Keir Starmer has unveiled proposed reforms to the way Labour works that he says will make the party “open, respectful, creative and engaging” if he wins the leadership contest.
The shadow Brexit secretary said he would overhaul party disciplinary procedures, limit the power of the national executive committee (NEC) to influence selections, and press for a change in the law to allow all-minority ethnic shortlists.
“We must embed into our systems and actions this principle that all members are equal,” Starmer said, adding: “We need our party to function like friends round a table, where each of us can be confident that our ideas are valued while we work together to find a way forward.”
Criticism of the way Labour has been run under Jeremy Corbyn has intensified since December’s general election.
Starmer’s leftwing rival Rebecca Long-Bailey has blamed what she called “mismanagement and a bad organisational culture” for the scale of the party’s defeat, as she seeks to distance herself from the Corbyn machine, if not his politics.
Starmer has previously said Labour should not “oversteer” in the wake of the election defeat, promising to keep key Corbynite policies, including increased taxes on the highest earners.
By announcing his plan to overhaul the party machinery, he appears to be signalling frustrations with the Corbyn regime.
‘“A reformed party will not only be more effective, but will demonstrate how we behave towards each other, make decisions, and get things done. We will show everyone that our culture is open, respectful, creative and engaging,” he said.
Starmer said he would like to abolish the national constitutional committee, which deals with complaints against Labour members, and instead establish a fully independent process.
That has long been a demand of campaigners against sexual harassment and antisemitism in the party, some of whom have claimed their cases have been kicked into the long grass.
The Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy raised a complaint of inappropriate behaviour against Kelvin Hopkins in November 2017, and the case remained unresolved two years later when he stepped down as MP for Luton South in the run-up to last year’s general election.
Labour remains under investigation by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission over its handling of antisemitism.
Starmer would also like to remove the power of the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) to impose candidates in the run-up to general elections, he said.
Some constituency Labour parties (CLPs) complain that the NEC has too much power over shortlisting and selecting candidates – which led to a series of spats last year after the election was called.
In an attempt to make Labour’s candidate-base more diverse, the shadow Brexit secretary said he would like to see Labour press for a change in legislation to make all-BAME shortlists legal, and to set up bursaries to help meet the costs of standing for election for underrepresented groups.
He will set out his plans in more detail in a video call with supporters on Tuesday evening. Candidates do not yet have access to all Labour members’ email addresses.
