I was deselected at an NEC meeting on 13th Feb 09. On 14th Feb Farage attended a meeting he thought was the SWCC in Devon. He wanted to get the SWCC to deselect me and then he would be able to say the NEC was upholding the local SWCC decision. The SWCC meeting of the 14th Feb had been improperly convened with insufficient notice given of the meeting so it could not transact any official business. Farage was furious especially when it was pointed out to him that the he himself had introduced the notice rule. Farage then had to confess to his subterfuge and that the NEC had already deselected me the day before.
As the original de-selection decision had thus been made by the NEC it obviously cannot hear my appeal under any proper appellant procedure.
On 30th March while I was on holiday Nuttall sent me an email stating "I can assure you that the hearing will be based solely on relevant considerations and that the appeal will fair." When he made this grossly misleading statement he was in possession of emails and letters below clearly showing that I would not get a fair hearing! Denny said on the 23rd March,
I do NOT think Dr. Edmond should be allowed to make an appeal now, as he clearly said he would have nothing to do with the "kangaroo court" i.e. meaning the NEC, ...at the previous meeting at which he could have made representations, when he knew full well that it was to be discussed.
The matter is finished.
Douglas Denny"
Denny's statement I knew the date and timing of their discussions on me is totally untrue. I was never informed these discussions were taking place or what the charges against me were.
There was also an email sent by Duffy but seemingly via Denny (Denny's fingerprints appear often in this story.) on the 24th March stating
Hi
I have already said to Paul to allow him his moment. We all know how vile this man has behaved, but by allowing a small amount of time to hear him I believe it makes us look fair in the eyes of the Party members and once and for all a decision will be made in front of Mr E and hopefully prevent any further negativity at this crucial election time.
Lisa
--
Lisa Duffy
Duffy does not appear to know when to use an adjective and when to use an adverb but her prejudiced view of me is clear.
Much worse, it displays the cynical purpose of mis-leading ordinary members that I found so repugnant when I was on the NEC. It shows the contempt in which the NEC holds the ordinary decent party members. It is something I hoped UKIP stood against but sadly I find UKIP is no different from other UK parties, dominated by a self serving, self perpetuating elite. Jacqui Smith would fit in well on UKIP's NEC.
What would I do about it? Look at my web site on which I stood and was elected onto the MEP list.
www.ericedmond.com
I have not changed a word and I stand by every word.
Then we have an an add on to Duffy's email, also forwarded by Denny, an email from somebody called Griffiths whom I have never met stating,
---- Phil Griffiths wrote:
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Although I know little about the matter I agree with Douglas Denny, if he is hostile to and against the NEC what is the point. It will open up old wounds again and become a time consuming distraction.
>
> Regards
>
> Phil
Griffiths is oblivious to the fact that a right of appeal is enshrined in the UKIP constitution but is obviously happy to blindly support the Farage line. The first thing I did when elected to the NEC was to read the constitution!
Nuttall clearly has no idea of fairness, natural justice or proper procedure.
Griffiths may get his views from Denny on constitutional proprieties but I was surprised that Zuckerman seemed also ignorant of this fact and wrote to me on 13th March stating,
"There is no provision for any right of appeal, since an appeal could only be to the National Executive Committee, which has already made its decision."
I wrote back to Zuckerman on 20th March pointing out his error and received the following reply on the 24th March,
I thank you for your letter of 20 March 2009. You will shortly be receiving an invitation from the Party Chairman to attend the NEC meeting on 6 April to appeal against your deselection
I did not know of the Denny, Duffy and Griffiths emails until I returned on the 4th April when I found them on my internet log.
I decided there was clearly no chance of my receiving a fair hearing on the 6th of April so I did not attend. Would anyone wish to be tried by a jury where 4 members had already found one guilty and the Judge's idea of a fairness is non-existent and the knowledge of the UKIP constitution seems so patchy?
I have offered to put my appeal to the two senior UKIP figures in the South West, Trevor Colman MEP and Roger Knapman MEP, a former party leader. Neither had any part in the previous de-selection decision and both have a wide experience of South West politics and both have read the UKIP constitution. Mr Knapman of course has wide experience of national politics as well. This appeal could be held wth minimum inconvenience at the Exeter rally on 18th April.
