The Political Physicist

The agenda for this meeting was approved (with national nominations moved ahead to give extra time for counting) as were the minutes for the previous AGM.

Note that votes on officers, nominations, etc. were done by branch delegates only. Full rules for the AGM were sent in advance.

Matters Arising and Urgent Business

None.

National Nominations

These were moved ahead to give more time to count ballots (unanimously approved). Late arrivals will be able to submit ballots right until the originally scheduled time. See the list of candidates to the national positions, with candidate statements and lists of those nominating them to the AGM.

Treasurer’s Report

Had £15k more income than anticipated, due to the general election. About £5k more was spent than expected due to the election, although lost the organiser so savings on payroll. Surplus of £9000, although £3000 deferred expenditure to pay salary of organiser. Surplus largely due to large donation from a union. Projecting balanced budget for this year. Increased income donated by Labour Group of councillors. More money will be spent on conference delegates (sending two per CLP, rather than one). Want to keep things reasonably solid so can do the campaigning they want without having to worry about cost. Accounts unanimously approved.

Officers’ Report

These reports were sent in advance (I didn’t read them). The chair gave a brief summary of her report. She was pleased to fight on a “socialist” manifesto and see how popular it was. She was pleased at how all of the 10 key positions in the local party/government are filled by women. Thanked retiring council leader. Congratulated equalities commission and diverse slate of candidates, though we can’t rest on our laurels. Talked about how to broaden support and campaign beyond canvassing. Talked about needing to be welcoming to everyone and respectful of all views. Team will try to be inclusive. Thanked Ann Black for her hard work.

No objections to the reports.

Amendments to Rules and Standing Orders

Andrew Smith proposed changes to campaign committee, though Ann spoke on it. Only meets 3 times a year and operates on ad-hoc basis, but has become something of a club of friends. Want to formalise it. Spending decisions will be OKed by the GM. All branches will now send representatives. No questions or challenges were made and it was passed overwhelmingly.

Election of Officers and Delegates

We were sent a list of nominated candidates in advance. More detailed candidate statements were also provided.

Almost all officer posts were uncontested. One of the challengers for the BAME Officer withdrew, so that is no longer contested (Momentum candidates winning by default). We will hear speeches from trade union officer. At least one conference delegate must be female. Conference delegates are elected by first past the post (FPTP). Luke Akehurst asked about run-off voting and said it should be done this way in future. Ann Black rebuked him as having ample opportunity to raise such a procedural issue and FPTP has always been used in the past so it’s not like it’s a surprise.

Mark Ladbroke (incumbent) spoke about how trade unionists are transformative and how nice it is to be in a position which allows him to work with those who are actually fighting back. Has worked on living wage campaign, including with competitor. Said up to Peter if wants to continue working jointly with him in future.

Peter Nowland who I don’t recognise) said would like to work with Mark to get unions back into workplaces fighting for better conditions.

Unclear whether were proposing job-sharing. Ann seemed to indicate it would be working together on a more informal basis, as they had not been nominated on a jobshare. At last minute the two candidates did agree to jobshare, so no contested positions.

Couldn’t be bothered to take detailed notes on conference delegate speeches. Some were obvious Corbynites, some were obvious anti-Corbynites. Most were a bit more guarded on these issues. I already knew who were the Momentum candidates.

Oxford City Labour Group

This report was emailed sent with the email. The council leader was here to take any questions, but there didn’t appear to be any.

Oxfordshire County Labour Group

The report was supposed to have been sent in advance, but I couldn’t find it. The leader of the group wasn’t here, but a councillor was present to take questions. She started by noting that the group managed to get £500k maintained in homelessness services. Also that voted against Tory idea of giving some new central government money to councillors to administer, instead wanting it to go to children’s services.

Parliamentary Report

Anneliese’s printed report didn’t seem to make it to me, somehow. She started by mentioning the Oxfam crisis, as they are a major employer in the city. Employees admitted bad mistakes were made, but expressed concern that the Right is using it as an excuse to gut foreign aid, particularly where it involves more political charities such as Oxfam. The minister claims no weaponisation of the issue, but Anneliese feels this is not her experience. Also stressed that lessons need to be learned beyond just the charity structure.

Reiterated that Corbyn has committed to membership of “a” customs union, saying she thinks this is the right decision and what she hoped Labour would move to. Also campaigning against the government using Brexit as an attempt to grab power and avoid parliamentary scrutiny. Recently the government has tried to water down anti-money laundering laws and Anneliese thinks they might be able to pull some Tories towards them on this.

Shadow treasury team is preparing for spring statement. Supposedly will be no changes to spending etc. in it, but will reveal the bad state of the economy. Tories will try to spin it as not as bad as everyone thought, but it is still bad. Hoping can use this as an opportunity to push them on council funding. Cuts to taxes benefiting companies and the rich were made at the same time council funding was drastically cut. Those decisions will have long-term costs for our communities.

John Tanner asked when Labour will come out in favour of single market membership. Anneleise felt the UK will be “rule-takers” whether in single market or not. Seems to indicate single market membership is her preferred option.

Someone else asked whether the number of Tory councils facing bankruptcy might force the government to soften its approach. Apparently MPs are trying to bring this up with Conservatives. They just say “councils can raise council tax”, which is cynical for obvious reasons. Would mean those on low income would be paying for central government tax.

