See below for an update from the CLPD Women’s Collective

Deadlines for Women Members of the Labour Party 

 There are urgent actions for us to take, and some very tight deadlines, especially in view of CLPs stopping meetings in the run up to the May elections. Please act on these points, if you haven’t already.

For Women’s Conference taking place online 26/27 June:

• Elect delegates – 2 per CLP, with at least one identifying as BAME, LGBT, or Disabled. Names have to be in by Monday 10^th May. The delegates will be electing six members of the powerful new Women’s Committee, and voting on motions.
• Send a motion – related to women, must be on policy rather than party organisation. For a better chance of it getting through the priorities ballot, link it to a wider topic that others are likely to want to debate too, e.g. the Covid crisis. The deadline is 12 noon on Friday 28^th May.
• Make nominations for the Women’s Committee. A group made up of women representing organisations that are part of the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance has started to meet and we hope that there will be a united left slate – more details of supported candidates will be circulated as soon as possible. The deadline for nominations is 12 noon on Monday 10th May.

The above are things that need doing by CLPs or Women’s Branches (although submitted by CLPs). Congratulations if you have a Women’s Branch. Currently only those Women’s Forums ‘ratified’ or formally recognised at regional level can constitute as one, and it takes time to do it anyway.

In the absence of a Women’s Branch, please aim to get decisions made at a meeting of your CLP.  If the CLP is sympathetic, you might want to ask them to accept the wishes of the Women’s Forum, which doesn’t have the automatic right to make the decisions that the Women’s Branch will have.

Take part in the Survey on Women’s Conference 2021

The CLP reps on the Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee have been asking for members to be consulted about ideas for speakers and topics, and for CLPs and union members to be given the opportunity to present sessions.

This has led to the survey being sent out to women members.  Please take the opportunity to fill it in by Mon 15^th Feb, if you haven’t yet, because the results are being compiled later in that week.  One question is Would your Women’s Branch or CLP like to be involved in delivering or contributing to a session? Please indicate your CLP and what you’d like to present on or share. It would be fantastic if sisters would share their knowledge and experience.

The link can be found here, which is also in the women’s e-newsletter sent out on 19^th January.

To get in touch, please contact info@clpd.org.uk