Thank you for everything that you’re doing, and good luck on Thursday.  These are not easy elections, and though the full NEC does not meet till 25 May, please send me any thoughts on your local campaigns while they are still fresh, and I will pass them on.  The NEC needs to know what worked […]

National Executive Committee Update, March 2021 The full NEC does not meet again till 25 May, when the elections will be all over bar the shouting, but there have been plenty of other meetings. Justice and Home Affairs Policy Commission, 24 February 2021 This was the only meeting to focus on policy.  Shadow home secretary […]

NB pdf version available here This was a special meeting called to discuss rules for the new south-east regional executive committee (REC) and regional conference.  The framework is laid down in the 2020 rulebook following the party democracy review, but regions are allowed some flexibility subject to approval by the NEC. The proposals before us were […]

Keir Starmer joined from Heathrow where he was supporting Unite members, on strike against plans to fire and rehire them on worse conditions.  He stressed the importance of the May elections.  With Scotland, Wales, London, councils, mayors, police and crime commissioners, and all the 2020 contests rolled in, this was the biggest test outside a […]

The chair Vince Maple reported on a positive meeting with general secretary David Evans, where he raised the need for more resources in the south-east.  A partywide review of staffing was under way, though David acknowledged the importance of replacing our communications officer.  Deficiencies in digital systems were being addressed. There was more to do […]

Disputes Panel This was the first meeting of the NEC cycle and Shabana Mahmood was elected as chair, with 18 votes to 11 for Yasmine Dar.  Yasmine was thanked for all her work during an exceptionally busy time.  Shabana is the fifth person to chair the panel in the last three years. We then heard […]

NEC Women’s Sub-Committee / Equalities Committee, 14 January 2021 Returning after a strange and subdued winter break, these were the first NEC meetings of the New Year.  The women’s sub-committee congratulated Christina McAnea on her election as general secretary of UNISON, the first woman to hold the position. The committee moved on to discuss arrangements […]