27/09/2016 - Live Morning Session Labour Party Conference

Good morning conference and welcome to this session. We'll start by

receiving a report of the conference arrangement committee so please

welcome the chair of the committee, Harry Donaldson.

APPLAUSE. Thanks, chair. Conference formally

moving CSA 3. CSA are pleased to timetable today two NEC statements,

the first is a statement on the leader's policy plan and is shown on

pages 9-11 of the report. The second is an NEC statement on international

trade shown on page 11. The number of composite motions are timetabled

this morning. There'll be a debate on the NHS composite as part of the

health and care debate. We'll then hear speeches from the

Shadow leader of the House, Paul Flynn, TUC President, Liz Snape,

cooperative party speaker Gareth Thomas and Mayor of London, Sadiq

Khan. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Votes will then be taken on the NEC statements, contemporary composite

9, the health and care policy commission, contemporary composite 7

and the NEC and CLP rule changes. NEC and CLP rule changes are

detailed in appendix 1 2 on pages 19-32. The NE Cancer Research

recommendations are shown on page 12 and will be shown on the screen

during the votes. This afternoon the composite on

grammar schools will be debated as part of the education and children

policy commission. The composite on energy will also be debated this

afternoon. Composite motions can be found on pages 13-17 of the report.

This afternoon, we'll hear speeches from Deputy Leader Tom Watson and

Mayor of Bristol, Martin Rhys. APPLAUSE.

Conference will adjourn at 4pm for policy seminars. The details of

which can be found on page 8 of the report.

The CSE has considered 14 emergency motions detailed on page 18. The CSC

has a further one emergency motion to consider today.

Today's ballot is for a national constitutional committee, CLP

section and voting takes place between 9 and 4 and is is for the

CLP delegates only. Conference, I move CSE 3.

APPLAUSE. Thank you, Harry. Does anyone wish

to ask any questions about any points on the conference's

arrangements committee report? Well, there's an elephant in the

room, it seems to me. I was expecting that if we are going to be

talking about constitutional amendments, that somewhere would

appear Tom Watson's proposals on the Shadow Cabinet, but it doesn't

appear at all. APPLAUSE.

I thought, as a party, we'd move to be putting everything before

conference again. This is a major, major change being proposed by Tom

Watson and it's known about, it's a constitutional amendment, we should

be talking about it. We'll have different views about it, I accept

that, but it should be discussed and it isn't being discussed today.

I have my own take on it, I won't elaborate at length but if we

compare the general election to a boat race, or THE boat race and we

have Theresa May as Cox of one boat and Jeremy Corbyn as Cox of

another... Please just make the point. If Jeremy Corbyn's boat is

rowing in the opposite direction, it could sink. That's my point.

APPLAUSE. Colleagues, please, make your points

brief. Newbury Plc. Is it the case that if

delegates wish to street against one of the NEC's constitutional

amendments, we need to vote against all of them -- wish to vote against.

I ask for clarification was a I don't want to be forced to throw the

baby out with the bath water. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Good morning, conference. I hope you had a good night. I had a great one.

Chair, conference, you know, Manuel core Tess salary association, my

union put forward a very simple but very clear emergency motion, an

emergency motion that would have allowed you to t decision-makers, to

consider each and every constitutional amendment on its

merits, rather than have them all put together.

APPLAUSE. You know, no doubt, to doubt, no

doubt they are going to come and tell you that we've always done it

like this, but doing it like this has landed us in hot water. We were

at the High Court not that long ago trying to get a judge to interpret

the rules. The reasons for that is because probably they were passed in

haste in this place in a block. We need to learn. We need to learn from

our mistakes. And that's why with a heavy heart,

because I don't want to disrupt conference, everybody's enjoying

this week, I think the Labour Party is coming back together behind our

leader and that's great news, but with a heavy heart I am moving a

reference back and it should be on a card vote.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. First time delegate.

APPLAUSE. . Conference, as a first time

delegate, I'm dismayed by the amount of time we are going to spend

talking about procedure. APPLAUSE.

I'd quite like to spend the time debating the policies of the day

that are going to make a difference for the people in this country and

not talk about internal policy. Thank you.

APPLAUSE. Good morning, everybody. Mike Payne,

GMB and also the voice chair of the Welsh executive. Conference, we've

got a lot of things to get on with today. I just wanted to give

conference some information. For two years, we have been talking to

national offices, the Welsh Labour Party, about the amendments you have

in front of you today. We were given assurances by both the leader and

the Deputy Leader, that we would see these amendments supported. Those

discussions were led by the regional secretary of Unite in Wales, and

those assurances were given to him. We have had two NEC votes on these

amendments. We have had a CAC report on Monday. It's about time we

stopped the provarietication, comrades, and got on with it.

APPLAUSE. Colleagues, can I ask those coming

up to speak to be brief and to the point. There's quite a few wanting

to come in. Good morning conference. CLP, first

time delegate, first National Conference.

I would like to start by saying what a shame this is that some colleagues

here today are trying to block and stop this voting. We are going to

spend far too long debating whether we can vote on single motions

instead of voting as a block vote. We need to be debating policies to

put them into place to take them forward and make us look like a

Labour Government. APPLAUSE.

This is our one opportunity, conference, to make policy for us

grass roots Labour members to make policy for the year ahead. We need

to start making changes, we have got Jeremy Corbyn as leader, whether we

like it or not, and we need to start...

JEERS We need to go forward, conference,

we need to make some policies and stop debating endless rule changes

which are completely pointless. We need to make policy and go forward

for the year ahead. Colleagues, some individuals are

booing there. Be respectful to the speakers, you may not agree but be

respectful. APPLAUSE.

Martin Phillips new Forest West. Like others, I'm confused about

this. I thought conference's decisions were sovereign. We voted

on this, the NEC voted on this, why the hell are we wasting time going

over and over this again and again just because some people don't like

the result? APPLAUSE.

Conference, George McManus, CLP rep for Beverley. I'm nearly 20 years

representing Yorkshire and Humber Plcs. Conference, the rule book is

what keeps the Labour Party's foundation strong. The rule book

protects us from the anarchy that would attack us and sometimes from

the courts. That's why we've got to get it

right. I'm afraid we have been here before. The method of trying to pass

rule changes on block is something that is not an established protocol

here. Martin's right. Conference is the sovereign body. That's why we

have to get these rule changes spot on.

Presenting them on a take it or leave it basis when the NEC voted 15

for and 15 against, is not a clear decision.

APPLAUSE. Unfortunately the NEC dent put out

minutes of the report that I've had. Accepting this approach will get us

into more trouble. Let conference debate each decision line by line.

APPLAUSE. Colleague, before you start, look,

there's quite a number getting up to speak and I don't want to stifle any

debate, but if your point's been made, please don't repeat it. You're

biting into the conference time. Delegate?

Good morning, conference. I'm Christabell from Hammersmith, a

first time delegate and speaker and I will be brief.

I've been so disappointed that every morning of the conference so far we

have been presented with this motion to reference back which, if it were

passed, would throw the entire business of this conference into

chaos. APPLAUSE.

We have the eyes of the country on us here. A country that is

desperately looking for solutions to its many, many problems. It seems it

makes Labour look pretty self-indulgent and dysfunctional if

all we are doing is having a debate about even whether we have a debate.

APPLAUSE. Please can we just get on with

talking about how we make this country better, rather than just

talking about ourselves? APPLAUSE.

Thank you, Chair, conference. As I'm Aslef. A first-time delegate and

speak. Proposed NEC rule changes are too important and far too dissimilar

to be treated as a single item. APPLAUSE

It's inferred that of they have been presented to us as a take it or

leave it package, given that the proposals range so much. At this

time more than ever, we need to remove the topdown democracy and

avoid more damaging publicity. Do we really need to end up in court

again, given that the rule changes are not that clear?

APPLAUSE Hello conference. Kate Lewis, from

Salford and Eccles CLP. First time delegate and first time speaker.

We should not have to vote for the rule changes as a whole package.

APPLAUSE Some of these rule changes clearly

need debate. Others have come about as a result of debate and

consultations already. Such as the sensible proposal to give women's

conference policy-making powers. APPLAUSE

It is unfair to put delegates here in an untenable position of being

fully supportive of some changes but desires debate for others while

being given no option but to vote for the changes together in their

entirety. APPLAUSE

The only way to solve this conundrum is to have a special conference to

discuss the changes, so any resulting changes would be the

result of fair and democratic process. Respecting the voices and

views of those in our party. As a new delegate, I had hoped my

first time standing here in front of my comrades would be to say

something positive about a way we might improve policy. I'm

disappointed that NICE appearance is to make representation in favour of

democracy, which I would expect to be a given. Thank you.

