Jennie Formby
| Jennie Formby link LinkedIn Twitter (Trade unionist, politician) | |
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| Born | Jennifer Louise Sandle 12 April 1960 |
General Secretary of the Labour Party 2018-2020 | |
Jennie Formby, formerly Unite the Union's South East Regional Secretary and vice Chair of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC),[1] was appointed General Secretary of the Labour Party on 20 March 2018.[2]
On 4 May 2020, Jennie Formby announced she was standing down as Labour's General Secretary:
- "When I applied for the role in 2018 it was because I wanted to support Jeremy Corbyn, who inspired so many people to get involved in politics with his message of hope, equality and peace. Now we have a new leadership team it is the right time to step down."[3]
On 25 April 2023, Jennie Formby tweeted:
- This is a good result but appalling that Labour have continued with these cases despite any evidence of wrong-doing, no doubt causing huge stress to the individuals concerned as well as wasting ridiculous sums of party members’ money in the process.[4]
Baroness Formby of Southside?
According to the Huffington Post: "Formby is not expected to be recommended for a peerage, as several previous general secretaries have been."[5]
Well, ever since Larry Whitty (1985-94) was ennobled as Baron Whitty of Camberwell it has been the rule (with two notable exceptions) for former General Secretaries to become peers:
- Tom Sawyer (1994-98) Baron Sawyer
- Margaret McDonagh (1998-2001) Baroness McDonagh
- David Triesman (2001-03) Baron Triesman
- Ray Collins (2008-11) Baron Collins of Highbury
- Iain McNicol (2011-18) Baron McNichol of West Kilbride
Matt Carter (2004-05) and Peter Watt (2006-07) both resigned under a cloud ("cash for questions" and "donorgate").
So there is no reason why Jennie Formby shouldn't be elevated to the House of Lords: I suggest Baroness Formby of Southside (Labour HQ address).[6]
Israel controversies
In 2015, Jennie Formby sparked controversy when she moved a motion at the end of an NEC meeting to bar G4S from providing security for the Labour party conference because of concerns over its operations in Israel. The motion was eventually overturned following objections from NEC members pointing out Labour policy was not to boycott firms operating in Israel.
In March 2016, Ms Formby spoke out days after the appointment of Baroness Jan Royall to lead an investigation into claims of anti-Jewish conduct by some in Oxford University Labour Club, saying that Lady Royall had once taken part in a Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) delegation in 2007. Fellow NEC member Shabana Mahmood swiftly interrupted to describe Ms Formby’s remarks as “highly inappropriate”, before the chair of the meeting moved on.[7]
General Secretary
In February 2018, Jennie Formby announced she was a candidate to become General Secretary of the Labour Party,[8] shortly after the incumbent, Iain McNicol, resigned.[9] Her main rival, Jon Lansman, the chair of Momentum, dropped out of contention on 11 March, making Formby the frontrunner.[10]
On 20 March 2018, she was appointed to the role, effective from April 2018.[11][12]
Tom Watson
In July 2019, Tom Watson – technically if not in practice the deputy leader of the party – launched an unconscionable public attack on Labour general secretary Jennie Formby, who is battling cancer. The Labour parliamentary women who stood in public solidarity on social media with Ms Formby against Watson’s shameful conduct include:
- Diane Abbott
- Laura Smith
- Laura Pidcock
- Emma Dent Coad
- Danielle Rowley
- Rebecca Long-Bailey
- Karen Lee
- Margaret Greenwood
- Claudia Webbe
- Ann Henderson
- Andi Daisy Fox
Claudia Webbe called on Tom Watson to resign as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.[13]
Personal life
Jennie Formby is the mother of Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey's child, born in 1991.[14]
She married Freddie Formby in 2000 and the couple had two children and another son, who joined the family aged 14.[15]
In March 2019 Jennie Formby announced that she was to undergo treatment for breast cancer.[16]
References
- ↑ "Jennie Formby: Unite political director to take up new job within union after being involved in series of controversies"
- ↑ "Jennie Formby: Labour's new general secretary"
- ↑ "Jennie Formby is to stand down as the Labour Party's most senior official"
- ↑ "Labour facing six-figure legal bill after losses in case against former Corbyn staff"
- ↑ "‘Stitch-Up’ Row Erupts As Leftwingers Seize Control Of Labour General Secretary Hire"
- ↑ "Baroness Formby of Southside"
- ↑ "Fresh Row Over Labour Anti-Semitism Inquiry As Unite Official Raises Links To Labour Friends Of Israel"
- ↑ "JENNIE FORMBY FULL STATEMENT ON LABOUR GENSEC APPLICATION"
- ↑ "Unite’s Jennie Formby Declares Candidacy For Labour General Secretary"
- ↑ "Momentum chair Jon Lansman withdraws bid to become Labour general secretary"
- ↑ "Jennie Formby appointed Labour general secretary in huge boost for Jeremy Corbyn"
- ↑ "Jeremy Corbyn Plans In-House Lawyer In Anti-Semitism Crackdown On 70 Unresolved Claims Of Abuse"
- ↑ "The Labour women MPs and NEC members who showed solidarity with Jennie Formby against Watson"
- ↑ "Mother of union boss love child fixes MPs for Labour: New scandal as McCluskey gives £75,000-a-year key role to ex-mistress"
- ↑ "Corbyn Ally Jennie Formby Appointed As Labour's New General Secretary"
- ↑ "Labour party's general secretary diagnosed with breast cancer"