autumn EDITION 2014 ISSUE NO 78 EDITOR: RAY DAVISON EAST DEVON CLP AND CLPD SW REGIONAL ORGANISER CLPD publication for CLPs and Labour Party Members www.clpd.org.uk (where this All enquiries: [email protected] newsletter can be downloaded). For detailed and exclusive NEC and NPF reports, internal Party news and debates including Shenanigans, visit www.grassrootslabour.net and for lively Telephone 01395 277481 debates where you can contribute, visit www.leftfutures.org or twitter.com/clpd_labour or email CLPD: [email protected] LOOKING AHEAD WITH Annual Conference THE UNIONS TO A Alert 2014 By Peter Willsman, LABOUR VICTORY Secretary CLPD and member of Conference BILLY HAYES, 2015. Yet no one should seriously regard it as Arrangements GENERAL SECRETARY CWU a sufficient basis for government until 2020. After the victory of the Conservatives in Committee (CAC) the 1951 General Election, there is a famous All the signs are 1981–1994 incident where the new government re- that Labour will duced the anticipated Armed Forces Budget. form a major- Churchill pointed out, in Parliament, how Briefing on key rule ity government in this decision of the Tories was in line with change proposals 2015. Lord Ash- the stance of Bevan against the over-inflated from CLPs coming up croft’s larger opin- military spending plans of the Labour lead- at Manchester ion polls all indicate ership. that the Tories and Equally, after the 1997 General Election, At Manchester delegates will be de- Lib Dems are going the Labour government held itself to Tory bating and voting on (by card votes) a to lose a lot of seats spending limits for the first period of Parlia- number of key changes to our Party’s to Labour. ment. Kenneth Clarke, the Tory Chancellor Rule Book. Some of these will be ta- David Cameron seems to agree. This who proposed these limits previously, said bled by the NEC. But there are also a realisation forced him into a large Cabinet that he wouldn’t have stuck to them after the number of very important rule change reshuffle in an attempt to find more present- election. proposals tabled by CLPs. They were able faces for the Tories. This will fail, as the It is this seam of pragmatism that has al- submitted last year, but under an ob- faces aren’t the problem, it’s the policies. lowed the Tories to survive and remain in- scure convention (known as the ‘1968 This realisation is also dawning upon es- fluential. Unfortunately, Labour politicians Ruling’) have been delayed for a year. tablishment forces in the media. We can ex- frequently fail to demonstrate this admirable This ruling does not apply to rule pect many more of the character assassina- quality. Instead, they torment themselves changes from the NEC. The NEC can tion attempts against Ed Miliband that we’ve about appearing unpatriotic, or against the agree rule changes one week and have witnessed recently. Our opponents will fight armed forces. Currently, the inflexible dog- them voted on by conference the fol- dirty because that is their character. ma is to appear more responsible about the lowing week! Clearly, there’s a premium on the unity economy than the Tories. It is vital that delegates ensure that of our movement to secure Labour’s victory. An incoming Labour government must the CLP proposals are given a fair hear- In these few months before May, we have to assess the economic situation much more ing and are not brushed aside. (For full concentrate our resources on winning every flexibly than it is able to do in opposition. details of these Constitutional Amend- vote and seat possible. The dramatic and continuing cuts in living ments (rule changes) see the Delegates’ But, we cannot pretend that all policy de- standards of the majority of people in this Report booklet for Manchester). bate is resolved. Nor can we avoid continued country require serious action from a Labour Last year, in addition to the rule discussion about the implementation of re- government. Sticking to Tory spending tar- changes from CLPs that have slipped forms following Collins’ recommendations gets, which in government the Tories would through the CAC’s nets, there were no being accepted by the Spring Conference. probably ditch, is one-way that an incoming fewer than a further eight rule chang- The decisions of the National Policy Fo- Labour government could make itself deep- es submitted by a total of 14 CLPs rum have laid the basis for Labour’s mani- ly unpopular. festo. This is our electoral offer to the British (cont. on p10) people. It should be good enough to win in (cont. on p2)

PLEASE PASS THIS NEWSLETTER ON TO ENSURE A WIDE CIRCULATION. CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 NO TO AUSTERITY, YES TO INVESTMENT AND A LABOUR EMERGENCY BUDGET

MICHAEL BURKE – a £40bn government guarantee to local ment’s cost of borrowing. The extra resourc- authorities to fund council house building. es could be used for deficit-reduction or for The ‘recovery’ in Britain is driven by ris- Subsidising nuclear power profits could be further investment. ing household debt and a housing bubble. replaced with investment in renewable en- Living standards. The Living Wage Inequality is rising and living standards are ergy, and so on. should become the Minimum Wage and be falling for the overwhelming majority. These Waste. Over the next two years alone strictly enforced. Rights should be restored are a direct consequence of austerity. To PFI will cost £17bn. There should be no for workers, including collective bargaining. achieve a different outcome, Labour’s eco- new PFI contracts under Labour, existing Equality. The wage gap for women nomic policy will have to be radically differ- contracts should be strictly enforced with a needs to be tackled by punitive measures ent. view to ending them. Outsourcing can be re- on extortionate employers. Laws against job The British economy has a huge deficit in versed, saving billions. and other discrimination need to be strictly productive investment (transport, infrastruc- Scrap Trident and cut military spend- enforced. ture, housing, machinery and equipment), ing. Any Trident replacement will cost The same approach is needed to combat which accounts for economic stagnation and £100bn and serve no purpose. Military discrimination against black and Asian peo- low wages. To end austerity Labour must be spending should be cut. Other successful ple and ethnic minorities. A growing econo- able to direct investment to key areas of the EU economies survive without either nu- my will also attract needed immigration, and economy. clear weapons or Britain’s bloated military should be welcomed. The Labour front bench has said it will spending. There are many other measures that borrow for investment. It will also invest Tax. The Coalition cut the 50p tax rate could be taken and these are only an outline. in childcare, which yields a return from in- and corporation tax while increasing VAT. The Coalition has eased up on the pace of creased employment and pay, and in turn It also removed tax incentives for genuine austerity since the ‘omnishambles’ Budget, boosts tax revenues and lower social security investment. All these measures can be re- but the intention is for it to resume with a payments. But the lost level of investment versed at no fiscal cost. The tax gap could vengeance post-2015. Labour can win and is now £300bn and rising by £50bn annu- be closed considerably by targeting the succeed in government by offering a real al- ally. This means much bolder measures are largest tax-avoiding firms, including multi- ternative. required to avoid permanently embedding nationals. poverty and slow growth. Ending private sector subsidies. ● Michael Burke blogs for Socialist Government can currently borrow at be- Many firms receive billions in government Economic Bulletin (bit.ly/SocialistEcon) low the rate of inflation. But because of the subsidies, from the rail franchisees, to energy scale, borrowing cannot be the only answer. companies, to leeches on the NHS. If the Many other measures can be used to boost firms cannot survive without subsidy, then investment and prosperity at no cost to gov- their activity belongs in the public sector. BITEBACKS ernment. These include the following. Renationalisation. The privatised rail Direct the banks to lend. Ownership firms, energy and utility companies and Roy- ‘You can’t control what you don’t or control over the large banks means the al Mail have all hiked prices, made huge pay- own, so the private ownership of government could direct lending away from outs to shareholders and to executives and public goods needs to be ended so financial speculation, like housing and to- cut vital investment while receiving subsidies that key parts of our economy are wards productive investment. from the government. democratically controlled and ac- Transform existing schemes. All the Labour could renationalise these compa- countable. If you privatise public in- schemes like the notorious Help to Buy nies and receive these shareholder dividends, frastructure and services, you end up could be reversed, to become Help to Build which are much higher than the govern- privatising the public interest too.’ (Andrew Fisher: The Failed Experiment, Radical Read 2014.)

(Billy Hayes cont. from previous page) chance of becoming an affiliated supporter ‘The loss of democratic control over to every CWU levy payer before the General the financial system in general and Sticking to Tory spending limits and Election. Such efforts have to be met by the private credit creation in particular solving the cost-of-living crisis are contradic- Labour leadership showing a preparedness means that the state cannot regulate tory policies. We must ensure that a Labour to respond to trade union concerns. in the interests of society as a whole.’ government resolves this in favour of the The agreement at the NPF to establish (Ann Pettifor: Just Money, 2014.) latter, not the former. a Commission on the modern workplace In 2015 the whole constitution of the is an important step in that direction. The ‘Sticking to Tory spending limits and Party is to be changed by the introduction commission will, we hope, lay the basis for solving the cost-of-living crisis are of “affiliated supporters” from political levy a progressive reform of the labour market. contradictory policies. We must en- payers. However we view the decisions of We must move away from systemic inse- sure that a Labour government re- the Spring Conference, there is a challenge curity at work. We need workplaces condi- solves this in favour of the latter, not for all now to show that Labour is relevant tioned by respect, equality and rising living the former.’ to trade union members. standards. This is a challenge which Labour (Billy Hayes, Campaign Briefing 78.) The CWU is intending to offer the must meet.

