Labour Party | Annual Report 2019 LABOUR PARTY ANNUAL REPORT 2019 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Treasurers’ Responsibilities . 54 Foreword from Jeremy Corbyn . 5 Independent Auditor’s Report Introduction from Tom Watson . 7 to the members of the Labour Party . 55 Introduction from the General Secretary . 9 Consolidated income and expenditure account 2018/2019 National Executive Committee . 10 for the year ended 31 December 2018 . 57 NEC Committees . 12 Statements of comprehensive income Obituaries . 13 and changes in equity for the year ended NEC aims and objectives for 2019 . 14 31 December 2018 . 58 Consolidated balance sheet BY-ELECTIONS . 15 at 31 December 2018 . 59 Peterborough . 16 Consolidated cash flow statement for the year Newport West . 17 ended 31 December 2018 . 60 ELECTIONS 2019 . 19 Notes to Financial Statements . 61 Analysis . 20 APPENDICES . 75 Local Government Report . 23 Members of Shadow Cabinet LOOKING AHEAD: 2020 ELECTIONS . 25 and Opposition Frontbench . 76 The year ahead in Scotland . 26 Parliamentary Labour Party . 80 The year ahead in Wales . 27 Members of the Scottish Parliament. 87 NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2019 . 29 Members of the Welsh Assembly . 88 Members and Supporters Members of the European Parliament . 89 Renewing our party and building an active Directly Elected Mayors . 90 membership and supporters network . 30 Members of the London Assembly . 91 Equalities . 31 Leaders of Labour Groups . 92 Labour Peers . 100 NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2019 . 35 Labour Police and Crime Commissioners . 103 National Policy Forum Parliamentary Candidates endorsed NPF Report . 36 by the NEC at time of publication . 104 NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2019 . 39 NEC Disputes . 107 International NCC Cases . 108 International work / Westminster Foundation for Democracy . 40 European Parliamentary Labour Party Report . 41 NEC PRIORITIES FOR 2019 . 43 Stability and progress within the party Human Resources Report . 45 Finance . 46 Commercial and Fundraising . 47 Events, Business Engagement and Endorsements, Visits . 48 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2018 . 49 Treasurers’ Report . 51 Administrative Information .. 52 Statement of Registered Labour Party Annual Report 2019 3 Introduction FOREWORD JEREMY CORBYN Our party is the only people-powered Tory austerity has continued to hit movement across the country – with half a communities across Britain . Poverty is up, million members and millions of unionised crime is up, NHS waiting times are up and workers in every community in Britain . school class sizes are up . They have made a shambles of Brexit . The Tories have no At the last election over 40% of people voted answers . Labour . It is only a Labour government that will end The European elections this year were austerity, tackle inequality, address the climate disappointing – and I want to pay tribute to all emergency with a green industrial revolution, our MEPs, both those who were returned in and put the issue of Brexit back to the people . May and those who weren’t . They have been an enormous attribute to our party . Brexit is a divisive issue in our communities and in our party . That is why, following the European elections, I took the time to consult with the shadow cabinet, NEC and affiliated Jeremy Corbyn unions, and listened to what members were Leader of the Labour Party saying through the National Policy Forum – and found a consensus position that the whole party can campaign on . The Peterborough by-election in June returned a Labour MP and showed our party mobilising in an incredibly impressive way . Following the death of Paul Flynn MP, we elected a Labour MP in Newport West . In the local elections we gained control of councils like Amber Valley, Calderdale, Gravesham, High Peak and Trafford. I want to thank all members who stood as candidates . Labour Party Annual Report 2019 5 Introduction INTRODUCTION TOM WATSON This past year has been a difficult one for our Only a Labour government will be able to country and our party . Through tough times tackle these huge problems and bring our it has been the ceaseless dedication and country together again . The nation needs commitment of Labour members and affiliates hope and a positive vision of the future, that has raised my spirits and reminded they can only get that from us . me of the strength that lies in our collective This has not been a year of great electoral endeavour . success for Labour . We lost ground in the The politics of the last year has been local elections and were beaten into third place characterised by paralysis . An ailing Prime by the Liberal Democrats in the EU elections . Minister lacked the leadership and creativity We must recognise the hard truths about why needed to rise to the greatest challenge this happened and what needs to change . I want nation has faced since the Second