News

Lyons acts to terminate member

Having discovered that he is unable to close down the anti-corruption websites Lyonsweb and Rogerlyons.com , Lyons has moved to terminate the membership of the owner of the sites, ex MSF London Region treasurer and Chair of Hounslow and Feltham branch, David Beaumont.

David has been suspended for 2 years now along with 5 senior London Region officers for trying to get MSF to vote for Ken Livingston in the mayoral elections.

In an extraordinary series of letters a clearly irate Lyons accuses David of:
1) "unacceptable use of the name "Lyons" in "Lyonsweb""
2) "Misusing MSF property through the publication of an extract from a confidential internal union report."
3) Anti-Semitism by the use of the music "If I were a Rich Man" to accompany articles about financial impropriety on the part of Lyons (long since replaced by 'Money Money Money').
4) Improper use of the MSF First trademark to create the impression of an official web site.

Lyons was particularly incensed by this article on Shorts, so much so he enclosed a print of it with furiously scribbled markings.

The alleged breaches of rule are 5(b), 5(c), 15(a), 15(d), 16(a)(i), 16(a)(ii), 16(a)(iii), 16(a)(v) 17(b), 30 and 43.

In particular Lyons has written to David quoting Rule 16 (a)(ii):

"The NEC shall have the power to terminate the membership of, or fine or remove from office any member who, in its opinion, without reasonable excuse: By his/her conduct acts against the interests of the Union;"

This rule would appear to give unfettered power to Lyon's tame NEC, except that rule 16 (c) states that "In all cases ...where a complaint is made against a member, the member's branch shall investigate". This is designed to assert the democratic branch structure of the union, differentiating it from a company or global corporation which Lyons seems to think he runs. David is referring the complaints to his branch.

Also enclosed was a complaint from Leonie Cooper dated 22nd May but witheld from David Beaumont for 5 months : "I write to submit a formal complaint against David Beaumont's websites yet again. He has associated me with
1 fraudulent nomination by London Scalemakers (a non existent branch)
2 The withholding of nominations for Jane Stewart
3 Circulation of letters to members breaching the canvassing rules."
In fact David has submitted more extensive complaints to MSF about election rigging in the women's NEC Seat including that he thinks her web site www.leoniecooper.com may have been set up by MSF, illegally.

Lastly, Lyons supporter and top NEC claimant Bob Braddock had written to Lyons back in August. Braddock, like Cooper, had not had the decency to inform David of his complaint:

"RE David Beaumont. I am forced to write to you regarding the actions of the above named individual." Braddock complains of "personal attacks made by Mr Beaumont in relation to my personal integrity." (Lyonsweb has graphed NEC members published expense claims, Braddock comes top with a whopping £25,000 over the last 5 years, apparently earning Braddock his nickname within MSF of "£25,000 Bob".

David has replied to Paul Talbot, Lyons' assistant, click here.

Posted by www.rogerlyons.com on 8th November 2001