It is possible to read informal minutes of Labour NEC* meetings circulated by a member with a commitment to transparency. The latest are just out, relating to a gathering of the party hierarchy in late January:
This caught my eye:
Most speakers opposed any change to the voting system.
Somewhat ironic in the light of Labour’s attempts – voted through yesterday – to secure a referendum on changes to the voting system (which would of course be scrapped by a Tory government).
Also, those looking to May 6 for the general election date will be reassured by the following:
The committee unanimously favoured holding the general and local elections on the same day.
I also quite liked this extract:
Peter Mandelson mused that a new post-crunch consensus, following the post-war consensus and the Thatcherite consensus, might see morals reintroduced to markets.
Lastly, confirming my theory that Geoff Hoon will not be deselected before the general election:
Two weeks earlier, members of the organisation committee had forcefully expressed grassroots anger at continuing outbreaks of indiscipline at senior levels and agreed that all members should be equally subject to party rules, but the NEC ended up adopting Dennis Skinner’s advice to deny the troublemakers the oxygen of publicity. We may return to them after the election. (JP: sinister or what?)
*The National Executive Commitee is the governing body of the Labour party.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey