GATESHEAD CONSTITUENCY LABOUR PARTY

Executive Committee Comprises named officers of General Committee. Its role is to take

strategic decisions for the local party, in consultation with the GC. Gateshead General Committee / General Management Committee

(called GC/ GMC) - Covers Gateshead constituency only (so there are 2 others in the borough (Blaydon and part of Jarrow). Delegates are from local LP branches, TU delegates and Socialist Societies

TRADE UNIONS CURRENTLY AFFILIATED TO GATESHEAD LABOUR PARTY AFFILIATED SOCIALIST SOCIETY

Unite Unison GMB USDAW CWU ASLEF Co-operative Party

LABOUR PARTY BRANCHES

Bridges Chowdene Deckham Dunston Felling High Fell Lobley Low Fell Saltwell Windy Nook & Teams Hill & & Whitehills Bensham

How it works

Every member of the Labour Party is a member of their local branch (one of the above) by virtue of where they live, as well as being a member of the Constituency Labour Party.

As a member of your branch,

 You should receive an invitation to your local branch meetings;

 You can bring items for debate to this meeting by moving motions;

 You elect delegates to the CLP;

 You can question your local councillors (if they are Labour councillors) as they are expected to attend their branch meeting;

 You can help with local campaigning and events;

As a member of Gateshead CLP, you can

 Attend the monthly CLP meeting. These are usually on the second Thursday of the month, except August and just before elections. Even if you are not a delegate you can take part in these meetings, although you will not be able to participate in any votes unless you are a delegate;

 Participate in campaigning and events, such as socials.

The monthly CLP meeting is where delegates from all the Labour Party branches get together, with the delegates of all the affiliated Trade Union delegates and any Socialist Society delegates. There are always other members attending as visitors too. It’s usually a meeting of around 45 people, sometimes more, sometimes fewer. The meeting generally covers the report from the MP, followed by questions and answers; debates; discussions about the development of the party, campaigning, membership updates and, finally, a slot where members can notify others of any important event coming up under Any Other Business. Meetings are conducted in a friendly manner and all members encouraged to participate, whether they are experienced activists or members attending for the first time. Some meetings are designated as being All-Member meetings and notices are sent to every single member of the CLP.

There is an Annual General Meeting every year in spring, at which members can put themselves forward or be nominated for any of the leadership positions of the CLP.

Debates

Debates usually focus on a written motion, which is discussed by members, and can be amended.

The structure of a motion usually takes the following form:

 This branch notes …….

 We call upon …. to ……..

 We resolve to ….

If you need help with your motion, officers of your branch, such as your chair or secretary should be able to help you. If you want to introduce a motion at your meeting, you need to ensure it is put on the agenda in good time. Ideally, it should be printed off and all members attending have a copy in front of them at the meeting. In a debate, the author speaks to it (by introducing it, expanding on the issues and explaining why it is important). Then another member has to confirm their support (seconding it). This can be by speaking about it or just seconding it formally. Others can join in the discussion and suggest changes to it by altering the wording or deleting parts of it (called an amendment). Again this has to be moved and seconded. There can be several amendments, but they have to be debated one at time, each time being moved and seconded. At the end everyone votes and if it is agreed, it is said to be carried. If your branch agrees the motion, it then becomes a resolution and is sent to the CLP Secretary for debate at the next meeting. One of your branch delegates will be asked to move it. At the CLP meeting, it may be amended again, if that is what the meeting agrees. An important matter to consider is where you would like the resolution to be sent. Destinations can include: Gateshead Council Labour Group, the National Executive of Labour Party or the if it is a policy matter. There will be other possible destinations too.

How to make a difference as a member of the Labour Party

1. Helping in local campaigning – leafleting, voter ID (which used to be called canvassing) in person or on the phone and street stalls. 2. Helping in party development eg attending events designed to attract new members to the Labour Party 3. Recruiting new members eg family, friends and colleagues 4. Speaking out at meetings about issues of which you have knowledge (ie about where you live, your job, your community), to guide and inform policy-makers 5. Offering feedback about local Labour Party meetings, if you have ideas as to how we can make the party more inclusive, accessible and relevant to members 6. Attending your branch meeting and contributing to how it runs 7. Drafting a resolution for the local branch, which, if supported, can be adopted by the GC and sent to the NEC/ NPF or Annual Conference. 8. Joining the 100 Club, Gateshead CLP’s prize draw, which raises funds for the local party 9. Supporting online campaigning – Facebook, 38 degrees etc 10.If you are a member of a Labour-affiliated Trade Union, encourage your branch to affiliate, if it is not already affiliated. 11. Participating in the selection of local Labour candidates for Gateshead Council 12. Participating in the selection and reselection of our parliamentary candidate 13.Voting for National Policy Forum reps (NPF) who agree policy at national level 14.Voting for constituency reps on the National Executive Committee (NEC) which agree procedure 15.Voting for delegates to the Regional Conference, which elects the Regional Board, which oversees the work of paid officials working for Labour North 16.Voting for the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

Other Labour Party bodies

 The Women’s Forum and Youth Forum are designed to improve our communication with women and young people, offer opportunities for discussion and ensure the Labour Party can act on the concerns of local people.  At national level, there are a number of Socialist Societies affiliated to the Labour Party, namely the Labour Housing Group, Socialist Health Association, Socialist Education Association, SERA, the environmental grouping, the Co-operative Party, the Christian Socialist Movement, the , the , LGBT Labour, Labour Disabled Members’ Group, Labour Irish Society, , Scientists for Labour, Society for Labour Lawyers, BAME Labour, Labour Animal Welfare Society and the National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs. They are opportunities for debate on these specialist themes and send delegates to Annual Conference. All members can be individual members of these.

Denise Robson - Chair, Gateshead CLP [email protected]