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LRC Annual Conference report

11th November 2012

Over 200 LRC members and delegates from affiliated organisations attended the annual conference on Saturday 10 November at Conway Hall in London.

In the morning session, conference passed the National Committee statement moved by John McDonnell MP, which set out 14 action points for the incoming National Committee to take forward. This was followed by an impromptu speech from Tony Benn (watch John and Tony’s speeches here). Conference also passed motions 8, 9, 12 and 17 - the latter two unanimously (see resolutions booklet for full text of all motions).

A panel discussion with Labour councillors from Broxtowe, Hull, Islington and Preston followed, which discussed local government strategy, including how Labour councils and councillors can resist the cuts (watch the video here). Conference then passed motions 1, 2, 6, 10 and 11 (see resolutions booklet for full text of all motions).

In the final morning session, FBU general secretary Matt Wrack spoke on trade union strategy and the importance of co-ordinated action (watch video). After which, conference voted down motion 3, and passed emergency motion 3 from CWU on Virgin Media’s attempts to de-recognise unions.

After lunch, conference heard from former LRC vice chair and TUC general council member Maria Exall and from Ellen Clifford from Disabled People Against Cuts speak about the importance of equalities in our campaigning against cuts (watch Maria and Ellen’s speeches). Conference carried National Committee motion 1 which establishes equalities caucuses within the constitution and commits to building LRC Youth, and motion 13.

In the international session introduced and chaired by Jeremy Corbyn MP, conference heard from Raquel Garrido of Front de Gauche, Florian Wilde of Die Linke and Stathis Kouvelakis of Syriza (watch Raquel Garrido, introduced by Jeremy Corbyn MP). Following this speakers from Colombia outlined their struggles in defending their communities and industries against the mining industry. Motions NC2, 4, 5 and 7 were carried (see resolutions booklet for full text of all motions) as well as emergency motions 1 and 2.

Conference endorsed the decision of the National Committee to adopt Labour Briefing, following the Labour Briefing AGM voting to transfer to the LRC. This meant that motion 15 fell, and conference also voted down motion 16 (see resolutions booklet for full text of all motions).

Finally, conference carried motion 14 which amends the constitution to allow amendments to motions in future years. As well as discussing policy and constitutional issues, conference also elected a new National Committee, including equalities seats, and half of the Labour Briefing editorial board (the other half is delegated by the National Committee). Full results of all contested elections are copied below:

Vice Chair
Graham Durham, 29 votes
Norrette Moore, 41 votes
Susan Press, 66 votes - ELECTED
Marshajane Thompson, 81 votes - ELECTED

National Committee Section B (individual members)
Andrew Berry, 48 votes - ELECTED
Gerry Downing, 17 votes
Graham Durham, 20 votes
Austin Harney, 40 - ELECTED
Stan Keable, 22 votes
Jenny Lennox, 56 votes - ELECTED
Rhiannon Lowton, 39 votes - ELECTED
Mike Phipps, 52 votes - ELECTED
*Susan Press, 51 votes, ELECTED VICE CHAIR
Francis Prideaux, 52 votes - ELECTED
John Sweeney, 22 votes
*Marshajane Thompson, 59 votes, ELECTED VICE CHAIR
Lizzie Woods, 61 votes - ELECTED

National Committee Section C (general affiliates)
Kevin Bennett, 21 votes - ELECTED
Simon Crew, 7 votes
Patrick Hall, 11 votes
Alex Halligan, 13 votes
Gary Heather, 22 votes - ELECTED
Sacha Ismail, 8 votes
Jon Lansman, 15 votes - ELECTED
Nick Parnell, 8 votes
Jon Rogers, 20 votes - ELECTED
Steve Turner, 15 votes - ELECTED
John Wiseman, 22 votes - ELECTED
Phil Wiseman, 13 votes

National Committee Section D (equalities seats)
Disability
Thomas Butler, 47 votes
John Sweeney, 48 votes - ELECTED
Youth
Liam McNulty, 37 votes
Max Shanly, 44 votes - ELECTED

Labour Briefing editorial board
Graham Bash, 77 votes - ELECTED
Graham Durham, 33 votes
Andrew Fisher, 76 votes - ELECTED
Stan Keable, 22 votes
Mike Phipps, 51 votes - ELECTED
John Wiseman, 40 votes

For full details of all candidates and those elected unopposed, see the Elections Booklet.

Background

The LRC is supporting a broad alliance of campaign groups and trade unions against the proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill (currently before Parliament) and putting forward our alternative based on social justice and welfare for all. [continue...]

Across the country working people are losing their jobs and their homes. Meanwhile the bankers who plunged us into this crisis have been bailed out with billions of pounds of our money. It’s time to fight back. Their Crisis Not Ours! is the LRC’s campaign to bring together workers, pensioners, the unemployed, students, those facing repossession and all those suffering because of an economic crisis that has been imposed on us. The campaign is supporting the demands of the People’s Charter. [continue...]

Rail bosses are using the recession as an excuse to attack jobs and conditions and cut back on services and essential rail works, and hike rail fares - as LEAP research suggested they would. Thousands of jobs are being threatened or have been lost. At the same time rail fat cats are raking in big profits and bonuses on the back of the most expensive fares in Europe. Make no mistake: as the recession worsens so will the attack on rail workers and rail services. [continue...]

The campaign calling on the Government to abandon its plans for privatisation of Royal Mail. The Government has introduced the Postal Services Bill to part-privatise the Royal Mail. With our affiliate union CWU we are fighting to Keep the Post Public! [continue...]

The campaign to demand the Government funds improvements to all existing council housing, and to start building first class council homes to address housing need. For more information see Defend Council Housing website. [continue...]