An Open Letter to Regis Burton – The ASW Primary

Dear Mr. Burton,

I wish you no ill will, but I am deeply unsurprised by the situation you find yourself in as a young politician with the Labour Party.

You struck me as someone who meant well and wanted better for this country, and would perhaps do things differently than the crop of craven and ravenous ones that we have there now.

But look how quickly they showed you who they really are.

You and the other candidates in the ASW primary agreed to a run-off, only for your party to renege as soon as it suited them. Lawlessness is the hallmark of labour party governance, Mr. Burton.

I mean you no disrespect, but perhaps you are not old enough to remember the lawless days before they were ejected in 2004.

And believe me, I’ve been around long enough to know, this is the tip of the iceberg.

They will bring you closer and closer into their fold, and more and more, they will demand that you compromise on your morals, and that you defend everything that they do.

You, and the voters of the ABLP in ASW were entitled to a run-off sir, because that is what was agreed to.

But the Labour Party refuses to be governed by principles – only expediency. They throw out the rules at the drop of a hat.

One second they say they are doing primaries in fair and democratic way and the next, they have gone back to polling to pick their winners.

They will grind you down sir.

Today you are an aspiring candidate who stands up for abiding by the rules agreed to from the onset.

In 15 years, you will be a political wretch, conspiring with others to sidestep the rules and fight down another aspiring candidate in the same position as you are now.

They will tell you that it is wrong to be disgruntled, that the good of the party must come first, that protesting for what is right is not what’s best for the party at this time.

What they mean is that the law does matter when it is inconvenient for those who have power. Right and wrong are matters of convenience.

If a party refuses to be governed by its own rules for its own proceedings, how then can it be expected to show respect for the law of the land? Labour has a cost Mr. Burton.

And I hope it is one you can bear. Their true creed is never spoken, but you will discover it time and time again.

Party Before Country. Party Before God. Self Above All.

Sincerely, Robert