LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL POLICY FORUM REPORT 2016 Contents Introduction 05 Introduction Policy Commission Annual Reports 08 Economy 14 Children and Education 20 Communities 24 Health and Care 30 Home Affairs 36 International 42 Transport Priority Issue documents: 49 Economy: Building a productive economy 59 Children and Education: Delivering a step change in early intervention and the early years 67 Communities: Housing: How can we increase the number of affordable homes to rent and buy? 73 Health and Care: Mental health: The way forward 81 Home Affairs: How should we reform the police to better tackle the crime and policing challenges of the future? 91 International: Britain’s defence and security priorities 101 Transport: How can we ensure our transport networks meet the needs of local communities? Appendices 108 Submitting organisations 110 National Policy Forum membership Labour Party NPF Report 2016 3 4 Labour Party NPF Report 2016 Introduction Following the completion of the Agenda 2015 As well as the work looking at the priority issues, process which produced the Manifesto on which we the policy commissions continued to look at fought the last General Election, Conference 2015 all submissions and pertinent issues in their was an opportunity to take stock. Conference saw respective remits throughout the year. This has us launch a review of how we develop and make been supported by work and reviews initiated policy as a party. To reflect what members have by Shadow Cabinet Ministers, for example on told us, the review was tasked with making our developing economic policy the review of the processes more inclusive, open and democratic. Treasury announced at Conference by the Shadow This included a commitment to listen to the views Chancellor. In some areas specific policy reviews of our members, supporters and affiliates about had been announced at Annual Conference, what in the National Policy Forum process they think for example the review of strategic defence and works well at present, what doesn’t work so well, security policy announced by the Leader and and what they would like to see change. Shadow Defence Secretary. While the review of structures and processes is The work of the policy commissions is set out in ongoing it is important that the National Policy detail on pages 8 to 46 of this report. Forum (NPF) continues to function as a forum for policy discussion. Therefore, alongside the review, We thank all those who have taken part in the NPF began its work on the first year of a new policy-making this year and look forward to debating rolling programme across a Parliament to develop these documents at Annual Conference 2016. We policy for the next manifesto. hope many more of you will get involved again next year as the NPF continues the vital work building The National Executive Committee tasked the towards the next general election. NPF with leading on a consultation process with the Party around seven key policy challenges of Simon Jackson immediate concern based on what people had told Director of Policy and Research us through our policy-making process, including the NPF and Annual Conference. To deliver this work the NPF was split into seven new policy commissions arranged on a departmental basis. Each commission drew up a short discussion document on its priority issue and views were sought from Party members, supporters, affiliates and the wider public on what Labour’s priorities and policy approach should be in these areas. We are delighted that so many members have chosen to get involved, sending their thoughts and ideas to the various policy commissions throughout the year. At the beginning of the summer the priority issue documents were updated to reflect what had been heard. These documents can be found on pages 49-106 of this report. Labour Party NPF Report 2016 5 6 Labour Party NPF Report 2016 Policy Commission Annual Reports Economy | Annual Report Membership 2015/16 HM Opposition Affiliates John McDonnell MP* Claire McCarthy Angela Eagle MP†1 Dave Prentis Owen Smith MP†2 Dave Ward Seema Malhotra MP†3 John Hannett Liz Snape NEC Sonny Leong Margaret Beckett* Steve Turner Jennie Formby* Tim Roache Ann Black Tony Burke Andy Kerr Elected Reps Ann Lucas Anneliese Dodds MEP Rebecca Long-Bailey Chris Leslie MP Pete Willsman Mary Maguire Sharon Taylor CLPs and Regions Rufia Ashraf *Co-convenor Iona Baker †1 Replaced by Jon Trickett MP John Cullinane †2 Replaced by Debbie Abrahams MP Fiona Dent †3 Replaced by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP Rachel Garnham Jeevan Jones Fred Grindrod Sam Gurney Simon Henig Stephanie Peacock Sam Pritchard Katrina Murray Carl Webb 8 Labour Party NPF Report 2016 Policy Development be for the year ahead. Throughout 2016 the Commission investigated The Economy Policy Commission is charged with some of the key challenges in building a productive developing Labour’s policy on the economy, business economy. This includes how we ensure we have the and social security. It meets