2 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014

THE NPF AT MILTON KEYNES SAINT MARIA FYFE, FORMER MP FOR Miliband had requested his shadow team to GLASGOW MARYHILL and be receptive as far as possible, because his GEORGE argument is that when we have a Labour NPF member representing government it can create many progressive Scotland advances while continuing a cuts programme AND THE until the debt is paid. To put things in That in itself provided the sole subject DRAGON AT perspective, I will that went to “final debate” and vote on the begin with a brief Sunday morning. I put “debate” in inverted account of War- commas because the sole speaker for the THE NPF wick 2. In 2008, for amendment (George McManus) got one Before George the first time, the minute, as did Ed Balls speaking against. McManus made CLPs had the right George was pushing for an emergency his speech, he to submit amend- budget in our first year of government, Ed was asked if he ments to the policy B was arguing we couldn’t open ourselves up wanted to with- documents. There to Tory accusations of spendthrift policies. draw his mo- were numerous side meetings to discuss Only 14 of us agreed with George, so a Mi- tion. He refused outstanding amendments where no consen- nority Position debate will not take place at and was invited sus had been agreed, that went on to nearly Conference. to speak but Angela Eagle in the chair 6am. In the final plenary no fewer than 32 couldn’t see him. When he shouted outstanding amendments were voted on. If “Why would CLPs raise “here I am,” Angela apologised and any one of them received 41 votes or more funds to send a delegate explained she couldn’t see him as there (25%) it would go forward to Annual Con- was a bright light behind him. “That’s ference as a Minority Position. In the event to Conference just to nod my halo” said George, to much laugh- only 3 were endorsed, and 2 with 41 votes through documents ter whereupon Angela said “I’d like to gained Minority Position. Many of the oth- already agreed?” invite Saint George to the rostrum,” ers had very low votes. and this is what he said: Compare and contrast with Milton I have remaining concerns about contin- Keynes. I was not at Warwick, but I read “Comrades. I say comrades advis- uing to have a Conference that is reduced to CLPD’s account of it (Peter Willsman, The edly because there’s a war going on a showcase for candidates and an extended Saga of Warwick 2, Campaign Briefing, Edi- out there and it’s our comrades that rally. Why would CLPs raise funds to send a tion 7I 2008) and kept hearing throughout are losing. I was proud to march with delegate to Conference just to nod through the weekend how horrendous Warwick had striking workers this month and I’ll do documents already agreed? We need to show been. I can only speak for my experiences so again. attending Conference is worthwhile, and ad- of the meetings I attended at Milton Keynes, This amendment was motivated mit that all these conversations on stage, on but I found the relevant shadow ministers by the desire to communicate a mes- the sofa, are less interesting than watching willing to find common ground, and not sage for the benefit of those workers paint dry. reject something just because they hadn’t that we should not box ourselves in to thought of it first. On workplace rights, for George Osborne’s austerity spending example, Chuka Umunna accepted my sug- plans. Austerity, in my opinion is not gestions for strengthening the document. the solution to our problems, it is in On Trident they offered additional para- BITEBACKS fact the cause. I want to see us win the graphs that the entire Scottish delegation election and the two Eds getting on supported, but we found that they did not with the job. find favour with the others who had put ‘The PM’s pledge that “money is no But at dinner the other night, down similar amendments to our own. But object” in helping flood victims has Steve Richards [columnist and guest in the end we were all able to agree com- holed Tory philosophy below the wa- speaker – Ed] said ‘Get your message promise wording, which will be enormously terline.’ right’ and I don’t think the message beneficial for our efforts to defeat national- (Jonathan Freedland, Guardian workers are getting is the right one. ism in the coming referendum. 15/2/14.) Promising more austerity could dam- The best thing to come out of it all was age, not improve our election chances. the large number of improvements delivered ‘The richest 85 people in the world Comrades, people don’t march to by CLP and Regional Reps. In every policy have the same amount of wealth – war behind leaders who wave a policy document you will find several such amend- $1.7tn – as the bottom half of the document or a fiscal projection. They ments that won endorsement. Many of earth’s population. That’s quite a stag- march behind leaders who show cour- them cost little or no money to implement. gering figure. You could get these 85 age and have a vision of a better life with Yet they form an appealing list of policies people on a London double-decker the clear messages that go with that. that are well worth the effort put in to secure bus (not that they would ever be seen Please support the amendment.” them – and nobody was up all night trying on a bus) and they would be as wealthy to achieve it. as 3.5 billion people.’ THE AMENDMENT WAS, OF So, clearly a huge improvement on War- (Larry Elliott, Guardian 20/1/14.) COURSE, LOST. wick 2. It seems probable to me that Ed

3 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 EXPERIENCING THE NEC

CHRISTINE SHAWCROFT, The vast majority of Party members are Collins!) to stop me getting the nomination, NEC AND NPF MEMBER against Collins. GCs discussed it and Shadow but ultimately I won. At least, at the Special Ministers spoke at Regional meetings about Conference, Ed Miliband wasn’t able to say The National Ex- it. I never heard of one of these meetings that the NEC unanimously endorsed Col- ecutive was dom- endorsing it. Unfortunately, negotiations lins, which he had dearly wanted to be able inated by the Col- took place and a “deal” was agreed – which to say. At that Conference, delegates broke lins Report this basically gave the Leadership everything they their mandate, voted the wrong way “by mis- year. After a huge wanted but which delays the full implementa- take”, and CLPs emailed me beforehand and fuss in the me- tion for five years. An implementation group said that, although they were opposed to the dia about trade of NEC members has been set up and we Report, they felt they had to vote in favour union fiddles were assured at the NEC that they will not of it. over the Falkirk allow the Party to be bankrupted. Since then, I’ve never understood this. At the re- selection, which we have had financial reports to the NEC cent National Policy Forum (a fuller re- later turned out saying that the position over union affiliation port is on my website) George McManus not to have happened, a panicking Leader- money is even worse than they thought it pushed his anti-austerity amendment to ship set Ray Collins to work out ways to cut was going to be. the vote. He made a brilliant speech (in the link between the Party and the unions. Dennis Sinner and I both voted against one minute!) and got nods and murmurs A confidential report into Falkirk was later the recommendations at the NEC. Since of agreement all round. One very senior discussed at the NEC, but as it was so confi- then the knives have been out for both of MP told him afterwards to keep up the dential that only a couple of people had seen us. Dennis was voted off the NEC when good work and get the message out. Yet all it, and I wasn’t one of them; the debate gen- the rules were changed allowing all MPs to these people voted against something they erated more heat than light. I gather it was vote, rather than just backbenchers. I spent clearly agreed with! They’re worried about later leaked and turned up on the Guardian’s months fighting off a concerted effort in rocking the boat but don’t seem to have website. my CLP (which voted unanimously against noticed that it’s sinking. WHY CLPs SHOULD HAVE MORE NEC REPRESENTATION

DANIEL BLANEY, It is suggested by some that the members People rightly note the limited spread of should elect NEC representatives by region. CLPD EXECUTIVE MEMBER CLP representatives. They must be encour- This would be a backward step. It would al- aged to support rule changes that ensure CLP most certainly result in each party member representation is equal to trade union repre- The cycle of elections to the party’s national only voting for one representative: a single sentation and greater than that of MPs. Pro- executive committee involves various tradi- election for each region. At present mem- posals to limit a members’ ballot paper for the tions. One of those is a regular, and fairly le- bers have six votes. CLPD wants to increase NEC to one place by region must be rejected. gitimate, complaint that there are not enough democracy in the party and for members to (or sometimes any) candidates from that have more representation. Reducing each member’s region. The problem is that with ballot paper to one X, with candidates lim- BITEBACKS only six NEC places reserved for direct elec- ited to that region, would not improve party tion by the membership (“the CLP repre- democracy. sentatives”), and more than six party regions, I want to support Ann Black for the ‘The two Eds are now adopting eco- it is mathematically impossible for represen- NEC, who has diligently pursued mem- nomic policies they know to be wholly tation from each region to be elected. bers’ interests over many years and com- wrong in order to respond to an analy- Until Tony Blair pushed through internal mands much respect. She does not live in sis they know to be utterly false, so as rule changes in 1997, there were seven CLP my region and if representation were re- to go along with the voters. It is the representatives. Since 1998 there have only gionalised I could NOT therefore register most disgraceful piece of political de- been six. In contrast the parliamentary party my support for her work. Similarly many featism I have ever witnessed in a long has three elected representatives in addition to people from across the country support career in political journalism.’ three selected from the front bench. The par- Ken Livingstone, but also want their votes (Ian Aitken, Tribune 12/7/13.) liamentary party includes, for these purposes, to ensure there is ethnic minority represen- MEPs and their leader is also represented. So tation and spread of opinion and experi- ‘To what extent, for example, did Labour that makes seven places for a few hundred ences. leader Ed Miliband’s unwarranted attack parliamentarians, as opposed to only six plac- CLPD has put for forward rule changes on Unite – and, by implication, the un- es for tens of thousands of party members! in the past to increase the number of CLP ion movement – give Grangemouth’s The trade unions have twelve places, representatives on NEC, but this has been billionaire owner Jim Ratcliffe the green which is about right, and CLPs should have discouraged by the party establishment, who light to manufacture a dispute in order equal representation to trade unions. This is seem to find plenty of places for parliamen- to take on Britain’s largest union?’ consistent with the 50:50 split between CLPs tarians on the executive (even if they can’t (Tribune Editorial 1/11/13.) and affiliates at annual conference. find one for Dennis Skinner!).

