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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown wins emergency motion vote | Brown wins emergency motion vote |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has won party backing for changes to voting rules at Labour's conference after an expected showdown with the unions failed to materialise. | Gordon Brown has won party backing for changes to voting rules at Labour's conference after an expected showdown with the unions failed to materialise. |
| The move means the end of emergency motions submitted for debate at Labour's annual conference. | The move means the end of emergency motions submitted for debate at Labour's annual conference. |
| Some on the left of the party have accused the leadership of trying to stifle debate. | Some on the left of the party have accused the leadership of trying to stifle debate. |
| But unions and constituency Labour parties overwhelmingly backed the move in a conference vote in Bournemouth. | |
| There were two votes, the results of which were identical, with 84.5% voting in favour of Mr Brown's reforms. | There were two votes, the results of which were identical, with 84.5% voting in favour of Mr Brown's reforms. |
| The only significant protest, during Sunday's debate on the issue, came from former minister Michael Meacher. | The only significant protest, during Sunday's debate on the issue, came from former minister Michael Meacher. |
| Private | Private |
| He warned the changes would be "a huge step backwards" for the party and reduce it to "virtual impotence". | He warned the changes would be "a huge step backwards" for the party and reduce it to "virtual impotence". |
| The unions - which have inflicted a string of embarrassing defeats on the leadership over issues such as pensions and housing in recent years - will still be able to table motions but, crucially, not vote on them. | The unions - which have inflicted a string of embarrassing defeats on the leadership over issues such as pensions and housing in recent years - will still be able to table motions but, crucially, not vote on them. |
| They would instead be referred to the party's national policy forum and discussed in private. | They would instead be referred to the party's national policy forum and discussed in private. |
| Another key change would see Labour's draft manifesto put to a ballot of all members on a one-member, one-vote basis. | Another key change would see Labour's draft manifesto put to a ballot of all members on a one-member, one-vote basis. |
| The unions as a block hold 5% of the vote at conference. | The unions as a block hold 5% of the vote at conference. |
| Urging delegates to back the reforms, Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband insisted they were not intended to sweep difficult issues under the carpet or to stifle dissent. | Urging delegates to back the reforms, Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband insisted they were not intended to sweep difficult issues under the carpet or to stifle dissent. |
| 'Serious work' | 'Serious work' |
| Instead they would boost engagement with Labour's grassroots and help policy development, he said. | Instead they would boost engagement with Labour's grassroots and help policy development, he said. |
| Most of the unions have backed the move on the understanding it will be reviewed in two years. | Most of the unions have backed the move on the understanding it will be reviewed in two years. |
| Outlining the moves, Mr Miliband pledged: "Under these reforms, the debates at conference will not just take place for four days and then disappear. | Outlining the moves, Mr Miliband pledged: "Under these reforms, the debates at conference will not just take place for four days and then disappear. |
| "They will shape the work of our policy-making throughout the year." | "They will shape the work of our policy-making throughout the year." |
| He added: "Under the proposed changes debate at conference would not be the end of the matter but the start of serious work. | He added: "Under the proposed changes debate at conference would not be the end of the matter but the start of serious work. |
| "The national policy forum with ministers, trade unions and constituency Labour parties will get down to business on the detail and thrash out the tough questions. | "The national policy forum with ministers, trade unions and constituency Labour parties will get down to business on the detail and thrash out the tough questions. |
| "For the first time, the people who moved the motion, delegates at this conference, will be part of the discussions." | "For the first time, the people who moved the motion, delegates at this conference, will be part of the discussions." |
| 'Working people' | 'Working people' |
| And he insisted: "It's not about sweeping difficult issues under the carpet because after a year, if conference isn't happy it can send the issue back." | And he insisted: "It's not about sweeping difficult issues under the carpet because after a year, if conference isn't happy it can send the issue back." |
| Mr Miliband also sought to reassure delegates about the implications for trade unions, stressing: "Let me be absolutely clear. We need the voice of working people in this movement." | Mr Miliband also sought to reassure delegates about the implications for trade unions, stressing: "Let me be absolutely clear. We need the voice of working people in this movement." |
| But Mr Meacher, who earlier this year failed to gather enough support from MPs to mount a leadership bid, warned: "To remove contemporary resolutions and votes on important policy issues is a huge step backwards. | But Mr Meacher, who earlier this year failed to gather enough support from MPs to mount a leadership bid, warned: "To remove contemporary resolutions and votes on important policy issues is a huge step backwards. |
| "It is not an advance in party democracy. What is the point of conference if it is merely a talking shop and there is no way we can seriously influence the party leadership and the Government into changing course? | "It is not an advance in party democracy. What is the point of conference if it is merely a talking shop and there is no way we can seriously influence the party leadership and the Government into changing course? |
| "The Labour Party isn't a discussion organisation. It is about power." | "The Labour Party isn't a discussion organisation. It is about power." |
| Mr Meacher urged delegates to "forget any idea" that the issue would be brought back in two years' time. | Mr Meacher urged delegates to "forget any idea" that the issue would be brought back in two years' time. |
| "Enough is enough," he said. "If we let this through the Labour Party as a power organisation is reduced virtually to impotence." | "Enough is enough," he said. "If we let this through the Labour Party as a power organisation is reduced virtually to impotence." |