Labour Party Women’s Conference 2022 – Yellow Pages issue 3, March 2022

Yellow Pages

Labour Party Women’s Conference 2022 – Yellow Pages issue 3, March 2022

by CLPD | published on 18.03.22 in CLPD Women's Collective, Labour Women's Conference

Labour needs to stand up for women

Despite a clearly under-resourced and far from ideal build-up to this year’s Annual Labour Women’s Conference (ALWC), delegates and visitors from CLPs and trade unions will be looking forward to hearing from each other, debating and discussing the policies Labour needs to adopt in the interests of women, considering improvements to the rules governing the Labour Women’s Organisation, and electing a new Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee – between 11:00 and 18:30 on Saturday, CLP delegates must ensure they vote for Gillian Arrindell, Jean Crocker and Selina Norgrove.

It is great to see the majority of the weekend devoted to policy debates. It is so important that the Labour front bench really take notice of what women on the frontline in our communities and public services are saying and adopt the policies we need that can inspire women voters, especially young women, disabled women and women from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women who have all been so badly impacted by the ongoing pandemic and want and need a Labour Party that is genuinely taking the fight to the Tories.

On Saturday we will be debating Emergency Motions on Ukraine and the current dispute in Higher Education. Delegates are urged to support motions calling for peace and negotiations (see separate article below too); and to support women in UCU as they go into another wave of strike action on pensions, pay, workload, casualisation and pay gaps, all of which disproportionately impact women. It is unfortunate that the deadline for ‘Emergency’ motions was so early that we may not have the opportunity to discuss this week’s horrendous news of a Hackney schoolgirl being strip-searched by police in school. Another example, should we need it, of institutional racism and misogyny in the police.

We will debate important motions in relation to the economy, healthcare, food poverty and covid. The motion on the economy raises the critical cost of living issues faced by women and is an opportunity to call on Labour to go much further in addressing inequalities, child poverty and low pay. The Food Poverty debate is an opportunity to go into more detail and support the crucial Right to Food campaign. There are further important demands around women’s rights at work and the Green New Deal in the Women’s Equality Post Covid 19 motion, but unfortunately this motion does not go nearly far enough in recognising that the pandemic is ongoing, that women are in the frontline and that a comprehensive elimination strategy is needed. Likewise it is disappointing that CLPD’s important criticisms of the shadow Health Secretary and his acceptance of private sector involvement in our NHS in our model motion appear to have been lost in the composite, but it is still important that Labour commit to unambiguously reject privatisation as stated and it is encouraging to see so many issues relevant to women’s health called out, including the call for a public investigation into why ethnic minority women are more likely to die in childbirth.

Violence Against Women and Girls will yet again be an important debate with no progress made and Labour too often quiet. Since the murder of Sarah Everard at least 81 more women have been killed in this country. We can discuss important demands such as increased funding for services, changes to the law, ratification of the Istanbul Convention and action to tackle pornography. Delegates may also want to raise the lack of solidarity shown by our Party leadership to Zarah Sultana and other black women MPs in the face of racist abuse and death threats; and ask where is the Forde report which was supposed to address institutional sexism and racism within Labour?

On Sunday we will discuss the rights of women in relation to pregnancy loss; social care, and the need for a fully funded care service free at the point of use with well resourced staff; and women refugees. The flight of many from Ukraine once more highlights just how vulnerable refugee women are and the dangers they face. Many refugee women and children flee for their lives from situations that British government actions have had a hand in creating. The composite calls on Labour to campaign against refugee poverty, for access to healthcare and for gender issues to be considered throughout the asylum process. This composite is timely. The Tory government aims to increase the obstacles to those seeking asylum in Britain through its Nationality and Borders bill. We must support the composite calling on Labour to campaign against the bill becoming law, and if necessary repeal it – and we hope CLPs will prioritise sending this motion, if passed, for debate at Annual Conference, where we have a responsibility to ensure that the issues facing the most vulnerable women are heard.

We need a strong message from the Women’s Conference that Labour must stand up for women and advocate the policies we need; and that the Women’s Committee must be properly resourced to prioritise taking these issues forward.

For democracy and transparency vote GLW3

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, working together as Grassroots Labour Women (GLW), are supporting the following candidates for the three CLP places on the Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee:

Gillian Arrindell
Jean Crocker
Selina Norgrove

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.

