CLP Motions: Sexual Harrassment, Women’s and Palestinian rights.

In June, the following 3 motions were submitted & passed by Newbury Labour members. The submissions were made with each submitter able to spend 5 minutes building their case. Debate ensued and the votes cast.

If you would like to submit a motion, please write to the CLP Secretary via news@newburylabour.co.uk for direction.

Motion 1 – Northern Ireland abortion legislation

“This CLP welcomes the result of the historic referendum in the South of Ireland; repealing their constitutional amendment that denied women the basic human and reproductive right to an abortion. We note that this change leaves the 6 counties that make up the North of Ireland the only part of the UK and Ireland to deny women access to free, legal and safe abortions; even in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality. We recognise the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and of the power sharing institutions in the North, but in the absence of a functioning Assembly human rights provision and protection must take precedent.

This CLP iterates its support for Parliament to legislate for free, legal and safe abortions in the North of Ireland, and asks the Labour Leadership to support these efforts.”

Motion 2 – Ongoing antagonisation by Israel

The members of Newbury CLP believe the path to peace in the Palestinian Territories & Israel is being undermined by the Israeli Government.

We call on the LFI and the Labour Party PLP to recognise the provocative action the Israeli government is taking which includes the recent violence against protesters at the Gaza Border, the continued detention of minors across the Palestinian Territories, and the ongoing blockade of basic medical aid into Gaza.

We further request that they ask the Israeli Ambassador for an explanation into the ongoing antagonisation of the Palestinian people, especially those living in Gaza.

Motion 3 – Sexual Harrassment complaints process

This CLP notes:

1. Recent reports of sexual harassment in politics, including in the Labour Party, both in Westminster and in local Parties across the country.
2. That the Labour Party has recently updated its procedures for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment, which were emailed out to Labour Party members on 22nd January 2018.
3. That Labour Women’s Network and Labour Too have stated that they believe these updated procedures do not go far enough, and that in particular the process needs to be fully independent.

This CLP believes:

1. That Labour is the Party of Equality, and to live up to this we must do everything we can to eliminate sexism and sexual harassment. This must include culture change, as well as impartial and robust processes.
2. That the Party must have a process for dealing with complaints of sexual harassment that members can trust to be fair and impartial.
3. That currently, the new sexual harassment process is not fully independent – complaints are administered by staff and decisions made by NEC and NCC members.
4. That women may be put off coming forward with complaints if they do not trust the impartiality of the process.
5. That the process should be fully independent, as called for by Labour Women’s Network and Labour Too.

This CLP resolves:

1. To write to Jeremy Corbyn and the new General Secretary, calling for a fully independent sexual harassment complaints process, and calling for them to set out a strategy for culture change to eliminate sexism at every level of the Party.