Federal Council meeting report – August 2026
The Federal Council met online on Tuesday 4 August 2026. The Council is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Federal Board, including ensuring that decisions are taken in line with the Party Strategy agreed by Conference, and for considering any Federal Board decisions which are 'called in' by members of the Council.
Federal People Development Committee
The main item of the meeting was a presentation from Ellie Hudspith, the new Chair of the Federal People and Development Committee (FPDC). She set out the committee's structure, its current priorities, and its work programme for the year ahead.
The committee is establishing a number of subcommittees and has recently introduced a new whistleblowing policy, which has been adopted by the Federal Board. Applications are now open for members to serve as investigators under the policy. The Chair also described the committee's work to support members and Associated Organisations, including plans to update the party's Boost Guide, to improve how the party gathers and acts on members' experiences, and to open up a wider range of ways for members to volunteer and get involved.
Members raised a number of questions about equality and diversity. These included how the party collects diversity data reflecting the protected characteristics under the Equality Act, and how that data supports the positive action measures agreed by Conference. Members also asked about training on protected characteristics. The Council heard that bite-sized training modules are already available through the party's campaign hub, and that the FPDC would work with the relevant teams to develop a fuller training strategy aligned with the new party strategy. Members also asked for clearer membership data, including gender breakdowns.
Members discussed the party's membership and the shared concern across the Council about the long term decline in numbers. The Chair of the FPDC will lead a new membership subcommittee to develop a coordinated membership strategy, drawing on best practice from across the party, including the state parties. Members welcomed this focus, and emphasised the importance of growing the party's membership rather than relying on further increases in membership fees.
Strengthening the Council's scrutiny of the Federal Board
A substantial part of the meeting was given over to how Federal Council can carry out its scrutiny role more effectively, particularly the process by which Federal Board decisions are 'called in' for review.
Members agreed that better communication between ourselves would help the Council to respond promptly when the Federal Board takes a decision. This may include holding informal drop-in sessions during the period in which a decision can be called in. The Council also discussed whether the current thresholds and timescales for calling in and overturning decisions remain appropriate, and whether any changes to the Federal Constitution should be proposed in the future.
The Council discussed the timing of its meetings in relation to Federal Board meetings and decisions, agreeing that a shorter gap (two weeks maximum) allows decisions to be scrutinised more promptly. The Federal Board may hold additional meetings, and will notify the Council of decisions by email as soon as they are made, so that scrutiny can begin at the earliest opportunity. Members also agreed that meetings should be avoided the week running up to Christmas.
Other business
The Council noted proposed dates for future meetings, and agreed to arrange an informal meet-up of Federal Council members at the party's Autumn Conference in Brighton.
by Councillor Tim Pickstone