Smo - that my first appearance is to make representation in favour of

democracy. Morning, comings I'm Samantha bell

mix I'm a first-time delegate I'm from Worsley and he canles CLP. As a

party member and delegate, I feel disenfranchised by my conference

grouping together the rule chavenlingts we are a Democratic

Party. I personally feel you are taking away from us, as members, by

not letting us vote for the changes individually. Thank you.

APPLAUSE. Conference, I urge you to support

the CAC motion. This is democracy in our party. We must fight a united

message. We are a up ieted party. Vote for these, don't delay,

conference, let's get on with policy debate and support the CAC motion.

Hello conference I'm Lee, a first time delegate, fist time speaker.

Also Chair of North West Young Labour and North West Representative

on the national Labour committee. Conference, putting through rule

changes, it's very important to us. We shouldn't have to take the bad

with the good. We should support the transport and salaries staff

association motion to go forward. Devolution is a good thing. I'm from

the North West. We have our own history. Our own dialect. We are our

own people as W but, I shouldn't have to support what is essentially

a stitch-up of the NEC. Conference, if the NEC - it

disenfranchises the members in Wales and Scotland because we'll have the

leader apoint themselves to T we should have member representing -

all members should be able to put themselves forward to represent

their nation. It's common sense. Conference, I move that we put this

to a card vote. Let's put it to bed. It is clearly a contentious issue.

We've had a damaging leadership election. Let's put it to a card

vote, put it to bed and seal the deal. Thank you very much,

conference. APPLAUSE

First time here since 1997. Appalled at the lack of democracy and the

gerrymandering going on in our party. Comrades, I am a militant.

I'm a militant democrat. I believe every one of you should have a vote

on every one of these rule changes. Not be boom boozeled into slipping

through a few things that outgoing members of the NEC would like to put

in place it make a difference to outgrowing democracy. This party is

a Democratic Party. This party should make its rules, at its

conference, one by one, and vote on each one of them. Anything less is

not democratic. It's not right and I urge you to support reference back.

APPLAUSE The The question we all need to ask

ourselves is do we want to Unite this party? Yes. How do we do that?

When people walk out from this room this morning, they need to feel

confident that they have been able to debate and express their views on

a range of different issues and that we come to a democratic decision on

each of those. I said yesterday, very brief li, I think it it applies

to policy well. Rules and policy go hand-in-hand and what this party can

no longer afford to have is a take it or leave it approach, where

people don't feel they have been able to be properly listened to. I

certainly support this reference back.

APPLAUSE Morning conference. Jennifer James,

first time delegate, first time speaker. Thank you.

I support the reference back and the card vote for one simple reason and

this is - yesterday we voted with a show of hands. The Chair thought

that the motion was carried. Some of us thought it was 50-50. Maybe the

other way. But we have speeches, we have awards, we pat ourselves on the

back and that's all marvellous but if there is one thing that it is

worth taking time over, it is democracy. Have a card vote.

APPLAUSE I'm from Streatham London, first

time delegate, first time speaker. Eyed relike to express my support

for the CAC committee and the support Will report they put

together. We elect them. We ask them to prepare and they have. They

ensure the smooth-running of conference. Having set out the

report, I believe that we should now let the debate begin. We go over and

over the report, and this prevents us actually doing what we are here

to do, which about deciding the real business of how we take the fight to

the Tories. Let's not constantly look inwards whilst the Tories are

getting on, in power, making bad decision after bad decision.

APPLAUSE Yes, we have had a summer of

in-fighting but the public are now looking. They are watching us. They

are watching to see if we are serious. They are watching to see if

we can come together. Most importantly. They are watching to

see if we care about the issues as much as our issues. Let's show the

country we are united, we are professional and, yes, we have had

our agreements, but let's go forward and show that more unites us than

divides us. We have the CAC, an elected organisation, to help us

organise and be ready to be the party of government. Thank you.

APPLAUSE Steve Walker, first time delegate.

Dell Don't clap too loud. You might not be clapping in a minute I have

heard a few people shouting - which party of this are people thinking

its undemocraty, page 28. It adds non-elected members to elected

members to the NEC, is an anti-democratic attempt by an NEC

that's composed of a number of people, a significant number of

people who have been voted out, and believing at the end of this week to

try to rig it afterwards there. Have been things carried on a show of

hands and people shouted - this has already been voted on, the first

vote, second vote, clearly car yi.d I have been watching the floor, I

don't think they were. I think it was evenly split. And it deserves -

this is a matter - people say - we need it talk about how we take the

fight to the Turkeys I tell you what, if this gets through, this

will decide, in a negative way, how we take the fight to the Tories,

because it'll be against the democratic will of the vast majority

of the members of this party. APPLAUSE

Councillor Matthew Brown Claire of Cleethorpes CLP. Ladies and

gentlemen, we face an unprecedented challenge in taking the fight to the

Conservative Party, due to the tremendous amount of cuts and the

damage that they are doing to our local community. By taking time up

going by this line by line, it is damaging our be ability to put

forward policies that are grossive to our community. We elect members

to the NEC, to the CLC, to represent up a our views. We have a duty to

support them, because if we undermine them, that is

anti-democratic. So I will be supporting recommendations, as laid

out. APPLAUSE

Chair: This is the last speaker. ! Applause before I have said a

word. I will be bereavement every morning I have sat here and we have

gone through internal constitutional debates that are about internal

politics, not about our view of the world. Conference we have a full

agenda on approximatelicy. Let me say this to you and I hope to speak

on the debate. Let's move away from process on to the politics of this,

but I tell you this - if we put internal politics ahead of the

interests of the people of Scotland and Wales, we will pay a price for

it. APPLAUSE

CHAIR: Conference, I will ask Harry Donaldson to reply to the points

raised. Harry. Good luck. Thanks Paddy. Conference, we have

listened very tintly to the comments that have been made by every

delegate that came to the rostrum. We know these are important issues.

Single voting NEC rules changes, this issue of rule changes has been

dealt with both on Sunday and yesterday. With CAC 1s, which was

agreed on Sunday. The NEC provides recommendations for rule changes and

these are detailed in page 12. There is an opportunity to debate the rule

changes, the NEC rule changes result from broadening the consultation by

the NEC and as such can be debated. In terms of the specific issues that

were raised, with regards to first speaker in terms of the elephant in

the room, and in terms, this hasn't been put to the CAC, therefore it is

not contained within the report, in terms of clarification on the NEC

rule amendment, these are a single packable of rule changes, as

detailed in CAC 1 and will be taken by one single vote as agreed by

conference on With regards to the TSSA motion, the

issue there in terms of emergency, was emergency motion closed at 12 on

Friday. The TSSA motion was received yesterday. However, that being said,

it was considered by the CAC and as such the detail of that is thought

to be organisational on the basis of that was referred to the NE Cancer

Research who I'm sure will deal with these issues going forward. Thank

you. APPLAUSE.

Please, colleagues, we are trying to get through the conference business

in a respectful way. People's got difference of opinions, that's fine,

but let's not disrupt the conference.

APPLAUSE. Harry, thank you for that.

Colleagues, can I see all those in favour of accepting the report?

Colleagues, in terms... Quiet, please.

If you want reference back, you can vote against. All those in favour,

all those in favour... Thank you.

Christine. Several people said, including the mover that they wanted

a card vote on the reference back. Christine, please, just... If

delegates ask for card votes, then there'll be a card vote and I move

that we immediately move to the card vote now.

APPLAUSE. Colleagues, take a show of hands to

see... Please behave yourselves. We are

taking a show of hands to see. If we were to go to cards, it would take

over an hour. If we get a majority on a show of hands, we don't need to

go to the card vote. Listen, listen, we are going to go to a show of

hands. All those in fave of accepting the report?

Thank you. All those against.

That's overwhelmingly carried. APPLAUSE.

Conference, there are two statements from the National Executive

Committee which are contained in CAC. Take your point of order.

Order, please. Look, I very clearly called for a

card vote. The rules of a party says that when you move a reference back

and you call for a card vote, a card vote will be taken. That's what the

rules say. APPLAUSE.

Thank you, Manuel. Look, let me be clear. The reason for taking a card

vote is if there's a close vote, it wasn't close.

Moving on, next business. Conference, there are two statements

by the National Executive Committee contained in CAC report; one is what

Labour stands for, the other is on international trade. The NEC

recommends conference adopts the statements. I'll now formally move

end of the session. Is that agreed? end of the session. Is that agreed?

