Labour to consider revising Clause IV but ‘will not return to pre-Blair wording’

‘NEC will establish a small working party to consider possible revisions not to the old version but one in modern language’

Corbyn delivered a speech to the Scottish Trades Union Congress march at the beginning of the week (PA)

Labour’s governing body has set up a working group to consider “modern” revisions to the totemic clause IV in its rulebook, including enshrining commitments to equalities.

The section in the Labour constitution setting out the party’s aims and values was famously modified by Tony Blair in 1995 before his first general election victory.

It was widely viewed as a historic moment for the party and a departure from a commitment to nationalisation and a left-wing economic agenda.

The original 1917 wording – drafted by socialists Sidney and Beatrice Webb – committed the party to “common ownership” of the means of production, distribution and exchange.

This was replaced by Mr Blair, to pledge support for: “A dynamic economy, serving the public interest, in which the enterprise of the market and the rigour of competition are joined with the forces of partnership and co-operation to produce the wealth the nation needs.”

According to The Times, the party’s governing body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – agreed this week to set up a working group to consider revisions to the document.

The move came in response to motions to Labour’s annual conference submitted by Constituency Labour Parties (CLP), calling for the original wording ditched by Mr Blair over two decades ago, to be restored.

The NEC requested the proposers withdraw the motions – and vowed to oppose them if they failed to do so – but the ruling body also said it would establish a working group to consider potential changes to Clause IV.

A source on Labour’s NEC told The Independent: “There is a proposed rule change proposed by a few CLPs, recommended for remission to the NEC, which will establish a small working party to consider possible revisions not to the old version but one in modern language which commits to equality on the basis of sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.”

However, it is understood some NEC members believe Mr Blair’s principle of “rigour of competition” is no longer appropriate for the Labour Party due to the damage the global economy has inflicted on parts of the UK.

Labour has radical plans for nationalisation, and in its 2017 manifesto pledged to bring back key utilities into public ownership.