The Regional Board has been renamed as the South East Regional Executive Committee, or REC.   This was a comradely meeting, and Vince Maple, in the chair, moved us efficiently through the agenda. National policy forum representative Carol Hayton sent a written report, though there was little new to say.  Policy commissions were meeting up to […]

The meeting welcomed Ellie Buck, acting regional director while Amy Fode is on maternity leave. Carol Hayton and Joyce Still, national policy forum representatives, encouraged members to engage with the current consultation process, while recognising that the deadline of 30 June gave little time. They offered to visit local parties to assist with discussion. Rosie […]

The meeting opened with a minute’s silence for the victims of the horrific massacres in New Zealand. John Howarth then gave what may or may not be his final report as an MEP. He said that the whole Brexit process had been a long lesson in how not to negotiate. Up to two months ago […]

The first meeting of the new board elected at the regional conference ran for four hours, and I was glad I had brought sandwiches. The first hour was spent on electing a Chair: after two ballots Lisa Fricker and Vince Maple each had 12 votes. The rules are silent on how to break a tie, […]

Party conferences are best judged by those watching at home, so I am interested in your impressions whether or not you were there. The mainstream media were unusually positive, highlighting policies which strike a popular chord on childcare, workers’ rights, green energy and housing, the party relatively united and Jeremy firmly in charge, laying down […]

The full NEC election results showed 506,320 eligible members casting 164,580 votes (118,594 by email and 45,986 by post) with 1,131 invalid or blank, giving 163,449 valid votes and a turnout of 32.5%. The End Is Nigh As I walked up from Victoria station to party HQ for the last time, my primary emotion was […]

The NEC was preceded by a disputes panel which cleared the cases remaining after two smaller panels had spent twelve hours working through outstanding referrals. The backlog had built up due to pressures on investigating officers, the absence of a Chair for four months, and the failure to convene extra meetings in May and July […]

There will be a special NEC meeting on 4 September to discuss the democracy review. Some candidates in the NEC election are saying that Jeremy’s plans “hang in the balance” and could come “down to a single vote”. In fact existing NEC members will decide, as newly-elected representatives only take their positions after conference. So […]

Jeremy Corbyn spoke first, highlighting Tory chaos over Brexit. He recognised the continuing debates within Labour, but the party could unite around the six tests and a way forward which prioritised jobs, living standards and the environment, aiming to bring Remain and Leave voters together. The government could collapse at any time, and Jon Trickett […]

Party Democracy Review, 30 June / 1 July 2018 I was privileged to attend the national consultation events for BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) members on 30 June, and for women on 1 July. Katy Clark provided draft documents listing issues where there seemed to be consensus. Discussion was intense, and participants’ views would […]