Women's Officer HANDBOOK 2021/22 - The Labour Party
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Women’s Officer HANDBOOK 2021/22 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 1
2 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22
Contents
Welcome
• essage from Marsha de Cordova MP,
M 4
Shadow Secretary of State for Women
and Equalities
• essage from Rosie Duffield MP,
M 5
Chair of Women’s Parliamentary
Labour Party
What you need to know
• The role of the Women’s Officer 6
• First steps: Reaching out to women 6
members in your area
• Key questions answered 8
• Building a Women’s Branch 9
• NEC Development Fund 9
Get involved
• Organising during the 10
Covid pandemic
• Key events calendar 11
• Jo Cox Leadership Programme 12
• Winning for Labour 12
• Winning in your community 13
Best Practice 16
Resources
• Community mapping your local area 17
• Local Party Jargon Buster 18
• Contacts for more advice and help 19
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 3
Welcome
Marsha de Cordova MP,
Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities
Thank you for being part But there is still a long way to go in the struggle
of our Labour Movement. In for gender equality. Under the Conservative and
Coalition Governments, the gender pay gap has
this unprecedented time, it is remained stagnant, and women have borne the
more important than ever that brunt of austerity.
we work together to campaign
for a fairer Britain. Covid-19 represents an unprecedented
challenge to gender equality and risks turning
As Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, back the clock on gender equality, in relation to
I am proud to introduce this handbook for equal pay, maternity discrimination, access to
Labour Women’s Officers. The work that you childcare and violence against women and girls.
are doing to mobilise and organise in your
community, to build a movement for an equal Labour is and always will be, the Party for
society is inspiring. women’s equality and now more than our
movement must fight to ensure that women’s
2020 was the 50th Anniversary of the Equal Pay voices are heard and that we are not left behind.
Act: legislation which finally said that women
must be paid the same as men for doing the I look forward to working with you all to
same work. A Labour Government brought in campaign for a more equal and fair society.
the Equal Pay Act in 1970. This was followed by
Labour’s Sex Discrimination act in 1975 and the
2010 Equality Act.
4 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22Rosie Duffield MP,
Chair of women’s Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)
It’s a great honour and a privilege to Women’s Officers play a very important role
be Chair of the most diverse PLP to in representing women members’ interests
and needs within the Party and providing a
date. In the 2019 General Election, conduit and voice for women across your own
while we’re still feeling the impact constituencies too.
of a historic defeat, a silver lining
was that we achieved our aim of The events you organise, the campaigns
you run, the perspectives you’ll share at
achieving a 50:50 gender balance local meetings, bring women members and
among our MPs and a significant women more generally, one step closer to
number of our new women MPs are achieving equality.
from BAME backgrounds.
The fight for social justice needs to happen in
Having a diverse PLP is so important, in terms parliament, coming from fellow women MPs,
of fairly representing all parts of our country but it also has to come from the grassroots
and views, giving a voice to oppressed and too. Change happens when local parties and
minority groups and inspiring other women women members campaign on the issues that
from different walks of life to get involved matter most, and when you work alongside your
in public life. Labour councillors and MPs to elevate those
issues at a regional and national level.
Diversity and giving voice are vital throughout
our Party and not just in parliament. That’s why We’ve achieved so much together within the
I am delighted to share a message of hope and Labour Party already, but there is much more
encouragement to all of you Women’s Officers to do. I look forward to working with you to
raising the voice of women at the local level too. achieve big wins in the coming months and
years. Thanks for all you do.
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 5What you
need to know
The role of the Women’s Officer Key Responsibilities of the role
The Women’s Officer is the key representative Making sure that women members are
of women members on the executive of the included in all the Party’s activities and
CLP and works to ensure that women are fully that meetings are relevant and accessible
involved in the work of the local party. They to women.
play a leading role in making sure that the
campaigning work of the constituency reaches Reaching out to women in the wider
out and engages with women voters. community through local campaigns
As Women’s Officer you need to be friendly and and working with women’s organisations
approachable, organised, able to run events and in the constituency to engage women
above all be prepared to work hard to ensure voters, highlight issues and champion
that women members have a strong voice local women.
within the local party.
Bringing women together to empower
This role is varied, exciting and can make each other and gain the knowledge and
a real difference within your constituency. skills they need to get involved in the Party.