Was a question on homelessness; something about it’s relation to national policy. Theresa May seemed to be trying to spin action as helping with homelessness, nut planning bill doesn’t really change power imbalance between councils and developers. Trying to give free-market solutions to a problem that requires public action.

Someone from student union asked about what Labour is doing locally and nationally to support UCU strike. Anneleise noted how she was a lecturer and as, a student, managed to get USS ethically invested. As such she is appalled by what UUK is doing to it now. Has been asked to sign an early day motion on this, but as a front-bencher she has to be told to do so by whips. She hopes she will be allowed to sign it soon.

Someone brought up university hospitals where, in exchange for 2% pay rise for next 3 years staff are being asked not to take annual leave. This, of course, is leading to even deeper demoralisation. Labour feared this sort of thing when Tories formally removed pay cap a few months ago. In any case, that’s a below-inflation pay rise. Where pay rises do occur, it seems to come out of services, but Labour has shown that cancelling tax cuts would allow everyone to have proper raises. She met with CCG recently but stressed they are between a rock and a hard place. Conservatives claiming problems in Oxford are just down to local management not adopting Tory policies is absurd. Someone pointed out lots of people are doing unpaid work already and Anneliese agreed the NHS is just running on goodwill and if there were work to rule the whole thing would fall apart.

Motions

Eastern Ghouta

Ann acted as proposer because the proposers in the branch were absent. This was asking Corbyn to condemn Assad’s action in one region. I don’t know what to think of this one, given that it’s a war against ISIS, etc.

Someone spoke against (also did so at branch, but was caught by surprise then). He said he knows this was tabled with good intentions, but believes that in the context we should oppose it. Said Boris Johnson is threatening airstrikes in Syria and Trump wants to start a war somewhere. Had two parliamentary debates on action in Syria over last few years. This motion would help provide a pretext for western bombing. Said these are the kinds of arguments which led to disaster in Iraq and Libya.

Someone said “we need to do something”, which I find unconvincing.

Another person insisted this does not provide a pretext for international intervention. Said Assad is responsible for the vast majority of civilian casualties, according to Amnesty International.

Luke Akehurst said in motions we should vote for what is written on paper. No reason not to vote for calling for immediate ceasefires and humanitarian corridors. Only military intervention mentioned in motion is that of Russia.

Someone claimed motion is completely unbalanced for condemning what Russia is doing but not Al Queda for controlling regions and refusing to let civilians leave. Felt is was one-sided because of this.

Didn’t count number in favour. 11 against and “more than a dozen abstentions”. I abstained, feeling I had insufficient knowledge to judge. Passed overwhelmingly. I couldn’t quite tell, but I think some Momentum members voted for.

NHS

Jane Stockton spoke as mover for this, noting that she hopes it isn’t controversial. Calls on party at local level to act against 5 year plan for NHS and introduction of “accountable care organisations”. Labour-controlled bodies mentioned in the motion, such as the city council, have the power to call for changes to be halted and reviewed at a higher level. This is in line with national policy. We need to act now to prevent damage being done before Labour makes it into power. In other areas nearby we have seen such action be successful. Have failed to halt privatisation and downgrades, so must do more.

A speaker (consultant at the hospitals) emphasised that narrative we hear of needing to carry out central government policy is false. In other areas there has been management resistance, but needs to be popular pressure.

No one wanted to speak against. Passed unanimously.

Immigration

This motion called for proper debate in the party on immigration and the different types of immigration. Was based on a discussion in the branch. Couldn’t really do a complicated issue like this through a simple motion. Want to use leavers of the party (NPF, etc.) to get a proper discussion going, with goal of bringing something to Conference in 2019. Pointed out that for most people immigration is a secondary issue. Speaker says Labour should be a party that welcomes immigrants, but need a proper policy on it.

Someone spoke against language which suggests good immigrants and bad immigrants and proposed that sentence be removed. Another felt motion was poorly worded, unclear, and can reproduce negative ideas on UK. Pointed out a number of problematic sentences. Felt motion emphasised what is good for country (vague) but not what’s good for immigrants. Said language of compassion is in contradiction with continuing to support border regimes. Wants to have free movement (what with “migration crisis”) paid for by taxing the global rich. More people wanted to speak against, but standing orders seemed to require any additional speakers to be in favour for reasons of balance.

In the end, John Tanner asked for motion to be returned to branch to remove problematic wording. This was accepted.

Results of Elections and Nominations

For Oxford East conference delegates there was a 3-way tie between Becky, Dan, and Marie, so we had to do a revote. Results were somewhat delayed as they were not finished yet.

While we waited we heard from the taxi driver (can’t remember name and don’t see it written down) who was fired for being a trade union shop steward. Reported on how his tribunal over this was a failure. Will be launching an appeal.

Both CLPs nominated the entire left slate for NEC (plus Ann Black). Oxford East for NPF had 3 of the left slate but a recount is needed for the last one (youth is uncontested). West NPF nominations were also left slate. Oxford East conference delegates: Becky and a tie between Dan and Marie. There was a runoff, but at the end of the meeting there was still a tie. Since some delegates had left by the, the GM decided (by popular request) to look at whether they could afford to send all 3. In West, at least one and possibly both of the Momentum candidates were chosen as delegates.

I missed this result on the night but I found out the next day that bot CLPs voted against nominating an NCC candidate. Only a candidate from the right was on the ballot, so this is what Momentum wanted in order that we’ll have a chance to nominate someone from the left at the next meeting.

We were sent official results the next day.