regularly to consider right skills and infrastructure, how we can rebalance evidence and submissions; identifying challenges and the economy between the UK’s regions and nations, developing Labour’s policy in these areas. and how we develop a proper industrial strategy that supports our strategic industries in order to The Economy Policy Commission is an compete with the rest of the world. amalgamation of what were two separate Policy Commissions under Agenda 2015, the Stability The Commission issued a consultation document and Prosperity Commission and the Work and ‘Building a Productive Economy’ and heard from a Business Commission. number of the UK’s major economic organisations, trade unions and many party members and Annual Conference 2015 prioritised and discussed Constituency Labour Parties. The Commission contemporary resolutions within the remit of asked the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB); the Economy Policy Commission. These included EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation; the Local composites on austerity and public services, Government Association (LGA); Unite the Union, and employment rights. The austerity and public and the Trades Union Congress to present to services composite called on the Labour Party the Commission in person. Others were asked to to oppose Government austerity and prioritise make written submissions. The outcome of the investment to provide for public services and boost consultation and some of the Commission’s early economic growth. The composites on employment findings can be found in this document. rights condemned government plans for extended Sunday trading hours, the Trade Union Bill and the During our first meeting in February 2016, the rise of insecure employment models characterised Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Seema by low pay, exploitative contracts and growing in- Malhotra MP, and the Shadow Secretary of State work poverty. for Business, Innovation and Skills, Angela Eagle MP, attended the meeting and provided an update The Stability and Prosperity Policy Commission on the work of their respective shadow teams. held a policy seminar at Annual Conference 2015. This was very well attended with a large number Seema Malhotra provided an update on the of delegates contributing to a lively debate. Issues economic context and discussed slowing growth raised included the need to support small- and and earnings, pressures on the public finances and medium-sized businesses, the importance of troubles in the steel industry. She also provided the manufacturing and construction sectors to an update to the Commission on work already the economy, the need to tackle the tax gap and undertaken by the Shadow Treasury team on regional disparities in prosperity. building Labour’s economic credibility, including the establishment of the Economic Advisory The Work and Business Policy Commission also Council, and reviews into the workings of the held a policy seminar at Annual Conference 2015. Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. This was similarly well attended and issues raised included the need for a debate and review of Angela Eagle spoke about the need to build the pensions system, Labour’s position on the Labour’s relationship with business, and challenge household Benefit Cap, changes to tax credits and the Government on the Trade Union Bill. employment rights and social security policy more generally. The Commission met in March 2016, after the Budget on 16th March. Seema Malhotra The newly constituted Economy Policy Commission spoke about the Budget and in particular first met in February 2016. The purpose of this the downgrading of important economic meeting was to consider what the priorities should indicators for last year, this year and for every year of this Parliament. She spoke about the Labour Party NPF Report 2016 9 controversy around proposed cuts to Personal Stephen Kinnock MP provided an update on behalf Independence Payments (PIP) and what it said of the Shadow BIS team. He led a discussion of the Government’s priorities. She mentioned on the steel crisis and the recent government Labour’s recently announced Fiscal Credibility announcement that it was willing to take a 25 Rule, and it was agreed that at a future meeting of per cent stake in the business. Nevertheless, the Commission there will be a briefing from the it was noted that that the steel industry in the Shadow Treasury team on the details of the rule. UK was hanging by a thread and that more government action was needed. He also updated Angela Eagle also spoke about Budget forecasts the Commission on the Trade Union Bill; he told which showed that last year, this year and every the Commission that the Government was forced year of the Parliament, productivity growth to water down the original proposals but that was downgraded. She highlighted that these more needed to be done and if passed, Labour in downgraded forecasts were largely due to home- government would repeal it in its entirety.