Our Constitution

Breakthrough Party Ltd. is a registered company in England & Wales
Registered Company Number: 13238910
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom
Incorporated as a Private Limited Company on 2nd March 2021

1. Name and objects
   1. This organisation shall be known as ‘The Breakthrough Party’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Party’).
   2. Its purpose is:
      • To organise and maintain in Parliament and in the country a political Breakthrough Party;
      • To promote a significant rebalancing of power, of wealth, and of income, in favour of people who depend, have depended, or will depend on an income derived from their work or from benefits to meet their everyday living expenses, as opposed to people who employ their wealth for this purpose throughout the United Kingdom; and to promote the democratisation of civic and public service organisations as well as political organisations throughout the United Kingdom.
   3. The Party shall bring together members both physically and electronically, to develop policies, to make communities stronger through collective action and support, and to promote the election of Breakthrough representatives at all levels of the democratic process.
   4. The Party, and in particular members elected to represent the Party, shall give effect, as far as may be practicable, to the principles and policies from time to time approved by Party Conferences.
2. Aims and values
   1. The Breakthrough Party is a democratic socialist party. We believe that by the strength of our collective endeavour working people can achieve their rightful share of the distribution of power, wealth and incomes in Britain and throughout the world, and employ this redistribution to serve the interests of the many, not the few.
   2. Party members accept that the rights enjoyed by society must reflect the duties owed, and that those duties include an active democratic participation in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.
3. Membership
   1. Membership shall be open to all people aged of sixteen years or over who are resident in the United Kingdom or who are British or Irish citizens currently abroad.
   2. Except with the prior consent of the National Committee, members may not simultaneously be members of another political party, whether or not it runs candidates against Breakthrough. The National Committee may issue general waivers in respect of membership of a specific political party.
   3. The Party Conference shall approve membership fees. Until the first Party Conference the National Committee shall set membership fees.
   4. Membership fees for each individual member shall be collected by, or on behalf of, the Party’s Head Office and shall be divided between Head Office and the relevant regional party in proportions as decided from time to time by Annual Conference.
   5. Within three months of a member joining the Party the Party Leader may ask the Party Discipline and Guidance committee to examine the application where there are concerns raised about a new member’s eligibility or past history.
4. National Committee and Party Officers
   1. The Party Leader
      1. The Party Leader is elected by all members of the party who have been members for at least one month at the date of the election. Each candidate must be proposed and seconded by party members. An election address for each candidate not exceeding 500 words will be circulated to the members with the ballot. Voting is on the Alternative Vote system (SCHEDULE 5). The term of office will be two years. Unless the Party is in Government (whether within a coalition or otherwise), no person may serve more than three consecutive terms as Leader or Deputy Leader without a two year break. The person may hold other positions during the break.
      2. The Party Leader is also ex officio the Party’s Nominating Officer under the Representation of the People Act 1983. (It is not a legal requirement that the role of Nominating Officer be combined with any other position.)
         1. Under the Representation of the People Act 1983 a party’s Nominating Officer is responsible for giving written authorisation for candidates to stand on behalf of the party and submitting lists of election candidates where proportional representation is used.
         2. In the absence of a Party Leader, the Party Deputy Leader shall be the Nominating Officer.
      3. Casual vacancies for Party Leader shall be filled by a special election announced by the National Committee within one month of the vacancy arising. The election shall be as set out at 4.1.1 above.
      4. The Party Deputy Leader shall stand in for the Party Leader until the special election is concluded. All nominations and notifications that would be made by the Party Leader shall be made by the Party Deputy Leader.
   2. The Party Deputy Leader is elected by all members of the party who have been members for at least one month at the date of the election. Each candidate must be proposed and seconded by party members. An election address for each candidate not exceeding 500 words will be circulated to the members with the ballot. Voting is on the Alternative Vote system (SCHEDULE 5). The term of office will be one year in the first instance, so that the elections of Leader and Deputy Leader take place in alternate years. The Deputy Leader may stand for election to Leader. If successful, the resulting vacancy for Deputy Leader will be filled by a special election.
   3. The Party Treasurer
