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Labour NEC elections, vote management and under-represented groups: a thread
GV had a vote-management system which meant they won more seats and ensured their lesser-known candidates had a shot. LtW and OL did not, and this partially explains why no Black man was elected. 1/
GV had a vote-management system which meant they won more seats and ensured their lesser-known candidates had a shot. LtW and OL did not, and this partially explains why no Black man was elected. 1/
GV won the majority of seats. The main reason is that they won more votes (Labour's membership is still very much on the left)
But they also had a sophisticated vote-management system which other slates did not. They didn't just have more votes, they won *more seats per vote* 2/
But they also had a sophisticated vote-management system which other slates did not. They didn't just have more votes, they won *more seats per vote* 2/
Effective vote-management lets you get more vote-power from each of your supporters.
Grassroots Voice won a seat for every 9712 first preference votes.
Open Labour needed 11063 per seat.
Labour to Win needed 13539 - almost 50% more than GV! 3/
Grassroots Voice won a seat for every 9712 first preference votes.
Open Labour needed 11063 per seat.
Labour to Win needed 13539 - almost 50% more than GV! 3/
GV achieved this by splitting the membership into 6 sections and telling each one to vote for their candidates in a different order. This meant that every candidate got a decent number of 1st pref votes despite some being much better known than others. 4/
It's hard to compare with OL because they only had two candidates - but they did little to equalise their 1st pref votes and it shows.
It's even more extreme with Labour to Win. Their strongest candidate won 16 times the votes of their weakest. 5/
It's even more extreme with Labour to Win. Their strongest candidate won 16 times the votes of their weakest. 5/
From such a low start, the three weakest LtW candidates never had a chance of catching up.
Meanwhile, the final seat elected was between *two Grassroots Voice candidates*. In other words, all their candidate were competitive until the very end. 6/
Meanwhile, the final seat elected was between *two Grassroots Voice candidates*. In other words, all their candidate were competitive until the very end. 6/
Why does this matter for under-represented groups?
There's never been a black man on the NEC. Had Jackman (OL) or Paul (LtW) won, it'd have been an historic first.
But both had lower name recognition than others on their slate, and neither had a strategy to address this. 7/
There's never been a black man on the NEC. Had Jackman (OL) or Paul (LtW) won, it'd have been an historic first.
But both had lower name recognition than others on their slate, and neither had a strategy to address this. 7/
GV did not have a black man on its slate. But there is a comparable situation.
Mish Rahman is the first Muslim man on the NEC.
He too had lower name recognition than others on this slate but GV's approach ensured he got 1st pref votes. 8/
Mish Rahman is the first Muslim man on the NEC.
He too had lower name recognition than others on this slate but GV's approach ensured he got 1st pref votes. 8/
This is our first STV election. We'll all learn from it.
2 findings:
• GV's vote-management system paid off, probably winning them an extra seat.
• to tackle historic under-representation you cannot just include candidates on your slate - you must guarantee them votes too. 9/
2 findings:
• GV's vote-management system paid off, probably winning them an extra seat.
• to tackle historic under-representation you cannot just include candidates on your slate - you must guarantee them votes too. 9/
Apologies, I was told that Mish Rahman is the first Muslim man on the NEC. He is not. Mohammed Azam served on the NEC before him. My mistake.
Muslim men are, of course, still under-represented. But I got the facts wrong and I apologise for doing so.
Muslim men are, of course, still under-represented. But I got the facts wrong and I apologise for doing so.
