Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (13)

 

Draft New Conservative Party Constitution (13)

I have given many comments on Schedule 7 of the Constitution (see below), so I will not repeat them, other than to say that the Establishment have maintained their grip on control of the Party.   However there are a few points that ought to be looked at again.   They are as follow:

Proposed by CCHQ:

Schedule VII-7 Refusal of membership or expulsion from an Association

To be removed, subject to legal check – it most likely duplicates material in Membership section.

How can you put forward something that requires a legal check?   What if it doesn’t duplicate material in the Membership section? Sloppy!

Schedule 7- 7 Officers

Proposed by CCHQ:

A Treasurer

Agreed good common sense

Proposed  by CCHQ: An individual shall not be eligible for election as Association Chairman where they are, in relation to any part of the geographic area covered by the Association:

(a) a councillor of a principal local authority;

(b) an elected Mayor;

(c) a Member of Parliament;

(d) a Member of the Welsh Senedd;

(e) a Member of the Scottish Parliament; or

(f) a candidate for any of

(b) to (e) above.

   Where an Association Chairman, after election as Chairman, is elected or selected to any role listed above, and that role relates to any part of the geographic area covered by the Association, they must stand down as Chairman at the next Annual General Meeting.

This is an improvement on the Party Constitution and should be applauded subject to the following:

Insert: after (e) “a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; or”

Delete: “(b) to (e) above”

Insert: “(a) to (f) above”

Delete: “at the next Annual General Meeting”

Insert: after stand down as Chairman “and a meeting of the Executive Council called to elect a new Chairman as per Schedule 7-8 5.6.

If you are a Candidate for any of the above there is a conflict of interest in your role as a Candidate which is a political role, and and accountable as such to the Party and the role of Chairman responsible for the Party organisation.

Existing Constitution

Sch 7 -13

6.5.11 The Executive Council shall have the power (subject to any resolutions of the Association made at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting) to deal with all matters affecting the Association and its membership, and to exercise control over all Branches and specialist committees or groups.

Proposed by CCHQ:

The Executive Council shall have all powers necessary (subject to any resolutions of the Association made at an Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting) to meet the purpose of the Association provided that their actions do not contradict the purpose of the Party or objective of the Association, or any direction from the Board.

Delete: “or any direction from the Board”

The Board could direct anything.   Why should it have that power?

Proposed by CCHQ:

6.5.3 The Association’s representatives on its Area Council shall be the Chairman, Deputy Chairman Political and Deputy Chairman Membership and Finance. For Associations covering more than one constituency, the Constituency Officer (for each constituency) plus two further representatives living in each constituency, elected by the Executive Council, shall also be members of the Area Council.

Delete: entire clause.

Insert “All members of the Association shall be members of the Area Council and the Regional Council”

If we want a democratic Party then ordinary members should be able to attend and vote at Area and Regional meetings.   The Conservative Party abolished pyramid democracy in the Trade Unions.   Why allow it in the Conservative Party?

Sch 7 22

Proposed by CCHQ

A motion at any meeting of the Association shall be carried on a majority vote, unless provided for otherwise by the Board.

Delete: “unless provided for otherwise by the Board”

What is the point of voting if the Board can overrule it?

Proposed:

Sch 7 23

14.1 The Board shall set rules for the resolution of disputes.

What Rules?