Left Unity Founding Conference documents (part three)

CONFERENCE BOOKLET SECTION 6

Constitution

(sections 1 and 2 voted separately)

3) MEMBERSHIP

Membership of [Left Unity] shall be open to any individual without regard to disability, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation who:

a)     commits to further the aims of [Left Unity]

b)    agrees to abide by the democratically decided rules and constitution of [Left Unity]

c)     pays any membership subscription agreed by National Conference

d)    supports [Left Unity] candidates in elections

e)     is not a member of an organisation deemed incompatible with membership of [Left Unity] by National Conference or National Council

f)     is at least thirteen years old

g)    abides the principles and guidelines of behaviour set out in the Safer Spaces policy (Appendix 1)

1.Islington Amendment

Delete point 3f

4)  STRUCTURE AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES

a)     The minutes of all meetings of branches, regional and national committees or other party bodies will be published and made available to members in a timely manner and in accessible forms.

b)    No member may hold a nationally elected post within the party for more than three consecutive years, following which s/he may not stand for election to that post for two years.

c)     The term of all elected posts within the party shall be one year, from Annual Conference to Annual Conference.  All party bodies have the right to recall the elected delegates, officers and spokespersons accountable to them.

d)    As part of our overall commitment to gender equality, at least 50% of those elected to regional and national party bodies should be women.

e)     Care will be taken in when deciding the venue of all national meetings that they take place in geographic locations that are conveniently accessible and a London-centric approach is avoided.

f) Members are expected to adhere to the principles and guidelines set out in the Safer Spaces policy (Appendix 1)

2.Wigan Amendment

Delete

Clause e. beginning [Care will be taken….] and insert: Care will be taken to not only ‘feminise’ the party and make it a welcome environment for all the especially oppressed, but also need to
‘nationalise’ it, i.e. make it a truly national party and remove the
tendency to London centricity by better enfranchising and empowering those
members living in the North, South West and Midlands, whatever their background.

This shall be done by positively discriminating in favour of those areas: moving national meetings around the country so that only one in five meetings at most takes place in London, and the others take place, in cities like Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds/Sheffield, Manchester/Liverpool, Newcastle, Leicester, etc

Also, by situating any national office in Birmingham and by various other measures commonly agreed, including, by using Skype/video conferencing so as to counter the possibility of the domination of any possible London (or other big city) ‘elite’.

3.Cardiff Amendment

In paragraph 4a delete [and] and insert after “national committees” [the Executive Committee] then re-punctuate.

Paragraph 4a will then read “The minutes of all meetings of branches, regional, national committees, the Executive Committee or other party bodies will be published and made available to members in a timely manner and in accessible forms.”

4 Loughborough Amendment

Amendment 4d) Delete all and insert [As part of our overall commitment to gender equality, at least
40% of those elected to regional and national party bodies should be women
and 40% men.]

5.Leamington Spa Amendment
Delete point d).

5) INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Individual members will have the following opportunities to participate in decision making in Left Unity:

• as a member of a branch that can propose resolutions to regional bodies, National Conference and national committees
• through attending and participating in National Conferences
• through electing representatives from the branch to regional bodies, elected regional members of national committees, national individual office-holders and the  principal spokespeople for the party
• through standing for election for the above
• through participation in on-line forums and postal consultative exercises in e-democracy organised to strengthen the participation of Left Unity of members who, for a range of reasons, including geographical isolation, disabilities, caring responsibilities, may not be able to attend all meetings
• As members of sections and caucuses individuals can join together with other members to propose motions to regional and national bodies and nominate individuals for elected individual positions at a national level

6. Rugby Amendment

Add extra point [g) by submitting resolutions to conferences provided they are a) seconded and b) resubmitted to an appropriate delegate body between conferences if they are not reached at the conference.]

