by Chris McLaughlin
Gordon Brown faces the toughest battle for control of Labour in a generation when the party meets at its annual conference in Brighton. The Labour leader is preparing a dramatic climbdown over his own party reforms in a bid to head off more sweeping changes that would deliver the biggest swing to grassroots power since members won a say over the election of the leader almost 30 years ago.
The move comes amid burgeoning support from trade unions and constituency parties for tougher regulation of the banking sector, protection of public services and the Royal Mail, greater support for manufacturing jobs, free school meals and child care, tougher action against gangmasters and climate change, and calls for policies to combat the BNP.
An emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee has been called for Saturday (September 26) to review negotiations between Number 10 and the big unions over their demand for conference to be given back the right to vote on policy motions.
This would overturn Mr Brown’s reform just after becoming leader which reduced debate to a discussion on “issues”, with a vote being replaced by reference to the policy-making National Policy Forum.
Mr Brown is reported to have thrown in the towel in the face of overwhelming pressure from the unions, but has won agreement to effect the change next year to avoid a row at the last conference before the next election.
But the climbdown is dependent on the unions agreeing to withhold support for the wider change, which would give constituency party members the right to elect representatives directly onto the NPF. The 55 places are currently chosen by conference, where grassroots representatives claim they can be “got at” by party officials.
Direct election is expected to create a powerful new power base for the left at the heart of the policy-making body of the party. A debate on the one-member-one-vote proposal is scheduled for Wednesday morning (September 30).
One member of the NEC said: “This could be the biggest breakthrough for 30 years for ordinary members’ rights and transform the entire party.”
Downing Street is said to be “desperate” to persuade the unions – whose votes will decide the issue – not to back the OMOV move and is presenting Mr Brown’s concession over resolutions as a quid pro quo deal.
A late surge of support from constituencies concerned about Sri Lanka means that an emergency motion, or “contemporary issue” debate, on international aid to help the people in the north of the country rebuild their lives. Motions have also been submitted arguing that “there is no case for Trident”, while motions on Afghanistan are split over withdrawing troops.
