29 January 2007: for immediate release
A number of Labour Party NEC members will attempt to submit resolutions
on Trident to the Labour Party National Executive Committee when it meets
on Tuesday 30th January. Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett is expected
to attend the meeting to outline the government’s White Paper.
The resolutions seek to open the Labour Party’s discussion to the
wider party membership, but it is rumoured the resolutions will be ruled
out of order.
Christine Shawcroft, representing local constituency members, has submitted
a resolution calling for a party consultation that includes all sections
of the party, including local branches, so that a full debate can take
place at the annual conference in September.
Walter Wolfgang, a Vice-President of CND and also representing constituency
members, has submitted a resolution that would allow Labour MPs an unwhipped
vote when the issue is debated in the House of Commons.
His case is backed by Early Day Motion 579 in Parliament, urging a delay
in the decision to allow greater consultation, which has already gained
support from 105 MPs, including 65 Labour MPs, since it began on 9th January
(1).
If the resolutions at the NEC are ruled out of order, it would mirror
events at the 2006 Labour Party Conference when resolutions opposing Trident
replacement from 17 constituency parties were disingenuously ruled out
of order by the Conference Arrangements Committee. Under party rules,
if a topic is addressed in the NEC report or the National Policy Forum
(NPF) report, related motions can be ruled out.
However, the NPF report simply stated, ‘The question of the replacement
for the Trident system is one of central importance to our future defence
and security requirements and we have said that there should be a full
debate on the issue, including the publication of a government white paper.’
There has subsequently been no debate, either within the Labour Party
or in the public domain, on all the options for Trident replacement.
Walter Wolfgang, Labour Party NEC and CND Vice-President, said:
‘The Labour Party Conference has had no chance to decide on whether
it wants a replacement for Trident or not. The conference was not permitted
to debate Trident, therefore it is inappropriate to impose a three line
whip under these circumstances. MPs should vote according to their own
consciences.’
Jeremy Corbyn MP, a sponsor of EDM 579, said:
‘At a time when MPs are facing serious constituency concerns over
hospital cuts and closures, to be asked to vote for £76 billion
to replace nuclear missiles would be absurd.’
Kate Hudson, Chair of CND, said:
‘There is a very strong desire within the Labour Party to discuss
Trident replacement - a desire stifled by the leadership. As their party
leadership has failed to facilitate internal party discussion of the issue,
many Constituency Labour Party (CLP) groups have approached CND for speakers
to discuss the issue. We have been happy to help and will continue to
do so over the coming weeks and months.’
end
Notes to Editor:
1. Click
here to read the full text of EDM 579 and see the current list of
signatories.
2. For further information and interviews please contact Rick Wayman,
CND's Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
3 . An ICM poll from June 2006 showed that 81% of the British public believes
that any decision on Trident replacement should be made by Parliament,
not the Prime Minister alone. Click here
for a full copy of the poll.
4 . According to a July 2006 ICM poll, 59% of the British public opposes
a replacement of Trident when presented with a cost of at least £25
billion. Click here
for a full copy of the poll.
5 . The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s
biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the
UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
www.cnduk.org
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