Campaign

20 September 2008 Briefing Published daily at and on line at www.clpd.org.uk Tel. 07767 761338 Priorities Ballot: don’t waste your vote CLPs are allowed to pick four issues for debate, biggest global financial crisis since 1929 it is vital and the Trade Unions another four. Every year, that conference discusses the Economy. CLPs waste their votes by picking issues the Trade The continuing importance of confronting Unions have already picked, and waste the repossessions and the need for social housing opportunity to raise important subjects. Don’t let with a major council house building programme this happen again. makes Housing a vital priority again. The Congratulations to the many CLPs who raised ownership of monopoly Water companies who the windfall tax as a contemporary issue – it could hold the public to ransom also needs to be be the most important topic of the week. addressed. However, CLPs don’t need to vote to prioritise it. All of the unions have already agreed as a block DON’T PRIORITISE: they will prioritise: Tackling Fuel Poverty (the • Windfall Tax (“Tackling Fuel Poverty”) Windfall Tax), Energy Regulation, Employment • Energy (regulation) Rights and Workers in a Global Economy. So these • Employment Rights will already be on the agenda and CLPs should not • Workers in a Global Economy waste their votes on them. ...THEY’RE ALREADY CHOSEN! There is uncertainty about the exact subject titles of other issues but we would urge strong support for the issue of Georgia – the VOTE FOR: Government’s slavish support for the US line • Georgia • Housing invites a new Cold War. And, in the week of the • The Economy • Water (ownership)

Socialist Campaign Dump the Blairite sirens Group of Labour MPs In the face of the recent media policies, the destruction of the onslaught, stoked up by a few democratic structures of the Party Rally: disgruntled MPs, the and the illegal invasion of a Party needs to focus on the sovereign country with an obscene Real Change Needed progressive policy changes needed number of casualties. After that th to win. In doing this it is support has ebbed away. The Sat 20 7pm Mechanics Centre important to make a dispassionate Brent East by-election recorded a 103 Princess Street assessment of how we’ve got 29% swing against us and our total Speakers include: where we are. vote in 2005 was less than in 1979 MP ▪ Our Party’s peak of political when we lost. Serious MP ▪ MP success since 1945 was under John misjudgements by MP ▪ MP Smith/ in the (the 75p pension increase, the MP Euro-elections in 1994 when we abolition of the 10p tax rate, the John McDonnell MP won 62 seats. Since then it has election that never was), together MP been downhill all the way. Under with the effects of the economic Alan Simpson MP ▪ David Taylor MP we had so-called Mike Wood MP Continued over triangulated neo-liberal domestic Campaign Briefing is published daily at Labour Party Conference by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs. Support CLPs’ Dump the Blairite sirens democratic rights: continued oppose gagging by the crisis has simply reinforced the downhill slide. The Tory press are promoting and CAC Alan Johnson. But they both, to a greater or lesser extent, are committed to Blairite policies and as such The following CLPs submitted rule changes that are part of the problem and not part of the solution. have been thrown in the bin by the Conference Predictably the Blairite cheerleaders in the press Arrangements Committee (CAC). Their delegates treated Miliband’s recent vapid out-pourings as if they may go to the rostrum today to seek a fair were the wisdom of Solomon. The general public are hearing — Twickenham, Hampstead and Kilburn, not so easily taken in. East Devon, Orpington, Meriden, South & Under any new leader we may well have to have an Finsbury, Beckenham, Ilford South, Gloucester, early election, which we would lose. Under Gordon and Lewisham Deptford. Brown we have nearly two years of a Labour Conference should support them so that it can government. If the Labour movement exerts have the opportunity to consider these rule sufficient pressure there is no reason why the proposals. The CAC has deemed them all to be government shouldn’t change direction and carry out out of order by using a highly controversial and policies to benefit millions of voters. This way catch-all interpretation of the ‘3-year-rule’. Party forward requires party activists and unions to up their rules state that when a Conference decision has game and use every avenue to mount such pressure. been made on a rule change proposal, no further From feedback that the four NEC members supported amendment to that “part” of the rules will be by the Grassroots Alliance have been getting in recent permitted for 3 years. The key word here, of months it is clear that party members favour this way course, is ‘part’. forward. In other words, if a CLP seeks to amend a Peter Willsman completely different ‘part’ of a long clause in the Secretary – Campaign for Labour Party Democracy Rule Book, compared to other parts that may have and NEC member been recently amended, then that is in order. The CAC has ignored the significance of the word ‘part’ and applied a catch-all interpretation. This is unacceptable and any challenge from ruled out “I was imprisoned for my role in Baring’s CLPs, insisting that the Rule Book is correctly collapse. Who will face justice for this interpreted, should be given full support. The CAC recklessness today?” has also ruled out proposed rule changes to Nick Leeson clauses that have not even been voted on in 19 Sept 2008 last 3 years, so there is no way this can be justified. Forthcoming fringe meetings CAC prevented debate on Sinn Fein the 10p tax band cut Delegates may be unaware that contemporary Towards a united Ireland st resolutions on the proposed cutting of the 10p tax Sunday 21 - 1pm band were submitted to last year’s Annual Arora International Hotel, Princess Street Conference. The CAC ruled them out of order, claiming they were not ‘contemporary’. The CAC did Speaker: Raymond McCartney, Sinn Fein the party no service by gagging this debate. The mistaken policy, effectively shifting money from the Conference assessment and the way lowest earners to middle earners, has cost the party considerable electoral support. Proof, yet again, that forward for Labour party activists have good political judgement. They Tuesday 23rd—6pm need to be listened to, not treated with contempt. Relish Bar, Deansgate (next to Radisson)