Thank you. Conference, moving now to the other

things. We want to consider the reports contained on pages 48-78 of

the National Executive Committee annual report and I invite the party

treasurer Diane Holland to present the report. Diane.

Good morning conference. I'm very pleased to present this treasurer's

report. What a build-up with that debate. It's been a great honour to

serve as your treasurer for the past six years and I want to begin by

thanking you most sincerely for the confidence you have placed in me and

for re-electing me this year with support from constituencies,

socialist societies and Trade Unions across the party. Thank you.

A number of years ago, I began my report by adapting the Monty Python

accountants sketch. I am the Labour Party treasurer and consequently too

boring to be of interest. It's still true and it's a good thing. A

treasurer's report is one of those things that you just don't want to

be too exciting. However, this year I hope you are sitting comfortably

because the report is, I'm very pleased to say, interesting and

exciting. It's something we have worked so

hard for in recent years. Nine years ago, we had a debt of almost ?25

million. This year, I am able to report the party is totally debt

free. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Now, our task is hard. It's to continue rebuilding the finances of

our party. And this year, I'm sure you will be

pleased to know that we've achieved a surplus of ?5 million.

APPLAUSE. I want to thank everyone who's

played a part, and that is, everyone. But particularly including

the General Secretary Ian McNicholl and the finance director Simon Mills

and the whole finance team. This just hasn't happened by

accident. The finance strategy agreed by the NEC approved by

conference stuck to ridgedly by the business board, implemented

throughout the party over the last nine years, has worked.

Every year, we've repaid part of the legacy debt. We have funded running

the party and we've reassured anyone who donated to campaign funds that

it would be used for just that - campaigning.

There's been no expenditure until the funds are there. Sounds obvious,

but you can't take it for granted. And no expenditure until it's been

assessed to assure it meets our priorities. Maximising our income,

managing our costs, delivering our priorities. We have stuck to that

finance strategy, including during the 2015 general election.

So now we are debt free, what will change? The answer is one word -

nothing. Everything we do will continue to be

measured against the key tests we have learnt from our history. So to

continue the Monty Python theme, as a person, I always look on the

bright side of life. But as your party treasurer, I have to plan for

the worst. And this past year, we were threatened with worse than the

worst. The vindictive antiunion, anti-Labour Party, andy democracy,

anti-civil rights Trade Union Bill, a shameful piece of Tory legislation

which included clauses directly attacking the very existence of the

Labour Party's finances for good. Also backed up by a threatened huge

cut to the money which supports opposition parties in Parliament,

the so-called short money. However, we saw off some of the

worst excesses of these attacks, thanks to wonderful campaigning. We

did what we do best. All parts of our party uniting together with the

Trade Union movement and with a huge alliance of organisations and

individuals. But let me single out for particular praise in Parliament

and in the House of Lords. Angela Smith and Labour's team in the House

of Lords and Chris Bryant and Rosie Winterton in the House of Commons

for all they achieved. Thank you. APPLAUSE.

But I have to tell you, there remains a long-term threat to party

finances in the clauses left in the Trade Union Act and I can assure

you, we know we'll need to continue to be vigilant.

But conference, there is good news too.

With many donations coming into our party, I want to thank all who've

given funds, large and small to the work of our party. Thank you to the

Trade Unions for your magnificent support.

Thank you to members of the thousand club and high value donors for your

support too. And there's more. When I first stood for election as your

treasurer, I said I wanted to learn from Barack Obama's presidential

campaign. Raising small amounts of money from lots of people.

This year, we can report success on that front too.

More people than ever before donating to our party.

During the general election, digital fund-raising in particular generated

major election campaign funds from thousands of members and supporters.

Thank you to every single one of you. And the increased party funds I

reported earlier have come from the huge surge in the number of people

joining our party. APPLAUSE.

Following last year's general election result, more following the

election of Jeremy Corbyn as party leader and there's continued growth

too. Labour Party membership at the end

of 2015 was twice the number at the start. We are now the biggest party

in the European Union and we are still growing.

APPLAUSE. That is why we are cautiously

beginning to be able to spend on investment and building a stronger

party. Digital communication is vital to

our future, so we are investing, as you have heard earlier in digital

developments to engage more with our growing membership. We'll be

offering bursaries to support black and ethnic minority, working class

and disabled candidates. APPLAUSE.

And in honour of Jo Cox MP whose life was so tragically cut short, we

are setting up the Jo Cox MP Memorial Fund for women in

leadership. APPLAUSE.

And for the first time in generations, we can build up what in

the old days was called a war chest, today let's call it a Labour

campaign trust fund for the general election.

Conference, the finances of our party are secure and growing. So is

our membership. We don't just want to raise money

for its own sake, we do it to build membership, to run campaigns, to win

power in elections so that we can change people's lives for the

better. And the truth is, we can't do any of

these things without the resources to back it up. So I want to assure

you, I will continue as your treasure... ...

LAUGHTER. Treasurer, to protect and build the

finances of our country, so that we can deliver a better life for our

people and for our country too. Thank you.

A huge thank you to you, seen, Simon and the whole team for what is a

fantastic position that the party currently finds itself in. Would

anyone like to ask any question or make any points or raise them from

Diana's report? We are looking for brief remarks, rather than speeches?

Two colleagues there. And a colleague there.

Thank you, chair. Point of order conference. In the CAC report on

page 7, it says "in addition to the above ballots, votes at conference

are taken as a show of hands unless a card vote is requested by

delegates or at the decision of the chair". Chair, we should have had a

card vote and I move we go to a card vote still.

APPLAUSE. Morning, conference.

Important bit out the way first, I've got to wave to my children and

great grandchildren and grandchildren. I'm trying to get

them involved in politics while they are on their way to nursery!

Conference, unfortunately, I'm nowhere near a first time delegate

to conference. Not even a first-time speaker. I say

that because over the years, many a time I've come into this as a

treasurer's report many a time. It's pleasing because there's more in the

hall today than probably the last ones put together. It's usually one

of the quietest times of the day when the treasurer gets up. I

remember nine years ago listening and walking out this hall saying, we

haven't got a penny to fight the next general election. Christ, have

we got enough for the next council elections. We were really in a

desperately bad way and I owe Diana a big apology because six years ago,

I was in the hall when she was elected treasurer. I remember

clearly her first speech and it was just me thinking, no way she can

deliver that, certainly not in the time scale. I wasn't expecting a

debt free Labour Party in my lifetime because of the way we'd

spent in previous years. I really have to tell you colleagues

and members out there, this is a phenomenal piece of work that has

been done. I owe her an apology and a big vote of thanks to Diane and

our General Secretary. The whole thing, to be be standing here,

talking about a surplus it is mind boggling, and the fact you have all

gone out of her way just to hear Diane speak is a big boost. I

encourage you to keep out the policies. And the tremendous piece

of work before the surge in membership. So while we are in

surplus, keep this policy up. Can we buy our own headquarters, as an

investment in the future? If you want to keep this policy up even

more, buy it in a real good place with cheap council tax, cheap land,

somewhere like Sunderland, you know, maybe?

You know, Sunderland in Tyne Wear. We'd gladly welcome you. I'm sure, I

dare not speak for the leader of the council, I'm one of his councillors,

he might have us in the office to. I'm sure he would look forward to

working with you and find you a piece of line. But really just more,

more of what you are doing. On behalf of the membership - I'm

taking a liberty here colleagues, but on behalf of the membership of

the Labour Party, well done and thank you.

APPLAUSE Conference, on-McMahon must, Beverly

science holdness and rule book nerd. I really just want to give the Chair

some information. And please bear with us, just for 30 seconds. Clause

3 of our rule book agreed over the last 100 years outlines procedural

rules for party conference. Part 3, clause A makes it clear "Voting at

party conference and resolution supports I amendments, proposals and

roacheses back, shall be by show of hands or if the conditions laid down

by the CAC require t by card and "- require it, by card." And,

therefore, we should have a card vote.

CHAIR: Colleagues, we are dealing with a financial statement.

Steve Beckett, Crewe and Nantwich CAC. 40 years membership but first

time delegate. I am speaking on finance and and I'm asking a

question. Congratulating Diana and the team on a ?5 million surplus. My

question is, I don't don't expect it to be answered now but it is a

request to be sent to all CACs and affiliated organisations through a

newsletter. My question is - how much of that ?5 billion has been

donated by those people joining as registered supporters? Supporters?

And, can we have the information of those registered supporters that

were either suspended or that got "lost"?