You can choose how to focus your role and
what to make your priority depending on Running events for women members,
what sort of activities local members want to including training, policy development and
see and what the most pressing issues are in social events.
your local community.
Think about mapping your local community
Working to recruit more women into the
Labour Party and helping to make sure
to find out who the key stakeholders and
that women members make the jump
community leaders are in your area – then reach
from member to activist and stand for
out to build relationships, such as with local
positions of leadership.
branches of women’s voluntary organisations,
unions or schools. You could then run listening
campaigns to find out what the biggest local
Listening to women’s views and
ensuring that they are reflected in
issues are for women.
Labour’s policy making.
You could set up a core campaign team to
drive community campaigns, organise events You will be on the CLP’s Executive
and listening meetings and run campaigns that Committee and play a key role in decision-
affect women in the local area. making and strategy within your CLP.
The other part of your role involves
looking outside of the Party to women
in your local community and exploring
what you can do to make sure Labour is
effectively engaging with women voters.
6 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22skills, experience and ideas and you’ll be
Key Aims building strong relationships in the process.
Building a party for women – This means
Consult women members – You could
3.
working to make sure that women in your local
send out a survey or phonebank women
party are supported, involved and engaged.
members to find out what sort of events
Campaigning with and for women – Playing and activities they’d like to attend, training
a leading role in making sure that outside of they’d like to receive, as well as what days
elections, your local party campaigns around and times that are the most convenient for
issues that affect women, and at elections, them to attend events.
campaigns to win women’s votes. Organise useful training – Encourage
4.
women to participate in training
First Steps programmes. A wide variety of training
is provided by the Labour Party, covering
Reaching out to women members in your area everything from effective campaigning to the
work of a local councillor. You can work with
Getting women involved: Our seven-step your regional office or National Women’s
guide to encouraging and supporting women Officer to put on training events for women
members in your CLP to encourage and support in your area or across your region.
them to get more involved. Women’s Officers
across the country make a huge difference to Make meetings interesting – Organise
5.
the life of their local party by recruiting and discussion meetings and speaker events
engaging women members. Think about getting for local women members to encourage
women involved in your constituency in the them to get involved and contribute to the
following ways: Party’s policy making process. Ideas can be
passed on to your local policy forum or the
Get in touch – You should ensure
1. National Policy Forum. Speak to your local
that you get in touch with all women party Chair about how this happens.
members introducing yourself as the
Women’s Officer and providing your Build a support network – Provide
6.
contact details. Make sure that new women women with chances to meet, network and
members are welcomed into the local support each other. Informal meetings
party. You could ask the Secretary of the and socials are just as important as policy
local party to email new women members discussions. You could also arrange to
ahead of your CLP meetings and introduce meet before CLP meetings, to answer any
yourself at the start of the meeting to make questions and strengthen relationships.
newcomers feel welcome.
7. I nspire members to stand – Encourage
Meet on a 1-2-1 basis – Offer to meet
2. women to stand for positions of leadership,
women members for a 1-2-1 ahead within and outside of the Party. Women
of meetings or for a coffee. Take the need to be visible and actively engaged in
opportunity to find out their interests all areas of society. Getting more women
and concerns, and what they might like to to take part in public life, whether at a
contribute. You’ll find out more about their national or local level, is essential.
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 7Key Questions Answered Rules for Women’s Branches
Q. Where can I find the rules for Clause III. Membership
the Women’s Branches?
3. A proportion of members’ subscriptions
A. The rules on how to build a Women’s should be allocated to this Women’s Branch
Branch are in the Rulebook in Chapter 10. as determined by the CLP General Meeting
You can download the rulebook from the (s), or by the Executive Committee if given
Labour Party Website or visit: labour.org. such delegated authority by the General
uk/rulebook. If you are in need of further Meeting.
guidance, contact your CLP Secretary or
your Regional Organiser. Clause V. Meetings
Q. As a Women’s Officer, can I have 3. This Women’s Branch shall raise and hold
funds to support activities within the objects
access to the membership list? of this Women’s Branch. The financial year
of this Women’s Branch will begin on 1
A. You are not automatically granted January and end on 31December. The annual
membership access. In a CLP, only the
accounts of this Women’s Branch shall be
Secretary and the Vice Chair Membership
forwarded to the CLP Treasurer(s) no later
have automatic access to membership
than the end of February each year so they
information for that CLP. However, other
can be incorporated into the CLP(s) Annual
officers, such as the Youth Officer and/or
Statement of Accounts.
