Panel of Potential Candidates for Local Elections

07960514191

Dear Comrade,

Panel of Potential Candidates for Local Elections

I write to inform you that the panel process for the selection of candidates for the 2018 local elections has commenced. If you wish to be considered for the panel, please complete the attached forms and return to Paul Andrews at or post to 43, Greatfield Road, Manchester, M22 9RU.

Forms should be returned by Sunday 12th February 2017.

The Application Pack gives details of the process and also encloses various documents which you need to complete and send back to me.

Manchester Labour expects that all successful applicants will have practical campaigning experience and candidates will be expected to be active campaigners. Accordingly as well as completing the Application Form, you need to complete a Campaign Statement. It should outline where you have recently campaigned and what you have done. The Campaign Statement is the only information about Panel members which is circulated so it is important that it gives as much information about you as possible.

Following receipt of your application, I will be asking your Branch Secretary to complete a Campaign Report for you. This will be signed off by both your Branch Secretary and the Constituency Secretary. The City Party Campaign Group will also report on your campaign activity across Manchester. It will also include input from Agents or Campaign Co-ordinators in areas where you have campaigned outside your immediate area. This process will allow the Interview Team to get a total picture of your campaigning activity.

Also enclosed is the Campaign Contract which you need to read and sign and submit with your Application Form and Campaign Statement. This Contract outlines activity which Manchester Labour expects from all candidates. Please note that you may be asked to carry out these activities in any part of the City.

Interviews will be held as soon as possible. At this stage it is not possible to give an exact interview time so I will contact you as soon as possible to let you know.

The Interview will cover, but will not be limited to, the following areas:

• Your practical and detailed experience of campaigning.
• Your understanding of the role of a Labour Party Candidate.
• Your understanding of the role of being a Labour Party Councillor in Manchester.
• Your commitment to Equalities and Diversity.

Following interview, successful applicants will be placed on the Panel. Unsuccessful applicants have the right to appeal to the Regional Party and appeal interviews will be arranged.

I hope that this process is clear but please contact me if you are unsure of any aspect. I look forward to receiving your application.

200 Club

If you would like to contribute to campaigning funds, please join the 200 club by completing the attached form.

Best regards

Paul Andrews

City Party

Application Form for the Labour Party Panel of

Local Government Candidates for Manchester City Council

Surname

Day

Trade Union and Branch

Do you consider yourself to have a disability?YES/NO

If yes and you need support with the panel interview, please advise Paul Andrews.

If you are accepted onto the panel and subsequently selected and then elected, The Labour Group will provide all the necessary support you need.
Please provide information and evidence to demonstrate how you have worked in Manchester over the last 12 months to assist candidates in delivering Ward Campaign Plans. Please outline in which geographical areas this campaigning activity has taken place and exactly what you have done.

Campaign Statement

[NAME]

ARE YOU A SITTING COUNCILLOR YES/NO

(This Statement must be typed. Facilities can be provided to anybody who does not have access to a computer or typewriter or who cannot type. This Statement is the only literature about you circulated to Branches and must be limited to 1 side of A4 with a minimum font size of 11.)

[PHONE NUMBER]

[EMAIL ADDRESS]

DECLARATION

1. I will declare to the interviewing panel any matters in my political or personal record which, if revealed could publicly embarrass the Labour Party or affect public confidence in my position as a representative*.
2. I have read and understood the NEC Action Advice Note concerning the statutory and Party requirements on the registration and declaration of interests and the local code of conduct adopted by Manchester City Council. I agree to be bound by the requirements in the Advice Note once elected. I have completed a statement of my interests and this is attached.
3. I have read the “Qualifications and disqualifications for being a Labour councillor/candidate” and know of no legal reason or Party rule which would prevent me from being a Labour candidate or elected as a councillor in the forthcoming local elections. I understand that the Labour Party’s code of conduct requires me to declare membership of allegedly secret organisations such as the Freemasons.
4. As a potential candidate in the local government elections for Manchester City Council next year, I authorise the Council’s Chief Executive to provide any information about my current dealings or standings with the Council, which may include financial records as s/he considers appropriate, to the chief whip of the Labour Group, whether or not the provision of such information would otherwise be exempt from disclose under the provision of the Data Protection Act 1984 or any other relevant information.
5. I declare that on being elected as a Councillor, I shall ensure that my Labour Party membership subscription is paid by direct debit at the standard rate.
6. I declare that, in the event that I am not appointed to the panel of approved local government candidates or in the event that I am not selected as a candidate by the Labour Party, I will not seek or allow myself to be nominated as a candidate nor support the nomination of any other candidate in any election contested by an official Labour Party candidate.
7. I accept nomination, as set out above, and agree to accept the provisions relating to selection and candidature set out in the Party’s rules. If elected, I agree to join the Labour Group on Manchester City Council and abide by its standing orders and the provisions of the national rules of the Labour Party and join the Association of Labour Councillors.

If there is any matter which you feel might need to be declared under this provision but which you wish to discuss in confidence before making disclosures or completing this declaration, please contact Noel Hutchinson at the regional Party office on 01925 574913.

Please send this form to

Manchester Candidate Contract

Candidates who are selected will be expected to complete the activities outlined in this

Contract.

The activities will be actively monitored by the City Party Campaign Group. Any candidate

failing to adequately fulfil their commitment will be considered for de-selection.

Please sign this contract and return with your application form to show your

agreement to complete the following tasks if selected and if elected. Your

application will not be considered until this Contract is signed.

1. To provide City Party Campaign Group with a detailed Campaign Plan and regular updates. The Campaign Group will require a Campaign Plan which details proposed activity in Manchester. The basis of all Campaign Plans will be Voter ID and it is likely that the weekly target will be in excess of 25. The Campaign Plan will be approved by the City Party Campaign Group.

1. Build team of activists for your ward.

1. Take part in local fundraising activities.

1. Make the agreed voter contacts per week, either on the doorstep or by phone and make sure contacts are entered into Contact Creator.

1. Provide local campaigning stories and photographs for local leaflets.

1. Ensure delivery of Labour literature and ensure that there are up to date and realistic leaflet rounds available.

1. Take part in any special campaigning activities organised by the City Party.

1. In addition to campaigning in your ward, campaigning for a minimum of 2 hours per week will be carried out in an allocated key seat decided by the Campaign group, rising to 4 hours a week 3 months before the day of poll.

1. Sign up Postal Votes where appropriate and with due regard to the current code of conduct for campaigners issued by the Electoral Commission.

1. Contact your Trade Union for an Election Grant.

Campaigning to promote Labour values and to secure the election of Labour candidates is a central element of the role of councillors and panel members, and the paragraphs above set out the normal expectations of the Labour Party in Manchester. Individual circumstances obviously vary, though, and it is routine for alternative schedules and activities to be agreed when disability, caring responsibilities or other circumstances limit the capacity of an individual to deliver against these expectations.

Please tick the box if you think this applies to you.

Signed……………………………..…………

Date:………………………………………….

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