APPLAUSE I've not got much time, comrades. Or

got lost in the electroll roll? Can we have that information about how

much and how many those were, thank you?

APPLAUSE CHAIR: One more speaker.

Final speaker, please. Carol Wilcox, Christchurch CLP. I'm

really happy to hear Diane's report, it is very encouraging but I do

worry how much we are going to be paying out in court fees because

there's so much discontent of people being business enfranchised and

being taken - you know their money being taken, that is aeted problem.

I think we are going to be involved in a lot of legislation. - that's

the problem. CHAIR: That was the final speaker.

Diana, do you want to reply to the points?

Thanks very much for the support. It's really much-appreciated and

some very positive comments. I think just on the first contribution, one

small point that Simon mentioned to me, you may not be aware but

currently the finance team is in fact based in Newcastle. And they

may not want to move to Sunderland. The second question, obviously, more

serious response was just to say that in fact the report is on 2015

expenditure. So, in responding to the question - obviously that will

come in 2016 report. But in terms of ensuring this information gets out

there, we have got that message and we will pass it on. The question you

have raised will be considered at the business board during this year

and we'll make sure that it is included. On the third point - yes,

of course we are always, as a party, having to ensure that we have

sufficient funds to cover some of the legal challenges that we face or

that we want it take to protect ourselves. It is something we have

to have an element of our budget for. Of course, as a business board

and as an NEC member, we try to do all we can to avoid legal costs but

sometimes they are unavoidable. We also have an audit risk committee

and legal challenges is one of the issues that they are constantly

keeping under review. If they are concerned they bring it to the

business board's attention but it is a really serious concern. It is the

nature of politics at the moment that we have these challenges. Thank

you. CHAIR: Thank you, Diane.

Conference, we now need to formally adopt the financial statements. Can

I see all those in favour of doing so? Thank you. And all those

against? Unanimous. OK. Conference, we must now consider the

rule amendments which have been put forward by the National Executive

committee. We also have six proposed rule changes which have been made by

CLPs. The proposals are listed in conference arrangements committee

report 3. I will now ask Andy Kerr to to move the rule changes on about

behalf of the National Executive committee. Andy.

Conference, Andy Kerr on behalf of the National Executive committee, to

move the rule changes. Conference, there are a number of rule changes

proposed by CLPs and the NEC, which will be subject to card votes later

today. He I thought that might get a laugh!

Although proposed amendments are detailed in report 3 and ordered

according to their position in the card votes. I thought they were

going to be displayed beside me. Obviously they are not. I will go

through them. Are they there? Oh, they are, good Just follow, that you

will do OK. Card vote 1 is proposed by the NEC

and it is recommended that you vote for these changes. But let me just

put the record straight on the basis of some of the comments earlier.

This package of changes are the result of party reform discussion

and consultations that have taken place, throughout this year, with a

number of people, wide-ranging discussions. So they haven't and

weren't just drawn-up by the NEC. They were the result of

consultations and discussions that have taken place. At the NEC meeting

a week past on Tuesday, all apart from one of these packages in the

packages of rule changes were carried unanimously.

APPLAUSE, all apart from one. The one where there was controversy, was

the one that affected the make-up of the NEC. Obviously Obviously there

was some discussion, as you would expect there to be, on that. But

they are a pack dge A this card vote is a package of amendmentsing

brought forward by the NEC including a an annual women's conference, with

a role in policy-making process. APPLAUSE

New support for councils, and police and crime commissioners and greater

accountability for our new Metro mayors. We also give more rights and

greater responsibility to Scotland and Wales, strengthening our party,

by strengthening the bonds between us.

Conference, as a party and as a country we are truly bettering

together. Over the last year, the NEC has been consulting on these

changes, to reflect the concerns of our local communities and to ensure

that our party is totally focussed on taking the fight to the Tories,

the SNP and all of our opponents. Our councils and local government

representatives are the back bone of Labour in the administration across

the country and we thank them all for their hard work. So, conference,

we will increase support for our councils, and do more to ensure that

MPs, councillors, police and crime commissioners and mayors, reflect

the diversity and the communities they represent.

But, colleagues, it is clear, we need to do more to increase

diversity in local governments, including inceasing the number of

working class and underrepresented people, selecting slightly more

female candidates and promoting women in leadership roles across

local government. APPLAUSE

Conference, we need to do much more to encourage more women, BME, work

class, LGBT and disabled people, to stand for elected office.

There aresome areas of the reform work, which require further thought

and reflection and there are many more issues to consider in the

coming months but there are so many important areas where there is

consensus and we must, we must take action now.

NEC will discuss, in the next few weeks, further discuss these issues

in the next few weeks. I'm not going to preevident the outcome of those

discussions but one thing I will say to you now if as a result of those

discussions, there is a need for a special conference, we will have a

special conference. In the spirit of unity, and I really

mean this, brothers and sisters, in the spirit of unity, I ask you,

please support this package of rule changes.

APPLAUSE Conference, on the other rule

amendments, a vote seeks to give retired members or subsections of

associated trade unions the rights to affiliate to CLPs at the

discretion of the regional director. The NEC support thighs mendment and

recommends, conference, overwhelmingly, to carry this rule

change and vote for. It Card votes, 3-7 are have been committed by CLPs

and the NEC ask the CLPs to remit those rule changes and if those CLPs

decide not to remit them, these will be card votes, 3-7. The

recommendation of the NEC would be to vote against the amendments card

vote 3 concerns the priorities ballot N 2015 and in this year,

using the existing system for the priorities ballot, the CEC have

tabled 8 subjects for debate. . Jo overlap between top - topics.

It requires two balance olingts on the first Dave conference. If there

is not remitted, it is recommended that conference votes against this

change. Card vote 4, would permit CLPs and affiliates to submit both a

constitutional amendment and contemporary vote each year F passed

conference would need to devote much more time to rule change debates,

cutting down the available time for debates on policy matters and

compostites. It could also lead to an unstable rule book.

The NEC reck voting against vote 4 if the CLP does not wish to remit.

Votes 5 6 cut across the ongoing review of policy commissions by

Jeremy Corbyn and being Jeffers seen by the NEC. This review looks at all

aspects of policy-making, including the role of Annual Conference. It

would be wrong to pre-empt its conclusions. These rule changes,

they fundamentally confuse the process for the NPF. The NEC

recommend voting against the rule changes, once again. The final card

vote 7 relates to the coordinators to take on a particular area of

responsibility. There is no need for this rule change as the current

rules prevent CLPs to already appoint a small business liaison

coordinator if they so wish. The NEC position for this rule change also

recommends against if it's not remitted. Thank you, conference.

APPLAUSE. CHAIR: A number of rule changes.

Each will be moved by a delegate of the CLP concerned who's five minutes

to speak. I'll then ask for it to be seconded. If no delegates move to

the rule change, it will fall. Is she ashfield delegate here? OK.

-- the Ashfield delegate. CHAIR: The second be ready to move

as well on the priorities ballot. Melanie Darrington. Not that long

ago, half a million men worked in the coal mines. Most of the men in

my family and on my street in Mansfield were coal miners. As a

child, I would look out of my window and just look at the colliery. That

pit defined my community. On my street we didn't have a lot but we

had each other and we had our pride. Something happened, conference, and

that something was Maggie. The pits were closed down.

Communities were broken. But we still had our pride. We knew, as we

miners were never the enemy within. miners were never the enemy within.

But it wasn't really Maggie. We know it doesn't matter who the Tory

leader is, be it Maggie, Cameron or Theresa May, the Tories are always

bad news for me, bad news for you and bad news for our communities.

And we must make sure we don't let our voters forget this. We need a

Labour Government in that next general election.

APPLAUSE. The truth, is comrades, there's

nothing physically left. There's no mines left, there's no evidence that

pits once stood where country parks and fancy apartments now stand. Our

history has been eroded. Children can't empathise with our past. It's

almost like the heavy industries has been written out of history. But the

ex-miners of Ashfield want to keep the memories alive. Many have joined

retired sections or associations to continue being part of a movement

that cares about its fellow man. These retired association members do

not want to lose their ties with the Labour Party.

They want to be actively involved as afilliated branches.

They've worked tirelessly in Ashfield knocking on doors and

delivering letters to form ermining communities. These ex-miners have a

story to tell. Through them, afilliated to the

Labour Party, in their own right, their history, our history, and the

Labour Party's history will live on. Conference, I urge you to support

this rule change. APPLAUSE.

. APPLAUSE.

CHAIR: Is that formally seconded? Formally seconded. Move to the next

rule change on the priorities ballot to be moved by the CLP.

