Passed by the 1997 annual conference, Partnership in Power laid the foundations for Labour’s policymaking in government.
Since 1997, there has been a great deal of effort to involve party members in local policy forums and in the elections for the National Policy Forum. But in the first phase of Partnership in Power there were also attempts to steer the NPF in certain directions, to sit on dissenters and to curtail open debate. This heavy-handed approach only served to damage the reputation of the whole process.
Since the launch of Partnership in Power phase 2, after the 2001 election, improvements have been made to the process. The documents, which in the past had been written by policy wonks in a style that made them inaccessible to ordinary members, are now more open and colourful. There are also signs that the level of member engagement in the process has increased, with more CLPs and other groups holding forums and making submissions. But it is still only a small percentage of members who are getting involved.
It is up to members to make the system work, to breathe new life into its workings and to ensure it stays democratic and accountable, and not the creature of any one special interest.
The NPF is the main component of the policymaking process. It has been revised since 1997 and today contains 183 members. The chair of the NPF is Ian McCartney, who is also the party chair. The vice chairs are Ann Snelgrove and Danny Carrigan. There are many paths to serving on the NPF but it is not a simple system, which may contribute to the lack of understanding amongst many party members.
One way sees councillors elected onto the NPF by members of the Association of Labour Councillors. The unions, the Co-operative party, Black Socialist Society and other socialist societies elect their representatives according to their own internal rules, usually a ballot of their members.
To be a constituency Labour party candidate, you have to be nominated at the general committee meeting of your own CLP and by at least two others in your Labour party region. Constituency NPF representatives serve for two years. Once nominated, you become a candidate. All the nominated candidates stand for election and are voted for by the delegates from their own region at Labour party conference. The London region annual conference delegates thus elect the London CLP reps on the NPF.
The second way is from your Labour party region. Some regional NPF delegates are appointed at regional conferences, elected in a similar way to those elected at annual conference. Others are elected from their regional board. There is also space for a Young Labour representative. Nomination forms and the timetable for elections to the NPF are available from your Labour party regional office.
MPs and MEPs also sit on the NPF and are selected according to their portfolios. Currently there are nine MPs, six MEPs and eight government representatives out of a total of 183 members.
The NPF meets a number of times each year to debate policy. It handles chunks of policy in waves: each wave of consultation has the potential for all party members and affiliates to have their say. Between 1997 and 2001, all areas of policy were debated and formed the 2001 general election manifesto. Eight policy commissions have been established by the NPF to cover different aspects of policy in more detail and to receive policy submissions from local Labour parties.
Each policy commission contains three government representatives, three NEC members and four NPF representatives, with some allowed larger membership to cover a broader portfolio. The first wave of policy documents discussed between 2001 and 2003 were:
• Britain in the world
• Democracy, citizenship and political engagement
• Prosperity for all
• Improving health and social care
• A modern welfare state
The second wave, which started in 2003, is discussing the following policy documents:
• Crime and justice
• Economy and work
• Education and skills
• Transport, local government, housing and the regions
• Quality of life
These documents are consulted on widely in the first year, with outside interests and bodies invited to have their say. In the second year, the documents are discussed within the Labour party only.
As well as having a large input into redrafting the policy documents in the early stage, the NPF can also make specific textual amendments to the final policy documents.
When an amendment is endorsed by a majority of the NPF, it is incorporated into the main text of the relevant document before it is put before conference.
When an amendment has not been endorsed but has a significant amount of support amongst the NPF members, it goes forward as an option within the policy document for annual conference. These amendments, known as minority positions, then get debated and voted upon at conference.
Documents are ultimately debated and voted on at the annual Labour party conference. By the time of the next general election, the Labour party will have a comprehensive programme of policies, which can be set out in the manifesto, campaigned for by Labour candidates and activists, and answer the voters’ questions: ‘What does Labour stand for and what will Labour do in government?’