By Jean Crocker

It is important for CLPs and members to be heard at Labour Conference. But there are barriers and pitfalls in the process of getting a motion or rule change from a CLP to Conference. So it’s crucial to elect candidates to the Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) who will understand these and navigate them as fairly and democratically as possible, with a view to maximising member input. 

At the beginning of the process, CLPs write the motions. Currently there are considerable constraints. Transparent guidance is important, and CAC members can help.

The CAC then decides whether motions submitted to Conference are in order. It’s essential that the elected members of the CAC press for time to read the motions and make considered decisions without over-reliance on Party advice. 

Topic areas are created by the CAC from the motions that have been submitted and found in order. Delegates vote on which of these topics to debate at Conference, and topics that don’t get through this ‘priorities ballot’ never reach the Conference floor. The way that motions are grouped, and even the titles that groups are given, can influence the chances of success in the ballot. CAC members must seek a fair grouping of motions into topic areas with clear titles.

Members’ voices can be muted in the compositing process, where delegates who have motions in the same topic area meet to agree a form of words which will be the composite motion debated at Conference. Delegates may need to argue strongly to retain the points they feel are important. But there are other people in the meeting apart from delegates – a Chair who is a member of CAC, a Policy Officer and often a member of the front bench. It’s important that delegates don’t feel they have to defer to anyone else when it comes to the wording of the composite. The CAC member who is chairing should make it explicit that it is the delegates who decide on the final wording of the composited motion. 

I was on the Women’s CAC for seven years and did everything I could for members to be heard at a Conference which was democratic at all levels. I want to use the insights gained to do the same on the Conference’s CAC. So if I am elected, I will emphasise the primacy of delegates in compositing meetings, seek fair topic groupings, and push for sufficient time for elected CAC members to read motions. As I did on the Women’s CAC, I will seek to make transparent advice on writing motions available. 

As a disabled person myself, I’ll argue for comments and advice from disabled members to be taken on board in relation to all aspects of Conference. Without accessibility there’s no democracy. 

I’ll also be available to answer members’ queries, listen to suggestions and report back.

Jean Crocker is a candidate for the Labour Party CAC and was formerly a member and Vice-Chair of Labour’s Women’s CAC.

Please support the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance candidates for the Conference Arrangements Committee: Jack Ballingham (L1766555) and Jean Crocker (L1306356).

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