Refounding Labour - Interim Report

8/6/2019 Refounding Labour - Interim Report

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Refounding Labourto win

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Contents

A. Building a more open and welcoming party 3B. Connecting with communities 5

C. Increasing member participation and involvement 7

D. Party Leader, Leadership election, elected representatives and candidates 8

E. Equality 10

F: A strengthened policy-making process 12


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A. Building a more open and welcoming party

1. Clause 1 defining our purpose

There was widespread support for the partyexpanding our mission statement in the rulethat outlines our purpose as a political party.The current definition highlights our primaryelectoral objective, but is silent on our desireto be a force for change in our localcommunities. A new Clause 1 should set outour desire to build a party fit for the future; agenuine movement where the connectionbetween the party and the public is strong.Furthermore, we want to invest in our

members and for them to have a greater voicein the party and therefore any new Clause 1should include an overview of our commitmentto members and an overview of the rights theyhold within our party.

2. Enabling structures and recognition thatno one size fits all

Party members want party structures thatassist rather than impede their work. They

want to build effective local parties that areopen and welcoming of members, supporters,and the community. In order to achieve thisthey want the party to remove layers ofbureaucracy that act as barriers toinvolvement, simplify the rules, and provideoptions for local decision. There was generalrecognition that no one organisational patternwould suit all local parties, and that CLPsshould be encouraged to innovate, and developlocal structures that suit their geography andcircumstances. There should be no defaultstructure in the rules but there should beoptions for organisation which wereappropriate to different circumstances andfrom which a CLP could choose.

3. A new cross-constituency co-ordinationforum

There was support for local parties to be ableto replace Local Government Committees and

County Parties with smaller functional bodiescomprising of officers and/ or CLP and tradeunion representatives, election agent(s), leaderand deputy leader of the Labour group. These

new bodies should concentrate on localelection campaign co-ordination, candidaterecruitment and candidate selection. CLPswould continue to be responsible for theeffective delivery of campaigns by theirbranches and members.

4. Party meetings that focus upon wideninginvolvement

The submissions were clear that meetingsshould be more focused on the key purposes of

local parties. Members should be activelyinvolved in selecting policy areas for policydebates in meetings. Plans for campaigningand particularly campaigning on local issuesshould be central, alongside discussion of howto develop community engagement by buildingstronger relationships with trade unions,supporters, and community groups. Local Partyinnovation and best practice should be sharedmore widely reflecting the fact that significantlocal change can occur without the need forformal rule changes.

5. Effective working at a local level withTrade Unions

Whilst some local Labour Parties and TradeUnion branches work well together, in otherplaces there is room for improvement. Manysubmissions talked about the need for localparties to work more closely with local tradeunion members, with many suggesting regular

joint meetings. This is an area in whichrecommendations will be made.

6. Officers and roles that match CLP needs

There was a clear desire to build stronger,more flexible officer teams to meet local needsand many local parties were unaware of theirexisting ability to create local officer posts tomeet their needs. While there are certainstatutory requirements for Constituency

Labour Parties to have a core set of officers(e.g. Chair and Treasurer), parties should bemade more aware that they have the freedomto add officers to suit local conditions.


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7. A development plan for every CLP

Many submissions highlighted the need forclearer strategic planning by CLPs. This mightbe achieved by a rule requirement for each CLPto submit a development plan. The

development plans should not beovercomplicated but might include targets formembership and registered supporters, targetsfor voter i/d contacts, plans for leafleting andnewsletters, plans for the involvement andrecruitment to the party of trade union membersand joint campaigning with local trade unions, anoutline budget and fund-raising target, and anoutline calendar of key campaigns and events.They should also include a review of branchorganisation, womens organisation and YoungLabour organisation and steps the CLP wouldtake to help overcome shortcomings and build on

success. In order to meet widespread concernsthat some local parties fail to provide a warmwelcome and encouragement to new members,the development of a network of new membermentors should feature prominently in alldevelopment plans.

