Election of delegates, Rule Changes and Nominations for internal elections

Unfortunately, elections on May Day confirm that since the General Election there has been a large decline in support for our Party and a large rise in support for the extreme right, not just in opinion polls but also at the ballot box. There are growing concerns that our government’s policies contribute to these electoral shifts.

If the Labour support we have lost is not regained, there is a significant possibility of the extreme right-wing having influence over or in the government that is formed after the next general election. Our Party needs to seriously discuss the direction our government is taking and we need to make the changes necessary to turn the situation around so we can succeed in government.

Without significant improvements to our Party’s policies, we are risking failure. Our Party’s national committees need to address this issue and our Party’s rule book needs to change to facilitate the democratic discussion required.

CLPs can play a part in helping to address these matters by pursuing the steps set out below in their preparations for this year’s Labour Party Annual Conference.

Preparations for the Annual Conference and the Women’s Conference need to be made now.

Noon on Friday 27 June is the deadline for: 1) the election of CLP delegates to Conference; 2) the submission of proposed rule changes; and 3) the nominations of candidates for internal Party elections.

1) Election of CLP delegates to Annual Conference

Conference would benefit from CLPs electing delegates who support Party democracy and the necessary discussion of the direction our Party is taking.

2) Rule Changes

Attached to this email, linked here as a Word document and as a PDF, are some model rule changes (Constitutional Amendments). CLPs are encouraged to consider submitting one of them to Party Conference. These rule changes cover the following issues: Party members need an Ombudsperson to tackle injustice in the Party; CLPs should be allowed to increase the accessibility of their meetings by making them hybrid; and the method of election of the National Policy Forum CLP Section needs changing, to be more representative, so it can make better policy.

3) Labour Party internal elections 2025

This year there are elections to the CLP Sections of: the Conference Arrangement Committee (CAC); the National Constitutional Committee (NCC); and the National Women’s Committee (NWC). There is also an election for the Disabled Members Representative on the CAC.

CLPs are encouraged to nominate the candidates supported by the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance (CLGA). The candidates’ names (and Party membership numbers) are set out below, at the bottom of this email. Statements from the CLGA supported candidates are attached to this email, linked here as a Word document and as a PDF.

Nominations need to be submitted by CLP secretaries/Women’s Branch secretaries (for NWC). All of these posts are elected in September at the Annual Conference, except for the National Women’s Committee which is elected at the Women’s Conference, also in September.