Women’s Conference has come a long way in recent years. In 2017, there were speeches on topics, but no votes on motions. By 2018, with some work, we got proper debates and motions, with one motion sent through to Labour Party Conference – and now two. We have a standalone two-day conference instead of an add-on to Labour Party Conference, and a delegation structure that encourages less represented groups. And this year, for the first time, we have the capacity to vote on the rule changes we want, something that some of us have been campaigning for. The best part of conference is women speaking with passion and expertise about the things that concern them, and it’s important to enable that as much as possible. A return to a face-to-face conference, if safe, would allow us to experience the sense of mass enthusiasm and solidarity that are missing online. It would be excellent if we can return to offering CLPs free space to hold fringes. And it would help more members to submit successful motions if Women’s CAC came to a view on, and then let women know about, certain criteria determining whether motions are in order, e.g. – how far must motions include reference to women? Can there be any material about internal Labour Party ‘organisation’ in a policy motion? I will pursue these things if re-elected. Your views are welcome.

Jean Crocker, sitting member of the WCAC seeking re-election

Women’s voices must be heard!

Women who attended the 2019 Labour Women’s Conference in Telford, will remember a weekend of energy, optimism and political debate. Shaping policy development, passionate speeches on the issues that women feel strongly about and building the networks that strengthen women’s voice in the Party. The commitment to annual Women’s Conferences was reaffirmed by Labour’s NEC, prevented only by the COVID 19 pandemic. Moving to an online format has met with mixed responses, making it easier for some women but harder for others. Going forward, the discussion on possible hybrid formats must continue as we defend and build our National Labour Women’s Organisation, and for any format there must be a commitment to transparency and inclusivity.

The 2022 Labour Women’s Conference, online again, has been arranged quickly in order to allow us to move to an annual spring event. Delegates are registered from affiliates and CLPs/Women’s Branches from across the country, and the topics for debate reflect women’s priorities. However, the pressure on Party resources at every level – and on women’s lives, juggling work, family, and the consequences of the pandemic – pose challenges for full participation. Deadlines and notice of composites have been announced too late, with some delegates not receiving them at all. And we have seen the bizarre scenarios of emergency deadlines well over a week before the conference and yet appeals for motions happening after the priorities ballot, leaving those motions in a dead end. Meanwhile an appeals process for rule changes appears to have disappeared altogether. Delegates raising this under the WCAC report on Saturday should be supported.

The National Labour Women’s Committee, elected in June 2021, has met several times, but has struggled to get the time and resources necessary to play its leadership role on campaigning and organising women in the Party. Going forward, the structures we build need the political and financial support which will demonstrate that Labour is serious about building an effective Women’s Organisation. This Conference is far from perfect in some of the timetabling and organisational decisions made, but we know we will hear from inspiring delegates, agree some important policies and feel empowered and energised to keep organising locally, regionally, nationally and internationally in the interests of women.

Sitting on the sidelines is not where we want to be. In the early days of the founding of the Labour Party, the Women’s Labour League sat in the gallery watching the debates, so we should recognise the progress made in women’s representation in the Parliaments across Britain, but also address the failure to put at the centre and make progress on the inequality that persists in society. Labour must do more to fight for women’s representation. The priority given at Labour Women’s Conferences year on year to motions on tackling sexual harassment and violence against women, tells us all of the reality of women’s lives. There has never been a time when we need a louder voice, and concrete action, led by the National Labour Women’s Organisation.

Ann Henderson, CLPD Vice-Chair, Labour Party National Executive Committee CLP representative and National Labour Women's Committee

Support rule changes that will improve democracy

On Sunday we have the opportunity for the first time to debate CLPs’ proposed changes to the rules of the Labour Women’s Organisation. Unfortunately several have been ruled out, but rule changes from East Lothian CLP, Glasgow Cathcart CLP and Leyton and Wanstead CLP should be supported.

