The National Policy Forum (NPF) of the British Labour Party is part of the policy-making system of the Party, set up by Leader Tony Blair as part of the Partnership in Power process.

The NPF is made up of 184 members representing government, European and devolved assemblies, local government, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and others, and individual members of the Labour Party, who elect representatives through their Constituency Labour Party.

The body is responsible for overseeing policy development. It meets two or three weekends a year to discuss in detail documents produced by the policy commissions, of which there are six, jointly set up by the NPF, the Party's National Executive Committee and the Government. It submits three types of documents to Labour Party Conference: pre-decision consultative, final policy documents and an annual report on the work of the policy commissions.

There are also policy forums set up for the English regions and for Scotland and Wales, feeding into the National Policy Forum and discussing more local matters.

The Joint Policy Committee acts as a steering group for the National Policy Forum.

Membership of the National Policy Forum

Elected, for two year terms:

• Constituency Labour Parties - 55
• Affiliated Trade Unions - 30
• Regional Conferences/Policy Forums - 22
• Local Government Councillors - 9
• Socialist societies - 3
• Black Socialist Society - 4
• Members of Parliament - 9
• Members of the European Parliament - 6
• Labour Students - 1
• Members of the House of Lords - 2

Ex-officio:

• Government/Shadow Cabinet - 8
• Co-operative Party - 2
• General Secretary of the Co-operative Party - 1
• National Executive Committee - 32

External links

• Labour's National Policy Forum, Nick Assinder, BBC Talking Politics, 5 June 1998