8. New strategic functions for RegionalBoards and Welsh and Scottish Executives

Our Regional Boards and Welsh and ScottishExecutives are made up of experienced partymembers whose talent, experience and timeshould be used as productively as possible.They should be used to help the party organiseand support members to be more involved inthe party, and to help maximise the resourcesthat go into campaigning where the partyneeds it most Regional Board and WEC and SECmembers could take more responsibility for the

health of Constituency Labour Parties andhave strategic oversight of the CLPdevelopment plans, being able to intervene asnecessary, take appropriate action and offersupport in instances where a CLP does notsubmit a development plan.


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B. Connecting with communities

1. Registered Supporters scheme

There was strong support for involving

supporters more formally and consistently inthe party provided this was not at the expenseof the rights of members. A registeredsupporters scheme would be based onindividuals making a positive decision to signup by completing a paper or on-line form.Supporters would be recruited by local parties,affiliates and elected representatives,registering their details online, or by aRegistered Consultee organisation. Around thecountry there are many excellent examples ofindividual MPs mobilising support from peoplein their local community who back Labour butare not members of the party. Thesesupporters can be mobilised to back localcampaigns and add to local party efforts atelection time; be invited to local events and beconsulted on local and national matters byemail. Labour can learn from these examples ofbest practice and develop a network ofregistered supporters who can take part in ourparty, improve our organisation on the ground,build our links into communities and, most

importantly, help deliver successful electionresults. In order to safeguard the membershipoffer, there should be no formal rights forRegistered Supporters in CLPs or Branches.However, further consideration should begiven to the proposal that registeredsupporters should be able to vote in theLeadership Elections in the affiliatedorganisations section of the Electoral College.

2. Increasing involvement of levy-payingmembers of affiliated Trade Unions andmembers of Socialist Societies

Together with registered supporters, tradeunion members represent the wider societythat needs to be heard in our party alongsideour individual membership. Subject toconsultation with trade union colleagues anddealing satisfactorily with issues around dataprotection legislation, we would want to worktowards developing a process whereby our

CLPs were able to invite Trade Union levypayers in their area to policy, campaigning andsocial events, and where our nationally

affiliated Trade Unions were able to inviteLabour party members to their events. Theparty should extend this reciprocal agreement

to all affiliated organisations, as socialistsocieties combine specialist expertise withreach into relevant communities of interest,building alliances with others who share ourvalues but are not party members.

3. Registered Consultees

There was support for involving externalvoluntary organisations in the partys work,especially for campaigning and policy-making.

The party should therefore create the statusof Registered Consultee within our rules sothat organisations can acquire newopportunities to be heard by the party withoutany requirement to show public support. TheNEC would reserve the right to refuse orwithdraw Registered Consultee status fromany organisation whose aims or activities were

deemed inconsistent with those of the party.

4. Embedding community organisingmethods in the way we work

There is wide recognition of the need to learnfrom the approach to Community Organising inthe US and from organisations in the UK suchas London Citizens and Trade Unions. Centralto our mission to engage with, represent andcampaign in our local communities is work tobuild relationships in communities and workwith local people and groups to campaign forchange. The party therefore needs to look at

how it can learn from the best practiceavailable and embed minimum communityorganising standards across the Labour Party.

5. Working with Community Organisingpartners

There is much the party can learn from otherorganisations who engage in CommunityOrganising and community campaigning suchas our affiliated Trade Unions and the Co-

operative movement. The party should workwith such organisations to develop this workand support members and local parties indeveloping community engagement.


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6. Elected representatives - CandidateContracts

Labours elected representatives andcandidates must be hard-working, in constantcontact with their communities and active as

leaders of their local parties, while meetinghigh standards of conduct in all aspects oftheir work. Our elected representatives hold avast array of posts in wide rangingcircumstances so a one-size-fits-all modelwould be inappropriate. However, there issupport for the creation of a CandidateContract with some agreed mandatoryelements, which local parties could adapt tosuit their needs.


