James Barrett

Conference 2019
Milton Keynes South Delegate Report

I want to thank members in Milton Keynes South for selecting me to

represent them as a delegate at Conference 2018. It was my first time to
attend as a delegate or visitor and I was greatly inspired by the
experience. As an officer of the party, helping to organise the visit for all
delegates, I attempted to keep the financial burden as minimal as possible
for MKLP. At the same time I worked to ensure all delegates were able to
attend and participate without financial obstructions. This year we were
able to send four delegates to conference (and a delegate to women’s
conference) for approximately £1500. I understand this to be lower than
last year’s figure from Brighton (circa £2500). I’m grateful to the support
and full cooperation of delegates, other Officers and Kevin Wilson in
achieving this. For me it is clear we need to develop full standing orders,
procedures and rules for future conference delegates. This may reference
the kind of shape and form that delegate reports take. Thus please allow
the informal nature of my feedback and report, future guidelines may
request something more rigid, thorough or specific.

We arrived Friday. Once settled in our accommodation in Waverley all

delegates went out in the evening and met up with friends at The World
Transformed (TWT) Constellations venue – a few minutes away from
conference centre. I caught up with a TWT organiser from Stroud, Natasha
Josette, who has promised to come to Milton Keynes to help put on an
‘MK Transformed’ event next year. I connected Natahsa with Lauren
Townsend (and Kevin Vickers) who will help lead on this. Delegates
enjoyed a good evening, a chance to unwind and talk about some of the
issues and motions likely to come up at conference.

On Saturday Christine Davies attended the women’s conference. The

main Labour conference was not to start until the Sunday and I was able
to attend TWT events including sessions on independent and critical
media (with panelists from Jacobin, Canary) and on international trade
(with Barry Gardiner). Our Chair John Orr was active with his camera and
recorded lots of interviews. I bumped into friends and comrades - some I
had not seen for over a decade. It was a great vibe with lots of activities
going on and a few contributors now secured for the next MKLP summer
school (although maybe we will hold it in the Winter?).
In the early evening I attended the SE Region function where we heard
speeeches from John McDonnell, the candidate for Thanet Rebecca
Gordon-Nesbitt and MK North Parliamentary Candidate Charlynne Pullen.
Charlynne gave a great speech which referenced the Open University. It
was good to network with other delegates from the South East and
discuss supporting each other in the campaign work Aylesbury members
were keen to come to MK and help.

After this some of the MK delegates attended a TWT session featuring

local member (and now candidate for Bletchley West) Lauren Townsend.
Lauren spoke on trade union rights in the workplace. There were
breakout sessions where we connected with campaigners from other
parts of the country. Lauren was able to highlight the conference she is
helping coordinate in February next year (in MK) and was taking steps to
secure some of the first speakers. John’s phone ran out of battery just as
he was about to interview Peter Stefanovich at Lauren’s event. Never
mind as Peter agreed to come to MK and John was soon back up to charge
and interviewing various MPs including members of the Shadow Cabinet.
We had a quick meal where delegates bumped into Owen Jones on the
next table. Owen also agreed to come to MK and run an unseat event as
soon as he can. We then headed to the opening party at TWT and caught
up with old and new Labour friends.

On Sunday there were a few sore heads but we were all up bright and
early ready for the first action on the conference floor. We had a briefing
with SE Region and after a coffee we were ready for the days business.
Conference officially opened. After the formalities conference voted
whether to accept the Conference Arrangement Committee report. This
was narrowly carried. I voted against on the understanding this would
open up more debate on some of the proposals brought to conference
from various CLPS – many connected to the democratization of the party.
It had to be done via a card ballot as it was clear from the initial show of
hands that the majority of CLP delegates were against. Final results
indicated the motion was only just carried with the votes of trade union
affiliates voting heavily one way and CLP delegates the other.