Campaign SUNDAY 21 September 2008 Briefing Published daily at Labour Party Conference and on line at www.clpd.org.uk Tel. 07767 761338

Policy Seminars - vital questions to Ministers Delegates are here to make policy not simply talk about it. Nevertheless, policy seminars and Q&As are an opportunity to put to ministers some of the following issues raised by CLPs in amendments to the NPF in July:

• Building Prosperity: progressive tax rates for • Public Services: Privatisation and internal the rich, trade union freedoms, secondary markets, public ownership of Rail and the Post , corporate liability for the death of Office, Council housing, PFI, equal pay claims. employees, the level of state pensions and • Crime & Justice: 42 days detention, ID cards, incapacity benefit. legal aid and law centres, immigration and • Britain in the World: Israel & Palestine, asylum. Georgia and US missile defence systems, Iraq and Afghanistan, Trident replacement, And raise these in this afternoon’s Q&A too! Venezuela, and Cuba. ‘Undeserving Poor’ - Support Remploy workers back to Victorian Delegates should support any due the government’s moves by the GMB to achieve intransigence. bigotry justice for Remploy workers. The ‘consensus’ wording in “When he introduced his The Annex Report on Remploy the NPF document does not go latest Welfare Reform Green is unacceptable and breaks far enough in protecting the Paper, Secretary of State promises by former Work and remaining Remploy workers. James Purnell….proposed a Pensions Secretary, Peter Hain. Delegates should follow the series of major changes that Remploy was established to GMB’s lead if it chooses to will use forceful ensure supported employment for oppose its acceptance. encouragement to push disabled workers. Properly people with disabilities into managed, this work can be work, remove benefit from economic and productive. Elections to those who are not considered Despite protection for Conference to be adequately seeking work (building on the Tory 1986 supported employment under EU Arrangement law, the government is Social Security Act) and fail to determined that many disabled Committee address the current complex workers have to face free-market We urge CLP delegates welfare and benefit traps….. labour forces. As a result 28 to vote for the according to his guru, David following Remploy factories have closed Freud, there are a very large candidates: and Ministers have led the unions number of people who claim • Elcena Jeffers in a dance. GMB official for incapacity benefit who do not • George McManus Remploy, Phil Davies has deserve it.” resigned his life-long • Michael Murphy Jeremy Corbyn MP writing in membership of the Labour Party • Roy Preston September’s Socialist Campaign Group News

Campaign Briefing is published daily at Labour Party Conference by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.

