‘Delighted’ Kezia secures new party role
KEZIA Dugdale claimed a victory last night by winning more autonomy for the Scottish Labour Party – despite attempts by Jeremy Corbyn to halt the reforms.
The Scottish Labour leader secured her seat on the National Executive Committee (NEC) after an overwhelming majority of delegates at the Labour Conference in Liverpool backed a package of changes that will see power move away from the UK party.
This was despite seven attempts by UK leader Mr Corbyn to push back the vote by up to a year. But his plans to water down the autonomy deal were finally defeated in the conference vote.
Miss Dugdale attended her first NEC meeting only hours after the vote – in which some 80 per cent of delegates backed the reforms, including 92 per cent of union votes.
The reforms follow Miss Dugdale and Mr Corbyn signing a joint statement on autonomy in 2015.
Last night, Miss Dugdale said: ‘These reforms will be the biggest changes we’ve seen to how the Scottish Labour Party is run in a generation and is the culmination of years of work.
‘These reforms are important – they mean that Scottish Labour will be better placed to stand up for Labour values in Scotland, something we need now more than ever.
‘I am delighted that myself and Jeremy Corbyn have delivered what we set out to do a year ago. Some of the measures passed today were first discussed back in 2010.
‘It is right that, as devolution strengthens across the UK, Scottish Labour changes to reflect that – that means Scottish Labour having a seat on the party’s rule-making body, the National Executive Committee.
‘Given the vital importance of this role, I will join the NEC. I will be a loud and passionate voice for Scotland’s interests within our UK-wide Labour family. This is a key moment in the history of our party and our movement.’
Earlier this year, a consultation found the Scottish and Welsh parties should be given more powers. This month the NEC voted to make them both fully autonomous parties.
Despite this, Mr Corbyn, who sits on the NEC, had mounted various attempts to halt the vote.
The autonomy package includes reforms such as making Scottish Labour responsible for the selection of all UK parliamentary candidates north of the Border, full control over policy making, including in reserved policy areas, and a seat on the NEC.
But Miss Dugdale’s decision to appoint herself to the position has caused consternation among some who believe that all representatives on the NEC should be elected.
Vince Mills of the Campaign for Socialism said: ‘More autonomy for the Scottish Labour Party is welcome but having a leader place someone on the NEC is an exercise of patronage, not democracy.’
A senior Labour source said: ‘Kezia Dugdale is the leader who has finally delivered on a demand that people in the party have been making for years.’
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said she hoped the reforms mean that the Scottish party can ‘absolutely no longer be referred to as a branch office’.