4 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 REMEMBERING ‘45 AND THE LESSONS OF HISTORY

Kelvin Hopkins MP must deal with the housing crisis by re-build- ards of working people and eliminate poverty. ing and expanding council housing on a scale If Labour does not start down this road Labour looks set not seen since the sixties and seventies. next year, the party could see its public sup- to win the Gen- Such a programme cannot be achieved by port drain away. There are serious lessons we eral Election next tightening the vice on public spending. Our must learn from President Hollande’s failure year but it would leaders should remember and seek to emulate in France where his popularity has dropped to be a tragic mistake the advances for working people by the great just 16% and from PASOK in Greece which if the leadership Attlee government after the Second World has effectively committed political suicide simply continues War and not simply recreate the Ramsay Mac- by joining New Democracy conservatives to with the coalition donald tragedy of 1929-31 which saw the enforce austerity on Greek people. Pasok’s cuts and squeeze Labour Party split and out of power until it support is now well below 10% and has been on public spend- rediscovered its socialist roots in the magnifi- abandoned millions of working class people. ing. Such a pro- cent election victory of 1945. Labour must show a practical socialist way gramme would be profoundly misguided in The government’s rigid refusal to coun- forward next year. If it does so it could go on economic terms and will lead to serious po- tenance public ownership in the railways, to win again in 2020 and beyond and show litical unpopularity. There are lessons from even where it has been proven to work on once again that democratic socialism really history, notably when a decade of austerity in the East Coast Mainline which is paying sub- works and that neo-liberalism does not. the 1920s, supposedly to reduce the post-war stantial sums back into the public purse, is debt from 1918, saw the government deficit another blatant piece of destructive dogma. increase, followed by crisis and the hungry Labour must adopt a programme of ex- BITEBACKS thirties. The voters expect Labour to be dif- panding vital public spending on the public ferent after 2015 and rightly so. services and reversing privatisation in health, ‘Inequality – whatever the prosperity of Labour must address the poverty and in- the railways, water and energy, with more to the nation as a whole – squanders tal- equality, the cuts in real wages and reduced follow. Labour must reassert its belief in state ents, depresses aspirations and dimin- living standards of the Tory/LibDem years. provision of essential services and public util- ishes the prospects of poor people’. The party in government must restore the ities and the active use of state power to sus- (Roy Hattersley, Guardian 15/8/13.) NHS and local government and above all it tain full employment, raise the living stand-

‘Community leaders’ or genuine advocates?

Lizzy Ali BAME officer, ties in public life”. The reality is that BAME If progress is to be made in the repre- Leyton and Wanstead CLP Labour represents only a small minority of sentation of all significant minority groups BAME Party members and is a pale reflec- (and not just the larger ones) and advocacy Back in the 1980s, a new generation of radi- tion of the struggles that distantly gave rise for their concerns, then it is not going to cal black leaders like Bernie Grant and Sharon to it. come primarily from BAME Labour. The Atkin emerged in the Labour Party, deter- In the 2010 leadership election, BAME last AGM of the BAME Labour branch in mined not only to increase minority represen- issued only 3,363 ballot papers. Only 392 my constituency took place at 5pm at a busi- tation, but also to commit the Party to social- were returned – a turnout of 11.7%. Of ness address, disenfranchising anyone with ist policies. The struggle for Black Sections these 137 were spoilt, leaving 255 valid votes. a job or with childcare responsibilities. We took place against the backdrop of uprisings Of these, 78% voted for David Miliband. need a new generation much closer to the within the inner cities in 1981 and 1985. BAME, in the words of one commentator, Party’s grassroots. Thirty years on, although the representa- resembles “a federation of minor commu- There is an avenue organising BAME tion of BAME communities has improved nity bosses [rather] than a true membership members contained within Refounding Labour in parliament and on local councils, it con- organisation” and “a trade body for these lo- in the creation of the post of CLP BAME of- tinues to lag behind the proportions in the cal power brokers”. ficer. The discussion document also claimed: general population and among the Party’s Recent polling has shown that Labour is “The Party will establish a working group to membership, and the evidence of racial dis- more than ever dependant on black, Asian work with BAME Labour to develop a tran- advantage is all around us, in employment, and other minority voters, particularly in sition to a single level of local organisation education and housing. London and other large urban areas. Yet the rather than two (with regard to BAME Local The mission statement of the national af- Party, while cultivating conservative “com- Branches and Ethnic Minority Forums).” filiate BAME Labour states that it “seeks to munity leaders” (for which read business Little has been heard of this, but the empower ethnic minority members within people), has shown by its repeated interven- opportunity exists to breathe new life into the Labour Party and campaigns for greater tions in selections that it distrusts local par- a crucial section of the Party’s membership. representation of ethnic minority communi- ties with high BAME memberships. We need to seize it.

5 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 BEWARE THE MACHINATIONS OF THE PARTY MACHINE AT CONFERENCE

GAYE JOHNSTON, CHAIR CLPD gins. Here further misinformation and prop- When I was a CLGA nominee for the aganda are pushed. CAC; the following ‘dodgy practices’ were As research for my There is evidence that illicit intervention reported: book about New in internal Party ballots continued up to last l Four delegates, from two regions, re- Labour showed, top year. Party rules prohibit staff intervention ported that their Regional Officers spent down control on but these are never enforced. A former Party most of Conference texting or approaching behalf of the Party organiser told me: “When it came to policies local delegates with requests as to who and hierarchy has long and rule changes being debated at Confer- what to vote for. been used to curtail ence, Party staff were expected to deliver the l A “dissident” delegate dozed off and free speech and fair results that the Leadership required.” missed voting in the CAC ballot. Later she balloting for Party Alice Mahon recalled, “When I stood asked her regional officer why they didn’t offices, resolutions for the Conference Arrangements Commit- awaken and remind her. They retorted: “It’s and rule changes during Conference. Con- tee I was on the Centre Left Grass Roots not our job”. The following day the same trol, once covert, is now almost completely Alliance (CLGA) slate. The Party machine staffer fetched another (compliant) delegate hidden. However most Party staff, who de- was working for leadership favoured can- to vote in the NCC ballot. livered control, are still employed and the or- didates. A regional organiser was introduc- l A first time delegate was approached ganisational culture of the Party has barely ing a leadership supported candidate to our by a regional official who inquired about his changed. If you are a first time or inexpe- delegates. I challenged her saying: “What views on an upcoming rule change and ar- rienced delegate please be vigilant and pass about us?’ She replied: “No, you’ve misun- gued against it. this warning to other newbies. derstood it.” l Watch out for similar incidents this year. Regional pre-Conference briefings for delegates appear to be like social occasions. Actually they are opportunities for Party staff to assess CLP delegates and deliver DON'T BE BEFUDDLED REMEMBER THE propaganda. Delegates are subsequently PARTY’S CODE OF classified into three categories: Important and urgent advice for all delegates to 1) Party democrats and socialist thinkers to Labour Conference 2014 and for Labour Party CONDUCT be marginalised, and prevented from speaking. members able to brief their CLP delegate(s) in 2) The naïve and docile, and uncritical advance. The NEC Code of Conduct for internal Leadership admirers, prepared to follow the elections includes the following: To ensure that Conference is allowed to Party machine slavishly (these will favoured, l Candidates are allowed to canvass del- debate the full 8 contemporary motions allowed to speak etc.) or egates but must not distribute literature that Party rules permit, it is vital that 3) Independents who might be leaned on inside the conference hall. Contact with CLP delegates vote for four different to support the Party line. delegates must not be carried out in a resolutions in addition to the four being At Conference Regional staff are cov- manner likely to cause offence or be seen supported by the trade unions. Union- ertly appointed as minders to keep an eye on to be applying pressure to delegates. each delegate and to prevent them straying. supported resolutions will obtain enough At the briefing you will be given ac- votes to be debated anyway. If CLP del- l If one candidate is allowed to distribute counts of Party rules and procedures which egates support them that will pile up use- literature at an official Labour Party event are likely to economise with the truth. less votes. The result will be that fewer then that facility must be available to all Delegates are expected to attend regional than four resolutions from CLPs will be candidates. debated as they won’t get sufficient sup- delegates’ receptions when Conference be- l port (this has already happened at all re- Labour Party staff employed by the cent Annual Conferences). NEC shall not canvass or distribute litera- BITEBACKS Resolutions being supported by the ture on behalf of any candidate. (Please unions will be notified in the Campaign immediately inform NEC members and Briefing newsletter, distributed outside the general secretary of any infringements ‘How it must rile politicians that while Conference before the first session, and at or possible infringements of the Code). only 18% of the public believe them the CLPD fringe meeting at Jury’s Inn at to tell the truth, and just 34% of us 6pm on 20/09/14. THE GMB SPELLS IT OUT believe business leaders, trade union BEWARE: Party staff have regularly officials are trusted by 41% and 78% aggravated this problem by informing The GMB’s Annual Congress agreed a believe trade unions are essential to regional pre-Conference delegates’ meet- motion, supported by GMB Executive, protect workers’ interests. Despite the ings that they should support resolutions that the Labour Party must always uphold media’s best efforts, 49% of us believe supported by the unions and denied that its Code of Conduct and that Labour Par- that big business poses a greater threat this will reduce the number of CLP Con- ty full-time staff must always be impartial to the public than trade unions, with temporary Resolutions allowed for de- and not interfere by telling delegates how just 13% dissenting.’ bate. they should vote. (Owen Jones, Guardian 7/7/14.)