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C. Increasing member participation and involvement

1. Training and development

Many submissions have highlighted the needfor the party to continue to invest in thetalents and skills of its members. In addition toexpanding and developing the trainingcurrently offered through the Labour PartyTraining Academy and webinar programme,submissions have highlighted key groups whocould be trained to help deliver training to theirpeers and local parties, and have identifiedparty roles with key responsibilities for whichspecific training should be made available,maybe compulsory in some instances

2. A better communication infrastructure forparty members

It is clear members find Membersnet difficultto navigate and expect more from a partyintranet system. There is overwhelmingsupport from party members for a betterinfrastructure that allows them to forminformal groups with each other andcommunicate with each other NEC/NPF tomembers; officer to officer; new member tonew member; young member to youngmember; and so on as well as gain easy,simple access to local party and nationalcontacts, party resources, sign up to events,discuss policy, share their skills and bestpractice. In addition, we need to build acommunication system that allows staff todeal promptly and effectively with memberemail communications.

3. Membership subscriptions

Many submissions, while recognising the needfor a stable financial base, have commented onthe high cost of joining the party. We havetherefore taken a critical look at ourmembership income and are considering asuggestion for an alternative fee structurewhich would we believe achieve the objectivesof a lower join rate, and lower rates for youngmembers, the unwaged, retired and those fromworking class backgrounds, while cruciallymaintaining the income level the party needs.

4. Local party finances

The wide range of financial circumstancesfaced by CLPs has been highlighted by somesubmissions. In particular some CLPs areburdened with increasing levels of debt, due tothe Euro levy and party insurance payments,and are unable to pay for delegates toconference. Submissions have asked us tolook at the uneven distribution of wealthamongst our CLPs and make recommendationsfor action to achieve a basic level of supportfor all and develop party organisation on theground.This is a complex issue and further

work needs to be done before any finalrecommendations are made.


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D. Party Leader, Leadership election, elected representatives and candidates

1. Party Leader: rights and responsibilities

The Refounding Labour consultation has

exposed the fact that the position of theLeader has never been clearly stated in thepartys rules. Clause VII.1.A simply says thatthere shall be a Leader and Deputy Leader andthen refers to the election process. The partyneeds a clear statement in the ConstitutionalRules of the role, rights and duties of thepartys democratically elected Leader. It hasbeen suggested that a new clause in theConstitutional Rules would pull togetherexisting rules provisions. This would also be

required to confirm the PLPs decision that allfront bench appointments should be made bythe Leader whether the party is in governmentor opposition.

2. Gender balance within the LeadershipTeam

Many submissions have called for measures tocement the principle of gender balance withinthe partys leadership team, perhaps through a

gender-balanced Leader/Deputy ticket whenthe Leader is elected. This would demonstrateour commitment to achieve equality at everylevel of the party but would require rulechanges. Further consideration will be given tothis proposal.

3. Leadership election Electoral College

The consultation has raised a number ofquestions and proposals with regard to the

process for electing the Leader of the party.Clear expressions of concern have been madeabout the ability of party members to castmultiple votes; particularly in respect of MPsand MEPs who already have the ability tonominate candidates in addition to having theirown section in the electoral college. Whilethere has been a high degree of consensus onthe need to deal with multiple voting, othersuggestions for change require furtherconsultation over the summer.

4. Labour MPs: rights and responsibilities

If there is an argument for more clearly

defining the rights and responsibilities of theParty Leader, it also extends to the electedrepresentatives who comprise his team inParliament. It is therefore proposed to includein Labours constitutional rules, for the firsttime, clear statements about the role, rightsand duties of Labour MPs.

