Your NPF SE CLP representatives

Here are the consultation policy documents issued by the party. For each document there is also a discussion guide. Click on the link to open the PDF file.

Towards a new economy discussion guide

Towards a New Economy

Restoring Responsibility, Strengthening Our Communities

Restoring responsibility discussion guide

Fulfilling the promise of Britain

Fulfilling promise of Britain discussion guide

Britain’s role in world discussion guide

Britain’s role in the world

We would like to update you on the start of the Policy Forum cycle.

Six policy papers will be published by the six policy commissions (Prosperity & Work, Britain in the World, Creating Sustainable Communities, Crime & Justice, Education & Skills and Health) for consultation in May. The aim is that they will be sent out immediately after 3rd May but we suggest you allow for some delay.

These papers are short documents that summarise the key issues that each commission is working on as a result of the submissions to the NPF. They are short and to the point, and include questions where the commission would like your views urgently. The timetable is short but it would be good if your CLPs or branches could make submissions in answer to the questions. the timetable is:

• Early May – brief ‘key issues’ policy documents to be made available via membersnet/party website (we will post them on our south-east website also)
• Mid-June – NPF meets and discusses documents and submissions – we would like sight of as many of your submissions for then as possible, so please send us copies
• End of June – submissions deadline.
• Early July – policy commissions amend documents to reflect submissions
• Mid/late July – Joint Policy Committee reviews new documents to check they reflect members submissions
• Early October – Annual Conference debates policy documents

Though this is a compressed version of what will happen in future, leaving only a short time to make submissions this time, it is really important that we demonstrate to the party and leadership that there is an appetite to be involved in policy making. More extensive documents with proper time for debate will be issued later on after Conference. If your local party can’t discuss papers before the deadline, please discuss them and send in submissions to the commissions when you can – we will continue to look at all submissions and make sure that your views are included in the next documents.

We are keen as always to come and help facilitate discussions at your branches and CLP meetings. Some CLPs will be holding policy forums for these documents that are open to members from further afield (e.g. Brighton & Hove are planning one on Sat 26th May). We will do our best to circulate what is happening where, please advise us of any information as soon as possible.

Simon, Deb, Karen and Martin

PS Good luck with the elections if you have them.

A further consultation on the party’s policy making process finished on January 31st. With colleagues from all parts of the country we made a joint submission with our views on how policy-making needs to be improved. Here is the submission:

NPF meetings

Current NPF meetings are unsatisfactory. Long speeches by shadow cabinet members in plenary sessions, and long replies by them in workshops, dominate events and leave very little time for discussions and decisions by NPF representatives.

•  The annual NPF timetable should be predictable and easily understood by party units so that it becomes a regularly timetabled part of local party and affiliate activity.  
• Whilst NPF meetings can be an important platform for the leader to make a speech there should not be platform speeches by shadow cabinet ministers, if they wish to convey their view on an issue/s they should issue papers to all NPF members in advance of the meetings. There should be a minimum of two NPF meetings each year.
• NPF agendas and papers are currently issued too late. Workshops are currently little more than members giving long lists of problems, with no discussion on details or priorities.
• Future NPF meetings should have much more time for workshops, with detailed discussions that record majority and minority positions on key issues. The outcome of any workshop should be for a commission to have an outline of policy ideas or a list of key issues to debate on the subject. 
• Future ‘Warwick’ style meetings of the NPF should continue to; adopt policy that is agreed by the majority and policy proposals that receive at least 25% support but less than a majority should be forwarded to annual conference. However, in addition the NPF should decide by ballot at the ‘Warwick’ style meeting four policy issues that have received majority support but should nevertheless be forwarded to annual conference for debate and decision so that conference has a chance to debate those 4 key issues that have majority support.  
• There should be an NPF meeting based at  Annual Conference on the Saturday (not for shadow minister speeches and not to clash with Women’s conference) so that NPF members can ensure adequate provision has been made for them to give their input at conference and so they can question the JPC on how the decisions of that summer’s NPF meeting have been taken forward. Each policy commission should meet at annual conference. 

