autumn EDITION 2011 ISSUE NO 74

PRODUCTION 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 newsletter can be downloaded). For detailed and exclusive NEC and NPF reports, internal All enquiries: [email protected] 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]

Content highlights WINNING IT FOR 2011 LABOUR n Ken Livingstone: Winning it for Labour n Peter Willsman: Annual Ken Livingstone an informal understanding that when Boris Conference plans to go off the reservation, he will alert Alert: Refounding Labour, a The London May- the high command.” disappointment, key rule change oral election is the He says the government is “absolutely proposals from CLPs right to make cuts” and there is no part of largest single elec- n Simon Weller: Defending the link government that’s moved “so far and so fast toral battleground n Forward to to make cuts” as he has. Kelvin Hopkins MP: before the general socialist policies He failed to stand up for Londoners over election. It gives n Focus on the Middle higher student fees and cuts to EMA. Mark Seddon: Labour the very East real possibility of He has concentrated on taxing London- n Mohammed Azam: British an historic bomb- ers through above-inflation fare increases. A single bus fare by Oyster has increased by 44 politicians need to address far right shell victory. terror threat now! I say bombshell because we must be clear per cent. His business plan commits London n Andy Newman: Could the general the Tory candidate starts this campaign with to fare rises of inflation plus two per cent for election have been won? the money, incumbency and media support twenty years. n Barry Gray: Blue no way forward in his favour. Johnson’s campaign to cut the top rate of for Labour So this will be a hard-fought campaign. We tax – while raising travel fares – favours the n A start this campaign as the fighting underdog. wealthiest at the expense of the overwhelm- Councillor Angela Cornforth: look at the NPF Our strength is the enthusiasm factor of ing majority of Londoners. n So, what happened in our grassroots campaign. We have reached (cont. overleaf) Maria Fyfe: out to Londoners in all parts of the city Scotland? n through our weekly phone-bank in Party Becky Hodgson: NPF youth report headquarters. In one month we contacted ANNUAL CONFERENCE ALERT 2011 n Darren Williams: NPF Welsh CLPs more people in Bromley than in the previous representative, NPF report fifteen years. That kind of enthusiasm can- n Gordon Wills: The Tory coalition’s not be bought. REFOUNDING health policy – how should Labour We will put London first. At each stage LABOUR A respond? Boris Johnson has failed that test. When the n Billy Hayes: Why trade unions must first stories of phone-hacking were pub- DISAPPOINTMENT defend multi-culturalism lished Johnson protected his friends in the n Tel’s Tales, Blairite myth-making et al Conservative Party and News International, PETER WILLSMAN, n Ray Davison: Review, Suze Rotolo’s attacking the stories as ‘codswallop cooked A Freewheelin’ Time up by the Labour Party.’ SECRETARY CLPD n Callum Munro: NEC report The Tories’ strategy is for Boris Johnson n Jim Mallory: Canadian elections in to differentiate himself from the Tory-led This initiative has been driven by Ed Miliband focus and Peter Hain (Chair of the National Policy government to avoid electoral flak. But in n David L. Gardner: Refounding doing so he shows how much of a Tory he Forum) and it promised much. CLPs, unions Labour – a hidden threat to local really is. As Benedict Brogan of the Telegraph and individuals responded in considerable accountability numbers, making a wide range of suggestions has reported, this is “an agreed strategy rath- n CLPD TUC fringe and conference for reform. Party members saw this as a er than a unilateral declaration of independ- highlights chance to start afresh after the banality and ence.” Brogan reports: “In the near daily n Bitebacks – the ever snappier shots control freakery of so-called ‘New Labour’. exchanges of text messages between the from a political sniper three [Cameron, Johnson, Osborne], there is (cont. overleaf)

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WINNING IT FOR REFOUNDING LABOUR A DISAPPOINTMENT LABOUR (cont. from p1) (cont. from p1) Discussions are continuing during the weeks want to reduce the number of union reps When the Mayor of London is paid leading up to Party Conference, but what is on the National Conference Arrangements £250,000 a year by a newspaper to write a taking shape is hardly a qualitative change. Committee. weekly column – £100,000 more than his The final document, being put together Many submissions to Refounding La- mayoral salary – then something is wrong. by Ed and Peter, is certainly not banal and bour, including from unions, pointed out Even more so when he dismisses that salary makes an effort to respond to many of the that CLPs are underrepresented on the NEC as ‘chicken feed’. Under Boris Johnson twen- suggestions made by Party organisation and compared to the unions (6 seats against 12) ty-eight staff members in the Greater London members. But in places there seems to be a and that the NPF needs root and branch Authority are earning more than £100,000, lack of appreciation of the importance of reform. E and P seem to be ignoring these compared with sixteen three years ago. the formal institutions of Party democracy suggestions. Instead they are proposing that Boris Johnson, by not standing up for and there is a major attack on the power of the powers of the Leader are greatly en- London, has made Londoners less well off the unions within our Party. hanced at the expense of the NEC. They and less safe. His approach is to cut the po- Several Party leaders in the recent past also want formal LGCs, District and County lice, not crime. have carried out consultation exercises about Parties replaced by nebulous small groups of Burglaries, robberies and muggings Party democracy. But it became clear that local officers, which would undermine the are on the rise. Injured knife crime victims these were largely phony in that the leaders opportunity to make Labour Groups and aged thirteen to twenty-four have increased knew what the results were going to be be- their leaders properly accountable. On the by more than thirty per cent under Boris fore the exercises took place. In each case more positive side, E and P are proposing Johnson. Yet his own figures show that he the fact that few of the responses supported that changes to PLP standing orders should will cut 1,800 uniformed police officers by the Leader’s position made no difference. be voted on at Annual Conference and they 2013/2014. He’s watering down the deploy- The ‘consultation’ was used as a cover for float the option of a local electoral college to ment of local neighbourhood police teams putting forward what the Leader had always elect Labour Group leaders. Unfortunately and forcing local police sergeants to reapply wanted. Unfortunately there is a strong sus- the latter proposal does not appear in the for their own jobs. picion that, to some extent, the same applies most recent draft from E and P. My approach will be to protect London- to Refounding Labour, particularly in rela- At Liverpool delegates will be faced with ers in tough economic times. I will tear up the tion to giving ‘registered supporters’ votes in a final document from E and P that is likely inflation-plus-two-percent fare rise plan. I will leadership elections, and in relation to reduc- to be tabled as an NEC document. There protect front line police services. I will work ing the union vote at Annual Conference. may be undemocratic attempts to force this with young people and students instead of Our Party has some 3 million affiliated through in the ‘New Labour’ way of take-it- backing Tory government attacks on them. I members who pay the political levy through or-leave-it. Delegates are also likely to face a will do only the job of mayor, and no other, their unions. This was always spelt out at the range of associated rule change proposals to and freeze the pay of my senior political ap- very beginning of the Party’s Constitution various parts of the Rule Book. Even ‘New pointments. I will take no pay rise myself and as follows – “There shall be two classes of Labour’ never attempted to force a decision fight to put Londoners back to work. members, namely; (a) Affiliated members (b) on many different rule changes into one om- If you want to make a difference, be part Individual members”. This clause has never nibus vote. of the grassroots movement to put London been removed by Annual Conference but, on the right track, and help put Londoners during the various consolidations and re- first, visit my website at www.kenlivingstone. jiggings of the Rule Book, it seems to have BITEBACKS com/difference. been lost sight of. For example, the pro- posal for ‘registered supporters’ completely ignores the fact that some 3 million of our ‘It was precisely the New Labour BITEBACKS supporters are already members, i.e. affiliated project that helped undermine if not members. It is, therefore, by and large only destroy the old Labour Party in the members of non-affiliated unions (eg teach- constituencies and the unions, which ‘In recessions, profits fall faster than ers, civil servants, rail workers, fire fighters) Ed Miliband now seeks to rebuild.’ wages. From this comes the drive to that would comprise ‘registered supporters’. (Geoffrey Goodman, Tribune 6/5/11.) restore profits – lowering wages, cut- E and P are putting forward a range of ting workers, removing regulations on ‘The UK public sector net debt was very constructive proposals about involving business and lowering their taxes. Busi- 58% of GDP in March this year. levy payers at the CLP level, but seemingly nesses have enacted the first of these UK net debt was 180% after the Sec- without realising that these are all members, two and the government has enacted ond World War and is low compared albeit affiliated members. But they are pro- the second two. There is also the hope with Japan’s current 194% and Italy’s posing a three- pronged attack on the power that lower wages in the public sector and 100%.’ of the unions within the Party. E and P want reduced benefits will push wages lower (Investors Chronicle, 6/5/11.) ‘registered supporters’ to have a vote for in the private sector. The Tory-led coali- Leaders and Deputy Leaders by reducing the tion believes it is doing the right thing ‘The UK finance industry remains free Union share in the electoral college. They in sticking to plan A. This involves the to indulge in unlimited gambling and want to reduce the size of the union vote at restoration of profits by transferring in- is not held liable for the resulting dev- Party Conference by perhaps giving a vote to comes from labour to capital.’ astation. The next financial crisis is in- MPs and/or councillors and/or NPF mem- (Michael Burke, former senior interna- evitable.’ bers. This would destroy the current and tional economist with Citibank, Tribune (Prem Sikka, professor of accounting, justifiable balance of two equal wings (50% 8/4/11.) University of Essex, Tribune 8/3/11.) political and 50% industrial). And E and P

