Brad Baines, Milton Keynes South CLP – Delegate Report

Firstly, I would like to thank the members of Milton Keynes South CLP for choosing to send me, as
the local Party’s Youth Officer, to Conference. It was the first time I have been able to attend a full
Conference and I greatly appreciate being given the opportunity to represent local members.

I greatly enjoyed my time at Conference and made sure to make attend as many fringe and training
events as possible during the lunchtime break and in the evenings. It was amazing to hear about
the huge number of ideas coming from across the movement and insights from fellow members
and activists about how we win the next General Election and transform this country in the
interests of the many. I was however disappointed to see that, despite our great success at the
last General Election, the party that is still far too obsessed with internal rules and procedures as
part of factional squabbles rather than working together to build a radical programme that we can
put to the country.

My personal highlights of the Conference were the speeches by Shadow Chancellor John
McDonnell and Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Keir Starmer. It was
great to hear McDonnell outline innovative new policies to democratise our economy and diversify
company ownership, along many of the lines being put forward by our sister party the Cooperative
Party. Similarly, it was fantastic to hear Keir Starmer announce that we will oppose any Tory Brexit
and will be campaigning for a future relationship with Europe that reflects our values of
internationalism and solidarity be it in a General Election or in a public vote on the final Brexit deal.

My governing ethos whilst at Conference was that across our delegation we should aim to
represent the broad range of views of the local membership, whilst respecting views explicitly
expressed by members through motions at preceding All Members Meetings. I was conscious to
make sure that any votes I took would be in the best interests of the Party as a whole – prioritising
Party cohesion, positive public perception and a broad electoral appeal.

Votes at Conference
Day One – Sunday 23rd September

Priorities Ballot (Ballot Vote – One per CLP)

Vote: Brexit, Housing, Schools and Windrush

I was proud that the delegation from Milton Keynes South CLP agreed to support a non-factional
selection of issues for the priorities ballot and that Brexit was rightfully included as one of those
issues, especially after members passed a motion on Brexit, that should have been submitted to
Conference, at the preceding All Members Meeting.

Page 1 of 11
Result:

When the result was announced I was very disheartened to see that CLP delegates had chosen to
prioritise Palestine over Brexit, an inherently time-sensitive issue, and the NHS, Labour’s proudest
legacy.

Day One – Sunday 23rd September

Card Vote 9: Vote on Accepting CAC Report (Agenda for Conference)

Position: For

Unlike the rest of the delegates from Milton Keynes, I voted in favour of the CAC Report.
Torpedoing the agenda of Conference for the factional reasons would have significantly
undermined the running of conference and would have had a detrimental effect on the time
available to delegates to debate the Democracy Review Proposals being put before us by the NEC.
I have seen the damaging effects of impact factional infighting surrounding the agenda first hand
at NUS National Conference and was unwilling to see Conference disrupted in such a way.

The main criticism raised at the CAC was that constitutional changes from the NEC, decided upon
the night before, had been given precedent over CLP submitted proposals that had to be
submitted weeks in advance. This would mean that if NEC proposals on changes to the ‘trigger
ballot’ process for MP’s re-selection were agreed to, the Conference would be unable to debate
proposals for mandatory reselection of MPs. I did not find this reason compelling enough to
suspend Conference as the pre-eminence of the NEC is enshrined in the Party Rulebook and so it
is unlikely the CAC would have been able to rearrange Conference as delegates would have
wished. Similarly, since Conference has no official standing orders it remains unclear whether such

Page 2 of 11
alternative proposals would even be possible according to established convention. I am glad,
however that these problems will be rectified or at least clarififed after Conference passed a
constitutional motion by Islington North and South Derbyshire CLPs for the NEC to draw up official
standing orders for Conference as part of Card Vote 13, which I supported. I did, however,
sympathise with the other main criticism raised by delegates, that the CAC had not made the
report available to delegates in an accessible format to those with visual impairments before the
start of Conference, but did not believe that this was reason enough by itself to delay the start of
Conference.

