Defend Party Democracy: Vote Against NEC Rule Changes

The rule changes on discipline are billed as implementing the recommendations from the Equality and Human Rights Commission report published last autumn. But the proposals would not create independent disciplinary processes. The NEC would become not just judge, jury and executioner but also police and prosecution. Under the principles of natural justice, tribunal members should be un- biased and impartial.

Such changes would remove layers of accountability and introduce a less democratic process than we currently have. These are not measures that will help the Party address anti-semitism or other forms of racism, sexism or prejudicial conduct. They appear designed to get rid of as many members as possible with no proper scrutiny.

Yesterday Conference paid tribute to Sabina Nessa, the young teacher murdered in South East London. This was a fitting start to the discussion of motions sent by the Women’s Conference, including one on Violence Against Women and Girls which contains some of the actions necessary if we are to address male violence. There was far too brief a time for discussion on this and for an important motion calling for measures to address “Women’s Equality after the Coronavirus”.

That the suggestion for the minute’s silence came from the new Women’s Committee, that motions from the Women’s Conference are now such an important part of Conference agenda and that Conference yesterday approved new rule for equalities structures demonstrate that Jeremy’s Democracy Review outcomes are not yet dead, despite the new Leadership’s best efforts, and can make a real difference.

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Proportional  Representation (PR) would get us into a right mess.

Our Labour Party would split into at least two smaller and less effective parties (i.e. a left party and a centrist party).

There would be no more majority Labour Governments. Look at the Euro-Elections in the North-West. Labour won all the seats under First-Past-The-Post (FPTP). Under PR we went down to only two seats, and the extreme right gained a seat. If the 2015 General Election had been held under PR, UKIP would have gained over 80 MPs (including Farage!).

As  in  other  countries  with  PR,  there would be permanent coalition governments, i.e. governments that NO ONE voted for! Labour would be stuck in a back room, scrabbling around with the discredited Lib-Dems, non-socialist Greens and the opportunist SNP, trying to scrabble  together a policy programme for coalition. The trade unions would lose interest in working with ineffective bits of the former Labour Party, and eventually  perhaps  set up their own party – again. Talk about a backwards step.

A recent pro-PR article by Luke Akehurst (leading  light  of  the hard-right  Labour First) and Laura Parker (once a top Momentum official under J. Lansman and now a fan of Sir Keir) maintained that PR is the way  forward  since  the  Tories and  SNP would  form  fewer  Administrations.  But Laura and Luke failed to address any of the above political  points  – namely  that PR would see off a united Labour Party, backed by the trade unions, and any prospect of majority Labour governments.

For years we have heard politicians talk the talk about the need for an industrial strategy. But they haven’t walked the walk and done the necessary.

As we emerge from the pandemic, we must focus on two key issues: how we re- cover from the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis, and how that recovery will support our fight against climate change. Going forward, we need a new industrial strategy that deals with both.

The cost of this pandemic  must not be met with more failed austerity measures, but by growing our economy in a way that not only doesn’t exacerbate the climate crisis, but actually reduces carbon emissions. Rail is an essential part of a green economy, especially moving freight on rail, as it means 76% fewer emissions than the equivalent journey by road.

Public bodies procure a wide range of goods and services each day and the guide- lines governing their procurement could ensure that jobs are protected, and ensure that goods and services used here are made here.

Changes to deal with the climate crisis, and as we move to a digital economy, can- not be at the expense of unionised jobs. That’s why we want an industrial strategy based on investment in infrastructure, including into a fully publicly-owned railway, and a procurement strategy that supports green jobs across the UK.

CLPs are asked to vote for Rheian Davies, Anna Dyer, Annabelle Harle, and Emine Ibrahim.

These candidates are backed by the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance (CLGA) and are committed to:

applying fair and just procedures

exercising independence from the NEC

upholding and applying the Rules as determined by Annual Conference

defending the independence of the NCC and to retain an accountable disciplinary process

Conference witnessed some shocking chairing yesterday. After some clear opposition to the CAC report, no vote was taken – not even a show of hands. When Margaret Beckett tried the same trick with the NEC report, delegates rightly questioned the lack of adherence to the rule book and standing orders. Delegates pointed out that a murmuring in response to a statement cannot be reasonably interpreted as support or opposition!

Beckett suggested she didn’t want to waste time with niceties such as voting – or indeed Points of Order, it later emerged. Many delegates were dismissed, including the well-known President of the Bakers’ Union – who Beckett suggested must be a first time delegate when he “naively” pointed out that many delegates did not yet have their voting papers for the General Secretary vote. Delegates are encouraged to speak up loudly to ensure this doesn’t happen again today. If references back or objections are raised to the CAC report, delegates can and should vote AGAINST.

According to Shelter, 17.5 million people are in hardship because of the lack of decent, secure and genuinely affordable social rented housing. Labour must challenge the Tories’ indifference to those struggling with finding or paying for decent housing and demand urgent action.

We  need  150,000  social  rent  homes  a year, including 100,000 council homes; to end the right to buy; and to review council housing debt accrued by under-funding housing revenue accounts. These policies were in our 2019 manifesto and were warmly welcomed by housing campaigns, charities – and communities where the crisis is so keenly felt.

From this Conference, Labour must lead the campaign for an urgent resolution of the housing crisis and for decent homes for all.