Partnership in Power, the new way of making policy agreed at our annual Conference in 1997, is designed to ensure the party and the Government stay connected all year round. It is more inclusive because every member can have their say; more considered because it takes place over a period of years rather than hours; and is fairer because weight of opinion is more important than force of opinion.
In the past, the views of ordinary members were largely ignored except at Conference, where getting your view across was little more than a lottery. At a local level there were no real policy debates – it was more a case of passing resolutions which were unlikely to have any impact on policy. As a result, the party in government became detached from the party in the country and policy was shaped by the few, rather than the many.
In all, around 40,000 members have taken part in thousands of local policy forums together with community figures, councillors, MPs, MEPs, ministers and affiliates. And, by inviting community leaders to join the discussions, they also keep the new Labour Government in touch with the wider electorate, ensuring that Labour always remains the people’s party.
Each policy area is considered over a two year period.
In the first year, documents are subject to a wide-ranging consultation at local policy forums. The process encourages the party to be outward-looking and to form and strengthen external relationships, for instance with local schools and health services.
The second year of the cycle is more formal, culminating in a full debate and decision at annual Conference. Having reflected on the submissions and discussions at Conference at the end of the first year cycle, the policy commission presents a re-drafted policy document to the National Policy Forum (NPF). Once agreed, this document is widely distributed throughout the party and affiliated organisations for the formal consultation.
The submitted views and amendments are compiled and presented to the policy commission. In the light of this information the commission draws together a final draft for the NPF. The NPF then agrees further amendments and a final policy document is drawn up for debate at Conference. This year the NPF debated amendments made to six policy documents:
- Britain in the world
- Democracy and citizenship
- Economic policy
- Education and employment
- Environment, transport and the regions
- Industry, culture and agriculture
Out of a total of 658 amendments only sixteen were rejected outright by the NPF; thirteen were rejected in favour of alternative words agreed by the majority of other proposers on the same issue or the Joint Policy Commission; two were agreed as majority positions and seven were agreed as alternative positions.
The majority positions, because they received more that 50 percent support, passed straight into the policy documents. They were on reducing the age at which you can stand for public office to eighteen and reviewing the use of utility standing charges.
The seven alternative positions, which received less than 50 percent support, will go forward to Conference for voting. They were on lowering the voting age to sixteen; tougher fines for polluters; an extension of Sure Start; House of Lords reform; rail safety; an extension of the New Deal for Schools repairs programme; and local government finance.
Partnership into Power ensured that annual Conference remained the sovereign body of the party, as it has been throughout history.
At last year’s Conference three final policy documents were voted on – health, welfare, and crime and justice. This year delegates will discuss the six final policy documents and the alternative positions plus reports from the health, welfare, and crime and justice policy commissions.
This year’s Conference is the third conference to run under Partnership in Power and marks the end of our first rolling programme. The policy platform upon which the Labour Party will fight the next General Election will be finalised.