6) BRANCHES

a)     Branches bring together members and supporters of Left Unity along area, constituency and ward lines. Decisions to split or merge branches will be made by the groups themselves, subject to approval by the National Council

b)    Regional committees or the National Council may create branches according to need or where none exist

c)     Individual members will normally be part of the branch based on the geographical area in which they live. In some cases however, an individual member may find it more appropriate to be part of a branch based on where s/he works or studies – but this should be agreed with the branch covering the area where the member lives and that which s/he wishes to join

d)    Members can only be a voting member of one branch

e)     A branch must contain at least 10 members

f)     Branches will manage their affairs in accordance with the national rules of Left Unity. Branches should normally meet monthly

g)    Branches may elect representatives to regional bodies  and nominate candidates for any of the elected national committees or positions

h)     Branches will operate their own accounts and can raise money to fund local activities as they see fit in addition to the monies received from national level

i)      Branches shall produce their own Standing Orders, re?ecting their speci?c method of operation and local circumstances; however, local arrangements must not conflict with the provisions of the Model Standing Orders in Appendix 2.

7. Cardiff Amendment

In paragraph 6c after “studies” in line three delete all from “but – “join” in line five and re-punctuate.

Paragraph 6c will then read “Individual members will normally be part of the branch based on the geographical area in which they live. In some cases however, an individual member may find it more appropriate to be part of a branch based on where s/he works or studies.”

8. Rugby Amendment

6e) delete [at least 10 members] and insert [at least 5 members – to be reviewed in the light of the development of Left Unity and no later than 18 months from the founding conference]

7. SECTIONS AND CAUCUSES

Members of LU have the right to form and organise in Sections if agreed by the National Council (subject to confirmation at the next convenient Annual Conference) and caucuses.

a) Sections

i.        Sections can be set up to encourage the self-organisation of party members who suffer from specific discrimination to enable them to have a collective voice within Left Unity, to take a lead in the party on these issues and to organise collectively in campaigns against oppression

ii.        The National Council will create sectional structures to represent the following oppressed groups:

I.        LGBT members section

II.        Black and Ethnic Minority members section

III.        Disabled members section

iii.        Sections can also be set up to bring together party members who have distinct interests (such as housing, ecology or education) or who are members of the same trade union. Such sections can help to bring together members who are active in campaigns in order to intervene more effectively, co-ordinate activity, promote the party’s policies and feedback experience into the party.

iv.        Sections should submit their terms of reference to the National Council (or regional committee if regionally based) for approval prior to their formal launch. These should state who is eligible to join the section, the activities it intends to undertake and how the internal democracy of the network will operate. Sections  will submit written reports to National Council/Regional Councils on their activity at least twice a year

b) Caucuses

i.        Members have the right to organise in political caucuses. As a pluralist party, we recognise that a range of political points of view is a healthy source of debate and new ideas.

ii.        All caucuses should be open – their meetings, aims and objectives should be should be available to all other party members. The guiding assumption and principle for the activities and existence of caucuses in LU is that they will not be permanent factions but they exist to promote certain specific concepts, ideas or policies

iii.        Caucuses have a right to be heard, to organise meetings, to produce literature, to distribute materials at LU meetings and, in general, to try to influence and/or change party policy, but must not do so in the name of LU or any of its constituent bodies

iv.        Caucuses may not organise public campaigns against the overall aims or policy of the party

v.        If a member of a caucus stands for any elected position they will declare their membership in the interests of transparency and to promote informed choices

c) Youth and Student sections

i.        Subject to the approval of National Conference, [Left Unity] shall establish youth and  student groups in local constituencies, in schools and in colleges and universities. Membership of the party’s youth section shall be open to all members between the ages of 14 and 26 and of its student section to all members who are full or part-time students in any educational establishment.

ii.        Members of local youth and student groups shall establish their own national sections and determine their own Standing Orders, subject to approval by National Conference.

