Ann Black (photo) of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has circulated the following helpful information about the coming procedures in relation to the Labour Party's policy formation for the next General Election. In fact rank and file Labour Party members find out more about what is going on within the procedures of the Labour Party from Ann than from any other source. She states -
"At the end of February the National Policy Forum (NPF) will publish new consultation papers before a final forum meeting in July agrees the foundations of the 2015 manifesto. This is the last chance to influence the policies on which Labour will fight the general election. Constituencies can submit amendments until early in June (exact date to be decided) so it is worth organising meetings even during a very busy campaigning period."
I contacted her by email for additional information as to what is happening and she helpfully added -
... the papers will be published on the Your Britain website and anyone will be able to comment. Also Constituency Labour Parties will be able to submit formal amendments - currently a maximum of ten is proposed, with no more than two on any of the eight documents, but this is still under discussion. However it will then be up to NPF reps from your region to decide which ones to take forward, and how, and with what degree of enthusiasm.
- the NEC is part of the NPF and will contribute to whatever emerges from the July forum and goes onwards to conference.
- the taskforces (such as this one, who took evidence up to 18th December 2013 HB) are, I believe, supposed to be feeding in through the policy commissions before July."
I have, therefore, submitted a motion on the following lines for consideration at the next meeting of my Labour Party Branch. It is intended to then be submitted for the agenda of the General Committee of my Constituency Labour Party. I would encourage all local Labour activists to pursue a similar approach -
"That this Constituency Party will hold a meeting in April 2014 to determine any formal amendments it wishes to submit to consultation papers which Labour's National Policy Forum (NPF) is due to issue by the end of February, with our local branches and affiliated bodies being enabled and encouraged to examine these consultation papers at their March meetings, and that arrangements be made for a Regional Member of the NFP to attend the April meeting."
The Your Britain website can also can be examined now to see the current state of play on the policy discussions. There is plenty of scope for improvement.
