Vote for the Grassroots candidates for Labour’s Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC)

Seema Chandwani & Billy Hayes for the CAC

Ballot papers are shortly due to be circulated (commencing from Monday 5 July) for the election of two CLP reps on Labour’s Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC).

CLPD, as part of the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance (CLGA) is urging party members to vote for Seema Chandwani and Billy Hayes.

Both are sitting members of the CAC who work hard, representing party members, to improve the democratic functioning of the Labour Party’s Annual Conference. They focus on securing the type of conference that members want to see.

Further information about Seema and Billy is set out below and a campaign video can be watched here.

The election is a One Member One Vote (OMOV) ballot, which closes on 12 noon Friday 13 August.

Candidates Statements

Seema Chandwani

I am seeking your vote to continue as your Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) representative.

The work of the CAC has been mixed over the past two years with a new Conference format following the democracy review in 2019 and an online Conference in 2020.

As we look forward to Conference in the next two years, it’s now more important than ever that you have experienced representatives ensuring your voice is heard in the numerous decisions being made.

COVID 19 has seen our communities change and sadly our most vulnerable have bit hit both economically and through their health or lives. Tackling inequality has never been so important and it is the Labour Party that should lead the recovery for our working class communities.

Conference needs to hear what is happening in your communities and what is needed to limit the damage.

I believe Conference is sovereign and that members views on policy direction is vital as they live within the communities we serve.

There’s a lot to still improve about the way Conference works and I hope you lend me your vote again to continue this work together. I welcome the support of the progressive voice of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance, and also ask you to consider supporting Billy Hayes for reelection

Billy Hayes

I am asking for your support to continue as your Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) representative. Having served on the CAC since 2017.

I believe I have made a key contribution to improving the transparency of Conference and making it more accessible and comprehensible to members.

Since being elected, Seema Chandwani and myself have made more information available on the CAC reports than was ever the case before, have been accessible for members, and have always acted to ensure members’ voices are represented in the organising of Conference.

I am deeply committed to representing party members on the CAC and making sure that decisions are taken maximise democratic debate and discussion.

We need to resist efforts to shut debate down and reduce Conference’s importance.

I will continue fighting to maximise members’ ability to contribute to Party policy and to ensure that Party Conference is accessible to all.

I am a Party member of 45 years, I was CWU National Officer for 9 years and General Secretary for 15. Now with Unite .

I welcome the support of the progressive voice of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance, and ask you to consider supporting Seema Chandwani for reelection. I can be contacted at billyhayes4b@yahoo.com