Glossary

As with any large movement, there’s a lot to take in and sometimes it can be overwhelming. But there’s also a great deal to jump in and get involved with!

We hope this glossary will boost your confidence and help you feel empowered to attend your next local meeting or event, get to know fellow members and set yourself goals for your membership. 

Labour Party Body & Structures

  • BLP = Branch Labour Party
    Your local party, based on ward boundaries for the election of Councillors. A lot of Labour Party activity takes place at branch level, it is from here that members take part in choosing local council candidates.
  • CLP = Constituency Labour Party
    Made up of several branches and based on the electoral area for the election of MPs. It is from here that you can help choose which members will represent you at Annual Conference.
  • ALC = Association of Labour Councillors
    A Labour Party affiliated organisation which represents Labour councillors of England, Wales and Scotland within the Labour Party. The work of the ALC is governed by executives who are directly elected by Labour councillors from each region.
  • CAC = Conference Arrangements Committee
    The committee which determines the shape of the agenda for Annual Conference, rules on the validity of contemporary and emergency motions, and acts as the steering committee for the conference. People are elected to the CAC by members periodically. 
  • LCF = Local Campaign Forum
    These are the committees that plan and organise election campaigning for different council areas. They shortlist potential local government candidates for members to vote on and work with CLPs and the national party to deliver winning campaigns. 
  • NEC = National Executive Committee
    The NEC is made up of elected representatives from every section of the Party – government, MPs, Councillors, trade unions and CLPs. Members vote for their CLP representative in a ballot every year. The NEC sets the Party’s objectives and oversees the running of the Party nationally. 
  • LGC = Local Government Commitee
    Former name of the Local Campaign Forum.
  • PLP = Parliamentary Labour Party
    The group of Labour MPs in parliament.
  • LGA = Local Government Association
    The national membership body for local authorities in England and Wales. Its core membership is made up of 317 English councils and the 22 Welsh councils through the Welsh Local Government Association. The LGA is politically-led and cross-party.
  • Labour Group
    Grouping of all the Labour Councillors in a local authority.

Commonly Heard Campaigning Phrases

  • Canvassing / Door knocking
    Speaking to voters face-to-face on the doorstep around the time of an election, either to find out who they are voting for or remind them to go vote.
  • Board runner
    The person in charge of the door knocking session. The board runner will use Doorstep to tell volunteers where to knock and who lives there, and will then record any voter data.
  • Doorstep
    The Labour Party’s system for door knocking and recording the data we get on the doorstep.
  • Phone banking
    Speaking to voters over the phone around the time of an election, either to find out who they are voting for or remind them to go vote.
  • Dialogue
    The Labour Party’s system for making phone calls to voters to speak to them about the election
  • GOTV = Get Out The Vote
    You’ll hear a lot about this around election time. Throughout a campaign we identify Labour voters (through canvassing), we then encourage them to go and cast their vote on polling day. 
  • GOTPV = Get Out The Postal Vote
    You’ll hear a lot about this around election time. Throughout a campaign we identify Labour postal voters (through canvassing), we then encourage them to send off their completed postal vote.
  • WARP = Without Any Reading Pads
    A previous polling day technique. WARP sheets are the sheets used to door knock with on Polling Day. We don’t normally use these anymore because we have Doorstep.
  • VID = Voter Identification
    Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in all elections.
  • NextDoor
    NextDoor is a social media platform where you can connect with your neighbors and your community. It’s an easy way for you and your neighbors to talk online.
  • Imprint
    When certain campaign material is published, it must contain specific details to show who is responsible for publishing it. It must include the name and address o e.g. Promoted by (AGENT NAME) on behalf of (CANDIDATE NAME, ADDRESS)
  • Short Campaign
    The period (typically 6-8 weeks) between the dissolution of Parliament and the date of the General Election, in which political parties campaign for election to the House of Commons.
  • ERO = Election Registration Officer
    The person responsible for maintaining the electoral register and ensuring that all eligible voters can register to vote.
  • Agent
    They have a legal role ensuring the campaign is properly run.
  • RO = Returning Officer
    The person responsible for the conduct of a local government election. They will oversee many areas, including but not limited to: managing the postal voting process, the provision of polling stations and verifying and counting the votes.

Past Events and Involvement Opportunities

  • Annual Conference
    This takes place every autumn and is one of the largest and most high profile political events in Europe. Delegates at Conference vote on policy documents brought by the NPF.
  • PPC = Prospective Parliamentary Candidate
    Candidate chosen by a CLP to stand in the general election. 
  • Selection
    Process of choosing candidates to stand in local, regional and national elections.
  • Delegate
    Person elected to represent a Labour Party or trade union branch at a meeting or conference.
  • AGM = Annual General Meeting
    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.
  • AMM = All Member Meeting
    Meeting of the Constituency Labour Party open to all members
  • 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.
  • TULO = Trade Union Liaison Officer
    CLP officer elected to build links with local trade unions. 
  • AWS = All Women Shortlist
    Process to increase representation of women in Parliament by reserving 50% of winnable seats for women candidates. 
  • EC = Executive Committee
    Sub group of the Constituency Labour Party, consisting of key officers and representatives from affiliates, that oversees local party business.
  • GC = General Committee
    A meeting of the Constituency Labour Party formed of delegates from local branches and affiliates
  • NPF = National Policy Forum
    The NPF is made up of more than 200 representatives from all sections of the Party, with the largest part elected by ordinary members in each region and nation of the UK. Other members of the NPF represent Labour Councillors, MPs, affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and other groups. 
  • Policy Commission
    Sub group of the Constituency Labour Party, consisting of key officers and representatives from affiliates, that oversees local party business.
  • Role Holder
    Members of a constituency that has been elected to take on additional responsibilities, which support the functioning of the CLP or BLP. E.g. CLP Chair, Branch Treasurer…

Electoral Commission

For further information and guidance please refer to guidance from the Electoral Commission.

View Electoral Commission