Women’s Officer can ask the Secretary to
distribute communications on their behalf.
This essentially means that you must
work with your CLP to obtain funds and
There is an increasing scrutiny on data
it would depend on whether the branch
protection, with new legislation, specifically
was operating successfully. The amount of
the General Data Protection Regulation,
funds you will receive will be dependent on
now in place. This increases the rights of
many things, but don’t forget you can also
data subjects and gives greater emphasis on
fundraise to pay for activities for women
enforcement action. For this reason, there
members, or specific things in the CLP to
has been an emphasis to those officers
encourage women’s involvement.
with access to data that they are legally
responsible for its protection. Q. I’m not getting many women
Q. Does the CLP have to give members to help. What can I do?
me financial help? A. Don’t give up! Engaging members and
getting them active is one of the most
A. The Labour Party rulebook states the challenging aspects of the role and it can
following regarding financial help to
be frustrating. However, it is also hugely
Women’s Branches:
rewarding when you get members involved.
We have some fantastic top tips in this
handbook and examples of a variety of
activities you can try.
8 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22Building a Women’s Branch NEC Development Fund
In some constituencies, women are keen to Following the Refounding Labour to win
organise their local women’s activities in a more consultation in 2011, a NEC fund was
defined and formal way. The best way to do this established for local parties to apply for
is through a Women’s Branch. A Women’s Branch money to support their activities.
is made up of all the women members in the
The fund provides support through two
constituency and is basically another name for
categories; Local Campaigns and Improvement
a women’s section or a women’s group, expect
and Diversity and Democracy. During 2012-
that it is a formal body which is covered by the
17, the NEC awarded monies from the fund
constituency rules.
to support the employment of 84 organisers
An official Women’s Branch has an Executive and to fund 52 projects supporting increased
Committee, which will include a Chair, Vice Chair, voter and member engagement from under-
Secretary, and Treasurer. Other women may also represented groups. This is a brilliant way to
take other responsibilities – acting perhaps as a help fund Women’s Branch events and activities.
Training Officer. This provides you with a team of
To find out how your local party can make
women actively supporting your work. The rules
a bid for funding, visit:
have recently changed, so that Women’s Officers
labour.org.uk/development-fund
are now not automatically the Chair – an AGM
will need to be held to elect the officer roles.
To set up a Women’s Branch, you will need to
organise a formal meeting of local women party
members for the meeting 14 days in advance.
The first formal meeting with establish your
branch and can be used to elect the Executive
Committee. All women members in the
constituency are automatically members of the
Women’s Branch once it is properly set up.
You will need to hold a formal meeting at least
once a year, with an AGM to elect the Executive
Committee. In doing this, the Women’s Branch
can be represented on your constituency
General Committee and make nominations in
the constituency, including for parliamentary
candidates and members of the NEC and
National Policy Forum. Your local party Chair can
provide more information on this.
For the rest of the year your forum can
organise meetings and events as It wishes.
You can also work with Women’s Branches
in neighbouring constituencies, offering
the potential to organise bigger events and
campaigns with a broader reach.
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 9Getting Involved
Organising during the
Engage with local unions – There are
likely to be local workers facing challenges
Covid pandemic in your area – with anything from being
forced to work in unsafe workplaces, to
In response to the Coronavirus crisis, Labour facing mass redundancies. Get in touch
women have been leading the way across with your local union branches to find out
the country in trying to fight the disease how you can show solidarity with workers.
and support our communities during these
incredibly difficult times.
Support local charities and groups –
Women are very likely to be working on the You could get in touch with local
frontline – in hospitals, care homes and schools voluntary organisations, charities and
– and are very likely to be disproportionately faith organisations to find out if Labour
impacted by the disease as a result. What is members could support their activities.
more, women are experiencing compounded There are likely to be lots of ways to
challenges, in terms of caring responsibilities volunteer and provide mutual aid through
and financial challenges. existing networks, so reach out and find out
how the local CLP can support them.
