Patricia Gilligan denied vote in Labour leadership election

Patricia Gilligan denied vote in Labour leadership election

A former active Labour Party member, Patricia Gilligan, from Littleborough, has been denied the opportunity to vote in the Labour leadership election.

Mrs Gilligan says was keen to vote for Jeremy Corbyn and to support the renewal of the Labour Party after its defeat in the general election.

Since then, most of the candidates have sent her emails and letters asking for her vote, and on Wednesday (18 August 2015) she received an email telling her that she would soon be receiving details about how to vote.

She looked forward to voting by the end of the week, but on Thursday (20 August 2015) received another email from the party announcing that her application had been rejected and that, even if she does vote, her vote “will not be counted”.

Mrs Gilligan was an active member of the Labour Party in the 1980s and is well-known locally as a peace activist and campaigner against the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Mrs Gilligan said: “I am shocked to be disenfranchised and concerned that this move is part of a concerted attempt by some in the Labour Party to undermine the growing enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn as leader and for policies such as bringing the railways back into public ownership, ending the immoral waste of money on the Trident nuclear weapons system and maintaining child tax credits.

"I am aware that my local MP, Simon Danzcuk, has already announced in the press, 'I’d do all I could to oust Corbyn from leadership’ and fear that stopping ordinary people like me from voting in the election is the beginning of the 'coup' that Mr Danczuk has already talked about.

"However, I am heartened by the knowledge that Jeremy Corbyn will not be dependent on my vote.

"Jeremy has been nominated by more Constituency Labour Parties than any other leadership candidate and clearly enjoys the support of tens of thousands of ordinary Labour Party members and supporters.

"I am confident that there are more than enough people who will vote to ensure the result we need. They, like me, want to see a Labour Party and a Labour government that is true to its values and principles; a party of peace, social justice and decent public services.”