9.Crouch End Amendment

7a) ii – Add new point iv. Women members

10.Islington Amendment

7a) iii delete all. (see also amendment to 12d)

7c) i – delete [between the ages of 14 and] and replace with [up to the age of 26]

11.Manchester South and Central Amendment

7c) i – delete [between the ages of 14 and 26] and insert [from 13 to under 27]

Add new point 7c) iii – All members of the youth groups regardless of age should have the
right to speak freely on any subject. The voice of the young people is important and should be heard. They should also have the power to vote on issues within LU providing they are full paying members.

12.Hackney Amendment

7b) iv – delete the words [or policy]

13.Sheffield Amendment

Delete 7b) point iv completely.

14.Cardiff Amendment

7b) ii – Delete sentence [The guiding assumption…..their ideas and policies]

15.Tower Hamlets Amendment

Replace in instances the word [caucus] with [platform] and replace in all instances the word [section] with [caucus]

16.Lambeth Amendment

7a) i and ii – replace the word [section] with [caucus]

7a) iii and iv to be replaced by new 7b) Sections i and ii. Delete [also] in line one.

New 7c) to replace old 7b) – Same wording but the word [caucus] to be replaced throughout with [tendency]

New 7d) to replace the old 7c) Delete [youth and student sections] with [youth caucus and student sections] and then the same wording.

8) ENGLISH, REGIONAL, SCOTTISH AND WELSH STRUCTURES

a)     National committees will be created for Scotland and Wales, comprised of elected representatives of the branches in those nations

b)    In recognition of the different political contexts and to better deal with issues specific to these countries, members in Scotland and Wales have the right to draw up their own constitutional rules and organisational structures that adhere to the principles set out in (4) of the constitution and the Code of Conduct for elected representatives set out in Clauses 15 and 16, subject to approval by National Conference/National Council

c)     In England, regional committees of representatives from branches will be organised for the following English regions London, South East, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, Eastern , South West. Each branch will be entitled to send two delegates with speaking and voting rights ( one male and one female) and as many observers as wish to come. Expenses of delegates to be met from regional funds, local observers from branch funds

d)    The role of English regional, Welsh and Scottish committees will be co-ordinating and prioritising campaigning and organisational activities, assisting in the creation and building of branches and encouraging political education

e)     If 50 individuals from Northern Ireland apply to join LU the NC will bring appropriate proposals for organisational and constitutional changes to Annual Conference

17.West London Amendment (and Waltham Forest)

Delete section 8 e) “If 50 individuals from Northern Ireland apply to join
LU the NC will bring appropriate proposals for organisational and
constitutional changes to Annual Conference”.

18.Islington Amendment

8c) delete first sentence beginning [in England, regional committees…] and replace with [in England, regional committees of representatives from branches will be created by the national council where a majority of branches in that region ask for this to happen]

In 8c) Where it reads [‘Each branch will be entitled to send two delegates
with speaking and voting rights (one male and one female) and as many
observers as wish to come] – replace [one male and one female] with [at
least one of whom must be female]

19.Cardiff Amendment
Heading to be re-worded as [8 English, Scottish, Welsh and Regional Structures]

8d) delete [Welsh and Scottish] in the first line.

Insert new 8e) – [The role of the Welsh and Scottish committees will be to develop and agree policy within the remit of the devolved powers of the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament so long as they do not contradict the aims of Left Unity as stated in the constitution and as subsequently understood by national conference. These two committees will also have the role of co-ordinating and prioritising campaigning and organisational activities, assisting in the creation and building of branches and encouraging political education] (if passed – see 9a))

9) NATIONAL CONFERENCES

a)     The national conferences of Left Unity are the supreme policy making body. Each National Conference shall take place within 13 months of the previous one. No conference is bound by the decisions of a previous conference

b)     The National Council may call a Special National Conference on a vote of 2/3 present and voting at a quorate meeting, or if, over a three month period, 25 % of branches pass a resolution or 25 % of members sign a petition calling for a special conference. In this event the NC will organise it as quickly as practically possible but with a minimum of one months notice

c)     All members can attend and vote at National Conferences on the basis of One Member One Vote (OMOV), except that when Left Unity reaches 2,000 members the provisions in 7 (d) will come into force

d)    National delegate conference

1.                       i.        Conference shall be organised on a delegate basis from branches, with the size of delegations based on two delegates per ten members or part thereof, or on such other proportion of branch membership as shall be decided from time to time by Conference.
2.                      ii.        The party’s national youth and student sections shall be entitled to send delegates to National Conference on a basis that shall be determined from time to time by Conference.