2 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 DEFENDING THE LINK

Simon Weller, ASLEF and the NHS, Labour and the trade unions and regional government and to the Euro- must present a united front. Any weakening pean Parliament. National Organiser of the relationship between trade unions and At every general election, trade union the Party it helped to create will only make members up and down the country go out Trade union rights and freedoms, which we it easier for the government to press ahead on the streets and campaign for Labour, as have long taken for granted, are now faced with its reform agenda, damaging the lives they have done throughout Labour’s history. with a serious threat. Margaret Thatcher’s of trade union members everywhere. Trade union leaders have always made it plain anti-trade union laws are still in existence Rather than distancing itself from the that for trade unionists and working people and supported by all three of the main po- struggle to overturn anti-union legislation, there is only one practical political choice: ‘It litical parties in parliament, and the Conserv- the Labour leadership, and in particular Ed has to be Labour.’ It’s no exaggeration to say ative-led coalition is threatening to introduce Miliband, who owes his election victory in that without the trade unions, and the support even tighter controls to regulate trade union the Labour leader’s election to levy-paying they offer to the Labour Party, financial and activity. This is why it is essential that the trade union members, should unite behind political, the Party could not continue to func- link between the Labour Party and the trade the 500,000 workers who took to the streets tion as a the main opposition in the country. unions, which helped to found it over one back in March in the largest ever demonstra- The Tory-led coalition realises this, hence hundred years ago, is not only maintained tion in the history of the trade union move- its cynical attempt to cap political donations but strengthened. It is the Party that has tra- ment. With the 6,500 Shropshire council at £50,000. If this were allowed to happen, ditionally given a voice to working people workers facing redundancy or a 5.4 per cent without the consultation of union members everywhere. Break the link and you break pay cut, with the 50,000 National Health who pay their political levy, it would cripple the Party. Service Staff expecting to lose their jobs and the Labour Party and represent an all-out at- From the introduction of the National with the workers at Bombardier who have tack on hard-won trade union rights to rep- Minimum Wage to the improved rights both lost their jobs due to the government’s short- resentation. inside and outside the workplace, trade un- sighted decision not to support train manu- The millions of affiliated trade unions ions have led the campaign to improve life facturing in Britain, now is surely the time members represent a huge constituency of for working men and women, Labour’s key for solidarity between Party and unions. working people with a very real stake in the constituency. The link delivers results for working Labour Party and its future. The link is alive Facing the biggest cuts to the public sec- people and ensures working people are rep- and well, relevant, modern and still deliver- tor since the foundation of the welfare state resented and elected to Parliament, to local ing for working people. BITEBACKS FORWARD TO SOCIALIST ‘If this government implements bigoted policies of social exclusion- POLICIES deliberate creation of unemployment, ending of education maintenance Kelvin Hopkins MP mocracy and those vestiges of democratic allowance, dumping of Sure Start, socialism which remain. Moreover, there attacks on social housing tenancies et Blair claimed is big money, business money, still fund- al-then a small but violent minority of recently that ing New Labour propaganda, and Progress those excluded may turn to other ways New Labour (‘Regress’?) is more dangerous than ever So- of being noticed. And the huge police died when he viet Weekly was! cuts mean that the riots are even more left Down- difficult to deal with.’ ing Street, “The name of Tony Blair (Gerald Kaufman MP, Guardian grandiose and has become a toxic brand, 10/8/11.) egotistical as he always was, reinforced in its toxicity ‘I regard these people as the forces of but not quite every time Cameron stagnation.’ truthful. It invokes Blair in aid of (George Osborne on the prospect of may well be Tory policies” co-ordinated trade union action over that only he the cuts, Guardian 2/2/11.) and Mandelson were truly New Labour, as Fortunately, the name of Tony Blair ‘Unions are the very core of the big Mandelson has recorded in his book, but has become a toxic brand, reinforced in its society.’ the nomenklatura of the regime were still toxicity every time Cameron invokes Blair (Robert Halfon, Tory MP, Tribune numerous after Blair, with many in posi- in aid of Tory policies in the Commons. 17/6/11.) tions of power and influence as indeed Milburn, Purnell, Hewitt and others have some still are. Khrushchev’s 1956 denuncia- thankfully chosen to leave the Commons ‘There has been no greater assault on tion of the three years dead Stalin marked and the 2010 election cut a swathe through working class Britain than Thatcher’s a decisive change, but it was not the end of the ranks of New Labour acolytes in the two-pronged attack on industry and the Soviet Union. In our Party too there are Parliamentary Labour Party. Many new trade unions.’ many who still hanker after a return to the Commons comrades are fine replacements, (Owen Jones, Chavs, 2011 p.48.) Blair era and a continuation of his reaction- ary permanent revolution against social de- (cont. on p10)

3 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

down principles and standards of behaviour BRIEFING ON KEY RULE to cover all Party members, officers, employ- ees, contractors and public representatives. This would fill a gap in the Rule Book that CHANGE PROPOSALS needs filling.

FROM CLPS COMING UP AT n A Charter of Labour Party individual and LIVERPOOL affiliated members’ rights PETER WILLSMAN ed, should be given full support. It is difficult SECRETARY CLPD enough for CLPs to have their voice heard in (from Hyndburn CLP) this Party, without the CAC gagging them. Aggrieved delegates may go to the ros- This rule change proposal sets out a wide At Liverpool delegates will be debating trum and seek redress by challenging the range of rights to which members would be and voting on a wide range of changes Chair of the CAC. Every delegate in the hall entitled, for example the right to be fully in- to the Party’s Rule Book. Many of these should do their best to support these chal- volved in policy making, including clear audit will be tabled by the NEC as part of the lenges and oppose the gagging. It could be trails and feed-back and the right to complain Refounding Labour consultative exercise your CLP next! to a Party Ombudsperson. The responses to masterminded by Peter Hain (NPF Chair) At the time of writing, the important rule the Refounding Labour consultation revealed and Ed Miliband. But there are also a change proposals from CLPs that remain on a desire within the Party to set out the rights number of very important rule change the agenda at Liverpool are: of Party members in our Rule Book. proposals tabled by CLPs. These were submitted last year, but under an obscure convention (known as the ‘1968 Ruling’) n A new Clause IV n The right of CLPs and have been delayed for a year. Unions to amend NPF It is vital that delegates ensure that (from Castle Point, Ceredigion and documents at Annual the CLP proposals are given a fair hearing Dagenham and Rainham CLPs) Conference and are not brushed aside. Many of them are in line with the general thrust of the One of New Labour’s first acts was to re- Hain-Miliband document. move from the Rule Book the iconic Clause (from Bridgend, Burnley, Cardiff IV, which had been inserted in to our Con- Central, Chingford and Woodford Oppose attempts to gag the stitution by the Fabians, Beatrice and Sidney Green, East Devon, Gower, Mid CLPs Webb, and which was reprinted on every Bedfordshire and Nottingham member’s card. This removal was a PR ex- South CLPs) At last year’s Conference, the Conference ercise that was presented by New Labour, Arrangements Committee (CAC) dealt and their hacks in the media, as some sort This rule change proposes that in the year with rule changes from CLPs in a very of symbolic act. The replacement Clause IV that Annual Conference is considering the unfair manner. Many were ruled out by a was written by Tony Blair in his back garden final-stage policy documents from the Na- very questionable and blanket application and is uninspiring to say the least. tional Policy Forum (NPF), each CLP and of the “three-year rule”. This rule states Castle Point and the other CLPs have each union should be permitted to submit that, when a Conference decision has taken up the challenge and set out a new one amendment to the material in the docu- been made on a rule change proposal, no Clause IV, which is a reasoned critique of ments. This would give CLPs some direct further amendment to that ‘part’ of the the current economic system, with a com- role in the Party’s policy-making process. rules will be permitted for three years. mitment to democracy, human rights and the The key word here, of course, is ‘part’. promotion of human welfare. It reads like a n Four plus four should In other words, if a CLP amends a com- powerful speech by Ed Miliband, or indeed equal eight pletely different ‘part’ of a long clause in by Ralph Miliband. the Rule Book, compared to other parts that may have been recently amended, n (from Bristol North West and then that is in order. The CAC ignored A Labour Party Code of Hemsworth CLPs) the significance of the word ‘part’ and Ethics applied a catch-all interpretation. This is Subsequent to the adoption, at the 1997 An- unacceptable and if there is any repeat (from South Ribble CLP) nual Conference, of the Partnership in Pow- of this unfair practice this year, then any er process, several CLPs, supported by many challenge from ruled out CLPs insisting This rule change proposal provides for a trade union delegates, managed to achieve that the Rule Book is correctly interpret- Labour Party Code of Ethics that would lay the right for CLPs to have four subjects of

4 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 their choice debated at Conference. The may be unhappy with one or more particular intention of this reform was to have four sections. This proposed rule change from BITEBACKS subjects from the unions debated and four Islington North would allow Conference to separate subjects from the CLPs timetabled. have a separate vote on any part of a policy ‘I’m often asked in what ways Party Unfortunately the powers-that-be have not document. It is a simple democratic proce- policy will change radically under a new honoured the intention of the reform and dure that is long overdue. The trade unions leader. The answer is that this is the have only allowed debates on those CLP is- are very supportive of this proposal. wrong question. Social democracy is a sues that were not also chosen by trade un- people’s movement, which never will ions. The rule change from Bristol North be led by a single individual. To those West and Hemsworth prevents any further n Increasing democracy who ask how policy will change we shenanigans by making it crystal clear that in leadership elections say: study the debates and decisions of the CLPs have the right to always have four Conference. Go to regional conferenc- subjects debated in addition to a further and es, the areas where working people live, separate four chosen by the unions. (from Slough CLP) and to trade unions and listen to their debates. That’s where the answer lies.’ At the moment CLPs and unions are not (Olof Palme 1969, quoted by John Veit- properly involved in the election process for Wilson, Guardian letters 1/4/11.) n CLPs and Unions to the Party Leader and Deputy Leader. The have the right to submit rule change proposal from Slough would in- ‘For many, a long habit of not thinking a rule change and a troduce more accountability and give mem- a thing wrong gives it a superficial ap- Contemporary Motion bers and trade unionists more of a direct pearance of being right.’ role in these elections. (Thomas Paine, quoted in Tribune (from Buckingham, Harrogate 22/4/11.) and Knaresborough, Hitchin n Separate NEC Seats ‘There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s and Harpenden, Holborn and St for party members in my class, the rich class, that’s making Pancras, Horsham, Ilford South Scotland and Wales the war, and we’re winning.’ and North East Bedfordshire (Warren Buffett, the world’s third rich- CLPs) est man. Quoted by Michael White, (from Beverley and Holderness, Guardian 14/9/10.) The right of CLPs and affiliated organisations Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and ‘When you look back at the 1945 Labour to amend the Party’s Constitution is an im- Tweedale and Stratford upon Cabinet that constructed the welfare state, portant democratic right. There should be no Avon CLPs) the contrast (between past and present restriction on this right. At present, CLPs and Labour MPs) is almost obscene. The gi- affiliated organisations can submit either a rule The Scottish and Wales Labour Parties have ants of Clem Attlee’s government (Bevin amendment or a ‘contemporary motion’, but a separate identity to that of the English Bevan Morrison) were all from working- not both. This is an arbitrary and unnecessary Regions and each has its own General Sec- class backgrounds... It was the trade restriction, since there is no link whatsoever retary. In addition the Scottish and Welsh unions and local government that had between rule changes and ‘contemporary mo- Parties now monitor the work of the La- provided them with the ladders to climb, tions’. The rule change from Buckingham and bour Groups in the Scottish parliament enabling them to end up as towering po- the other CLPs would remove this unreason- and Welsh Assembly. There is, therefore, a litical figures and respected statesmen.’ able restriction. The trade unions are generally strong case for automatic representation on (Owen Jones, Chavs, 2011 p.105.) very supportive of this proposal. the NEC from Party members in Scotland and Wales. n To give Conference the right to vote in parts on Key votes in party elections documents Conference Arrangements Committee Vote for a grassroots voice on the CAC (from Islington North CLP)

Conference has the right to refer back any CLPD and CLGA ask for your suppport for the following candidates for the two section of the NEC Report. But the plat- constituency places on the Conference Arrangements Committee: n form has always refused to extend this right Vote: Catherine Donovan (Gateshead CLP, member of UNITE) n to NEC policy statements (except in 1974 Vote: Gary Heather (Islington North CLP, member of CWU) when Tony Benn chaired the Conference). When Partnership in Power was introduced We also ask for your support for a grassroots voice on the National in 1997 delegates were led to believe that Na- Constitutional Committee (constituency section) tional Policy Forum reports would be voted on in parts if Conference so wished. But in n Vote: Mark James (Greenwich and Woolwich CLP) practice this has not happened. Conference has to vote for the whole document on a Help us win the support of Labour’s new generation for democracy and accountability take-it-or-leave-it basis. This means that doc- and make Labour fight again for the socialist aspirations of rank and file Party and uments are always passed, although delegates trade union members.

5 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 BRITISH FOCUS ON THE MIDDLE EAST POLITICIANS NEED TO ADDRESS MARK SEDDON, FORMER The massive spread of global communi- EDITOR OF TRIBUNE AND cations, coupled with a better educated youth FAR RIGHT and a severe lack of opportunity, has created FORMER CONSTITUENCY a perfect storm. In Tunisia, ordinary people TERROR THREAT NEC ELECTED MEMBER appear to have made some solid advances; NOW! in Egypt some solid achievements, while in As soon as commen- Syria, Yemen, Iran and Bahrain the old order tators began to refer is fighting bloodily to retain its privileges. MOHAMMED AZAM, FORMER to the popular upris- Britain’s record throughout the area has NEC MEMBER ings across North been distinctly chequered. Our support for Africa and the Mid- regimes such as Mubarak’s in Egypt com- It should not take the murder of 77 innocent dle East as the ‘Arab promises us, while our military intervention people in Norway at the hands of a fascist Spring’, I began to in Iraq was a disaster. David Cameron and terrorist for a discussion to begin about how worry that the near William Hague have even managed to sub- the Western world deals with far right terror- universal optimism vert the UN Security Council’s express wish ism. Yet despite this despicable terrorist attack, that had accompanied to see humanitarian intervention based on and the exposure of Anders Behring-Breivik’s the revolts might be the ‘right to protect’ in Libya. Britain rightly links to members of several fascist and far right misplaced. Remember the Prague Spring? In went to the aid of the civilians of Benghazi groups in Britain including the English Defence 1968, Alexander Dubcek’s attempt to replace as yet another dictator, in this case Colonel League (EDL), British National Party (BNP) hard-line Communism with social democ- Gaddafi, sought to crush them. But Britain and Stop the Islamification of Europe, David racy failed as Soviet and Warsaw Pact tanks and France have also been engaged in seek- Cameron has failed to act decisively and launch rumbled across the borders of Czechoslova- ing regime change in Libya, which is not part a far right counter-terrorism strategy equivalent kia. In recent weeks tanks have been rum- of any UN Resolution. to Prevent that is aimed at countering terrorism bling through the streets of towns and cities Now surely is the time for Ed Miliband to from Al Qaeda and linked organisations. The throughout Syria, the only difference being reach out to pro-democracy groups through- recent announcement of the Prevent Review that the forces crushing peaceful civilian out the region and offer Labour’s help in strategy in June this year, sadly omitted the demonstrators do not come from beyond building the new democracies in the region. EDL, BNP and far right terrorism. Syria’s borders. They are the forces of the The time for bi-partisan policies with the To- Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and other Assad regime itself. ries and Liberal Democrats must surely be anti racists have consistently warned of the over when it comes to North Africa and the far right terror threat in Britain. Terence Ga- “The massive spread of Middle East. van, a former soldier and BNP member, was n Read about Mark’s new book Standing convicted of manufacturing nail bombs and global communications, for Something on p.12. of possessing a staggering array of explosives, coupled with a better firearms and weapons, in January 2010. Neil educated youth and a MacGregor pleaded guilty to “threatening to severe lack of opportunity, blow up Glasgow Central Mosque and be- BITEBACKS head a Muslim every week until every mosque has created a perfect in Scotland was closed”. Robert Cottage, storm” ‘It is not simply racism that has driven a former BNP candidate, was jailed in July hundreds of thousands of working- 2007 for possessing explosive chemicals in his My former TV network Al Jazeera has class people into the waiting arms of home. The cache was “described by police at I believe played a major role in educating a the BNP. The rise of the far right is the time of his arrest as the largest amount of whole generation of young people through- a reaction to the marginalization of chemical explosive of its type ever found in out the Middle East. Al Jazeera and the rise working-class people.’ this country”. The lack of media coverage of of social networking sites, the internet and (Owen Jones, Chavs, 2011 p.223.) these convictions and the knee-jerk reaction the cell phone have finally put paid to the old in some sections of the media attributing the state-run TV networks. Today what may be ‘Anthony Giddens once reported that Norway attacks to Muslim extremism, reflects happening in Damascus or Aleppo is imme- The Leader, as he referred to the Lib- endemic Islamophobia and racism in society. diate news throughout the whole region. But yan dictator, very much liked the term Norway’s Nobel Peace Prize Commit- watching Al Jazeera television is not in itself “third way”.’ tee Chairman and former Norwegian Prime enough to spur the bravery and audacity of (Tribune 4/3/11.) Minister, Thorbjørn Jagland, warned Eu- millions of people from Benghazi to Tunis, rope’s leaders, including David Cameron, Cairo to Sana’a, who have marched, demon- ‘In November 2010, at least 50 arms that they would be “playing with fire” if they strated and occupied. What I believe we are trade companies visited Libya on a UK continued to use rhetoric that could be ex- seeing is the unravelling of an old order of trade delegation. Weapons licensed for ploited by extremists. He told them they risk rigid dictatorships that were suffered by the export in the latter half of 2010 includ- inflaming far-right and anti-Muslim senti- majority because at the very least the same ed rifles, crowd control ammunition ment and urged them to adopt a more “cau- dictators offered low food and fuel prices and and surface to air missile components’. tious” approach when discussing multicul- jobs for the youth. That compact is broken, (Glen Rangwala, Labour Briefing, April turalism. Yet Cameron and other politicians because the dictators and the military can no 2011.) have failed to heed this warning. longer fulfil their side of the bargain.

