P167 CEEFAX 167 Tue 1 Oct 20:41/26 CONFERENCE BACKS POLICY MAKING 1/4 The Labour Party conference in Brighton has backed NEC proposals to change the the way party policy is made. General Secretary Larry Whitty said the NEC should bj given provisional power to be involved in developing a rolling policy programmj for conference. Conference would retain its current constitutional power, hj confirmed. The changes would prevent last-minute composites or amendments to policy being carried through at conference and reduce the chances of possible block vote defeats for the leadership. 160 Conference news index Next News Politics Newswatch WorldNewsP167 CEEFAX 167 Tue 1 Oct 20:41/11 POLICY MAKING CHANGE REJECTED 2/4 A motion opposing some NEC proposals on the way party policy is formulated was defeated bz 1,550,000 votes. Kate Wilkins of Westminster North had supported the motion, fearing that the conference would lose the right to debate what it wanted if proposals were sifted by the policy forum. Stephen Bland of Wimbledon argued that this would mean the loss of interesting ideas from the grass roots. But Cohse's Val Burgoyne said that past policy resulted in "hasty composites put together at scrum-like meetings". 160 Conference news index Next News Politics Newswatch WorldNewsP167 CEEFAX 167 Tue 1 Oct 20:44/44 PROBLEMS WITH PARTY FUNDS 3/4 NEC member Sam McCluskie has warned that the Labour Party is facing financial problems. He said that the party was heading for a deficit this year which was even greater than the £196,000 loss in 1990. Mr McCluskie pledged that there would bj no cuts in the election campaign, but budgetary measures would have to be taken after the next election. Labour auditor David Hooper said that if Labour "cannot govern our own house and keep it in order it is not much recommendation to govern the country". 160 Conference news index Next News Politics Newswatch WorldNewsP167 CEEFAX 167 Tue 1 Oct 20:34/07 N IRELAND PARTY REJECTED 4/4 Labour delegates rejected bz 3,911,000 votes a motion calling for an end to a ban on Labour Party mjmbjrship in Northern Ireland. NEC member Eddie Haigh said there had njvjr been a ban on membership in Ulster. Neath MP Peter Hain said there was no support for the establishment of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland. But Paul McKenna of Livingstone asked how the party could leave the people of Northern Ireland to the "tender mercies of Tories and sectarian parties". 160 Conference news index Next News Politics Newswatch WorldNews