Labour’s annual conference is going back to being in person this year (after 2020’s ‘Connected’).

Each year, Conference is a significant opportunity to influence the direction of the party in many ways and this one is set to be one of the most significant for some time.

At this week’s CLP meeting, we approved the following resolutions related to Conference…

Emergency Motion

The AUKUS Security Pact

1. Conference notes

a) the Prime Minister’s announcement on 14 September that the AUKUS military pact will see Australia develop, in collaboration with the UK and the US, a new capability of nuclear-powered submarines which will include the supply of weapons grade enriched uranium; and

b) that this is to replace the contract for non-nuclear-powered submarines which Australia placed with France, causing damage to both Anglo-Sino and Anglo-French relations.

2. Conference believes

c) that this is a dangerous move which contradicts the Prime Minister’s statement that ‘this will promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region’;

d) that supplying weapons grade uranium to a non-nuclear weapons state to power military submarines is in breach of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty which stipulates that exchange of nuclear technology must be for peaceful purposes; and

e) that this is a further breach of international law by this government.

3. Conference resolves

f) to oppose this agreement and to take appropriate moves to de-escalate the situation in support of the Labour Party’s stated aim of supporting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; and

g) to take steps to repair the diplomatic damage done in the process.

CLP Motions

To refuse endorsement of David Evans to be submitted to the NEC

‘Beverley and Holderness CLP, notes that Annual Conference will be asked (as per the rulebook), to endorse David Evans as General Secretary. We believe that the uncomradely and divisive activity under David’s stewardship has been damaging to Party unity. We therefore advise our delegates to vote against his endorsement.’

To reject proposals for new leadership election rules

That Beverley and Holderness CLP:

1. Notes with dismay and offence suggestions* that the Party’s National Executive may move a rule change at national conference, to the effect of abolishing the present “One Member One Vote” system of electing the Party’s leader, and of replacing it with an electoral college composed of CLPs, the Parliamentary Party, and trade unions, represented in the proportion of ⅓ each

2. Regards any such proposal as an unacceptable erosion of members’ democratic rights, and as antithetical to the values of the Labour Party

3. Opposes resolutely any such proposal in the strongest possible terms

4. Demands that the National Executive reject proposals for any such rule change at its upcoming meeting on the 24th September

5. Requests that its delegation to national conference cast its vote against any such proposals as may be moved by the National Executive

6. Calls on all delegations from other CLPs, and on comrades in trade union delegations, to also cast their votes against any such proposals.”