iii.        All party members are entitled to attend National Conference as visitors. Party visitors can participate in debates but will not have voting rights.

e)     The National Council, branches and Regional/Scottish/Welsh committees have the right to propose motions that if passed by the National Conference will become policy.

f)     Individual members of LU will have the right to submit motions, so long as 20 full members have signed their support, or such a number as may be decided from time to time by National Conference

g)    Sub-committees or working parties established by conference motion may be charged to submit proposals directly to National Conference

h)     Sections may send one motion and one amendment to National Conference.

i)      A Conference Arrangements Committee, which shall consist of four members elected at each National Conference, plus the National Secretary, will be responsible for all aspects of the organisation of the following National Conference except the organisation and timing of its agenda, which is the responsibility of the Standing Orders Committee.

20.Cardiff Amendment (if amendment to section 8 is successful)

9)a first sentence to read “The national conferences of Left Unity are the supreme policy making body other than where 8e above applies.”

9e) Insert [national] between [Regional/] and [Scottish]

21.Islington Amendment

9d) i – Insert in bold [at least one of whom shall be a woman] between [thereof] and [or on such other…]

22.Tower Hamlets Amendment

Delete 9f) completely.

10) DIRECT DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, THE INTERNET AND E-CONFERENCES

a)     Left Unity is committed to using IT, and in particular the internet, to enhance its democratic processes.   Therefore, the National Council, or such sub-committee that it may establish to deal with these issues, shall regularly review this area and present a report to Annual Conference, with proposals, on developing the use of IT

b)    The National Council shall organise E-conferences on specific single issues or questions as it decides or when requested by 25% of branches in the course of a three month period. These shall take place on a forum to be organised by the NC with online debate and voting, restricted via password protection to subs-paying LU members

c)     Provision will be made for voting in all elections to be conducted by internet voting, but members may choose to receive postal votes instead

d)    All discussion and debate will be expected to be respectful and adhere to the standards of behaviour set out in the Safer Spaces policy (Appendix 1)

11) STANDING COMMITTEES

a)     All members of specialist national committees will be nominated by branches and directly elected by the members in national elections

b)    The following national committees of Left Unity with specialist roles will exist:

i.        Disputes Committee

ii.        Appeals Committee

iii.        Standing Orders Committee

c)     The National Council will form ad hoc sub-committees and working groups as it sees fit to deal with specialist areas of work. These will be advertised and members encouraged to get involved and contribute, as far as possible, and be open to participation by the wider membership. All agendas and minutes to be published

d)    The quorum for all national committees will be 55% of the elected members. All standing committees will meet at least 3 times per year

12) NATIONAL COUNCIL

a)     Left Unity will be led and organisational/financial issues managed in between national conferences by the National Council (NC). The National Council will comprise the following members, or such number as may be decided from time to time by National Conference:

i.        40 regional representatives

ii.        1 representative from each of the following Sections: Youth/students, LGBT, BME, disabled members

iii.        2 nationally elected principal speakers

iv.        5 nationally elected office holders

b)    The National Council shall meet at least 6 times a year and 55% of members must be present to form a quorum (not including unfilled positions or places in the calculation). Chairing to be rotational.

c)     All branches, regional committees and sections shall have the right to send motions and amendments to National Council.

d)    The National Council may establish sub-committees and working parties as necessary to look in detail at speci?c areas of policy development, to develop campaign proposals and to organise events. Sub-committees and working parties do not have to consist of members of the National Council, but are accountable to it. Sub-committees and working parties should report to the National Council. The minutes of sub-committee and working group meetings should be forwarded to the National Council for information and available upon request to any full party member

e)     All full members of the party are entitled to attend National Council meetings as observers.

