Meeting via Zoom again the chair Vince Maple steered us through the agenda, helped by written reports from most representatives.  Instead of a regional conference this autumn there will be a virtual conference during the week beginning Monday 9 November.  There will be no votes and no delegates, and all members will be welcome.  Acting […]

Regional executive members gathered on Zoom for an informal update.  Like local parties we were not able to make decisions, but it was a useful opportunity to catch up and share experiences.  Most of us, including myself, expressed frustration on behalf of our members, and when councils, Labour groups and the NEC itself are meeting, […]

This was the first meeting since the general election. Back in September the committee asked the NEC to allow all CLPs to select parliamentary candidates, with a shortened process for non-Labour seats, but sadly we were ignored. Instead the NEC prioritised trigger ballots for sitting MPs. When Labour voted for a December election, 62 south-east […]

Bird’s Eye View  After three years attending conference as a constituency delegate, two years as a national policy forum representative and 18 years on the NEC, this time I watched as a visitor from high in the balcony.  I was proud of our delegates from Oxford East and Oxford West & Abingdon, all of whom […]

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 […]