LTB 238/25 - POLITICAL FORUM AGENDA – 6th NOVEMBER 2025

No. 238/25

TO:    ALL BRANCHES

POLITICAL FORUM AGENDA – 6th NOVEMBER 2025

Dear Colleagues,

Further to LTB208/25, please find attached the agenda for next week’s political forum.

As previously stated, the briefing represents an opportunity to reflect on our views on the first period of a Labour Government, the challenge posed from Reform and the far-right and the changes in our wider political environment.

This is the first political forum since Labour has been in power and this event is part of the implementation of our new National Political Network, which will help sustain and improve political engagement across the union, at this crucial time.

We will also be discussing the merits of a new electoral voting system (proportional representation), in line with policy agreed at our last General Conference. The NEC will take a view from this debate and then prepare a policy paper to go forward to the next General Conference on this issue. We want to emphasise that this is not a decision-making forum and while we recognise that we are giving a platform to speakers that will have very strong views on the pros and cons of electoral reform, ultimately the union will need further discussion and any final policy decision will need to be made by our Conference.

For branches who have not yet registered, please consider this one of your priority commitments and email politics@cwu.org to confirm your branch’s attendance and the names of your delegates as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please email aobrien@cwu.org.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Ward

General Secretary                           

25LTB238 – POLITICAL FORUM AGENDA 6th NOVEMBER 2025

Agenda for Political Forum 6/11/2025

1. Arrivals, tea and coffee (10:00-10:30)

1. President to open the forum (10:30-10:40)

1. General Secretary- political overview (10:40-11:00)

1. Discussion session (11:00-12:45)

1. Our relationship with the Labour Party, including an update on the Employment Rights Bill (11:00-11:45)

2. The rise of Reform/far-right politics (11:45-12:20)

3. Other initiatives- political education etc (12:20-12:45)

1. Break (12:45-13:15)

1. Session on electoral reform (13:15-14:40)

   1. Speakers (13:15-13:55)

   2. Discussion and debate (13:55-14:40)

1. GS Final Remarks (14:40-14:45)