6 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 THE PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY IN FOCUS

Michael Meacher MP drawn from the Progress route of middle some 40% of the population at large, but class, university, student union, PA, special only about 5% even of Labour MPs. The PLP has adviser to an MP, and thence eased access to There has to be more debate about contro- changed dramati- a seat from the inside (just like the Tories). versial issues in the PLP, more expression of cally over the long Instead it means far more with real experi- genuine views, more consultation of Labour years of my po- ence of the working class who still represent MPs before difficult decisions are reached. litical experience. It used to be the forum where policy differences were A VOICE THAT MUST BE HEARD thrashed out, the front bench was RIDA VAQUAS, YOUNG LABOUR To take a recent example, at the last com- held vigorously to account, and ideological UNDER-19S OFFICER mittee meeting, other members and I called debate provided the lifeblood for political on Young Labour to formally support the activism. No more. It must be the most plac- teachers in their industrial dispute, when What’s the point in a political committee id in modern times. Good of course in terms they were balloting for strike action, but it without any politics? of maintaining unity, which is an important wasn’t definite. Conrad Landin suggested we The duty of the Young Labour National objective, but less good in terms of political send a message of solidarity to NUT, which inspiration and campaigning drive. Committee is to represent members’ con- you would think is relatively uncontrover- The PLP is not unique in this respect. cerns, help them organise, and, importantly, sial. It was however resolved that the mes- The same process of dumbing down has vocalise our collective politics. sage would be written and then discussed at smothered Party conference which once was But as a committee member, I’ve seen the next meeting – in August! By this time, the heaving soul of the Labour Movement, that all too often this isn’t the case. the crucial moment when our support was but now has shrunk to become merely a There is no doubt that the committee is needed had already passed. showpiece for the Leader’s speech. composed of immensely dedicated and dili- As young members, we all know Young There are three main reasons for this. gent members. Labour has the potential to be so much One is that Tony Blair wanted the PLP to But too frequently any political discus- more, as shown by the creativity and radi- be a stage-managed army to secure his po- sion is hastily averted. What should be the cal optimism of the policies voted through litical base in Parliament and to that end shout of our young members is quietened the Left was squeezed out of parliamentary down to a whimper. at our last conference. Young Labour now selections and the PLP was systematically Significantly, the committee voted to has policy in favour of a “super-tax”, and colonised by those of Blairite/Progress render itself an essentially apolitical body in building 200,000 council homes a year. But persuasion. The culture changed too. Loyal- October 2013 – choosing not to debate two we can only seize all that is possible if we ty and compliance were rated over integrity motions that had been put before it. transform how the committee works and and participation, and such habits, though The use of the motion structure is a fair equally importantly more frequently involve they have somewhat ebbed since his time, and democratic way of making resolutions, the entirety of our membership in policy- die hard and still inform much of the mind- elucidating exactly what the beliefs are, and making and organising. set of the PLP. specifically what action will be undertaken. Ultimately Young Labour must decide Second, not unrelated, is the decline in In the past, the committee successfully between two purposes. It can be an organi- ideology. The Labour party, or at least cer- passed motions to reinforce Young Labour’s sation driven by fire, where every member tain lead elements within it, have all too support for the trade union link, and through engages consciously as a part of the labour readily accepted the Thatcherite dictates of this strengthening our bond with the wider movement. Or it can resign itself to the deregulated finance, market fundamental- labour movement. pallid exertions of an exhausted body that ism, ever more privatisation, and keeping the Most members take part in these meet- leaves the political decisions, and therefore unions on a short leash. With those objec- ings via the phone – so having a written mo- the outcomes, to the grown-ups. tives it’s difficult to see how a radical vision tion undoubtedly helps to follow what is be- of a very different economy and society can ing debated, and means that what is agreed gain traction. to will be carried out. Given this, the objec- BITEBACKS Third, where ideology is downplayed, tions to using motions in committee are un- careerism and image and presentation gain convincing at best. ‘Socialism is much more than either a the upper hand. Ed Miliband’s brave speech Through not discussing motions, the political creed or an economic dogma. denouncing this tendency and asserting that committee also determined that all policy It presents to the modern world a new what matters is what politicians do, not what discussion must be crushed into just a few conception of society and a new basis they look like, needs to be taken to heart by hours of the youth wing’s ‘policy confer- on which to build up the life of the every single member of the PLP. ence’, which takes place every two years. individual and of the state.’ Clearly a transformation of the PLP is This inevitably means that by the time things (Keir Hardie, ‘From Serfdom to So- needed, at several different levels. It needs actually come up for discussion, the situation cialism’, 1907. Chartist September/Oc- to be far more representative of the elector- has changed to the point that our capacity tober 2013.) ate it purports to serve. That means far less for effective action has been reduced.

7 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 BORIS A CROISSANT RICH AND SUBSTANTIAL

LAURA DAVISON, MEMBER OF tive “Not Ken Again” on activists. And it irks to think of all those FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE CLP campaign, using Bob hours put in while at the same time, accord- Crow as a bogeyman ing to the book, the work was being under- REVIEWS Alex Crowley’s and unpleasant com- mined by the leak of critical campaign info Victory in London: The ments on Ken’s con- from inside Labour. Inside Story of the Boris cession speech, de- But as the badges distributed after we scribing it as “typically lost said: “Don’t blame me, I voted for Campaign (2012) graceless and undigni- Ken”. fied”. Publication of this book appears to have Reading it two been met with a pointed lack of interest. years after the election does bring back the POSTSCRIPT: Judged “suitable for maiden aunts” by the sheer foot slogging effort on the ground and editorial criteria of its publisher Bretwalda the impact that the slings and arrows of the Enfin! The crafty croissant has at last come Books, it was released in 2012 and serialised campaign – for example the tax stories – had clean on his political ambitions. in the Standard, but attracted little comment. Written by a member of Boris Johnson’s election team, it purports to be an insider’s account of the 2008 and 2012 mayoral cam- paigns but the lens of the author means that, LABOUR MUST SAY NO TO rather than a warts and all account, it reads like a hymn of praise to Lynton Crosby et al. The pinnacle of its narrative powers is the TTIP description of Boris Johnson as like a crois- sant – rich and substantial… tions claiming their profit-making ability had The book portrays Johnson as a candi- MIKE HINDS, been impaired. (As an example, Philip Mor- date with a scattergun approach who needs EAST DEVON CLP MEMBER ris is suing the Australian government over a deadline, crisis or 9 point plan to trammel the introduction of plain packaging of ciga- him. In deciding whether to run at all, he The Labour Party, nationally and in Europe, rettes). Any costs will be born by the British puts his application in on deadline day. He should vigorously oppose acceptance of the tax-payer, thus reducing potential funding for ums and ahs over returning from holiday Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partner- investment in national programmes. when the London riots break out, deciding ship (TTIP). There are also other problems as the cen- to come back only when things have wors- National sovereignty is being eroded as tral aim of TTIP is to get rid of ‘unnecessary ened considerably. He allows speculation in never before by the growing power of trans- regulation’ by ‘harmonising standards’ across the press over his leadership ambitions when national corporations whose sole purpose is the US and EU. Corporate lobbyists will he should be concentrating on doing the day to maximise profit regardless of the impact have a field day with this, pushing to reduce job. of this on the local populations and environ- hard won standards that protect workers, so- It all adds up to potentially serious elector- ments where they operate. ciety and the environment. At a time when al problems. In the run up to the 2012 contest The terms of the Transatlantic Trade and many people within the UK think all political a series of focus groups is convened. The par- Investment Partnership (TTIP) will erode parties are the same and that there is no one ticipants are asked what they can remember even further the ability of sovereign govern- to champion the needs of the ordinary citi- that Johnson has achieved. Damningly – after ments to defend the welfare of their citizens zen, vigorous opposition to this European four years in the job – they can only think of with such regulatory barriers as those on so- legislation would signal that Labour is firmly two things to say: 1) “He was more interested cial standards and environmental regulation, on their side. in becoming Prime Minister” and 2) that “he the introduction of GM food, the use of was responsible for the bike hire scheme”. toxic chemicals, health and safety legislation (REPRINTED FROM ON TARGET They see someone who is only interested in and indeed any regulation in any sphere that JUNE 2014, THE NEWSLETTER OF their own career prospects and being a celeb- the corporation deems a threat to its profits. EAST DEVON CLP, EDITOR RAY DA- rity, not delivering for Londoners. A particularly alarming part at the heart VISON.) Sadly it’s not only the public who don’t of TTIP is the Investor State Dispute Settle- know what’s been achieved – neither do ment, which gives US companies (or US sub- Johnson’s own advisors. Of a campaign sidiaries of European companies) the right to meeting at a low point in the run-up to 2012, sue European governments for legislating in BITEBACKS the book says: “Frequently, one person would a way that reduces their ability to make prof- suggest an idea only for someone else to say its. The lawsuit would not be heard in British it had already happened before someone else or European courts but by a special tribunal ‘A finding against Israel by the Inter- would promptly disagree.” Polls at the time made up of appointed arbitrators from the national Criminal Court would send a also showed that ideas like the Thames Estu- world of corporate law. For example, a Brit- message that the policies of occupa- ary airport, the cable car and the notion of ish government attempting to renationalise tion are not acceptable and that they creating the “village in the city” were irrel- the railways, minimise the use of the private cannot continue to transgress interna- evant to Londoners’ real concerns. sector in the NHS, or improve trade union tional human rights with impunity’. The book also leaves a “nasty party” af- legislation could be faced with multi-million (Mark McDonald, Tribune 27/6/14.) ter-taste, with its account of the Tories nega- pound lawsuits from transnational corpora-

