June 26, 2007

Solidarity - an email update from the Vice-President Tim Hawke

Following all the fuss around the BNP's fake union Solidarity and the two articles we produced over the past few days (here and here), we have now received an email from Solidarity Vice-President Tim Hawke that attempts to put the record straight(ish). We provide the whole thing to keep you up to date with the apparent chaos that surrounds anything the BNP organises or Nick Griffin gets his sticky little mitts on.

Dear Sir / Madam

I have recently been informed that the internal activities of our union have been brought to your attention.

Since the events have been aired in public, may I set a few issues straight. On the 20th May 2007 during an Executive Committee Meeting in London, Mr Potter (who is in my opinion a man of great integrity) expressed his deep concerns regarding the financial clarity of the accounts. Mr Harrington refused to provide the accounts in details, even though the requests for these went back a month or more and so stated that he would begin the process of an investigation. Harrington refused this but I agreed. The minutes will confirm this – there’s your quorum 2-1 approved

On the 3rd of June Mr Potter requested that I to attend a Special Executive Meeting in Liverpool (such meetings do not require a quorum within the constitution) and Mr Harrington was suspended. A member with considerable union experience and who has been a member since Feb 2007 (the Membership and his membership card number will confirm this) agreed to head the Investigation due to his impartial status and was chosen as the Acting General Secretary, however he has made it clear that he would abstain from voting on any issue regarding Mr Harrington and that he views his role as temporary.

Regardless of the hype, myself and Mr Potter have driven this union with the genuine intention of fighting for the workers of this country who are being exploited on a daily basis, the rich poor divide is widening but the current unions (in my opinion) have neglected that struggles that I personally witness regularly onsite,

Our core 6 principles of opposition are totally genuine to me, and Mr Potter if you consider his actions. Union corruption is a terrible act of betrayal to members and I hope that you would support our activities in combating this. Be assured that the concerns are serious and that I would fight for the ending of any corrupt organisation to prevent it from spreading.

With regards to the BNP, it seems that Mr Harrington has extremely close links with its chairmen and have hatched a takeover plan before the investigation is complete – a possible sign of guilt? During the many months that I took off work to advance this union, I met many decent BNP members including Mr Potter and would hope that it was understood that most members are good people just wanting what’s best for their nearest and dearest.

Once the investigation is complete we should all know more, but the certification office are investigating due to our contacting them, however if others wish to do so then they have our full support.

Yours truly,
Tim Hawke
Vice-President of Solidarity

P.S. A members bulletin will be dispatched shortly informing them of the situation, what a shame that this could not have been done in a more professional manner

Although we clearly will not agree with Mr Hawke over the integrity of Solidarity or anyone involved in it, we thank him for emailing us to let us know the current situation as he sees it.

One point that we think is worth making is that it's our belief, based on advice we've received from a couple of different and trusted sources in the past few days, that by refusing to hand over the disputed accounts, Harrington is apparently acting illegally.

We wonder if Solidarity is considering any legal action to obtain these accounts before the BNP forces an Extraordinary General Meeting and puts a stop to any investigation, which it certainly will if given half a chance?

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't you wonder why the fash on Stormfront havent picked up on this yet?

Anonymous said...

"With regards to the BNP, it seems that Mr Harrington has extremely close links with its chairmen and have hatched a takeover plan before the investigation is complete – a possible sign of guilt?"
That's an accusation that's well worth noting. What a damn mess this is all turning into. Solidaritys off the ropes and down for the count.

Anonymous said...

From what I can see, it looks as though Hawke and Potter have unwittingly been duped into doing all the work involved in setting up the union, only for it to be taken over by those who were essentially pulling the strings all along.

Anonymous said...

Looks to me like Solidarity is fucked.

Antifascist said...

We've written to Tim hawke to ask a couple of questions, though we'll be surprised to receive any answers.

'We're assured that Harrington's actions in denying you access a) to the detailed accounts and b) to the membership funds is illegal. Will you be taking action over this?

If the BNP organises an Emergency General Meeting to engineer a coup,
and of course replace Clive Potter and yourself, will you continue to
support the party?'

Anonymous said...

A senior union colleague tells me that the wise thing to do in this situation would be to close new membership until the situation is resolved. This seems like a good idea to me because it stops Harrington's chums packing Solidarity with paper members solely for the EGM, to enable him to regain his position.

Anonymous said...

Quote
Looks to me like Solidarity is fucked.

It certanly is if the bnp gets involved

Anonymous said...

Tim Hawkes has shown whose side he's on by writing to you scumbags.

Unknown said...

JohnC said...

...it stops Harrington's chums packing Solidarity with paper members solely for the EGM, to enable him to regain his position.


According to Harrington: So determined are they that the Union should be secured that they are mounting an email recruitment campaign this week which has already resulted in a surge of new memberships.

Well, there's your "packed" meeting already being conjured up.

I wonder though, exactly who in Solidarity approves membership?

Antifascist said...

Here's a copy of one of the emails sent to the Certification Officer by us.

Dear Mr Cockburn

I believe there are grounds for an investigation of the trade union 'Solidarity' under the heading of financial irregularities, in that a) persons concerned with the management of those financial affairs have, in connection with that management, been guilty of fraud, misfeasance or other misconduct, and b) that a rule of the organisation relating to its financial affairs has not been complied with.

This matter first arose due to a report that appeared on the BNP website http://www.bnp.org.uk/news_detail.php?newsId=1573 in which it was stated that Tim hawke, Solidarity's vice-President, refused to sign the first year accounts.

