The left CLP representatives on Labour’s National Executive report from the National Executive of 2 December that the staff forced through a decision to have a trans-exclusive women’s conference although the trade union reps “raised concerns regarding their inclusive women’s policies and felt that, if such a Conference were to go ahead, they would be unlikely to be able to send delegations”.

Annual Women’s Conference

This paper was perhaps the most important of the day, but puzzlingly, yet typically, it was last on the agenda, when everyone was tired and ready to go home. The paper set out the difficulties in ensuring we are compliant with the Labour rule book in having a Women’s Conference and also with the new Supreme Court judgement defining women by their sex at birth. The paper concluded by offering three options:

To hold a Women’s Conference the day before Annual Conference, which would only allow women delegates who fit within the Supreme Court ruling. However, the women’s fringe events would be open to all regardless of sex at birth. This option was recommended by the Party.
To have a Women’s Conference and fringe open only to women who fit the Supreme Court ruling definition.
To have no Women’s Conference at all.
All options are deeply unsatisfactory. Gemma noted that this was a really serious topic and while some of those in attendance might feel it was a small decision, it will have a major impact on certain groups and how they relate to our Party. She said she was passionate about Women’s Conference, having spent several years on the Women’s Conference Arrangements Committee and would not want to see it cancelled. However, the options needed significantly more thought and alternatives explored. She said she had deep concerns over how the options 1 or 2 could be enforced as it could easily become an issue where people police appearance or even ask for birth certificates. Staff raised issues after last Women’s Conference about how they were spoken to as staff members and Gemma had deep concerns about safeguarding staff who are having to police the event. All options presented also once again sideline the Women’s Conference as a fringe event to Annual Conference with insufficient time for democratic policy-making. As left CLP reps, we continue to call for a two-day Women’s Conference in Spring – the weak case made for an Annual Conference tag-on remains totally flawed.

After Gemma had spoken, trade unionists raised concerns regarding their inclusive women’s policies and felt that, if such a Conference were to go ahead, they would be unlikely to be able to send delegations. It is worth noting that there was no option to vote against. Option 1 therefore passed with 18 votes, with no votes for Options 2 or 3. Eleven members abstained in all (there being no option to vote against), including the trade union delegates and left CLP reps.

They also report:

NEC and Conference Timelines

The NEC considered its own schedule and the Annual Conference and Internal Ballots Timetable for 2026, which were mostly agreed. However, the trade unions spoke against the deadline for contemporary motions which is due to be before the TUC Conference, preventing them from discussing contemporary motions there.

The Labour Students and Young Labour committee elections will be held in the spring so that they are in place in time for freshers’ fairs, etc. The NEC elections will take place, as usual, over the summer. National Policy Forum CLP rep elections will take place at Conference, following the rule change this year, making left delegations all the more important. The Conference will take place from Sunday 27th September until Wednesday 30th September 2026 in Liverpool. The deadline for nominations for all positions is 12 noon on Friday 26th June 2026.