8 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 London needs a Labour government and a Labour Mayor

Diane Abbott MP areas where London’s upper middle classes homes a year. And half of them were council used to live, like South Kensington. Often houses. A Labour government ought to be All eyes are on these properties are empty for most of the able to do as least as well. the General Elec- year and are merely used as a “safe haven” A Labour mayoral candidate should also tion in 2015. But investment. This hollows out those commu- be defending London’s diversity. London is immediately after nities. But worse for London as a whole is the city that immigration made, whether it May 2015, London that London’s middle classes have been dis- was the immigrants from all over the coun- members will be placed into areas like Hackney, where people try who flocked to London in the eighteenth plunged into the on modest incomes used to live, driving up century, the Irish who came in the nineteenth selection for Lon- prices. Increasingly people on average wages century, Eastern European Jews, West Indi- don’s Mayor. So it stand no chance of buying inside the M25. ans, Pakistanis or the Eastern Europeans of is perhaps not too Spiralling house prices are reflected in rents. today. None of those waves of immigrants early to think about some of the issues that As Ed Miliband has said, we have seen the caused low wages. Predatory employers did London’s Mayor should be campaigning on. rise of “Generation Rent” young people that. Labour’s candidate for mayor should not A key issue for London’s mayor will be renting well into their thirties with no pros- be wringing their hands and apologising for housing. The Party already has good policies pect of buying and at the mercy of preda- letting too many immigrants in. They should on the private rented sector. But in London tory landlords and lettings agents. We need a obviously be working with trade unions to de- we need to go further. There is a tendency in package of measures to deal with the wildly fend trade union rights and freedoms to bear some parts of the Party to think that Lon- distorted London housing market. First of all down on exploitative employers. But they don’s housing problems can be solved by we need to consider some form of rent con- should be saying loud and clear that London market mechanisms alone. They argue that trols. We also need to look at ways of stop- is proud of its multiculturalism and will make all you have to do is increase supply with gar- ping the super-wealthy non-domiciled buyers no concessions to racism and xenophobia. den cities etc. and house prices will automati- turning some of the wealthiest parts of Lon- Labour is fortunate that it will have a cally fall. The further assumption is that this don into ghost towns and driving up prices range of quality candidates for Mayor. But will also have an effect on rent levels. But the for everybody else. Above all, we need to al- the important thing is, whoever Labour’s housing market in London is broken. There low councils to borrow to build. It was a Tory mayoral candidate is, that they appeal to is an almost endless supply of the interna- housing minister in the 1950s, Harold Mac- Londoners’ better selves and restore it as a tional super wealthy buying up property in millan, who promised, and delivered, 300,000 bastion of progressive policies.

Time for members to nominate for leader

Mike Watts, Clpd member This led to the development of the Na- In the previous leadership election we were tional Membership System which revolu- presented with the appalling fait accompli of & Labour’s Director of tionised the ability of the party to talk to its just one white male candidate. To the best Finance from 1987–1992 members and gave us tremendous fundraising of my recollection, previous leadership elec- opportunities. It also gave individual mem- tions gave us the choice of a total of eight When Ed Miliband first announced his in- bers more opportunity to participate. There white male candidates and one white wom- tention of changing the relationship I feared would be no OMOV without the National an. The current rules give the PLP the op- the worst. The initial perception was that his Membership System. Remember, up to that portunity to repeat this. intention was to detach the party from the time, we didn’t know who our members were. Another problem with only PLP mem- trade union movement. So these new rules actually give us an bers nominating is their regrettable tendency This would have been a disaster. It would opportunity to renew and rebuild our re- to want to associate themselves with prob- have changed for the worse, the very nature lationship with the trade unions. There is able winners, perhaps with career opportuni- of our party. Through our link with the trade however one area that leaves cause for con- ties overcoming principle. union movement we are potentially in touch siderable concern. That is the procedure for I accept that we must restrict the field to with millions of working people. With the nominating candidates for leadership elec- a manageable size; therefore we cannot af- Parliamentary Labour Party increasingly dom- tions. Surely, the time has come to involve ford to make it too easy to be nominated. inated by “professional politicians” this is an party members more fully in this part of the My proposal would be to keep the existing immensely valuable contact with real people process. That means allowing party mem- rules for PLP nominations but to also enable who do real jobs. bers to nominate candidates. My objection rank and file members and CLP’s to nomi- The true beginning of the modernisation to the current system is that we will end up nate. Why not use the same figure? 15% of of the Labour Party organisation began af- yet again with a very small and narrow field. members or 15% of CLPs required to secure ter the 1987 election. The instigators of this Remember, last time around David Miliband a nomination? were the trade unions and the then General had to instruct some of his more pliable sup- Surely this proposal is in line with Ed secretary, Larry Whitty, himself a product of porters to nominate Diane Abbott to ensure Miliband’s plans to devolve power to all citi- the trade union movement. we weren’t faced with a field of white men. zens of this country.

9 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 Annual Conference

(cont. from front page) Key votes in Party MANDATING OF DELEGATES (Bermondsey and Old Southwark CLP, Elections IS IN ORDER West Ham CLP, Bolsover CLP, Runny- mede and Weybridge CLP, Maidstone and National Constitutional Committee All unions and many CLPs instruct (i.e. The Weald CLP, Bridgend CLP, Great (Constituency Section): mandate) their delegates how to vote on Grimsby CLP, Meriden CLP, Newport items of Conference business. This is a Vote West CLP, Saffron Walden CLP, Wirral perfectly legitimate practice; it is up to each Anna Dyer West CLP, Bracknell CLP, Epsom and CLP as to what arrangements they make. Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn Ewell CLP and Redcar CLP). All of the The Rule Book is completely silent on the rule changes submitted by these 14 CLPs Vote matter. Anyone who tries to oppose man- were ruled out of order by the Confer- Gary Heather dating should be asked to produce the (non- ence Arrangements Committee (CAC). Islington North existent) rule which supports their case. In some cases the ruling out was out of order and in other cases it was question- able. It is obvious that the powers-that-be more, covering in some cases several pages. asking whether the proposal relates to do not want pesky CLPs interfering with Amendments on completely different issues the same “part” (whatever that means). their preordained rally, which is what An- to the subject of a proposed rule change nual Conference has degenerated into. which happened to fall in the same clause, And this despite the protestations from sometimes no more than drafting changes, Ed Miliband et al that they take CLPs se- have been used to prevent debating and vot- SUPPORT THE RULE riously and want to listen to them. Un- ing on constituency proposals. CLP rule CHANGE from Beverley fortunately these fine words do not butter changes ruled in order and scheduled for and Holderness CLP, any parsnips. The rule change proposals debate have sometimes been ruled out later Exeter CLP, Leyton that remain on the agenda at Manchester in the week because of NEC rule changes and Wanstead CLP and are: (often on different issues) to the same clause Liverpool Walton CLP made earlier in the week! These results are arbitrary and contrary to the spirit of the SUPPORT THE RULE three year rule. The amendment clarifies the CHANGE from East rule and helps the CAC reach its decision by The Conference Arrangements Commit- considering what a proposed amendment is tee (Constituency Section) to be elected Devon CLP, City of really designed to achieve, rather than simply by OMOV. Durham CLP, Islington North CLP and Mid- Bedfordshire CLP. Also Bury North CLP has a different version from the other four CLPs

To create a fair “three-year-rule” for rule changes at Conference. This proposal is intended to clarify this clause (known as “the three year rule”) to prevent the abuse of the rule- book that stops constituency parties’ proposed rule changes being considered. The original intention of this clause was to prevent repeated discussion of the same issue year after year, and these words were interpreted in that way for many years. In recent years, however, it has been interpreted increasingly widely and unpredictably: the word “part” is not defined by the rules and has been inter- preted to mean a whole clause or even