World War . to pay tribute to the councillors and MEPs The new Prime Minister is even more divisive who lost their seats in those elections . You and a catastrophic no deal looms . Brexit has have served our movement faithfully and did torn politics and the country apart and we are not deserve to lose . I also want to thank our nowhere near resolving it . members and affiliated members for your hard work. Without your efforts we may not have Theresa May tried to force a hard Brexit returned as many candidates as we did . through Parliament and I’m proud that Labour MPs stood against that and refused to budge . We may need your help again soon . Our A Tory Brexit is an affront to Labour’s values country’s future is uncertain, the Brexit crisis of internationalism, solidarity, freedom and deepens and the Government has no working equality and our party will not stand for it . majority . We need to be ready for a general It is right that we’ve committed to putting election at any time . That means building up any Brexit deal negotiated back to the people our campaigning activity, raising funds and so they can have a final say. recruiting members and supporters . While Westminster has been consumed by The Tories have run out of ideas and run Brexit too many issues of national importance out of steam . They are totally incapable of have been left festering . providing the leadership and the policies this country needs . The technology giants continue to run rings around national governments while the harm, I hope this conference provides the bedrock of hate speech and fake news grows in the online policies and campaigning resolve we need to world . School funding is in crisis . A third of win the confidence of the nation and form children are leaving primary school obese and a transformational Labour government . yet schools are so starved of funding that they are cutting sports provision . Regional inequality is growing and experts have warned about London ‘decoupling’ from the rest of the UK without a huge Tom Watson, national investment programme . Austerity Deputy Leader of the Labour Party has undermined the Northern Powerhouse project over many years . Child poverty in working families is growing . Labour Party Annual Report 2019 7 Introduction INTRODUCTION JENNIE FORMBY 2019 has been another busy year for the a key element of this and developing strategies Labour Party with local elections in many to do this are a priority for our regions and our parts of the country, three by-elections and Membership Directorate . In particular, we are of course the European elections . As ever, reaching out to affiliate trade unions to work I have been so proud of the hard work, skills with us on linking membership growth to policy and commitment of all our Labour Party staff development. This will make a real difference in the nations and regions, at the Labour Party to the lives of workers and their families . offices in Newcastle and London and those Last but by no means least, I would like to supporting our elected officials. I would like finish by thanking you, our members, for all to take this opportunity to thank you all for that you do for the Labour Party – campaigning everything you do . week in week out, holding positions at branch Brexit has of course dominated the headlines and constituency Labour Party level and throughout the year and at the time of writing representing your local communities . Thank it remains a difficult issue, with Britain more you for all your hard work, dedication and divided than ever because of the Tories’ support . Our members are the backbone repeated bungling of the negotiations . Labour of our party and everything you do makes is the only party with a message of hope which a difference to our common objectives of can unite our nations, and with policies to achieving a fairer society that serves the needs rebuild Britain . of the many not the few . Our investment in Community Organising is starting to show tangible results as our team of community organisers across the UK become fully integrated with the regional teams . People powered mass meetings have brought thousands of people together Jennie Formby across the nations and regions . Alongside our General Secretary of the Labour Party regional teams they have played a vital role in elections this year, helping to win councillors and councils in Gravesham, Southampton, and Mansfield. Community Organisers will play a critical role at the next General Election . Work with BAME communities has also been a priority . We have come a long way in terms of representation but we are still a long way from being properly representative of all communities . This is why the launch of the Bernie Grant leadership programme for BAME members has been so important . Our team has been working hard delivering the outcomes of the Democracy Review, ensuring our members’ voices are heard and that we are genuinely a lay member-led organisation .