Mandatory pay audits: the way to close pay gap NPF-plug the leaks! Delegates may wish to raise the Yesterday we heard from Pat black hole or new words government’s Equality Bill dur- McFadden and two platform were agreed between ing the discussion of Equalities plants from the NPF that the Ministers and a tiny number today. Despite almost 40 years NPF/Warwick process is simply of forum members and of equal pay legislation the gen- spiffing. We were told that incorporated in the final text der pay gap continues to exist. Conference should never return with no oversight by the rest The Bill would be significantly to Contemporary motions, or, of the NPF. improved if it were to legislate to place employers under a heaven forbid, ordinary motions • The final document was, positive duty to conduct man- and amendments. with only a few dozen datory equal pay audits in all The truth about Warwick was exceptions, agreed as a areas. very different – and it wasn’t the large block without forum fault of the delegates nor of the members having time to Labour Party staff – it was the read it. process that was deficient: • With the exception of two • NPF members never saw the minority reports, the results vast majority of the 4000 are being presented to FRINGE MEETINGS textual amendments from conference as “consensus”

CLPs and other documents, completely Today organisations. ignoring the dissenting Sinn Fein • They only saw the 1500 position of the majority of amendments that were put party members on such Towards a united Ireland in by individual NPF issues as privatisation in 1pm Arora International Hotel, members late the night health service and Princess Street before they met to debate education, progressive Speaker: Raymond McCartney, Sinn Fein them and certainly did not taxation, 42 days detention

have time to read them. and the .

National Assembly Against • They did have the Unless these deficiencies are Racism/Unison opportunity to meet with addressed the NPF process will Ministers about the very have little credibility with many One Society Many small number of party members. In 2009 Cultures amendments in which they Conference is due to review the 5.30pm Novotel Hotel were personally involved, but new Constitutional Issue Speakers include: they had little information arrangements. The NEC should Mohammed Azam about the hundreds of other combine this with a review of Soumaya Ghanoushi similar meetings. the whole NPF process. Doreen Lawrence • The majority of amendments either disappeared into a MP

“Ben Bernanke, chair of the Federal Reserve, and Hank Cuba Solidarity Campaign Paulson, US Treasury Secretary, have done more for

socialism in the past seven days than anybody since Marx Free the Miami Five and Engels” 5.30pm Unite Marquee Speakers include: Larry Elliott, Guardian 20 Sept 2008 Olga Salanueva Adriana Perez plus Tony Woodley—Unite Conference assessment and the way forward for Labour Dave Prentis-Unison Tuesday 23rd—6pm Billy Hayes-CWU Relish Bar, Great Northern Square (corner Peter Street and Father Geoff Bottoms Deansgate—just along from the Radisson) MP

Campaign Monday

22 September 2008 Published daily at Labour Party Conference by the Campaign Briefing for Labour Party Democracy— www.clpd.org.uk Working Time Directive: End the Opt Out Shenanigans Support GMB/UCATT/UNITE Emergency The meeting of CLP delegates By Richard Ascough – GMB Regional Secretary with contemporary issues on (We understand an Emergency • The public were told that the housing, following their success in Motion has been accepted by opt out was only to be a the priorities ballot, shows just CAC and that it will be short-term transitional how unsatisfactory the new timetabled today. The GMB has measure. process is. Nine CLPs had provided the following article.) • In addition there is real submitted the following issues:

concern over the proposed “Government must lead and fund The case for the end of the opt changes to on-call working. a council house building out in the Working Time programme”; six others were Regulations is over-whelming. If the government refuses to included under the more general In the debate on our respond to the fair and just case heading “housing”, some of which Emergency, the government are against the opt out, there will be were much more “on- message” a worsening of employees’ likely to press a business- and less focussed on council working conditions. We should friendly argument. housing. remember that the opt out was The principle points of the Delegates were called to see introduced by the Tories and union case against the opt out the CAC. Before they got into the was opposed by the Labour have been made for many years room, a member of the Party staff Party and TUC. If it was wrong and are as follows:- sidled up to some delegates to then, it is certainly wrong now. • The health and safety urge them to support guess which Some employers and their implications of long hours text! After a polite introduction supporters in the media, argue from and Iain • The counter-argument that that working over 60 hours a Wright, junior Housing minister, individuals have a free choice week is acceptable. No is often not the case. Many the chair proposes an “on- delegate at this Conference message” delegate to move. employees are pressurised to would take this view. It is time sign the opt out When this was challenged by a we returned to a Social Europe delegate supporting the majority • The UK has the longest and not continue with this pro- policy position, the chair was working hours in Europe business, anti-worker agenda. upheld by 6-5 in a very confusing vote. SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY MOTION This sort of behaviour does not bode well for the new process, Support contemporary issues on workers in a especially given all the effort the platform has made to sell it as a global economy concerning the European Court of step forward for party democracy. Justice judgements – from CWU / Unite / TSSA and several CLPs Delegates should be in their seats early tomorrow Elections to the National Constitutional Committee (Tuesday) to ensure they are ready for the rule We urge CLP delegates to vote for the following candidates: changes from CLPs which are the first item of Teresa Pearce (sitting member) — Rita Stephen business.

