LABOUR PARTY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 2 NEC Annual Report 2016 CONTENTS
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LABOUR PARTY ANNUAL REPORT 2016 2 NEC Annual Report 2016 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016 INTERNATIONAL 04 Foreword from Jeremy Corbyn 42 International Work/Westminster 07 Introduction from Tom Watson Foundation for Democracy 08 2015/ 2016 National Executive Committee 43 EPLP Report 10 NEC Committees 11 Obituaries NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016 12 NEC Aims and Objectives for 2016 LABOUR PARTY MANAGEMENT 13 Introduction from the 46 Human Resources Report General Secretary NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016 NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016 STABILITY IN OUR FINANCES ELECTIONS 2016 16 Jon Trickett, Election Co-Ordinator 48 Stability and Progress within the Party 17 Analysis of results and Local Elections 49 Fundraising and The Thousand Club 18 London Mayoral 50 Events and Endorsements 2015/16 21 Bristol Mayoral Election May 2016 53 Financial Statements for the year ended 22 Scotland Report 31 December 2015 23 Wales Report 54 Treasurers’ Report 24 Local Government Report 56 Administrative Information 25 PCC Elections 58 Statement of Registered Treasurer’s Responsibilities 26 Parliamentary By-Elections 59 Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of The Labour Party NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016 EUROPEAN REFERENDUM 60 Consolidated Income And Expenditure Account for the year ended 31 December 30 Labour In for Britain - 2015 EU Referendum Campaign 61 Statements of Comprehensive Income and Changes in Equity for the year NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016/17 LOOKING AHEAD: ended 31 December 2015 2017 ELECTIONS 62 Consolidated Balance Sheet at 31 December 2015 32 2017 Elections 63 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the 33 Boundary Review year Ended 31 December 2015 64 Notes to Financial Statements NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016/17 LOOKING AHEAD: MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS APPENDICES 36 Renewing our Party and Building 80 Parliamentary Labour Party an Active Membership and Supporters 86 Members of the Scottish Parliament Network 87 Members of the Welsh Assembly 37 Equality 88 Members of the European Parliament 89 Members of the London Assembly NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2016/17 LOOKING AHEAD: AGENDA 2020 90 Directly Elected Mayors 91 Leaders of Labour Groups 40 National Policy Forum 99 Labour Peers 102 Labour Police and Crime Commissioners 103 NEC Disputes 106 NCC Cases INTRODUCTION FOREWORD FROM JEREMY CORBYN Our party has become a mass movement, of over half a million members – and we have welcomed back the Fire Brigades Union to affiliation in the last year. This isn’t just an increase in membership, it’s a transformation – trebling our base in little over a year. We are the largest party in Britain – and have more members than all other political parties combined. We are also the largest party of the left in Europe. Together we have a huge opportunity to engage more people in politics and must change how we operate as a party. If we can use the immense resources we now have, we will be an unstoppable force to win the next election. Despite their change of leadership, the Tories continue to privatise all they can and inflict deep cuts on local government, so it is a difficult time to be a Labour councillor. Our Labour councillors are speaking up for their local communities and showing Labour values in action in their councils. And we welcome Bristol Council back to Labour. With new Labour mayors in Bristol and London joining our complement of councils and directly elected leaders, and new Police & Crime Commissioners in Cheshire, Gwent, Humberside and Leicestershire – we are having more influence in more communities. We need to renew our policies – involving the whole party in this task so our policies are relevant and speak to people in all parts of our country. The referendum vote in June exposed that too many people feel the status quo is not working for them. Too many communities feel left behind – and we must explain why Labour has the answers to rebuild them. We want a society in which no one and no community is left behind. This has been a traumatic year for our party as we responded to the shocking murder of Jo Cox MP. We will remember her humanity, her passion and compassion this week. Whatever our differences in the party and as we debate this week, we must remember that we have more in common than what divides us. So I ask everyone to engage in debate in a comradely, respectful and honest way. We achieve more together than we do alone and, if we stay united, there is no reason why we cannot transform our country and the lives of the people who need a Labour government. Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party 4 NEC Annual Report 2016 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION FROM TOM WATSON These are turbulent times. It would be wrong to argue that this has not been a difficult year for our party. But we have been through tough times before and emerged stronger. We will do so again. Jeremy’s election enthused tens of thousands of people who had given up on politics to sign up as members. Thousands more felt compelled to leave other parties to join us. At the time of writing we now have over half a million members, nearly as many as the other major political parties combined. That’s Jeremy’s lasting legacy and one we should be proud of. The financial support from our supporters and members has helped stabilise our party’s finances. This is good news, but ultimately we will only be judged on our ability to win political power in order to exercise it on behalf of the people who need Labour governments. That is the only measurement that counts. We have had some great electoral successes in the last twelve months, most notably in the capital city. I was delighted and proud to see Sadiq Khan win the London mayoralty convincingly. We won mayoral contests across the country, retained seats in council by-elections and welcomed talented new colleagues to the House of Commons. Yet we did not get the result we campaigned for in the European referendum. I would particularly like to thank the staff who worked so tirelessly on the ‘Labour In for Britain’ campaign during the referendum. The fact that we did not get the result we hoped for was not a reflection on them. The decision to leave the EU will have profound consequences for our country. Our priority now is to ensure the communities we represent receive the best deal possible as part of the UK’s settlement with the EU. The referendum result provided a dramatic illustration of how rapidly the political landscape can be transformed. One Conservative Prime Minister was replaced by another within days but the Tory message remains the same, even when the face at the top changes. Every Conservative administration makes cuts that have a devastating effect on those who can least afford it. Labour was founded to stand up for working people in Parliament and we will continue to do so no matter what cosmetic changes the Tory party makes. The last twelve months have shown us that political certainties can crumble overnight. If we stand united against the Tories, Labour can regain power. Finally, we lost a much-loved colleague tragically early this year. Jo Cox was our future. I know I speak for you when I say our love and thoughts are with her family. Tom Watson, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party NEC Annual Report 2016 7 INTRODUCTION 2015/ 2016 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The National Executive Committee (NEC) is the governing body of the Labour Party. It oversees the overall direction of the party and the policy making process and sets strategic objectives on an annual basis, meeting regularly to review the work of the party. Members are shown below. Additionally the PLP Shadow Chief Whip (Rosie Winterton MP) and PLP Chair (John Cryer MP) without a vote. Leader Deputy Leader Treasurer Shadow Shadow Jeremy Corbyn MP Tom Watson MP Diana Holland Frontbench Frontbench Jon Trickett MP Rebecca Long-Bailey MP Shadow EPLP Leader Young Labour Div. I – Div. I – Frontbench Glenis Willmott MEP Jasmin Beckett Trade Unions Trade Unions Jonathan Keith Birch (Unison) Jim Kennedy (Unite) Ashworth MP Div. I – Div. I – Div. I – Div. I – Div. I – Trade Unions Trade Unions Trade Unions Trade Unions Trade Unions Andi Fox (TSSA) Pauline McCarthy Paddy Lillis (Usdaw) Wendy Nichols Andy Kerr (CWU) (Bakers) (Unison) 8 NEC Annual Report 2016 INTRODUCTION 2015/ 2016 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Div. I – Div. I – Div. I – Div.I – Trade Div.I – Trade Trade Unions Trade Unions Trade Unions Unions Unions Martin Mayer Mary Turner (GMB) Jennie Formby Cath Speight (GMB) Jamie Bramwell (Unite) (Unite) (UCATT) Div. II – Socialist Div. II – Socialist Div. III – CLPs Div. III – CLPs Div. III – CLPs Societies Societies Ann Black Ellie Reeves Johanna Baxter James Asser Keith Vaz Div. III – CLPs Div. III – CLPs Div. III – CLPs Div. IV – Labour Div. IV – Labour Darren Williams Pete Willsman Christine Shawcroft Councillors Councillors Ann Lucas Alice Perry Div. V – PLP/EPLP Div. V – PLP/EPLP Div. V – PLP/EPLP Dennis Skinner MP Margaret Shabana Beckett MP Mahmood MP NEC Annual Report 2016 9 INTRODUCTION NEC COMMITTEES The following are sub-commitees of the NEC: Business Board The board is responsible for overseeing the business functions of the organisation, including the management of finances. Audit and Risk Management Committee This meets to scrutinise the proposed budget, the audited accounts and the business plan and to consider management data. Joint Policy Committee The Joint Policy Committee (JPC) has strategic oversight of policy development through overseeing the rolling programme of policy making. The JPC acts as the steering group for the National Policy Forum.