      1. The Party Treasurer is elected by all members of the party who have been members for at least one calendar month at the date of the election. Each candidate must be proposed and seconded by party members. An election address for each candidate not exceeding 300 words will be circulated to the members with the ballot. Voting is on the Alternative Vote system. The term of office will be one year for the person elected in January 2022, and two yearly after that. Unless the Party is in Government (whether within a coalition or otherwise), no person may serve more than three consecutive terms as Party Treasurer without a two year break. The person may hold other positions during the break.
      2. The Treasurer is responsible for the effective financial management of the Party. The Treasurer must keep clear and accurate records of Party accounts to show the true financial position of the Party.
      3. For this purpose, the Treasurer shall maintain and safeguard all necessary financial records.
      4. The Treasurer shall prepare financial reports for the National Committee at least quarterly.
      5. The Treasurer shall make regular reports to the Electoral Commission, and at all times be able to comply with requests for information from the Electoral Commission.
      6. The Treasurer has responsibility to make sure that any loans and donations that the Party receives are checked, recorded and reported where appropriate. The Treasurer should ensure that the rules set down by the Electoral Commission in respect of what donations and loans can be accepted are followed.
      7. The Treasurer must submit the Party’s annual accounts to the Electoral Commission.
      8. The Treasurer is responsible for all the Party’s campaign spending at elections. This includes: authorising campaign spending, keeping records and invoices/receipts of campaign spending, submitting expenditure returns forms, invoices/receipts and auditor’s report.
      9. Should the Party Treasurer cease to act, the Party Leader is responsible to notify the Electoral Commission, the party leader becomes acting treasurer until the Commission has been notified that a new treasurer has been appointed. Until a new treasurer is appointed it is the duty of the party leader to check that donations or loans received by the party are permissible and to maintain the party’s accounting records.
      10. The acting treasurer has 14 days following the date on which the position became vacant to notify the Electoral Commission about the changes in registered officers.
      11. The Treasurer has responsibility to inform the Electoral Commission to report changes in the name or address of any party officer who is registered with the Electoral Commission, the address of the Party’s Headquarters, and to make annual returns to the Electoral Commission.
   4. The National Committee may extend the one month waiting period for new members to vote.
   5. There shall be a National Committee of the Party (“the National Committee’) which shall, subject to the control and directions of Party Conference, be the administrative authority of the Party.
   6. The National Committee shall set up such sub committees and working parties as it thinks appropriate, and may co-opt any person to such subcommittee or working party or to the National Committee itself. Co-optees will have no vote in National Committee meetings or subcommittee or working party meetings.
   7. The National Committee consists of two members elected by each regional party, called “regional representatives”. Members of the regional party who have been members of the Party for at least one month at the date of the election may vote. No person may serve more than three consecutive terms on the National Committee as a regional representative.
   8. The Leader, Deputy Leader, and Treasurer are non-voting members of the National Committee unless they are elected to the National Committee by their regional party. They must be at least 18 years of age.
   9. In the case that any position should become unfilled, a special election may be held for that position at the discretion of the National Committee.
   10. The National Committee shall give 5 weeks’ notice of an election for the Party Leader, the Deputy Leader, or the Party Treasurer. Candidates must submit their applications to the Chair of the National Committee no later than 3 weeks before an election, including their election address. The Party will publish the list of candidates to the membership no later than 2 weeks before an election.
   11. The Chair of the National Committee is elected by the members of the National Committee from among their members. The Chair may give rulings on the meaning of any party document.
   12. Cooperative relationships may be established by the National Committee with any democratic organisation with which the Party shares common aims, values and policies. Such cooperative relationships require endorsement at the following Annual Conference.
   13. The Party may, by means of a petition signed (electronically or manually) by 60% of all members over a timespan of less than 2 weeks, trigger a recall election for any elected position.
   14. For the avoidance of doubt any member may propose or second any other member for any member elected national position. For a regional position the member and those nominating must be members of the region concerned.