5. Labour Councillors: rights andresponsibilities

Labour councillors are the backbone of ourorganisation, our thermometer for publicopinion, and a crucial part of our policydevelopment, as they see the effect of policyimplementation on the ground in ourcommunities. The status and support given toLabour councillors therefore needs to beincreased. In order to fund improved servicesfor councillors it has been suggested that wereplace the ALC subscription which councillorsare currently required to pay with a 2 per centlevy in line with levies on other Labour electedrepresentatives. Inspired by the many Labourgroups, which operate a Group levy to fundcampaigning, there was strong support for aminimum local levy which all groups wouldraise in order to fund local organisers inpartnership with local parties and with strongpractical assistance from the national party.

6. Local Government and Parliamentaryselection procedures

There is a need to re-examine the partys localgovernment selection procedures. Local partysubmissions and the LGA are clear earlycandidate selection should be encouraged inorder to allow for more dedicated campaigningin the run up to local elections. A long drawnout selection process, or a late one, candamage chances in local elections and bepotentially disruptive.

The NEC will review parliamentary selections

procedures in the light of both submissions

to this consultation and the practical issues

revealed by the pilot procedure being used in

twenty-six early selections


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E. Equality

1. A party for women

Many submissions talked about the need forthe party to change the way it organises tomake sure that all women members get to playtheir part and put their particular skills intopractice and that there is a distinct voice forwomen members in the development of ourpolicy. We must ensure that the partyscommitment to equality is put into practice in astrong, effective and well-resourced womensorganisation. Recommendations will bebrought forward in this area.

There was overwhelming support for thereinstatement of an Annual National WomensConference to bring women together outsideof their local party structures. Manysubmissions talked about the need to link thisconference with the work of the NationalPolicy Forum and Annual Conference, andmany women members wanted to ensure thatany womens conference wouldnt happen inisolation from established channels wheredecisions are taken.

Throughout the submissions, it is clear that ourcommitment to equal representation at everylevel of our party is applauded. The majority ofsubmissions credit our commitment to using AllWomen Shortlists (AWS) with the changingface of our party.

2. A party for young members

A number of submissions referenced thecrucial role that young members play at everylevel of our party, and there was a strongfeeling that investment should take place inour youth structures in terms ofrepresentation, events, communication,training and policy development - to ensurethat our party is always able to rely on anactive and motivated youth membership. Manysubmissions asked for greater clarity as to therole and remit of Young Labour, and there was

a clear sense that it should be given rights andresponsibilities that other sections andaffiliates enjoy.

The desire for an annual youth conference wasexpressed; where the event should be not justabout elections but also give young members

the chance to come together and debatepolicy, agree policy motions and Young Labourcampaigns. We agree that the Young LabourNational Committee should play a key role inthe planning and the execution of the event. Itis accepted that the Chair of Young Labour andthe NEC Youth Rep should chair YouthConference, with the help of other members ofthe committee.

3. A party for ethnic minority members

A number of submissions regarding thestructures that we currently have in place forBAME members talked about the need forbetter defined roles for CLP Ethnic MinorityOfficers and Ethnic Minority Forums, as well asincreased training and representation forBAME members at every level of the party. InBAME Labours submission, the issue ofinclusivity of CLPs with regards to BAME

members was raised. BAME Labour sees a needto ask CLPs to develop a race equality strategyfor their constituency, as well as to make theexisting complaints procedure more accessibleto members.

4. A party for members with disabilities

Across all of the consultation events, the issueof double discrimination was raised,

particularly with regard to disability.Submissions highlighted a lack ofunderstanding in local parties aboutaccessibility, and quite often a lack oftolerance for access needs that members mayhave. A lack of clarity regarding theresponsibilities that local parties have to maketheir activities accessible needs to be rectifiedso that we can build a party that is inclusive ofall members.


