CLPD 2004 AGM Resolution 7

21^st Century Party

This AGM notes with concern the new 21^st Century Party consultation document launched at Labour Party annual conference 2003.

This AGM believes that this is a further attempt by the party leadership to undermine the structures of the Labour Party locally, in particular through the abolition or downgrading of CLPs’ General committees.

This AGM notes that when this attack was attempted previously in 2000-2001, the campaign led by CLPD along with the opposition of party members to the proposals mobilised sufficient responses that the leadership were unable to bring forward as far-reaching proposals as they would have liked.

This AGM acknowledges, however, that mere defence of the status quo is not sufficient. With the adoption of the Partnership in Power the functions of CLPs’ General Committees have been so reduced that their meetings are increasingly less well attended and frequently inquorate. The defence of General committees must therefore go hand in hand with a campaign demanding restoration of CLPs’ and affiliated organizations’ right to input into policy making. This to be achieved through constitutional changes which would undermine and finally remove the strait-jacket of the Partnership in Power.

This AGM therefore resolves to encourage responses to the current 21^st Century Party consultation in defence of inner party democracy, along the following lines:

1. The supreme body within each Constituency Labour Party is the General Committee. The GC’s federal delegate structure gives a proper voice both to the CLP’s ward-branches and to its affiliated organisations.
2. The role of each CLP’s Executive Committee is to discharge organizational functions under the overall directions of the GC.
3. Reducing the status or frequency of GC meetings would weaken the Party’s organised activist base.
4. Both GCs and branches should normally meet monthly, in order to enable members to respond to current events and to have the fullest say in the Party’s direction.
5. Both GC and branch meeting agendas should regularly include space for political debate and speakers.
6. GC meetings should normally be open to attendance by any member of the CLP.
7. CLP GCs should in future, together with the Party’s national affiliates, be able to submit amendments to final stage National Policy Forum documents for debate and decision by the Party’s Annual Conference. Constitutional amendments to this effect are already on the agenda of the 2004 Conference, submitted by the RMT and the following CLPs: Faversham & Mid Kent, Newport West, Canterbury, Erith and Thamesmead, Altrincham and Sale West, Harrow West, North East Cambridgeshire,Cardiff South&Penarth, North East Bedfordshire, North Southwark & Bermondsey.