Minutes of the Labour Party Conference, 2016 Charles Stross PREAMBLE TO THE MINUTES OF THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE, 2016 Greetings from the National Executive. Before reading any further, please refer to the Security Note and ensure that your receipt and use of this document is in compliance with Party security policies. If you have any doubts at all, burn this document immediately. ------------ SECURITY NOTE ------------ This is an of?cial Labour Party Document. Possession of all such documents is a speci?c offense under (2)(2)(f) of the Terrorism Act (2006). Amendments passed by the current government using the powers granted in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act (2006) have raised the minimum penalty for possession to 10 years imprisonment. In addition, persons suspected of membership of or sympathy for the Labour Party are liable for arrest and sentencing as subversives under the Defence of the Realm Act (2014). 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This is for your personal safety. --------- MINUTES OF THE LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE, 2016 1. Apologies for absence were made on behalf of the following: Deputy Leader, Hillary Benn (executed by junta) Government, Douglas Alexander (executed by junta) Government, Kate Hoey (detained, Dartmoor concentration camp) EPLP Leader, Mohammed Sarwar (executed by junta) Young Labour, Judy Mallaber (detained, Dartmoor concentration camp: show trial announced by junta) ... 2. Motions from the national executive: 1) In the light of the government's use of its powers of extradition under the US/UK Extradition Treaty (2005), and their demonstrated willingness to lie to the rest of the world about their treatment of extradited dissidents, it is no longer safe to maintain a public list of shadow ministers and party of?cers. With the exception of the of?ces of Party Spokesperson and designated Party Security Spokesperson, it is moved that: * Open election of members of the National Executive shall be suspended, * Publication of the names and identities of members of the National Executive shall be suspended, * The National Executive will continue to function on a provisional basis making ad-hoc appointments by internal majority vote to replace members as they retire, are forced into exile, or are murdered by the junta; From now until the end of the State of Emergency and the removal of the current government, at which time an extraordinary Party Conference shall be held to publicly elect a peacetime National Executive. (Carried unanimously.) 2) In view of the current government's: * suspension of the Human Rights Act (1998), Race Relations Act (2000), and other Acts, * abrogation of the Treaty of Europe and secession from the European Union, * amendment via administrative order of other Acts of Parliament (including the reintroduction of capital punishment), * effective criminalization of political opposition by proscribing opposition parties as "organisations that promote terrorism" under the terms of the Terrorism Act (2000), * establishment of concentration camps and deportation facilities for ethnic minorities, political dissidents, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens, and others, * deployment of riot police and informal militias against peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins, with concomitant loss of life, * and their effective termination of the democratic processes by which the United Kingdom has historically been governed, We ?nd, with reluctance, that no avenue of peaceful dissent remains open to us. We are therefore faced with a choice between accepting defeat, and continuing the struggle for freedom and democracy by other means. We shall not submit to the dictatorship of the current government, and we have no choice but to hit back by all means within our power in defence of our people, our future and our freedom. The government has interpreted the peacefulness of the movement as weakness; our non-violent policies have been taken as a green light for government violence. Refusal to resort to force has been interpreted by the government as an invitation to use armed force against the people without any fear of reprisals. It is therefore moved that: * A National Resistance Movement is created. The Movement will seek to achieve liberation without bloodshed or violence if possible. We hope — even at this late moment — that the government will come to its senses and permit a free and fair general election to be held in which parties representing all ideologies will be permitted to stand for election. But we will defend our supporters and the oppressed against military rule, racist tyranny, and totalitarianism, and we will not ?inch from using any tool in pursuit of this goal. * The Movement will work to achieve the political goals of the Labour Party during the state of emergency, and will cooperate willingly with other organizations upon the basis of shared goals. * The Movement will actively attack the instruments of state terror and coercion, including functionaries of the government who enforce unjust and oppressive laws against the people. * At the cessation of the struggle, a National Peace and Reconciliation Commission shall be established and an amnesty granted to members of the Movement for actions taken in the pursuit of legitimate orders. In these actions, we are working in the best interests of all the people of this country - of every ethnicity, gender, and class - whose future happiness and well-being cannot be attained without the overthrow of the Fascist government, the abolition of white supremacy and the winning of liberty, democracy and full national rights and equality for all the people of this country. (Carried 25/0, 3 abstentions) 3) All Party members who are physically and mentally fit to withstand the rigours of the struggle are encouraged to organize themselves in cells of 36 individuals, to establish lines of communication (subject to the Party security policies), and to place themselves at the disposal of the National Resistance Movement. Party members who are unable to serve may still provide aid, shelter, and funds for those who ?ght in our defence. (Carried unanimously) 3. Motions from the ?oor The party recognizes that that our own legislative program of the late 1990s and early 2000s established the framework for repression which is now being used to ruthlessly suppress dissent. We recognize that our neglect of the machinery of public choice in favour of the pursuit of corporatist collaborations permitted the decay of local and parliamentary democracy that allowed the British National Party to seize power with the support of no more than 22% of the electorate. We are therefore compelled to admit our responsibility. We created this situation; we must therefore repair it. Never again shall the Labour Party place national security ahead of individual freedoms and human rights in its legislative program. It is therefore moved that the following quotation from Benjamin Franklin be inserted between Clause Three and the current Clause Four of the Party Constitution: “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” (Carried 16/12) ... (END)B