Elections are now well underway for Labour’s National Executive Committee; an important body which oversees the party as a whole and manages much of Labour’s internal affairs. The NEC has power over a range of areas of concern to trans people, including party policy, engagement with members and standards of conduct.
LCTR has therefore put together a short manifesto of actionable policies which we would like the new NEC to take to help create a party committed to trans liberation. We don’t ask candidates to pledge themselves to these policies, but do want them to serve as concrete proposals for trans people and allies to support, a basis for discussion with candidates, and eventually action by the new NEC.
We’re asking all candidates/slates to have comradely meetings with us – either as individuals or as whole slates – to discuss not only these proposals, but the wider importance of trans rights and liberation. We want to engage with candidates to help dispel myths, create a working dialogue, and to build a shared understanding of the problems trans people face and how we can solve them within and through the Labour Party.
We’ll be working to get in touch with every major candidate/slate from across the party, and welcome any contact from them. We encourage trans people and allies to urge those candidates they support to engage with us, and hope this engagement will help further the cause of a party that truly embodies the values of equality, liberation and justice for all.
Our NEC manifesto:
Policy 1: Political education within the party on the problem of transphobia and trans liberation. Build understanding and communication through closer engagement between the party and trans people, and arrange a meeting for trans-led organisations with the NEC.
Policy 2: Review of how complaints of transphobic behaviour are handled. Code of conduct relating to transphobia to be produced in consultation with trans-led organisations. Code to be made clear as a guideline for members and a basis for effective action by the party. Rules to be applied evenly to all members including MPs.
Policy 3: Positive reform of the Gender Recognition Act to simplify legal recognition to be retained as an unequivocal part of party policy. Policy in relation to further issues for trans people, such as trans healthcare, employment security and homeless to be considered in consultation with trans people.