Left Futures recently published an article of mine, Labour needs to rediscover comprehensive economic planning, in which I argued that Labour, and the radical Left generally, needed to rediscover the centrality of the need for a comprehensive Left Economic Programme both as a core policy offer for Labour, and as a guide and implementation tool for progressive transformation of the UK economy, and society, when in government.

After discussions with a number of other comrades about the article’s proposals, Danny Nicol and I decided to produce a model resolution for socialists within the Labour Party who agreed with my earlier article. We would hope this would be used, in whole or part, in LP branches vis a vis motions/submissions to the NPF and directly to the Labour Leadership Team. It might also serve as a model for motions to 2017 Labour Conference, though the restrictive word limit on “Contemporary Resolutions” will require we do a shortened version before then.

The first draft of our effort has already been amended after initial helpful comments by a few comrades. We view this as very much a “work in progress”, and very much welcome further input.

The Model Resolution is included below. But we have also worked up a much longer “Speakers Notes/Supporting arguments” document to accompany this, quite short, model resolution. Space constraints preclude this being included in this article, but the entire document, with its Speakers Notes, can be viewed HERE.

Danny and I propose that it would be a very good idea if all the NPF topic areas were similarly worked up as short, clear, leftwing model resolutions, since there is no sign so far that the NPF process itself is going to produce anything but vague “motherhood and apple pie” policy soundbites.

Resolution on a socialist economic programme

(This resolution is geared towards being submitted to the Labour Party National Policy Forum and the Party Leader and Shadow Chancellor)