2021 Labour Conference Report
A. First and Lasting Impressions
Labour (and trades union) conferences always begin by adopting their agenda. In the case of Labour Conference, this is the first report of the Conference Arrangements Committee (‘CAC’), known as CAC1. It is usually subject to challenges by delegates from bodies whose resolutions and rule changes CAC has ruled out. CAC1 is then put to a vote, which must be by show of hands and often requires a card vote. Regularly, but not always, CAC1 is carried – since rejecting this report puts conference in the uneasy position of having to proceed without an agenda.
Mysteriously, no card vote, or any vote at all, was taken on CAC1 at Labour Conference 2021. The Party Chair presiding, infamously declared the report approved by a “murmur” – a procedure unknown to either delegates or the Labour rulebook. This provoked an ongoing dispute between controlling Chairs and protesting delegates for the entirety of conference.
Whether this was deliberately designed to set a high-handed, dismissive tone for the conference, or as a distraction, was unclear. Either way, Party Chair Margaret Beckett undermined her claims to be a democrat. Throughout most sessions, Beckett and many other session chairs proceeded to browbeat, patronise, insult or ridicule delegates in a blatant attempt to bully conference.
B. Pavilion Labour at the Podium – our references back
Many of our delegates managed to speak at conference. Here I report on the contributions we submitted together, as your delegation, referencing back the National Policy Forum report where it contained an important omission, oversight or inconsistency in relation to Party policy.
New restrictions on referencing back had been issued by CAC prior to Conference, limiting each CLP to no more than four references back in total, and only one on any section of the National Policy Forum (‘NPF’) report. Our delegates had prepared beforehand by discussing the report, exchanging proposed references back, selecting our preferred four, and discussing suggestions with interested delegates from other CLPs. We were thanked by delegates throughout conference for this work.
The four references back Brighton Pavilion CLP submitted follow:
B1. Housing, Local Government & Transport – Claire (Amanda)
Referencing back: “It was clear from what the Commission heard that for many they love where they live. It’s already a good place to raise a family, but life could be made just that bit easier and their neighbourhood just that bit better. So the fundamental challenge for a future Labour Government is to ensure central government stops holding back local communities. This is a challenge we started to examine a year ago and will continue to do so in the run up to the next manifesto.”
Our reason: Everywhere around us the Tory Government is failing: our loved ones lost to Covid, millions of people with insecure jobs, millions more using foodbanks, millions homeless or living in temporary or substandard housing, wages stagnant for over a decade, social security that’s more holes than safety net, public services crumbling away due to deliberate Tory underfunding. We all know this.
Where we feel at home, accepted, we feel love for a place regardless. Buoyed by the strength of our community, we continue through deprivation and despair. But we did not join the Labour Party to make things ‘just that bit easier’ when facing the greatest levels of inequality in many generations.
We joined Labour as democratic socialists to transform our society to benefit the many not the few. That’s the fundamental challenge for all Labour Governments and what Labour policy, Labour representatives and all our campaigns, must focus on.
Vote: lost on show of hands (Sunday afternoon)
B2. International – Tina (Leonie)
Referencing back: Israel and Palestine “The Labour frontbench reiterated in commission meetings that there must be a negotiated, diplomatic settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution: a safe and secure Israel, alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. The Commission condemned all actions that are making that goal more difficult, including illegal moves to expand settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, forced evictions of Palestinians, and disproportionate use of force.”
Our reason: Insisting a two-state solution ‘must be’ the basis of any settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict echoes Britain’s imperialist past and demonstrates an arrogance that Israelis and Palestinians (like many before them) may choose to question. It may not be the only political option by which Palestinians and Israeli Jews, and other citizens of that country including Christian Arabs and atheists, for example, choose to realise their aspirations.
It is also not consistent with the Commission’s own Principle 9 (p.87): ‘Defending the rights of nations and communities of all colours, cultures, and faiths to determine their own futures and livelihoods.’
The right to self-determination is clearly articulated in other parts of the report concerning Kashmir, Hong Kong and the Uyghur people. The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle which must be accorded to all peoples and communities, including Palestine/Israel (or Israel/Palestine).
The Policy Commission should review and address this inconsistency.
Vote: card vote 42, was lost 33% for, 67% against (Monday morning)
B3. Health & Social Care – Judy (Leonie)
Referencing back: Principle 4 “Create the conditions for people to live healthier, happier, longer lives by tackling inequalities.”
Our reason: To tackle health inequalities, the next Labour Government must reinstate the NHS as a comprehensive service. Otherwise, our Party’s determination to tackle structural racism, and the effectiveness of this principle, is undermined by stark reality, especially in this pandemic.
