Labour Party Rule Book

The Labour Party Rule Book is the governing document for the Labour Party in the United Kingdom.

The Labour Party Constitution forms the first chapter of the Rule Book and contains the most important principles and provisions for Labour Party governance. The chapter is divided into ten sections named Clause I to Clause X. Clause IV is the best known Aims and values clause, which was significantly changed in 1995 after Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party.

The rules may be amended by Labour Party conference. The appendices may be amended by the party's National Executive Committee confirmed by the following Labour Party conference.

The Labour Party is an unincorporated association without a separate legal personality, and the rule book legally regulates the organisation and the relationship with members.

Rule book contents[]

Labour Party Constitution[]

Chapter 1: Constitutional rules

Clause I: Name and objects
Clause II: Party structure and affiliated organisations
Clause III: The party’s financial scheme
Clause IV: Aims and values
Clause V: Party programme
Clause VI: Labour Party Conference
Clause VII: Party officers and statutory officers
Clause VIII: The National Executive Committee
Clause IX: The National Constitutional Committee
Clause X: Scope of rules

National rules[]

Chapter 2 Membership rules

Clause I. Conditions of membership
Clause II. Charter of Members Rights
Clause III. Membership procedures
Clause IV. Membership subscriptions

Chapter 3 Party Conference

Clause I. Delegations
Clause II. Conference Arrangements Committee
Clause III. Procedural rules for Party Conference
Clause IV. National Annual Women’s Conference

Chapter 4 Elections of national officers of the Party and national committees

Clause I. General principles
Clause II. Procedural rules for elections for national officers of the Party
Clause III. Procedural rules for elections for national committees

Chapter 5 Selections, rights and responsibilities of candidates for elected public office

Clause I. General rules for selections for public office
Clause II. Rights and responsibilities of elected members
Clause III. Selection of local government candidates
Clause IV. Selection of Westminster parliamentary candidates
Clause V. Selection of European parliamentary candidates
Clause VI. Selection of Candidates for devolved institutions

Chapter 6 Disciplinary rules 34

Clause I. National action by the Party
Clause II. Action by CLPs

Rules for party units[]

Chapter 7 Rules for CLPs

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Aims and values
Clause III. Affiliated organisations
Clause IV. Affiliation fees
Clause V. Individual membership
Clause VI. Method of organisation
Clause VII. Management
Clause VIII. Officers
Clause IX. The General Meeting
Clause X. The Party Conference
Clause XI. Duties of the General Meeting
Clause XII. Disciplinary
Clause XIII. Parliamentary candidates
Clause XIV. Local government candidates
Clause XV. Amendment to rules

Chapter 8 Rules for Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Local government candidates
Clause VII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 9 (A) General Rules for Regional Structures
Chapter 9 (B) Rules for Regional Executive Committees and Regional Conferences

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Aims and values
Clause III. Affiliated Organisations
Clause IV. Affiliation Fees
Clause V. Membership of the Regional Executive Committee
Clause VI. Regional Conference

Chapter 10 Rules for Women’s Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Activities
Clause VII. Relationship with constituency parties
Clause VIII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 11 Rules for Young Labour

Clause I. Establishment
Clause II. Aims and values
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Structure
Clause V. Amendment to rules

Chapter 11 (A) Young Labour Local Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Aims and values
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Establishing a Branch
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Officers
Clause VII. Finance
Clause VIII. Relationship with constituency parties
Clause IX. General relations
Clause X. Dissolution

Chapter 11 (B) Regional/Welsh/Scottish Young Labour Groups

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Aims and values
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Amendment to rules

Chapter 11 (C) Young Labour National Committee

Clause I. Aims and values
Clause II. Membership
Clause III. Chair
Clause IV. National Policy Forum Representatives
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Finance
Clause VII. Conference

Chapter 12 Rules for Labour Party Local Government Committees

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. General Principles
Clause IV. Membership
Clause V. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause VI. Meetings
Clause VII. Finance
Clause VIII. General
Clause IX. Candidates
Clause X. Relations with the Labour group
Clause XI. Miscellaneous

Chapter 13 Rules for Local Government Labour Groups on principal authorities

Clause I. General rules and provisions for Labour groups on local authorities
Clause II. Aims and Values
Clause III. Membership of the group
Clause IV. Group meetings
Clause V. Group officers
Clause VI. Group executive
Clause VII. Casual vacancies
Clause VIII. Determination of group policy and action
Clause IX. Selection of nominations for civic offices, council leadership and other council appointments
Clause X. Arrangements with other parties
Clause XI. Action by individual members
Clause XII. Groups on committees
Clause XIII. Breach of rule
Clause XIV. Reporting to and consulting with the Party
Clause XV. Group standing orders
Clause XVI. Compliance with PPERA
Clause XVII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 14 Rules for BAME Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Activities
Clause VII. Relationship with constituency parties
Clause VIII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 15 Rules for LGBT Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Activities
Clause VII. Relationship with constituency parties
Clause VIII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 16 Rules for Disabled Members’ Branches

Clause I. Name
Clause II. Objects
Clause III. Membership
Clause IV. Officers and Executive Committee
Clause V. Meetings
Clause VI. Activities
Clause VII. Relationship with constituency parties
Clause VIII. Miscellaneous

Chapter 17 Model procedural rules

Clause I. Model Standing Orders for Party Units

Appendices[]

The appendices of the rule book contain the National Executive Committee statements, procedures and codes:

Appendix 1 NEC statement on the importance of our members
Appendix 2 NEC procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention

Clause I. Guidelines on membership recruitment and retention

Appendix 3 NEC procedures for the selection of Parliamentary Candidates following the boundary review commenced 2016

Clause I. Introduction & Background
Clause II. Trigger ballots of sitting MPs
Clause III. Timetable for parliamentary selections among sitting MPs
Clause IV. Freeze dates

Appendix 4 NEC Procedures for the selection of local government Candidates
Appendix 5 NEC Advice Note – Interviewing sitting councillors or recent candidates
Appendix 6 Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the NCC
Appendix 7 Procedural guidelines for the general organisation of Constituency Labour Parties

Clause I. General
Clause II. Delegate Organisation
Clause III. Basis of representation
Clause IV. Conditions for appointment of delegates to this CLP
Clause V. Non Delegate Organisation
Clause VI. Other Methods of Organisation

Appendix 8 NEC statement - A minimum guarantee of support to CLPs

Clause I. Introduction
Clause II. The minimum guarantee will:
Clause III. The detail of the proposal
Clause IV. The aim of each fund is as follows:

Appendix 9 NEC Codes of Conduct

Code of Conduct: Sexual Harassment and Gender Discrimination.
Code of Conduct: Antisemitism and other forms of racism
Code of Conduct: Social Media Policy
Code of Conduct: Member’s Pledge

Appendix 10 Standing Orders for Party Conference

Clause I. Standing Orders for Party Conference

Appendix 11 Rule changes approved at annual conference 2019