f)     The National Council shall adopt its own standing orders, subject to approval by National Conference.

g)    The term of office for all members of the National Council will be 1 year.

h)     The National Council may create new National Officer posts, nominate spokespeople on particular issues and temporarily co-opt from within its own membership or the membership at large to fill them, subject to confirmation by National conference and thereafter elected by a national ballot of all members.

i)      In the event of a vacancy occurring for any position within the National Council the Executive Committee will take immediate steps to organise the election of a replacement

Regional representatives

j)      A total of 40 regional representatives, or such number as may be decided from time to time by National Conference, will be members of National Council, representing the following regions (coterminous with regions for elections for the European Parliament):

i.        Electoral region 1 – London

ii.        Electoral region 2 – North East

iii.        Electoral region 3 – North West

iv.        Electoral region 4 – Yorkshire and Humber

v.        Electoral region 5 – East Midlands

vi.        Electoral region 6 – West Midlands

vii.        Electoral region 7 – Eastern

viii.        Electoral region 8 – South West

ix.        Electoral region 9 – South East

x.        Electoral Region 10 – Scotland

xi.        Electoral region 11 – Wales

k)     It is the responsibility of the National Council, subject to the approval of each Annual Conference, to ensure the distribution of the number of representatives on the National Council for each region will be, as far as possible, proportional to the distribution of  membership of LU in England, Wales and Scotland, excepting that:

i.        each region shall have a minimum of two representatives

ii.        the calculation of distribution of regional seats will be based on the previous year’s membership figures

l)      individual Regional Members of the National Council shall be elected by a postal or e-ballot of all members in each region, organised by the respective Regional Committee, in liaison with the national Nominating Officer, or by the National Council if no Regional Committee exists

m)   Nominations for regional representatives on the National Council to be made by branches within that region. Nominations for individual post-holders to be made by branches, regional bodies or by 20 members, or such a number as may be decided from time to time, who have signed a nomination form

n)     Regional representative members of the National Council will provide written reports of NC meetings, report back regularly to their Regional Committee and as far as reasonably practicable, be available to report personally to each branch in their region on at least an annual basis, or at the request of any of those branches.

Representatives of sections

• o)    Youth/students, LGBT, BME, disabled members may elect representatives to the National Council on such a basis as national Conference may from time to time determine

p)     Representatives of sections on the National Council will provide written reports of NC meetings to their sections and a written report to Annual Conference detailing the work of the section for that year

National Office holders and spokespeople

a)     National officers will be elected annually by national ballot. National officers will be responsible for implementing the decisions of National/Special Conferences and the National Council. The national officers and spokespeople  will be accountable to the National Council and National Conference, providing regular reports of their areas of responsibility

b)    The number and responsibilities of National Officers will be as follows, or as may be determined from time to time by the National Conference:

i.        Principal Spokespeople – one male, one female, acting as leading spokespeople for the party at a national level

ii.        National Secretary (with responsibility for party organisation, preparation of agenda’s, dealing with external correspondence and communications, liaising with Regional Committees, minutes and records and any other duties decided by National Council from time to time)

iii.        National Membership and Communications (with responsibility for membership, data protection and internal communications

iv.        Nominating Officer/Elections Co-ordinator; responsible for drawing up and implementing procedures for the democratic selection of party candidates for public office and other internal election processes, and for the overall co-ordination of national election campaigns. For the technical purpose of registration with the Electoral Commission only, this post holder will be designated party leader.

v.        National Treasurer; responsible for keeping details of party income and expenditure, preparation of quarterly financial reports to be sent to all National Council members and Branch Secretaries, and presentation of audited accounts to National Conference and the Electoral Commission

c)     The positions of National Secretary, National Membership and Communications Officer, Nominating Officer/Elections Co-ordinator and National Treasurer are all open for job-share. However, if a job share is operating, although both may attend, only one of the two sharing post-holders may act as a voting/speaking member at any one meeting of the National Council