Sarah, Bury North CLP. Excuse me on this bit, moving rule change to

chapter 3, clause 3, 2 C set on page 4 addendum to the report and page 26

of the CAC report you received today.

APPLAUSE. It has been recommended that we

remit this. However, it was submitted 18 months ago and I think

we should have a decision on it today.

Each conference CLPs and afilliated delegates vote on the priorities

ballot. This year and last, eight items were

selected for the agenda, but this has not always been the case.

When union and CLP priorities overlapped, it has led in the past

to six, seven, even five being listed. We want to ensure that four

plus four equals eight. This is in the spirit of the original rule

change. Conference is a time for delegates to have our say. And while

we applaud the decision that has been made to move to the next on the

list when priorities do overlap, it's not guaranteed this will always

be the case. It's currently open to the interpretation of the CAC.

As was said earlier, the CAC intends, intentions are great but

we'd like a guarantee. You may be concerned that time is a

factor and I can appreciate that. Affiliates vote on block and this

can be carried out in a relatively short time, leaving ample

opportunity for delegates to vote on the amended ballot. The important

thing for me is by knowing what has already been listed, we can use our

votes in a more informed way. We won't be voting forrite ems already

listed to be discussed. Our vote, which we can target more, we can

focus more, they'll have more weight.

As delegates, conference is a time to be heard, to listen, to make a

different sort of contribution to the party we all love and work for

all year round. Please support this rule change and ensure that four

plus four keeps equalling eight. Thank you.

Chair hair thank you, colleague. Is that seconded? Do any of the other

two PLPs want... It's formally seconded, thank you.

The next rule change is on admission to conference and it's to be moved

by a CLP, there's quite a number. Thank you, conference. That's the

only slip-up today hopefully. Thank you, conference. Harry Clark

mid Norfolk CLP and a proud GMB member and unison member.

APPLAUSE. Conference, I've been a member of

our party for over 40 years. But I haven't been waiting that long to

move this motion. Despite my haste to move up to the platform.

Conference, our rule change would allow CLPs and affiliates to submit

both the rule change and a contemporary motion. Why are

constituencies, union and socialist societies required to choose whether

they want to make proposals to conference about how our party works

or have a say in policy-making. I don't think my CLP is unusual in

wanting a view on the rule book and support rule changes to improve the

democratic process and also take a view, for example, on grammar

schools, housing, the NHS, protecting Public Services to give a

few examples. Why are these counterposed?

Conference, it would be, in my view, ridiculous to suggest that this

would open the floodgates because not everyone loves to read the rule

book as much as I do. And not even every CLP and afilliate

will take advantage of both opportunities.

If they do, that's what a priorities ballot is for.

We have had a fantastic increase in our membership. Let's not make our

reinvigorated CLPs choose how they engage with conference.

Should there be a rule change or contemporary motion? Let's be really

radical and allow them to do both. Thank you, conference, I move.

APPLAUSE. CHAIR: Can we have it seconded?

Rachel Garner mid Bedfordshire CLP. Labour Party membership's doubled in

the last year or so, CLPs like mine having reinvigorated. Members want

to get out on the doorstep locally but also want to put forward their

views on policy and make constructive suggestions on how our

party could work better. My CLP would have liked to have put forward

a contemporary motion. I had to explain to our new members and

offices that unforts Natalie we couldn't because they had already

submitted a rule change -- unfortunately. They were baffled.

Currently there is an unnecessary and arbitrary... It makes no sense

we can't do both. It's ludicrous to suggest that hundreds of affiliates

and CLPs would be overcome by constitutional fervour and the

conference would be overrun by hueth rule changes. We have the ballot for

contemporary issues. Something similar could, if really necessary

and we get really excited about the rule book, be instituted for rule

changes. Andy said this could make the rule book unstable. It seems to

me that what makes the rule book unstable is being asked to vote to

choose between a policy-making women's conference and an extra two

unelected people on the NEC. APPLAUSE.

If we are having... I don't think that having a few more rule changes

from constituencies is going to have quite the same impact.

Conference, this is a minor change that would make a great difference

and allow CLPs, affiliates, Trade Unionists, socialists to have more

say. Support democracy, and vote for card vote 4.

Thank you. CHAIR: Conference the next rule

change is on the rights to refer back parts of the policy document

and is moved by CLP member. Can we ask Wimbledon CLP to be ready for

the next one. Jack Dunn, Sheffield HealeyCLP,

second time to conference. The first time was in 1981 and I can tell you

there's been a few changes since then.

Comrades, brothers and sisters, the all-or-nothing approach to national

policy is a noon sense. For -- nonsense. For too many years this

has been used to limit debate and has led to the adoption of otherwise

unpopular policies. This in turn results in bad policy-making.

Currently, at the national policy forum, produces an economy paper,

for example, it might include many proposals which delegates support.

Others on which they have great concerns. Our only option is to

accept or reject the whole paper. For example in 2000, conference

voted the for a doudget which included excel ented proposals but

also included PFI. So the whole document went through. In 2004, we

were represented with an excellent educationk do um, but it also

included tuition fees. We weren't able to reject tuition fees, for the

fear that we would lose student grants and local education allowance

and investment in Sure Start. So we passed the whole document, including

tuition fees. Conference, this must change.

APPLAUSE We wouldn't accept this in our Labour Party branches, or in our

CLPs or union brafrnls or any other organisations we are involved with.

So why accept it at national policy level? For too long the debate at

conference has been stifled by this rule. The result has been bad

policy. Our rules should encourage deba. Our decisions should generate

good policy. Please reject this insidious and debilitating rule

change, conference, I move, thank you.

Plus APPLAUSE - APPLAUSE CHAIR: Conference, can that

be formally seconded? The next will be moved by Wimbledon

CLP. Wimbledon CLP in the room?

OK, we will move to the next one to give them the chance to turn up.

The next rule change is rules on CLPs, additional officer and is to

be moved by Airwash CLP, are they in the room?

Is there an indication that the CLP is here?

# OK, colleagues, if either of the two

CLPs don't turn up by the end of the debate, then both will fall.

OK, colleagues, we'll now move to speakers on these rule changes, so

could you indicate those who want to speak?

OK. Just give me a time. I'll take the one with the red folder.

The lady with the white shawl. And the lady in the green. I'll come

back around again. Conference, Mike Catt, Jewish Labour

movement, speaking actually on the rule change and the rule changes in

appendix 1 that was circulated earlier. The rule change about

rooting out racism and aepted semitism from our party.

APPLAUSE Conference, I don't want to be here

because I wish there hadn't been an upsurge in anti-Semitic, Islam

phobic, misogynistic, and homophobic, vile hate speech in our

party. Even, conference, here, in our

exhibitions and on our fringe, I'm sad to report. Jeremy has said it,

Tom has said it. We have all said it, there is no place for this in

our party. We must root it out. Against this is backdrop, is s it

any wonder, conference, any wonder, that support for Labour amongst

British Jews is said to be as low as # %. Conference - asp %. The party

that has done more than any other to o promote tolerance and equality,

the party to wish the Jewish movement has been affiliated since

1920, is not seen as a welcoming home for Jews.

The leadership has acted. We welcome that. They have set up the Royal

Report and the Chakrabarti Report, which had a number of good rule

changes which would help our party deal with the problem. So I have to

say, conference, we are beyond disappointed, we are dismayed that

the NEC didn't put this forward in their package of rule changes, so we

could sort this now. And in moving it, he said we had to take the rules

because they require urge ented action. Conference, I have no

problem with that, whatsoever. But leaving it for a debate next year,

means waiting another year so we can actually put this rule change on our

books. It means another year to change our rules, to make racists

and anti-Semitic and other abuse as grave an offence as supporting

another political party. Another year to send the signal to our

members, to our minority communities, to the whole country,

that we are serious about dealing with this problem. Conference, we

shouldn't have to wait a year. We shouldn't have to wait a further

minute. We should have been able to do it now. They had our words, they

had Chakrabarti's words and they could have put them into effect

immediately. So, conference, I have to sane I say this with no little

regret - the JLM does feel let down but we are going noimplt we are

going to be working with our members...

APPLAUSE - but we are going nowhere.

We are going to be working with our members, with our afill yad members,

our supporters, MPs, councillors, NCLPs, and affiliates to show like

in every minority community, Jews are welcome in the Labour Party.

APPLAUSE And, conference, thank you for that.

