Notice to all members – Party videos authorisation

[Socialist Party Head Office]

Dear Comrades,

The EC, at its meeting of 6th August, considered the issue of authorising Party videos and passed the following resolution (resolution 7 of item B7 of August EC minutes) –

“That all members be reminded that in accordance with Rule 17 any publications except leaflets and handbills are to be authorized by the EC prior to publication (including on public websites such as YouTube) and be requested not to publish in advance of any such authorization any items which may be reasonably construed as published by SPGB.“

 

Here is the full wording of Rule 17 –

" The Executive Committee shall publish and control the Party literature. Election Statements and Election Manifestos must be approved by the Executive Committee before printing excepting handbills and leaflets. They shall establish a literature agency, from which all Branches shall be supplied, establish and maintain communications with Socialist Parties abroad and otherwise generally administer the work of the Party in accordance with Party polls, Party rules and Conference decisions, and to this end may appoint subcommittees. Names shall be called for, subject to the Executive Committee being authorised to appoint members directly to these sub-Committees if no nominations are received. "

YFS,

Oliver Bond

Acting General Secretary

[lindanesocialist]

 Vin saidI am sure Youtube is also 'private'  as well as public. Videos can be  set to 'private' which means only people who receive the link can view it and cannot share it. What of  all the blogs, facebooks, twitter accounts etc that are in breach of rule 17 according to the present EC?Not to mention the Socialist Standard which should be submitted to the EC before publication.If the the EC can appoint a sub committee to produce the SS without breaching rule 17, then why can't it appoint an AV committee to produce videos?  I thinke we have to recognise that Rule 17 needs a serious 'look at', 

[Anonymous]

Socialist Party Head Office wrote:

The EC, at its meeting of 6th August, considered the issue of authorising Party videos and passed the following resolution (resolution 7 of item B7 of August EC minutes) -“That all members be reminded that in accordance with Rule 17 any publications except leaflets and handbills are to be authorized by the EC prior to publication (including on public websites such as YouTube) and be requested not to publish in advance of any such authorization any items which may be reasonably construed as published by SPGB.“Here is the full wording of Rule 17 -" The Executive Committee shall publish and control the Party literature. Election Statements and Election Manifestos must be approved by the Executive Committee before printing excepting handbills and leaflets. They shall establish a literature agency, from which all Branches shall be supplied, establish and maintain communications with Socialist Parties abroad and otherwise generally administer the work of the Party in accordance with Party polls, Party rules and Conference decisions, and to this end may appoint subcommittees. Names shall be called for, subject to the Executive Committee being authorised to appoint members directly to these sub-Committees if no nominations are received. "

(emphasis added)"Literature" specifically and solely refers to the written word.  In interpreting Rule 17 to apply to anything other than literature the Executive Committee has acted recklessly and undemocratically.  If the membership had any gumption it would demand the instant dismissal of those EC members who voted for this motion.

[lindanesocialist]

gnome wrote:

Executive Committee has acted recklessly and undemocratically.  If the membership had any gumption it would demand the instant dismissal of those EC members who voted for this motion.

Not for the first time.The EC is making rules and members  are applying  them Linda

[lindanesocialist]

 Vin saidWhere is the party while workers around the world are starving and homeless? Talking about fuckin Brexit and telling members to avoid displaying the horrors of capitalism on their videos. And wasting party time on banning members from actingIt is not the labour party members that need t wake up!  

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[Young Master Smeet]

gnome wrote:

(emphasis added)"Literature" specifically and solely refers to the written word.  In interpreting Rule 17 to apply to anything other than literature the Executive Committee has acted recklessly and undemocratically.  If the membership had any gumption it would demand the instant dismissal of those EC members who voted for this motion.

I think a fair reading of that is that the EC is in charge of all publication in the name of the party: the substantive purpose of the rule is so we can disown material that does not reflect the party case and ensure conststency in the output of the party.Members are free to produce poor quality videos in their bedrooms if they like, but the only consideration being asked is that they do not pass them off as party products.