MK South delegates (myself and Brad Baines) established what our four
priorities for conference were in the Priorities Ballot. This helps to
determine an overall total of eight topics which will receive focus (and
ultimately motions) during the course of Conference. We settled on
Housing, Schools System, Justice for Windrush and Brexit. We reached this
by consensus and respected the views we both had. When the full result
was announced I was pleased to see Palestine had made it on to the
Ballot, receicing significant support from the CLP Ballot. After speeches
from Jennie Formby (a long standing ovation), Ian Lavery, and lunch, we
had debate and then a vote on various Party Democracy issues. Those
eight areas were:

1. Individual Members’ Rights

2. Local Structures: CLPs (CLP and Branch structure)
3. Regional Structures
4. National Structures: NEC
5. National Structures: National Conferences
6. National Structures: Leadership Elections
7. National Constitutional Committee
8. Westminster Selections

The general feeling I sensed was that the motions presented were a good
step forward but fell short in some of the potential for change expected
from the democracy review. I voted for 7 of the 8 motions. I voted against
on issue 6 - National Structures: Leadership Elections – because my
interpretation was that it made it harder for candidates to make it
through to the leadership election. Some speakers argued strongly that it
would make it more difficult to have a diverse and wide pool of
candidates when we have the next leadership election and it was
disappointing that we did not have a more democratic proposal. On a
positive note one of the proposals which passed will enable shared officer
roles in CLPs something which two of our local members (Carole Baume
and Emily Darlington) had pushed for. I immediately sought clarification
as to how quickly this could be implemented. In the context where we
have a selection process for the Women’s Officer position on the MKLP
Executive Committee, it’s great that we have been able to secure the go
ahead to implement this rule change, something Carole, Emily and our
local members can be proud and excited about.

We heard from Diana Holland who presented financial reports for the
Party which indicated the healthy state of the party’s finances at a national
level. Listening to other CLP delegates it was clear that both MK CLPs are
better off, partly due to our target status but also because of the various
local streams of income that we have.

Motions from the women’s conference were passed. Conference then

adjourned and those areas selected for focus at conference had
composite meetings where eligible CLPs could take part in debates
around motions. Sadly we could not take part in some of the sessions as
despite being assured that our motions from the last AMM would be
accepted for conference, this was subsequently turned down. Our local
secretary Tom Welch had appealed in the strongest possible terms and it
was disappointing that no flexibility was shown. Consequently delegates
met up with MK members for a photo and catch up. It was great to see
councilors Peter Marland, Zoe Nolan and Paul Williams and PPC
Charlynne Pullen. After a quick drink we went our separate ways. Some of
us went to see an new film called ‘Nae Pasaran’, a largely unknown story
of solidarity with Chile from workers in East Kilbride (after the Pinochet
coup against Allende). It was a brilliant film and compelling story and once
more our videographer John Orr was there to interview the director.
Agreements were made to screen this brilliant work in MK soon. Some MK
members then met up at the main TWT bar, John shot some more videos
and it was a good chance to relax and chat about conference.

On Monday there were key speeches including from Len McCluskey (who
was very strong on PLP getting behind the leadership) and John
McDonnell. The business of conference focused on voting on some of the
composite motions which had come out of those eight priority areas
determined for conference. Just before lunch we were able to vote on a
few of those and also refer back on on some key issues including housing
(from Kilburn and Hampstead CLP). Myself and Brad unanimously agreed
the CLP’s vote would go to Steve Jennings and Chris Kitchen for the
election of the National Auditor. This was one of the few votes which had
to be made as one CLP rather than per delegate. Generally votes were
done by delegate (each with one vote) and on the composite motions we
voted individually but discussed and shared opinions with each other
(including the MK North delegates).

During lunchtime I dashed over to TWT to see Julia Salazar and other
organisers from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). It was a
packed out session, inspiring and featuring younger activists and
campaigner with lots of hope for the future. Julia Salazar made parallels to
struggles in the US, the challenge of a broken economic system and the
case for socialism in offering voters an alternative.

In the afternoon (and possibly into the subsequent day) we voted on

amendments to composite motions due to reference backs (which I
supported on housing and schools). I voted for all final Composite
motions from the Monday and was delighted that they all passed:
Contemporary Composite 1 – Housing
Contemporary Composite 2 – An Economy for the Many
Emergency Motion – Grenfell Fire
Emergency Motion – Industrial Crisis in the Car Industry
Contemporary Composite 3 – In work poverty
Contemporary Composite 4 – Schools System

In the evening I was able to attend an electric event; Jean Luc Melenchon
with an opening by Jon Trickett. It was very different to the other fringe
meetings or TWT events I attended. The diversity of the programme was
really appreciated and it was interesting to see so many people come
together to listen to Melenchon’s vision for a socialist Europe.