6 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 COULD THE GENERAL ELECTION HAVE BEEN WON? ANDY NEWMAN, MEMBER OF the disunity they themselves had created. proper guardian of his own health, whether SWINDON SOUTH CLP Their self-serving justification was the belief bodily, or mental or spiritual.” that Labour could only win an election by The Liberals see organised labour and trade On the eve of last year’s election, Gordon moving further to the right. unions as just another vested interest, a force Brown visited Skelmersdale, and was, mobbed The Blairite strategy was triangulation of conservatism, and a constraint upon liberty. by ordinary people shouting: “Come on Gor- towards the priorities of swing voters in But the mainstream values of our move- don!” His speech to Citizens UK was assured, marginal constituencies and a consequent ment derive from experience of collective putting social justice at the heart of Labour’s abandonment of any bold policies that chal- organisation: solidarity, advocacy for the message. We had a strong story to tell: a de- lenged their prejudices. Indeed it is a paradox poor and disadvantaged, fighting against in- cisive response to the banking crisis had pre- of Tony Blair that his government undersold equality and privilege. vented economic meltdown, and saved tens its own progressive achievements. This is not the same tradition as liberal- of thousands of jobs. This is how we could ism. They do not share our values. have fought the whole campaign. We needed to recognise that the work- Instead the Prime Minister was treated as “The traditional labourist ing class, managers and professional grades, a liability, wheeled around like a minor royal, message is an inherently and the intelligentsia share a common de- having cups of tea with handpicked voters to modern one” sire for economic and social stability. The generate photo-ops for local newspapers. traditional labourist message of using state Labour’s weakness was not Gordon The Blairites and the centre-left Com- power to seek to protect individuals from the Brown, nor our record in office; the weak- pass group also share a conceit that Liberals power of capital, and to steer democratically nesses were the public disloyalty of the are our natural partners; and that the histori- the economy towards meeting the needs of Blairites, and a misunderstanding about the cal legacy of labourism is an obstacle. How- people not just corporations is an inherently nature of the Liberal Democrats. ever, the Liberal ideological tradition rests modern one, around which a progressive In 2009 a handful of ministers resigned upon individualism, and the belief that as electoral coalition can and should be built. on the eve of the Euro elections. Subse- John Stuart Mill puts it: “The only freedom quently Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon which deserves the name is that of pursuing n Andy Newman is contributing editor to called for a leadership challenge, creating a our own good in our own way, so long as we the Socialist Unity blog (www.socialistunity. self-fulfilling prophecy. They made the Party do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or com) where a fuller article on this subject look unstable, and then blamed Gordon for impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the can be found. BLUE NO WAY FORWARD FOR LABOUR

BARRY GRAY, CLPD and suggestions that voluntary class solidar- be more blue – the colour of the Tories. It ASSISTANT SECRETARY ity can substitute for public provision just needs to prioritise reaching out to former strengthens the finance capital Blue Labour Labour voters who, it is claimed, have left us Blue Labour, widely associated with the plat- claims to critique. for the Tories. It is suggested that the Con- form of ‘flag, faith and family’, imploded in Blue Labour has become best known servative Party and the values it represents July. Whilst it attracted negative headlines for its conservative social agenda, with com- have become popular. This is evidently false for controversial positions on immigration, mentators referring to the way it promotes a and does not describe the real shift that has its overall framework is equally unhelpful for set of values prevalent at a time when wom- been taking place in British politics. The fun- Labour. en were largely confined to the home. Such damental decline in Labour support has not The central problem confronting peo- backward looking ideas as ‘putting patrimony been to the benefit of the Tories, which is ple arises from the deterioration of the first’ or ‘placing true manliness at the heart why the latter, with only 36.1 per cent vote economy. The Tory-led government is at- of the Labour manifesto’ are incapable of share in 2010, could not achieve a parliamen- tacking the living standards of the majority engaging right across today’s society. Added tary majority. Instead Labour’s electoral de- of the population and Labour must have a to which there has been the call for a mora- cline has been accompanied by the rise of clear programme to defend people. At its torium on EU immigration and the proposal the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish and core is the issue of public spending, where that we should involve ‘those people who Welsh nationalists. Adopting a set of val- Osborne’s cuts have replaced an economic support the EDL [English Defence League] ues that even the Tories cannot advance on recovery with stagnation. With frozen wages, within our Party’. Women’s participation in clearly offers no way forward for Labour. reduced welfare and the axing of services, the workforce and migration to Britain are people are being made significantly worse not the determinants of falling living stand- off. Labour needs to promote vigorously the ards. Both add to the well being of the whole BITEBACKS economic importance of the public sector of society. There should be implacable op- and reject arguments for a shift away from position to the EDL and its violent assaults ‘It would be difficult to create a more the state, including Blue Labour’s claims that on Muslims and other minorities. half–arsed political initiative than Blue the problem has arisen because the state has Blue Labour’s agenda is premised on Labour.’ become overbearing since 1945. Its criticism the view that the future is conservative; its (Paul Anderson, Tribune 5/8/11.) of the introduction of universal benefits name explains its analysis. Labour needs to

7 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 FOCUS ON THE FORUM

A LABOUR COUNCILLOR meetings and have gleaned from these discus- ordinated and best practice strategy for Labour LOOKS AT THE NATIONAL sions that Party members are keen to be in- councillors faced with government cutbacks. volved and to have a say. Members do not feel At the NPF meeting in Wrexham, del- POLICY FORUM that they have a guaranteed route into policy egates called for a co-ordinated response making. Can anybody name one NPF policy from the Shadow Cabinet on behalf of those When I stood for election to the National decision which made its way into a manifesto people who are increasingly affected by the Policy Forum (and only councillors could document? Members would welcome feed- cutbacks being brought in by the Tories. It is vote in my section), I argued that the Asso- back after they have passed a resolution, say on heartening to see our Labour representatives ciation of Labour Councillors should have housing, or on our response to Free Schools, holding the Tories to account recently. more than four seats, and that there should confirming that the issue has been placed on an be greater representation from colleagues agenda and has been discussed. The abolition COUNCILLOR ANGELA from Scotland and Wales. of the NEC’s Local Government Commit- CORNFORTH, NPF MEMBER I believe that councillors should be given a tee did not send a positive message to Labour vote at Conference, and I continue to think that councillors. I believe that the NEC should in- REPRESENTING LABOUR our Party should fully involve councillors in the clude within its remit the development of a co- COUNCILLORS fight back against the Tory-led Coalition’s attack on the most vulnerable. Councillors have a key role to play in promoting strong, diverse, cohe- sive communities and in arguing that we need SO, WHAT HAPPENED IN to provide decent, affordable homes and high quality, inclusive and comprehensive education SCOTLAND? delivered by qualified teachers. Since meeting representatives from all over the country I am The surprise was the SNP winning a major- in truth Nationalist bloggers write vile stuff even keener to argue the case that councillors ity of seats, in a system designed to prevent that none of us has ever sunk to. Personally, should have a greater voice. any party from achieving that. Yet not so sur- I would argue we must draw attention to the Straight after our election, members of the prising after all. Everyone knew the Lib Dem holes in SNP policy, and their funding by right NPF were invited to put themselves forward vote would collapse, and the Tories would get wing multi millionaire Brian Soutar. for a second ballot, this time to be members an abysmal vote. It was a two horse race and So where do we go from here? The Party of the six Policy Commissions: Britain in the SNP did NOT win a majority of votes. is conducting a review of what went wrong the World; Creating Sustainable Communi- Labour lost votes badly – our worst result and what we need to do. Much of the above ties; Crime, Justice Equalities and Citizenship; in 80 years. Among the reasons we have to is equally applicable to Peter Hain’s review. I Health; Prosperity and Work; Education and acknowledge are: hope everyone will recognise we must reform Skills (which later transmogrified into ‘British The Nationalists claimed this was not a the way the Party operates. Members must Promise’). I was successful in my bid to join vote for Independence, just support for their feel there is a point in going to a meeting on the Education and Skills Commission, and I devolved administration. Nothing would hap- a wet Monday night. While developing policy, have enjoyed attending the meetings of the pen without a referendum. (But as soon as we must get across our values and what we Commission. I feel for all those NPF mem- Alex Salmond realised the final result, he was stand for. Too many candidates’ leaflets are bers who went through the effort of being declaiming Scotland was now on the road to so bland you could wonder which Party they nominated and elected to the NPF but who Independence.) were from. We must restore confidence in the were unsuccessful in their attempts to serve on Salmond announced a Council Tax freeze probity of all our elected representatives. a Policy Commission: it means that they will for five years and we tried to combat that with Some here are urging, back to Blair. Non- only be attending at the most two meetings a a 2 year freeze. We did not get across the mes- sense. There is a small minority who want us year. That doesn’t seem right. Furthermore, I sage that a council tax freeze means cuts in to separate from the UK Party. This, too, is have queried with Peter Hain the current sys- services. dead wrong. We are an internationalist Party, tem in which Commission groups cannot elect A few days before the election, prescrip- linked to the UK trade union movement and their own Chair and have to wait until a Chair tions became free for all, and a Labour MP socialist societies, and proud of it. is allocated to them; I thought we were moving went to jail for fraudulent expenses claims. away from a command and control system. The Nationalists persistently portrayed MARIA FYFE, FORMER There were elections also to the Govern- Iain Gray as “grey by name, grey by nature”. LABOUR MP FOR GLASGOW ing Body of the NPF, (which was called the When the broadsheet Herald could well be MARYHILL, CLPD MEMBER Joint Policy Committee the last I heard of it, renamed “Nationalist News”, and the Sun although maybe that’s been changed by now supports the SNP because there is so little to Britain’s Got Talent!). support for the Tories in Scotland and only In workshop sessions we have discussed the Nationalists can beat Labour, we need to BITEBACKS our educational promises, and I have pressed smarten up our handling of the media. ‘It is certainly a tragically comical situa- the issues of how Labour is going to respond We spent two years drawing up a policy tion that the financiers who have landed to the growth of academies, and about how programme full of good things, but failed to the British people in this gigantic mud- we are going to deliver good comprehensive get it across even to our own Party members. dle should decide who should bear the provision and to argue against selection of Our focus groups told us we should not burden.’ pupils by ability. attack Salmond because it didn’t go down well (Beatrice Webb, 1931 (NB, editor), quot- Since my election to the NPF I have ac- with the public. The SNP keep on saying they ed Guardian 9/9/10.) cepted invitations to speak at Labour Party won because they ran a positive campaign, but

