National Executive Committee / Leadership Conference, 24 June

Technical Support — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:21:58 +0000

Below is a report from Sunday morning’s NEC meeting, and some

notes on the consultation document on further changes to party

structures and functioning, now available on the party website –

please read and respond.

All good wishes

Ann

National Executive Committee / Leadership Conference, 24 June 2007

Gordon Brown was warmly welcomed by the NEC, meeting in

Manchester on the morning of his confirmation as leader. He spoke

to each of us in turn and emphasised how much he valued both the

NEC and the party membership. At his request the NEC readily

approved Douglas Alexander as campaign manager through to the

next general election, but despite press speculation I do not believe

that this is imminent. Rather it recognises the need to prepare, to

campaign and to fundraise over the coming years, alongside the

work of developing policies for a fourth term.

The leader-in-waiting had clearly given much thought to the future of

the party. His first announcement was that the deputy leader,

whoever he or she might be, would take the role of party Chair, with

power to appoint assistant Chairs to help them. This is not a

downgrading of the deputy’s position, as some have suggested. In

fact several of the candidates, notably Jon Cruddas and Hazel

Blears, stressed the priority of party revival over prestige, and now

we have a Chair elected by the members instead of one appointed

by the leader.

He also tabled a paper aimed at addressing two urgent concerns:

that members do not feel sufficiently involved and valued, and that

local parties are not always in touch with their communities. This is

now available on the party website, with a deadline for comments of

14 September. If necessary I can forward it in pdf format, but as

responses must be made on-line, it would be better to get to grips

with your individual MpURL. I have asked how constituencies submit

collective views, and am assured that these will be identified as such

if they come from the registered secretary.

I hope everyone will read and reply to the full proposals, but have

listed some key themes below, with a few initial comments. As

always I welcome your thoughts, if possible before the next NEC

meeting on 17 July, and will take account of them in my detailed

response.

Bullet Points [and comments]

- more encouragement for constituencies in holding local policy

forums [good in principle] and involving all their members in policy-

making [including those without internet access];

- better feedback on policy submissions so members can see how

their concerns have been discussed, backed up with more resources

[very welcome. May need to demonstrate this first and up-front, to

persuade constituencies that more forums will be worthwhile];

- support for local parties, including Labour groups, in engaging

with their communities [also welcome. Forums work well at local

level where there is a clear connection between input and agreed

policy];

- strengthening the national policy forum (NPF), with the joint

policy committee (JPC) acting as its executive [needs more analysis

– could make it more effective, or more remote. Also the JPC needs

greater accountability and better constituency representation];

- ensuring that ministers engage actively with the NPF [good];

- giving members direct access to their NPF representatives

[excellent – have been asking for this since I was elected. Hopefully

NPF representatives will also be given direct access to members];

- adding twelve more NPF members, six from constituencies and

six from affiliates, to be elected directly by annual conference [cannot

see the point. The 55 constituency representatives have always

been elected directly by conference and most activists still cannot

name them. Prefer one-member-one-vote, or groups of

constituencies electing one of their conference delegates to the

NPF];

- ending the right to send contemporary resolutions to

conference. Instead, constituencies and affiliates would submit

general policy areas, and a ballot at conference would decide which

of these should be priorities for the NPF. The policy commissions

would then examine them in detail [controversial. Some argue that

motions are a safety-valve, others that ritual confrontation does no-

one any good. Recent development of housing policy is held up as

an alternative, with a policy commission sub-group said to have

made real and consensual progress. However almost no-one has

seen any of its work since September, and more openness is needed

to win this argument];.

- submitting the final policy documents agreed by the NPF to a

one-member-one-vote ballot [not convinced. Postage is costly

unless we disfranchise people without e-mail. The ballot on the draft

manifesto in 1996 involved tremendous efforts, including telephone

banks and mailshots, to get a respectable response rate. And

referendums provide a way for people to let off steam rather than

answer the question posed, especially when asked to say Yes or No

to lengthy, complex and unamendable documents. I think there are

better uses for very limited resources.]

Any Other Business

Gordon Brown assured us that despite the rumours, conversations

with Paddy Ashdown had been limited to issues around security and

investment in Northern Ireland, given his role as Chair of the parades

commission and his longstanding experience. There was no

question of him joining the cabinet, and though we needed to draw in

everyone who shared our values, Gordon intended to lead a Labour

cabinet and a Labour government.

Finally some members suggested reopening our decision that Ealing

Southall should select its next parliamentary candidate from an all-

women shortlist, following the sad death of sitting MP Piara Khabra.

Traditionally, by-election candidates are chosen from open lists, a

process which has overwhelmingly favoured men. However in this

case, with the normal selection procedure imminent, and Piara

Khabra’s own expressed wish that he should be succeeded by an

ethnic minority woman, I hope that the NEC will keep its nerve or that

we will at least have a chance to discuss any change.

High Drama

Moving on to the main event, Labour proved that it can prevent leaks

when it tries, to the extreme annoyance of the media. At half past

one the six candidates for deputy were locked in a room, deprived of

their BlackBerrys, told the results, and given a brief time to compose

themselves. The audience waited in ever-increasing impatience

while the NEC Chair Mike Griffiths and general secretary Peter Watt

welcomed us to Manchester, still a Tory-free zone, emphasised the

inclusiveness of the process, praised the conduct of the candidates

and the quality of debate and thanked all those involved, especially

the party staff who have worked without a break virtually since

Christmas.

At last the suspense was ended, with less than one per cent

separating the winner and the runner-up in the final round, and

individual party members proving decisive. (The full breakdown was

published in Monday’s Guardian.) Turnout was 99% among MPs

and MEPs, 53% for individual members, but only 8% in the affiliate

section, maybe depressed by some ballot papers arriving just days

before the deadline. The hustings showed that all the candidates

had much to contribute, and I am sure that Gordon Brown can find a

use for all their talents without resorting to the LibDems. After warm

applause Harriet Harman made a polished speech, Tony Blair took a

final curtain call and graciously introduced his successor, who sent

members away with renewed hope, enthusiasm and determination.

Questions and comments are welcome, and I am happy for this to be

circulated to members – and supporters - as a personal account, not

an official record. Past reports are at www.annblack.com.

Ann Black, 88 Howard Street, Oxford OX4 3BE, 07956-637958,

annblack@acedial.co.uk

Summer 2007 Reports

National Executive Committee / Leadership Conference, 24 June

National Executive Committee / Leadership Conference, 24 June 2007

Bullet Points [and comments]

Any Other Business

High Drama