I was elected on to the South West list by South West UKIP members and this is where the decision on my de-selection should be made.
I append below the full text of my reply to Nuttall sent on the evening of Sunday 5th April. I have not had a reply.
Dear Mr Nuttall,
I returned in the early hours of this morning after a very tiring journey of 22 hours to find that prejudicial statements from Mr Denny, Ms Duffy circulated to all members of the NEC including yourself had been posted on the internet. It is as well they were posted as I would otherwise not have known how prejudiced against me these NEC members are. .
Mr Denny stated:
"Date: Monday, 23 March, 2009, 6:46 PM
Dear Paul,
I do NOT think Dr. Edmond should be allowed to make an appeal now, as he clearly said he would have nothing to do with the "kangaroo court" i.e. meaning the NEC, ...at the previous meeting at which he could have made representations, when he knew full well that it was to be discussed.
The matter is finished.
Douglas Denny"
I did not know nor was I notified when and where the matter was being discussed. Mr Denny's statement is untrue. His statement is clearly prejudicial.
Ms Duffy states and a Mr Griffiths, presumably a NEC member, concurs:
--- On Tue, 24/3/09, wrote:
From: lisa.duffy2@tesco.net
Subject: RE: Eric Edmond
To: jill_seymour@btopenworld.com, mazuckerman@bensonmazure.co.uk, "Paul Nuttall" , nigel.farage@europarl.europa.eu, martaandreasen@auna.com, wayneanthonyharling@hotmail.co.uk, cgill36@hotmail.co.uk, douglas.denny@btopenworld.com, "Jonathan Arnott" , alanbown@btinternet.com, amm@streamfast.co.uk, gscurtis@aspects.net, dcbdcbuk@yahoo.co.uk, ukipse@ukip.org, "Rachel Oxley" , "Phil Griffiths" , "Marta Andreasen" , derekrclark@hotmail.co.uk
Date: Tuesday, 24 March, 2009, 10:56 AM
Hi
I have already said to Paul to allow him his moment. We all know how vile this man has behaved, but by allowing a small amount of time to hear him I believe it makes us look fair in the eyes of the Party members and once and for all a decision will be made in front of Mr E and hopefully prevent any further negativity at this crucial election time.
Lisa
--
Lisa Duffy
National Co-ordinator
Young Independence
U.K.Independence Party.
07890110225
---- Phil Griffiths wrote:
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> Although I know little about the matter I agree with Douglas Denny, if he is hostile to and against the NEC what is the point. It will open up old wounds again and become a time consuming distraction.
>
> Regards
>
> Phil
>
> Phil Griffiths
Ms Duffy abuses me by calling me vile and makes it clear that the appeal hearing is a sham and its only object is "it makes us ( ie the NEC) look fair in the eyes of the Party members".
How can you claim I will receive a fair hearing from this woman?
Mr Zuckerman's letter below to me of 13th March show also his prejudiced view of my appeal.
Party Secretary:
Michael Zuckerman Tel. 020 7486 8091
22 Bentinck Street Fax. 020 7935 8825
London W1U 2AB
13 March 2009
Mr Eric Edmond
Carvers
Little Street
Norton Sub Hamdon
Somerset TA14 6SR
Dear Sir,
Re: EU Election
I acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12 March 2009. There is no provision for any right of appeal, since an appeal could only be to the National Executive Committee, which has already made its decision.
I take this opportunity of making a small correction in that the NEC's resolution in your regard was passed on 13 February and not 2 March as stated in my letter of yesterday's date.
Yours faithfully,
M A Zuckerman
Party Secretary
Your claim I will receive a fair hearing is clearly bogus. You did not even inform me of these prejudicial emails you were receiving. You have not replied to my substantive questions in my email to you.
How can you expect me to participate in a hearing where at least four members of the jury have clearly already made their decision?
I will not participate in such a prejudiced hearing on 6th April and I am sure all ordinary UKIP members will understand and agree with my reasons.
Mr Zuckerman clearly had not even bothered to read the UKIP constitution where a right of appeal is clearly stated. He goes on to say the NEC has already made its decision!
