Campaign for Labour Party Democracy

Elections to the National Executive Committee 2002

Vote for candidates supported by the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance

In 2002 individual members will again have the opportunity to vote for rank-and-file representatives to the constituency section of the National Executive Committee. The Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance - an inclusive body of democratic socialist groups and publications across the centre and left of the Labour Party - is, as in previous years, promoting candidates who will stand up for the rights of ordinary members and genuinely represent their views. Last year three candidates supported by the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance were elected. Deadline for voting is 12 noon 21 June Candidates supported by the Grassroots Alliance believe that members must have an effective say in shaping policy in order to reverse declining membership and activism. This will help to rebuild Labour's support and counter growing public disillusion with politics. Each candidate, while retaining freedom of judgment on specific issues, will uphold the following principles:

A radical reforming Labour government

These candidates will work for Labour to reinforce its reputation as a party of democratic socialism, committed to redistributing wealth, income and power from the few to the many.

They welcome commitments to increase government spending on public services, endorse progressive taxation and public sector borrowing to achieve this, but oppose using taxpayers' money to subsidise private shareholders.

They support policies which mitigate the effects of market forces and reduce the widening gap between affluent and disadvantaged sections of our society. They will seek to ensure that Labour honours commitments to trade union recognition, employment rights, an adequate minimum wage and increased powers for local government. They will press for fulfilment of promises to end child and pensioner poverty and to improve health, education, transport, and they will argue for human rights and universal benefits to be maintained.

Elimination of discrimination

Both inside and outside the party they will fight discrimination on grounds of gender, race, age, social class, disability, sexual orientation or religion Democracy, transparency and accountability.

These candidates will insist that the party operates in a democratic, accountable and transparent way, and set an example by:

* reflecting the concerns of their electorate and reporting back to them;

* demanding that consultation through the forum process is genuine, that members' views can visibly influence Labour's programme, and that policy is determined through transparent mechanisms including, the sovereignty of annual conference;

* defending one-member-one-vote in internal party selections of candidates for elected office;

* opposing control-freakery and over-centralised decision-making;

* promoting the right of local and regional parties to choose their own candidates without prior or political vetting;

* upholding national and local links between the party and the unions.

ANN BLACK

Labour has just three years to renew public services and restore trust in politics. Openness and democracy must prevail over stitch-ups and spin.

From the NEC I report directly to members, and their feedback sets my priorities: for comprehensive education, better student funding, working railways, environmental sustainability, international co-operation, valuing local councillors and fair candidate selection procedures; against fox-hunting, privatisation and National Missile Defence. For personal accounts by e-mail, please contact ablack@brookes.ac.uk, or ring 01865 722230 with your views. Experience: Joined Labour and UNISON in 1982. Secretary, Oxford East CLP. Member of UNISON's National Political Committee, the National Policy Forum and the NEC. Member: Oxford East CLP, No. A353890.

KUMAR MURSHID

I believe the NEC must lead the party by promoting a vision of social transformation which allows for the full inclusion of significant communities that remain marginalised within the party and society. A more humane and acceptable policy on asylum and immigration must be adopted. Labour needs to reassert the primacy of democratic and accountable mechanisms in the running of our public services. Local authorities must retain their responsibility for housing. The NEC must restore a sense of idealism which goes beyond simply managing capitalism and promotes Labour's commitment to the values of equality and justice.

Party member since early 80s. Constituency Chair, currently councillor Tower Hamlets. Cabinet Advisor to London Mayor. Chair, National Assembly Against Racism. Member London Development Agency, Co-operative Party, Union and Labour Black Representation Committee. Member: Poplar & Canning Town CLP, No. A560516.

CHRISTINE SHAWCROFT

I have been a Labour, Co-operative, and trade union activist for 25 years. I am a member of NUT. My CLP is Nottingham South in the East Midlands.

In my three years on the NEC I have tried to raise grassroots concerns about party democracy, organisation, and candidate selection.

To stem the loss of disillusioned members and supporters we need a more radical second term.