Despite women carrying much of the burden of
the crisis, we are so proud to see Labour women
Connect with local food banks – Given
organising in their communities and nationally, to the challenges many people are facing
ensure every person gets the support they need. with Covid-19, food banks are under more
From launching and running mutual aid groups pressure than ever. You could reach out
in their local areas, to setting up food banks to to local food banks to organise a CLP-wide
tackle food poverty, Labour women have been a food bank drive to make a big difference.
beacon of hope, inspiration and positivity.
hone-bank women members –
P
Covid-19 has presented very specific Coordinate phone-banking of all the
organisational challenges for Women’s women members to find out if they
Officers and local parties, and there is a lot of need any support or if they have ideas
uncertainty about what government guidance about what you could organise around in
and measures will be, until a treatment for the response to Covid-19.
virus is found.
With that in mind, here are some ideas for how
Digital women members meetings –
you can keep Labour women organising despite Even if members can’t meet in person, it
restrictions and with the presence of Covid-19: is possible to meet online – so you could
organise digital meetings and events for
Mutual Aid Groups – If there isn’t already local Labour women. From quizzes, to
one in your area, set up a Covid Mutual Aid networking sessions or policy discussion
Group on Facebook and invite local people roundtables, there’s lots that can be done.
to be a part of it. Make sure you register
your group with: https://covidmutualaid.
org/ And if there’s already one in your area,
reach out to them and get involved!
10 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22Key events calendar
February October
6 Anniversary of the Representation 11 International Day of the Girl Child
of the People Act 1918 (enabled all men 21 Anniversary of women sitting in the House
and some women over 30 to vote) of Lords for the first time
March November
8 International Women’s Day 21 Anniversary of the Parliament
(Qualification of Women) Act 1918,
April allowing women to stand for election
for the House of Commons
All month –
Sexual Assault Awareness Month 25 International Day of the Elimination
of Violence Against Women
30 Anniversary of the Life Peerages Act
(allowed women to sit in the House of Lords)
December
June 14 Anniversary of all men and some women
voting for the first time, in the general
23 Internationmal Women in Engineering Day election of December 1918.
July
2 Anniversary of the Equal Franchise Act
(gave women the vote at 21 – same as men)
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 11Jo Cox Women in Leadership Winning for Labour:
Programme Get campaigning
In memory of our friend and colleague Jo Cox, Campaigning for women
the Labour Women’s Network and the Labour
Party launched the Jo Cox Women in Leadership Delivering a fairer society for women was at the
Programme in 2016. core of Labour’s agenda while in government
and we saw real and far-reaching improvements
Jo was an extremely talented MP who
to women’s lives and opportunities. In
championed women in leadership roles,
Opposition, we continue to campaign, working
international feminism and representing issues
to stop unfair Tory austerity from hitting women
close to her heart. This programme will create
hardest and building a Britain that works for the
a generation of women who can continue Jo’s
many, not the few.
fight in parliament, local government and in
their communities. The Women’s Officer and her team of local
women members can be a powerful voice in
This is following the success of the previous
campaigning for women in the constituency.
rounds of the programme which has seen
You can campaign specifically on issues that
participants go on to become MPs and many
affect women as part of the local campaign
other graduates have put themselves forward
strategy. This is your chance to let local women
for other leadership positions.
know that Labour is on their side.
This training and mentoring programme will
Campaigning is also a great chance to connect
train hundreds of women to be future leaders
with women and encourage them to become
within and outside of our party. We’re looking
members of the Labour Party.
for women members who are determined to
make things happen, change lives and improve Only by involving women from all parts of the
the communities they live in. country and from every background and walk of
life can we be truly representative.
Due to the Covid-19 global pandemic, the
programme for 2020 had to be postponed and As CLP Women’s Officer, it will be your job
we are hoping to open applications to relaunch to turn new women members into active
the programme some time in 2021. campaigners who deliver Labour victories in
elections and beyond.
As a Women’s Officer, you can encourage and
inform other women members about this Your work will also inspire women to stand for
opportunity so that we can continue to build positions of leadership within in and outside of
women’s leadership across the country. the Party – you will be helping to build future
generations of women leaders at all levels of
As Women’s Officer, you and your CLP will
public life!
be contacted with information about the
programme and the application deadline
– please keep an eye out and share the
information with women members once you’ve
received it.