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5. A party for LGBT members

LGBT Labours submission sought to formaliseand extend its representation on party bodiesand ask the party do more to ensure that LGBT

candidates get selected. LGBT Labourssubmission highlighted the issue of LGBTrepresentation not just in terms of the UKParliament, but also in the Scottish Parliamentand the Welsh Assembly. Discriminationagainst LGBT candidates, and developing aselection process that prevents this fromhappening should also be considered.


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F: A strengthened policy-making process

1. Involving our members in policy-making

Discussions during this consultation havefocussed on the need to make a reformedpolicy making system more accessible andresponsive to party members. Members haveexpressed views that the policy makingprocess could be opened up by harnessingtechnology to allow for a more inclusive andinteractive discussion both in terms ofdiscussion of documents produced forconsideration but also in terms of dealing withcurrent issues which arise outside the currentcycle of long-term policy development. For

those people who do take the time to getinvolved in the policy making process, issues oftransparency and feedback have been a themein many of the submissions from members.

2. Reaching out to the public

Contributors have discussed the need to buildprocesses which enable the party to reach outto the public, to ensure that we develop policywhich is rooted in an understanding of ourcommunities. It has also been argued that theparty must do more to reach out to charities,community groups, businesses, NGOs andother elements of civil society.

3. Stronger policy-making institutions

The consultation has revealed both a desire forthe various policy-making bodies to be moreopen, transparent and responsive to membersin order to facilitate engagement, and forreform to improve how the various bodieswork and interact with one another.

a. The National Policy Forum

The structure of the current policymaking cycle whereby policy isdeveloped via a rolling three yearprogramme has been an issue ofdebate; as has the way in which CLPsand members engage with thedocuments produced. Greater clarity is

required in the process. A reformedPartnership in Power process should beaccompanied by clear structures andinformation, with clarity about

how party members can engage withthe policy making bodies and what they

can expect when they do so. NPFdelegates need to be empowered tocommunicate with each other, and withparty members and other stakeholdersin their regions. Policy submissions, aswell as agendas and minutes of NPF,

JPC and Policy Commission meetings,need to be made more accessible

b. The Joint Policy Committee

The Joint Policy Committee is

responsible for strategic oversight ofthe Partnership into Power process.Conversations during the RefoundingLabour consultation have recognisedthat the oversight role is an importantone, but there have been viewsexpressed that there needs to begreater clarity in how the JPC carriesout this duty and a fresh look at howthe Committee can be used tostrengthen the policy making process,especially with regard to creating more

joined up policies by addressing cross-cutting issues. Submissions to theconsultation have expressed a desirefor CLPs and others to be provided withclearer guidance in terms of policyareas on which to focus theirdiscussions.

c. Annual Conference

Submissions to the consultation haveshown a strong desire for the

conference to retain its position at theapex of our internal democracy.However, the consultation has alsorevealed a widespread sense that thepresent conference arrangements andstructures could be improved. Inaddition there is a need to tackle thedeclining attendance by some CLPs,which may be aided by extra financialsupport. The weighting of votes atconference was another issue to

emerge from submissions. Thespectrum of views means that furtherreflection is needed before any clearproposal can be put to the party.


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d. Conference ArrangementsCommittee

The Conference ArrangementsCommittee has the primary function oforganising the party conference

agenda. Some have argued that thecomposition of the CAC should bechanged, with competing proposalsadvocating representation for thesocialist societies, the NPF, or forincreased representation of the CLPs. Itis therefore necessary to give thismatter further consideration before aclear proposal can be put to conference.

e. The National Executive Committee

A number of proposals concerning thecomposition of the NEC were made.One suggestion is that, in the light ofdevolution, Scotland and Wales shouldhave guaranteed representation on theNEC. Several submissionsrecommended the removal of thehistoric ban on members of the TUCGeneral Council joining the NEC.Proposals were also made to addrepresentatives from LGBT Labour andthe Labour Party Disabled MembersGroup when their memberships reacheda certain size. Further consideration willbe given to all these proposals.

Documents

Refounding Labour - Interim Report