1. NAME

​

The name of the organisation shall be “Labour Muslim Network” (LMN) 

​

2. AIMS

​

a) Labour Muslim Network’s aims are to:

i) promote British Muslim engagement with the Labour Party and in the political process based on our shared values of social justice and equality.

ii) encourage, assist and support participation of Muslim members in the Labour Party;

iii) provide training, practical support, advice and information to members;

iiii) campaign on issues that are pertinent to the Muslim community here in the UK and across the globe;

v) represent the voice of Muslim members wherever appropriate within the Labour Pary.

b) Labour Muslim Network shall pass policy through its annual general meeting (see 7) and this policy shall inform the work of the organisation.

c) Labour Muslim Network may make endorsements or policy recommendations in internal Labour Party elections. This shall be done by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. 

d) The Executive Committee is empowered to implement and advance these aims, and shall report on progress to each Annual General Meeting of the organisation.

e) The trustee board is empowered to take any and all steps it thinks necessary to protect the legal, financial and reputational sustainability of the organisation. 

​

3. MEMBERSHIP

​

a) Membership to the Labour Muslim Network shall consist of “Full Members” and “Affiliated Supporters”.

b) Individuals who self-define as Muslims and who are members or supporters of the Labour Party may become “Full Members” and support the activities of Labour Muslim Network by payment of membership subscription. “Full members” will have full voting rights at LMN’s annual general meeting.

c) Individuals who do not self-identify as Muslim, but who are members or supporters of the Labour Party may become “Ally Members” and support the activities of Labour Muslim Network by payment of membership subscription. “Ally Members” will not have full voting rights at LMN’s annual general meeting.

d) Individuals who are members or supporters of the Labour Party may become “Affiliated Supporters” and support the activities of Labour Muslim Network by payment by registration.

e) The Executive Committee shall establish criteria for subscriptions and shall publicise such criteria from time to time to members.

f) The Membership subscription shall be such sums as the Executive Committee may from time to time decide.

g) The Membership Subscription shall be payable monthly or annually via a continuous payment method.

h) It is a member’s responsibility to ensure membership subscriptions are up-to-date.

i) It is a member’s responsibility to ensure her contact details and data permissions are up to date, especially in relation to email addresses, which are the primary method of contact.

​

4. SUPPORTERS AND AFFILIATES

​

a) Trade Unions and Socialist Societies, who are affiliated to the Labour Party, may become affiliates on payment of an annual subscription, such subscription to be set at a rate as from time to time determined by the Executive Committee, and a majority vote agreeing the affiliation by the Executive Committee. The annual subscription rate may vary depending on the size of the trade union or trade union branch affiliating at the discretion of the Executive Committee. 

c) Supporters and affiliates will receive our e-news and invitations to events as appropriate.

d) Neither supporters nor affiliates may vote in LMN elections, at the AGM, or in any other LMN decision-making process. This shall be reserved for full members.

​

5. GOVERNANCE 

​

a) The day-to-day running of Labour Muslim Network shall be vested in the Executive Committee which shall consist of the following members:

i) the Officers (National Chair, Parliamentary Chair, and Secretary), the first three of whom shall be elected by ballot of eligible members (see 6. ELECTIONS below);

ii) The Executive Committee shall consist of no less than 7 and no more than 11 members, as determined by a ballot of eligible members at each AGM (see 6. ELECTIONS below);

iii) At least three places must be reserved for women on the Executive Committee.

iv) a maximum of 3 co-opted members as may be agreed by the Executive Committee.

v) a Parliamentary chair appointed from the Parliamentary Labour Party by a majority vote of the Executive committee.

b) The Labour Muslim Network Trustee Board shall ensure the financial, legal and reputational sustainability of the organisation and shall usually consist of the following members: 

i) no less than three and no more than five members, appointed by majority vote of the Executive Committee and approved at the LMN annual general meeting. Trustees shall serve 3 terms, unless they either resign or have their membership terminated as in 5b.

ii) the National Chair of the Executive Committee shall automatically be appointed onto the Trustee Board.

iii) The Trustee Board shall be entrusted with the power to take any and all necessary actions to protect the financial, legal and reputational sustainability of the organisation. It shall not interfere with the political work of the Executive Committee should there not be a reasonable financial, legal or reputational risk.

iiii) The Board of Trustees will give the utmost consideration to the views of Members and shall report to the annual general meeting.

v) If any dispute arises in relation to the interpretation of this Constitution or any of the LMN rules, it shall be resolved by the Board of Trustees. Should there be a need to make an immediate decision, it shall be interpreted by the chair of the Trustee Board.

c) Membership of the Executive Committee or Trustee Board shall be terminated upon:

i) the resignation of any member submitted via email to info@LabourMuslims.org. Such resignation to take effect immediately or from a date to be stipulated in the letter of resignation; or

ii) the non-attendance by a member at three consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee or Trustee Board without apology for absence being given to the Secretary in advance of meetings; or

iii) the passing of a motion to remove a specified member. Such motion shall be submitted via email to info@LabourMuslims.org and voted upon by Executive Committee members by two thirds majority.

c) Decisions of the Executive Committee shall be effected by a majority vote of those present at meetings.

d) The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times in every twelve months.

e) The quorum for Executive Committee meetings shall be 5 elected members. 

f) In case of an equality of votes, the Chair shall have a second and casting vote. 

g) The Executive Committee shall ensure that LMN carries out activities in support of its aims as laid out in Section 2 above. 

h) Between Executive Committee meetings, decisions may be taken by email, phone, WhatsApp or video conference with a simple majority of members of the Executive Committee consenting.  LMN shall keep a record of any such decisions and shall report them to the next available meeting of the Executive Committee for inclusion in the Minutes.

