In private meetings it has been pointed out to Ed that his, so far very unclear, proposals to change the link with the Unions could cost our Party millions of pounds. His answer apparently is that doing what is right is above price. Putting aside the fact that there are strong arguments to show that […]
Ed Miliband – guilty not of Blairism but of wishful thinking
Jul 11th, 2013 by Peter Willsman.When they joined the party, most Labour members had a belief that they would have some influence in their party. But under the Blairites, power was centralised and members were patronised. In the future, in the mooted new model party being cobbled together, individual members would be expected to pay some £45, work hard and […]
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Some machine politics seems more acceptable than others
Jul 11th, 2013 by Peter Willsman.Ed says he hates machine politics. Only a few months ago, there was the Rotherham selection, which local party members felt was an appalling stitch-up by the party establishment. At the selection meeting there were some 125 angry party members. Around 100 either waked out or spoilt their ballot papers in protest. The popular Rotherham […]
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How to make Labour more democratic
May 24th, 2013 by Peter Willsman.When the local election are over, dedicated Labour activists have time to reflect on Labour’s conference and what changes are necessary to give Labour’s members the voice that Ed Miliband promised but which Refounding Labour failed to deliver. Apart from making sure you have a good delegate and your constituency party nominates for this year’s […]
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Peter Mandelson and trade unions – two classes of party member
May 23rd, 2013 by Peter Willsman.Peter Mandelson’s attitude to class politics is widely seen as typified by his comment that the New Labour government was “intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich”. He, like rival political parties and hostile voices in the media, continually questions the role of trade unions and of their members within our party – in parliamentary selections, […]
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Shining a light into Labour’s shadow
Dec 13th, 2012 by Peter Willsman.Peter Willsman’s reading of Banana Republic UK? by Sam Buckley, published in 2011, prompted another look at the parliamentary selection scandal and subsequent cover up in Erith & Thamesmead in 2009. As well as covering covers vote rigging, fraud and error in British elections since 2001, this book has a section on “vote rigging in […]
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How votes work at Labour conference
Sep 18th, 2012 by Peter Willsman.Over the past few weeks, I have explored the motions that will come before conference, what’s happened since Refounding Labour, and the proposed changes to the party constitution from CLPs, which if passed will make the party more democratic. Today, I’ll be looking at the various votes held at annual conference – and they are […]
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A chance for concrete reforms in the original spirit of Refounding Labour
Sep 15th, 2012 by Peter Willsman.One of the functions of Labour conference is to consider proposed changes to the party constitution. Some of these rule changes will be proposed by the national executive committee (NEC). These will be set out in the Delegates Report issued to delegates before Conference. Advice in relation to these rule changes will be given to […]
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Refounding Labour: what’s happened since?
Sep 4th, 2012 by Peter Willsman.In the months since the 2011 Annual Conference further discussions have taken place to build on last year’s “Refounding Labour” changes to the party structures, particularly with the unions. Refounding Labour, controversially passed on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis at Liverpool, significantly altered the party rulebook.
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Contemporary motions at Labour conference: explained in full
Aug 30th, 2012 by Peter Willsman.Every year, CLPD secretary and former NEC member PETER WILLSMAN issues a updated delegates’ guide to Labour conference. This will be serialised on Left Futures over the coming weeks, and is especially recommended for first-time delegates. Here, Peter explains the “contemporary” policy motions coming before conference.
