National Executive Committee of the Labour Party (UK)

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The National Executive Committee (NEC) is the governing body of the UK Labour Party, setting the overall strategic direction of the party and policy development. Its composition has changed over the years, and includes representatives of affiliated trade unions, the Parliamentary Labour Party, constituency Labour parties (CLP), and socialist societies, as well as ex officio members such as the party Leader and Deputy Leader and several of their appointees.

History

During the 1980s, the NEC had a major role in policy-making and was often at the heart of disputes over party policy.Template:Citation needed

In 1997, under Tony Blair's new party leadership, the General Secretary Tom Sawyer enacted the Partnership in Power reforms.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This rebalanced the NEC's membership, including by reducing trade union membership to a minority for the first time in its history. The reforms also introduced new seats: two for local government, three for the Parliamentary Party, three for the (Shadow) Cabinet, and one for the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP). Until these reforms, Member of Parliament could stand for CLP section seats on the NEC, but thereafter MPs and MEPs could not stand in this section.<ref name=independent-19970930>Template:Cite news</ref> Moreover, under Blair, the committee's role declined. Its former policy development function is now largely carried out by the National Policy Forum.Template:Citation needed One of its committees has disciplinary powers including the ability to expel members of the party who have brought it into disrepute or to readmit previously expelled members. However, the NEC remains the administrative authority of the party.Template:Citation needed

In 2007, a new seat on the NEC was made for the Black Socialist Society, now known as BAME Labour.<ref name="labour-uncut">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2016, two new seats, one each for Scottish Labour and Welsh Labour, were added.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The 2017 Conference saw the creation of four additional NEC seats: one in the trade union section and three in the CLP section. Although the additional union seat was elected at Conference, the extra CLP seats were not elected until January 2018.

In November 2020, following the Brexit withdrawal agreement ending UK representation within the European Parliament and ending the European Parliamentary Labour Party, the single seat on the NEC for the EPLP leader was replaced by a new disability representative.Template:Citation needed

The Labour History Archive and Study Centre at the People's History Museum in Manchester has the full run of the minutes of the National Executive Committee in their collection.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Organisation

NEC Officers

Template:As of, the Officers of the NEC are:<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Joint Policy Committee

The Joint Policy Committee (JPC) has strategic oversight of policy development in the party through overseeing the rolling programme of Partnership in Power. The JPC acts as the steering group for the National Policy Forum. It is therefore a joint committee made up of NEC, Government and National Policy Forum representatives.

NEC sub-committees

The following are sub-committees of the NEC:<ref name=":0" />

Equalities Committee

The Equalities Committee responsibilities and roles include:

  • Women's recruitment, retention and participation in the party in elected office and the development of women's forums at local level
  • Black, Asian and ethnic minority recruitment, retention and participation in the party
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender representation and participation within the party
  • Disability access and increased representation and participation of members with disabilities
  • Considering effective party responses to Employment Framework Directive based on Article 13 (Treaty on European Union) and the European Union Action Programme to Combat Discrimination
  • Responsibility for driving the Party's equality agenda and the development of an inclusive organisation at all levels
  • Link with Organisation Committee and Young Labour Co-ordinating Committee on issues of age discrimination
  • Biannual women's forum
  • Biannual ethnic minorities forum

Business Board

The Business Board is responsible for overseeing the business functions of the organisation including the management of the finances.

Audit, Risk Management and Compliance Committee

The Audit, Risk Management and Compliance Committee has responsibility for audit and compliance oversight, and is accountable for internal audit procedures providing a systematic approach to risk management in all of the party's activities. The committee ensures that the Labour Party's financial activities are within the law, and that an effective system of internal control is maintained.

Organisation Sub-Committee

The Organisation Sub Committee is a sub-committee of the NEC (generally known as Org Sub) and is responsible for party rules and constitution; ensuring parties are operating effectively throughout the country to the highest standards and has overall responsibility for membership, investigations, selections, Conferences, electoral law, boundaries strategy and internal elections.

Complaints & Disciplinary Sub-committee

The NEC Complaints & Disciplinary Sub-committee is a sub-committee of the NEC Organisation Sub-committee which hears membership appeals; re-admission applications; party disputes and conciliation; minor investigations and local government appeals where referred to the NEC. It operates in a quasi-judicial fashion, conducting hearings and interviews around the country where necessary.

Membership

Excluding ex officio members, NEC members are elected by their respective constituencies, and each serve a two-year term.<ref name="Members of the NEC" /> Template:As of, the NEC has 39 members, as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The General Secretary of the Labour Party acts as the non-voting secretary to the NEC,<ref name="Members of the NEC"/> the Chief Whip and the PLP Chair also attend as non-voting members.<ref name="Members of the NEC" />

Current members

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Leader of the Labour Party
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Treasurer
  • Mike Payne
House of Commons Front Bench
Young Labour Representative
  • Elsie Greenwood
Disabled Members Representative
  • Ellen Morrison-Smith
BAME Representative
  • Carol Sewell
Division I – Trade Unions
Division II – Socialist Societies
Division III – Constituency Labour Parties
  • Cat Arnold
  • Jessica Barnard
  • Ann Black
  • Gemma Bolton
  • Yasmine Dar
  • Angie Davies
  • Abdi Duale
  • Peter Mason
  • Jane Thomas
Division IV – Labour Councillors
  • Cllr Claire Holland
  • Cllr Peter Wheeler
Division V – Parliamentary Labour Party
Scottish Labour and Welsh Labour

In addition, the General Secretary (Hollie Ridley), the PLP Chief Whip (Jonathan Reynolds MP), and PLP Chair (Jessica Morden MP) attend ex officio without a vote.

Chair of the National Executive Committee

The chair of the party is elected by the NEC from among its own members, and holds office for a calendar year, chairing both NEC meetings and national party conferences.

The name of this post has become confused since 2001 when Labour Party leader Tony Blair appointed Charles Clarke to the courtesy position of Chair of the Labour Party without the NEC or the national conference authorising such a position.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The office's name remains "chair of the party" in the Labour Party Constitution, but elsewhere the party presents the position as "Chair of the NEC".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to 2001 the position was called "Chair of the Labour Party", and before that "Chairman of the Labour Party".

List of chairs of the Labour Party National Executive Committee

Chairmen of the Annual Conference of the Labour Representation Committee<ref>'British Political Facts 1900–1994', Butler & Butler 1994, PP144-5</ref>

1900: William Charles Steadman MP
1901: John Hodge
1902: William John Davis
1903: Joseph Nicholas Bell
1904: John Hodge
1905: Arthur Henderson MP

Chairmen of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Representation Committee<ref>Kevin Jefferys, Leading Labour: From Keir Hardie to Tony Blair, p.4</ref>

1900: William Charles Steadman MP
1901: Allan Gee
1902: Richard Bell MP
1903: John Hodge
1904: David J. Shackleton
1905: Arthur Henderson MP

Chairmen of the Annual Conference of the Labour Party<ref>'British Political Facts 1900–1994', Butler & Butler 1994, pp.144–5 for the period down to 1993</ref><ref name="Members of the NEC">Template:Cite web</ref>

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See also

Notes

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References

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Further reading

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