It is a fundamental tenet of all appellant systems that any appeal cannot be judged by those who made the original decision. I suggest you organise an independent appeal hearing for me at the UKIP spring conference in Exeter on 18th April in front of our two local MEPs Trevor Colman and Roger Knapman, the senior UKIP figures in the South West region who have not been party to any of these matters. Are the charges attached to Mr Zuckerman's letter the only charges against me? I obviously need to know this to conduct my appeal.
Eric Edmond
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Nuttall" <ukipbootle@yahoo.co.uk>
To: "Eric Edmond" <eric_edmond@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:07 AM
Subject: Appeal April 6th 2009
Dear Dr. Edmond,
I can confirm that a decision was taken by the majority of NEC members to give you the right to appeal against your de-selection as a UK Independence Party European Election candidate for the South West.
You have asked for the full rules of the appeal pursuant to the Party Constitution. In fact, the situation of the de-selection of a candidate is unprecedented and rules have had to be made specifically to meet your case. These are as follows:-
(a) you are invited to address the NEC and make representations on your behalf as to why the decision to deselect you should be rescinded;
(b) the members of the NEC will be able to ask you questions; and
(c) you will be asked to leave the room while the NEC decides the question on a simple majority vote.
I can assure you that the hearing will be based solely on relevant considerations and that the appeal will fair.
I will circulate the link to the YouTube video as requested.
Yours,
Paul Nuttall
Party Chairman
--- On Fri, 27/3/09, Eric Edmond <eric_edmond@hotmail.com> wrote:
> From: Eric Edmond <eric_edmond@hotmail.com>
> Subject: Fw: Appeal
> To: "Paul Nuttall" <ukipbootle@yahoo.co.uk>, alanbown@btinternet.com, "Christopher Gill" <cgill36@hotmail.co.uk>, "David Abbott" <davidfabbott@btinternet.com>, "Derek Clark" <derekrclark@hotmail.co.uk>, "FARAGE Nigel" <nigel.farage@europarl.europa.eu>, "Jill Seymour" <jill_seymour@btopenworld.com>, lisa.duffy2@tesco.net, "Marta Andreasen" <martaandreasen@auna.com>, "Michael Zuckerman" <mazuckerman@bensonmazure.co.uk>, "Rachel Oxley" <rjoxley@lineone.net>
> Date: Friday, 27 March, 2009, 10:38 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eric
> Edmond
> To: Paul
> Nuttall
> Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 9:43 AM
> Subject: Appeal
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Mr Nuttall
>
> I acknowledge receipt of a letter of
> 24th March re the
> above in your name, signed by Mr Challice. I
> assume this represents
> an official change of position from Mr
> Zuckerman's letter of 13th
> March which stated 'there is no provision for any
> right of appeal since
> any appeal could only be held to the
> National Executive
> Committee which has already made its
> decision' Can you please
> confirm and clarify this change.
>
> Can you please send me the full rules of
> the appeal process
> as provided for in the Party Constitution, as I
> previously
> requested.
>
> So that I can prepare my appeal, please can you
> also send me the full
> grounds for my deselection, bearing in mind that I
> had no notice that such
> a hearing was taking place, nor given an opportunity
> to peruse the
> charges against me, nor given any chance to defend
> myself at the meeting
> that took that decision.
>
> Please also can you give me an assurance that
> those hearing the
> appeal will judge on the basis of facts given and not
> on prior assumptions
> based on personal attitudes towards me or prejudice
> against me.
> You will understand my need for
> confirmation that the appeal
> will be fair, balanced and not subject to prejudiced
> positions.
>
> Please note that I will be out of the country on
> a pre-booked holiday
> between 27th March and 5th
> April and I would
> appreciate it if you would take this into account
> when communicating with
> me.
>
> Finally can you please circulate to the appeals
> committeethe URL
> below of an unscripted ad lib video I recorded at
> Lexdrum House just
> before Xmas urging support for UKIP and request
> they view it before
> the appeal.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-PdSiooRss&feature=channel_page
>
> Yours sincerely
> Eric
> Edmond
>
No comments:
Post a Comment