Commissions

• all NPF reps to be full members of a policy commission or a cross-cutting group that is exploring an issue like moral capitalism, climate change or the fairness agenda. Commissions and cross-cutting groups need to be encouraged and supported to act more like select committees and to consider priority subjects in more detail (taking evidence from outside experts and organisations, as well as party and affiliates).
• All work does not need to be undertaken by over-stretched party staff. Reps can and should do more work – submissions could be shared out, with each rep reading some submissions, summarising, listing any actions to be taken, and being responsible for their submissions through the cycle.  However, more ‘Short’ money should be devoted to supporting the process to ensure party officers can act in accordance with the wishes of elected NPF representatives as expressed at NPF, JPC and policy commission meetings.
• Commissions should prioritise key issues based on surveys of members and conference/NEC decisions. Commissions should consider forwarding relevant policy issues for early debate and recommendations by a separate ‘NPF youth reps commission’, before reaching their own conclusions. NPF youth reps would also continue to sit on policy commissions.
• Commissions should work on highest priority issues first and try to come to outline decisions earlier. Important assessments against economic, social (including equality and diversity) and environmental priorities, and costings, must not be overlooked when they undergo detailed assessment later in the cycle.
• All submissions to a commission to be held online in secure directories and links sent to commission members, so all members see submissions monthly.
• Each commission to have a tracking system for submissions, so that each submission is considered and actioned, as well as responses sent to the submitters 

Reporting, technology and infrastructure

• The party must enable CLP and Regional NPF to each have the ability to send reports by email to all the groups they represent (CLP reps to be able to report to CLPs, regional reps to CLPs and affiliates).
• Entire workflow of the NPF needs to be on a secure online platform that is accessible to all members of the NPF. It must contain all submissions, action points from commissions, cross-cutting groups, the JPC and NPF. That platform then needs to be accessible as appropriate to all submitting organisations so they can track their submissions.
• Each commission, cross-cutting group and JPC meeting needs to be accessible to its members by phone (webcasting in due course) as well in person. Each commission should report 2 or 3 times a year to the JPC on work done. 

Listening

• Discussion documents need to be more accessible and engaging. Instead of long documents repeating things we all agree with or listing things we have done, they should be more brief and focused: problem, ideas and thoughts on the problem (in outline) and questions for members . More detailed policy statements and historical information should be held on-line for easy access by party members. 
• We should use online surveys and votes to gather views of members and supporters on behalf of commissions
• Regularly organised regional debates. These do not need to be grand events at expensive venues, and could be organised at local venues in association with local CLPs. Events should  be held in a variety of seats from Labour held seats to our most challenging areas.
• Commissions should not just meet in London in private. All commissions should hold some meetings like the Prosperity & Work commission meeting in Birmingham with party members.
• Policy events should not have long speeches from key speakers or long answers by shadow cabinet/MPs. Emphasis should be on listening rather than preaching to the converted
• Policy seminars at Annual Conference are well received by members and being in private, discussions are more productive. There should be consideration of expanding these. 

Relationship with PLP, NEC & Shadow Cabinet 

• Shadow ministers and all other members of the JPC have a duty to regularly attend its meetings. The agenda and minutes (including reports to the JPC from policy commissions) of JPC meetings must be available to all NPF members so that they are well informed and can seek to influence its actions. The JPC must ensure regular newsletters and briefings get out to all NPF reps and annually to all party members.
• In recent years there has been some confusion as to who makes decisions with regards to the operation of PiP (between NEC and JPC). In future the assumption will be that the JPC makes such decisions, by doing so it will be strengthened which will encourage better attendance across its membership. There will be more emphasis on the JPC having oversight of the PiP process setting its direction and overseeing the performance of policy commissions.
• Shadow cabinet groups, PLP groups and similar who are discussing policy should feed in their workings and evidence taken to  the JPC and NPF – this will help reduce suspicion but also prevent duplication of work 

Submission from: Simon Burgess, Deborah Gardiner, Jamie Hanley, Joanne Milligan, Martin Phillips, Michael Hassell, Nicky Gavron, Alon Or-Bach, James Valentine, Daniel Zeichner, Libby Lisgo, Sam Goodby, Andy Furlong, Theresa Griffin, Glyn Ford, Fred Grindrod, Claire Moody, Keir Dhillon, Gus Baker, Carol Hayton, Katie Curtis, Karen Landles, Brenda Weston, Dan Chapman, Sandra Samuels & Jane Thomas – all CLP & Regional NPF representatives.