We have asked for more consultation on this paper, so it was pulled from the agenda yesterday & will come back to the NEC following additional stakeholder engagement.
It’s vital we get this right and don’t rush it.
I will ask our Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority NEC Rep to communicate next steps a& current position on what is happening with the Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Conference
National Women’s Committee
We had a paper on the roles and responsibilities of the new NWC.
We suggested that the reference to the Women’s Committee becoming more of a ‘working group’ could appear to diminish the importance of the role
this committee will play, so wording will be reviewed. We look forward to working with this new committee & asked that the Women are involved in the Equalities Sub-Committee or at least the new Chair of the NWC once that position is elected.
Membership Data
It was startling to see the amount of members that have left the party since 2020 (116k) as at the 5th July 2021 our current membership is 466,126 with 35,200 currently in arrears. 78% of members joined the party since 2015,
including 21% who have joined since the start of 2020.
42.8% of members are women.
13% of members define as Black, Asian Minority Ethnic.
Only 123,781 of members have self-declared their ethnicity to the party.
Draft Annual Conference timetable
We noted that the NCC elections were not listed on the draft agenda for national conference, we requested that this be added as the new complaints process has to be ratified at conference.
Accessibility of NEC Meetings
There were several requests to convene another meeting to complete the agenda, as we were over running. This was refused on the grounds that this is how it is. several NEC members had caring responsibilities
This is not accessible and didn’t take into account the needs of our Disabled Member’s Rep either.
We will lobby for this to be addressed moving forward.
Constitutional amendments
We were provided with a view of the NEC Constitutional amendments and CLP responses – these will be discussed in more detail at the September NEC meeting.
Confidential & Privacy – New Code of Conduct
A new Code of Conduct is to be brought into effect to provide clarifications to our members, as to when matters should be kept confidential – This code of conduct will also explain the circumstances in which the Labour Party
and its members may disclose information in an appropriate manner that does not risk breaching the Labour Party’s rules, codes of conduct, policies and/or guidelines.
Boundary Review
The GS updated on the work of the NEC Boundary Sub-Committee, they have met several times, although their work isn’t complete yet as the review concludes on the 2nd of August –there had been considerable discussions with MPs and party on very complex matters
lots of difficult conversations due to the implication of the review
our aim is we come out of the process with the max number of Labour seats.
this is just the first stage. We requested that this is paper is brought to the an NEC meeting.
National Policy Forum & Joint Policy Commission Reports
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to discuss these reports so they will be brought back to another NEC meeting.
GS advised he’d been in touch with Forde to agree for some elements of the report to be released by the autumn.
We requested Forde be invited to the next NEC or Special meeting, to provide a summary before publication, the GS agreed to request this.
We were advised that the only element of the report that won’t be available due to the ICO investigation, relates to the leaking of the original report.
CLP meetings
Guidance around online meetings expires at the end of July.
CLP meetings online remain an option, CLPs can also meet in person if they wish - the NEC will review as there are no meetings in August so they can provide some guidance on safety.
I asked Keir if he accepted not restoring the whip to Jeremy continues to cause division within the party? others asked when the whip will be restored, we were told to ask the chief whip - I have emailed tonight.
1/10
I asked if Keir would accept, it’s time to step aside, for a leader who could win for Labour in 2024, if we lose the Batley & Spen by-election given our current disastrous polling. This was not answered
2/10
I asked Angela Rayner, given her new roles was she supportive of bringing back the Community Organising Unit. Angela stated how important community organising is, so I will follow this up for a more detailed response.
3/10
At the NEC Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic working group on ‘BAME’ structures, the #GV5 pushed for our Black & Asian Minority Ethnic Labour members to have the final say
Members need to feel included & represented, we’ll update on progress of this point ASAP
1/8
We requested parity on voting places for CLPs & TUs members to the National Black, Asian Minority Ethnic committee.
We pushed for regular equality data capture, to increase the visibility & self organisation of our Black, Asian Minority Ethnic members.
2/8
The plan is to have the inaugural Black, Asian Minority Ethnic conference this year & then every year in or around spring/summer
The Black, Asian Minority Ethnic conference WILL be able to suggest rule changes to the National Conference ✊🏽(similar to the Women’s Conference)
3/8