Traditionally the NEC’s November meeting holds an in-depth discussion of strategy for the year ahead, but for now the election takes precedence over all else. Glasgow North East gave us a lift, with an 8,111 majority showing the impact of an excellent local candidate, effective messages and first-class organisation. Appreciation was expressed to the staff, […]

National Executive Committee, 22 September 2009 The prime minister spent an hour with the NEC before leaving for the United Nations and G20 talks in America, where he would be pushing for further progress on climate change, development aid and reductions in nuclear weapons. These were testing times, not for him personally, the government or […]

I’ll circulate a full report of today’s meeting after conference, but just a couple of items of urgent business: First, the NEC accepted the organisation committee’s recommendation that Bury North, Stretford & Urmston, Wirral South, North-West Durham, Newcastle North and Sittingbourne & Sheppey will select candidates from all-women shortlists, while Carlisle, Darlington, Hyndburn, Luton South, […]

Gordon Brown paid tribute to all candidates who fought the June elections, and recognised that disunity damaged our vote. However Labour was dealing effectively with current concerns. On expenses, parliament was about to approve a new independent system which would draw a line under the past. On the economic front Labour was looking after young […]

This was originally planned as a short meeting so members could get on with campaigning, but in the wake of recent events it ran for nearly four hours. Gordon Brown expressed disbelief at the revelations and anger at the damage to the majority of decent hardworking MPs. No-one could stand for Labour unless they upheld […]

This was a day for the understudies: deputy leader Harriet Harman spoke on behalf of Gordon Brown, who was on his way to address the European parliament, and I chaired the meeting as Cath Speight was laid up in Wales with a broken ankle. The whole NEC sent good wishes for a speedy recovery. We […]

The Forum met at Filton College in Bristol, at the heart of British manufacturing, and the Chair Pat McFadden celebrated recent orders from China won by Rolls-Royce and Jaguar Land Rover. Gordon Brown addressed us in the Olympus Theatre, emphasising our responsibility for seeing the country through testing times. He would be discussing the economic […]

The meeting opened with a lively discussion of the National Policy Forum. The next Forum is on 28 February, followed by a review of the current cycle including the new right to submit amendments. Conference 2009 will also decide whether to restore contemporary resolutions or continue the two-year experiment in which contemporary issues are aired […]