In Labour politics - anything goes

Peter Kenyon Thu Feb 14, 2008 at 11:41:35 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

It's official:

To ensure delegates are able to fully debate the big policy challenges facing Britain in depth, today and in the future, the National Executive Committee has agreed that the timetable for conference be extended. Conference will now start on Saturday, 20 September and conclude on Wednesday, 24 September.




This is the news on the Labour Party website today replacing the information circulated to all CLPs (at great expense) last month that Labour's Annual Conference 2008 will start on Sunday, 21 September and conclude on Thursday 25 September.

Let's unpack this.

To ensure delegates are able to fully debate......

that will mean the reintroduction of resolution based policy making? Oh, no that was abolished in 1997. Personally, I was in favour of that. But debate by definition means putting opposing sides, and invariably - voting - a practice that is virtually extinct in the Labour Party.

the National Executive Committee has agreed that the timetable for conference be extended

that will mean Conference will be for a whole working week? Oh, no that was abandoned a long time ago. First, the Friday session went, then the Thursday afternoon session. Under the new 'extended' Conference, Thursday morning has gone too. It is replaced by Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, well, at least officially. So compared to last year, it has been extended, but is still shorter than it once was.

Finally there is the question of the start date itself discussed on this blog two weeks ago. For any delegate seriously interested in 'fully debating' to coin a phrase, there is the indelicate question of the Conference Arrangements Commmittee, which if past precedent can be relied on, will now be meeting on Friday 19 September.

It's a pity Labour Party activities are not covered by Misleading advertising, Distance selling or Unfair commercial practices codes, legislation or directives.

But, hey In politics, Anything Goes, or does it?



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In Labour politics - anything goes | 4 comments (4 topical)

Re: In Labour politics - anything goes (#1)

by HenryG on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 08:46:50 PM GMT

zzzzzzzz


Re: In Labour politics - anything goes (#2)

by Peter Kenyon on Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 05:32:48 PM GMT

Dear HenryG


'Zzzzzz'

Reminds me of the state of mind of the PLP and the Shadow Cabinet in 1996/7. Happily asleep, dreaming of power, leaving it to the Leader.

Hello big business, sofa government, healthcare privatisation, tuition fees, city academies, Iraq, anything goes, even the TU link if we aren't vigilant.

So wakey, wakey!

Why not join Save the Labour Party?







Re: In Labour politics - anything goes (#3)

by HenryG on Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 08:38:32 PM GMT

It would be much more interesting to hear from Left candidates something about how the party conference can be run in a way that doesn't involve whoreing ourselves out to corporate interests. Or how to remedy the depressing fact that there was not one bookshop at last year's party conference. Come up with suggestions on all of that then I'll be interested and might consider voting for you.  But try as I might, I don't see the linkages between starting our Conference on Saturday and err the war with Iraq.


Re: In Labour politics - anything goes (#4)

by Peter Kenyon on Sun Feb 17, 2008 at 11:19:53 PM GMT

Dear HenryG

But try as I might, I don't see the linkages between starting our Conference on Saturday and err the war with Iraq. 

What's Conference for - a political rally to cheer the Leader, or an opportunity for delegates representing members to decide party policy?

The NEC decision to shift the starting date of Conference to Saturday sets the seal on Conference as a rally. If you don't believe Save the Labour Party, did you read the Tribune article here:

http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2008/02/07/party-conference-change-into-rally-is-nearly-complete/

If you are interested in restoring decision-making powers to Conference as well as encouraging a bookshop and ending cash for access through Conference corporate sponsorship, then you should definitely join STLP. 

What more can I say?  


In Labour politics - anything goes | 4 comments (4 topical)