12 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22Five steps to get more women Five steps to winning
campaigning for Labour community campaigns
1 Personally invite them to a campaigning Outside of elections, it’s important that
session: A phone call is more effective than local parties build relationships within the
a generic email. You can talk through what local community and campaigns on issues
campaigning entails and talk through any most important to residents. We can do this
issues they are worried about. by community organising – essentially finding
issues that are ripe for campaigning and winning
2 ave a proper briefing: One of the barriers
H campaigns before election time comes!
that many members face is that they don’t
1 Community map your local area: In
feel confident explaining Labour policies or
your Women’s Branch, map your local
discussing local issues. Canvassers aren’t
community to find out who to building
expected to be experts, but you can give
links with. Take a look at the community
women a short briefing sheet explaining
mapping tool on page 24 to use as a guide,
some of the key issues and allowing time
but generally we need to research and
for any questions.
map the state, market and civil society
3 uddy-up: Buddy up first-time door
B stakeholders that are local to us – these
knockers with some experienced women include trade unions, voluntary campaigns
activists. Many members find the concept and community organisations.
of door-knocking a bit scary! If you pair
them up for a campaign session – they can You could also try doing an audit of
see how it’s done and be a lot less nervous which women Labour Party members are
when they do it themselves. currently members of these groups and
could act as a link person.
4 Plan a social after the sessions: This is a
great way to get to know women activists 2 un a listening campaign: To find out
R
a little better and make the campaign what issues matter most to local women,
session more of a friendly experience reach out to the organisations, groups
and encourage people to come back for and community leaders you’ve identified
the next one! It’s also important to build through your community mapping. Aim
a support network and socials are a great to have at least 100 conservations to find
way of building and keeping a team. out what the biggest issues are. You can
also consult your own women members.
5 Say thank you: You should always thank Ensure that a diversity of views are gathered,
everyone who came along. Make sure you thinking particularly around ensuring LGBT+,
keep a record of the women who attended disabled and BAME voices are heard.
– it’s good to know who your regular
campaigners are! When you reach out to these groups,
offer to have a conversation 1-2-1 or in
roundtable discussions – don’t forget you
could do this on the phone or via Zoom/
Teams if restrictions are still placed on
campaigning because of Covid-19.
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 133 Pick a winnable issue to campaign around:
Once you’ve seen the main issues are, bring
Other ideas to try
your local Labour women back together
to see what’s come up most commonly.
in your local area
You could invite some of the people you’ve You might want to try some of the ideas below
consulted too, even if they’re not Party and see what works in your area!
members, if they’ve shown leadership skills
and a keenness to get involved. You need to Recruiting women members
pick something to campaign around that is
The Women’s Branch may want to set up its
local and that you can make a difference to.
own women’s recruitment ‘taskforce’ to target
4 Organise a campaign building workshop: and recruitment activities at local women – such
Once you’ve chosen your campaign as visiting or telephoning women that voter
issue, bring your women’s EC together identification has identified as strong Labour
with women members from your CLP, supporters – and inviting these women to a
to develop a strategy and plan for your social or discussion events.
campaign. Outline your overall aim, your Another recruitment technique is the ‘recruit a
objectives, your potential stakeholders friend’ challenge – you could encourage existing
and who you need to get on side to win women members to bring a woman friend to a
the campaign. Choose tactics for your social or other event and introduce them to the
campaign that’ll make a difference and plot Labour Party that way.
your timeline of activities and actions.
Always make sure you have recruitment forms
5 Launch your campaign: Let your CLP and with you when you are canvassing so that when
key stakeholders know about the launch you meet a supportive woman you can invite
of your campaign and then get going with her to join the Labour Party.
your planned campaign tactics. When Policy Discussions
you win your campaign, make sure you
feedback what you’ve won with your The Women’s Officer is responsible for feeding
regional office, all the stakeholders you’ve women’s views on policy into local and national
engaged, local members and local media! policy forums. You therefore need to provide
women with opportunities to express their views.
For any support with community organising You can use regular meetings of the Women’s
or winning community campaigns in your Branch to find out the views of members. You
local area, get in touch with the National might want to invite a voluntary organisation
Women’s Officer. involved with the subject you are debating.