23.Islington Amendment (if amendment to delete 7a iii is agreed)

12d) Add after first sentence : [Such groups can help to bring together members who are active in the same areas in order to intervene more effectively, co-ordinate activity, promote the party’s policies and feed back experience into the party]

24.West London Amendment

12a) Add extra point [(v) 10 nationally elected non-office holders]

25.Cardiff Amendment

12j) Insert [and national] after [regional] in line one and insert [and nations] after [regions] in line three.

12j) Insert [national] before j)x and also before j)xi

26.Lambeth Amendment

12a) i – Delete [40 regional representatives] and replace with [1 branch representative per 10 members elected by branch.]

12a) iii – regarding 2 nationally elected principal speakers. Delete completely and renumber subsequent sections.

12j) to 12n) regarding regional representatives. Delete completely.

27.Crouch End Amendment

12a) ii – Add at end [women]

12a) iii – Delete [2] and insert [4]

12a) add new point [v. 15 nationally elected council members]

12b) Delete [6] and insert [4]. Delete [55%] and insert [one third]

12o) Add [women] to list of sections

National office holders and spokespeople section b) i – delete [one male and one female] and replace with [two male and two female]

Section b) Add point [vi. Media Officer: responsible for media strategy.

Section c) line one. Add [Media Officer] to list of officers.

28.Tower Hamlets Amendment

12m) Delete second sentence and insert [Nominations for individual post holders to be made by branches or regional bodies.] ie deleting reference to 20 members.

29.Lewisham and Greenwich Amendment

g) Insert at beginning of section [elections for members of the National Council shall be by Single Transferable Vote and will incorporate an additional vote for female candidates to facilitate 50% representation on the NC by women and]

13. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a)     The Executive Committee is responsible for the day to day running of the party. The Executive Committee is accountable for all its actions to National Council and National Conference. The Executive Committee should refer all major decisions to National Council. This does not preclude the Executive Committee reaching interim decisions on urgent matters and seeking the rati?cation of National Council at the earliest opportunity

b)    The composition of the Executive Committee will be the National Office holders/spokes-people and 10 regional representatives of the National Council, chosen by the other regional representatives and representatives of Sections

c)     All members of the party are entitled to attend Executive Committee meetings as non- speaking observers

d)    Minutes of Executive Committee meetings should be tabled at National Council meetings and be available to any member upon request.

e)     The Executive Committee should meet at least monthly.

f)     The Executive Committee shall produce its own Standing Orders, subject to approval by National Conference.

30. Islington Amendment

13c) Delete completely

31. Cardiff Amendment (if amendment to 4a) is successful)

Delete 13c)

32. Crouch End Amendment

13b) Delete all and insert [The composition of the Executive Committee will be the National Office holders /spokespeople, one rep from each region, the representatives of the sections and ten from the nationally elected council members.]

14) NATIONAL ELECTIONS FOR INTERNAL POSITIONS WITHIN LU

1. Voting in elections for regional representatives on the NC, individual post-holders and spokes-people on the NC and members of national committees with specialist roles will be conducted using electronic voting systems via the internet, except that all members will have the right to opt out of this system and will instead receive a postal ballot

1. Only members residing in the relevant region/Scotland/Wales will have the right to vote for regional representatives on the NC. All other positions will be elected in national elections

1. All candidates must be either nominated by a branch, regional body or 20 members, or such a number determined from time to time by National Conference, signing a nomination form

1. Every candidate will be entitled to supply a statement of no more than 500 words (or such limits as deemed practicable by the Nominating Officer) saying:

i.        which branch they belong to

ii.        which positions in LU they do or have held

iii.        whether they are members of a caucus and if so, which

These statements will accompany printed ballot papers and in the event of online voting be prominently available. All candidates will be expected to also provide contact details so that members may ask them questions prior to voting. The Nominating Officer (or members delegated by him/her as appropriate) will organise hustings opportunities, whether on-line or in person.