8 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011

BITEBACKS A VIEW FROM WALES Darren Williams tation exercise have now been summarised ‘Labour’s policies and voting strategy (NPF Welsh CLPs in the Better Future for Britain document, must go beyond an emphasis on the which contains excerpts from the consul- south and take a much more assertive representative) tation responses and summaries of the stance on boosting jobs and growth Party’s developing thinking in each policy (and winning back key marginals) in A year has now passed since the first area. Supposedly recurring themes from the Midlands and north of England.’ OMOV ballot for CLP representatives on the submissions have been identified but (Quoted in Tribune 18/2/11.) the National Policy Forum (NPF). In those it is unclear to what extent these have in- elections, the left and centre-left did bet- fluenced the Party’s thinking, and how far ter than under the previous set-up, when Byrne & co. have simply highlighted the re- elections were carried out at national con- sponses that fit in with their existing ideas. NPF: A YOUTH ference by the dwindling number of CLP The review of how the Party operates delegates from each region, who often had has been more encouraging. The initial REP’S VIEW their arms twisted to vote for ‘on-message’ consultation, launched at the 2010 confer- candidates. Wales and Scotland, in particu- ence, has since been overshadowed by Pe- BECKY HODGSON, NPF lar, saw the impact of the change last year, ter Hain’s Refounding Labour document, with progressive, grassroots candidates YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE, which contains some generally common- sweeping the board. sense proposals, as well as welcome com- NORTH WEST REGION Since then, the Party’s internal discus- ments about the positive role of Party sions have been dominated by the reviews activists, affiliated unions and community It has often been said that the Party needs to initiated by Ed Miliband of Labour’s policy campaigning. listen more to the voices of the grassroots ac- programme and its democratic functioning. In relation to the ‘Partnership in Power’ tivists, those Party members who do the hard Two NPF meetings have been held (PiP) process itself, however, little progress work on the ground, knocking on doors and during this period, the first in Gilling- appears to have been made so far. This has talking to the voters. Judging by the speeches ham on 27 November and the second in been clear from the repetitive and incon- of Ed Miliband and Peter Hain at the open- Wrexham on 25 June. On each occasion, clusive nature of the NPF meetings held in ing of the last meeting in Wrexham, it seems the leader’s keynote speech has conveyed the last year: the Wrexham gathering was as if the Party has finally started to take notice a welcome acknowledgement that New largely a repeat of the Gillingham event and realise that the best way to win back the Labour lost touch with the British people six months before. Both were presented at 5 million voters lost between 1997 and 2010 as its policies remained fixated on market- the last minute with policy documents to is by actually listening to them. Ed Miliband based approaches to the economy, and that which representatives will have been un- admitted it was not easy hearing some of the it alienated Party members by its centralisa- able to give a considered response. Work- feed back that the recent Refounding Labour tion of power and stage-management of shop sessions on PiP at both meetings review has provided but conceded that we conferences. While ruling out a return to saw the same points being made regarding had lost touch with many of our members the pre-1997 era, Miliband has promised the lack of transparency and the failure to and voters over the past few years. He also to re-connect the Party to the concerns explain clearly to Party members how the noted that many good ideas can often come of ordinary people and to re-empower its process is supposed to work. There also from outside the movement itself and that members. He talks about Labour becom- seems a growing consensus that the role we needed to reach out and connect with ing a movement once again. of those NPF members not elected onto these people through organisations like the This is all positive but the progress of policy commissions needs to be clarified; NPF and local Party groups. the reviews has been mixed. The policy re- indeed, the contribution of the whole Fo- However, despite all the good work that view, overseen by Liam Byrne, began with rum needs to be defined more clearly - es- the NPF has begun to do since the general the publication of the New Politics, Fresh pecially now there are parallel structures election, there is still a long way to go before Ideas document, which divided policy into headed by shadow cabinet ministers. it becomes the real voice of grassroots mem- four main areas and included a one-page The Labour leadership therefore needs bers. Whilst there is now more listening to summary of each. These summaries sug- to demonstrate more consistently that it is representatives and less preaching, it’s hard to gested an unwillingness to come to terms serious about a transparent and account- see what the outcome of all these discussions with New Labour’s mistakes, with the sec- able policy-making process. Having raised and conversations is. This is a real problem tion on foreign policy, for example, making expectations, it has helped to create a mood not only for NPF reps after meetings but for no reference to Afghanistan or Iraq! in the Party favouring genuine democratic members too who submit ideas to things such The results of the subsequent consul- renewal. as the Refounding Labour Consultation. We also need to work far harder to en- opinion on politics in a room full of people members are still at school or university and courage young people to get involved. Whilst your parents’ age or older. This is where the simply cannot afford to pay for the travel to constituency and branch meetings are a vital young Labour groups and young NPF reps these events. part of the Party they can often form poor come in. They do a great job in organising a Under Ed Miliband the Party has finally first impressions. After sitting through all variety of social situations for their members started to sit up and take notice of their mem- the bureaucracy that the meeting will inevi- to discuss politics in less daunting circum- bers and fresh ideas are coming thick and fast tably entail, there is often little time for dis- stances. The problem is that there are simply as a result. However, it seems that they are be- cussion and many new young members can not enough of them, meaning that young ing drip fed through and the pace needs to feel intimidated when voicing their opinions. members have pay to travel considerable dis- quicken if we are to see the changed Party that Try to imagine yourself at 16 voicing your tances to get to the meetings. Many of these he promises before the next general election.

9 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011

THE TORY COALITION’S BITEBACKS

HEALTH POLICY – HOW ‘Magistrates have been told to disregard normal rules on sentencing of rioters. SHOULD LABOUR RESPOND? What next? The return of transport to Australia for the theft of a loaf of were ‘ideologically based’. This analysis does bread?’ GORDON WILLS, MEMBER (Dr John Davies, Guardian 17/8/11) BIRMINGHAM HALL GREEN not always come over by my observation. For example I heard a Labour Health spokes- CLP, FORMER HEAD OF woman on Radio 4’s ‘Any Questions’ being forward to socialist HEALTH WEST MIDLANDS AND congratulated by a Tory MP for not claiming policies RETIRED UNISON OFFICIAL that the bill was about privatisation. This is probably a consequence of Blair’s (cont. from p3) The Tory coalition government’s health pol- calamitous legacy and his infatuation with and the PLP, though smaller, is a happier icy has two main thrusts: private sector solutions to perceived prob- band of sisters and brothers, especially un- The Health and Social Care Bill which lems. Labour also has difficulty in addressing der our new leader. Ed is not quite as red as is a vehicle for privatisation of many NHS the cuts issue, since they have no strategy for the media try to portray, but he is a listening services in the guise of choice and competi- saying where the money is to come from to leader, more consensual, and with a lighter tion and £20 billion of so called efficiency solve the financial deficit problem and to fi- touch than his two more authoritarian pred- savings over the next four years which are nance public services. ecessors. unattainable in that form and which in reality I would make two suggestions to Ed One thing is certain. Ed’s election as will be cuts. Miliband: leader last year was an event of immense The coalition has no mandate for the 1) Have the courage to dump New La- importance. It was too a massive defeat for massive reorganisation of the NHS pro- bour’s obsessions with private sector supe- the forces who would take us back to the posed in the Bill or the privatisation ideology riority, choice and competition and come Thatcherite extremes of New Labour. Ed that underpins it. Neither the Tories nor the out unequivocally in support of a publicly may not do or say everything we would wish Liberal Democrats included such propos- funded and publicly provided NHS. This to him to, but there is now at least a dialogue als in their election manifestos. Whilst the be run on the principles of cooperation and between comrades across the Party and poli- Bill has faced massive opposition within the collaboration (many people in England do cies have inched in the right – that is to say NHS from staff and organisations as diverse not know that these principles continue to the left – direction. as the BMA and UNISON, few seem to operate in Scotland and Wales incidentally). have posed the question as to what problem 2) Acknowledge that the tax gap has to raised by the public is being addressed. Prior be bridged. Whilst additional taxation of the “Ed’s election as leader to the current cuts the NHS had the highest banking and financial sectors would be well was a massive defeat satisfaction ever in public surveys merited, the main emphasis should be on for the forces who would The main proposal in the Bill is to trans- eliminating tax avoidance by the rich and the fer £80 billion of public money for commis- corporations. I’ve seen estimates of tax avoid- take us back to the sioning of health services from the current ance ranging from £25 billion to £175 billion Thatcherite extremes Primary Care Trusts to Clinical Commis- annually. This would be sufficient in itself to of New Labour” sioning Groups consisting of consortia of bridge the gap. The first step of an incom- general practitioner practices (GPs). GPs ing Labour government should be an anti-tax CLPD played its part in Ed’s victory. We are private contractors who operate within avoidance measure giving the Treasury the urged Party members to put Diane Abbott the NHS. They are not NHS employees and right to strike down all the wheezes thought as first preference in the ballot and, as Di- their main skills are medical, not financial up by corporate lawyers and accountants. ane’s campaign agent, I was delighted that or managerial. It seems inevitable that the she stood and did such a tremendous job more entrepreneurial GPs will commission in ensuring that the voice of the left was services from providers in a way that will be BITEBACKS heard on the hustings by thousands of Par- financially beneficial to them. ty members across the land. Significantly, The Bill as originally written enforced however, we urged members to use their ‘Shares in PFI contracts for the Calder- competition by allowing ‘any willing provid- second preference votes for Ed, following dale Royal Infirmary in Yorkshire have er’ to provide NHS services and to ‘cherry the backing of Ed by most of the big un- changed hands nine times since 2002. pick’ the profitable ‘easy’ routine operations ions. With such a small margin of victory it Average profit margins are 50%.’ such as cataracts and hip replacements. In could indeed have been CLPD that made (Quoted in Tribune 13/6/11.) addition and most importantly the NHS was the difference. and is to be opened up to EU competition ‘Can someone explain why GPs, mainly Now, and for the future, CLPD has a law with the presumed intent of making the I suspect, with no formal training in big and continuing role to play. The dam- privatisations irreversible. management or finance, are deemed fit age wrought by New Labour in both policy Meanwhile in the real existing NHS £20 to run the massive NHS budget but can terms and to the Party’s democratic struc- billion of cuts loom in the guise of unattain- no longer be relied upon to assess peo- tures has been quite terrible. Simply repairing able efficiency savings. ple for disability allowance.’ that damage, piece by piece, is going to be an What of Labour’s reaction? John Healey, (Rick Kemperer, Guardian letter enormous job, but CLPD, as the democratic shadow Health Secretary, in writing to me, 15/3/11.) and socialist forefront of the Party, must play acknowledged that the Tory coalition’s plans its part and put its mind to that task.

