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Labour to unveil new plans allowing members direct influence over policy-making

The new changes will be announced at party conference by Angela Eagle.

Olivia Blair
Sunday 27 September 2015 15:37 BST
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Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson arriving at the Labour annual party conference in Brighton
Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson arriving at the Labour annual party conference in Brighton (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)

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Labour party members and registered supporters could soon have a direct influence on policy-making, under new plans to be unveiled at the party's conference.

The party are reportedly ordering a review to make policy-making more “inclusive”, which could mean the National Policy Forum is replaced.

The new plans will also look at the “use of technology” in policy-making.

A spokesperson for Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn told the Press Association: “We see Jeremy’s election [victory] as the party [leader] telling us they want more open and democratic politics.”

“We are launching a review of how we make policy and how we can make it more inclusive,” they said.

The review is set to be announced by shadow First Secretary of State, Angela Eagle at conference in Brighton.

However, the BBC reports that not all MPs agree with the change, referencing one frontbencher’s concern that registered supporters who pay a £3 membership fee could have a say over policy.

Labour’s policy is currently debated by the National Policy Forum, which is made up of more than 200 MPs, councillors and members of trade unions and other affiliated societies.

The policy reports which the forum produces, are normally shared at party conference and voted on.

The new plans come after Mr Corbyn crowdsourced questions from members of the public to put to David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions.

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