The Labour Party’s new electoral structures mean that the left has to find new ways of organising. We have to become a truly national, activist based organisation. No longer can we rely on famous MPs to stand on the front line, fighting the policy battles. Now we have to spread our resources much wider.
So, how do we get people onto the NEC? There are two new sections of immediate concern to Party activists, Division III (CLPs) and Division IV (local government). I’m assuming none of my readers are Euro MPs — or if you are now, you won’t be much longer.
Division III has six members, at least three of whom must be women. Candidates must be nominated by their own CLP and at least two others. Crucially, they must be CLP delegates to Conference (Rule 3C4.3(c) unaltered.) The six will be elected by an OMOV ballot of all individual Party members.
Division IV consists of two members of the Association of Labour Councillors, at least one of whom must be a woman. They have to be nominated by a Labour Group. I can’t see in the rules that they have to be nominated by their own Labour Group. They will be elected by a ballot of ALC members. Memo to Left councillors — make sure your ALC subscription is up to date.
All members of the NEC will be ex officio on the National Policy Forum. If you didn’t make it onto the NEC, here’s how to get onto the NPF:
Division I — 54 members nominated and elected by CLPs. There will be six each from Scotland, Wales, and the seven English regions. Of these groups of six, one must be Young Labour, and at least two out of the remaining five must be women.
Division II — thirty trade unionists, at least fifteen of whom must be women.
Division III — eighteen representatives, two each from the Scottish, Welsh and English regional conferences or Policy Forums. At least one of these two must be a woman.
Division IV — nine local government reps, four from the Local Government Association Labour Group (at least two women) and four from the Association of Labour Councillors (at least two women) and one from the Labour Group of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Division V — three members from the Socialist Societies, at least one woman.
Division VI — four members of the Black Socialist Society, at least two women.
Divisions VII and VIII are for the PLP and the EPLP. Then there are places for the Cabinet — eight, at least three women, and two for the Co-Operative Party, at least one woman.
The NEC will lay down guidelines for these elections, which will be for two years. Interestingly, the last NEC decided that only half of the CLP positions should be elected this year, and that they will be elected by regional groupings of Conference delegates. This seems to be in conflict with the rule stating members should be nominated and elected by CLPs. So, if you’re regional, a councillor, a trade unionist, black, a woman, a co-operator — go for it!