10 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011

WHY TRADE UNIONS BITEBACKS

MUST DEFEND ‘Socialism is about the pursuit of equal- ity and the protection of freedom – in the knowledge that until we are truly MULTI-CULTURALISM equal, we will not be truly free.’ (Anthony Crosland, 1977. Quoted in BILLY HAYES, GENERAL Tribune 7/1/11.) SECRETARY CWU ‘The government’s clear aim is a per- manently smaller state and markets It is well understood in the trade unions to- taking over from public accountability day that the economic policy of the Coalition and privatisation’s profit motive replac- government is a major assault upon working ing public service. Deficit reduction is class living standards. Correctly, this has led just the cover story.’ the majority of trade unions to organise in (Brendan Barber. Quoted in Tribune opposition, in some manner or another, to 21/1/11.) this policy. Unfortunately, what is not so well under- stood is that the social policy of the same and the financial sector. All this means new government is an equally devastating attack jobs and improved welfare services. A free movement of people and goods upon the working class. In particular, David There is a long tradition of institution- means an introduction of more dynamic Cameron’s recent statements concerning alised racism in British society. Naively per- forces into our economy. Instead of City multi-culturalism and the Muslim communi- haps, after the murder of Stephen Lawrence short-termism, inward investors will seek ty, and immigrants, represents the social cor- and the findings of the Macpherson Inquiry, long-term commitments if we provide an ollary of a reactionary economic policy. If many of us dared to believe that the lesson environment which welcomes the innova- you are going to inflict the biggest reduction had been learnt and systematic progress was tion that diversity brings. in living standards since 1945, then a good possible. Alongside this, immigrants provide a dose of racism, Islamophobia and xenopho- But constant vigilance is the custodian wide variety of advantages especially in the bia helps to divide the opposition. of liberty. It has only taken the return of the stimulation of domestic economic activity. As usual, the Conservatives demon- Tory-led Coalition government to demon- The economist Philippe Legrain states, in strate a degree of intelligence in the manner strate how fragile progress has been in the his book Aftershock, immigrants are twice as in which they promote their policy. David fight against such racism. likely to start a new business as people born Cameron, whilst steering public opinion The price to be paid for the promotion in Britain. A government study found that in towards respectable forms of Islamopho- of racism, Islamophobia and anti-immigrant 2006, immigration’s net contribution to GDP bia, also tacks back by insisting that Islam is prejudices is not just to be measured in the was to add £6 billion to annual growth. a good religion, and Muslims are generally spread of bigotry, attacks on Muslims, and Inward immigration is absolutely nec- peaceful. But it is evident that the suggestion abusive attitudes to immigrant workers. It is essary. Even the Coalition government is that Muslims have to accept “our” values also deeply damaging to the economic devel- forced to recognise this, at the same time places them in total as a problem for the rest opment of our society. of society. as it stokes up popular prejudice against mi- Of course, these prejudices are not cre- grants. ated by a few political speeches. A basic “Multi-cultural Britain has audit of British history would demonstrate a competitive advantage in “Multi-culturalism is one that for hundreds of years, British policy was the inter-connected world” of the most powerful premised on the subjugation of large parts of humanity. If you are going to enslave, col- In a globalised economy, there is a strong forces of production in the onise, or super-exploit people, then defining bonus for ethnically diverse nations. Be- globalised economy” these people as inferior rationalises and justi- tween nations, those will benefit who are fies the abuse. familiar with the history and makeup of oth- We must defend multi-culturalism. Not Again, Cameron displays the confidence er nations, able to address them directly in just because it is phenomenally creative in that comes from being part of a party and their own language and offer a kindred face social, cultural, scientific and artistic terms. class which was prominent throughout those in trade, exchange and negotiations. Multi- But also because it is one of the most pow- centuries. He is able to issue an apology on cultural Britain has a competitive advantage erful forces of production in the globalised behalf of the Government for the murder in the inter-connected world. economy. of Irish people on Bloody Sunday in Derry. The trade unions have a special respon- Further, he even lets it drop before journal- sibility to ensure this element of the debate n This article is an edited extract from a ists that previous British governments were around multi-culturalism is not lost. The chapter that Billy Hayes has contributed to responsible for many of the current prob- more open connections to the world econ- the forthcoming book Defending multicultural- lems in the world. Yet the dominant dis- omy, gives the government the potential to ism, edited by Hassan Mahamdallie. The book course, as outlined in his Munich speech, is address some of our traditional problems of is due to be published in late summer. The to provide aid and comfort to Islamophobia, under investment in the productive economy full chapter is available on the CWU website, and a return to narrow British nationalism. and over reliance upon the City of London Billy Hayes’ blog, posted June 14 2011.

11 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011

of the vote. The candidate then re-applied to whether they are Party members or not. A the head office panel, but after a 20 minute similar faddish notion is the motivation for TEL’S TALES interview was informed that unfortunately Peter Hain’s and Ed Miliband’s obsession she did not meet the criteria of the “assess- with “registered supporters”. It’s something ment process”. Despite having passed all the Blairites have always been pushing, as a Blairite myth making the tests in the past, she was now told she way of undermining the union influence and failed to display “energy and commitment, moving towards their desired model of the In order to undermine Ed Miliband and pre- campaign leadership and motivation, convic- US Democrat Party. pare the ground for his brother, the Blairites tion, manner and attitude, depth and intel- There is, of course, nothing new in all are propagating a myth that Labour’s elec- lect, communication and ability to relate to this. For example, in the early 70s Canter- toral performance in May 2011 was poor. In people or commitment to inclusion and di- bury CLP ‘reached out into the community’ this they are being aided and abetted by their versity.” This may sound all too familiar to and asked a local tenants’ leader to join the poodles in the media, such as Patrick Wintour readers of Tel’s Tales, but it isn’t the story of Party and become a councillor in a safe seat. of the Guardian. The facts show the opposite: a progressive Labour candidate under New An NEC dispensation was obtained and the in 2010 we had the same share of the vote Labour. It’s the story of a Tory candidate new comrade duly took her seat in the town as in 1983. And yet, after only one year, to under Cameron. hall. Unfortunately she had no idea about be ahead in the polls, having won 800 coun- Party politics and saw nothing wrong with cil seats, some 30 councils and a landslide in The Folly of Mandelson supporting the Tories against the Labour the Leicester South by election, is a basis for Group, which had a wafer thin majority. Be- quiet confidence not carping criticism. Lula da Silva retired as an exceptionally pop- fore long the new comrade left the Party and Under the yoke of Blairism we lost nearly ular President of Brazil, lauded around the the council in disgust. 5 million votes. The Labour government did world. As The Guardian has pointed out, it The lesson here is that people who share not do enough for our core voters on hous- should not be forgotten that in 1998 Peter our ideals and values need at least to make ing, jobs, pensions, inequality, rights at work, Mandelson had the presumption to recom- the commitment of joining the Party and to name but a few issues. On the doorstep, mend to the Brazilian electorate that they showing willing before they move on to be- residents bitterly threw back the lies over should not vote for Lula, but for the incum- ing candidates. Iraq, the 75p pension increase and the aboli- bent, Cardoso, and his privatising policies. tion of the 10p tax rate. The Blairites and It takes one to know one their banana brandishing champion need to Pensions – The cat’s out be permanently locked away in the dustbin of the bag The prominent Tory, Louise Bagshawe (now of history. Louise Mensch MP) has a somewhat cheq- John Cridland, director general of the CBI, uered political history. She was apparently North of the Border has spelt out what is really behind the attack unhappy with the moralising of John Major on public sector pensions and on TUPE and she briefly left the Tories for New La- The Blairites have worked themselves into a (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of bour. Louise has confessed to The Observer – lather over the elections for the Scottish par- Employment). The bosses’ nark had this to “I thought, Tony Blair is a Tory, I’m joining liament and are seeking to use this as more say to The Guardian – “public sector pensions the Labour Party”. ammunition against Ed Miliband. The fact remain the biggest barrier to the private and is this election was always going to be dif- third sectors providing public services. Pen- ficult and Labour was too complacent. The sion costs and liabilities are far higher for A BOOK NOT Scots vote for us for Westminster but for providers outside the public sector. When Holyrood it’s more complicated. The SNP third sector and private sector organisations TO BE MISSED have a canny leader who is carrying out quite currently bid for work they have to be able to a few Labour-type policies. Our campaign cover the full costs of public sector pension Mark Seddon’s should have consistently concentrated on liabilities, and many simply do not have the Standing for Something (fully money to do so”. what Labour would do as a Scottish govern- illustrated by Martin Rowson) ment, rather than running an anti-Tory, anti- central government campaign and trying to Labour’s Latest Fad 300pp, £18.99. scare voters about independence. One important factor that has been over- The latest fad at HQ is to tell CLPs to reach ‘Standing for Some- looked is the adverse effect on Labour of pro- out into their local communities and identify thing is not your portional representation in local government, future Labour candidates. It doesn’t matter standard piece of yet another baleful legacy of Blairism. In 2003 hackery, re-hashing we had 509 councillors and the SNP only 176. intrigues and After 2007, and the switch to STV, Labour irrelevances of was reduced to 348 councillors and the SNP BITEBACKS the Blair/Brown shot up to 363. The loss of active councillors years. Rather it undermines Labour’s local electoral organisa- ‘Labour’s share of the vote among so- is a considered, tion and reinforces the SNP’s base. cial groups C2, D and E has fallen year- poignant and on-year since 1992. Labour has lost deeply personal account of Britain under To be or not to be five million votes since 1997 and one New Labour from the point of view of a reason for this is its neglect of those glorious outsider.’ This is the story of a parliamentary candi- who ought to be its core voters’. Further details at: date who stood in Somerton and Frome in (Quoted in Tribune 13/8/10.) www.bitebackpublishing.com 2010 and narrowly lost, having taken 44%

