Briefing:NEC Review – Briefing for Party Officers From: Karen Wilkie For attention of: All Party Members, All Party Officers, Labour & Co-operative Councillors, NEC, Parliamentarians, Party Branch Secretaries, Party Council Secretaries, Regional Secretaries, Society Secretaries Published: 23rd March 2022 Last updated: 23rd March 2022 Business Type: Printed: 31st August 2024 Other formats: Print Please share this with your members but remember that this is an internal document, not to be shared externally or on social media. In 2021 we started a review of the membership of the NEC ahead of the next elections in 2023, and initial views were sought from members in an online consultation over the summer. Following that first consultation, subscribing societies, local parties, branches, networks and individual members were invited to comment on a series of options for changes to the membership of the NEC. At its meeting in March the NEC discussed the options for changes to the NEC and the consultation responses, and agreed the following changes. These will come into effect at the next election in Spring 2023, if agreed at the at the AGM in June and approved by the Financial Conduct Authority. Individual Members Currently, the NEC has one member elected by and from members in Scotland and Northern Ireland, one from Wales, nine from England and one by and from Youth members (12 in total). This will be amended to one member elected by and from members in Scotland, one from Wales, one from Northern Ireland, eight from England and one from each of the BAME, (dis)Ability, LGBTQ+ and Youth Networks (15 in total). The NEC members for each network will be elected by one member one vote, by and from all eligible members of that network. The NEC members for England will be elected from four regions, two members (gender balanced) per region. The electoral regions, along with the other detailed procedures for the next election, will be agreed by the NEC and published before the end of this year. Elected Representatives In addition to the two members of the Westminster Parliamentary Group, there will be two NEC members elected by all other Labour and Co-operative elected representatives e.g. MSPs, MSs, PCCs, elected mayors, London AMs and councillors. Societies and Affiliates The NEC currently has two members appointed by the Co-operative Group and two elected by and from all other subscribing societies and affiliates plus a seat for Co-operatives UK, which has remained unfilled. The new NEC structure will keep the two seats for the Co-operative Group, plus the other two seats, which will be now restricted to subscribing retail societies only. A fifth NEC seat will be for all other subscribing non-retail societies, co-ops and affiliates, including Co-ops UK. Rolling elections and continuity The NEC discussed rolling elections as a measure to guard against excessive NEC turnover in a single election. This was supported by many who responded to the consultation and would have meant increasing the NEC term from 3 years to 4, and electing around half of the NEC places every two years. However, the NEC didn’t think it would be appropriate to introduce this in 2023 at the same time as a significant change to structure of the NEC, as it would have meant electing some new seats at that first election for a two-year term only. This will be kept under review. Next steps The formal rule amendments necessary to implement the changes to the NEC will be published ahead of the Party’s AGM on 25 June. Following a vote at the AGM they will be sent to the Financial Conduct Authority for approval. The detailed process for the election will be agreed by the NEC before the end of the year and circulated ahead of the NEC elections in Spring 2022. Contacting the NEC See here for details of the NEC. You can contact the NEC at nec@party.coop or by emailing Karen Wilkie, Board Secretary at board@party.coop. For more information Karen Wilkie, Board Secretary Karen Wilkie Resources Members of the NEC