PCS: Socialist Party routed but Janice Godrich is out!

The infighting over the future of the way PCS is run by the two main strands of the left, The Socialist Party and the Serwotka tendency around Socialist View reached a dramatic end this weekend at the Left Unity AGM.

For weeks Chris Baugh the besieged PCS Assistant General Secretary has been fighting for his political survival following a fallout out with PCS head honcho Mark Serwotka. Several leading members of the Socialist Party split to support Janice Godrich for the AGS post.

Janice was already in trouble with Socialist Party guru Peter Taffe for breaking the party line and canvassing for the Scottish National Party at the General Election. She formed Socialist Voice with Taffes bitter enemies from Tommy Sheridan's now defunct Solidarity.

Accusations were thrown around with John McInally PCS Vice President for years and a major figure in PCS was accused of being "Janice's poodle" by his erstwhile colleagues in the Militant Tendency. Having known John for some years (albeit as an opponent) he's definitely nobodies lick-spittle and a very intelligent man. He's nobodies fool.

Insults aside the Socialist Party got so desperate they even dragged Debbie Darracot from their retired South of France branch to defend the useless Baugh.  Comrade Debbie wrote:

The AGS post is a democratically elected position, but it is also a job. The AGS is paid by PCS. Chris Baugh is not like Janice Godrich, paid by DWP or another employer and on facility time. You are seeking to sack Chris Baugh, let's be clear about that. If Janice loses the election she keeps her job. If Chris loses the election he loses his.

Well actually Baugh could go back to the Land Registry as an ordinary member doing a regular day's graft.

 

The Socialist View slate run by Godrich & Serwotka won all the internal elections. Then at conference we are told:

These election results represent a very important decision for PCS, with Socialist View candidates winning every election, and our position on motions being carried forward in every debate.

Left Unity members should not under-estimate the scale of the majority at the conference, which was approximately 41/19.

Blimey how the mighty have fallen. The SP had an inbuilt majority or at least the largest block vote in previous years. Not that many in attendance either. Just 60 people turned up according to those figures. The control of the largest civil service union has been decided by so few.

The sort of future now in place for the Labour Party under the same people but I digress.

The real shock is this news:

It is with real sadness that it was announced tonight that Janice Godrich, having been elected as Left Unity’s AGS candidate, is no longer well enough to continue.

I'm sorry to hear Janice is ill but it seems that this very public spate may in the end have not got rid of Baugh. Fran Heathcote concludes her announcement:

This matter will be dealt with as a priority by the incoming Left Unity National Committee in order that Left Unity can move forward with the maximum unity.

Has Baugh been handed a lifeline or will Serwotka find himself another preferred candidate.

Watch this space!