A guide to your CLP

By Fred Jerrome -

The Labour Party is built around local parties at a constituency level. These Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) are the main place for members to meet and organise.

“Its purpose is to organise and maintain in Parliament and in the country a political Labour Party”

As the purpose of the Labour Party is to elect Labour representatives, our organisation tends to mirror the electoral map of the country.

So, there are 650 CLPs each of which is broadly responsible for campaigning in its own patch. As a party member you’ll be included in one of them which gives you the right to attend meetings, stand for election to the committee, and vote in selections for parliamentary candidates.

Each CLP is run by an elected Executive Committee consisting of officers responsible for keeping it ticking over. Of course you don’t need to be on the EC to help out in your CLP, so if you want to get more involved just ask what’s going on!

Every month the EC should call a meeting of the constituency. In Bristol we have “all member meetings” which any member can attend. Some places have delegate meetings instead where branch Labour Parties and our affiliates (like the unions) send a few representatives each.

At your CLP meeting there will usually be reports from the committee on what they’ve been working on. Most CLPs have a speaker or discussion every month too. If you want a particular topic to feature, ask! There may also be a report from the Labour MP or parliamentary candidate.

Some people have been going to their CLP meeting for years, but there are always new people too. Like doing anything for the first time, it can seem a bit odd. But you will be warmly welcomed as a new member. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to other people or the chair, and ask questions about what’s going on.

In between monthly meetings there can be discussion groups, training, campaign planning, specific events for women, LGBT+, BAME and disabled members, and much more. There will also be leafleting and doorknocking where we listen to the concerns of voters and speak to them about Labour’s programme.

Your CLP is your first stop for getting involved with the Labour Party. You’ll meet like-minded people who want to make a difference. If you’re unsure about attending a local meeting or event for the first time, drop us a line at Bristol Young Labour so we can link you up with another young member who’s going too. Members are the life of the party, so get stuck in however you can!