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The above comment was filed in error. The correct comment is:

7.Agreed, but the Party’s financial and organisational capacity requires urgent attention (Sn 7). It should be for CLPs to lead consultation and Labour groups should be engaged and support this process.

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7.Agreed, but the Party’s financial and organisational capacity requires urgent attention (Sn 7). It should be for CLPs to lead consultation and Labour groups should be engaged and support this process.

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6.“There is a risk of a Manifesto ballot being mere tokenism. We think it would be best for the new Leadership and the NEC to reform Partnership in Power so that it works as the means of keeping the Party closely connect to the people on whose behalf it seeks to govern.” (Sn 8.12)

The full LabOUR Commission Interim Report is available at:

http://www.labourcommission.org.uk

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5.We strongly recommend that there is a wider review of this idea, which could, in isolation, take away members’ rights, rather than extending and renewing party democracy. The Commission understand that there have been problems with the “contemporary issues resolutions” process which is still somewhat fossilised, but believes this needs to be part of a package allowing Conference to amend (and parties to submit amendments) consultation documents from the NPF. We also think there remains a role for emergency motions.

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4.Annual Conference cannot have any meaningful role in directing and monitoring the work of the National Policy Forum. Alternative mechanisms for both directing and monitoring are set out in Sn 6.16 of our Interim Report

The full LabOUR Commission Interim Report is available here:

http://www.labourcommission.org.uk

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3.“The JPC should be reconstituted as an elected organisational body to ensure effective coordination of policy making in a timely fashion. It should not have powers to alter NPF policy recommendations.” Sn 6.16 (e)). All documentation should be available online for party members.

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2.“The NPF should be reconstituted as an openly elected body on a one-member one-vote (OMOV) principle from relevant constituent parts. Constituency section members should be elected by OMOV, probably on a regional basis.” (Sn 6.16 (a)). Agendas, papers and reports should be available online to all party members to access.

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1.Local policy forums (LPFs) are a good idea, but they have to be locally rooted and cannot be driven from the top. NB They were a feature of Partnership in Power from the outset in 1997 (Sn 6.3 (a)). A model for LPFs should not be imposed but CLPs should have a general duty to hold such forums.

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The Commission agreed the following statement:

“The Commission agreed that the new Leader’s focus on Party membership was extremely welcome. But we have serious reservations about the possible withdrawal of the right to table Contemporary and Emergency motions without any balancing package, such as the right to submit and move amendments to consultative documents at Conference. The Commission considers that there should be mechanisms providing democratic safety values for both members and affiliates. They enable some accountability and a much greater sense of involvement and legitimacy for the policy process.

Party Conference has to remain the Party’s sovereign body, with ultimate responsibility for policy formulation. Among the checks and balances in the Party’s Rule Book some means have to be reestablished to enable members to amend directly policy proposals as set out in our 15 recommendations for reform of Partnership in Power.

The Commission strongly welcomed the passion and commitment to breathing new energy and vigour into Partnership in Power and strengthened the National Policy Forum, and believes this reinforces the importance of three of our major recommendations for:

(a)One Member, One Vote elections for National Policy Forum members representing Constituency Labour Parties providing greater legitimacy and profile for the body as well as greater accountability.

(b)All consultations, comments and analysis of submissions to be transparent and published on the Party’s website at least open to all individual and affiliated members.

(c)Consider the right of local parties and affiliated organisations to table amendments to consultation documents, which could be prioritised for discussion and voting at Conference. This allows some redress beyond just approving or rejecting a whole document

The Commission reaffirmed its findings that Labour Party policy making should be separated from government policy making, locally rooted, transparent and offer members a real sense of ownership following democratic discussion and deliberation.”

Source: http://savethelabourparty.org/070703_Press_Release.pdf 3 July 2007

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The LabOUR Commission met last week [26 June 2007]to consider the consultation document, “Extending and renewing party democracy” which was sent to all Labour Party members by email with a covering letter and questionnaire earlier this week.

Acting Commission Chair David Gardner, a former assistant general secretary of the Labour Party, criticised the media for completely misrepresenting Brown’s proposals. He said he believed these were intended to promote a genuine consultation about empowering members and not as a fait accompli.

Extract from full news release available here:

http://savethelabourparty.org/070703_Press_Release.pdf

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LEADING LABOUR MEMBERS URGE NEW LEADER TO RETHINK PARTY REFORM PLAN

London, 3 July 2007 - An independent Commission of Labour Party members welcomes new Labour Leader Gordon Brown’s commitment to extending and renewing party democracy, but urged the Party Leader and NEC to reflect further on the precise details and how they were balanced to ensure a genuine increase in democracy, participation and transparency.

The full text of the news release can be read here:

http://savethelabourparty.org/070703_Press_Release.pdf