It is vital to uncover structural racism across all public services and act against it as a public health priority. This will involve:
- enacting an anti-racist strategy to address recent research findings that systemic, institutional and interpersonal racism (including micro aggressions) causes disproportionate mental and physical ill health, experienced over a life course as ‘weathering’, shortening lifespan;
- ongoing intersectional data collection and analysis, disaggregated by ethnicity, including qualitative data;
- at all stages conducting equality impact assessments, including provision for the additional risks to the health of BAME workers and their families in the health service, schools, and all workplaces;
- comprehensive provision of health services, including dentistry and pharmaceuticals.
Vote: carried by show of hands (Tuesday morning)
B4. Work, Pensions & Equality – Amanda (Claire)
Referencing back: Principle 3 “The social security system should provide genuine financial security.”
Our reason: “The state pension is over £50 a week lower than if Thatcher had not broken the link with earnings (Commons Library, 2021). Unemployment benefit for a single person has approximately halved since the 1980s, with many families still living in relative poverty today due to widespread inequality which originated then (IFS, 2016). Four decades of “trickle down” thinking sees Britain’s poor getting poorer, burdened by new, increasing debts, with worsening health inequalities. Yet politicians have persistently cut and curtailed social security benefits.
Labour exists to systematically eradicate poverty. Our principles must be for a universal, comprehensive social security system, providing a safety net from cradle to grave, preventing poverty for all.
To achieve this, Labour in government must restore the link between median earnings (male, pending pay equality) and benefits / pensions. An 80% link would guarantee “genuine financial security”.
Brighton Pavilion CLP refers back this principle for fuller development.”
Vote: lost on show of hands (Tuesday afternoon)
B5. Other references back
Altogether, thirty four (34) references back were tabled by CAC at 2021 Labour Conference, proposed by thirteen (13) CLPs and three (3) affiliates. Unlike other conference decisions, CAC failed to publish the results of votes on references back in its reports, but this only became apparent late into the conference. From that point, my notes indicate that all references back moved on the Early Years, Education & Skills, Health & Social Care and Justice & Home Affairs sections of the NPF report were adopted by conference, as was an earlier reference back by Lewes CLP on the Work, Pensions & Equality section. Prior to this, I had only been recording the results of votes on the Pavilion Labour references back and how our delegation had voted.
Pavilion delegates voted to support all references back which had a basis in our CLP’s policy (eg, on affordable housing, means testing, repeal of anti-union laws). Generally, references back were well argued. Far from frivolous, these proposals highlighted important gaps or inconsistencies, coming from members who take Party policy very seriously and put time in reflecting this.
C. AUKUS Security Pact – our CLP’s Emergency Motion
Like myself, our CLP has always been strongly anti-nuclear, so I did not hesitate to propose submitting this emergency motion to the CLP Chair and Secretary. At Conference, we discovered that a similar motion had been submitted by five (5) CLPs, so we agreed a composite being the Pavilion wording, which CAC gratefully accepted (although the version they tabled in CAC3 contained seventeen (17) typos!).
We agreed Shipley CLP propose the motion, which I seconded for Pavilion. In speaking, I emphasised the call from Australian seafarers and other workers for international solidarity in opposing this dangerous pact. AUKUS has provoked China, caused a diplomatic breach with France and undermines the UN Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – which Labour committed to and signed for the UK when in government. I also spoke personally about the concerns of my family in China, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand since this pact was signed. Vote: as recorded by card vote 43, our motion was carried with 70% in favour.
D. Accountability of the PLP to Conference – rule change
Sixteen (16) CLPs had submitted the same constitutional amendment and took it to debate at 2021 Labour Conference. (Scroll down to the bottom motion listed on our webpage at https://bit.ly/3C8dqjw to be reminded of that proposed rule change.) We did not push for Pavilion to be listed as proposer or seconder but did expect to be called during the debate – as is usual in these circumstances when a delegate from one of the proposing bodies indicates to speak. Shockingly, the session Chair called a procession of speakers against the rule change, including several repeating the same untrue representation of its effect, but none in favour. Our delegates and others from the supporting CLPs were not just ignored but clearly blacklisted from this debate. Such blatant manipulation made a mockery of claims to democracy and was not worthy of our Party. Vote: as recorded by card vote 10, our rule change was lost by 65% against to 35% in favour.
E. Voting Record
E1. Priorities ballot – it was understood that Women’s Conference had prioritised Violence Against Women and Girls (‘VAWG’) for debate and the affiliates were going to vote for 10 priority debates on: A new industrial strategy for a post-Covid recovery, Community Wealth building, End fire and rehire and protect workers’ rights, Green New Deal, High Street and Business Recovery, Mental Health in the Workplace, Mineworkers Pension Scheme, Public Ownership, Public Services and Social Care. (These were all duly prioritised.)
Consequently, after discussing the relative merits of the resolutions submitted on Abortion Rights (which Pavilion delegates thought better than the resolutions on Women’s Health), on Disabled People’s Rights (which we concluded added little, if anything, to Party debate) and on LGBT+ Rights (which we warmly welcomed as taking forward our CLP’s 2019 conference campaigning on trans equality), Pavilion Labour delegates decided to vote for debates on Abortion Rights, Black Lives Matter, Coronavirus, Drug reform, Housing, Immigration and Asylum policy, Israel and Palestine, LGBT+ Rights, Right to Food and the NHS.
