RULE BOOK 2019 CONTENTS Chapter 1 Constitutional rules 1 Clause X. The Party Conference 44 Clause I. Name and objects 1 Clause XI. Duties of the General Meeting 44 Clause II. Party structure and affiliated organisations 1 Clause XII. Disciplinary 45 Clause III. The Party’s financial scheme 3 Clause XIII. Parliamentary candidates 45 Clause IV. Aims and values 3 Clause XIV. Local government candidates 45 Clause V. Party programme 4 Clause XV. Amendment to rules 45 Clause VI. Labour Party Conference 4 Chapter 8 Rules for branches 46 Clause VII. Party officers and statutory officers 4 Clause I. Name 46 Clause VIII. The National Executive Committee 6 Clause II. Objects 46 Clause IX. The National Constitutional Committee 8 Clause III. Membership 46 Clause X. Scope of rules 10 Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee 46 Chapter 2 Membership rules 12 Clause V. Meetings 46 Clause I. Conditions of membership 12 Clause VI. Local government candidates 47 Clause II. Charter of Members Rights 14 Clause VII. Miscellaneous 47 Clause III. Membership procedures 14 Chapter 9 Rules for Regional Conferences, Regional Clause IV. Membership subscriptions 15 Executive Committees and Regional Structures 48 Chapter 3 Party Conference 17 Chapter 10 Rules for women’s forums 49 Clause I. Delegations 17 Clause I. Name 49 Clause II. Conference Arrangements Committee 18 Clause II. Aims and values 49 Clause III. Procedural rules for Party Conference 18 Clause III. Membership 49 Clause IV. National Annual Women’s Conference 20 Clause IV. Management 49 Chapter 4 Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees 21 Clause V. Meetings 49 Clause I. General principles 21 Clause VI. Activities 50 Clause II. Procedural rules for elections for national Clause VII. Finances 50 officers of the Party 21 Clause VIII. General 50 Clause III. Procedural rules for elections for national Clause IX. Alteration to rules 51 committees 23 Chapter 11 Rules for Young Labour 52 Chapter 5 Selections, rights and responsibilities of Clause I. Name 52 candidates for elected public office 29 Clause II. Establishment 52 Clause I. General rules for selections for public office Clause III. Aims and values 52 29 Clause IV. Membership 52 Clause II. Rights and responsibilities of elected Clause V. Structure 52 members 30 Clause VI. Regional Committees 52 Clause III. Selection of local government candidates 31 Chapter 11 (A) Young Labour groups 53 Clause IV. Selection of Westminster parliamentary candidates 31 Clause I. Name 53 Clause V. Selection of European parliamentary Clause II. Aims and values 53 candidates 33 Clause III. Membership 53 Clause VI. Selection of Candidates for devolved Clause IV. Establishing a group 53 institutions 34 Clause V. Geographical boundaries 53 Chapter 6 Disciplinary rules 35 Clause VI. Meetings 53 Clause I. National action by the Party 35 Clause VII. Officers 54 Clause II. Action by CLPs 36 Clause VIII. Finance 54 Chapter 7 Rules for CLPs 39 Clause IX. Relationship with constituency parties 54 Clause I. Name 39 Clause X. General relations 54 Clause II. Aims and values 39 Clause XI. Dissolution 54 Clause III. Affiliated organisations 39 Chapter 11 (B) Young Labour National Committee 55 Clause IV. Affiliation fees 39 Clause I. Aims and values 55 Clause V. Individual membership 40 Clause II. Membership 55 Clause VI. Method of organisation 40 Clause III. Chair 55 Clause VII. Management 42 Clause IV. Executive 55 Clause VIII. Officers 42 Clause V. National Policy Forum Representatives 56 Clause IX. The General Meeting 43 Clause VI. Meetings 56 Clause VII. Finance 56 Chapter 15 Model procedural rules 71 Clause VIII. Conference 56 Clause I. Model Standing Orders for Party Units 71 Chapter 12 Rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Appendix 1 NEC statement on the importance of our Forums 57 members 76 Clause I. Name 57 Appendix 2 NEC procedural guidelines on Clause II. Objects 57 membership recruitment and retention 77 Clause III. General Principles 57 Appendix 3 NEC procedures for the selection of Clause IV. Membership 57 Parliamentary Candidates following the Clause V. Officers and Executive Committee 57 boundary review commenced 2016 82 Clause VI. Meetings 58 Clause I. Introduction & Background 82 Clause VII. Finance 58 Clause II. Trigger ballots of sitting MPs 82 Clause VIII. General 58 Clause III. Timetable for parliamentary selections Clause IX. Candidates 58 among sitting MPs 84 Clause X. Relations with the Labour group 58 Clause IV. Freeze dates 84 Clause XI. Miscellaneous 59 Appendix 4 NEC Procedures for the selection of local Chapter 13 Rules for local government Labour government Candidates 85 groups on principal authorities 60 Appendix 5 NEC Advice Note – Interviewing sitting Clause I. General rules and provisions for Labour councillors or recent candidates 93 groups on local authorities 60 Appendix 6 Procedural guidelines in disciplinary Clause II. Aims and Values 60 cases brought before the NCC 95 Clause III. Membership of the group 62 Appendix 7 Procedural guidelines for the general Clause IV. Group meetings 62 organisation