Holding a local policy forum is also a great
option and a fantastic activity for your
local Women’s Branch to organise. Again,
organise a speaker, perhaps a locally elected
representative, National Policy Forum
Representative or again from a local women’s
organisation.
14 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22School gate campaigning School gate campaigns are a great way of highlighting Labour’s policies to many women in a short period of time. Running a petition outside a local school, e.g. anti-cuts to schools, can give you the contact details of many parents who you can then keep in touch with on a range of issues. You can contact them about local campaigns that your local party is running that might be relevant to them. Your local MP/candidate and/or other community representatives such as councillors should be there to meet the parents and listen to their concerns. This is a real opportunity for representatives to listen to women’s voices. If you choose to hand out a leaflet at school gates, make sure it is one with a clear message that be read quickly – you have a limited amount of time to catch attention and convey message. WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 15
Best Practice
Labour women in the
fight against Covid-19
From Thurso to Worthing, Aberystwyth to
Lowestoft, countless Labour women are
showing leadership in response to Covid-19.
We wanted to shine a spotlight on what just
some of them are doing.
Cllr Naheed Gultasib, alongside her CLP in
Walsall, have supported 600 homeless and
Cllr naheed gultasib
vulnerable people with food and prescription
deliveries, hot meals and a befriending service.
Naheed helps with ‘Fish & Chip Fridays’ for
families who can’t afford it – alongside some
homemade bread pudding for dessert!
Caroline Baxter in East Worthing is helping those
who’ve slipped through the net, by setting up a
local mutual aid group and food bank to help
with food, someone to talk to and signposting.
This is just a small sample of the fantastic work
that Labour women are doing around the
country – and the leadership shown by so many
of you in these difficult times is an inspiration.
Caroline Baxter
16 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22Resources olice – What is the state of the police
P
force, how accountable are they? How have
the cuts hit them?
Community Mapping
Health – Who are the local providers and
Are you new to your role and not sure where to trusts? Hospitals? Particularly large GP surgeries
begin? Or have you been in post for a while, but you
want to have more of a community-focus? Civil Society
Women’s Officers can map their communities to
build powerful and meaningful relationships with
ni’s – Are the Universities in your area
U
influential?
community leaders and influencers. This helps to
have more external, community focus with voters
and groups, to make a difference ahead of elections
Civil institutions (places people
and ensure CLP organising helps to tackle the biggest congregate) – Where do people congregate
local issues. You can complete the mapping below, and relate? Running clubs, Local football teams,
for your CLP. faith organisations etc.
cademy Trusts – How many schools are
A
The Market there? How many are LEA run and academy
trust run?
ey industries – What are the major
K
industries in the constituencies you will rade Unions – Which operate in key
T
be working in? employers in your area? Are they influential to
politics in the area?
Major employers – Biggest employers
in the area?
Housing associations – Where are they? Are
they healthy?
Important business developments –
Who is coming to your area? Is it a hot
Local and major funders – Who has provided
topic locally? funding for work in your areas?
Football clubs – Are the football clubs
Major faiths – Demographically is there an
influential in your areas? Are they a part influx or outflux of a particular faith group?
of the identity of the people
Charities / NGO’s – Which are the charities in
Business districts – Are there any business your area? What do they do?
districts where good employment is? Or where
deals are cut?
Campaign groups – Who is active? What are
they campaigning on?
Media – What do people read? Where do
they consume information and news?
Overall demographics – Ethnicity, class,
gender, countries of origin – What issues have
State the people there faced? What is the history of
the area they live in?
Councils make up – What’s the majority?
What did it used to be and what is it now?
Other political groups – Who are they? Where
are they? Who are their members?
MPs – Who are they? From which party?
Are the powerful figures? Front bench or
Gatekeepers – Who are those individuals that
backbench? can open and close doors?
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 17Civil Society Labour Party Jargon Buster
ni’s – Are the Universities in your area
U From CLPs to NPF, you might come across a lot
influential? of confusing acronyms and Labour Party terms.
In our jargon buster, we’ve explained some of
Civil institutions (places people the terms you’re likely to hear.
congregate) – Where do people congregate
and relate? Running clubs, Local football teams, Affiliates
faith organisations etc. These are the wider part of the Labour
movement, for example Trade Unions and other
cademy Trusts – How many schools are
A groups pay a fee to ‘affiliate’ to the Labour Party.
there? How many are LEA run and academy They have a say in internal elections.
trust run?
