Regional Executive Committees

Momentum is currently taking applications for our slate for two regional executive comittees:

Please click the links above if you would like to stand, or would like to know more.

For reports back from Momentum-backed representatives on Labour Party committees including the London and South East RECs and the NEC, please click here.

What do Regional Executive Committees do?

Regional executive committees are the elected bodies tasked with a key role in the development of the Labour Party in regions, including by organising regional Conferences, and hearing appeals from candidates excluded from panels of local government candidates and other disciplinary affairs. Crucially, regional executive committees are responsible for holding the regional offices to account, and ensuring that the development of the party at a regional level is representative of the views of members. In practice, RECs often find themselves shut out of meaningful decision-making by regional offices, and therefore empowering them to deliver genuine oversight and accountability is a key objective in democratising the Party.

Following the Democracy Review and 2019 Party Conference, the full remit and rules for Regional Executive Committees have been standardised. Under the new standing orders, the official remits of the RECs are as follows:

To assist the NEC in promoting and building the Labour Party at all levels within the region. This REC will encourage all Party organisations to build and consolidate membership of the Labour Party, assist in the induction of new members and encourage their participation in the campaigning and policy making activities of the Labour Party.
To work with local Party units, the regional and local organising staff of the Party to secure the election of Labour representatives to Parliament, the European Parliament and other public bodies. Members of this Board will undertake such work in accordance with the plans formulated by the National Executive Committee.
To act as an Appeals and Disputes Panel to hear constitutional appeals, to receive reports of such appeals, and to carry out other constitutional duties as the NEC or the rules and constitution of the Party shall from time to time require.
To ensure the effective organisation of regional conferences. To develop an annual work programme for the REC to support regional engagement with registered supporters, affiliated supporters, women members, BAME members, disabled members, LGBT members, Young Labour and Labour Students within the region.

What are the Responsibilities of CLP Representatives on Regional Executive Committees?

Members’ representatives on regional executive committees have the following responsibilities:

Attending all meetings and potentially any relevant subcommittees, reading all necessary paperwork in advance.
Reporting back to party members on the work of the board.
Feeding issues through to the Regional Office from CLPs.
Sitting on panels hearing appeals on disciplinary affairs relating to both individuals and CLPs, as well as councillor selections.
Overseeing the work of the regional office, including by participating in actions to support the election of Labour representatives, and the participation of Party members in campaigning and policymaking activities.
In some cases, members of the Regional Executive Committee are asked to represent the National Executive Committee on selection committees of Parliamentary candidate selections.

How often do Regional Executive Committees meet?

Regional Executive Committee meets 4-6 times per year, although CLP representatives may be required to attend other meetings as well, including appeal panels, subcommittee meetings, and selection committee meetings.

What are the rules of Regional Executive Committees?

Following the Democracy Review and the 2019 Conference, RECs have had their standing orders partly standardised, and these changes will be implemented over the course of this year. Standing orders for RECs will be available in the 2020 rulebook, and can already be found in the 2019 Conference Arrangements Committee report for Day 1 on page 84. Within the new framework there is some still scope for regionally specific arrangements: For example, RECs can agree to form sub-committees of no less than six members to manage their affairs.

What is the composition of Regional Executive Committees?

Under the standing orders agreed, RECs will have new compositions based on the standardised formula below. In many cases this will mean an expansion of the overall number of people on the RECs. The formula will be put into place at the next REC elections at upcoming regional conferences in 2020 or 2021.

REC Composition Formula

The REC shall comprise:
1. CLP representatives elected by a ballot of CLP delegates at regional conference. The CLP section shall contain at least 50% women. The REC shall be responsible for ensuring that the election of CLP representatives reflects the geography and membership of the region. The size of the CLP section shall be determined by the size of the region and on the following basis:
  1. For regions with fewer than 35 Westminster constituencies there shall be 2 CLP representatives for every 6 constituencies or part thereof.
  2. For regions with 35 to 60 Westminster constituencies there shall be 2 CLP representatives for every 8 constituencies or part thereof.
  3. For regions with more than 60 Westminster constituencies there shall be 2 CLP representatives for every 10 constituencies or part thereof.
2. Trade union representatives elected by trade union delegates at regional conference. The trade union section shall contain at least 50% women. The trade union section shall make up at least a third of the overall voting members of the REC.
3. A women’s representative elected by the regional women’s committee, or elected by delegates to regional conference if there is no active regional women’s committee.
4. A regional BAME representative elected by the regional BAME committee, or elected by delegates to regional conference if there is no active regional BAME committee.
5. A disability representative elected by the regional disability committee, or elected by delegates to regional conference if there is no active regional disability committee.
6. An LGBT representative elected by the regional LGBT committee, or elected by delegates to regional conference if there is no active regional LGBT committee.
7. A Young Labour representative elected at an all members meeting of the Regional Young Labour Group who must be a woman at least every other term.
8. A Co-operative Party representative nominated by the Co-operative Party who must be a woman at least every other term.
9. 2 representatives of local and regional government elected by members of the ALC at least one of whom must be a woman.
10. 1 representative from MPs/MEPs elected by the combined regional group of the PLP and EPLP who must be a woman at least every other term.
11. In London there shall also be a GLA representative elected by the Labour Group on the GLA who must be a woman at least every other term.
12. 1 representative from the Socialist Societies affiliated to the Regional Labour Party, elected by Socialist Society delegates to regional conference.
Ex-officio members of this REC, without voting rights, shall be:
1. National Policy Forum members representing the region.
2. A representative of Police and Crime Commissioners in the region.
3. The Regional Director.
4. The Chair of the regional CAC.
The Chair and two Vice Chairs of this REC shall be elected by delegates to regional conference from amongst the membership of this REC. At least one of the Vice Chairs shall be a woman.

How are REC CLP representatives elected?

REC representatives are elected at regional conferences. The CLP reps are elected by delegates from CLPs within appropriate sub-regions, which in many cases will change to accommodate the new compositions. The voting weights of CLPs and affiliates to the conference should mirror Annual Conference, and the number of delegates permitted should be relative to the size of the nominating Party unit.

Meanwhile the Chair and Vice Chair of RECs shall be elected by delegates to regional conference from amongst the membership of this REC. At least one of the chair or vice positions shall be a woman with at least 50% of all other officer positions being held by a woman. No chair or vice chair should serve in that position for more than one term.

How does Momentum decide who stands on the left slate for regional executive committees?

Momentum periodically supports candidates for REC elections who are committed to democratising the regional Parties and ensuring they are responsive to Party members. Decisions taken over who to support are ultimately taken by panels representing our National Coordinating Group, often in consultation with other key stakeholders with aligned political objectives. For any questions, please write to [email protected].