RULE BOOK 2019 - Labour Party

1 RULEBOOK2019 CONTENTSC hapter 1 Constitutional rules 1 Clause I. Name and objects 1 Clause II. Party structure and affiliated organisations 1 Clause III. The Party s financial scheme 3 Clause IV. Aims and values 3 Clause V. Party programme 4 Clause VI. Labour Party Conference 4 Clause VII. Party officers and statutory officers 4 Clause VIII. The National Executive Committee 6 Clause IX. The National Constitutional Committee 8 Clause X. Scope of rules 10 Chapter 2 Membership rules 12 Clause I. Conditions of membership 12 Clause II. Charter of Members Rights 14 Clause III. Membership procedures 14 Clause IV. Membership subscriptions 15 Chapter 3 Party Conference 17 Clause I. Delegations 17 Clause II. Conference Arrangements Committee 18 Clause III.

2 Procedural rules for Party Conference 18 Clause IV. National Annual Women s Conference 20 Chapter 4 Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees 21 Clause I. General principles 21 Clause II. Procedural rules for elections for national officers of the Party 21 Clause III. Procedural rules for elections for national committees 23 Chapter 5 Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office 29 Clause I. General rules for selections for public office 29 Clause II. Rights and responsibilities of elected members 30 Clause III. Selection of local government candidates 31 Clause IV. Selection of Westminster parliamentary candidates 31 Clause V. Selection of European parliamentary candidates 33 Clause VI.

3 Selection of Candidates for devolved institutions 34 Chapter 6 Disciplinary rules 35 Clause I. National action by the Party 35 Clause II. Action by CLPs 36 Chapter 7 rules for CLPs 39 Clause I. Name 39 Clause II. Aims and values 39 Clause III. Affiliated organisations 39 Clause IV. Affiliation fees 39 Clause V. Individual membership 40 Clause VI. Method of organisation 40 Clause VII. Management 42 Clause VIII. Officers 42 Clause IX. The General Meeting 43 Clause X. The Party Conference 44 Clause XI. Duties of the General Meeting 44 Clause XII. Disciplinary 45 Clause XIII. Parliamentary candidates 45 Clause XIV. Local government candidates 45 Clause XV. Amendment to rules 45 Chapter 8 rules for branches 46 Clause I.

4 Name 46 Clause II. Objects 46 Clause III. Membership 46 Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee 46 Clause V. Meetings 46 Clause VI. Local government candidates 47 Clause VII. Miscellaneous 47 Chapter 9 rules for Regional Conferences, Regional Executive Committees and Regional Structures 48 Chapter 10 rules for women s forums 49 Clause I. Name 49 Clause II. Aims and values 49 Clause III. Membership 49 Clause IV. Management 49 Clause V. Meetings 49 Clause VI. Activities 50 Clause VII. Finances 50 Clause VIII. General 50 Clause IX. Alteration to rules 51 Chapter 11 rules for Young Labour 52 Clause I. Name 52 Clause II. Establishment 52 Clause III. Aims and values 52 Clause IV. Membership 52 Clause V. Structure 52 Clause VI.

5 Regional Committees 52 Chapter 11 (A) Young Labour groups 53 Clause I. Name 53 Clause II. Aims and values 53 Clause III. Membership 53 Clause IV. Establishing a group 53 Clause V. Geographical boundaries 53 Clause VI. Meetings 53 Clause VII. Officers 54 Clause VIII. Finance 54 Clause IX. Relationship with constituency parties 54 Clause X. General relations 54 Clause XI. Dissolution 54 Chapter 11 (B) Young Labour National Committee 55 Clause I. Aims and values 55 Clause II. Membership 55 Clause III. Chair 55 Clause IV. Executive 55 Clause V. National Policy Forum Representatives 56 Clause VI. Meetings 56 Clause VII. Finance 56 Clause VIII. Conference 56 Chapter 12 rules for Labour Party Local Campaign Forums 57 Clause I.

6 Name 57 Clause II. Objects 57 Clause III. General Principles 57 Clause IV. Membership 57 Clause V. Officers and Executive Committee 57 Clause VI. Meetings 58 Clause VII. Finance 58 Clause VIII. General 58 Clause IX. Candidates 58 Clause X. Relations with the Labour group 58 Clause XI. Miscellaneous 59 Chapter 13 rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities 60 Clause I. General rules and provisions for Labour groups on local authorities 60 Clause II. Aims and Values 60 Clause III. Membership of the group 62 Clause IV. Group meetings 62 Clause V. Group officers 63 Clause VI. Group executive 63 Clause VII. Casual vacancies 63 Clause VIII. Determination of group policy and action 63 Clause IX.

7 Selection of nominations for civic offices, council leadership and other council appointments 63 Clause X. Arrangements with other parties 64 Clause XI. Action by individual members 64 Clause XII. Groups on committees 64 Clause XIII. Breach of rule 64 Clause XIV. Reporting to and consulting with the Party 65 Clause XV. Group standing orders 65 Clause XVI. Compliance with PPERA 66 Clause XVII. Miscellaneous 66 Chapter 14 rules for Ethnic Minorities Forums 67 Clause I. Name 67 Clause II. Aims and values 67 Clause III. Membership 67 Clause IV. Management 67 Clause V. Meetings 67 Clause VI. Activities 68 Clause VII. Finances 68 Clause VIII. General 68 Clause IX. Alteration to rules 69 Chapter 15 Model procedural rules 71 Clause I.

8 Model Standing Orders for Party Units 71 Appendix 1 NEC statement on the importance of our members 76 Appendix 2 NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention 77 Appendix 3 NEC procedures for the selection of Parliamentary Candidates following the boundary review commenced 2016 82 Clause I. Introduction & Background 82 Clause II. Trigger ballots of sitting MPs 82 Clause III. Timetable for parliamentary selections among sitting MPs 84 Clause IV. Freeze dates 84 Appendix 4 NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates 85 Appendix 5 NEC Advice Note Interviewing sitting councillors or recent candidates 93 Appendix 6 Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC 95 Appendix 7 Procedural guidelines for the general organisation of Constituency Labour Parties 100 Clause I.

9 General 100 Clause II. Delegate Organisation 100 Clause III. Basis of representation 100 Clause IV. Conditions for appointment of delegates to this CLP 100 Clause V. Non Delegate Organisation 101 Clause VI. Other Methods of Organisation 101 Appendix 8 NEC statement - A minimum guarantee of support to CLPs 102 Clause I. Introduction 102 Clause II. The minimum guarantee will: 102 Clause III. The detail of the proposal 102 Clause IV. The aim of each fund is as follows: 103 Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct 104 1. Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination. 104 2. Code of Conduct: Antisemitism and other forms of racism 104 3. Code of Conduct: Social Media Policy 104 4. Code of Conduct: Member s Pledge 105 Contacts and Glossary Constitutional rules Page 1 Chapter 1 Constitutional rules Clause I.

10 Name and objects 1. This organisation shall be known as The Labour Party (hereinafter referred to as the Party ). 2. Its purpose is to organise and maintain in Parliament and in the country a political Labour Party 3. The Party shall bring together members and supporters who share its values to develop policies, make communities stronger through collective action and support, and promote the election of Labour Party representatives at all levels of the democratic process. 4. The Party shall give effect, as far as may be practicable, to the principles from time to time approved by Party conference. Clause II. Party structure and affiliated organisations 1. There shall be a National Executive Committee of the Party (the NEC ) which shall, subject to the control and directions of Party conference, be the administrative authority of the Party .