The Stage

Taking a stand

Published Monday 26 June 2006 at 18:30

An election campaign pamphlet published by the Representative Group is now being circulated. It lists on its front page the names of 48 ‘supporters’ who could be described as leading members of the profession. The clear intention is that voters will be impressed by the status of these individuals and thus encouraged to vote for Graham Hamilton, whose picture is prominently featured, for the presidency of the union. A close examination of these ‘supporters’ reveals that only eleven of the 48 listed appear in the list of those nominating Hamilton on the Equity ballot paper. What of the remaining 37? Do they support Hamilton’s presidential bid? Or are they even aware of the circumstances which have resulted in him standing against the current president Harry Landis, himself a long standing member of the Representative Group until a caucus meeting last March?

At that meeting the result of a postal vote involving a limited number of group members was announced, which gave Hamilton a slender majority as the group’s candidate for the presidency. Several of those present expressed their surprise that voting had taken place and were mystified about the reasons for it as Landis, by general consensus, had been a highly successful and popular president of Equity for the past four years. At the meeting I questioned Hamilton and Jean Rogers, who had also put herself up for the presidency, about their motives but was given no explanation other than that it was their democratic right.

Subsequently, in Hamilton’s statement on the ballot paper, he declares that “it’s time for a change in leadership” but again gives no reasons why. Clearly, if he is unable or unwilling to enumerate any differences between Landis and himself as to the direction and policy of Equity, the question will inevitably be asked “why are you standing?”. Traditional Representative Group protocol suggests that it is unprecedented and indeed insulting to put up a candidate against their own president if he is prepared to continue in office. One wonders if this about the good of the union or is it about Buggin’s turn? Hopefully, Hamilton will enlighten us.

John Burgess

Crewys Rd

London NW2