10 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 Alert 2014

and The Weald CLP) submitted rule SUNDAY’S PRIORITY BALLOT to make sure issues important to CLPs changes which would restore the cat- get a hearing, CLP delegates must make egory of trade union affiliated members to the Rule Book. These CLPs did this USE YOUR VOTE, their choices on different subjects from the union four, thus giving Conference well before the furore over Falkirk and DON’T WASTE IT the opportunity to debate four subjects Ed Miliband’s ill advised decision to have from the CLP section of the ballot and a “Clause IV moment” by demanding CLPs must give guidance to their del- thus eight subjects in all. Delegates are changes to the Party-union link. egates about how to vote in this ballot. likely to come under illegitimate and even For over seventy years our Party’s Above all they must be made aware that browbeating pressure from Party offi- Constitution always began with the clear there is no point whatsoever in wasting a cials, including parliamentarians, to rep- statement that the Labour Party has “two vote by supporting any of the same four licate the union four, thus restricting the classes of members, namely: (a) Affiliat- resolutions supported by the unions in number of issues. Don’t be fooled by this ed members (b) Individual members”. In the ballot even if, as is likely, you support undemocratic malpractice. CLPD will the last twenty years the Rule Book has any or all of them. The union four are be advising delegates of the four union been re-jigged many times and one re- rightly guaranteed automatic inclusion for choices in the Sunday edition of its Yel- sult is that this clear statement has been debate. To maximise range of debate and low Pages. lost sight of. This is unfortunate because the statement was a clear reminder that our Party was established as, and remains In recent years there has been a con- to this day, a federation. It was formed sistent trend towards giving all party mem- as a federal body in February1900 at a bers a direct vote for their representatives SUPPORT THE RULE CHANGE Conference of 129 delegates (117 from on our national committees. These moves from Burnley CLP Trade Unions, 7 from the Independent have given the grassroots membership Labour Party, 4 from the Social Demo- some rights and influence within their cratic Federation and 1 from the Fabian own party, which is particularly impor- Society). Ministers and Shadow Ministers to be ineli- tant given the countertrend towards more The rule change from the 3 CLPs gible to serve on the Conference Arrange- power accruing to the centre and the party simply wanted to re-instate a clear ver- machine. In 1997, party members were ments Committee (CAC) sion of the seventy-year-old statement. given the right to elect the constituency The CLPs have two seats on the Confer- But, although the 3 CLPs submitted section of the NEC by one member-one- ence Arrangements Committee (CAC) and their proposal in Spring 2013, and the vote (OMOV) and recently they were fur- for many years these were occupied by rank Special Conference, covering the Collins ther given the right to elect the constitu- and file members. In recent years, however, Review, was not until Spring 2014, the ency section of the National Policy Forum they have often been filled by government CAC has ruled that the 3 CLPs should (NPF) by OMOV. ministers or shadow ministers. To operate as be denied their right to be heard. This The Conference Arrangements Com- it should, the CAC must always be independ- is particularly unfair because at the Spe- mittee (CAC) is the Standing Orders Com- ent. Controversial policy issues at conference cial Conference no actual rule changes mittee of the party’s annual conference therefore put ministers or shadow ministers were carried on the issue raised by the 3 and it has two constituency seats (at least in an impossible position. They cannot serve CLPs. Thus there is, therefore, no ques- one of which must be held by a woman). two masters. They are always under pres- tion of any “three-year-rule” applying. These two seats are elected every second sure to follow the leader’s line, rather than The 3 CLPs have every right to be heard year. It is an important committee, for the democratic interest of the delegates. In at the 2014 Conference. But, regrettably, example it decides which conference mo- practice this would mean that they would be the CAC’s record suggests that the con- tion from CLPs are valid and which are under pressure to keep controversial issues cept of fairness is not one with which it not valid. It would therefore be an impor- off the agenda. is much acquainted! tant step forward for a grassroots democ- racy if these two constituency seats on the CAC were also to be elected by means of SUPPORT THE RULE OMOV. This reform need not cost extra CHANGE FROM BOLSOVER BITEBACKS money because the CAC election could CLP, RUNNYMEDE run alongside the OMOV elections for the AND WEYBRIDGE CLP NEC and NPF. MAIDSTONE AND THE ‘What harm have I ever done the La- A considerable number of CLPs no WEALD CLP – Much better bour Party?’ longer send delegates to conference and than Collins! (RH Tawney turning down a peerage therefore they and their members are totally offered by Ramsay McDonald, Guard- disenfranchised from the CAC election. This ian 16/8/12.) reform would effectively enfranchise every In Spring 2013 three CLPs (Bolsover CLP, member in every CLP. Runnymede and Weybridge CLP, Maidstone

11 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 TRIBUTES TO VLADIMIR

franchise for the election of the leader, the tory positions, supporting left policies whilst There have been many tributes to CLPD of the 1980s was, at Vladimir and his also being loyal, deferential even, to Labour’s Vladimir. Conrad Landin has done a bril- wife Vera’s instigation, the first organisation leadership. He criticised other Left group- liant job in putting them “all in one place” on the Labour Left to take up the issue of ings because, he said (in the CLPD Bulletin (Leftfutures June 14th 2014). We repro- the representation of women and BAME of January 1986), they: duce here an abbreviated version of Jon communities within the party, and amongst “do not attempt to win the support of Lansman’s very fine obituary (also on left- its candidates for public office. This was vig- the majority, or if they believe that is what futures and in full) and some of the trib- orously opposed initially, but without this they are doing, the methods they choose to utes from Vladimir’s closest comrades. initiative, it is hard to see how Labour could adopt to pursue their basic aims ensure they by 2010 have had 81 women and 16 black are not realised.” MPs, compared with ten and zero respec- A related argument remains a valid rejec- Obituary: Vladimir Derer, leading tively in 1983. tion of the arguments of those who argue campaigner for Labour Party Together with Vera, Vladimir created the against working within the Labour Party to- democracy organisation which resisted the rolling back day. Two years later: of all those democratic reforms for the fol- “The basic problem of the Left [is]... its Vladimir Derer lowing thirty years. Vladimir and Vera’s home unwillingness and therefore inability to come who was the lead- in Golders Green, North London, was its to terms with the political environment of ing figure in the headquarters. The Gestetner duplicators, typ- bourgeois democratic institutions which Campaign for La- wewriters, card index systems, stencils and constitute the framework for activity... [and bour Party Democ- ink of the late 1970s were eventually replaced have] displayed a degree of stability quite racy (CLPD) for with computers, photocopiers, laser printers unexpected by those who prophesied their forty years after its and toner. Books, files, archived newsletters, inevitable collapse... foundation in 1973 bulletins, magazines penetrated every room in [Their survival] cannot be put down just died on 10 June at the house. They possessed what was probably to the the ‘betrayal’ of the leaders of mass the age of 94. Al- a more comprehensive collection of national working class parties... the fact that the great though almost unknown other than amongst and regional Labour Party agendas, annual majority of members of these parties chose Labour activists, he was the Labour Left’s reports, conference arrangements reports, na- to follow reformist leaders rather than ‘revo- leading strategist at the height of its influ- tional executive minutes even than that of the lutionary’ critics was not accidental.” ence in the 1970s and 1980s. The organisa- Labour Party itself. Vladimir rejected both the traditional left tion he created and his strategic vision made In the long period from 1981 until 2010 reformist faith that radical change was possible CLPD the most effective organisation on in which the gains of the Labour Left were through socialist activities within the Labour the Labour Left not only in that period but gradually reversed, in which internal party Party, and the faith of those to the Left of La- through the New Labour years to the pre- elections and selections gradually (and with bour in the transformational potential of: sent. the help of cheating and manipulation of “mass movements, springing up sponta- Tony Benn, who died only three months the rulebook) replaced socialists with career- neously in places of employment and within ago, was rightly regarded as the Labour Left’s ists, it was Vladimir’s tenacity and strategic working class communities. Such move- outstanding leader and communicator of the leadership which kept CLPD going, when ments would create [their] own organs of period but he was often wrongly credited many on the Left were leaving the party or political power, bypass representative parlia- with being the architect of the movement dropping out of activity. Although the left mentary institutions, come into conflict with for democratic reform within the party. That was in a depleted state by the end of Blair’s them and ultimately replace them.” role was performed by Vladimir Derer. As premiership, demoralised and driven into Instead, Vladimir believed the Left Frances Morrell put it in The Struggle for opposition to the disastrous Iraq war, to pri- should take parliamentary democracy seri- Labour’s Soul: “He was a strategist and tacti- vatisation and to neoliberalism, it was not ously but needed to focus on winning the cian of outstanding ability... if any single in- nearly as weak as it would otherwise have support of the Labour Party membership to dividual was responsible for the changes to been. In 2010, it helped Ed Miliband to vic- a socialist programme by building a rank and the party’s constitution that were agreed in tory over his brother. file organisation which was: the period after the party left office, then it Although Vladimir’s leadership of CLPD “opposed to the leadership but built on a was undoubtedly Vladimir Derer.” was never disputed, that is not to say that his programme that at any given time is accept- Without Vladimir, there would have views went unchallenged or without debate – able to the mass of the party’s individual and been no mandatory reselection of MPs, no a process that Vladimir would always encour- affiliated membership.” electoral college in which Tony Benn could age. Encouraging debate, however, did not If the Labour Left doesn’t do that, then, come within a whisker of winning the dep- mean that he accepted criticism easily. He was like the left outside Labour, they are rely- uty leadership of the party and in which Ed a great one for producing lengthy responses ing on “being rescued from their chronic Miliband was to win the leadership. Those to every criticism, drafts of which would political impotence by spontaneously aris- two reforms together with the unrealised undergo umpteen revisions before eventual ing mass movements.” A radical reforming objective of Labour’s manifesto being deter- publication in the CLPD Bulletin or in letters government, however, elected on such a pro- mined by its elected executive were CLPD’s to other publications and Left organisations. gramme, pushing beyond the limits of a cap- core objectives through the 1970s. One of Vladimir’s most consistent italist framework, will provoke a crisis which Nor is it only the victories of the early themes related to the need for the Labour will create the potential for radical change. 1980s for which Vladimir should be re- Left to focus upon and win the support of Where this disappointed others on the membered. Immediately after the victories Labour’s centre ground – the support of Labour Left was the requirement to put on mandatory reselection and the wider Labour loyalists who often held contradic- aside campaigning objectives which were not

