WELSH Labour’s Special Conference has today (15th September) voted to adopt a new method by which Welsh Labour’s Leaders and Deputy Leaders are elected.
Following Stage 1 of the Welsh Labour Democracy Review conducted by Lord Murphy of Torfaen, a Special Conference met to decide between two options:
- An ‘OMOV Plus’ system, whereby individual levy-paying members of affiliated trade unions and members of other affiliates vote alongside individual members in an ‘OMOV’ ballot.
- A Reformed Electoral College consisting of two sections, each voting on an ‘OMOV’ basis: individual members and members of affiliated Trades Unions and socialist societies, with each section representing 50% of the total college.
Delegates chose to adopt a new OMOV Plus system, with 64 per cent voting in favour of this option.
Lord Murphy will now begin stage 2 of the Welsh Labour Democracy Review, covering all other devolved aspects of the Welsh Party’s work. The Welsh Executive Committee will report to Welsh Labour Conference 2019 with the lessons learned from the review; issues which will be addressed through changes in working methods, training and procedures; and necessary rule changes.
Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones AM said:
“Welsh Labour has enjoyed a long period of stability during this febrile time in politics. This has enabled us to win elections and to deliver on our promises in Government. Today, we have had a mature and respectful debate. We emerge from this discussion without being distracted from our primary mission of standing up for the people of Wales, in the face of this cruel UK Tory Government.
“I am pleased that we have a Welsh Labour approach, made here in Wales, that recognises the crucial importance of our Trade Unions colleagues in our Party.
“Here in Wales, we have been in power through one of the most turbulent periods of recent times. We’ve made tough choices, guided by the fundamental values of social justice, of equality, and of fairness that bind us together as members of the Welsh Labour family. And it is as this Welsh Labour family that we will continue to work towards our most vital purposes – governing Wales and putting Labour back in power across the UK.”
