in acknowledging the courage of women in Iran who are risking their liberty and their lives for basic freedoms.

Some of those who could not be in the room with us sent videos (below) – we were delighted to view the greetings from Alexei Sayle, Ken Loach and Miriam Margolyes.  And then it was on to the entertainment:  Ian Saville performing socialist magic, songs from Robb Johnson, an impassioned video of Rafeef Ziadeh’s “We teach life, Sir”, and Klezmer music that suddenly had us dancing. And then with the emphatic and passionate words of Andrew Feinstein ringing in our ears, those at the meeting went home – or actually to the next room for cheesecake and Prosecco.

Executive Committee Members

Co-Chairs: Jenny Manson and Leah Levane
Secretary: Glyn Secker
Treasurer: Angie Mindel 
Membership: Mike Cushman
Media: Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi 
Web Editor: Richard Kuper 
Strategy Officer: Jonathan Rosenhead
Support Officer: Murray Glickman 
Political Officer: Graham Bash  
Anti-racism alliances:  Leah Levane  
Labour Party Liaison Officer: Marion Roberts 
Environment Officer:  Tony Booth

JVL Council National Members

Full Member Reps:
Mike Scott
Helen Lentell
Roger Silverman

Solidarity Reps:
Rory O’Kelly
Talal Hangari
Mohammad Nafissi

Supporters’ Rep:
Jonathan Coulter

The Council also has members nominated by local branches and JVL working groups.

Birthday Greetings from:

Alexei Sayle

Ken Loach

Miriam Margolyes