Confusion over AV guidance

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Labour activists are facing confusion over what they (and their CLPs) are allowed to do in the run up to the AV referendum in May. Both the Labour Party and Labour Yes (the Yes to AV campaign group within the party) have produced differing (and in some ways conflicting) sets of advice for how CLPs can behave, and how money may (or may not) be spent.

While the advice provided by the Labour Party states that “There is no authorisation for any unit of the Party to spend or donate cash or resources to the referendum campaign and this must be strictly adhered to”, the information prepared by Labour Yes (and confirmed by the electoral commission) suggests a different picture entirely. This alternative advice states that before the bill receives royal assent “there are no restrictions on the ability of CLPs to campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote”. More than that, the advice prepared by Labour Yes states that CLPs can also donate to the “lead campaign group” following “designation”. Between these two periods Labour Yes state that donations are not allowed. The party’s advice is much stricter – and contradicts Labour Yes – stating that money can’t be spent or donated by CLPs at any time.

The Labour Party explicitly states that the advice they have distributed is not “just rules set by the Labour Party”, and instead forms a set of procedures set down in law, with severe penalties for a serious breach of the legislation.

If as Labour Yes says its advice has been signed off by the Electoral Commission is true, then whose rules are right?. It would surely be in the best interests of both the Labour Party, and both sides of the AV debate, if the confusion about what CLPs and Labour members are allowed to do can be cleared up once and for all.