i) The Secretary shall ensure minutes of meetings are taken and shall be responsible for keeping members informed of Labour Muslim Network activities, supported by employees as necessary. Working Parties shall be responsible for keeping their own minutes and records and for reporting to the Executive Committee. 

j) The Executive Committee may create and fill from amongst its numbers other such functional posts as it thinks necessary. In exceptional circumstances, to address a skills gap, or to address the underrepresentation of a minority group, it may co-opt an LMN member to fulfill a specific function for a specified term of not more than one year. 

k) The Executive Committee shall appoint 2 members of LMN to act as auditors, and may appoint external auditors if appropriate or required. 

l) The Executive Committee may from time to time lay down, amend or abrogate such rules for the composition and conduct of the affairs of any or all such Executive Committee as it shall think fit. 

m) The Executive Committee shall have the power to invite and appoint up to three Patrons who shall be ex-officio members of the Management Executive Committee. 

n) The Executive Committee is empowered to establish national, regional or local structures as it deems necessary, and to oversee their operation. 

o) The Trustee Board shall have power to appoint, pay and dismiss any employees or advisers as they may deem necessary.

p) Members of the Executive Committee may claim expenses from LMN for attendance at meetings, as well as the refunding of other agreed expenditure incurred on behalf of the organisation as approved by the Trustee Board.

​

6. ELECTIONS 

​

a) All members of the Executive Committee shall serve for a term of 2 years, unless they either resign or have their membership terminated as in 5b above. 

b) The Executive Committee shall appoint one Trustee who is not standing for election in the relevant year to act as Returning Officer. 

c) Casual vacancies during the year will be filled by the Executive Committee by co-option. Any post or place so filled will automatically fall vacant at the expiry of the term of office for which the original member was elected. 

d) Notice of Election shall be given to all eligible members by the Returning Officer at least 20 days before the close of nominations. Notices either posted or emailed shall be considered as having been duly given on the day following the date of posting. 

g) An eligible member shall be any “Full Member” who is paid up at the point at which nominations open and has been a continuous member for over twelve (12) months.

h) Notwithstanding g) above, the Executive Committee shall have the power, in exceptional circumstances, to set a freeze date for elections which is earlier than the opening of nominations. The Executive Committee shall determine what constitute exceptional circumstances, and the Returning Officer shall present a full report to the AGM at which the election results are announced. 

i) Any member may nominate herself for any office up for election using whatever nomination process the Executive Committee shall decide. Any member so doing must have been a member of LMN for a minimum of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which nominations open. 

j) The Executive Committee will employ an external and independent agency to run the ballot if they deem it necessary. 

k) The results of the ballot shall be announced at the AGM and notified to candidates by email in a timely fashion. 

l) Whilst the Returning Officer shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that all members receive election mailings, it remains the responsibility of individual members to ensure that LMN is in possession of up-to-date contact details, including current postal and email addresses.

​

7. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

​

a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held each year on a date to be determined by the Executive Committee, and shall vote on any constitutional amendments, receive results of and/or run the elections, see the reports from the previous year, and debate main objectives and topics for the forthcoming year. Other items may be added as the Executive Committee deems.

b) Members shall receive at least 20 days’ written notice of the AGM. Notices either posted or emailed shall be considered as having been duly given on the day following the date of posting.

c) All members attending and voting at the AGM shall be paid up to date with their subscriptions according to the membership list held by LMN and have held continuous membership for three (3) months.

d) The quorum for the AGM shall be fifteen (15) members. 

e) Members must pre-register to attend the AGM by the deadline issued in the notice. 

f) In the event of fewer than fifteen (15) members pre-registering by the deadline, the AGM will be deemed inquorate and notice of a new date shall be issued as agreed by the Executive Committee. 

g) Late comers to the AGM, may be refused entry or voting rights

​

8. AFFILIATION TO THE LABOUR PARTY 

​

a) LMN may affiliate to the Labour Party, as the Executive Committee shall decide. 

b) When affiliated, the Executive Committee may select one member (who should usually, but not necessarily, be a member of the Executive Committee) to act as its delegate to Labour Party Conferences and Executive Committees. The method by which the delegate is agreed shall be determined by the Executive Committee. 

c) Any such LMN delegate shall consult LMN’s Executive Committee before speaking or voting at Conferences or Executive Committees, and, in particular, shall not speak or vote on any issue deemed by the Officers to be outside the remit of LMN as defined in Section 2 above of this Constitution. 

d) LMN may, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, affiliate to the Labour Party’s national and regional organisations and bodies, and nominate LWN members resident in the relevant nation or region to represent it. 

e) LMN shall and does not affiliate to individual Constituency Labour Party or Units, unless at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

f) LMN may have local affiliates as approved by the Executive Committee.

​

9. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION

​

a) Amendments to this Constitution shall be considered at the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary must receive notice of such amendment via email 21 days before the meeting and shall circulate it to Members with the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting. Such amendment(s) shall be effective when approved by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at the meeting.

​

10. DISSOLUTION

​

a) Labour Muslim Network may be dissolved by a resolution passed by the Executive Committee by a two thirds majority of those voting in person, or by proxy. Notice of a proposal to dissolve Labour Muslim Network must be circulated to all members of the organisation 14 days before the date of the meeting.

b) Upon dissolution the Executive Committee shall realise all the assets of Labour Muslim Network and after the discharge of all its liabilities shall donate the residue to a suitable organisation with the aim of promoting Muslim Labour members, or to the Labour Party, as directed by the dissolving resolution.