Jargon Buster
It can sometimes feel that terms and acronyms used in Labour Party meetings can be confusing, for new and seasoned members. This brief guide explains some of the most commonly used Labour Party terms and acronyms. We hope you find it useful, but if you have any questions please contact us >
Affiliate
Trade union or socialist society with established formal links with the Labour Party based on common values. Affiliates pay a subscription to the Labour Party on behalf of their members.
Affiliated Supporter
Member of an affiliated trade union or socialist society who has actively chosen to be an individual supporter of the Labour Party.
All Member Meeting (AMM)
Meeting of the Constituency Labour Party open to all members.
All Women Shortlist (AWS)
Process to increase representation of women in Parliament by reserving 50% of winnable seats for women candidates.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Yearly business meeting at which the financial accounts are presented, reports of the past year’s work are given, officers are elected and standing orders are amended.
Back Bench
MP or councillor with no front bench responsibility.
Branch Labour Party (BLP)
MP or councillor with no front bench responsibility.
Cabinet
Committee of senior government ministers/shadow ministers. Also main decision making body of a Council consisting of the Leader/elected Mayor & Councillors with portfolio responsibilities.
Collective Affiliation
Formal link between affiliated trade unions and the Labour Party.
Constituency Labour Party (CLP)
Division of the Labour Party based on the electoral district for the MP, comprises Labour Party branches and local affiliates.
Co-operative Party
Political voice of the co-operative movement. It is a separate political party which has an electoral agreement with Labour.
Delegate
Person elected to represent a Labour Party or trade union branch at other meetings, such as General Committees.
Ethnic Minority Forum
Part of the Labour Party’s equality structures, a constituency-wide body open to all Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority (abbreviated to either BAEM or BAME) members in the area.
European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP)
Grouping of British Labour MEPs in the European Parliament.
Executive Committee (EC)
Sub group of the Constituency Labour Party, consisting of key officers and representatives from affiliates, that oversees local party business.
Front Bench
Government minister/Opposition shadow spokesperson, including Shadow Cabinet. Also a Councillor with portfolio responsibilities.
General Committee (GC)
A meeting of the Constituency Labour Party formed of delegates from local branches and affiliates.
General Management Committee (GMC)
Alternative name for General Committee.
Get Out the Vote (GOTV)
Campaign to identify Labour Party supporters and encourage them to turn out to vote, using canvassing and mailings.
Labour Group
Grouping of all the Labour Councillors in a local authority.
List
System for electing candidates in London, Welsh, Scottish and European elections, where seats are allocated in proportion to the number of votes the party receives.
Local Campaign Forum (LCF)
Grouping of representatives from all CLPs in the same local authority with responsibility for overseeing local election campaigning and identifying candidates for council elections.
Local Government Committee (LGC)
Former name of the Local Campaign Forum.
National Executive Committee (NEC)
Governing body of the Labour Party, comprising the Leader and Deputy Leader, with representatives from the EPLP, PLP, councils, CLPs, socialist societies and trade unions.
National Policy Forum (NPF)
Body that oversees policy development outside of conference, with representation from all sections of the Labour Party.
One Member One Vote (OMOV)
Ballot system used for Labour Party elections, such as the Leader and Deputy leadership elections, where all members receive one vote and all votes carry equal weight.
Panel
Pool of candidates from which BLPs can select who they wish to stand in their ward council elections.
Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP)
Collective body of Labour MPs.
Policy Commission
Subject specific body that develops detailed policy, comprising members of the NPF, NEC and Shadow Cabinet.
Policy Commission
Subject specific body that develops detailed policy, comprising members of the NPF, NEC and Shadow Cabinet.
Policy Forum
Local or regional meeting of Labour Party members to discuss issues and feed views into the policy process.
Portfolio responsibility
A specific council service such as housing or social care, that a front bench Councillor has responsibility for overseeing.
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (PPC)
Candidate chosen by a CLP to stand in the general election.
Quotas
Policy to ensure gender balance, e.g. at least 50% of CLP delegates to Labour Party conference must be women.
Selection
Process of choosing candidates to stand in local, regional, national and European elections.
Socialist Society
Independent organisation affiliated to the Labour Party, e.g. Socialist Educational Association & Socialist Health Association.
Standing Orders
Set of rules governing local Labour Party structures.
Trade Union Liaison Officer (TULO)
CLP officer elected to build links with local trade unions.
Trade Union & Labour Party Liaison Organisation (TULO)
Umbrella organisation that co-ordinates the national and regional activities of trade unions affiliated to the Labour party.
Trigger Ballot
Process where Labour Party branches and local affiliates to a CLP decide whether to confirm that a sitting MP can stand for re-election or should face a full selection process.
Ward
Alternative name for a branch.
Women’s Forum
Part of the Labour Party’s equality structures, a constituency-wide body open to all women members in the area.