12 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 A RED DIAPER BABY

RAY DAVISON REVIEWS SUZE real power are still in place and it is doubtful ROTOLO’S A FREEWHEELIN’ that they can be shifted by a rebirth of six- ties bohemianism for all its seductions. TIME, A MEMOIR OF Finally, this is a book with a lot of in- GREENWICH VILLAGE IN THE terest as a material object in itself. As you SIXTIES would expect from Rotolo, who was a prac- titioner of Book Art and specialised in mak- Suze Rotolo died of lung cancer in February ing one-off books from memorabilia, this this year at the age of 67. She left behind book is a fine specimen of the genre with an Italian husband Enzo Bartoccioli, their a constant stream of really fascinating il- one son Luca and this 371 page memoir of lustrations, many from Rotolo’s own unique her life republished in the year of her death. reliquary. Campaign Briefing pays tribute to her memory for her ‘red diaper’ radicalism as a political activist in the Congress of Racial Equality NOT TO BE MISSED and the anti-nuclear group Sane, for her civil rights campaigning, for her opposition to the Vietnam war, for her spirited defence of 2012 CLPD AGM Cuba and her brave challenge to the Ameri- SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY, can passport restrictions on travel to that “The sixties were an era that spoke a 11.30AM, country and, last but not least, for politicis- language of inquiry and curiosity and ing Dylan and helping to inspire some of his rebelliousness against the stifling and CONWAY HALL, best lyrics. repressive political and social culture RED LION SQUARE. Rotolo writes like she lived with existen- of the decade that preceded it. The Report of 2011 agm tial energy and thrust but the political focus new generation causing all the fuss is always present, as you would perhaps ex- was not driven by the market: we had available on clpd website. pect from a full-blooded woman of Ital- something to say, not something to sell… ian American descent, whose parents were A compelling and necessary idea will members of the American Communist Party always find a place to plant itself. The during the period of McCarthyism. This is creative spirit finds a way.” DOUBLE RED ALERT: a book full of life, fractured, discontinuous, – Suze Rotolo. always on the boil. This is also a life full of Don’t forget to read the Willsman books, art, songs and music, capturing that Guide to Conference. 2011 edition sense of appetite, freedom and the possibil- she ‘did not want to be a string on Bob Dy- now available and up to the usual ity of clearing blocked horizons and lessen- lan’s guitar’. She had a strong sense of being exceptional standard of insight and ing the coefficients of adversity that charac- her own person and her desire for equality intrigue this year. terised the sensibility of the sixties. Not for reminds me of Simone de Beauvoir. nothing did Dylan say of her when he met There is so much to ponder in this ex- The indispensable handbook for all her in 1961 that she was ‘the most erotic citing book. It charms when Rotolo tells delegates (it is 14 pages long this thing (sic)’ that he had ever seen, that ‘she us, to my surprise, that she took the name year) and anyone else who wants to had a smile that could light up a street full Suze from a French liqueur that she liked (I understand what is really going on of people’, she was a ‘Rodin come to life’ thought I had experienced all such French at Conference. and yes he was truly smitten and the feelings drinks but not this one) or the intense pleas- The Guide can be downloaded from were reciprocated. ure that she feels when she first tastes a bot- www.grassrootslabour.net Inevitably, Dylan is central to this narra- tle of Médoc, soon to be her favourite wine tive but Rotolo in the opening pages is im- (compare this to the rather snobbish de- pressively cautious and guarded about the scription ‘vin médiocre’ of certain ‘experts’). fallibility of memory, the dangers of nostal- It saddens when you realise how the bril- gia, the vulnerabilities and pain that attempt- liance of Dylan is coupled to such disloyalty BITEBACKS ing to recreate the past can induce. The end and deceit (even his name and background of her relationship with Dylan evidently hurt were myth to some extent). Most of all it her very badly but there is no bitterness in is that picture of young love and freedom, ‘George Osborne wrote in the Times in the reconstructions, no trace of resentment so much the spirit of the times, a love that 2006 on the global economy: “In Ire- about her pregnancy and abortion (p.280) or failed, which also seems to symbolise the land… they have freed their markets, even Joan Baez, perfidious Dylan’s replace- dissipation of sixties hope and optimism. developed the skills of their workforce, ment muse. No doubt her robust philosophy Dylan thinks of freedom when he asks; encouraged enterprise and innovation assisted her and she knew all about muses ‘Are the birds free when they have to fly?’ and created a dynamic economy. They from her studies of Gilot’s ‘Life with Picas- Rotolo seems to like the thought but defin- have much to teach us. If only we are so’. Indeed, a constant preoccupation of this ing freedom as unrestricted by rules is not willing to learn”.’ woman in a pre-feminist period is to avoid adequate, as we know to our cost now. The (Guardian diary, 19/11/10.) being thought of as ‘so-and-so’s chick’ and times are not so changed: concentrations of

13 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 NEC REPORT CANADIAN ELECTIONS IN FROM A FOCUS: NEW DEMOCRATS’ YOUTH CHERISHED POLICIES MEMBER UNDER PRESSURE CALLUM MUNRO, JIM MALLORY, LABOUR climate change. Now, the world is watching NEC YOUTH MEMBER COUNCILLOR IN LEWISHAM how it exploits Alberta’s vast tar sands oil re- serves. The NDP’s programme includes re- storing global warming targets, stricter con- “Parties that do not change, die, and this We’ve all seen left-wing parties trim policies trols on oil sands development, renewable Party is a living movement not an historical once in power, or after heavy defeat, but what energy programmes and stopping subsidies monument.” Those words are as relevant about on the back of electoral success? to fossil fuels. today as they were in 1994. One year ago, Canada’s New Democrats (NDP) be- After softening their line on immigration Ed Miliband was elected leader of our Party. came for the first time the country’s official during the election, the Tories have since One of Ed’s most valuable qualities is his opposition in May’s election after sweeping announced a crackdown. The NDP has ar- recognition that our Party must change if we gains, up from 37 to 102 seats in Parliament. gued for recognition of the benefits of im- are once again to win the trust of the Brit- They replaced a shambolic Liberal Party – migration, particularly reuniting families and ish public. The role of the NEC in helping led by Michael Ignatieff – and nearly wiped speeding up procedures. to change the Party is an important one and out the separatist Bloc Québecois in French- Canada stayed out of the Iraq war, but this has meant a busy year for all those Party speaking Québec on an appeal to “soft” na- not Afghanistan. The NDP is no longer a members who sit on our governing body. tionalists. lone voice against that war as the country’s Can the Party sustain its momentum and troops are returning home. “Young Labour has a establish the strong opposition voice Canada It is on health that the NDP should find bright future... it is fast has lacked? New Democrats are under pres- most resonance with voters. The Party that becoming a movement of sure to act “responsibly” and abandon many introduced Canada’s first universal health- which the Party can be cherished policies. Already, there have been care service in the 1940s will have a tough rumbles about removing “socialist” from fight to save services, as siren voices call on it proud” the Party’s constitution. So far, the NDP has to follow European left-wing parties and go steered a steady course, defending workers for a “mixed economy” provision. As the NEC’s youngest member (by quite in a postal dispute – so maintaining its union The Party faces an immediate challenge, a bit!) I joined in February after my election links with the Canadian Labour Congress however, as charismatic leader Jack Layton by young Party members, students and young (Canada’s TUC) – and its many inexperi- takes time off to fight cancer. With typical trade unionists at Young Labour Conference enced Québec MPs have avoided first-year bravado, he’s proposed first-time Québec in Glasgow. With the whole Refounding La- mistakes. MP Nycole Turmel as interim leader over bour process to deal with, as well as a general two established deputies. A long-time wom- secretary election, it certainly has been a bap- “So far, the NDP has en’s rights activist, she will also show the tism of fire. I am sure that most members NDP is serious about reflecting Québec vot- will have taken part, some way or another, in steered a steady course, ers’ concerns. the Refounding Labour process. It was great defending workers in a This is a critical time for the NDP, one to see young members organise their own postal dispute – that will determine its future for a generation. events about how they wanted to see their Party and their youth movement changed for so maintaining its union the better. Young Labour has a bright future. links with the Canadian The appointment of a full-time youth officer Labour Congress” BITEBACKS and the election of an active national com- mittee coupled with a significant burst of The right-wing Conservative govern- ‘As JK Galbraith chronicled some years localised activity means that Young Labour ment, buoyed by its first majority in 20 years, ago, every financial crisis has been is fast becoming a movement of which the is committed to a “review” (i.e. cuts) of wel- caused by the private sector and every Party can be proud. fare and public services, cuts in immigration one has become the public sector’s Refounding Labour has brought togeth- and against protecting the environment. problem.’ er all sections of our Party. Examining our To maintain credibility, it’s argued, the (Tribune editorial 18/2/11.) Party was important but we must now move NDP needs to show it can manage the econ- ‘The great deregulation experiment of on together and present Labour as a credible omy, roughly translated as keeping capitalism the last 30 years-embraced by all the alternative Party of government. Helping afloat. While Canada didn’t suffer as badly in political parties-turned Britain from a drive this alternative will be our new general the banking crisis as most Western countries, high-wage, low-debt and relatively equal secretary. largely because of tighter regulations, that society, into a low-wage, high-debt and The next year will be challenging for all won’t stop the Tories favouring the private deeply unequal nation.’ parts of our Party. Only by reconnecting sector with cuts in corporate taxes and open- (Frances O’Grady, deputy general sec- with the values and aspirations of voters can ing up services to greater competition. retary TUC, Guardian 7/6/11.) we even begin to dream of government. The Tories broke Kyoto targets to tackle