On Tuesday we had Constitutional Amendments to vote for. Again some

of these were one vote per CLP rather than per delegate. For the National
Constitutional Committee Election, myself and Brad decided to determine
via coin toss which candidate to select. On winning the coin toss I selected
Daniel Blaney.

We also had to select Conference Arrangement Committee (CAC)

members. Myself and Brad decided to both select delegates we wanted as
a fair way of deciding who we wanted on behalf of the CLP:

Tracey Fussey CWU, UNITE

Catharine Grundy-Glew Socialist Health Association
Emily Rowles UNISON, UNITE, USDAW
Harry Donaldson GMB, UNISON, USDAW
Lynne Morris UNISON, USDAW

There were votes on changes to the constitution of the Party that had
been proposed by CLPs. Over the course of the morning several of these
were remitted, meaning they have effectively been withdrawn. I
understood that means the CLP is free to bring them back to conference
again or the NEC may even consider those proposals ahead of the next
conference (but they are not implemented). Those that were not remitted
were voted on with the NEC offering a recommendation of support or
against. Having spent the morning listening to the debate and reading
documentation, I followed the NEC recommendations for most of the
amendments. That includes opposing an amendment which would enable
a CLP to choose not to field a candidate (this came from Richmond CLP).
However I did support an amendment (number 16) for election of Deputy
Leader which ensures that at least one out the leader or deputy leader is
a woman. This is different to an amendment which wanted two deputy
leader positions which was remitted. I also supported amendment 10
around membership. These are the only areas where my vote departed
from the NEC recommendations. I think it is important whenever we next
have leadership elections that at least one of the positions is held by a
woman. I realise not everyone will agree but for me the steps are
necessary until we can change the culture of a Labour Party where men
outnumber women in leadership (as well as other) positions. On
amendment 10, I understood that it will make it more difficult for people
to be excluded from the Party. I have been in contact with several people
who were expelled or suspended in recent years (virtually all later
reinstated), and as such thought measures which might redress as useful.

The composite motions discussed on the Tuesday included Brexit,

Government Contracts, Windrush and Palestine. I voted to support all of
them and all of them passed. On the motion on Brexit I am thankful to all
members who spent their time outlining arguments in person and on the
MKLP facebook chat page. I’m grateful to the delegates here, as well as
other MK attendees for all their thoughts, PPC for MKS Hannah O’Neill
and fellow MK Labour comrades. The composite motion was never going
to be identical to the motion on Brexit passed at a recent AMM of the
MKLP and it was important to watch and discuss developments to see
how the wording panned out. On a personal level I was happy with the
motion, it leaves all options on the table and has the backing of the
national leadership. I also felt it reflected many of the elements contained
in the motion passed at the AMM.

I was also able to attend two training sessions on the Tuesday. One was
with one of the experts behind the Organise system and featured one to
one training that was really helpful for me with lots to pass back to the
Party. The other on campaigning was also very useful.

On Wednesday there were closing speeches including that of the leader

and a get together to sing the Red Flag. The atmosphere in the Hall was
fantastic. We left in high spirits ready to work even harder in Milton
Keynes so that we have Labour voices to represent our city at every level
and transform our society and communities to meet the needs of
everyone.
Afterword

It is critical that MKLP adopt rules and, or, standing orders for the way in
which delegates are elected and attend Conference. There was confusion
at the AGM in June as to how many (and who) should attend. This needs
resolving so that we are clear which Officers (if any) have the right to
attend elements of conference. We must also be clear about the financial
impact of sending lots of delegates to conference, although I hope this
year we have demonstrated that it can be done on a modest budget. This
year was understandably fraught with Brexit dominating a lot of the
discourse around conference. Again MKLP rules would be helpful in
clarifying the responsibilities of delegates, without them we deferred to
the advice from SE Region. What one might consider as a pressure on
delegates was reasonable given the prominence of Brexit as an issue
faced not just by our Party but across the country. However I felt (as did
other delegates) that such pressure may have crossed a line on occasion
and the best way to deal with this is to have robust rules and standing
orders should debates of such magnitude occur again. In conclusion my
thanks to all members who enabled me to have this experience.

In solidarity – James
19/10/2018