The resolution below was adopted by the Respect NC on Saturday as a resolution to conference. The earlier post “Respect – peace breaks out” gives some background detail.

NC resolution for the national conference (agreed by the NC on 29th September 2007)
Brown’s reactionary neoliberal government is more anti-working class than those led by Tony Blair. His public sector wages policy is the biggest attack on the trade unions in 10 years. His proposals “extending and renewing party democracy” will wipe out whatever residual influence the trade unions have at Labour Party conference and deepen the crisis of labour representation. His appointment of people like Digby Jones to Government positions and his invitation of Thatcher to number 10 are calculated insults to the labour movement.

The excellent Shadwell result shows that the objective conditions which produced Respect are unchanged. The need for a new pluralist party to the left of Labour is stronger now that it was when Respect was launched. The Labour left, after the failure of the McDonnell campaign, is weaker now than at any time in its history.

Respect has improved its electoral results consistently over the last 3 years but there is still a gap between our support and our paid up membership. We need to take action to close this gap and to encourage a strong branch structure.
We have to build Respect as a nationally based campaigning party with a strong public profile, radical policies, and strong internal democracy. Respect has to broaden its forces and build itself outwards if it is to become an effective left alternative. It has to relate to the Labour left after the collapse of McDonnell campaign and the left in the unions given the crisis of representation they face.

Conference notes that:

a) The RMT – the union that proposed the foundation of the Labour Party 100 years ago – is responding to the crisis of representation circulating its branches with the proposition that the union establishes an anti-privatisation political party for the purpose of standing candidates in the GLA elections.

b) That Rob Griffiths, general secretary of the CPB, has written in the Morning Star (10.9.07) that the emergence of the Brown government and his “extending and renewing party democracy” proposals threaten to put us back to the time when the Labour Party was founded. He concludes: “If the labour movement cannot or will not reclaim the LP from the privateers, the war mongers and the Thatcher fans, it will have to re-establish one.”

Conference therefore resolves:

a) To welcome the intial discussions arranged with the CPB, Bob Wareing and the RMT and to urgently seek further discussions with those sections of the left currently outside of Respect. In particular those who have continued to seek to reclaim the LP. These include the John McDonnell campaign, the Labour left and the CPB. These discussions to be on the basis of no organisational preconditions as far as Respect is concerned, with the aim of initiating a process towards a wider regroupment of left forces.

b) To seek discussions with Bob Crow and others in the RMT left on the whole issue of the crisis of representation and the need for a new party, making it clear that we welcome the discussion on this question inside the RMT, which opens up an important political debate, and is a reflection of the crisis of representation. In order to avoid a split in the left vote in the GLA elections Respect should offer the best possible conditions to the RMT for a joint slate, which would also be a step forward towards a wider collaboration.

c) To discuss with the RMT, the Labour left, the CPB and others the possibility of a jointly organised conference to extend the discussion on a solution to the crisis of Labour representation.

d) To ensure that Respect plays an integral part in the struggle of the trade unions against the Brown wage freeze and the attack on trade union rights, and against privatisation and deregulation through OFFU and sectional meetings of Respect supporters in the various unions and working in other broad campaigns.
e) To continue to support the activities and campaigns of the StWC both in terms of opposition to the war and the defence of civil liberties and human rights.

f) To ensure that Respect gives a high profile to material on the environment and climate change in its election and general material. To become more involved in the climate change campaign and the climate camps and their activities. Support the climate change trade union conference.

In order to build Respect more effectively, conference resolves:

1) To ensure that Respect has clear working class politics in the coming election. This means that the ethos of Respect as expressed in its acronym Respect, Equality, Socialism, Peace, Environment, Community, Trade Unionism, has to be the framework of its work, its activities and its policies. Any left party wanting to make its mark under the current conditions will have to have clear and distinct and radical politics on which to build an election campaign.
.
2) To build a much higher public profile for Respect. To have an effective means of getting our ideas across through broad-sheets and leaflets, and an improved, revitalised website and improved media management with a well resourced press officer. We agree in principle to produce a newspaper or a magazine. This should be discussed by a working and brought back to the NC for implementation in the new year.

3) To improved connection with the branches in particular by making the national council a partly delegate body with delegates from branches plus an EC elected from conference as automatic members. (The incoming NC to discuss the details with a view to introducing this after the 2008 conference).

Conference reaffirms the decisions taken by the NC on 22.9.07.

This National Council reaffirms the principles of pluralism and inclusivity enshrined in the founding of Respect and in our constitution:

“The aim of Respect is to build a broad-based and inclusive alternative to the parties of privatisation, war and occupation. We will do this by intervening in elections at national, local and European level, building Respect as a campaigning organisation, involved in trade union and workplace struggle, and by building local branches of Respect which are rooted in local campaigns and in the local labour movement.”
We recognise that we continue to enjoy favourable conditions to strengthen and broaden our coalition and our support. To make the most of these conditions in the run-up to the London and council elections next May – and with the possibility of a general election in the next 12 months – we resolve to:

a) Launch an immediate membership and fundraising from the national conference. For conference prepare a fundraising goal for each branch and work with the branches to appoint a fundraising officer. Announce at conference a series of recruitment rallies addressed by the MP, local councillors and other leading figures in Respect.

b) Take a positive and collaborative approach to wider developments on the left, such as Bob Wareing’s decision to stand in West Derby, and the discussion on electoral strategy inside the RMT and among other significant forces in the movement.

c) Take urgent steps to ensure that the Executive Committee, which comprises the officers and others, is a balanced reflection of the organisation, including, if necessary, by expanding its numbers though election at this meeting.

d) Instruct the Executive Committee to prioritise the inclusion of all its members through the prior circulation of agendas and papers for consultation, the varying of the date and venue of meetings to maximise participation, and the use of new technologies.

e) Improve urgently internal communication and accountability at all levels.

f) Overhaul our procedures for recruiting to paid posts in the organisation so that all posts are advertised within Respect, appointed through a short-listing and interview process overseen by a panel approved by the National Council, meet our equal opportunities aims, and are compatible with the best employment practice.

g) Immediately establish a commission to draw up democratic and inclusive alternatives to the slate system for elections. The commission is to report its suggested replacement( s) to the slate system at conference 2007 and propose any necessary constitutional amendments.

h) Review progress on these action points at the next National Council meeting.

i) All elected representatives of Respect should give regular reports to the local Respect branch, and the National Council of Respect. All major initiatives should be discussed with the appropriate local and national committees of Respect.

The National Council encourages all branches and members to seize the growing opportunities we believe exist for building Respect and the wider movement. It is with that sense of urgency in mind that the National Council adopts these proposals, subject, of course, to ratification by the National Conference.

Technorati Tags: Respect, British politics