Nations and local politics
A party that seeks to represent the people across England, Scotland and Wales must take seriously the issues of national and local autonomy. Our proposals will open discussions on how the party should operate in these varied contexts.
Our proposals cover:
→ Scotland
→ Wales/ Cymru
→ Councils, manifestos & local leadership
→ Councillors, local leaders & accountability
Scotland
→ We believe that it is incumbent upon the new party to accept that it is the right of the members in Scotland to found the Scottish party, to decide on its structure, and its relationship to the other parties.
→ We accept that this is consistent with our intention and commitment
to found a democratic party from the grassroots up. We hope that the ideas of The Democratic Bloc will contribute to the creation of the party in Scotland.
→ Democracy from below: our socialist principles emphasize democracy and collective decision-making. For nations within the UK, that means allowing people in Scotland to decide on their own future. To deny that choice would contradict socialist ideals of democracy.
Wales/ Cymru
→ We believe that it is incumbent upon the new party to accept that it is the right of the members in Wales to found the Welsh party, to decide on its structure, and its relationship to the other parties.
→ We accept that this is consistent with our intention and commitment to found a democratic party from the grassroots up. We hope that the ideas of The Democratic Bloc will contribute to the creation of the party in Wales.
→ Democracy from below: our socialist principles emphasize democracy and collective decision-making. For nations within the UK, that means allowing people in Wales to decide on their own future. To deny that choice would contradict socialist ideals of democracy.
Councils, manifestos & local leadership
→ Council manifestos must be voted on by members. Council leaders and campaign committees should be elected democratically and alternative budgets provided in opposition.
→ All groups standing in council elections must put forward a manifesto and this must be taken to the membership in a council-wide area for them to vote on.
→ Members must be sent the manifesto in advance so that they can prepare to scrutinise proposals.
→ Council group leaders must also be elected by members at this meeting.
→ This meeting should also vote in candidates and form a campaigns committee that prepares the electoral strategy, including deciding target seats.
→ The party should always seek to engage members of the public through community assemblies to feed into the manifesto writing process. Local parties should have the freedom to enact this process as they see fit.
Councillors, local parties & accountability
Councillor candidates, at all levels of local authority, should be elected at a ward meeting of local members with a one member, one vote system.
All councillors should face open selection upon the next local authority election. All members should be invited to apply, including the sitting councillor and all are permitted to vote.
Where a ward does not exist the constituency party will select candidates in the area.
All local parties, ward or constituency, should meet at least once every two months. All members should be notified two weeks in advance of the meeting where possible.
Members should elect a gender balanced local political committee (LPC) to run the local party consisting of:
→ Chair
→ Vice-chair
→ Constituency Field Director (equates to secretary)
→ Finance officer
→ Delegates elected by a ward to attend the LPC (where appropriate)
→ Delegates from affiliated local trade union branches
→ Communications officer
→ Campaign coordinator
→ Youth representative
→ Membership officer
All local political committee roles should be open to job share.