This led to some investigations by Lancaster UAF and others which prompted these two articles;
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/06/bnps-fake-union-solidarity-already-up.html
http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/06/solidarity-situation-worsens-general.html

If the articles and the comments are taken into consideration, it's clear that there are major problems at Solidarity, not the least of which is the one concerning the accounts. The clincher to this was an email from Tim Hawke to Lancaster UAF, reprinted here http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2007/06/solidarity-email-update-from-vice.html in which he stated 'On the 20th May 2007 during an Executive Committee Meeting in London, Mr Potter (President)...expressed his deep concerns regarding the financial clarity of the accounts. Mr Harrington (General Secretary) refused to provide the accounts in details, even though the requests for these went back a month or more and so stated that he would begin the process of an investigation'. It appears that Mr harrington has also blocked access to the union's Paypal account and its website.

This is a union in crisis (both financial and otherwise) and we would ask that an investigation into the apparent chaos within it is carried out as a matter of urgency.

Yours etc

The address to send it to is info@certoffice.org

Do share it about!

Antifascist said...

'Tim Hawkes has shown whose side he's on by writing to you scumbags.'

Yawn...

Antifascist said...

'I wonder though, exactly who in Solidarity approves membership?'

One would assume the three on the Exec, in which case they'd disallow them for the time being. If Harrington's got the accounts, the Paypal account and the website locked up, he's probably got the membership list too.

Am I missing something here? Doesn't this look bloody awful for the BNP? Why aren't the mainstream media jumping on this? It's not like they don't visit the site.

Anonymous said...

"Don't you wonder why the fash on Stormfront havent picked up on this yet?"
That's cos there all creeping up to griffin and trying deperatly to ignore all this and pray nobody else mentions it outside the internet.

Anonymous said...

Tim Hawkes has shown whose side he's on by writing to you scumbags.


Looks to me like he is trying to do the job he' s there to do.

Anonymous said...

"Why aren't the mainstream media jumping on this?"
Maybe the rumours are true and Nick Griffin has friends in government.

Anonymous said...

Don't you wonder why the fash on Stormfront havent picked up on this yet?


Northwest nationalist has a load of stuff about it in the comemnts of an item about the leadership challenge but I dont think he's a bNP supporter

Anonymous said...

Well, you are very quick to declare the winner of this bout. Here are a few prophecies:-

1.There will be no legal action by Hawke and Potter (they don't have the money or the balls).

2. The EGM will re-assert control by the membership (overwhelmingly pro-Harrington and Griffin).

3. Pat Harrington will be reaffirmed General Secretary.

4. Tim Hawke, Clive Potter and Billy McLinden/Nelson will be disciplined (or beaten to a pulp -depending on our mood - just joking).

Oh, and btw though I'm posting anonymously I am not a clone of Pat Harrington (I don't like his views on gay 'rights' and asylum seekers etc).

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
From what I can see, it looks as though Hawke and Potter have unwittingly been duped into doing all the work involved in setting up the union, only for it to be taken over by those who were essentially pulling the strings all along.

10:24 AM, June 26, 2007

Hawke didn't get involved in the Union till just after it started and so wasn't involved in the set-up. Till Harrington came along it did virtually nothing. Potter has something of a history here. Look at the Christian Council he is involved in. There on the road to nowhere. I doubt if the Union would be viable without Third Way input.

Anonymous said...

Clive Potter is an odd one. He lives with a girl who is a major campaigner for celibacy (of course 'you don't have to take your clothes off, to have a good time' as they probably sing). He also describes himself as a Christian Gnostic and has a strong interest in UFOs. Watch out for those men in black Potter!!

Anonymous said...

Despite what Tim Hawke says there is no investigation of Pat Harrington by the Certification Officer.

Antifascist said...

'Despite what Tim Hawke says there is no investigation of Pat Harrington by the Certification Officer.'

And how could you possibly know that?

Anonymous said...

It seems an earlier post got it about right.

There is a 'hardline'(sic)faction in the BNP who think Griffin has 'gone soft' and are supporting the anti-Griffin leadership candidate(s).

Rather than accusing him of not being Nazi enough they are concentrating on accusations of financial impropriety and of him not being partisan enough.

They see everything through the prisim of their private i.e. BNP and believe everything must be controlled by the Party. So for example they say that Griffin should not have sanctioned co-operation with the 'Multi-racist' and 'liberal' Third Way in forming the Solidarity Union as it sends out the 'wrong message'.

The alleged 'Potter/Hawke' coup looks like being the first of many attempts at causing Griffin problems in the run up to their leadership elections (just monitor the fash blogs). I find it ironic though that Griffin and the BNP are appealing to party loyalty to oust their most partisan clique!

As for State and far-left involvement i can't say but it wouldn't suprise me since who wouldn't want to destabilise the Union? It's sad that we/they have to support the most unsavoury lot of the fash but ce'la Guerre!

Anonymous said...

The Jackson anti-Griffin campaign seems to have been caught on the hop. They expected a poll in Autumn but Griffin has given them a campaign of just over three weeks. He is observing the niceities by giving them a statement in the members bulletin and on a closed area of the website, however.

I can't see the Jackson campaign gatherting much steam in such a short campaign. They are no match for the ruthless Griffin.

Salmon of Doubt said...

This case gets more and more bizarre. The Ministry of Truth blog carries this titbit about Clive Potter and his (former?) significant other. He claims to be a gnostic Christian so this is how he mortifies the flesh

Anonymous said...

There seem to be ever closer relations between Solidarity and Respect, as SWP members flit between the groups, and Sheridan and Galloway share platforms.

Anonymous said...

"Antifascist said...
'Despite what Tim Hawke says there is no investigation of Pat Harrington by the Certification Officer.'

And how could you possibly know that?

1:14 PM, July 01, 2007"

Because I telephoned them and asked! I am a journalist in my other life.