Party leader retains the
major role in policy making
though is expected to account
for the views of others e.g.
the front bench, the 1992
Committee, party elders and
grassroots membership
Fresh Future
initiative by Hague
aimed to make
policy making more
inclusive
Two new bodies - the National
Conservative Convention and the
Conservative Political Forum were
created, though both remain largely
advisory in nature
Labour
From 1997, the party
adopted a 2-year
policy-making cycle
The National Policy
Forum appointed
policy commissions to
make proposals,
which were then to be
formalised in the
National Executive
Committee (NEC)
before passing to the
party conference for
approval
The Party leader therefore
had more control and there
were less surprised at
conference
Lib Dems
Federal in structure,
compromising
English, Scottish and
Welsh state parties
that head a further
four, three and three
tiers respeitively
Decisions are
taken at the most
appropriate level
The biannual federal
conference is the supreme
policy-making body in the
party. It deals with policy
proposals from the federal
policy committee state,
regional and local parties
The party
leadership has
a good deal of
control over the
federal policy
committee
Though many political parties understand that
it is important to be involing ordinary members
in policy making, it is important to ensure that
policies will attract votes, not just members. It is
important to be 'electable'