Defend finance

Tackling fuel poverty workers’ jobs With the economy slowing and domestic fuel prices soaring the The first victims of a banking crisis are always the employees. Unite, party needs urgently to change its energy sector policies to prevent with many members in the finance a dramatic escalation in fuel poverty. The government’s attempts to sector is moving an Emergency secure a voluntary agreement with the energy companies were Motion today calling for a review rebuffed and the recently announced package of measures are of banking regulation to avert woefully inadequate. A tax on the windfall profits of the energy further disasters. This should be companies should be supported. Additionally the government supported. should review the ownership of the energy sector, as despite its The expansion of the financial recent colossal profits there has been little investment in sector grew out of Thatcher’s renewable energy. Obscene profits are being made from essential deregulation measures. The utilities, that if returned to public ownership could be directed to subsequent growth of the sector has eliminating fuel poverty. meant that in some areas institutions are dominant “The monopoly of deciding whether to hold a leadership employers. Tighter regulation of election—a privilege MPs lost in 1981 when the Electoral College banks is required to ensure that was established—has been handed back to them. Had the rules inexperienced managers are not been respected party members would still be able—through the permitted to gamble with people’s nomination process—to express their views.” life savings or the jobs of their Vladimir Derer, former Secretary of CLPD, staff’s. Jobs at Northern Rock writing in Tribune, 19 September 2008 have been lost and workers at HBOS are under threat. The Bank of England has almost admitted that it was sleeping on its Conference assessment and job of regulation before the run on Northern Rock. Brown assisted Lloyds’ takeover of HBOS in order the way forward for Labour to avoid a repeat of the crisis that Tuesday 23rd—6pm led to the collapse of Northern Relish Bar, Great Northern Square (corner Peter Street and Deansgate— Rock. just along from the Radisson) It is ironic, that faced with Chair: Pete Willsman (NEC) similar but magnified Speakers: Mohammed Azam, Ann Black (NEC), Kelvin Hopkins MP, circumstances in America, the Jim Kennedy (NEC, UCATT), Peter Kenyon (NEC), Bush government has chosen to Christine Shawcroft (NEC), Walter Wolfgang (NEC) intervene to save its two largest Entry: £1 (Concessions 50p) mortgage banks and to ease lending between banks. These measures TODAY’S FRINGE MEETINGS will go some way to save US jobs. The British government should be Unite Against Fascism Tony Benn, Katy Clark MP, as decisive. What strategy to defeat the , Jeremy Corbyn MP, Kate Hudson CND, Ann Cryer MP SUPPORT THE UNITE BNP? EMERGENCY ON BANKING 6pm Jury’s Inn Labour Representation Committee Speakers include: Ken Livingstone, No such thing as a free lunch Mohammed Azam, Political crisis, economic Nor information. Campaign Briefing, Billy Hayes CWU, Sabby Dhalu crisis... There is an alternative is produced by volunteers, but we 7.30pm The Mechanics Institute have yet to find anybody giving CND Speakers include: Tony Benn, away paper and ink! Opposing US missile defence Katy Clark MP, Billy Hayes CWU, So when you see us tomorrow 7pm Novotel Hotel John McDonnell MP, (and Wednesday) with buckets in Speakers include: Mark Serwotka PCS, hand, please be generous. Campaign Lubomir Zaoralek MP Czech Elaine Smith MSP, Briefing will have a cover price of Shadow Foreign Minister, Matt Wrack FBU £2 for the week.