of Constituency Labour Parties 100 Clause V. Group officers 63 Clause I. General 100 Clause VI. Group executive 63 Clause II. Delegate Organisation 100 Clause VII. Casual vacancies 63 Clause III. Basis of representation 100 Clause VIII. Determination of group policy and action 63 Clause IV. Conditions for appointment of delegates to Clause IX. Selection of nominations for civic offices, council leadership and other council this CLP 100 appointments 63 Clause V. Non Delegate Organisation 101 Clause X. Arrangements with other parties 64 Clause VI. Other Methods of Organisation 101 Clause XI. Action by individual members 64 Appendix 8 NEC statement - A minimum guarantee of support to CLPs 102 Clause XII. Groups on committees 64 Clause I. Introduction 102 Clause XIII. Breach of rule 64 Clause II. The minimum guarantee will: 102 Clause XIV. Reporting to and consulting with the Party 65 Clause III. The detail of the proposal 102 Clause XV. Group standing orders 65 Clause IV. The aim of each fund is as follows: 103 Clause XVI. Compliance with PPERA 66 Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct 104 Clause XVII. Miscellaneous 66 1. Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment and Gender Chapter 14 Rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums 67 Discrimination. 104 Clause I. Name 67 2. Code of Conduct: Antisemitism and other forms of Clause II. Aims and values 67 racism 104 Clause III. Membership 67 3. Code of Conduct: Social Media Policy 104 Clause IV. Management 67 4. Code of Conduct: Member’s Pledge 105 Clause V. Meetings 67 Clause VI. Activities 68 Clause VII. Finances 68 Clause VIII. General 68 Clause IX. Alteration to rules 69 Contacts and Glossary D. In Scotland, Wales and each of the English Chapter 1 regions there shall be established: a Scottish Labour, Wales Labour or regional Party office; Constitutional rules a Scottish executive, Welsh executive or Regional Executive Committee; and a European Constituency Labour Party. There Clause I. may also be established a Scottish, Welsh or Name and objects regional women’s committee and a regional BAME members’ section. 1. This organisation shall be known as ‘The Labour Party’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Party’). E. Members on local authorities shall be organised locally in Labour groups and 2. Its purpose is to organise and maintain in nationally in the Association of Labour Parliament and in the country a political Labour Councillors (ALC). The ALC, together with Party elected mayors and Police Commissioners, 3. The Party shall bring together members and shall enjoy rights in respect of: supporters who share its values to develop i. Annual Conference policies, make communities stronger through collective action and support, and promote the ii. Regional, Welsh and Scottish Conferences election of Labour Party representatives at all iii. Leadership elections levels of the democratic process. F. All individual members of the Party aged 4. The Party shall give effect, as far as may be between 14 and 26 years inclusive shall be practicable, to the principles from time to time members of Young Labour and may establish approved by Party conference. local Young Labour groups throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Young Labour Clause II. shall enjoy rights in respect of: Party structure and affiliated i. Annual Conference organisations ii. Regional, Welsh and Scottish Conferences 1. There shall be a National Executive Committee of iii. Nominations for Leadership elections the Party (the ‘NEC’) which shall, subject to the control and directions of Party conference, be the G. Student members of the Party shall be administrative authority of the Party. organised nationally as Labour Students 2. The Party shall be organised on the following H. A National Trade Union and Labour Party basis: Liaison Organisation shall be established to involve affiliated unions in Party organisation, A. Where the NEC so determines there shall be which shall include a National Trade Union established in any Westminster parliamentary and Labour Party Liaison Committee and constituency, Welsh Assembly constituency, or Regional Liaison Committees in Scotland, Scottish Parliamentary constituency a unit of Wales and each of the English regions the Party, to be known as a ‘Constituency Labour Party’ or ‘CLP’’ I. Labour Party Properties Limited and Labour Party Nominees Limited shall be maintained B. Where practicable within each CLP, members as companies holding Party assets, either shall be organised in branches, the number outright or on trust for the benefit of the and area covered by such branches to be Party. agreed by the CLP and the NEC 3. Organisations may, subject to the decision of the C. A women’s forum may be established in each NEC, which shall be final and binding, affiliate to CLP, consisting of all individual women the Party if they fall within the following members within that CLP. An ethnic minorities categories: forum may be established consisting of all individual Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) A.