   15. All changes of Leader, Deputy Leader, Treasurer, or Nominating Officer shall be notified to the Electoral Commission within 14 days or each resignation, death, or other end of office. The results of elections or appointments to these posts must also be notified to the Electoral Commission within 14 days of the declaration of the result. The responsibility for making these notifications rests with the Leader.
   16. The National Committee shall select all council and Parliamentary candidates. Except in case of emergency, party members shall be notified of a need for a candidate and be invited to apply. The National Committee may delegate the selection of council and Parliamentary candidates to National Committee sub committees or to Regional Committees who shall follow the same procedures.
5. Regional Structure
   1. The Party shall be organised on the following basis:
      1. Where the National Committee so determines, there shall be established, in a defined region of the UK, a regional party. The National Committee may reorganise, subdivide, or join together regions from time to time. All monies received by regional parties will be held in and disbursed from the party’s bank account. Regional parties are not accounting units.
      2. Regional parties shall elect Organisers, Chairs, Secretaries, Fundraisers, Treasurers, and Equalities Officers annually to a Regional Organisation Committee. The roles of these posts are in SCHEDULE 1.
   2. The Regional Organising Committee shall be responsible for developing the activities of the Party in its region. It shall seek out electoral opportunities at both Parliamentary and Local Government levels, establish relationships with civic and community groups, identify significant local issues and organise training and recruitment of party members.
   3. Members of the Party shall declare which regional party they wish to be affiliated with, regardless of where they reside. A member may apply to change their regional party affiliation but may only do so once in any 6 month period.
   4. Only members affiliated with a regional party may vote in that regional party’s elections for the Regional Organisation Committee.
6. The Financial Scheme
   1. The Party shall maintain a financial scheme approved by the Electoral Commission and shall consist of a central organisation only.
   2. The Party will comply with its legal obligations under PPERA 2000, including using 1 January to 31 December as the financial year, maintaining adequate financial records, identifying and reporting donations and loans, producing an annual statement of accounts by the end of the first quarter of the following year and providing all relevant information to the Election Commission.
   3. The National Committee shall arrange on behalf of all Regions an insurance scheme to cover a by-election premium, public liability, and such other legal risks as the National Committee considers appropriate. The estimated cost of such insurance for the following year shall normally be deducted from a region’s share of membership subscriptions during the first quarter of each year.
   4. As and when the Party acquires assets of any significance, limited companies shall be established as companies holding Party assets, to act as a trustee for the benefit of the Party.
   5. There shall be two elected auditors, who may not be National party officers nor members of the National Committee. Their purpose is to scrutinise expenditure on behalf of the membership generally. Their report that the levels and directions of expenditure are or are not consistent with the party´s values and policies will accompany the annual accounts to ensure that any concerns are brought to the attention of party members generally. The person receiving the higher vote at the first election will serve for two years, and the second for one year. There shall be elections each year thereafter with the successful candidate serving for two years.
7. Formation of Policy
   1. At all levels the Party will ensure that members, elected representatives, any affiliated organisations and, where practicable, the wider community are able to contribute to the process of policy consideration and formulation. See SCHEDULE 4.
   2. Party Conference shall decide from time to time what specific proposals of legislative, financial or administrative reform shall be included in the Party programme.
   3. The National Committee shall decide which items from the Party programme shall be included in any General Election manifesto, and will issue that manifesto prior to the election. The National Committee shall also define the attitude of the Party to the principal issues raised by the election which are not covered by the manifesto.
   4. Regional Organisation Committees will construct a Local Manifesto for their Region prior to any local elections held in their Region, and decide which elements of the main Party programme will be included in that Manifesto. Any Regional manifestos must be endorsed by the National Committee prior to publication and distribution.
8. Breakthrough Party Conference
   1. The work of the Party shall be under the direction and control of Party Conference, which shall itself be subject to the constitution and standing orders of the Party. Party conference shall meet regularly once in every year and also at such other times as it may be convened by the National Committee.
   2. The rules for the convening and operation of Party conference are in SCHEDULE 3 hereto.
9. Amendments to this Constitution
   This Constitution may be amended by 60% of those voting at Annual Conference.
10. Dissolution
    The party may be dissolved by 60% of those voting at Annual Conference.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom

Our Constitution
Page 2 of 6

SCHEDULE 1 • Regional Officer Roles

Regional Parties are required to elect the roles listed here. Regional Parties may elect further roles at their discretion, and individuals may share roles.

Chair

In addition to chairing meetings of their regional organisation committee, the chair is also expected to act as the public face of the regional party. The chair will be responsible for managing the regional party’s social media presence.

Secretary

The secretary is responsible for ensuring that other members of their regional organisation committee are performing their roles. The secretary is responsible for ensuring minutes are taken at their regional organisation committee meetings and may take on a dedicated minutes secretary to make this task easier.

The management of the regional party’s long-term development is the responsibility of the secretary, including training, recruitment, and community outreach. The secretary is responsible for producing a Regional Party Development Plan.

Organiser

The organiser is responsible for promoting the Party within their region, and particularly those constituencies within their region where the Party intends to stand for election. The party will provide training for organisers. In consultation with the Regional Party the organiser will make decisions about how best to use the regional party’s resources to this end.

Fundraiser

A regional party will need to raise funds to support their campaigning beyond those gained through the membership fee. The Fundraiser is responsible for seeking out sources of donations to the regional party, be this from individuals or organisations.

Treasurer

The treasurer will be actively involved in both the activities of the fundraiser and the organiser. The Treasurer remits all money received to the party Treasurer immediately, and liaises with the party Treasurer on all financial matters. The Regional Party will not have a bank account and is not an accounting unit.

Equalities Officer

The equalities officer will be responsible for ensuring that all members within the regional party are fairly considered and respected, in accordance with the Party’s Aims and Values and Discipline and Guidance policy.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom

Our Constitution
Page 3 of 6

SCHEDULE 2 • Party Discipline and Guidance

Breakthrough Party members care passionately about the aims and values of the Breakthrough Party.

It is inevitable that some individual members will use speech and take actions that do not display the solidarity, tolerance, and respect to others that the Party believes should be shown to all people. The clauses below set out the Party’s process for dealing with these issues.

1. The Party membership shall elect (using the STV voting method) 3 members to the Party Discipline and Guidance committee, who will choose a chair from amongst themselves.
2. Where issues arise involving a member of the Party Discipline and Guidance committee, that member shall recuse themselves from involvement with that complaint, whether the member be the complainant or the person complained of.
3. If the Party Discipline and Guidance committee agree unanimously, they may issue a letter of dismissal where there is no valid complaint. The opinion that a complaint holds no merit can be formed without discussion, and thus can be checked using quick digital communications.
4. Otherwise, an individual member of the committee is assigned, by the committee, to manage the complaint procedure. They will, where necessary:
   • Request further details from the complainant
   • Request a response from the person complained of
   • Collect information from other sources such as listed witnesses
5. The committee will then review the case, no later than 1 month from its submission.
6. Resolutions made to a case at this review require a simple majority of Party Discipline and Guidance committee members.
7. Penalties. Actions by the Party Discipline and Guidance Committee include expulsion, suspension, restrictions on intraparty activity, and letter of rebuke. It may be appropriate instead or in addition to require either the complainant or the member complained of to attend an appropriate course at the expense of the Breakthrough Party.
8. The Party Discipline and Guidance committee may decide that a complaint is too minor to justify disciplinary action but send a letter to the member complained of asking that there not be a recurrence of the behaviour complained of.
9. In consultation with the National Chair, the Party Discipline and Guidance committee may decide it appropriate for either the complainant or the person complained of, or both, to be suspended from membership of the party pending resolution of the complaint.
10. Persons standing for election within the party shall not be removed from the ballot and shall not be inhibited from campaigning simply because there is a complaint lodged against them.
11. Participation “in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance, and respect to others” naturally includes avoidance of any actions or words derogatory of people because of their innate characteristics or factors including for the avoidance of doubt religion, race, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, personal relationships, health, and mental health. It is possible to be progressive and forceful without being offensive.
12. Behaviour likely to bring the party into disrepute shall be an offence.
13. Until such time as Annual Conference decides upon another definition of antisemitism the Breakthrough Party adopts the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
14. Actions prior to a person joining the Breakthrough Party will not normally found a complaint but may be taken into account by a panel in its deliberations.
15. Abuse of the disciplinary system for improper purposes may in itself be an offence.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom

