National
Executive Committee / Leadership Conference, 24 June
2007
Gordon
Brown was warmly welcomed by the NEC, meeting in
Manchester on the morning of his confirmation as
leader. He spoke to each of us in turn and emphasised
how much he valued both the NEC and the party
membership. At his request the NEC readily approved
Douglas Alexander as campaign manager through to the
next general election, but despite press speculation I
do not believe that this is imminent. Rather it
recognises the need to prepare, to campaign and to
fundraise over the coming years, alongside the work of
developing policies for a fourth term.
The
leader-in-waiting had clearly given much thought to the
future of the party. His first announcement was that
the deputy leader, whoever he or she might be, would
take the role of party Chair, with power to appoint
assistant Chairs to help them. This is not a
downgrading of the deputy’s position, as some have
suggested. In fact several of the candidates, notably
Jon Cruddas and Hazel Blears, stressed the priority of
party revival over prestige, and now we have a Chair
elected by the members instead of one appointed by the
leader.
He also
tabled a paper aimed at addressing two urgent concerns:
that members do not feel sufficiently involved and
valued, and that local parties are not always in touch
with their communities. This is now available on the
party website, with a deadline for comments of 14
September. If necessary I can forward it in pdf format,
but as responses must be made on-line, it would be
better to get to grips with your individual MpURL. I
have asked how constituencies submit collective views,
and am assured that these will be identified as such if
they come from the registered secretary.
I hope
everyone will read and reply to the full proposals, but
have listed some key themes below, with a few initial
comments. As always I welcome your thoughts, if
possible before the next NEC meeting on 17 July, and
will take account of them in my detailed response.
Bullet
Points [and comments]
-
more encouragement for
constituencies in holding local policy forums [good
in principle] and involving all their members in
policy- making [including those without internet
access];
-
better feedback on
policy submissions so members can see how their
concerns have been discussed, backed up with more
resources [very welcome. May need to demonstrate
this first and up- front, to persuade constituencies
that more forums will be worthwhile]
-
support for local
parties, including Labour groups, in engaging with
their communities [also welcome. Forums work well
at local level where there is a clear connection
between input and agreed policy]
-
strengthening the
national policy forum (NPF), with the joint policy
committee (JPC) acting as its executive [needs more
analysis – could make it more effective, or more
remote. Also the JPC needs greater accountability
and better constituency representation]
-
ensuring that
ministers engage actively with the NPF [good];
-
giving members direct
access to their NPF representatives [excellent –
have been asking for this since I was elected.
Hopefully NPF representatives will also be given
direct access to members]
-
adding twelve more NPF
members, six from constituencies and six from
affiliates, to be elected directly by annual
conference [cannot see the point. The 55
constituency representatives have always been
elected directly by conference and most activists
still cannot name them. Prefer one-member-one-vote,
or groups of constituencies electing one of their
conference delegates to the NPF]
-
ending the right to
send contemporary resolutions to conference.
Instead, constituencies and affiliates would submit
general policy areas, and a ballot at conference
would decide which of these should be priorities for
the NPF. The policy commissions would then examine
them in detail [controversial. Some argue that
motions are a safety-valve, others that ritual
confrontation does no-one any good. Recent
development of housing policy is held up as an
alternative, with a policy commission sub-group said
to have made real and consensual progress. However
almost no-one has seen any of its work since
September, and more openness is needed to win this
argument].
-
submitting the final
policy documents agreed by the NPF to a
one-member-one-vote ballot [not convinced. Postage
is costly unless we disfranchise people without
e-mail. The ballot on the draft manifesto in 1996
involved tremendous efforts, including telephone
banks and mailshots, to get a respectable response
rate. And referendums provide a way for people to
let off steam rather than answer the question posed,
especially when asked to say Yes or No to lengthy,
complex and unamendable documents. I think there
are better uses for very limited resources.]
Any
Other Business
Gordon
Brown assured us that despite the rumours, conversations
with Paddy Ashdown had been limited to issues around
security and investment in Northern Ireland, given his
role as Chair of the parades commission and his
longstanding experience. There was no question of him
joining the cabinet, and though we needed to draw in
everyone who shared our values, Gordon intended to lead
a Labour cabinet and a Labour government.
Finally
some members suggested reopening our decision that
Ealing Southall should select its next parliamentary
candidate from an all- women shortlist, following the
sad death of sitting MP Piara Khabra. Traditionally,
by-election candidates are chosen from open lists, a
process which has overwhelmingly favoured men. However
in this case, with the normal selection procedure
imminent, and Piara Khabra’s own expressed wish that he
should be succeeded by an ethnic minority woman, I hope
that the NEC will keep its nerve or that we will at
least have a chance to discuss any change.
High
Drama
Moving
on to the main event, Labour proved that it can prevent
leaks when it tries, to the extreme annoyance of the
media. At half past one the six candidates for deputy
were locked in a room, deprived of their BlackBerrys,
told the results, and given a brief time to compose
themselves. The audience waited in ever-increasing
impatience while the NEC Chair Mike Griffiths and
general secretary Peter Watt welcomed us to Manchester,
still a Tory-free zone, emphasised the inclusiveness of
the process, praised the conduct of the candidates and
the quality of debate and thanked all those involved,
especially the party staff who have worked without a
break virtually since Christmas.
At last
the suspense was ended, with less than one per cent
separating the winner and the runner-up in the final
round, and individual party members proving decisive.
(The full breakdown was published in Monday’s
Guardian.) Turnout was 99% among MPs and MEPs, 53% for
individual members, but only 8% in the affiliate
section, maybe depressed by some ballot papers arriving
just days before the deadline. The hustings showed that
all the candidates had much to contribute, and I am sure
that Gordon Brown can find a use for all their talents
without resorting to the LibDems. After warm applause
Harriet Harman made a polished speech, Tony Blair took a
final curtain call and graciously introduced his
successor, who sent members away with renewed hope,
enthusiasm and determination.
Questions and comments are welcome, and I am happy for
this to be circulated to members – and supporters - as a
personal account, not an official record. Past reports
are at
www.annblack.com
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