Labour conference motion on Green New Deal ruled ‘out of order’

A Labour Party conference motion on a green new deal has been ruled ‘out of order’ by the conference arrangements committee (CAC).

The policy motion, drafted by The “Labour for a Green New Deal” group has said its conference, was backed by Momentum, the Fire Brigades Union and MPs including Rebecca Long-Bailey, Zarah Sultana and Clive Lewis was sent to the Labour conference this year by 21 local parties.

The motion had been expected to receive strong support on the conference floor.

The proposal expresses support for a range of environmental and social policies such as investment in green technologies, free broadband; and a ‘National Nature service’ which would create ten new national parks and fund strategic re-wilding.

The CAC decided that the ‘green jobs revolution’ motion addressing unemployment and public health alongside the climate crisis should not reach the conference floor as it “covers more than one subject”.

However other policy motions submitted by local parties and affiliates to on the subject of a green new deal are set to be included on the priorities ballot, and the policy will therefore be debated.

The Labour Party has committed to a Green New Deal, entailing £30bn of new investment towards 400,000 jobs in manufacturing and low carbon industries.  However this particular motion urges the party to adopt more expensive policies that have not been endorsed by the shadow cabinet.

Labour for a Green New Deal said via Twitter that the CAC’s decision is “an anti-democratic move to silence members, making a mockery of any commitment to bold climate action. We’ll be opposing the decision by all means necessary.”

LabourList has reported that an appeal against the blocking will be heard on Monday.