Private and Confidential
NEC Organisation Committee
Labour Party organisation in Northern Ireland
15 January 2013
Introduction
As part of Refounding Labour, the Northern Ireland CLP submitted a request to run
candidates in local elections. Conference subsequently resolved that discussions should take
place with our Irish sister parties, the Irish Labour Party (ILP) and the Social Democratic
Labour Party (SDLP), and the NEC established a review panel headed by the Chair of the
Organisation Committee and including the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to
conduct such discussions.
It was agreed that this review would constitute part of the review of the Northern Ireland CLP
which the Labour Party is legally required to undertake every Parliament.
Summary
Over the past twelve months the NEC panel met with representatives of the Northern Ireland
CLP in Belfast and Manchester; with representatives of the Irish Labour Party in Dublin and
Manchester; and with representatives of the SDLP in London.
The discussions were friendly and constructive. However, they have revealed divergent views
and exposed some significant problems with the proposal to organise electorally in Northern
Ireland.
The NI CLP’s representatives outlined their desire for the Labour Party in Northern Ireland to
be formally registered as a political party with the Electoral Commission as the precursor to
Labour standing candidates in elections, initially at the local level. They argued that only
Labour could bridge the sectarian divide which cuts through Northern Irish politics and that
the Party should seek a mandate for government across the UK.
In the context of these discussions the NI CLP also advanced the idea of a Council of Labour for
Ireland, which would bring together the Irish Labour Party (ILP), Social Democratic and
Labour Party (SDLP) and the Labour Party, for the purpose of coordinating Labour interests
in the North and South of Ireland.
The Irish Labour Party’s representatives acknowledged the NI CLP’s desire to organise
electorally and noted that many of their own members in Northern Ireland were pushing for
the ILP to do likewise. Indeed they stated that if Labour were to enter the electoral race in
Northern Ireland, the ILP would face irresistible pressure to follow suit.
However, they had serious concerns about either party taking such a step. Principally they
were convinced that if either party became involved in Northern Irish electoral politics it
would be to the detriment of the SDLP, which is already weakened by the rise of Sinn Fein.
They had grave misgivings about harming a sister party in that way. The ILP also warned that
sectarian divisions still run deep in the North, and that both Labour and the ILP would
immediately be drawn into political clashes based around those divisions, which could have
political and electoral consequences outside of Northern Ireland.
The ILP therefore felt that the most appropriate step would be to open up a common dialogue
with the SDLP, and expressed interest in the creation of a forum for discussion which involved
the three parties.
The SDLP representatives spoke strongly against the prospect of the Labour Party standing
candidates in Northern Ireland. They said it would be seen as a hostile act which would cause
a deterioration in the relationship between the SDLP and the Labour Party. In Westminster
the SDLP votes with the Labour Party on almost every occasion and considers itself a sister
party. If the Labour Party were to oppose the SDLP in Northern Ireland it would be a clear
indication that this feeling is not reciprocated.
The SDLP representatives also said that, in Northern Ireland, any Labour Party candidates
would be fighting for the same votes as the SDLP and so would split the social democratic
vote. The SDLP pointed out that the demands for differentiation in electoral competition
would force the SDLP to be vocally critical of certain Labour stances or tactics.
Conclusion
The discussions have exposed very clear differences of opinion on the question of Labour
Party candidates contesting elections in Northern Ireland. Both the ILP and the SDLP are
opposed to such a move, and have legitimate and significant reasons for their opposition.
In light of these discussions, it is the view of the NEC Review Panel that it is not advisable for
the Labour Party to start organising electorally in Northern Ireland.
However, the Panel notes that all parties expressed a keenness for a closer working
relationship. Furthermore, all parties signalled their openness to the development of a forum
for cross-party working on areas of common interest, including the development of policy and
campaign ideas ahead of the 2014 European Elections, when all three parties will be seeking
to return MEPs who will sit alongside one another in the Party of European Socialists.
Recommendation
The NEC Panel recommends that Labour representatives should participate in an initial
tripartite meeting alongside SDLP and ILP colleagues, to discuss the terms and structure of a
consultative forum.