That means a lot. Not to us, but to the whole Jewish community. And I

will say, one more thing before we I go - if we have to wait a year,

sadly so be it but the next best thing we must do is renew our

commitment to dealing with this. Show we are serious dealing with

anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, homophobia and it is up to all of

us, from the top of this party downwards, taking be responsibility

for calling out hate speech in our party, whenever we see T thank you,

conference. APPLAUSE - whenever we see it.

CHAIR: Can we have the next speaker, please.

Thank you, Mike for me having to follow that on a similar subject.

Kath McGurk, Finchley and goldier's green, a councillor in the London

borough of Barnet for 22 years Finchley and #2k3w08ders green has

the largest Jewish constituency base in the country. It is an issue not

just for the party but the people out there. - finch Mullin and

golders Green. Ers - Finchley and Goldiers Green. Although the report

was said to be a white wash, there was also reports. This is not about

be anti-Semitism. At the women's conference, I heard stories of

discrime na, be it on sexuality, race or faith and bullying because

of your gender. We do need to make it clear that discrimination of any

kind is unacceptable in our party. In our country, and in the world at

large. We need to show the way as our party and we need to do it now,

not next year. APPLAUSE

This is why my constituency of Finchley and Goldiers Green, as long

with the Jewish Labour Movement and 8 constituencies, committed

constitutional amendments on this be subjected. We were extremely pleased

when Jeremy Corbyn, atending a hustings in north London, publicly

agreed this would be taken at conference this year. Sadly, this

does not seem to be the case. Comrades, I am sure you agree with

me, that to show everyone that we in the Labour movement totally oppose

any discrimination, bullying, homophobia, and misogyny,

anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, this year we saw for the first time, a

Muslim elected as mayor in a major city 234 Europe. - in Europe.

He faced attacks from the Tories and the Tory press, something even me,

who has been a member for 34 years, and a councillor for 22 years, have

never seen the like of. We as a party joined forces and fought that,

electing him with a huge mandate, the biggest mandate in Europe. We

absolutely must oppose the bigotry and discrimination. We need to act

without delay. The rhetoric is fine. I urge a rethink now. Actions speak

louder than words. We must move now, thank you, comrades.

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

CHAIR: Before the next speaker, I can get three more n because we are

way behind. I will try this side of the room this time.

Lad there in the red. Lady there with the pink folder.

And the lady there with the red. Sorry, there's three. Yes, you.

OK, colleagues. Conference Jackie Bailey member of

the Scottish Parliament from Dunbar tonne.

Here today to take a risk and invite you all to come to Scottish

conference in February, but I do so as a thank you for what I hope you

are about to do. Because today you have an opportunity to help us. To

bring to an end a decade-long debate over Scotland's place in the Labour

Party. An opportunity to close the door on our opponents, who make the

accusation that Scottish Labour cannot be for Scotland. An

opportunity to help us write a new chapter, as we build our party to be

an electoral force in the future. You know, it is that important. So,

please don't squander that opportunity. Because the reforms we

are voting on today aren't just technical changes, they are

fundamental to the future of the party in Scotland. And you know

whilst Labour was the party of devolution, radically reforming the

way the country was run, we didn't match that with devolution in the

party itself and today we need to change that. Because our politics is

not the politics of the Westminster bubble. We have been proud, as a

Labour Government, to devolve power and it is time to do that for the

party, too. The proposals before you today haven't just arrived

yesterday. They have come about after discussion between Kez and

injury mi. A year-long conversation between the SEC and NEC and

extensive conversation with members and trade unions, too. This is what

our members and affiliates want. It's been our aspiration for more

than a decade. So, let me turn foint of contention - representation on

the NEC - let me turn to the point. Our UK leader was elected with 61% -

I'm getting this wrong. Our UK leader was elected with 61% of the

vote. Our Scottish leader was elected with 72% of the vote.

APPLAUSE Nobody is questioning Jeremy

Corbyn's absolute right to be on the NEC. We are a devolved party. The

Scottish leader should be there, too, as should the Welsh leader.

APPLAUSE And finally, conference, let me just

tell you - I have got a postcard on my wall in the Scottish Parliament

and it says "Labour women make policy, not tea." That postcard's

quite old. Today, you have an opportunity to make sure that Labour

Women's Conference absolutely makes poll sane not tea. Today I ask you

to for women, for bursaries for working class candidates, for ethnic

minorities and disabled and do you know what, vote for Scotland and

Wales, too. APPLAUSE

Hi, conference. Tom Honeywell from Wirral West. I'm speaking in favour

of the NEC's proposed rule changes because Labour voters and the

country need a Labour Government and to get a Labour Government we need

Labour in Scotland and in Wales. If we don't start showing that we care

about Scotland and Wales, we will never win in Scotland again and we

will soon lose Wales. So conference, I'll keep this short and sweet, if

we turn our back on them, they will turn their backs on us for ever.

Thank you. APPLAUSE.

East Kilbride CLP. I see a theme developing here. You know, This is

my first time at conference and the first time delegate and speaker,

obviously. But I am passionate about Scottish

Labour, aim speaking today to support the NEC rule changes

package. Scottish Labour's been through so very much in the last few

years. We have a leader who set out her agenda and a positive future in

the debate yesterday. You, the conference gave her a resounding

endorsement. Now give her the tools to deliver. I and many others have

come pained tirelessly for the Labour Party and we have been

battered and we have been down, but we are certainly not out. We are

fighters. Scotland cannot be seen as a branch office. We deserve

autonomy. We need the take the fight to the Tories and the SNP in

Scotland. We must do this as Scottish Labour autonomous and

united with the Labour Party. The Labour Party that I'm proud to be a

member of. If the we are ever to see a Labour Government, we need to win

back our support in Scotland if this proposal is not backed just because

of some people playing political games, then we are just going to be

handing a major prize to the Tories, that's what we'll be doing. Please

do not let this be on your conscience. We in Scotland, we are

Scottish Labour and we are part of the Labour Party. Unity through

autonomy, conference. Please vote for this rule change.

APPLAUSE. Camberwell and Peckham. First time

delegate and first time speaker. APPLAUSE.

Conference, I'm going to keep it short. We have spent the summer

looking inward and arguing amongst ourselves.

The NEC and our hard-working Labour staff have been under huge pressure

all summer, including sitting through some challenging and

extremely long meetings. Some of their decisions have split

the NEC on a knife edge vote. But there's been an overwhelming

majority to put this complete package to conference.

In the hall yesterday, I listened to John McDonnell's call to arms. We

need to be prepared for a general election as soon as possible.

Jeremy's collar-on call and the theme of this conference has been to

find unity so we can move forward. Let's get started on this journey by

voting for this unified package Taggarth together, then we can put

the division behind us and better spend our time taking the fight to

the Tories. Thank you. -- package together. CHAIR: Conference, can I

just come back to the two CLPs that weren't here earlier. Is Wimbledon

in the room to move? Just shout if it's Wimbledon. No. OK, that falls.

And the other CLP in the room? No that falls. Can I now ask Andy Kerr

to reply to the debate. Andy. CHAIR: Sorry, conference, we are so

far behind because of the debate earlier today. Andy?

Thank you, we hear you. Andy Kerr replying to the debate. I

make a few fairly quick points. CHAIR: Have your point of order.

APPLAUSE. Apologies to Andy because I know you

were just doing your job and I didn't mean to disrupt you. But this

party needs to have a debate and the platform of attempting to rig the

discussion by not allowing those who oppose the rule changes to come up

here and make the argument because they know that they don't have

responses to our arguments and the package going forth will gerrymander

the NEC and allow for the decision made at the weekend to be vetoed by

Parliamentarians who're non-accountable to this movement!

CHAIR: Conference, I think we have just had a speech to thank you for

that, colleague. Andy Kerr? Thanks, Paddy. Just make a few quick

remarks hopefully. Goodness. Colleagues, we are just trying to

make progress. We have a lot of business, policy. Housing is the

next debate. We are trying to get people in to talk about the main

substance of the policies. Andy? Point of order...

Conference, in the spirit of unity, APPLAUSE.

I know people are getting heated in this debate but please conference,

let's go through. Ashfield, not much to reply on Ashfield, you heard what

the comrade said about that, I overwhelmingly support that motion.

The afilliation is still in this party at local and national level.

There's nothing between us on the policies. We are agreed. The issue

is, we'd have to have two ballots in the one day. It's been in place now

that we have eight debates, contemporary motions debated in the

conference. That will continue. There's a process in place, it works

well and it will work well for a long while to come and there's no

need to move this motion. I ask you to vote against. Harry from Mid

Norfolk. The issue with Harry, I'll reiterate what I said before - I

accept that not every constituency will put in the rule change and put

in a motion for debate, I accept that. Of course that's the case. But

whatever happens, there'll be more rules being debated and we have to

stop this looking inward and start looking outwards. It's a matter of

more time for rules or more time for policy? I support the policy.

