Can’t Win the Argument? Then Fix the Debate!

Conference’s decision to prioritise this subject today reflects grassroots support for Palestine – lots of CLPs and unions have discussed this, and now the Party needs to be in step. As an internationalist and democratic socialist party, it is Labour’s responsibility to stand with the Palestinian people and their fundamental rights, including to self-determination. This motion – consistent with the framework passed by the TUC Congress – does just that.

Earlier this year, the labour movement widely condemned Israel’s militarised violence against the Palestinian people, including the attack on the Al Aqsa mosque, the forced displacements from Sheikh Jarrah and the deadly assault on Gaza.

Major reports by Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem have added weight to the TUC’s warning that Israel taking these steps would represent “another significant step” towards the UN Crime of Apartheid.

And the International Criminal Court is holding an inquiry into abuses committed in the occupied Palestinian Territories since 2014.

The NCC was created, after court action against the Labour Party, to guarantee that investigations and decisions to “prosecute” are independent from any decisions regarding guilt and punishment. This segregation of duties set is out in the European Convention on Human Rights Article 6: the right to a fair trial. The need for those taking deci- sions in the disciplinary process to be independent from the Leader and NEC is at the centre of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission Report.

Our NEC, General Secretary (GS) and previous GS’s have shown the proof of “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The NEC and the GS should not be the investigators, prosecutors, judge and jury.

The disciplinary processes for behaviour contrary to equalities law, agreed yesterday, got things the wrong way round. Investigations should be done under the direction of professionally qualified lawyers, with the determination of guilt and sanctions per- formed by an independent committee receiving is own independent legal advice. It should be noted that our Party was criticised in the EHRC report for not permitting the NCC to receive independent legal ad- vice. The powers of our independent NCC are currently being eroded, precisely when we need it most.

Make sure your ballot papers are placed in the ballot box by 4pm.

Vote for: Rheian Davies, Anna Dyer, Annabelle Harle, Emine Ibrahim

www.fbu.org.uk

An emergency motion on the military pact between the US, UK and Australia has been accepted for debate, most likely today. It’s supported by 5 CLPs. Shipley, Brighton Pavillion and Beverley & Holderness have agreed to  composite their motions, and Pendle and Hazel Grove are also on board.

AUKUS is presented by the signatories as a return to rule-based international collaboration in the post-Trump era. Johnson describes it as a land-mark partnership to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific. In reality it will do the opposite, fuelling further tensions with China.

The  pact covers artificial intelligence, cyber warfare and underwater capabilities, as well as long-range strike capabilities. AUKUS also has a nuclear component.

The US-UK will supply 8 nuclear- powered military submarines to the Australian navy, enabling it to operate undetected underwater for longer – supplying a non- nuclear state with weapons-grade uranium (the building block for a nuclear bomb).

This puts the UK in breach of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which stipulates that an exchange of nuclear technology can only take place for peaceful purposes. Labour has supported the NPT for decades – and must continue to do so.

Yesterday Conference heard one delegate after another speak passionately on why our Party needs to step up on climate change. Two Green New Deal composites were passed, including Composite One cal- ling for more radical action across government. The Party’s powers-that-be should pay attention to what delegates said.

The climate crisis poses a huge threat to humanity. Global temperature is going up and extreme weather events are already here. Immediate action is required if temperature rises are to be kept below 1.5°C – which scientists say is necessary.

The developed countries, including Britain, are responsible for the bulk of carbon emissions already in the atmosphere. They also have the highest current emissions per head of population. They should make deep cuts in their emissions now – but they aren’t doing that.

The UN COP26 conference is fast approaching. The Tories pretend Britain is leading the way in tackling this crisis – which is simply a lie. There are no serious plans to cut carbon emissions – just “tar- gets”. The Tories continue to subsidise fossil fuels and support further oil and gas exploration, and they have cut the Green Home Grants.

If more wind turbines, tidal power and solar arrays had been built, we wouldn’t be facing rising energy bills this winter.

Unfortunately Labour spokespeople have set out policies that fall well short of what’s needed. The TUC has called for an investment of £85 billion in a Green New Deal to cut the substantial majority of carbon emissions by 2030 – and create 1.2 million green jobs. Our Party has only called for £30 billion.

Our Party’s policies need to change to ad- dress the scale of the crisis,  and we must challenge the Tories’ deceits.