CLP delegates have an opportunity today to elect representatives on the Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) who will be a strong voice for the constituencies – a voice for democracy and a fair say for delegates at annual conference.
This
year – as in recent years – many resolutions on subjects which constituencies
consider vital to be discussed were ruled out of order by the CAC. They cover
important contemporary issues such as top-up fees for students, the growth
of the BNP, and many on Iraq and foundation hospitals. Pro-government motions
which are clearly not contemporary were ruled in. Conference time is being
filled with debates on policy documents which will not even be voted on until
next conference – when they will all be debated again. But CLPs are denied
fair time for motions they want discussed.
These manoeuvres make a mockery of Conference.
For Labour to regain the public esteem
it has lost requires the Party to have confidence in, and listen to, its members.
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elected onto the CAC I will strive to ensure that Conference is delegate-led
and there is a real opportunity for full and frank discussion of the issues
that delegates want to discuss. I will make sure that Ministers and party
officials are held to account for Labour policy. ~ Alice Mahon MP |
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in Power would be strengthened by an open, mature party conference where
members feel valued instead of sidelined. Many constituencies are not even
sending delegates to conference this year. To win the next election we must
restore the faith of party members. Conference must form a bridgehead between
the party and our leaders. The voice of the constituencies must be heard. ~ George McManus |
The increasing domination
of a US-style de-regulation
At
first sight it seems difficult to understand why only four in ten CLP delegates
voted to prioritise Iraq, where lives are being lost every day and which Britain
invaded under false pretences.
But it is not so difficult when you learn what
went on at the regional briefings for delegates held at lunchtime yesterday.
At several of these, delegates were pressurised not to vote for Iraq, and
wrongly advised that the matter could be sufficiently discussed in the debate
on Britain in the World. While delegates should attempt to raise everything
possible under the NPF Reports, this is no substitute for a debate based on
a composite of motions directly submitted by members, which can then be voted
on.
Delegates will find in their conference diary a list of ‘Fifty
things Labour has done since 1997’.
Campaign Briefing sets the record straight with:
FIFTY
THINGS A LABOUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE DONE
(PART 1)
1. Respected the UN
by not supporting Bush’s war on Iraq
2. Narrowed the gap
between rich and poor, not widened it
3. Maintained lone
parent benefits
4. Cut military
spending, not raised it
5. Repealed the Tory
anti-union laws
6. Introduced a
Disability Rights Act – not done despite a manifesto commitment
7. Helped students
go to college on the basis of merit not ability to pay
8. Stopped the BNP
by fighting racism and helping refugees
9. Returned the
railways to public ownership
10. Re-introduced the
pensions-earnings link
…to be continued