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.
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
- 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