PRICE FOR Campaign THE WEEK:

23 September 2008 Briefing Published daily at Labour Party Conference by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy— www.clpd.org.uk Reject the Housing Annex More Shenanigans “Whilst we welcome the Standard without additional concession made at Warwick to resources or maintain this “These are the CAC people we’d like you to vote for”, a Yorkshire NPF rep allow local authorities to bid for standard in future years. was overheard saying to a first time Social Housing Grant to build The alliance between tenants, delegate from her city of Sheffield, first class council homes this is trade unions, councillors and discretely passing over a list of the not sufficient to justify taking our MPs is starting to demonstrate conference platfom’s favoured foot off the pedal now. Without benefits. We would be doing all candidates. Keen also to arrange substantial new funding the our members and supporters a suitably supportive speakers for the concession is largely symbolic. disservice by letting up on our Crime & Justice debate, she also Crucially, government has not efforts now.” sounded out this delegate’s views on equal pay and equalities before provided a solution for embattled MP reporting back on her mobile phone. authorities with existing council Chair, House of Commons We also hear that several NPF housing who are either unable to Council Housing Group meet the Decent Homes members in other regions were actively encouraging CLP delegates to support the union contemporary issues Support Calder Valley and in the priorities ballot and so waste their vote. The manipulative role previously played by some Party staff other rule changes seems to have been outsourced! But CLPs have submitted several rule legal settlements to appease there is still some in-house activity. A changes this year, many of which questionable challenges on Regional Director was heard will enhance the party’s equalities grounds. It will also encouraging a hapless delegate to vote democratic structures but avoid challenging our sister against the Emergency Motion from several NEC changes should be party in the Socialist the unions opposing the opt out from treated with caution. International, the SDLP. the Working Time Directive. Past practice has been for the • Rule 4b, 2b(i): Calder Valley Mystery platform to take the rule changes and others seek to lower the in a single debate with card threshold of MPs’ nominations speaker? votes on each rule change at the for the post of Leader and Who was the female “delegate” de- end, which can be confusing. Deputy when there is a scribed as from “Richmond Park CLP” vacancy from 12.5% to 7.5% who spoke in the debate on the Work- We urge support for the following ing Time Directive? She argued that rule changes: (i.e. from 45 to 27 MPs in the current Parliament). This the opt out was popular. Not, it seems, • Chap 1, Clause 1: Islington could benefit potential with delegates in the hall given that it North CLP is seeking to define candidates from all wings of only received 15 votes. Nor, it seems, was she the delegate from Richmond the legal territory in which the the party. Note that it does Park, who is male. So who was she? party operates as Britain not apply to contests against (England, Scotland and a sitting leader. “Indispensible”, and only £2 Wales). This will help advance • Chap 11b: Lancaster and for 5 issues the peace process in Northern Michael White described Campaign Briefing in Ireland – one of Labour’s Fleetwood CLP seek to extend democracy in Young his Guardian blog as “indispensible”. If you finest achievements – and missed our buckets today, we will have them avoid any more expensive Continued over again tomorrow! Rule changes—continued The Right target T&G

Labour by ensuring elections for the Executive A glance at Appendix I to CAC Report 3 reveals the officers at YL conference. strength of the Right wing among CLP delegates at Rule changes submitted by the NEC are less this conference. The Right had a slate for the CAC helpful to the party and need to be studied elections on Sunday. This included four of the five closely: union nominees, but did not include Mike Murphy of Unite (TGWU). • Rule 2C.2: This stops CLPs getting the whole membership sub in a General Election year. In place of Mike, the forces of darkness supported Subs are being raised in line with inflation. Andy Furlong, a hard right NPF CLP member in the East Midlands. Unfortunately, the CLP section at • Rule 3A.1: Do support this proposal to permit conference is becoming something of a rotten more delegates from CLPs where membership borough. Some 200 CLPs have not sent delegates and justifies it, as originally proposed by Bethnal many of those that have fail to mandate their delegate. Green and Bow CLP last year. It is also not unusual for regional officials to mislead • Rule 3A.1(b): NEC member Ann Black has delegates by telling them that mandating is not campaigned to do away with the interpretation permissible. of the rule which prevents CLPs sending a man to Conference if they were unable to find a women delegate the previous year. We urge NEC Political Bias