14 CAMPAIGN BRIEFING AUTUMN EDITION 2011 REFOUNDING LABOUR – A HIDDEN THREAT TO LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

DAVID L GARDNER, 1. Deliberative policy making and trans- can provide a reality check for councillors VICE CHAIR, LABOUR parency – it is far too early to rush a change who can (occasionally) become cocooned through before there has been a wide debate in the Town/City/County Hall or some- DEMOCRATIC NETWORK in the Party on whether this is a desirable times have not considered wider issues or move and how an alternative might work. implications. Rumour has it that the NEC is considering There should be some assessment of how abandoning the Local Government Com- effective LGCs are in fulfilling their func- “Let us be very careful mittee and handing over local policy formu- tions and the wider objectives of the Party before we throw out the lation to an as yet undefined group of local before imposing ill-thought out changes. officials to include the Labour group leader! And we must ensure that any change has baby with the bathwater A fig leaf of a local co-ordinating forum genuinely wide and transparent support – and let’s have a full would take on the role of panel formulation, from throughout the Party – this is not democratic debate before candidate selection supervision and election clear as it was not a specific question and any changes” oversight. responses to Refounding Labour have yet to This was not a specific issue flagged up be published. Of course, the LGC can lead to duplica- in the original Refounding Labour consulta- 2. Accountability – it was David Blun- tion sometimes, there can be too many meet- tion and has come through the back door at kett who established the current rules of ings and bureaucracy, and they can divert us the instigation apparently of the LGA La- groups and LGCs to focus on collaboration rather than support campaigning. But, there bour Group. and accountability on policy – in many ways are other ways of overcoming these chal- Our Local Government Committees, a forerunner to Partnership in Power. At its lenges. Let us be very careful before we previously called County, District or Bor- best, this can work very well, with open and throw out the baby with the bathwater – and ough Parties, are charged with holding the deliberative policy-making including mem- let’s have a full democratic debate before any Labour Groups on those councils to account bers and councillors at local level, leading changes. and ensuring collaboration between the Par- to a high quality manifesto with significant ty and Labour Group. They are just as vital consensus – backed up by ongoing policy in the many areas where we are devoid of dialogues on contemporary issues. Under Labour councillors or have a sole or just a the proposals, we could go back to pre- BITEBACKS handful of councillors who need and appre- Blunkett days where the Group and the ciate support. Party can be locked in a confrontational, ‘Local areas need strong, effective and adversarial relationship without any real ac- accountable leadership. Governance ar- “We must ensure that countability. rangements enable local leaders to use any change has genuinely So there is a case for some reform or their wider influence as well as their wide and transparent allowing some flexibility but just abolishing powers to get things done for their LGCs is not the way forward. In a county communities. All councillors have a support from throughout council area, and many of the counties only role to play in representing their com- the Party” have a few Labour councillors, an LGC is munities and for the successful delivery a tremendous way to bring the CLPs to- of services. Local authorities are the Now, I am not going to the barricades gether with the few councillors to support main mechanism for citizens to drive over preserving LGCs; there are arguments their opposition and to inform local parties local priorities and shape the type and for smaller co-ordinating forums in many ar- about county issues and to help co-ordinate standards of services they receive. They eas. But there are two vital principles at stake county-wide campaigns. In Labour areas, enable citizens to hold to account serv- here: it brings the Party and group together and ice providers. They can also empower individuals to take part and be responsi- ble for the issues that matter most to lo- cal people. Local authorities need to in- volve communities and local people in decision making - people need to have a reason to vote for their councils.’ (Extracted from Department for Com- munities and Local Government (Pick- les) website.)

‘The Mayor of London asks: “Can it be right that the action of such a small handful can bring great misery to the lives of millions?” Who was he talking about? Bankers?’ (Guardian letter 17/6/11.) The ACC Liverpool, venue of this year’s Annual Conference

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TUC conference Annual Conference highlight Highlights CLPD fringe meeting at TUC 2011: CLPD Rally and Delegates’ Briefing Sunday 25 September 10.30am, The Green Room, ‘The unions and the Labour 78 Duke Street, Liverpool L1 5AA With: Chair Carol Hayton (npf), mohammed azam, ann Party – Defending the link’ black (nec), councillor catherine donovan, (gateshead clp and cac nomination), jack falkingham (npf youth Tuesday September 13, 6.00pm, representative), gary heather (islington north clp and The Plough Pub, Museum St cac nomination), kelvin hopkins mp, ken livingstone, (opp. British Museum) michael meacher mp, christine shawcroft (nec), jon Nearest tubes: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn trickett mp, simon weller (aslef) and peter willsman (special briefing for delegates). entry £2, (conc: 50p). This meeting will discuss how to increase the role conference assessment and the Next Steps and influence of the unions within the Party and thus for labour help to ensure we have a Labour government that properly serves our Movement. wednesday september 28, 6.00pm, the green room, 78 duke street, liverpool l1 5aa Speakers: Richard Ascough (GMB), Jon Ashworth speakers: peter willsman (chair, clpd secretary), richard MP, Ann Black (LP NEC), Sam Gurney (LP NPF), ascough (gmb), mohammed azam, tony benn, ann black Billy Hayes (CWU), Carol Hayton (LP NPF), Becky (nec), rhian greaves (npf youth representative), billy Hodgson (LP NPF Youth Rep) Diana Holland hayes (cwu), kelvin hopkins mp, michael meacher mp, (Unite and Labour Party Treasurer), Kelvin Hopkins chris mclaughlin (Editor tribune), christine shawcroft MP, Christine Shawcroft (LP NEC), Liz Snape (nec), councillor barbara white (musicians’ union). (UNISON). Chair: Peter Willsman (CLPD secretary). entry £2.00, (conc: 50p).

ABOUT CLPD AND ITS GAINS FOR PARTY DEMOCRACY CLPD was formed in 1973 by a group of rank- shortlist was achieved over the period 1986–88. n To find out more about CLPD, visit our web- and-file activists with support from about ten La- CLPD will sometimes promote seemingly site at www.clpd.org.uk. CLPD can usually pro- bour MPs. The first President was Frank Allaun. non-democracy issues such as the significant ex- vide speakers for meetings, especially if requests The main motivation for the Campaign was the tension of public ownership, defending the wel- are made well in advance. To arrange this, ring record of the Labour governments in the sixties fare state and the first-past-the-post electoral sys- Francis Prideaux on 020 8960 7460 and leave a and the way that Annual Conference decisions tem (PR equals no Labour Government). All such message for him if you get the machine and not were continually ignored on key domestic and policies derive from our commitment to socialist the man himself. international issues. The immediate cause was values and socialist advance. Harold Wilson’s outright rejection in 1973 of the The major focus of CLPD’s work in recent proposal to take into public ownership some 25 years has been to win back the power for ordinary Campaign Briefing is sponsored by: of the largest manufacturing companies, covering rank-and-file Party members, which has been sur- the major sectors of the economy. reptitiously transferred to the centre under the CLPD’s first demand was, therefore, for man- pretext of ‘modernisation’ and, ironically, ‘ex- datory reselection of MPs so that they would be tending Party democracy’. under pressure to carry out Conference policies and be accountable to Party members. This de- mand was achieved in 1979/80 through the over- To join the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy please fill in the form below and whelming support of CLPs and several major un- return with a cheque payable to CLPD to: CLPD Treasurer, 157 North Street, Luton, ions, especially those unions where the demand LU2 7QH. for reselection was won at their own annual con- I/we enclose £...... subscriptions/renewal/donation ferences (e.g. TGWU, AUEW, NUPE). CLPD also sought to make the leader ac- Name ...... countable through election by an electoral college Address ...... involving MPs, CLPs and TUs. Previously Labour ...... leaders were elected by MPs alone. This demand was achieved in January 1981 and was a great vic- Post Code...... tory and advance for Party democracy, although Phone ...... Email...... some MPs saw it as a reason to defect and form CLP...... Region...... the SDP, now defunct. CLPD additionally promoted a range of re- TU...... Date ...... forms to give Labour women and black members Annual rates: £20 individuals; £5 unwaged and low waged (under £8,000); £25 couples (£6 unwaged and low greater representation within the Party. The main waged); £25 national & regional organisations; £15 CLPs, TUs and Co-op Parties; £5 CLP branches. demand for a woman on every parliamentary

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