We will review it in the processes going forward. Jack from Sheffield

Healey - we have had this debate many times before. There is an

ongoing review on policy-making. I did say it's been commissioned by

our leader Jeremy Corbyn and the NEC. There is an ongoing review

about how policies are formed. I would ask you not to support this

rule change at this time but we'll take everything into consideration

during the review. On the issue Mike raised, on the

Chakrabarti report, we'll implement the recommendations. We have adopted

the code of conduct, signed it off last week, we will be working on it.

There is more discussion needs to take place on rule changes, but I

want to make it clear on behalf of the NEC. Discrimination of any kind

is not acceptable in this party. Not acceptable.

APPLAUSE. I will make one more point. Not only

is it not acceptable, we need to challenge ourselves. If it happens

and we see it, we challenge it. APPLAUSE.

Jackie, Tom, Fiona, Sarah, certainly Tom, Jackie are saying the same

thing about members and affiliates in Scotland. We consulted in Wales

and in Scotland, both myself, Cath who's dealing with Wales, Joanna

Baxter was involved too, we did talk to affiliates in both Wales and

Scotland, we did talk to members in both Wales and Scotland, we did talk

to the Welsh executives, the Scottish Executives. This was a

matter for long debate. It's in place. I ask you for this and for no

other reason, we cannot go back on this one. We have given a commitment

to both Scotland and Wales on this. We must support this one.

APPLAUSE. .

The other issues that are causing the make-up of the NEC, I can assure

you, Court of Appeal deal with it in the next few months. Conference, I

would ask you to support the NEC recommendations and I really mean

this, in the spirit of unity, let's work together on this I ask you to

support the NEC recommendations, thank you.

APPLAUSE. CHAIR: Thank you, Andy. The votes

will be taken at the end of this session. I now hand over the Chair

to Shabana Mahmood. Thank you very much, Paddy.

Conference, we'll now take the contemporary composite on housing to

be moved by Gravesham CLP and, could I also ask that South East Cornwall

PLP be ready to come up here and second. Thank you.

Good morning, conference. Gravesham CLP in Kent. I'm proud to be moving

the composite motion on housing. I'm a first-time speaker.

APPLAUSE. And thankfully because our motion

was chosen, I didn't jump around this year to play attention.

... But to build even more council housing And with the much-talked

about Ebbsfleet garden city on our doorstep, we want our residents to

benefit, while shielding those most in need of decent and affordable

housing from the harshness of the Tories housing and planning act. But

it's an issue that doesn't just affect us in Gravesham. It would be

remiss of me now, Chair to say that many colleagues worked late in the

night to agree this motion. Namely from South East Cornwall,

Kensington, Isle of Wight, Islington North, Epsom, fors of Dean,

Guildford, hofrn ham and Rochford and South Thanet and. I am indebted

to you will a of them. I think this long list shows how passionately

many of us feel from different parts of our country because we realised

the devastating impact it is going to have on our communities.

Especially those that most need the stablted of secure social housing.

People need and deserve decent affordable housing. Actually,

conference, there is a huge difference between the Tories

so-called affordable house, costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, and

council housing. We as Labour need to build council housing.

And in this regard I want to congratulate my South East

colleagues, Labour-run Milton Keynes council, which is embarking upon the

biggest council-house building programme outside of London.

APPLAUSE They are showing what Labour in

power can deliver. Indeed in the run-up to the important May council

elections, the message that we need to take out to our communities, is

that even under a mean Tory Government, if you have a Labour

council and elect Labour councillors, then they will fight

for your interests, for rights for you and your children to provide the

services you must need. The previous Tory-led Government brought in the

deplorable bedroom tax, which didn't even spare the most vulnerable in

our society. I had people coming up to me as a parliamentary candidate,

in tears, because they were trying to explain the rushing impact it was

having on their lives. And now the Tories are trying to bring in, and

force upon us a tenant tax. We as Labour need to fight against that.

That is why, conference, I-upably ushling you to support this motion,

I move. Hello, South East Cornwall, speaking

first time at the conference and I'm here to second the composite 9 on

housing. Delegates there are over 29,000 people on the housing

register in Cornwall. That's not 29,000 single people, that's 29,000

applicants for families, many of whom are disabled or have a disabled

member in their family. Because you don't get on the list unless you do

these days. In my own town oflies guard, there

are 350 families on the urgent housing need - Lisgard.

The Conservatives have completely failed to do anything for these

people on the urgent need register. In fact their policies have done the

exact opposite. They have made the situation a million times worse.

APPLAUSE The reasons for this is that they

are not - their housing policy is not about housing people, it's about

creating mortgages. And their housing policies shows this with the

right-to-buy and the tax breaks for landlords and for second

home-owners. In Cornwall, second home-owners have

pushed up the prices of houses to an extent where local people can no

longer afford to buy in the areas in which they were born. Someone on an

average ?22,000 a year, in Cornwall, will need ?11 to 13 times' their

salary in order to buy a house, especially if they lived in one of

the pretty villages, where people like to go for their holidays, which

die over the winter time because they are 45% holiday lets, second

homes, holiday homes. The Conservatives policies are

destroying those communities and forcing local families inland, into

what's left of the council houses, which are unsaleable.

Unmortgageable, and in a lot of cases, uninhabitable. Although

throwing them on the mercy of private landlords who are in receipt

of housing benefits, in large figures, on three months'-long

leases. So you could be in somewhere for three months with your children

at school, and then you could be somewhere else ten miles away, in a

village on the edge of Bodmin Moor, ten miles away from the nearest

doctor, the nearest schools, the nearest libraries.

Delegate, can I ask you to wind-up? Delegates, access to good-quality

homes at an affordable price is a businessic human need and the Labour

Party should have a joined-up policy to help people be housed adequately.

Delegates I ask you to support this motion.

APPLAUSE Thank you very much, we can now take

some speakers on this movements can I just get an indication of all

those who wish to speak? Lady in the stripy top. Gentlemen in

the red shirt. We'll take those two to start with. No pressure or

anything but if you are both quick, I might be able to squeeze somebody

else in, we are running very short on time.

CHAIR, CONFERENCE, CAROL FROM UNISON. IT IS CLEAR ACROSS the UK

that there is a housing crisis that is worsening day biday, adults of

all ages and families of all sizes across the country are have youling

to find a decent and affordable home to live in. Conference, rates are

rising, house prices are rising. Sadly, house ownership levels are

falling. Yet, fewer social and affordable homes are being built at

a time when this is desperately needed. More and more Unison

members, providing public services are forced to commute long distances

because of the high costs of living. Many more are suffering high rent in

substandard private renting, young adults are staying at home longer

with their parents, because they are not afford to live independently

and, when young adults do find housing, this is likely to be in the

substandard private rented sector, due to the lack of social housing

and financial home ownership. Those who are lucky enough to find a

decent home are often find high rent swallows up their income withlittle

left over for living costs. It is rising day by day and blighting the

experience of many, especially low-paid and you will have nefrnlt a

key solution to the housing crisis is to build more social and

affordable homes at prices ordinary citizens can afford. Unison is in

favour of this, housing campaigners are in favour of this, the Labour

Party is in favour of this, politicians across the political

spectrum are in favour of this and even some ministers in favour of

this. That is why Unison will continue to campaign for more

housing that is affordable for our members and the wider society.

Housing policy has always been central to the Labour Party and

twhen gets it right, it wins popular support. Labour needs to grasp the

opportunity and get on the front foot of housing, developing credible

policies that appeal across the country. Let's see the Labour Party

focus completely on winning power. It's no good being in opposition.

Unison members need a Labour Party, let's make it happen.

David, GMB representative. I have long maintained that politics is

about the food in your mouth and the roof over your head. If there isn't,

that our politics must resolve the issue. The selling off of council

houses, the uncertainty of work, low pay and more have all contributed to

a rise in those without homes and those in precarious accommodation.

The fact of the matter is that there is no way of dealing with the

problem of rented houses in modern society, except by public ownership.