support. It has always been custom and practice that the NEC Chair is chosen strictly by seniority. And where two • Rule 4C.3: [This has been withdrawn as it was opposed by the unions.] have identical lengths of service, the choice is alphabetical. • Rule 5D: Will introduce a £25 per month levy on CLPs up to the 2014 Euro-election Christine Shawcroft is now the most senior member. campaign which will bankrupt smaller CLPs and Last year she should have been nominated for vice- there is no guarantee this money will ever be chair but was brushed aside with no attempt at any justification. used for this purpose given the dire state of the party’s coffers. This is by no means the only example of political • Chap 6: The changes to the disciplinary section bias. Yet again Christine, Peter Willsman and Walter should be opposed as they allow all-member Wolfgang were denied a speaking slot on behalf of meetings to initiate charges against members the NEC. But, of course “trusty” Peter Wheeler, was and could become a kangaroo court. given a slot. Wheeler also has a daily column in the official conference newspaper. Shawcroft, Willsman, Wolfgang, and Wheeler are all members of the TUESDAY FRINGE MEETINGS NEC’s CLP section. Wheeler has the least support Defend And Extend Abortion Rights amongst party members having come bottom of the 12.45pm, The Rain Bar, Gt. Bridgewater Street six elected. This despite being promoted as the NEC

Palestine Solidarity Palestine: The Way Forward speaker at regional conferences. 12.45pm, Palace Hotel, Oxford Street Yet More Shenanigans

Conference assessment and We hear there was a “political briefing” organised for West Midlands CLP delegates this week. How generous the way forward for Labour of Robert Flello, MP for Stoke South, to give his time to

6pm—Relish Bar, Great Northern Square explain the historic role of the trade unions in the (Near corner of Peter St & Deansgate—behind Bar 38) founding of the Labour Party! And how imaginitive of Chair: Pete Willsman (NEC) Brother Bob to suggest that the contemporary issues Speakers: Mohammed Azam priorities ballot was a good opportunity for CLPs to Ann Black (NEC) * Kelvin Hopkins MP demonstrate support for the unions (and thus waste their Jim Kennedy (NEC, UCATT) * Peter Kenyon (NEC) vote)!

Christine Shawcroft (NEC) * Walter Wolfgang (NEC) Brother Bob also questioned the need for extra debates. Entry: £1 (Concessions 50p) After all, he said, debates involve unhelpful division. PRICE FOR Campaign THE WEEK:

