This year LWN is getting involved in the NEC elections, nominations for which close on 30 March. Together with Lead4Women we will be writing to all the candidates, asking them what they will do to drive forward real and substantial change for women in the Party. The issues we want action on are based on our submission to Refounding Labour last year, and we will be publishing responses as we receive them on a special page of our website. The full text of the letter is below.

Over the next few weeks you may be contacted by NEC candidates asking for your vote. If so, please ask them about the issues we raise.

Letter to NEC Candidates

Dear Candidate

Labour Women’s Network and Lead for Women made a substantial submission to Refounding Labour (http://lead4women.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/refounding-labour-lead-for-women.pdf)

Whilst we welcome the progress that was made at conference 2011, there is more to do if the Labour Party is to truly lead for women.

Will you ensure that more Labour women are elected to parliament, including requiring that a minimum of 50% of Labour’s parliamentary by election candidates should be women?

Will you commit to supporting the continued use of all women shortlists and to their application in seats with a strong Labour majority as well as Labour’s target seats?

What will you do to ensure equal and transparent application of AWS policy across the regions, including in Scotland and Wales?

Would you support the formulation and publication of clear criteria for the application of AWS policy and what would your favoured criteria be?

What will you do to ensure we have a 50:50 PLP and 50:50 Labour administration in Scotland, Wales, London and local government?

What will you do to ensure that the proportion of women in the PLP does not decrease as a result of boundary changes?

Will you support our Refounding Labour proposals for changing the party, including implementing a proper complaints process and building a fully funded and organised Women’s organisation in the Labour Party?

All responses from candidates will be posted on the LWN website (www.lwn.org.uk) and on Lead4Women’s (www.lead4women.org.uk) as they are received.

Best wishes.

Labour Women’s Network and Lead4Women