The ballot result bore out my view that the NHS and Housing debates would be prioritised regardless of our votes. However, other areas we might have supported would not have succeeded in any case. Unfortunately, Abortion Rights lost out in the ballot. More positively, LGBT+ Rights was prioritised and that debate provided a highlight of conference – reflecting a sea change in members’ awareness and views since 2019. The ten areas prioritised by CLPs were: Housing, Electoral Reform, the NHS, VAWG, Immigration and asylum policy, LGBT+ Rights, Israel and Palestine, Black Lives Matter, Right to Food and Afghanistan.
E2. Card Votes
Eleven (11) rule changes were proposed by the NEC and, in the end, five (5) by CLPs, including Pavilion Labour. There were six (6) other card votes (‘CV’). Voting by Pavilion Labour delegates is shown in the table on the next page, which is also available, separately, full size.
Additional notes: Self-isolating delegates’ card votes were given to named delegates by CAC. One set was held back and not available before CV 16.
Pavilion delegates discussed each vote and, based on relevant CLP policy, voted as a delegation. Given the subject, it was agreed appropriate to CV44 for delegates to exercise a free vote.
CV 8 and 9 were allocated to rule change proposals which were withdrawn by CLPs. CV 11 was not moved as delegates were absent.
There is no connection between CV 40 and CV 12. The proposal to elect the General Secretary has come to Labour Conference previously and is likely to be brought back after the three year rule next expires.
E3. National Constitutional Committee – Pavilion’s votes were cast for the candidates nominated by the CLP: Rheian Davies, Anna Dyer, Annabelle Harle and Emine Ibrahim. Elected: Rheian Davies and Emine Ibrahim were elected, with Judi Billing and Arooj Shah. Subsequently, Rheian Davies has been suspended by national officers.
E4. Conference Arrangements Committee – Pavilion cast votes for Tracey Fussey (CWU / UCU) and Mike Murphy (Unite) only. Our delegates did not feel that the statements circulated distinguished other candidates sufficient to vote for them, particularly in the context of a vote which would be decided by a slate agreed between the affiliates. Elected: Tracey Fussey and Mike Murphy, together with Emily Rowles, Lynne Morris and Harry Donaldson.
E5. Auditors – Pavilion voted for Chris Kitchen (NUM), who was standing for re-election and whom the CLP has previously supported. Our delegates did not feel they had sufficient information to cast the CLP’s second vote. Elected: Chris Kitchen, with Cath Pinder (GMB, Batley & Spen CLP).
F. CLP stall
Having contacted Labour Exhibitions, CAC, Conference Services, and the Party Treasurer many times since January, regarding the free stall for the host CLP; I was astonished to be contacted less than 48 hours before conference with an offer of a stall. This late contact rendered it impossible for us to generate any meaningful profit from the stall but volunteers Michael Brown, Dave Richtor and Chris Webb, as well as Tina Cox, deserve our thanks.
G. What next for Labour Conference – and our Party?
It is always an honour to represent one’s CLP at Labour Conference – and, especially, when representing Pavilion Labour. However, 2021 Labour Conference seemed to be organised and conducted by a faction intent on inflicting a punishment beating on people it despises. This is neither a sustainable nor constructive attitude towards Party members, wherever one sits in the pews of Labour’s broadchurch.
The conduct of many of the session Chairs can only be described as abusive, authoritarian and ableist. I never imagined witnessing such behaviour at Labour Conference. This was compounded by open monitoring of delegates in conference, yet nothing was done to either prevent or restrain poor conduct, which included bullying and harassment. It was apparent that members aligned with the majority faction on the NEC felt they had carte blanche to behave as they pleased – ranging from rudeness and insults to threats and lies. Thankfully, many of these people disappeared from conference after the rule changes were dealt with, which considerably eased the atmosphere – and there was a striking difference in the outcome of votes.
Conference time being leached away from debates was symbolic of the persistent undermining of the changes agreed following the 2018 Labour Party Democracy Review. This was achieved, this year, by clearing a whole afternoon for mayoral coffee table-style conversation; and, going forward, by the NEC pushing through a rule change to reduce the number of debates from twenty (20), back down to twelve (12) at future conferences. Interestingly, there were no policy seminars this year. Now more CLPs and affiliates have started referencing back the NPF report, perhaps those seminars are thought to bring the Shadow Cabinet too close to delegates?
Labour’s historic mission is democratic socialism, yet the conduct of our party’s 2021 annual conference was neither democratic nor socialist. Members should not hide from this nor turn away from our party. We must tackle it.
Claire Wadey
Brighton Pavilion Labour Party 