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 most well 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 the party's National Executive Committee ratified by the following Labour Party conference.

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

• Rule 2A: Conditions of membership
• Rule 2B: Membership procedures
• Rule 2C: Membership subscriptions

Chapter 3: Party conference

• Rule 3A: Delegations
• Rule 3B: Conference Arrangements Committee
• Rule 3C: Procedural rules for party conference

Chapter 4: Elections of national officers of the party and national committees

• Rule 4A: General principles
• Rule 4B: Procedural rules for elections for national officers of the party
• Rule 4C: Procedural rules for elections for national committees

Chapter 5: Selection for elected public office

• Rule 5A: General rules for selections for public office
• Rule 5B: Selection of local government candidates
• Rule 5C: Selection of Westminster parliamentary candidates
• Rule 5D: Selection of European parliamentary candidates
• Rule 5E: Selection of candidates for devolved institutions

Chapter 6: Disciplinary rules

• Rule 6A: National action by the party
• Rule 6B: Action by CLPs

Rules for party units

Chapter 7: Rules for CLPs

Chapter 8: Rules for branches

Chapter 9: Rules for Regional Boards and European party units

Chapter 10: Rules for women’s forums

Chapter 11: Rules for Young Labour

Chapter 12: Rules for Labour Party local government committees

Chapter 13: Rules for local government Labour groups on principal authorities

Chapter 14: Rules for Ethnic Minorities forums

Chapter 15: Model procedural rules (standing orders) for party units

Chapter 16: Party contacts and glossary

Appendices

The appendices of the rule book contain the National Executive Committee statements on:

• The Importance of our members
• National Executive Committee procedural guidelines on membership recruitment and retention
• Selection of Parliamentary candidates – procedural rules
• National Executive Committee guidelines for the selection of Local government candidates
• Procedural guidelines in disciplinary cases brought before the National Constitutional Committee

External links

• Labour Party Rules 2010
• Constitutional rules (2002 version)
• Labour Party online