Jean Crocker is seeking support for nomination and re-election to Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee.
I want to continue fighting on the Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee (Women’s CAC) for women’s voices to be heard, despite increasing constraints.
Women speaking passionately for policies based in their life experience are at the heart of Women’s Conference. Their debates are based on motions sent in by Women’s Branches and CLPs.
I remember the joy of seeing the first motion from the reinstated democratic Women’s Conference going to Labour Conference and being passed in 2018. We now send two every year.
But the restrictions on the topics for motions are increasingly severe, the latest ones coming out from NEC only on July 17th this year. There was no consultation with Women’s CAC. They say that a motion must be on an issue that has arisen after July 5th 2024, and not be on a subject included in last year’s National Policy Forum report. This is even stricter than the ruling from last year’s Labour Conference, which did allow for motions on subjects “not substantially addressed” in the report.
Stop Press – on July 26th the Party sent another email to CLP Secretaries and Women’s Officers, apparently removing the requirement to refer to the National Policy Forum report, but leaving in the requirement about an issue arising after after July 5th. Again, Women’s CAC had not been consulted.
Further, with a deadline for motions in August, when people are away, it will be hard to hold a meeting to agree such a motion. If you are planning to do so, please look at the new requirements in Box B, in order to avoid falling foul of them.
I’ve been on Women’s CAC for seven years, and am currently vice-chair. I have consistently worked with sisters for the best conference possible, one that is democratic, diverse, accessible, two-day, standalone, interactive and hybrid – and with excellent speakers in years where we could achieve influence over that.
In 2023 we achieved:
- six motion debates, not four – so more CLP voices were heard
- time for Women’s CAC to read all motions ourselves, to give them a fair hearing
- stronger guidance that it is only delegates who decide how motions on the same topic are merged into one ‘composite motion’ for debate.
- a reception where women could interact.
I always argue for networking events, for free space for fringes run by CLPs, and for working with Disability Labour on accessibility (I’m disabled myself). There has been more success in some years than others, but I constantly press for the best.
I’ve analysed motion rules, to promote fair, impartial Women’s CAC decisions; and led on user-friendly motion-writing guidance – an unofficial version is in Box C. If re-elected I’ll update it to deal with the latest restrictions as well, and push for its availability to members.
I am available to answer members’ queries via clpdwomen@gmail.com
I am seeking your support for nomination and re-election to Women’s CAC because I’ve learned how Conference processes and rules can either be stumbling blocks for women, or support a vibrant and inspiring interchange. I will reliably speak for the latter. I want as many women’s voices to be heard at Conference as possible.
Please also support Zoe Allan and Rathi Guhadasan.
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BOX A
Women’s Conference Deadlines
Delegates: 12 Noon, Wednesday 31 July 2024
Nominations for WCAC: 12 Noon, Wednesday 31st July 2024
Motions and Rule Changes: 5pm, Wednesday 21st August 2024
Emergency motions: 12 noon, Wednesday 11th September 2024
As sent by ‘Team Labour’ on 6th June 2024– other information varies.
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Box B
The latest Party rules for motions
- Must be a contemporary motion that relates to Women.
- An issue that has arisen after 5th July, 2024.
- On one subject.
- No more than 250 words in length.
- Not considered by the WCAC as an organisational matter or constitutional amendment.
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Box C
Tips for keeping motions to Women’s Conference ‘in order’
Relating to women
For the best chance, include wording, even if brief, in the body of the motion to indicate why it is of relevance to women.
One subject only
Keep the actions that you call for within one policy area, for example, women’s rights at work, women’s health.
No more than 250 words
ALL words are counted, except the title. Any notes, references, etc. are counted.
A policy motion, not an organisational matter.
On what the policy of the Labour Party should be, that is something that would fit in a Labour manifesto, not on how the Party is internally organised, relations between parts of the Labour Party, etc.
On an issue that has arisen after Friday 5th July 2024
This has not yet been interpreted by Women’s CAC, so my best advice would be to follow this strictly, to avoid the motion being found out of order.
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Jean Crocker is a member of Gateshead Central and Whickham CLP, Membership No. L1306356.
Image: Arena & Convention Centre, Liverpool. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1039210. Creator: Nick Mutton | Credit: Nick Mutton Copyright: © Nick Mutton and licenced for reuse under cc-by-sa/2.0
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