Labour Party Campaigns
Back the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance for the NEC
Labour Party members will soon be receiving ballot papers for the constituency section of the Labour Party NEC. The LRC is asking you to back the five validly nominated candidates from the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance (CLGA).
Those candidates are:
- Mohammed Azam
- Ann Black
- Peter Kenyon
- Christine Shawcroft
- Pete Willsman
Your chance to change Labour Party policy
When Gordon Brown introduced his ‘Extending and renewing party democracy’ proposals last year, he stated that “I want a policy making process that honours the fact that all of us have joined the Labour Party to make a contribution.”
Brown went on to say that there is “an obligation on the National Policy Forum (NPF) to consult members on policy issues” and to engage them by “involving every member in policy making.”
In the final Brown party democracy proposals, agreed by 2007 annual conference, “NPF members from all sections have responsibilities to highlight and communicate the work of the institutions and effectively consult and convey the views of those they have chosen to represent.”
So now is the time to demand that Brown and the NPF deliver on their promises and duties to Labour Party members.
Initially you need to lobby NPF members to put forward amendments by the 4 July to the Warwick policy forum for further consideration.
Further lobbying of NPF members will then need to be done prior to and up until the Warwick NPF meeting on the 24-27 July, asking them to support amendments to go to 2008 Labour Party conference.
You should request that NPF members let you know which amendments they will be supporting to go to the Warwick NPF meeting, and if particular NPF members have responsibility for certain policy areas.
To assist your lobbying of NPF members - using either a blanket or targeted approach - you can use the model LRC letter and amendments, and NPF emails below.
It is essential that you let the LRC know who you have lobbied to support which amendments, therefore please copy all emails to the LRC at:info@l-r-c.org.uk.
LRC model letter to NPF members
Dear [name of group of NPF members],
When Gordon Brown introduced his ‘Extending and renewing party democracy’ proposals last year, he stated that “I want a policy making process that honours the fact that all of us have joined the Labour Party to make a contribution.”
Gordon Brown went on to say that there is “an obligation on the National Policy Forum (NPF) to consult members on policy issues” and to engage them by “involving every member in policy making.”
In the final Gordon Brown party democracy proposals, agreed by 2007 annual conference, “NPF members from all sections have responsibilities to highlight and communicate the work of the institutions and effectively consult and convey the views of those they have chosen to represent.”
Hopefully you will be able to honour the commitments that both Gordon Brown and 2007 Labour Party annual conference made in respect to your duties to Labour Party members, and in doing so put forward and support the amendment/s below at the Warwick NPF meeting on the 24-27 July.
Select the amendments you wish to lobby on by copying and pasting from this link.
Yours in comradeship,
[insert your name, CLP and/or union, and address]
By region
Email NEC reps from East Midlands region
Email NEC reps from Eastern region
Email NEC reps from Greater London region
Email NEC reps from North East region
Email NEC reps from North West region
Email NEC reps from Scotland
Email NEC reps from South East region
Email NEC reps from South West region
Email NEC reps from Wales
Email NEC reps from West Midlands region
Email NEC reps from Yorkshire & Humber region
By union
Email NPF reps from Unison
Email NPF reps from Unite
Email NPF reps from GMB
Email NPF reps from CWU
Email NPF reps from TSSA
Email NPF reps from BFAWU
Email NPF reps from MU
Email NPF reps from Community
Email NPF reps from USDAW
Email NPF reps from UCATT
Back the leadership rule change
Calder Valley CLP has passed the motion below, calling for the threshold for a leadership challenge so that instead of 12.5% of the PLP, a candidate for leader or deputy leader would need 7.5%:
“4B Procedural rules for elections for national officers of the Party - Paragraph 4B.2b(1) Nomination reads as follows: In the case of a vacancy for leader or deputy leader, each nomination must be supported by 12.5 per cent of the Commons members of the PLP. Nominations not attaining this threshold shall be null and void”
Amendment: Delete 12.5 and insert 7.5
Cllr Susan Press (Calder Valley CLP) makes the case for the change: The current 12.5 per cent threshold (45 MPs) was originally introduced as a measure to stop the Left. It has actually succeeded in disenfranchising left, right and centre.
Last year, Gordon Brown became Leader with the blessing of over 300 MPs. How bad that decision was by the PLP not to have a contest is reflected in the current standing Labour has in the opinion polls.
Had the proposed threshold been in place, John McDonnell would have got on the ballot paper. But so would others from the right and centre who, similarly, could not garner the 45 names to ensure a contest.
Whoever becomes Leader next time, it must not be a shoo-in conferred by patronage and persuasion.
This is not about toppling Brown or pointless ‘stalking horse’ challenges. This is a serious attempt to ensure that next time round we have a leadership and deputy leadership contest in which all wings of the Party can participate.
It is up to us, the grassroots, to ensure this resolution is debated, voted on and passed as a clear message to the Leadership. The rest of the Conference will be a talking-shop. This resolution could, literally, save the Labour Party from oblivion. Please lobby as much as you can for support, and ensure your CLP backs it.
No to state funding of political parties
At the National Policy Forum on Saturday 1st December 2007, Gordon Brown called for a “broader change within our system of political funding”.
His comments were seen as a move towards increased state funding of political parties, especially when he noted “the fundraising base of all parties has been diminished, and yet our democracy requires to be financed”. Brown went on, “Since the 1970s the provision of ‘Short Money’ and ‘Cranborne Money’ has provided public funds to the main opposition parties. So the principle of public funding of our democracy is already being implemented.”
Brown said he would look again at the Hayden Phillips report, which proposed a cap on all donations at £50,000, and an individual link to the Party by each trade unionist. Based on this, Brown said “I believe our party should now discuss and agree reform and how best to make change work”.
LRC Chair, John McDonnell MP, has set out an alternative proposal. He said, “I am calling on the Prime Minister to propose an immediate cap on donations from individual donors to protect the Labour Party from any further damaging allegations. Our Party desperately needs to build its membership base and to re-mobilise its support right across the country”. Read the press release in full.
Have your say on these proposals on the LRC blog.
|