AGM
rade Unions – Which operate in key
T Annual General Meeting: Yearly meetings of
employers in your area? Are they influential to all members within a branch or CLP where the
politics in the area?
Executive Committee reports on activity and
elections are held to fill roles for the next year.
Housing associations – Where are they? Are
they healthy? Branch Labour Party (BLP)
Many CLPs organise themselves into smaller
Local and major funders – Who has provided units called Branches. Branches get to choose the
funding for work in your areas?
local council candidates to represent your area.
Branch Labour Parties operate over an electoral
Major faiths – Demographically is there an
ward. Branch is the collective terms for all party
influx or outflux of a particular faith group?
members within that ward (or wards). Branch
meetings are usually held on a monthly basis.
Charities / NGO’s – Which are the charities in
your area? What do they do? Delegate
Someone selected to represent members to
Campaign groups – Who is active? What are
another body, such as for branches to the EC/GC
they campaigning on?
or for the CLP to Conference.
Overall demographics – Ethnicity, class, EC or Exec – Executive Committee
gender, countries of origin – What issues have
the people there faced? What is the history of
The Executive Committee is a sub-group of the
the area they live in? General Committee, they deal with business
matters (money etc) so that the GC can
Other political groups – Who are they? Where concentrate on political and campaigning issues.
are they? Who are their members? As Women’s Officer, you are automatically a
member of the EC!
Gatekeepers – Who are those individuals that
GC or GMC – General
can open and close doors?
(Management) Committee
The General Committee of your local party;
branches elect local members to be delegates
who attend and then report to and from each
18 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22body. Local Trade Union groups and affiliates
may also be part of the GC.
Contacts for more
LGC – Local Government Committees advice and help
(formerly Local Campaign Forum or
If you have any questions about the role of
County Party)
Women’s Officer, please contact the Labour
This is the committee of all the CLPs within a local Party’s National Women’s Officer on:
government area, which branches and affiliates
women@labour.org.uk
can also send delegates to. They have a final say
on who stands for council seats and campaigning Remember, you can always refer an issue to
plans for local elections. your Regional or National Office – you can find
their details at:
National Executive Committee (NEC) /
Regional Board labour.org.uk/pages/scottish-welsh-and-
regional-offices
The NEC is the committee that is responsible for
the day to day running of the Labour Party. They Our online training offer can be found at
keep a check on the politics, organisation and members.labour.org.uk/about-
finances of the Party, in Wales there is the WEC labourtraining
(Welsh Executive Committee), Scotland has the
SEC (Scottish Executive Committee) and each and you can subscribe to our regular training
region has a ‘Regional Board’. emails by visiting
There are different representatives on these www.labour.org.uk/w/training-emails
committees rom all sections of the Labour Party, You’ll find lots of useful guides and resources on
including a constituency representative, Youth member engagement, as well as membership
delegate and representatives from Trade Unions forms and the full MembersCentre guide in
and affiliates. They also decide on candidates the Membership and Supporters area on
in by-elections and which seats will select Membersnet at:
candidates from All Women Shortlists (AWS). It
Members.labour.org.uk/members-supporters
sets strategic objectives on an annual basis and
meets regularly to review the work of the Party. Keep up to date with our latest campaigns by
visiting:
NPF – National Policy Forum
members.labour.org.uk/campaign-resources
This is the committee of the Labour Party that
oversees policy development in the Party, leading You can purchase and download a host of
to the creation of the general election manifesto. membership recruitment materials from
It is made up of representatives from the regions, Labour’s Campaign Shop at:
including a youth rep for each region, as well
shop.labour.org.uk
as delegates from affiliates, Trade Unions and
elected representatives. Have your say in the development of Labour
Party policy:
Socialist Societies
policyforum.labour.org.uk
These are organisations affiliated to the Labour
Party. They are a diverse range of groups who
represent different interests, communities,
professions and policy areas.
WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22 1914714_21 Reproduced from electronic media, promoted by David
Evans, General Secretary, the Labour Party, on behalf of the Labour
Party, both at, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT.
20 WOMEN’S OFFICER HANDBOOK 2021/22You can also read