[DJP]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

Members are free to produce poor quality videos in their bedrooms if they like, but the only consideration being asked is that they do not pass them off as party products.

I think that pretty much sums it up. In this case the EC has acted correctly as far as I'm concerned.

[lindanesocialist]

I have perused the existing party videos and find them all poor quality.  At least he is trying.If the party is capable of having a committee to produce the SS then I don't see any reason why we can't have a committee to produce regular videos.It is not hel[ful to our movement to put down and ridicule genuine attempts of members. Why would you do that? 

[Anonymous]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

gnome wrote:

(emphasis added)"Literature" specifically and solely refers to the written word.  In interpreting Rule 17 to apply to anything other than literature the Executive Committee has acted recklessly and undemocratically.  If the membership had any gumption it would demand the instant dismissal of those EC members who voted for this motion.

I think a fair reading of that is that the EC is in charge of all publication in the name of the party: the substantive purpose of the rule is so we can disown material that does not reflect the party case and ensure conststency in the output of the party.

Curious then that successive ECs didn't consider applying Rule 17 to the multitude of videos that have been uploaded by various party members to YouTube and this website over many years.  Apart from the 2014 European Election video, commissioned by the then EC and made professionally, none have received the EC's official seal of approval.

Quote:

Members are free to produce poor quality videos in their bedrooms if they like, but the only consideration being asked is that they do not pass them off as party products.

A loaded and subjective observation.  Whatever anyone thinks of Vin Maratty or his video he at least has accomplished what successive Audio Visual Committees abysmally failed to do.The overriding issue, other than the long overdue introductory video to the party, is the overstepping by the EC in applying Rule 17 in this instance.  The privilege of amending the rulebook is explicitly reserved for the party membership.

[Young Master Smeet]

gnome wrote:

The overriding issue, other than the long overdue introductory video to the party, is the overstepping by the EC in applying Rule 17 in this instance.  The privilege of amending the rulebook is explicitly reserved for the party membership.

Well, I'd dispute that an introductory video is long overdue: but the EC has to interpret the rulebook, and this resolution is a reasonable reading of a rule that was written a long while ago, and reflects party practice in terms of otehr non-print materials (e.g. tape cassettes) going back a long while.  In this specific case, the EC was asked to endorse a video, which they haven't been in the past.In any case the basic principle is simple: nothing is an official party product unless endorsed by the EC or by an authorised sub-committee.  That's the good news: members can make whatever videos they want, the only copntraint is that party money can't be spent on them.

[lindanesocialist]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

Members are free to produce poor quality videos in their bedrooms if they like, but the only consideration being asked is that they do not pass them off as party products.

I am reliably informed by someone sitting next to me that Vin NEVER attempted to pass off his  video  as a party product. However, the party blog, twitter account, websites and many other members did. I guess they didn't consider Vin's attempt that bad after all.And Vin submitted it to the EC unlike all the other poor quality videos that are now being passed off a party products.  

[lindanesocialist]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

 the only copntraint is that party money can't be spent on them.

 Vin produces them from his own pocket. He doesn't request any money unlike the SSPC and IC

[lindanesocialist]

Young Master Smeet wrote:

 or by an authorised sub-committee.  

Like an AV Committee?Vin worked on the video after being nominated by a branch onto the AV Committee. The present AV committee member approves of the video. Or so vin informes me. So the Video did not need EC stamp of approval after all?But just to make sure, Vin nevertheless submitted the video  to the EC after many party members, including the AV committee, Howard Moss, Dave Chesham, Alan Jonson, Joe and Steve Davison, KRSB, NERB   and the Partty's unofficial twitter accounts and blogs  et al all had their say and all agreed it was pretty good. Now two members step forward rubbishing it.  

[Anonymous]

Literature (noun)* Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit.* Books and writings published on a particular subject.* Leaflets and other printed matter used to advertise products or give advice.It's an open and shut case, M'lud, so in this case we can safely dispense with the views advanced by our learned resident Philadelphia lawyer…

[Author]

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