24 September 2008 Briefing Published daily at Labour Party Conference by the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy— www.clpd.org.uk Change direction or lose election After conference Labour faces its opt-out from the working time conference leave a lot to be greatest challenge for more than directive. Conference cheered desired. Contemporary issues are 10 years. Between 1997 and 2005 Tony Woodley’s and Michael of limited value for CLPs and the party lost 4½ million votes and Meacher’s demand for a return to unions to raise their concerns. The the situation since then has got public ownership and it approved criteria that the CAC insists are worse. The root of the electoral the further examination of several met are unrealistic. The new decline has been the New Labour issues including the windfall tax annex reports have not resolved agenda that maintains the legacy and equal pay for women. issues satisfactorily and if an of Thatcherism. The rejection of There is agreement across the annex is not accepted the issue is progressive taxation, the party that it must stand for a returned to the NPF, leaving privatisation of public services, progressive agenda, rooted in important policy questions just the curtailment of civil liberties improving living standards and being moved around in a circle and participation in George public services, fighting from conference to NPF to Bush’s military ventures have all inequality, promoting civil conference …. As conference can taken a severe toll on Labour’s liberties, combating climate make a decision on emergency support. change and promoting resolutions, these are now The past fortnight’s manoeuvrings international peace. However the important vehicles for pursuing by Miliband and his Blairite problem is that the Leadership’s policy change. acolytes have found no support at rhetoric is not sufficiently this conference. This is hardly matched by tangible policies and Support OMOV elections surprising since the unions and in a few cases, such as Iraq, policy to the NPF most party activists reject the is at odds with it. Blairite policies that are Next year’s annual conference responsible for the party’s current Progressive agenda will be considering 12 rule problems. The government’s With the current convulsions of change proposals that call for an Autumn ‘re-launch’ plus the new capitalism it is evident that the extension of democracy into the measures announced by Brown market does not have the elections of CLP representatives yesterday; from nursery education solutions. Bold radical initiatives to the NPF. (See this year’s Dele- to health checks, are all welcome. are both necessary and are gate’s Report pg 18) Currently the bulk of party members are But we must go further if we are popular. excluded from this election as going to build support sufficient to If the government fails to make the vote is restricted to annual win a fourth term. the policy changes that conference conference delegates. A one The CLPs showed their support has been urging the party risks member one vote (OMOV) ballot, for change in the amendments defeat at the next general election as with the elections to the NEC they submitted prior to the and a Tory government, CLP section, would rectify this Warwick NPF conference, whilst committed to cutting public deficiency. the unions have done so this week. spending and hitting the poor, will “Indispensible”, and only £2 for 5 issues Where the procedures still permit take over. CLP and union Michael White described Campaign Briefing in conference to make a decision it delegates leaving conference will his Guardian blog as “indispensible”. If you has voted for change, as with the want to keep up the pressure for missed any issues, or would like copies for support given to the motion policy changes. your local party/TU, please send a cheque for calling for the scrapping of the The new procedures at this year’s £3 to CLPD at the address overleaf. The way forward Look Back in Anger Delegates set out their priorities for the next year at Lorraine Monk, delegate from Twickenham CLP, last the CLPD fringe meeting to assess the outcomes came to conference five years ago. Until this morning, from Conference. NEC member Peter Willsman, Lorraine was the only delegate who challenged the referring to the next year’s appraisal of the CAC – when her CLP’s rule change was ruled out of Contemporary Issues process promised last year in order. “Five years ago there were more challenges to Gordon Brown’s “Extending Democracy” review, set the rostrum,” she says “but there are just as many things out a number of matters for discussion. He said that to complain about now.” the limitation to “contemporary” should be abolished. CLPs and unions should be able to submit any issue “For example there are a disgracefully small number of they consider important. The 4 + 4 rule on issues to contributions from the floor and we have to listen to an be debated should be interpreted as originally endless number of platform speakers. Delegates seem promised, to permit eight topics to be debated and increasingly to have been lulled into the false notion that not five as in this, and most, years. Peter also said they are at a convention rather than active participants at that ‘minority positions’ should be allowed on Annex the party’s sovereign body.” Reports to permit delegates to discuss a choice of options. NEC member, Jim Kennedy from UCATT, described Second class citizens? what his own union had set out to achieve from First thing yesterday morning, after a series of platform Conference, recognising that their relative size and speakers had strutted their stuff, Keith Vaz, the Chair, the political situation had made them realistic in their said there was time for a few contributions. But as the aims. CLP delegates approached the rostrum he said they must be very brief because “we are already running Ann Black, who was congratulated on being elected late”. A little later some 14 rule changes were moved Vice-Chair of the party, said she hoped to introduce affecting the future of the party, but only a mere 4 improvements that would help CLPs - such as issuing speakers from the floor were permitted. The reason information earlier to allow timely and proper debate why CLP delegates are treated in this offhand way is and mandating of delegates. because Conference is not governed by the interests of Kelvin Hopkins MP set out a range of priorities that the rank-and-file, but by the TV schedules to suit the were popular and would lead to a fourth Labour “super stars”. victory. These included a 2% reduction in the interest rate, a massive house-building programme and free long-term care for the elderly. Mystery Solved We reported yesterday that a mystery woman, Abortion Rights wrongly described as from Richmond Park CLP, at- Public Briefing Meeting ahead of further votes on tacked from the rostrum the emergency union mo- abortion this autumn tion on the working time directive. Yesterday, she

Tuesday 7 October—7pm, popped up again, this time described as from Rich- House of Commons, Committee Room 10 mond (Yorks) and proposed a rule change to in- crease union affiliation fees almost fourfold. What www.abortionrights.org.uk have our brothers and sisters done to deserve this?

Annual rates: Individuals - £; un- and low-waged (under £8,000) - £5; Support the Campaign for Couples - £25; un- or low-waged £6; National & regional organisations - £25; CLPs, TUs & Co-op - £15; LP branches - £5. Labour Party Democracy Send your cheque (payable to CLPD) to: CLPD, 10 Park Drive, London NW11 7SH. [Ref CB2008] I/we enclose £ ...... Subscriptions/renewal/donation Date ...... Name(s) (1) ...... (2) ...... Address ...... Postcode ...... Phone Nos (H) ...... (W) ...... CLP ...... Region ...... TU ...... Email ......