Members wanted to know
what they could do NOW to restore democracy. It was impressed on them that the
first step was to change the rules of engagement. At present the party leadership could ignore contemporary
resolutions but it can’t ignore the rules. Last year Conference voted against
Foundation Hospitals but the government went ahead with them. But Conference also voted to change the
rules so that alongside the first four subjects in the Priorities Ballot
timetabled for the unions, the top four subjects chosen by CLPs would also be
timetabled. Thus CLPs will have more
say at 2004 Conference. This change is
a success to chalk up for CLPD. It’s a change for which CLPD has long
campaigned and it demonstrates the importance of persevering over several years
in the demands we make.
Individual members were
therefore asked to get their CLP to pass one of the Constitutional Amendments
[Rule Changes] CLPD is currently promoting.
These are as follows:
(1) Direct amendments at Conference to NPF
documents
to give CLPs the right to submit amendments to NPF documents direct
to Conference with no prior “sifting”.
(2) End
the choice between all or nothing
to allow
reference back of parts of policy
documents without rejecting the document as a whole.
(3) More NEC seats for
CLPs
to increase
CLPs’ seats on the NEC by two: one for a representative from Scotland and one
from Wales.
(4) Ministers to be ineligible to serve
to abolish the right of ministers to be on
the CAC.
(5)
Westminster Parliamentary Candidates: Let members choose (1)
(6) Westminster Parliamentary
Candidates: Let members choose (2)