Result:

I was very disappointed to hear, following the announcement, many delegates attacking and
criticising the unions for their decision to vote for the Report, with some going as far as to shout
“traitors” at union delegates. I also dismayed to overhear many delegates calling into question the
party-union link following the vote. The Party’s direct links with the Trade Union Movement is the
means by which the Labour Party remains embedded at the heart of the labour movement with
its ear to the ground and can legitimately claim to be the ‘voice of working people’. The Trade
Unions created the Labour Party for this very reason. Any step towards dissolution of this
important and historic link would only go to undermine the ability of the party to represent
ordinary working people and legitimise the Tory attack that Trade Unions are sectional interests
and unrepresentative. We can only create the fairer country we all strive for through a strong
Labour movement.

Day One – Sunday 23rd September

NEC Constitution Amendments (Part of ongoing Democracy Review)

NEC Recommendation: For all items

 Card Vote 1: Individual Members’ Rights: For

 Card Vote 2: Local Structures: CLPs (CLP and Branch structure): For
 Card Vote 3: Regional Structures: For

Page 3 of 11
 Card Vote 4: National Structures: NEC: For
 Card Vote 5: National Structures: National Conferences: For
 Card Vote 6: National Structures: Leadership Elections: For

Increasing the role of CLPs and affiliates in the nomination process for Leadership Elections
would strengthen the party-union link and empower local CLPs. It is right that candidates for
Leader or Deputy Leader of the Labour Party should have union support.

 Card Vote 7: National Constitutional Committee: For

 Card Vote 8: Westminster Selections: Against

Reducing the threshold for the ‘trigger ballot’ process for the reselection of MPs to just a third of
either CLP or affiliate branches would bias the reselection system against MPs as only a small
number of members of affiliate members, far less than a majority, could force a full selection.
This would fundamentally change the meaning of the reselection process and would enable it
more easily to be used for faction ends. The requirement for majority support for reselection in
the current ‘trigger ballot’ process ensures that that only MPs who brought the Party into
disrespect, have been caught in scandal or otherwise failed in their Parliamentary duties are at
risk of deselection.

Results:

Page 4 of 11
Page 5 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Day Two – Monday 24th September

National Auditor Election (Ballot Vote):

Myself and James Barrett, your other delegate to Conference unanimously agreed the CLP’s vote
would go to Steve Jennings and Chris Kitchen.

Policy Motions:

Day Two – Monday 24th September

Contemporary Composite 1 – Housing: For

Contemporary Composite 2 – An Economy for the Many: For

Emergency Motion – Grenfell Fire: For

Emergency Motion – Industrial Crisis in the Car Industry: For

Contemporary Composite 3 – In-work poverty: For

Contemporary Composite 4 – Schools System: For

Day Three – Tuesday 25th September

Contemporary Composite 5 - Brexit: For

Contemporary Composite 6 – Government Contracts: For

Contemporary Composite 7 - Government Contracts: For

Contemporary Composite 8 - Justice for the Windrush Generation: For

Contemporary Composite 9 - Palestine: For

NPF Reports Refer backs

Day Three – Tuesday 25th September

I was proud to support three reference backs on the Early Years, Education & Skills Commission
report surrounding phasing out Grammar Schools, supporting inclusive learning in schools and
rolling back academisation. It is essential that all children are able to get a fantastic comprehensive
education regardless of where they come from, their background or ability.

National Constitutional Committee Election (Ballot Vote):

Day Three – Tuesday 25th September

NCC Division III CLPs

My preferred candidate in the CAC election was longstanding Aldershot councillor and Chair of
South East Labour Keith Dibble.

Since the NCC election ballot vote was done by ballot vote and there was only one vote by CLP and
myself and James Barrett, your other delegate, did not agree on a joint candidate we flipped a coin
to decide. I lost the coin toss and thus the final vote was for Daniel Blaney.

Page 7 of 11
Conference Arrangements Committee Elections (Ballot Vote):

CAC Members (5) – Elected by all delegates

In order to come to a fair decision between us, myself and James Barrett decided to split the ballot
in half.

