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by Pete Willsman, Assistant Secretary of CLPD
[reproduced from Tribune, with thanks]
Sadly, some Constituency Labour Parties are not bothering to send a delegate to Bournemouth this year, because they feel that the conference has been downgraded from a decision-making body to a media-friendly rally. It is true that the designers of Partnership in Power, in classic Orwellian fashion, wanted party and trade union activists to have no partnership and no power, but conference has not yet been completely neutralised. This will only happen if people do not give up and go. It was conference which gave, and continues to give, the Blairite reaction its power and legitimacy and the despotic regime can only be effectively undermined by decisions at conference. This process should begin at Bournemouth. There will be elections for the Conference Arrangements Committee and the National Policy Forum. These committees can play a vital role in restoring democracy. [The Centre Left Grassroots Alliance is standing candidates for both committees. Click here for details.] When Partnership in Power was agreed at the 1997 conference, we were told that future conferences would be able to consider a range of options and not just take-it-or-leave-it leadership documents. At its last meeting, the NPF considered 26 proposals for minority positions, including such widely supported issues as linking pensions to earnings, the right to trial by jury and defending legal aid. Every single one was thrown out. Therefore, at this year's conference, there will only be take-it-or-leave-it leadership documents. Thus, the key debates will be on the contemporary motions. The CLPD and other pressure groups have circulated a range of model drafts. [Click here for the CLPD Conference Bulletin] The key one from CLPD opposes the Jenkins Report. The Parliamentary First Past the Post Group has also circulated one opposing proportional representation in local government. CLPD has circulated a draft motion calling for eight contemporary issues to be debated at conference, four to be chosen by CLPs and four by trade unions. Last year, only four issues were allowed and these were stitched up by the unions voting as a block. Unless the CLPs are treated fairly they will become increasingly hostile to the unions, which will only play into the hands of those who want the unions out of the party. Other draft contemporary motions circulated by CLPD cover the pensions-earnings link, the defence of GCs and branches, and the removal of the House of Lords from the CLP section of the NEC. There is also a draft motion giving support to a rule change being proposed at Bournemouth by 11 CLPs reaffirming the right of CLPs to nominate any party member to be considered as their prospective parliamentary candidate, without any reference to a Millbank-approved list. Draft contemporary resolutions are also circulating on many other issues, for example the Northern Ireland Agreenebt, the abolition of fox hunting and opposition to the privatisation of the Post Office and of air traffic control. Who said conference is now irrelevant? When Tony Blair became Labour leader, every speech was peppered with references to one member, one vote. The Blairites had found their holy grail. But it turned out that the membership did not much care for the Blairites and did not vote for them. So, we are now seeing the systematic undermining and elimination of OMOV. It will be amusing to watch the self-proclaimed supporters of OMOV arguing for its abolition for future elections to the National Constitutional Committee. Both before and at conference, delegates will be invited to regional briefing meetings. These are not as innocent as they sound, and delegates should beware. Full-time officials often use these meetings as an opportunity to bamboozle delegates to follow the leadership line. All delegates should enter the conference hall with the 10-page CLPD conference guide. [Click on Guide to Annual Conference at left] A copy has been sent to every CLP secretary. See you in Bournemouth. [return to 1999 Conference page] |
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