Our Constitution
Page 4 of 6

SCHEDULE 3 • Party Conference

1. Party Conferences shall be called by the National Committee at intervals not exceeding 14 months, and notice given to the membership at least 8 weeks before the proposed conference start date.
2. The National Committee may call Special Party Conferences with a restricted Agenda, and notice given to the membership at least 8 weeks before the proposed conference start date.
3. Delegates to the Conference will be elected by each Regional Party. The number of delegates from each region will normally be in the ratio of one delegate to twenty members or part thereof, but that figure may be adjusted by the National Committee in the light of circumstances.
4. Attendance at any Conference may be virtual rather than physical.
5. The Delegates to Annual Conference will elect a Conference Organisation Committee. The Conference Organisation Committee will decide the conference agenda, who chairs each session or part thereof, what fraternal visitors are invited, arrangements for media, and generally will work to make the conference a success. The Conference Organisation Committee will make recommendations relating to future conferences.
6. Without this section being prescriptive the intention is that most of the time of Conference will discuss policy. Receiving the Accounts and Annual Report from the National Committee, discussion of constitutional amendments, fraternal addresses, and the Leader’s speech should not take up more than one fifth of the time of conference.
7. Policy proposals will arise from the policy groups.
8. Constitutional amendments may be proposed by a single Regional Party, the National Committee, or by petition by 10% of the membership.
9. The Conference will normally be live streamed. On all motions, including reference back motions, remote voting by paid up members shall be possible. Where the outcome of a vote by delegates is not ratified by the vote of members, the vote by delegates will be regarded as provisional pending reconsideration of the issue at the following annual conference or a special conference.
10. Only delegates may speak to motions or move procedural or reference back motions.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom

Our Constitution
Page 5 of 6

SCHEDULE 4 • Making Policy

1. The intention is that Breakthrough members will discuss policies virtually and online.
2. The NC policy sub-committee will appoint policy leaders to lead the formation of policy in various subject areas. Where there may be overlap, the policy leaders will liaise.
3. The aim is to produce policies that can be put to Annual Conference for ratification. It will often be the case that most of a policy is close to unanimous, with only a few decisions that need to be voted on by conference.
4. Policy documents will be in sections. Normally the sections will be voted on, and then the entire document approved.
5. It will be possible to move “reference back” of a section or sections.
6. All proposed policies should be circulated to all members at least two months before the Conference takes place. Representations for improvement and clarification may be made to the policy groups in the three weeks after the policies have been circulated.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom

Our Constitution
Page 6 of 6

SCHEDULE 5 • Alternative Voting System

The Alternative Vote system used by the Party operates as follows:

1. Voters provide a ranking of their favourite candidates, with a 1 representing their favourite, and ascending numbers representing decreasing preference. Voters do not need to rank every candidate.
2. If a candidate receives more than 50% percent of voters’ first preferences, they are elected. Otherwise, the candidate with the least number of first preferences is eliminated, and those votes are distributed to the voters’ second preference. If a ballot has no further preference, it is discarded.
3. If, after redistribution, any candidate has more than 50% of remaining votes, they are the elected. Otherwise, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their votes redistributed according to the preferences, and so on until a candidate receives more than 50% of remaining votes.
4. This system cannot resolve exact ties between candidates. In this case, the National Committee will set a date for a re-vote no more than 2 weeks later.

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Breakthrough Party Ltd.
A registered company in England & Wales Registered Company Number: 13238910.
Registered Office: 151 The Rock, Bury, Lancashire, BL9 0ND. United Kingdom