Final votes:

Harry Donaldson GMB, UNISON, USDAW

Lynne Morris UNISON, USDAW
Tracey Fussey CWU, UNITE
Emily Rowles UNISON, UNITE, USDAW
Catharine Grundy-Glew Socialist Health Association

CLP Constitutional Amendments

Card Vote 10: Conditions of Membership

NEC Recommendation: Oppose

Vote: Against

This proposal would have allowed members of the Labour Party to be members of other political
parties which compete against the Party.

Card Vote 12: Conference Delegates

NEC Recommendations: Oppose

Vote: Against

This proposal would have removed the requirement for conference delegations to be at least 50%
women. This would have undermined our party’s commitment to equality.

Card Vote 13: Procedural Rules for Conference

NEC Recommendation: Support

Vote: For

This proposal instructed the NEC to draw up standardised procedural rules for conference.

Card Vote 14: Constitutional Amendments at Conference

NEC Recommendation: Support

Vote: Against

This proposal was to remove the one year waiting cycle for motions to be submitted to Conference.
I opposed this proposal as constitutional amendments should command the long-term confidence
of the party membership. This prevents the Party’s Constitution being used for factional ends.

Card Vote 16: Election of Deputy Leader

NEC Recommendation: Oppose

Page 8 of 11
Vote: Against

This proposal would have introduced a very complicated process for the election of Leader and
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the aim of ensuring a gender balanced leadership team. A
better system would be for the national party to introduce a rule similar to that of the Welsh
Labour Party to ensure a balanced leadership team without simultaneous elections.

Card Vote 22: Selection of Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies

NEC Recommendation: Oppose

Vote: Against

This proposal would have allowed CLPs to not stand candidates in a General Election for tactical
purposes. This runs contrary to the very founding principles of the Labour Party to win elections
and get Labour MPs elected.

Results:

Page 9 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Other Activities:

As previously mentioned alongside business in the Conference Hall, I attended numerous fringe
sessions, training sessions and evening get togethers. On the Saturday, I also attended numerous
talks at the World Transformed Festival. You can find a list of some of the sessions I attended
below:

Saturday 24th September

 Update the Welfare State - Stewart Lansley, Dan Carden MP, Gail Ward, Anna Dent, Will
Stronge (The World Transformed)
 Where Next for the European Left? - Fabio De Masi, Pernille Skipper, Marta Fana, Ronan
Burtenshaw, Djordje Kuzmanovic, Idoia Villanuev (The World Transformed)
 Unofficial Young Labour Social hosted by Jawad Khan & George Aylett
 LGBT Labour: The Only Party In The Village

Day One – Sunday 25th September

 Young Labour: Transforming our Society Fringe

 We're making an EUge mistake: LGBT Labour Fringe
 Squeezing Your Opposition: Combatting Third Parties (Labour Party Training Session)
 Young Labour Rally 2018 ft. Sadiq Khan & Emily Thornberry
 Progressive Europe: Making Social Democracy a Reality (Fabian Society)
 Young Fabian & Co-operative Party Youth Social

Day Two – Monday 24th September

 Democratic Public Ownership for the 21st Century - Anneliese Dodds MP, Dave Ward,
Claire McCarthy & Miatta Fahnbulleh (Cooperative Party & CWU)
 The Path to 325: Where Does Labour Need to Win? (LabourList)
 A Celebration of Labour in Europe ft. Richard Corbett MEP, Tom Watson MP & Frances
O’Grady (European Parliamentary Labour Party)
 Cooperative Party: Annual Conference Party

Day Three – Tuesday 25th September

 How to become a Labour Councillor (Association of Labour Councillors/Local Government

Association)
 Making self-employment work (The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self
Employed & Cooperative Party)
 How Can Labour Revive the Trade Union Movement? Priorities for the Next Manifesto? ft.
James Bloodworth, Angela Eagle MP & Mike Clancy (Prospect/ Smith Institute)
 LGBT Labour and Stonewall Come Out for LGBT: Building Britain's leadership on LGBT
Equality
 The Fabian Party (The Fabian Society)

Final Thanks:

Once again, I would just like to thank the member of Milton Keynes South CLP for choosing to send
me to Conference and I hope I did a good job of representing the broad-tent membership of our
local party.

Page 11 of 11