I support public ownership, council housing, and an end to PFI schemes. I support index linking pensions to average earnings.

I am Secretary of Labour Against the War and I am campaigning for a real ethical foreign policy. I try to be accountable and report back.

To contact me, email cshawcroft@cs.com, or write via Millbank. Member: Nottingham South CLP, No. A490373.

ROZANNE FOYER

I'm standing because I want Labour to overcome fully the inequalities dividing Britain. I'm 29 and as a party activist and senior official with the Scottish TUC, I have a proven track record in campaigning for equality and social justice. I believe I can effectively promote policies reflecting the aspirations of party members on the NEC. I think it's important that the NEC has strong representation from CLP members in Scotland and Wales so that we can maintain our strong links in the context of devolution and continue to learn from one another. I'm a Campaign for Socialism (Scotland) executive member, support the re-nationalisation of our railways; a £5.00 minimum wage regardless of age; re-distribution of wealth through progressive taxation; increased public sector funding; and a 50-50 gender balance in public life. Party member since 1995, holding a range of branch and CLP positions.

Assistant General Secretary of Scottish TUC.

Member: Glasgow Maryhill CLP, No. A896480.

MARK SEDDON

Labour Party membership and grassroots activism is in sharp decline. That decline must be reversed. Only when Labour is seen to be democratic, accountable and progressive and not increasingly distant from many communities it has historically sought to represent, will people seek to join it and vote for it.

Top down autocracy must be replaced by grassroots democracy. As a member of the NEC I will continue to stand up for democratic socialism and the rights of ordinary members.

The NEC's priority must be the interests of the Labour Party even when these sometimes override demands from government.

Member since 1977. Editor of Tribune. NEC 1998, 1999, 2001. Parliamentary candidate for Buckingham 2001. Tel.020 7433 6410. Member: Buckingham CLP, No. A530571.

PETE WILLSMAN

My motivation for standing again is to give members and CLPs an experienced representative, dedicated to defending their interests. I have represented CLPs on Labour's National Committees since 1981 and am always available to give information and advice (tel. 020 8854 7326). In recent years, the partyıs internal democracy has been eroded and members feel their views are often ignored by our government. Consequently party activists are becoming less committed. These trends must be reversed.

Experience: NEC 1998-99. Conference Arrangements Committee 1981-94; National Constitutional Committee 1995-98. National Policy Forum 1998-99; Constituency GC/EC 1975-2002.

Research Officer NUPE/UNISON 1979-94. Branch Secretary APEX/GMB 1980-98. CWS SE Political Committee/Area Committee/Party Council 1988-2002.

Member: Erith & Thamesmead CLP, No. A071448.

To be elected by CLP delegates at 2002 Annual Conference:

Conference Arrangements Committee

John Cryer MP (Hornchurch)

Aileen Colleran (Glasgow Kelvin)

National Policy Forum

Scotland: Pauline Bryan (Glasgow Kelvin); Simon McFarlane (Glasgow Maryhill) Yorkshire: Eddie Hart (Haltemprice and Howden); Ann Scarett (Barnsley East and Mexborough) East Midlands: Roy Mayhew (Kettering); Ann Syrett (Bolsover) Eastern: Russell Cartwright (Luton South) South East: Charmaine Morgan (East Surrey); Mick Moriarty (Esher and Walton) South West: Keith Evans (Bristol West); Julie Snelling (Kingswood)

These candidates are supported by Labour Reform, the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Labour Women's Action Committee, Labour Black Representation Committee, Campaign for Socialism (Scotland), Network of Socialist Campaign Groups, Chartist, Labour Left Briefing and Socialist Campaign Group News. Tribuneıs editorial welcomed this initiative: 'The point is to mount a credible challenge to those forces within the party leadership who wish to further downgrade internal democracy and to ensure that the Left and Centre-Left wins as large a presence as possible within the NEC.' For further information: CLPD, 10 Park Drive, London NW11 7SH (Tel/fax 020 8458 1501); Labour Reform, Marquis House, 2 North Street, Winchcombe, Glos. GL54 5LH.