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VLADIMIR IN HIS OWN WORDS, Memorial Meeting PRESCIENT AND PERTINENT AS EVER Vladimir Derer 1919–2014 (Extracts from ‘Blair Must Go’, Vladimir’s and political link. Political influence of lead article to our 2006 edition Campaign Brief- the unions is institutionalised in the La- ing 69.) bour party structure through the unions’ Founder member and substantial representation on all Labour’s Secretary of CLPD Changing policies ruling bodies and above all at Labour’s for some 30 years For Labour’s renewal to be credible, it must annual conference. This is a partial guar- involve a break with policies which have antee that the party’s parliamentary lead- lost the party so much support. In foreign ership does not stray too far from the Thursday, affairs, it means that Britain must distance interests of the working class mass or- itself from policies which seek to bring ganisations to which it owes its existence. 30th October about regime changes by military interven- The proposal to treat affiliation fees as tion, as in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Leb- donations would disenfranchise Labour’s 6–8pm anon. In domestic policies it means both affiliated mass membership and cut the ending the partial privatisation of the Wel- last link that binds the party to the trade Invited speakers will pay fare state and the state sector generally, and unions and the working class. tribute to Vladimir’s life and not accepting the introduction into them his work establishing CLPD of methods which imitate market forces Time is running out (e.g. league tables). Within the Labour Par- With Labour’s domestic policy increas- ty, it means the renewal of internal party ingly permeated by creeping privatisa- Attlee Suite democracy to give more say to members in tion, foreign policy slavishly following a Portcullis House determining policies and in ensuring the ac- US obscurantist ideology, and the threat Embankment countability of the leadership. to the very existence of the Labour Party arising from the systematic undermining London SW1 Towards a partyless regime? of the political role of the unions, of the Adjacent to Westminster Tube The prospect of Labour’s financial crisis, party’s financial independence and of its (Please allow 15 mins to pass however, is not the only danger. Unions’ internal democratic structure, there is in- through security) affiliated membership is both a financial deed a need to debate…

capable of winning a majority. There is no tle into a life of n CLPD treasurer Russell Cartwright recalls: purpose to generalised socialist propaganda. political activity, With English as a second language, Vlad had Going beyond what the majority are capa- supported by his a better understanding than many for whom ble of accepting, given their existing level of second wife, Vera, it was a first language. I shall remember his consciousness, only serves to alienate people until well into his nuancing of articles at 2am during Confer- and results in a failure to win that majority. middle years. Al- ence weeks and not his d(u)ancing! Many of us who worked with Vladimir though he was ac- came to share this outlook. We may call our- tive in Trotskyist n Diane Abbott MP commented selves Bennites, but in many ways we are re- politics in the late Sad to hear that Vladimer Derer has died. He ally Dererites. 1940s, he was polit- was a great socialist. Vladimir, like Tony Benn, was the ically inactive for many years until he joined son of a cabinet minister. His father, Ivan the Labour Party in the early 1960s. Thereaf- n Ex-MP Chris Mullin, a former editor of Trib- Dérer, had been a Social Democratic minis- ter, it became his life’s work. une and one time CLPD activist, wrote in the ter in various Czech governments from 1920 Vladimir Derer, born 6 November 1919, Guardian that: until the Munich agreement between Hitler, died 10 June 2014. Derer “was among the first to grasp that Chamberlain et al in 1938. He was involved there was no point in endlessly passing reso- in the anti-fascist resistance in Prague and in- n And former NEC member and Vladimir’s successor lutions on policy if the party leadership took terned in Theresienstadt as a result but sur- as CLPD secretary, Peter Willsman, had this to say: not the least bit of notice”. vived to chair the Czechoslovakian Labour Jon has spoken for all of us and has brought Party until the Communist Party consolidat- out Vladimir’s many strengths, including his n Campaign Briefing Editor Ray Davison paid ed its control in 1948. sharp sense of humour. Vlad (as I always this tribute: Vladimir, himself, a nineteen year-old called him) was in a class of his own as a Debating and arguing with Vladimir over with Trotskyist sympathies at the time, es- political organiser and strategist within our forty years has been one of the great pleas- caped in 1939 via Poland to Britain. His Jew- Party. We were all aware of that at the time, ures of my life. I shall miss his tenacity, ish girlfiend and other friends with whom as Vlad came up with one clever tactic after warmth and humour, his kindness to me and he travelled were denied visas, and Vladimir another. As the situation changed so did the my family and that oh so rare sense of strat- was able to obtain one only because of his tactics. He always saw the extent to which egy and praxis that hallmarked his socialism. father’s reputation. the working class are kept under the heel in CLPD has produced many good socialists Following military service, working as our society. He often said that in Britain the but none greater than Vladimir, an inspira- a translator and as a courier, he didn’t set- class system is more like a caste system. tion to us all.

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wage, when his Lib Dem mate, David corrupt interference. CLPD is working on Heath the Minister for farming, was forc- this! TEL’S TALES ing through the abolition of the minimum wage structure for agricultural workers. Network Rail – now in Heath did this on the grounds that it would full public ownership Playing the man not the lead to “a more flexible labour market”. As a former member of the Agricultural ball Unless you are a trainspotter you may not Wages Board pointed out in the Guardian, have read the June 2014 edition of the mag- Heath’s own department has estimated The Tories and their press backers are well azine, Modern Railways. It has an excellent that, as a result, lower paid agricultural aware that without a veritable miracle they article explaining how the renationalisa- workers will lose £279.7 million over 10 cannot win in 2015. They are therefore go- tion of Network Rail is now complete. On years. ing after Ed big time. Unfortunately snide “value for money” grounds Network Rail and malicious “off-the-record” comments can now borrow directly from HM Gov- by assorted Blairites are giving our enemies What “self employment” ernment. This returns it to the position that ammunition. According to the Guardian, the really means British Rail was always in, or to put it in the Murdoch empire has been touting “almost words of the magazine, “So with Network Gareth Bale-level rewards” to selected La- There has been a significant rise in the of- Rail owned by the state, funded by the state bour insiders to go negative about Ed. ficial figures for the self employed. Some and, now, borrowing from the state, it is un- Our job is to intimidate these treacher- Tories suggest this represents a blossom- deniable that half of the railway has been ous malcontents into keeping their mouths ing of entrepreneurial zeal. Much more re-nationalised”. shut. likely is a link to the scandalous exploita- We now need Ed and his team to rena- tion of zero hours “contracts”. We can be tionalise the other half, not least for “value Appealing to the floating sure that the bosses are telling many of for money” reasons. voter these vulnerable workers that they would be better off if they registered as self em- You couldn’t make it up When his chums in the Home Counties ployed, thus saving the employers a na- were flooded out, Cameron immediately tional insurance bill. In effect, we are going The producer of Newsnight tweets to his dipped into the till. Had they been benefit back to the days when workers queued up limited number of followers that a Shadow claimants, he would no doubt have said at the dock gates, hoping the bosses would minister is “boring snoring”. Labour’s Direc- that the best way to assist would be to re- choose them for a day’s employment. Even tor of Communications, Bob Roberts, im- duce support, so encouraging them to help the official estimates put the number of mediately makes a song and dance about it, themselves. zero hours “contracts”, at 1.4 million, with demanding a full public apology. This turns another 1.3 million “inactive”. They are it into a national press and media story seen Gordon is one of us hardly “contracts”, the word itself is pretty by millions. Orwellian! Some employment agencies are also get- Gordon Brown started off on the Left and it CLPD’s alter ego is wrong to suggest that he degenerated into ting the unemployed to sign up as “self em- an out-and-out Blairite. He was taken in by ployed”. The agencies deduct an admin fee Not many people know this, but the Tory the City and “light-touch regulation”, which out of future pay packets. Party contains a (very small) pressure group he now bitterly regrets. But the Campbell calling itself “The Campaign for Conserva- Diaries make it clear that Gordon still kept All Women Short Lists – tive Democracy”. It recently issued a press his Labour principles. When Charles Clarke the way forward release, picked up by the Guardian, reveal- recommended university top-up fees to Cab- ing that the Tories are now down to a mere inet, Campbell records that “GB really laid Those who have read Meg Russell’s book, 133,000 members, with an average age of into it, non-stop for 20 minutes, saying it was Building New Labour: The Politics of Party 68. Information elsewhere suggests that unfair, regressive, wasteful and not what the Organisation (2005), will know that CLPD their membership has slumped by some 70% Labour Party was about”. played a significant role in the achievement since 1997. On another occasion Andrew Adonis of All-Women shortlists (AWSs). Even the complained that GB had sent a 44-page let- Tories (or at least the Tory women!) are mak- (cont. on p15) ter to all Cabinet ministers attacking foun- ing friendly noises about AWSs. It is at last dation hospitals. Alan Milburn told Camp- becoming generally accepted that positive bell that “GB was totally against anything action is necessary to achieve gender equal- that looked like private sector provision of ity. public services”. Gordon spelt out his posi- But the organisational practices in our BITEBACKS tion in a statement that was recently trivial- Party have left a lot to be desired. Regretta- ised by the Guardian – “The public square is bly party staff and assorted luminaries have, more than a marketplace and we are bound on more than one occasion, manipulated the ‘You are Neville Chamberlain, I am together by more than contracts, markets recommendations for which CLPs should Winston Churchill, and Saddam is Hit- and exchange”. have an AWS, in order to benefit favoured ler.’ daughters and sons. These abuses have gen- (Tony Blair upbraiding an official who Neo-Lib. Dems erated much local hostility and threaten to cautioned him on Iraq. Quoted by Da- undermine the commitment to AWSs. We vid Owen in a book analysing ‘hubris It was a bit rich for Vince Cable to talk need to introduce some automatic random- syndrome’, Guardian 27/7/12.) about restoring the value of the minimum ness into the process to stop the politically

14 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2014 THE BLUNDERS OF OUR GOVERNMENTS