The rule change/constitutional amendment from East Lothian CLP would codify what was originally intended when the rules were developed by the NEC Women’s Sub-Committee, that motions from the Scottish and Welsh Labour Women’s Conferences would be taken at National Labour Women’s Conference – in the same way that Women’s Conference motions are prioritised at Annual Conference. This would enable a strong link with the devolved nations and ensure that voices from Wales and Scotland are heard, which are too often marginalised as we debate devolved issues with an anglo-centric focus. SUPPORT

The rule change from Glasgow Cathcart CLP would ensure that women can genuinely self-organise without being reliant on CLP officers, who may not always be supportive of Women’s Branches and can be a barrier. It would give Women’s Branch secretaries and CLP women’s officers the right to contact members – this should be obvious but unfortunately is not always the case so it must be enshrined in the rules. SUPPORT

Finally the rule change from Leyton and Wanstead CLP should be supported – it would enable CLPs and affiliates to not only engage in the policy debate but also put forward proposals for rule changes that could improve how our currently fledgling organisation becomes more engaged and active in the way it needs to me. It has been suggested so many submissions could overwhelm the conference but of course it is unlikely that every CLP would choose to submit both and if, by some miracle of energy and enthusiasm for rule changes, hundreds are submitted, they could be subject to a priorities ballot as to which are debated in the same way as motions – let’s get more women involved in more ways, support the rule change! SUPPORT

CLPD is not supporting the rule change from Lewisham West and Penge CLP. Its problematic wording is out of line with other parts of the rule book and excludes prioritising young women as delegates, which CLPD supports. Moreover it enshrines small delegations into the rulebook where more creative ways of engaging a diverse range of delegates should be considered, including ensuring delegation sizes reflect CLP sizes, which would be an important step to improving diversity. REJECT

Nominate the Grassroots Five!

A strong voice for members and for party democracy

Turning now to the NEC elections, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy is supporting the following five centre-left candidates below for Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) – the Grassroots 5:

Jess Barnard
Gemma Bolton
Yasmine Dar
Mish Rahman
Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi

The above five candidates (Grassroots 5) would be an excellent and inclusive team on the NEC, and a strong voice for members and for party democracy.

The deadline for CLPs to submit their nominations is noon on Friday 17 June.

The Grassroots 5 are supported by Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Campaign for Socialism (Scotland), Jewish Voice for Labour, Kashmiris for Labour, Labour Briefing (Co-op), Labour CND and Welsh Labour Grassroots.

Women’s Conference is a really important opportunity for us to get together as women to discuss our priorities, to debate the policies that Labour needs to adopt to win women’s votes and to deliver for women where and when it is in power. It is a shame that we won’t get to see each other in person. It seems a long time since we last met in person for Women’s Conference in Telford, which was so inspiring and powerful. But I hope we can reignite some of the passion we saw there, and hear from as many amazing delegates sharing their own stories to influence the policy we take forward.

Gemma Bolton, CLPD Co-Chair and Labour Party National Executive Committee CLP representative

Ukraine debate on the agenda

The conflict in Ukraine, which began after the deadline for resolutions to this year’s NAWC, is up for debate this weekend thanks to prompt action by 4 CLPs/Women’s Branches which submitted an emergency motions. Unsurprisingly, sisters concentrated on the plight of over one million refugees who have fled their homes and calls for urgent action by the UK government.

The composite also deplores the use of nuclear weapons and call for Russia to stand down its nuclear forces. Perhaps most importantly in the light of the Labour shadow front bench support for the Johnson government’s belligerent approach and Keir Starmer’s ‘unshakable commitment’ to Nato, the composite also asserts that the solution to the conflict requires de-escalation and negotiations.

CND has joined with peace organisation across Europe and North America, calling for:

a de-escalation of the Ukraine conflict
a withdrawal of Russia troops
an end to Nato expansion, and
a return to the negotiating table to make the Minsk agreements work.

Delegates involved in the composite have acknowledged its weaknesses, especially given the lack of time to properly discuss a composite and Labour HQ’s failure to provide for a compositing meeting. But they feel it’s the best they could do in restricted and time-limited circumstances. One of the lessons for conference organisers in future, perhaps, is the need to facilitate a proper discussion by delegates in emergency composites.

Women suffer disproportionately in war. Existing inequalities are amplified, and this means women and girls are even more vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. In the case of Ukraine, there are also reports of racism, with non-white refugees being refused access to aid and not given the same rights as other Ukrainians to cross the border into safer countries.

As the UN Secretary General said when the General Council held a special debate on Ukraine: war is ‘an immense distraction from the real challenges facing humanity’ including ‘healing the divides of race and gender’.

KEEP IN TOUCH: If you would like to get in touch with CLPD at Women's Conference for help or advice please email CLPDWomen@gmail.com.

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