Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and other Labour left organisations including Labour Women Leading, Red Labour, Welsh Labour Grassroots, Campaign for Socialism (Scotland), Jewish Voice for Labour, Labour Representation Committee and Labour CND are supporting the following candidates for the three CLP places on the Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee. They are committed to building a democratic, inclusive policy-making annual Labour Party Women’s Conference in which grassroots members and trade unionists’ voices are heard.

Nominations are to be submitted by CLPs by 12 noon on Thursday 10 March and can be agreed by Women’s Branches where they are officially recognised or CLPs. For more information about deadlines visit https://labour.org.uk/conference/womens-conference/clps/.

Please nominate:

Gillian Arrindell, Cities of Westminster and London CLP, L1478948.

I have been Women’s Officer of my CLP for several years and am now the BAME Officer. I have sought to make our CLP more representative of women and to increase the diversity of our membership. I am a member of Disability Labour and of Unite the Union and my background is as a legal adviser. I am a candidate for councillor in a Conservative ward.

As Women’s Officer I organised weekly canvassing stalls, campaigns, Saturday morning discussion groups, election hustings, fundraisers to send more women to Women’s Conference, a wide range of guest speakers and a political education workshop series, funded by the NEC, for Arabic speaking women in the constituency.

I have been active in the local mutual aid organisation providing legal advice, access to food and liaising with various organisations, raising funds for shopping vouchers and organising food and shopping delivery.

I have been a committee member of Labour Women Leading and have chaired Black Lives Matter meetings for LWL and as Women’s Officer in my CLP. I initiated the process of changing our Women’s Forum to a Women’s Branch before becoming the BAME Officer.

I want to stand as a CLP rep to the WCAC in order to add to the diversity of the committee, to make it more representative of members and to make the Women’s Conference more relevant and representative.

Jean Crocker, Gateshead CLP, L1306356.

As CLP rep on Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee since 2017, working for a democratic conference developed and contributed to by Labour women, I’ve answered members’ queries, invited and listened to suggestions, visited CLPs, and networked with others who could help.

Key gains include proper voting on motions; sending one, then two motions to Annual Labour Conference; delegations which encourage diversity; and free space for CLP/affiliate fringes. As a disabled member and ‘accessibility link’, I visited the 2019 venue with Disability Labour and staff before Conference, and a consultative group on access continues.

I feel I’ve gained a grasp of technical aspects of the role, and of ways to increase and support participation of CLPs. If re-elected I will press for:

• Grouping of motions into broad topic areas, so more CLPs succeed in the priorities ballot and have their topic included in debate
• More explicit written guidance to emphasise that delegates alone decide wording of a composite motion
• Providing CLPs with as much information as possible, ahead of time, about how decisions are made on whether motions and emergency motions are in order

CLP Women’s Officer; three years on University and College Union NEC, with long service on behalf of members on casualised contracts. Contact jean.crocker.jc@gmail.com.

Selina Norgrove, Broxbourne CLP, L1274567

I joined the party in 2015 and am an active member of my CLP and my community through a variety of campaigns. This led to my election as a borough councillor; I am also a member of Unite. During the last few years, I have been  involved in local mutual aid groups and volunteer in a local food and support charity, where the majority of people seeking help are women, and I am proud to act as their advocate and encourage them to find their voices.

The WCAC is important in ensuring women from across our communities have a voice, especially with the impact of Covid and Tory policies. As part of this, I would also want to ensure that a variety of women are involved with the conference, so that we hear a range of views and experiences. Conference needs to be inclusive and, as someone with a disability, if elected, I would strive to ensure that every woman is able to access it. As part of this, I would also encourage transparent processes and open lines of communication.,

The policies presented to conference are important and drive the Party’s direction. Ensuring members and trade unions play a full role in debate and discussion will be a priority for me if elected.

Download statements: https://www.clpd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/WCAC-2022-left-candidate-statements.pdf