Burnham campaign raises concerns about “Tory infiltration on a large scale”

The Andy Burnham leadership campaign has raised worries that there is “Tory infiltration on a large scale”  happening in Labour Party election, and say the matter could lead to the integrity of the result called into question.

In a letter addressed to Labour general secretary Iain McNicol, Michael Dugher and John Lehal, Burnham’s campaign chair and campaign director, say that “there is potentially more that can be done by the party” to root out those who should not have a vote. They are also worried that the next scheduled meeting for campaigns to share their concerns with the party is not until September 1st, and that it may not leave enough time before the end of the contest to act.

Dugher and Lehal say that failure to deal with the concerns raises the possibility of a legal challenge over the contest, writing that unless action is taken “the integrity of the contest being called into question, and the outcome subject to legal challenge”.

You can read the full letter below:

Dear Iain, 

There has been extensive media coverage in recent days regarding the procedural elements of the leadership elections.  We warmly welcome the fact that the process has been opened up, thus enabling so many rank and file Labour supporters to have a say in the future of our party.  

There do however remain concerns about potential Tory infiltration on a large scale, with a Conservative MP, Conservative media commentators, and Conservative councillors all having been rejected.  This suggests the 121,000 registered supporters could include several thousand Tory infiltrators, as well as supporters of other parties seeking to have a vote in the election.  

While we accept the party has processes in place, there is potentially more that can be done by the party nationally and regionally as well as by local CLPs to exclude such infiltrators.  We are also concerned that given the party’s limited resources and the effort required to investigate applicants, this could result in the integrity of the contest being called into question, and the outcome subject to legal challenge.

The meeting on 11 August was helpful in bringing together the candidate teams to discuss the leadership election, to brief us on your plans, as well as take suggestions from us.  To wait till 1 September for the next conference call with the teams when there are so many concerns is allowing the issue to drift, and potentially leaving insufficient time for the party to act.  

We are therefore writing to ask you to call an urgent meeting of candidate teams early next week to discuss this matter further, to brief us on progress being made, and to consider recommendations from the campaign teams.  This meeting should include representatives of all leadership and deputy leadership campaign teams, and should be a face-to-face meeting with those unable to participate joining by phone.  We also believe that representatives of the Procedures Committee should be in attendance at the meeting. 

Given the interest, we have shared this letter with the other leadership campaign teams.  I await your early response.

Kind regards

Michael Dugher, Campaign Chair & John Lehal, Campaign Director, Andy4Leader