One of the main reasons we join the Labour party is have a part in the formation of party policy and to help shape the policies of future Labour governments.

As a democratic socialist party, our policy development process is designed to involve members, local parties, trade unions, socialist societies, elected representatives as well as the wider community.

Our policies are developed through the National Policy Forum by a 4 year cycle of consultations with the Labour membership. The cycle runs from one general election to the next. Each year different areas of policy are reviewed.

Before the annual consultations are launched, each policy commission meets to agree on the topics for the year. Each consultation usually takes the form of 5 questions and background information.

During the consultation period – generally 12 weeks – there will be a series of regional and online events – meetings, roundtables and discussions – with NPF representatives and members of the Shadow Cabinet.
CLPs and branches will hold meetings and events as well.
Labour party members, branches and CLPs make submissions on the NPF website on the specific issues under review – or on any topic they deem important – and send policy resolutions via the NEC.

Responses posted on the NPF website are shared among the Commission members and policy resolutions from CLPs are distributed to the appropriate commissions. These inform the reports which are produced each year for the annual Conference.

During and after the consultation period the policy commissions meet to discuss the responses and begin the procedure for producing their reports to Conference.

Finally the 8 reports are debated by the annual Conference, and if passed become part of the Labour policy platform.

The Labour Party Conference is the supreme decision making body and decides the Labour Party’s policy framework and rules.

At the end of the 4 year cycle as the next general election nears, a special Clause 5 committee meets to agree the draft of the Labour Manifesto – the final public presentation of all our work.

The latest news and updates on policy discussions and events happening around the UK are also posted here