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Members' right to choose Go to model resolutionIn 1997 several CLPs submitted Conference resolutions demanding that CLPs "should be responsible, within existing rules, for shortlisting and selecting their parliamentary candidates of their choice without any restriction by the introduction of an approved head office list". The Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) failed to time-table their composite resolution (Composite 55). As a rule their number would have ensured debate. In 1998 eleven CLPs submitted constitutional amendments to the same effect. Normally they would be referred to the NEC for recommendation the following year, ie 1999. However, at the 1998 Conference the NEC put forward rule changes on the same subject. Once a rule has been changed, it cannot be amended for three years. Because of this restriction the movers of the eleven constitutional amendments argued that their proposals be taken alongside those of the NEC, so that Conference was given a chance to choose. The then Chair of the CAC (Margaret Wheeler) sought to reassure them promising that their proposals would be taken this year. But rules are rules. Having successfully kept this subject off the agenda for two years it would come as no surprise if, despite Wheeler's assurance, the 3 year rule is invoked once again. This would prevent Conference from deciding whether to uphold the democratic right of CLPs to choose candidates or whether to go on allowing Millbank to impose their own. By submitting the contemporary motion we suggest CLPs would ensure that Conference is made aware of what is at stake. Model resolution"Conference notes that this year's Conference Agenda contains eleven proposed constitutional amendments giving the party branches of a CLP, or organisations affiliated to it, the right to nominate any party member to be considered as their party's prospective parliamentary candidate, as well as giving CLPs the right to draw up a shortlist from these nominations. These proposed constitutional amendments were submitted to the 1998 Conference but referred to the 1999 Conference for debate and vote. An undertaking to this effect was given to the 1998 Conference by the Chair of the Conference Arrangements Committee. This Conference therefore instructs the Conference Arrangements Committee to arrange for a full debate of these proposed rule changes."
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Campaign for Labour Party Democracy