So spoke Nye Bevan. We in the Labour Party recognise that collective

issues require collective resolutions and cannot be left

solely to the private sector. As chair of the GMB Young Members

Network it would be remisof me not to highlight the debilitating

destruction this wreaks. All too tauven provides on local authorities

to provide support, they are themselves under the cosh of

austerity may not have the capacity to xi.s I took the liberty of voting

Nye Bevan at the start of the speech. It is not indulgence, first

Seine, although I do live in Cardiff roe. He is lauded for establishing

the NHS but housing fell within his remit T doesn't seem to have dawned

on some people in this country vast majority of us can't afford to buy a

us who, over half a century on, we find ourselves in the same position,

unless we adopt this motion a and make sure it is a central piece of

the Labour Party policy, we will find ourselves in the same situation

in another 50 years, where hundreds and thousands of people are not able

to have homes. We are called adealists when we highlight the

plight of holelessness and are accused of idealists when standing

up to woe, and for having the at thor it of having socialist poll

circumstances. Yeshts the Labour Party was found on such idealism. I

was proud to stand at this rostrum in 2015 where I professed an article

of faith. Socialism is the curious distaste of the suffering of others

and the resolve to change T my brothers and sisters, the Labour

Party must be that resolve made manifest. The Labour Party will

build houses. The Labour Party will create jo, the Labour Party will

create unionised jobs. The Labour Party will fashion a better society

and the hopes with which people can dwell within T afterall, conference,

we are the builders and like the great Nye Bevan before us, we seek

to build a society worthy of the name. Solidarity and please support

this motion. APPLAUSE

Thank you very much and because both delegates didn't take their full

time, we can squeeze in one more speaker. The gentlemen with the red

thing in his lapel there. Conference, Frank, leader of radio

Glasgow Labour council, Scotland's largest stain the biggest Labour

group in Scotland. From pioneers like Mary Barber who

fought the rent against the landlords 100 years ago to join

probably the best Housing Minister this country's ever seen.

We have an ambition in Glasgow to make sure we continue the progress

because in 1997, we had the highest rents, the largest debt and the

least satisfaction with their housing.

It required a Labour Government, a Labour Government, to spend the

issue of a billion debt being relieved in the people of Glasgow to

invest in our housing. And next year, when the SNP claim to take the

mantle of Scottish Labour, next year when they'll try and take a number

of Labour authorities in Scotland, we must remind people the difference

a Labour council can make the everyone's life. Even this very

moment, we are always concluding a deal to make sure that 2,000 workers

in our city building will be guaranteed employment for the next

30 years in a unionised work place making sure they've got chances for

themselves and their families. This's what Labour does in action.

The SNP will talk about tackling inequality, reducing the inner

quality gap. We are fundamentally committed to working with the people

of Glasgow to transform our city. We are investing in housing, we are

investing in education, we are investing in jobs, we are creating

the opportunity to make sure people are looked after. We were the first

Council of Scotland to introduce the living wage. We were the first

council in Scotland to say the Trade Union Bill was unacceptable and we

are the first council in Scotland to say, when it came to the refugee

crisis, not how many can we take, it was how many can you give us, to

make sure we can look after many of the most vulnerable.

APPLAUSE. So we have a challenge and I say to

every delegate here today we are passionate very off none the Labour

Party about rule books. Let's be passionate about changing people,

giving them the chance. So next the test is, can we hold the largest

city in Scotland, can we roll back the nationalist advance? Can we make

sure that the people of Glasgow are people who put them first and not

the constitution? If we can do that, we can make a difference. I ask each

and every one of you to commit to that over the next period. I would

love to see you in Glasgow to make sure we can hold a Labour Council

for The people of Glasgow to make a difference in the future. Thank you.

APPLAUSE. CHAIR: Thank you. We'll now start

the debate on health and care. The policy commission annual report is

on pages 24-28 of the national policy forum report and the

priorities issues document is on pages 74-80. We'll also take the

temporary composite on the NHS. Joanna Baxter, move the policy

commission annual report on behalf of the National Executive Committee.

Chair, conference, a publicly owned health care system free at the point

of need. That's Labour's creation and our greatest achievement. And

after breaking my ankle in several places earlier this year, it's one I

literally wouldn't be standing here without.

The Tories are taking our NHS backwards and failing to protect our

most precious institution. And their record is a shameful one.

Record levels of deficits in hospital Trusts, patients waiting

for hours and hours to be seen, key targets being missed

across-the-board, cuts to older people's care, delayed discharges

from hospitals at record high. Patients trapped on hospital wards

with nowhere to go and the worst A performance in a decade and it's not

even winter yet. So shame on you Jeremy Hunt.

APPLAUSE. Our mental Health Services have

traditionally been seen as the Cinderella of the NHS. This

Government is failing to provide mental Health Services. Since 2010,

we have lost nearly 5,000 mental health nurses. It's feared the

Government's unfair decision to scrap NHS bursaries for nurses and

allied health workers will have a negative impact on the numbers of

mental health nurses compromising the future supply of our men tall

health nursing workforce. In 2011-2012 investment in mental

health fell by ?150 million, the first fall in investment in a

decade. Analysis shows that over the last Parliament, funding for mental

health fell by 8% in real terms. That's why this year, conference,

our Health Commission's priority document focussed on the issues of

mental health. I want to pay tribute to the work done from our Shadow

minister on mental health. APPLAUSE.

Our policy commission looked at some key issues. Parity of esteem between

mental and physical health. Importance of early intervention and

prevention to help our mental health system move away from being one that

only deals with issues once they have reached crisis point.

And ensuring that mental health policies work for everybody in a

society, recognising that mental health affects people of all ages

and from all backgrounds and walks of life.

The government should be doing much more on that vital issue and in so

many other areas of our Health Service.

And when leading Tories promised us ?350 million a week more investment

for the NHS just a few short months ago, their record is even more

shameful than that. So I have to say, Boris Johnson, where is the

investment for the NHS? Where is our ?350 million a week investment for

our Health Service? Shame on you. And the Tories have also made cuts

to public Health Services, putting at risk preventative schemes such as

screening sexual health and smoking cessation. The Government's delayed

childhood obesity strategy which was finally published this summer is a

missed opportunity and highlights the Government's complete lack of

commitment to solving the obesity crisis.

Let's be very clear, conference, patients are being let down by this

Tory Government. And so are NHS workers.

The Tories are putting our future supply of nurses and health workers

at risk by scrapping nurse bursaries. Jeremy Hunt has failed to

resolve the junior doctors contract which has led to join Yorkshirior

doctors being forced to take industrial action just to have their

voices heard -- junior doctors. The Tories need to build retrust that

they have lost with junior doctors and get back around the negotiating

table to find a solution which puts in place a fair and safe contract.

APPLAUSE. The simple fact is the Tories have

no answers to the challenges we face, other than taking our country

backwards. There's no plan to tackle the financial crisis facing the NHS

and social care. Imposing a new contract on junior doctors and

cutting NHS bursaries will risk making staff shortages in the NHS

even worse. Staff shouldn't be punished for this Government's

financial mismanagement of the NHS. And cuts to public health will end

up putting more pressure on the NHS as vital preventative services get

slashed. So conference, it's our

responsibility to protect the NHS. We can only do that if we get back

into Government. So let this be the one thing that

unites every single person in this hall and beyond.

I move the report. CHAIR: Thank you Johanna.

Contemporary composite 7 to be moved by Sutton CLP. Westminster North CLP

to be ready and in place to go second.

Hi, I'm Bonnie Craven, long-term activist, but this is my first

conference. 31 submissions were made on this

motion and I'm really honoured to be moving this incredibly important

motion. Our NHS is probably the finest

achievement of our movement and yet it's in real danger of real

immediate danger of being destroyed. Former Tory Prime Minister, John

Major, was born in our local NHS hospital, St Helier, and under his

Government, we saw the introduction of private finance to our hospitals

via the public private partnerships. These and PFI leaked money from our

NHS and are partly responsible for bringing it to its knees. In

association with chronic and persistent underfunding. St Hellever

hospital, the one he was born in may now face closure -- St Helier, along

with Queen Mary's Hospital on the same site. This Tory Government is

taking PFI even further. Conference, this motion commits us to ending

PFI. APPLAUSE.

In 1988 Oliver Letwin wrote a book called privatising the world, widely

regarded as the blueprint for the privatisation of our Public Services

including the NHS. The health and social care Act 2012 removed the Lea

duty of the Secretary of State for Health to provide a comprehensive

National Health Service. It also demanded contracting out in the NHS

in the development of a market place. Has seen the administration

costs rise from around 6% to about 15% of total NHS spend.

Destruction of the NHS has continued to pace under the Tory and Tory-led

Government since 2010. The unwanted, unhelpful top-down re-Organisation

of Our NHS, along with the further 22 billion worth of cuts by 2020