Labour farce as it emerges party conference could be cancelled unless they sign a deal with a new security firm
G4S did last year's conference but the firm has been boycotted because of claims about its links with Israeli prisons
LABOUR risks becoming even more of a “laughing stock” as it emerged its party conference could be cancelled – because it has not arranged any security.
Jeremy Corbyn’s party has boycotted G4S because of its links with Israeli prisons but with this year’s event in Liverpool just weeks away it has not found another one.
Leaked emails to Labour’s general secretary Iain McNicol reveal the extent of the party’s problems.
He has been warned that the Home Office and police could shut down the conference if an alternative is not found.
reports Labour approached five companies and three turned down the contract outright and another withdrew its bid after a risk assessment.
This leaves one company, Showsec, but it is embroiled in a row with the GMB as it is accused of not allowing workers to unionise.
A Labour source insisted the party was "absolutely confident that arrangements for security will be in place and conference will go ahead".
An email sent to Mr McNicol by Labour’s deputy treasurer Simon Mills, and seen by the website, said the party was "in the very difficult position of having to appoint a potentially anti-union organisation".
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"We do not have other options to pursue and are under pressure from the Home Office to make an appointment very soon.
"It must be noted that should we be unable to appoint a security contractor it is within the power of the Home Office/ police to stop conference taking place."
Some Labour members are so desperate to find adequate security they want to look at whether it is possible to end the boycott of G4S and hire the company.
Last November the party's national executive committee (NEC) voted to boycott G4S because of claims by the left-wing Palestine Solidarity Campaign that the security company was linked to "Israeli prisons which hold Palestinian political prisoners from occupied Palestinian territory inside Israel".
When the vote was held only 18 of the NEC’s 33 members were present as the others, including Jeremy Corbyn and his deputy Tom Watson had already left the meeting.
Barrow and Furness representative John Woodcock is one of the MPs who has signed a letter calling on Corbyn to overturn the decision.
He said: "This is just another example of the ideologically purist leader's team creating havoc for ordinary party members with their selectively and suspectly applied principles.
"They are imposing this decision, made from their bunker in central London, on party members just at a time when the threat levels to non-Corbyn supporters are increased because of harassment.
"They have managed to screw up even the most basic and decent thing as providing security for us and risk making Labour a laughing stock."
