Amendments ditched by conference bureaucrats

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The CLPD column this week is from Heather Gaebler 15 amendments to a resolution on positive discrimination in favour of women were ruled out of order by the all-male Conference Arrangements Committee, allegedly because they were unrelated to the substantive motion. Needless to say the substantive motion was also on positive discrimination. It argued that five resolutions chosen by the National Conference of Labour Women should be debated at Annual Labour Party Conference as of right.

Women are furious that yet again the Labour Party conference agenda will allow little or no time for debate on women's issues.

The. 15 amendments demanded the setting up of an NEC working party to investigate 'other forms of positive discrimination.

The complete lack of interest shown by the Party in women's rights has not *e: been acknowledged as care or major detriment to Es eatential support and also I cems of political actiyWomen feel that it's about time they did. But this will not be done without a united and sustained challenge to the all-male bodies, as the Conference Arrangements Committee, which control Party procedures and therefore the party as a whole.

The Women's Action Committee is calling on all CLPs whose amendments to resolution 29 were ruled out of order, urging • them to refer back to Conference the relevant section of the CAC report given at the beginning ot the Conference. The WAC hope the CLPs will mandate their delegates to support the reference back. It also calls on CLPs to get their GCs to pass the following emergency resolution:

"This Conference deplores the rejection by the Conference Arrangements Committee of some ls amendments on positive discrimination for women to a by Gerry Byrne motion aiso on positive crimination.

Their rejection by the allmale Conference Arrangements Committee means that once again women's issues will not be debated at Annual Conference. The Conference therefore requires that resolution 29 and the disallowed amendments be placed on the Conference agenda for debate"

We also urge Women's Sections to write to the NEC asking them to make repres entations to the CAC to ensure the amendments are placed on the agenda with the resolution. CLPD also urges CLPs to send resolutions to the NEC urging them to ensure that the vital subject of the shortlist of one and the Manifesto is debated.

The WAC is anxious to contact all Women's Sections and CLPs who have been