D01 Revised Constitution for Green Party of England & Wales

The Holistic Review that the GPEW undertook in 2018 found that many members wanted active empowerment to work in party bodies that were more effective, agile and adaptable. Incorporation of the party is seen as crucial by many members, including those who do not wish for a wholesale change in our organisation. 

The Revised Constitution, proposed within motion D01, will be debated at the Extraordinary Conference later this month. Its proposals deliver on the Holistic Review findings, and will allow the party to incorporate. Some of the proposals do not go as far as some members may wish, whilst the proposed changes may go further than others may wish. Motion D01 therefore provides a middle way for members at Conference to agree a new structure that is acceptable to the majority of active GPEW members. Crucially it makes provision for the party to move forward together, more effectively and in the right direction. If passed by the Extraordinary Conference, the Revised Constitution will then go to a ballot, and if agreed by the ballot, incorporation and adoption of the Revised Constitution will be effective from 1st January 2022.

This Revised Constitution being proposed is based on one that was on the agenda for Spring Conference 2020, but that conference was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. That proposal has now been revised further, with the major changes being to the Governance bodies but also some minor ones made to ensure better accountability, and a smoother flow and continuity in the running of the party.

The three Governance bodies of the party, which together carry out its executive functions, are the Board, the Council and the Executive.

The Board of ‘The Green Party Ltd’ is created for incorporation and is appointed by the Council. As the seven Directors have legal responsibilities, they will be provided with the powers to carry these out, each having a specific portfolio to oversee the core aspects of the GPEW organisation. The responsibilities of the Board will include the following: ensuring the proper expenditure, administration, and raising of the funds of the Party; having oversight over the Party’s staff and volunteers; complying with the duties of company directors under the Companies Act 2006; appointing the National Election Agent. The Board will be answerable to the Council and Conference.

The Council members make up the membership of the new company, under the Memorandum and Articles of ‘The Green Party Ltd’ and will appoint the Board. Currently Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) has responsibility for the following: well-being of the Party, oversight of internal democracy in the Party, overseeing all necessary decisions about strategy and activity between Conferences, acting on behalf of the membership and Conference between Conferences. In the Revised Constitution GPRC becomes the Council retaining these roles, as well as its additional ones in relation to the Board and the Executive.

The day to day running of the party is currently the role of the Green Party Executive (GPEx). In order for stakeholder and membership groups within the party to have more active empowerment, an Executive is proposed with five accompanying committees, constituted differently to the current GPEx. The new Executive will have five members nominated from stakeholder groups, three directly elected members plus five members nominated from the Executive Committees. The Executive will be responsible for decisions about political and campaigning activities of the Party, will link to the Party’s political representatives and the Board, and be responsible for the day-to-day running of the party. The Executive will be accountable to the Council.

The five Executive Committees - Policy Development, Equality and Diversity, Campaigns, International and Trade Union Liaison – will replace the ones currently elected at Conference. They will be elected in the annual ballot, with encouragement for member groups to nominate their own members as candidates.  Each Executive Committee also has one Council member, continuing the currently helpful ‘GPRC Friend’ principle. Having one member of each committee nominated to the Executive will mean a closer link between members and groups than under the current structure.

Several amendments have been proposed to motion D01, ten from myself as main proposer. Most of the others are also considered as ‘friendly’ amendments, and are helpful in making further improvements to the Revised Constitution and the accompanying motion. Some of these amendments relate specifically to the Policy Development Process, others to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in our organisation, improving democracy and communication. I am grateful to the different groups for their scrutiny of the motion and its Revised Constitution, and for proposing these helpful amendments.

Standing Orders are crucial in ensuring how the different Governance bodies and committees fulfil their roles in carrying out those activities that are specified in the Constitution. Standing Orders will need to be written, and agreed by Autumn Conference, for the newly created bodies. The motion requires other party bodies to review, propose and agree any necessary changes to their Standing Orders. It is in the Standing Orders, that the agility needed for the party to function effectively will be embedded; basing the new Standing Orders on an ‘annual cycle’ for each of the bodies, and ensuring that they complement each other, will be key to ensuring our party machine works effectively in the years ahead.

This may be called a Revised Constitution, but I prefer to think of this as rejuvenation and renewal.

I hope that the Extraordinary Conference is well attended, that motion D01 is passed and that it is then passed by members in the ballot. It really is the best possible option available to Conference.

Ann Forsaith
Leeds City Councillor
Green Party Regional Council (GPRC) Representative for Yorks & Humber
Former Co-ordinator, Yorks & Humber Green Party