| ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2021
TINA COX – DELEGATE’S REPORT |
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INTRODUCTION I attended as a first time CLP delegate this year. I had previously been to Conference twice in the 1980s, but this had been as a day visitor and as a press representative (as joint editor of New Ground – the magazine of Socialist Environment and Resources Association, Labour’s Environment Campaign). I had also been a delegate to Annual Women’s Conference in June this year, which had been held online. Although that event had been presented as a Zoom event, most sessions had been more like Webinars. It was not possible to know how many delegates were present, their identities or their Branch/ Affiliated Organisation unless they were speaking. There were no Breakout areas functioning, although it had been announced that these would be available. This made for quite a disconnected experience. While the Women’s Conference was a useful and interesting event, and the content and the outcomes of the votes had been heartening, I had been left looking forward to Main Conference very much, with the opportunity to meet in person with comrades from all round the country in person, to take part in more fringe events and to experience the general buzz around real life events. |
| INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
An unfortunate warning tone was heard in the days leading up to Conference when it was announced that Keir Starmer intended to try and pass a rule change regarding leadership elections which would reintroduce the electoral college system, giving MPs an effective veto on who could lead the Party. Fortunately, in my view, this did not receive enough support from the Unions and was dropped. On arriving at Conference, however, I gained the impression from the start that this Conference was going to be tightly stage managed, with lengthy, set piece “speaking at” delegates and much less “listening to” delegates or responding openly to questions. I am disappointed and saddened to say that this impression only deepened with each day. |
| VOTING
Claire Wadey has prepared a summary of how the delegation voted for each motion or reference back or rule change. In most cases all delegates voted the same way, in line with Pavilion agreed policies. In the case of the motion on Proportional Representation, views were divided as to whether or not Pavilion had an agreed policy. I voted for the motion, since this has been my personal view since the 1990s, when I had hoped that Labour would use its large majority in 1997 to bring about this change, and my view had been further strengthened by Clive Lewis MP’s talk prior to the General Committee Meeting in February 2021. Although not carried, I believe it is a theme which will recur. |
| MY REFERENCE BACK
I submitted a Reference Back of a paragraph of the National Policy Forum 2021 “International” document (one of the four allowed for each CLP). I had received an auto-acknowledgment on the day it was submitted, but only learned that it had been accepted and would be timetabled for discussion when I received an email the afternoon before. The paragraph on page 81 in the Section “Israel and Palestine” reads: 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. My 150 word written submission reason for referencing back read: 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. My two minute speech at Conference said: This [paragraph] says the only way to lasting peace between Palestine and Israel MUST BE a two-state solution. This policy was admirable when it was originally formulated, and I previously supported it myself but it may be problematic now. Growing numbers of Palestinians and Israelis believe the number of illegal settlements has now made a two-state solution unworkable. Instead, they favour a single democratic state, with equal rights for all its citizens, of all religions or no religion. But, in any case, the debate needs to be had by those who live there and not imposed from the outside. The right to self-determination is mentioned in other paragraphs for various other peoples and also in Principle 9. I ask you to support the reference back to address this inconsistency within the Report. I requested a card vote, which was agreed. Although the Reference Back was not carried, it provoked interest, debate and positive comment from several delegates from other areas. |
| OVERALL POSITIVES
There were progressive discussions on a number of topics including Palestine; Proportional Representation; a Socialist Green New Deal; Violence Against Women and Girls; Trans Rights; Community Wealth Building; and the UKAUS deal. A rule change was passed which gives local Parties a controlling say on how parliamentary candidates are selected in Parliamentary by-elections, so that local parties retain power in snap byelections. There were encouraging discussions and remarks from other delegations regarding Pavilion’s references back. I also found several fringe events interesting, informative and inspirational, in particular those organised by Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (pre conference including several Labour Women); The World Transformed event with Socialist Campaign Group MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and others; Jewish Voice for Labour; and Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Of the platform speeches, one of the most inspirational, in my view, came from Mark Drakeford, First Minister for Wales, who spoke from the heart as an openly socialist leader about what is being achieved there. |
| OVERALL NEGATIVES
The various NEC rule changes were rushed through, with little time to read and absorb them properly, even less time allowed for discussion, too many complex issues compacted into each one, and incorrect (in my view) claims that they were legally required under the EHRC recommendations. The rule change was narrowly passed that would require any leadership candidate to be nominated by 20% of MPs. Rules were also passed that now give the General Secretary David Evans the power to expel members or block people from joining the Party without any need for explanation (despite only being confirmed in office himself by 59% of the vote at Conference, by no means a ringing vote of confidence). There were too many instances of rude and dismissive chairing, in particular from Margaret Beckett (who took a “murmur” in the front few rows as positive acceptance of the NEC report) and Mark Ferguson. Points of Order were ruled not admissible before delegates had a chance to give any detail of what they wanted to raise. There were many examples of inadequate disability and accessibility provisions, involving seating, provision of large copy materials, materials being provided too late for genuine participation, lack of social distancing within the conference hall, lack of any staggered entering or leaving, and the Russell Road entrance being closed to all except Party staff after the first few days. There were a series of expulsions just before and during Conference. These gave the appearance of being conveniently and one might say cynically timed to prevent certain delegates taking part in certain debates and sessions. If there were genuine grounds to investigate then it seems extraordinary that they could not have been informed of this well before Conference, to avoid wasted travel and expense. Senior members from the Leader down immediately began briefing the press that they would ignore many of the progressive motions passed by Conference. Notable here were the motion on Palestine (where Lisa Nandy immediately disowned it the same evening) and the rule change on snap byelections which it was claimed was “poorly drafted” and has now been ignored in the Old Bexley and Sidcup byelection. |
| IN SUMMARY…
It was a definite “Swings and Roundabouts” event and a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions. I am glad I was there as I probably would not have believed some of this had I not seen and heard it myself.
I was left with the view that the Party is as divided as ever, with progressive views being expressed on the conference floor but then being rapidly disowned by the leadership, and with a disappointing and ever-increasing move away from genuine involvement by the membership and towards a top-down imposition of rules and requirements. This has, however, strengthened my personal resolve to continue the struggle for our socialist Party to remain socialist and to work towards democracy within the Party as well as in the country.
Tina Cox, 10 November 2021 |
Brighton Pavilion Labour Party 