Some weeks ago I posted a blog which bemoaned the treatment I received as someone new to Oxford Labour Party meetings. I thought long and hard about writing the piece but felt that I needed to in the light of what I thought was pretty shocking treatment weighed against my years of experience in the Party which told me that if you raise criticisms then you are likely to get a fairly negative reaction.
While I thought that some of the party members who took the trouble to read my blog post had missed the point that I was criticising the way that I felt new members were being ignored (particularly as the discussion was about refunding the Labour Party)and not, as some seemed to think, about the campaigning prowess of the local party and the dedication of activists, I can only congratulate comrades for the way they have addressed the main issue. Debate at subsequent meetings have, I am told, because due to work I have not been present, treated the issues I raised with a totally commendable seriousness.
I am fairly sure that the reaction to the concerns I raised would not be have been the same in some other Parties I have seen and indeed been part of. Instead, I feel sure that there would have been acrimonious debates and much factional posturing. Not so in Oxford (as far as I know anyway).
Congratulations to Oxford Labour Party for being serious about being the best and most welcoming organisation that it can be. Others could learn a lot from their approach.
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