As the extended period of consultation about Refounding Labour reaches its conclusion tomorrow, it has become clear that the determination to democratise decision-making extends across the party and its affiliates, and across the political spectrum. It cannot be stopped by the desire of the Leader’s advisers to force trade unions to give up yet more of the […]
Posts Tagged ‘Party Conference’
The reform of Labour policy process is unstoppable: Ed’s office please take note
Jan 30th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.
10 ways in which Refounding Labour might actually happen
Jan 23rd, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Were you or your local party consulted about our new commitments on freezing public sector pay or not reversing Tory cuts? No? And what about or policy review more generally — have you felt any more involved than you did in the New Labour years? We thought not. As it happens, you’ve got one more week […]
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Party conference: guess who’s worried about democracy now
Oct 11th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Refounding Labour to win — the report that was approved by Labour’s conference in Liverpool, concluded that “there is a need to tackle the declining attendance by some CLPs, which may be aided by extra financial support.” So it is encouraging to see an interest in declining attendance and support for democratising party conference coming from unexpected quarters. […]
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“Spring Revolt” sweeps Labour conference hall
Sep 28th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.After days of frustration at continuing manipulation of the conference agenda by party managers, a “spring revolt” broke out in Labour’s conference this morning. As a number of rule changes were proposed by constituency delegates, speaker after speaker spoke to loud applause and cheers in favour of the need for fairness and justice for constituency members […]
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Ed’s speech: the verdict
Sep 28th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Ed Miliband’s speech today was aimed at different audiences. Those of us in the hall, on left and right, will have liked some parts and disliked others. Here are some left viewpoints:
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The wind of change is blowing through the Labour Party
Sep 28th, 2011 by Michael Meacher.For the first time in more than 15 years the true values and principles of the Labour Party were proclaimed by a Labour Leader in his Conference speech. Gone was the attempt to present modernisation as accommodating the banks, big business and of course the Murdoch press. Gone was the effort to align Labour with […]
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Labour conference: resentment at manipulation grows
Sep 27th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.This morning, Labour’s conference gave another indication that its patience with party managers’ manipulation is running out. We reported the noisy dissatisfaction on Sunday with the railroading of Refounding Labour. This morning, they clearly resented the further gagging of those constituencies who proposed a rule change 18 months ago designed to prevent the “parachuting‟ of […]
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Proposed ban on parachuting candidates into safe seats blocked by sharp practice
Sep 27th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.First we had the stitch-up. Then the farce. But today, Labour’s party managers have excelled themselves in their cynical manipulation of Labour’s conference agenda. The Conference Arrangements Committee, in its interpretation of the rulebook, has added new dimensions to the elasticity of meaning. Delegates from six constituency parties (Amber Valley, Blackpool South, Caerphilly, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newport West, […]
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Refounding Labour – from stitch up to farce
Sep 26th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Giving registered supporters a vote in the leadership election is not popular with constituency parties who are concerned about devaluing party membership. And it’s not popular with trade unions, whose levy payers do pay a great deal of money to the party and who now, potentially, could have less influence. The precise way in which […]
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Conference opening marred by stitch-up
Sep 25th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.The opening of Labour’s conference in Liverpool was marred by the attempt to stitch up the debate on conference voting — inadequate time for debate and voting on the whole package, take it or leave it. Speaker after speaker rose to criticise it. The elderly delegate from Richmond Park was particularly loudly applauded (together with […]