1. On the ballot papers for principal speakers there will be a ‘Re-Open Nominations option’

1. If insufficient male or female candidates are nominated for positions requiring 50% gender representation, nominations will be re-opened once only, with an appeal for male or female candidates, as appropriate, to come forward. Pending the by-election, the female/male candidate, as appropriate, with the second highest vote will sit as an acting representative on the National Council. If no further male/female nominations, as appropriate, are received then the acting representative will be deemed to be elected for that year.

33. Huddersfield Amendment

14e) Delete [principal speakers] and replace with [all internal elections]

15) ACCOUNTABILITY FOR INTERNAL REPRESENTATIVES & LEADERS

The following safeguards to ensure transparency and accountability will apply to all members of the National Council and other party bodies:

a)     Any member of Left Unity has the right to observe meetings of any national committee or sub-committee/working group the NC but not speaking or voting rights. The dates and agendas of all meetings will therefore be made available in good time prior to any meetings

b)    All minutes of national committees and working groups will be published within a week

c)     If 25% of branches or 3 Regional Councils/National Committees, in the course of a three month period, request the recall of a national office holder, a member of the Executive Committee, a member of National Council or a member of a Standing committee or subcommittee, the member concerned shall step down and the National Council shall organise a new election.  The previous incumbent may appeal to National Conference and/or stand again if s/he so wishes.

d)    A national office holder, national spokesperson or Executive Committee member may be recalled by the National Council.  A recalled member has the right of appeal to National Conference.

e) Regional officers can be recalled at a special aggregate meeting of all members in the region.  A meeting to recall a regional officer must be called if requested in motions submitted by 25% of branches in the region in the course of a three month period.

f)          Branch officers and delegates can be recalled at a branch meeting specially called for the purpose.

34. Tower Hamlets Amendment

15b) Add new sentence [A record of the votes cast by each delegate or official shall also be circulated internally]

Add new 15g. [Employees of Left Unity shall be paid a minimum of the London Living Wage pro rata.]

Add new 15h. [Officials and representatives within Left Unity shall be paid a maximum of the national median wage pro rata (plus London Weighting where appropriate). Where they are employed part-time and have partial employment outside of Left Unity, their total pay should not exceed this amount, with the remaining surplus being donated to Left Unity.]

16)        ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONDUCT OF MEMBERS ELECTED TO PUBLIC         OFFICE

a)     All Left Unity members elected or serving in any form of public body (eg, local councillor, Member of Parliament, Member of the European Parliament, holder of an elected trades union position etc) will adhere to the nationally agreed policies, priorities and principles of LU. Failure to abide by these principles and rules, or to engage in any behaviour which brings the Party into disrepute, will incur suspension pending the deliberations of the Party disciplinary procedure.

b)    No member may stand as an official ‘LU Candidate’ without undergoing a democratic selection process at local, regional or national levels, as determined from time to time by the National Conference and supervised by the national Nominating Officer

c)     Candidates for LU will agree to abide by the following Code of Conduct:

i.        In cases where an elected position require the post is carried out on a full time basis, Left Unity members will only draw a maximum of the median national wage (plus legitimate expenses, including London Weighting) – donating 20% of the surplus to Left Unity and 80% returned to public funds.

ii.        Where an elected position is a full time job Left Unity members will take on no other paid employment.

iii.        No Left Unity member will be allowed to continue in any single externally elected position for limited terms as follows:

–       MPs and MEPs – 2 terms/maximum of 10 years

–       Local councillor, MWA, MSP – 3 terms/maximum 12 years

iv.        After a gap of 1 term of office members may again seek nomination to stand as a candidate.

v.        All Left Unity members serving in elected positions must provide regular report backs at the agreed appropriate, local, regional, or national level, to Left Unity.

vi.        All Left Unity members holding elected positions won as Left Unity candidates are expected to resign their elected position immediately that they either resign from Left Unity or are expelled from left Unity.