Colin Burgess, thornbury ments. They give as examples: Eden’s inva- is mentioned but not discussed. From my and yate clp, reviews sion of Egypt in 1956, the joint French and point of view, that commitment was prob- British Concorde, Harold Wilson via Castle’s ably much more than merely a blunder. Can Anthony King and Ivor White Paper In Place of Strife and Heath’s blunders be seriously obscene, I ask myself? Crewe The Blunders of our 1971 Industrial Relations Act. An interesting In part II King and Crewe “tell a variety Governments, London (2013) reference to this series of essays by Madison of blunder-related horror stories – the main is contained in Angelo M. Codevilla (2010) purpose of which is not to entertain but to Oneworld publications, The Ruling Class, written from the Tea Party’s provide a body of evidence from which we hardback, £25. anti-Democrat point of view. Codeville’s and our readers can begin to draw general book is a crude American discussion of the inferences”. CLPD is upwardly socially mobile – hard- blunders of their recent governments. In parts III and IV, our authors set out back, high prices, top commentators on Returning to King and Crewe, our authors their own conclusions drawn for their stud- liberal democratic ideological functioning helpfully include a note of the aim and the ies. They first make it clear that the book is (or rather dysfunctioning) of the political structure of the book on page xi. “We are not not about party politics but about the blun- machine. We are impressed. This takes us to interested in individuals. Our interest lies pre- dering incompetence of democratic govern- the second strand of liberal democratic ide- cisely in any general lessons to be drawn”. ments. They pinpoint the recent tendency of ology: the first is neo-liberalism; the second In part I, using The Concise Oxford the media to treat prime ministers as film stars is populism. Written by two now retired mas- English Dictionary, they define the noun “a and the difficulty for them to control their ters of their craft of monitoring the British blunder” as “a stupid or careless mistake”, cabinets. Another problem they find from democratic machine. and the verb “to blunder” as “to move blind- interviews with ex-ministers is the circula- The title is taken in true English ruling ly, flounder or stumble”. They say that one tion of elites, as ministers and civil servants class way from an American source, “the sign that a blunder has probably been com- are reassigned to new offices. At least King great American statesman and political phi- mitted is if “the government that has first in- and Crewe did not rely on broad criticisms of losopher James Madison”. In his series of troduced the measure in question has subse- “bureaucracy”, but seem to be prepared to essays Federalist Papers of 1787, Madison quently abandoned or drastically revised it”. research problems. Their main conclusion is refers to the “monuments of deficient wis- Really serious blunders are widely discussed that blunders are the result of our faulty sys- dom” filing the codes of law of the thirteen in social life, and agreed to be so. Thatcher’s tem, but they are convinced that the system united states as “the blunders of our govern- disastrous Poll Tax is one example given. can be put right. Perhaps we have to insist that ments”. Our authors see this as a useful label Blair’s less than honest entry into the “shock the system is put right, and that the next La- for the mistakes of recent British govern- and awe” invasion and occupation of Iraq bour administration can begin the task.

Ann Henderson, Scottish Policy Forum Member and CLPD TEL’S TALES extra Organiser in Scotland: clpd’s (cont. from p14) Organising for Labour in Scotland Charter for Don’t Panic Our schedule regrettably prevent- a Democratic ed inclusion of Ann’s article, which The electoral number-crunchers at the Polit- will be posted in full on our website. Conference ical Studies Association have delivered their (Editor’s note.) verdict. Labour will win in 2015 provided l At least 50% of conference we retain the Lib Dem voters who have time should be reserved for switched and if UKiP retains the support of Not to be missed contributions in policy debates 5–6% of former Tory voters. by delegates Also, we should not obsess about the public’s view of our economic competence. l The criteria for motions should Polly Toynbee has pointed out that at the 2015 clpd be flexible and fair time of our landslide in 1997 we were 22% l Conference should choose the behind in the polls on the economy. right policies, not rubber stamp agm them Now we know! Saturday February 28th, l Conference decisions and all The National Archives have recently made 11.30am, papers should be available available some post-war government docu- online to party members ments covering Whitehall discussions of the Conway Hall, possibilities of nuclear war. l The structure of conference Red Lion Square. From reading these it is quite obvious therefore needs a review by that, when contemplating such a war, the the Conference Arrangements government’s advisers did not consider the Report of 2014 AGM available Committee on clpd website. possession of nuclear weapons made the UK safer. Rather, they believed it made us a target!

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TUC CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHT Manchester Labour Annual CLPD fringe meeting at TUC 2014 – 1pm, Tuesday 9 September, Premier Inn, Room 4, Albert Dock, Liverpool Conference 2014 Highlights The Unions and the Labour Party – How to build the strength and influence of the TUs within the Labour Party and ensure we win in 2015 No Refreshments CLPD rally and delegates briefing Saturday 20 September, 6pm, at Jury’s Inn, Speakers: Mohammed Azam (former member, Labour Party NEC) 56 Great Bridgwater St. Entry: £3 (Conc. £1) l Lucille Harvey (Youth rep. on Unite Political Committee) l Billy Hayes (CWU) l Gaye Johnston (Chair, CLPD) l Speakers: Jon Lansman (LeftFutures website) l Len McCluskey (Unite) Chair: Gaye Johnston (chair of CLPD) l Diane Abbott MP l Hazel Nolan (GMB rep. on Young Labour National Committee) l Ann Black NEC l Annelise Dodds MEP l Diana Holland l Peter Willsman (Secretary, CLPD) l Chair: Glen Williams (Unite) l Kelvin Hopkins MP l Conrad Landin (Young Labour (Branch Secretary, Sefton Unison) National Committee) l Tosh McDonald (ASLEF) l Peter Willsman (special briefing for delegates) l + Special Guest! CLPD CONFERENCE ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW OF THE WEEK RED ALERT: Tuesday 23 September, 7.30pm, at Jury’s Inn, Don’t forget to read the Willsman Guide to Conference. 56 Great Bridgwater St. Entry £3 (Conc £1) 2014 edition now available and as ever up to the usual Speakers: q Chair: Peter Willsman (CLPD Secretary) q exceptional standard of insight and intrigue. Katie Clark MP q Martin Mayer (Unite) q Michael Meacher MP The indispensable handbook for all delegates and anyone q Steve Murphy (UCATT) q Kate Osamor (CLPD) q else who wants to understand what is really going on at Max Shanly (Young Labour National Committee) q Conference. Christine Shawcroft (NEC) The Guide can be downloaded from www.grassrootslabour.net ABOUT CLPD AND ITS GAINS FOR PARTY DEMOCRACY CLPD was formed in 1973 by a group of members greater representation within the democracy’. For example, recently CLPD rank-and-file activists with support from Party. The main demand for a woman on campaigned for, and achieved, OMOV for about ten Labour MPs. The first President every parliamentary shortlist was achieved the CLP section of the National Policy Fo- was Frank Allaun. The main motivation for over the period 1986-88. rum. CLPD continues to campaign for a real the Campaign was the record of the Labour CLPD will sometimes promote seem- policy-making conference and an effective governments in the sixties and the way that ingly non-democracy issues such as the and accountable NEC. Annual Conference decisions were continu- significant extension of public ownership, n To find out more about CLPD, visit our ally ignored on key domestic and interna- defending the welfare state and the first- website at www.clpd.org.uk. CLPD can usu- tional issues. The immediate cause was Har- past-the-post electoral system (PR would ally provide speakers for meetings, especially old Wilson’s imperious and undemocratic mean no majority Labour Governments). All if requests are made well in advance. To ar- rejection in 1973 of any decision by Annual such policies derive from our commitment range this, ring Francis Prideaux on 020 8960 Conference to adopt an alternative econom- to socialist values and socialist advance. 7460 and leave a message for him if you get ic policy involving the possible public own- The major focus of CLPD’s work in re- the machine and not the man himself. ership of some 25 strategic companies. cent years has been to win back the power CLPD’s first demand was, therefore, for for ordinary rank-and-file Party members, Campaign Briefing is sponsored by: mandatory reselection of MPs so that they which has been surreptitiously transferred would be under pressure to carry out Con- to the centre under the pretext of ‘mod- ference policies and be accountable to Par- ernisation’ and, ironically, ‘extending Party ty members. This demand was achieved in 1979/80 through the overwhelming support To join the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy please fill in of CLPs and several major unions, especially the form below and return with a cheque payable to CLPD to: those unions where the demand for reselec- CLPD Treasurer, 157 North Street, Luton, LU2 7QH. tion was won at their own annual confer- I/we enclose £...... subscriptions/renewal/donation ences (eg. TGWU, AUEW, NUPE). CLPD also sought to make the leader Name ...... accountable through election by an electoral Address ...... college involving MPs, CLPs and TUs. Pre- ...... viously Labour leaders were elected by MPs Post Code...... alone. This demand was achieved in January Phone ...... Email...... 1981 and was an advance for Party democ- racy, although some MPs saw it as a reason CLP...... Region...... to defect and form the SDP, eventually to get TU...... Date ...... fewer votes than Lord Sutch’s Party. Annual rates: £20 individuals; £5 unwaged and low waged (under £8,000); £25 couples (£6 unwaged and low CLPD additionally promoted a range of waged); £25 national & regional organisations; £15 CLPs, TUs and Co-op Parties; £5 CLP branches. Young reforms to give Labour women and black members (under 27) introductory sub £3.

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