KEEPING AN EYE ON THE LABOUR PARTY

Labour is the "White Party" in Britain's political system.

by Daniel Barge

In the UK, early Autumn is Party conference season, and with the Conservative Party trailing Labour by 17 points in the opinion polls, it's worth checking on where the Labour Party is these days. A good indication is to look at the resolutions passed at the Party's annual conference.

17 policy motions were discussed at the conference and all were passed by delegates on a show of hands (i.e. by clear-cut decision). Here they are summed up one-by-one with a quick evaluation of their importance. 

Two are of high importance, five or medium importance, and ten are of low importance.

The Party is not bound by any of these resolutions, although they will influence what goes into the Party's election manifesto.

(1) The growing challenges of our economy one (composite motion one)

This motion commits Labour to calling for a “new political and societal consensus” to include taking back control of essential services and utilities through new models of democratic and efficient public ownership. It also calls on the party to provide a “genuine alternative plan to solve the cost-of-living crisis, to prevent profiteering and reshape the economy to the benefit of workers and communities”. It also urges Labour to support trade unions as the “most effective vehicles to organise workers”.

Evaluation: Low importance

Basically meaningless, this motion is mainly rhetorical, but it suggests that there may be some appetite for nationalisation of key utilities like water and electricity.

(2) The growing challenges of our economy two (composite motion two)

This motion calls on Labour to back the introduction of a requirement for employers to consult with workers on new workplace technologies and urged a future Labour government to support a “significant and long-term investment” in skills funding.

Evaluation: Low importance
Even more rhetorical and nebulous than the first motion.

(3) Investing in infrastructure one (composite motion three)

The motion reaffirms Labour’s commitment to a publicly-owned railway and the delivery of key infrastructure projects. It also calls on the Party to stand in solidarity with striking workers.

Evaluation: Medium importance
This shows intent to nationalise the railways, but sets no clear target date. 

Queen and country: Labour getting serious about winning?

(4) Investing in infrastructure two (composite motion four)

This motion called on conference to give its “unequivocal support” to all UK workers “taking strike action for higher pay and in defence of their jobs, terms and conditions” and reaffirms that Labour will bring Royal Mail back into public ownership, reunite it with the Post Office and create a publicly-owned Post Bank.

Evaluation: Medium importance
More intent to nationalise but with a clear target. 

(5) Workers’ pay (composite motion five)

The motion states that the “only way to avoid the steepest drop in living standards since the 1950s is to give Britain’s workers a pay rise” and called on Labour to support pay rises “at least in line with inflation”, the introduction of a £15 per hour minimum wage, "reform" of the welfare system (i.e. more money for the unemployed), and access to affordable, good quality childcare for working parents. 

Evaluation: Low importance
Basically more money for everyone! Not costed. 

(6) Social care (composite motion six)

The motion calls upon the next Labour government to deliver a National Care Service with nationally mandated standards “but designed and delivered locally” and to introduce a new deal for care workers, which ensures staff are recognised for the work they do “with the pay, terms and conditions they deserve”.

Evaluation: Low importance
Again an uncosted cornucopian fantasy where everybody gets more money and services magically improve. 

(7) Equalities (composite motion seven)

The motion states that conference believes the government has “deepened income and wealth inequality and systemic inequalities experienced by women, Black and Asian, disabled and LGBT+ people”. It also calls on Labour to restore the rights of migrant domestic workers and commit to a new Race Equality Act.

Evaluation: Low importance
Basically it means getting upset by comparing metrics between various demographic groups. Unworkable tosh.

(8) Electoral reform one (composite motion eight)

This motion calls on Labour to make a commitment to introduce proportional representation (PR) for general elections in the party’s next election manifesto. The motion urges the party to change the voting system for general elections to a form of PR in Labour’s first term in office and to convene an “open and inclusive process” to decide the specific proportional voting system it will introduce.

Evaluation: High importance
Britain switching to a PR electoral system would revolutionize British politics and allow smaller parties to emerge and grow, rather in the same way as European countries like Italy and Sweden.

(9) Electoral reform two (composite motion nine)

The motion calls for Labour to replace the ministerial code with a legally binding contract, with “clear consequences” for breaches. The motion urges the party to increase the Electoral Commission’s powers to “hold political parties, candidates and MPs to account if they are found to have broken the rules”. It adds that MPs “shouldn’t ordinarily” hold second jobs and that any secondary income “can’t surpass” their MP salary, with some exceptions.

Evaluation: High importance
Basically an attempt to cripple the Conservative Party by hitting Tory MPs where it hurts - in their pockets. 

Labour taking aim at the increasingly BAME Tory party (above). 

(10) Electoral reform three (composite motion ten)

The motion calls on Labour to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected second chamber or senate. The motion adds that the new body should be “democratically elected and must reflect the makeup and identity of the United Kingdom”.

Evaluation: Medium importance
This has been the direction of the Labour Party for some time. Massive constitutional change like this would require a massive majority.

(11) Violence against women and girls (composite motion 11)

This motion calls on Labour to campaign to make misogyny a hate crime, to be recorded as such by all police forces across the UK and prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Evaluation: Medium importance
Basically hate speech and thought crime laws extended to incels, MGTOWs, and fat shamers.  

(12) Climate crisis (composite motion 12)

The motion calls on Labour to recognise a “legal duty of care” regarding the climate change and biodiversity emergencies and recognise the UK’s international legal responsibilities in that area. It also demands that the party offer a programme that shows “global climate and energy policy leadership” and work with UK nations, local authorities, FE colleges, businesses and unions to devise and deliver the training necessary for the skilled workforce required to achieve its renewables and energy efficiency plans.

Evaluation: Low importance
Just more red tape and rhetoric, Labour specialities.

(13) Ukraine (composite motion 13)

This motion calls on Labour to support a “free, united Ukraine” and a peaceful end to the conflict that secures the territorial integrity of the country. The motion demands that the party support the provision of military, economic, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and back calls for International Criminal Court (ICC) investigations into potential war crimes committed by Russian forces. It also calls for an increase in funding for UK defence manufacturing “so that the UK can rebuild lost industrial capacity and jobs..." 

Evaluation: Low importance
All this is already being done, but not by Labour.

(14) Public services and local government funding (composite motion 14)

This motion calls on Labour to commit to “proper long-term funding” for local government services and ensuring local government workers receive a pay rise each year at least in line with the Retail Price Index. The motion urges the party to “combat” further privatisation and outsourcing, work to bring public services back in-house, and commit to significant investment in public services.

Evaluation: Low importance
Basically more money for everyone and everything again! Vague. Not costed. 

(15) Health (composite motion 15)

The motion calls on Labour to repeal the Health and Care Act 2022 and eliminate integrated care systems. It demands that the party establish a “publicly-funded, publicly-provided, publicly accountable, universal and comprehensive” National Health Service and return all privatised portions of the NHS to public control upon forming a government. It also urges the party to establish a publicly-funded and publicly-provided National Care Service (see (6) above) and to ensure that a Labour government and economy are fit to handle another pandemic.

Evaluation: Low importance.
The money has all been spent several times over in the resolutions above, LOL.

(16) Early years and childcare (composite motion 16)

The motion urges Labour to consider childcare as “infrastructure” and a “key part of regional and national industrial strategies”. It calls on the party to develop an industrial strategy, in partnership with trade unions, service providers, service users and other stakeholders, that includes good quality, affordable and accessible childcare for all and professional recognition for early-years childcare workers.

Evaluation: Low importance. 
Basically just a call to set up a think tank.

(17) Universal free school meals (emergency motion)

This "emergency motion" -- yes, they called it that! -- calls on Labour to back the ‘No Child Left Behind‘ campaign and commit to rolling out universal free school meals for all pupils in primary and secondary schools. The motion urges Labour to campaign at all levels for an increase in school funding to cover increased energy costs, free school meals for all, breakfast clubs and decent pay rises for teachers and support staff. It also expresses solidarity with education unions should they take action to protect their members’ living standards.

Evaluation: Medium importance
Uncosted as usual, but has a clear and emotionally compelling target - Britain's "starving school kids" - to mobilise yet more government overspending.