35.Islington Amendment

16c) i – Delete all and insert [In cases where an elected position requires the post is carried out on a full-time basis, Left Unity members will only draw for themselves a maximum of the median national wage (plus legitimate expenses, including London Weighting)]

36.West London Amendment

16a) delete [holder of an elected trade union position etc.]  In last sentence, delete [will incur suspension] and replace with [may incur suspension]

Delete 16c) i to iv. Replace with

[In cases where an elected position requires the post is carried out on a full time basis, Left Unity members will only draw the maximum of the median national wage (plus legitimate expenses, including London Weighting) – donating the surplus to Left Unity.]

Delete 16c) section vi completely.

37. Lambeth Amendment

16c) i – Delete all after [London Weighting)] and add [donating the surplus to Left Unity.]

Add new point vii. [No elected Left Unity member may take any payment from NGOs, lobbyists, or the private sector either in cash or in the form of gifts.]

38. Tower Hamlets Amendment

16c) i – Delete all after [80%] and add [to campaign groups or NGOs that reflect the aims and values of Left Unity, as approved by the National Council.]

 17) FINANCE

a)     The following general principles regarding finance will apply:

i.        All monies received by or on behalf of Left Unity shall be applied to further the aim of Left Unity and for no other purpose.

ii.        Any bank accounts opened for Left Unity shall be in the name of the Left Unity

iii.        Any cheques issued shall be signed by the Treasurer and at least one other nominated member of the National Council

iv.        Accounts to be independently audited every year

v.        Left Unity will pay reasonable out of pocket expenses including travel, childcare and meal costs to members or members of national committees. The payments must be recorded and paid on presentation of receipts that justify the expense

vi.        Notwithstanding any requirement by the Electoral Commission or other external authority for an independent external audit, the party’s accounts will be independently audited, in conjunction with any finance standing committee National Conference may establish from time to time.

b)    The following principles regarding subscriptions will apply:

i.        No-one will be excluded through lack of money.

ii.        Subscriptions will be fair and equitable.

iii.        Subscriptions will be set at a level that will enable all members to participate in activities.

iv.        The level of subscription set will enable the national organisation to carry out its functions efficiently, as determined by the National Conference.

c)     Any member who is more than three months in arrears without contacting their branch treasurer will be deemed to have resigned

d)    The rate of membership subscriptions will be determined by National Conference from time to time:

e)     Income will be divided between the national organisation and local/regional activities according to the following formula, subject to review and agreement of national conference from time to time:

i.        national office = 75%

ii.        region = 5%

iii.        branch = 20%

f)     In the case of members not attached to a particular branch will be divided between the national organisation and local/regional activities according to the following formula:

i.        national office = 90%

ii.        region = 10%

Finance and Audit Committee

g)    The finances of LU will be overseen by the Finance and Audit Committee which shall be comprised of the National Treasurer, three members nominated by the National Council and three members chosen by national conference.

h)     The Finance and Audit Committee will present a written report to Annual Conference alongside and the accounts.

Party assets

i)      All heritable and moveable property of the party shall be vested in Trustees so authorised by the National Council, (“the Trustees”) representing and acting for the whole of the members of the party. No personal liability shall attach to any Trustee except to the extent of such funds of the party as may be actually received by him or her.

j)      The National Council shall have power to authorise the Trustees and the Trustees, when so authorised, may a) hold, purchase or take on lease any land or buildings, sell, exchange, borrow on the security of, lease or build upon the land and alter and pull down buildings and again rebuild; and b) grant security over the heritable property of the party and obtain advances of money for the purposes of the party and upon such terms as to interest and repayment of principal as the committee may determine.

39.Tower Hamlets Amendment

17a) v. Regarding out of pocket expenses. Add at end [An itemised report of all expenses shall be published quarterly.]