Aim of BLUE REVOLUTION
Blue Revolution is a political brand registered as a political party which seeks to enable as many people as possible from as wide a variety of backgrounds as possible to stand for elections at every administrative level from Parish to Parliament. This is achieved by the simple means of authorising use of party emblems to those who endorse the Blue Revolution “core values” and pledges.
Blue Revolution will have a light touch approach to identifying and approving nominations to stand for election and will leave individual candidates to take responsibility for their own campaigns. However, advice and guidance will be made available to all candidates to help ensure that the brand identity of Blue Revolution is not brought into disrepute and to help ensure that candidates comply with all relevant electoral laws and other relevant legislation. However Blue Revolution is not legally responsible for the activities, errors or omissions of candidates. Some finance may be made available such as part funding of deposits for any Parliamentary election fought.
Blue Revolution will always attempt to ensure that all campaigns reflect the core values – Contract, Choice and Consent and as far as its pledges. These pledges are:
- No political party whipping
- Voting based on own conscience
- Ending the party-political top-down system of Government
Blue Revolution is a political Brand as opposed to a traditional party. It thus avoids the heavy bureaucratic structure associated with many other political parties. There will be no branches or branch structure. Members may form community groups but if formed these can have no financial identity recognised by Blue Revolution. Blue Revolution will not recognise groups or branches calling themselves “Blue Revolution”. Such groups will not be allowed to use images and descriptions in elections. Individuals must apply to use them as individuals. For non-election, promotional material any member can utilise any of the images and descriptions that appear on the website. The use of images and descriptions are only covered by election law not copyright.
There is no membership fee. Providing an e-mail address entitles the member within the relevant calendar year to attend the AGM and they can use the abluerevolution.org website and to use all election materials made available on the website in respect of any election they wish to contest. The nominating officer has the responsibility of sanctioning the use of the emblems and descriptions on application by any member who wishes to stand in an election.
If a member is refused permission to use the “Blue Revolution” identity marks and description there is an appeals process. In the first instance the appeal is to the leader of the party and the final appeal is to the management committee. The full committee’s decision on the matter of the use of the identity marks and descriptions is final.
Blue Revolution will advertise for new members and potential candidates where there are elections taking place, as well as promoting local members.
Membership
The membership of Blue Revolution is based on a request for membership and permission to store details of party members on a database. Members will be invited to an Annual General Meeting (AGM) by e mail. The AGM will be held within three months of the 1st of January each year i.e. no later than the 1st April. The AGM could be held anywhere but is likely to be held in an area close to the greatest number of members.
Up to a week prior to the AGM the membership will be able to propose and second a candidate for the posts of leader, nominating officer, treasurer and fourth officer. If no formal nominations are received nominations can be taken from the floor at the AGM.
The membership will be kept informed about the Blue Revolution via the abluerevolution.org website.
It is also proposed that “workshop” events will be delivered to gauge the views and opinions of members and to explain the core values and pledges.
Members join Blue Revolution by informing Blue Revolution of their interest and confirming their intended membership. Membership runs from 1st January to 31st December. A record will be kept of member’s details and this will be managed in line with the Data Protection Act and current legislation and only used for no purpose other than communicating with individual members. Membership donations will be banked in a Blue Revolution Bank Account and will only be used to administer membership and to support election campaigns.
PARTY VALUES
The party has broad values which accept differences of opinion on a wide range of areas of political activism. Blue Revolution is not a traditional right or left-wing party. The Blue Revolution constitution requires only that candidates understand and apply the core values of Contract, Choice and Consent upon which we believe freedom and democracy are constructed.
Contract, Choice and Consent as core values of Blue Revolution should be demonstrably understood by party members who apply to be candidate in elections. All candidates should accept that these core values apply to all individuals.
Blue Revolution does not discriminate. Blue Revolution promotes freedom for all. Blue Revolution seeks to promote the interests of taxpayers and blue collar workers who we believe have been overlooked by successive governments and establishment interests and who either do not find a voice with mainstream parties of the centre left or centre right or struggle to be heard.
Blue Revolution will accept that whilst the values of Contract Choice and Consent must be recognised and upheld, it is possible for controversial political opinions to be expressed. However such views must be compliant with law. Any member who publishes material either in print or on- line which questions the core values of Contract, Choice and Consent will have their membership suspended. The appeal process is the same as it is for refusal to allow use of identity marks.
Blue Revolution accepts there are uncomfortable discussions in politics but freedom of speech is a fundemental part of the democratic process, something to which all voters are entitled and Blue Revolution candidates consent to and express.
Blue Revolution will encourage open, frank and challenging debate on all subjects which are of interest or relevance to our members and their wider communities.
ROLE OF PARTY OFFICERS
THE LEADER
The party will comprise of a leader, a nominating officer, treasurer and a maximum of one other. This group of party officers will be known as the management team.
The leader’s role is to be the figurehead for the party and to chair management meetings, act as the main spokesman for the party, call the AGM and to sign off minutes of the AGM and all management meetings that take place. The leader acts as chairman of the party and arbitrates in any disputes between the management team and any individual members. It is anticipated that in disputes between Blue Revolution and members will be resolved by an appeal to the leader. If this fails to resolve the dispute then an appeal can be made to the full management committee. The decision of the full committee is final. The leader is entitled to be a signatory to the Blue Revolution bank account.
THE NOMINATING OFFICER
The nominating officer’s role is to lead policy and campaign strategy as well as manage the interests of the wider membership. The nominating officer decides on application whether to allow a potential candidate to use an identity mark and descriptions that belong to Blue Revolution. Where the right to use an identity mark is withheld the candidate can apply to the leader to have the decision investigated and possibly reconsidered. The right of final appeal lies with the full management committee.
The right to use the identity mark and description will only be withheld on the grounds that the potential candidate has acted improperly or illegally or has refused overtly to abide by the parties core values and manifesto pledges.
All policy proposed by the Nominating Officer must have the backing of the management team.
The Nominating Officer is entitled to be a signatory on the Blue Revolution bank account.
THE TREASURER
The Treasurer’s role is to manage the party finances including its bank account in line with the financial statement, maintain a record of all donations and submit annual accounts in line with PPERA. All financial records will be retained by the Treasurer. All records of donations made to Blue Revolution campaigns will be reported in election returns as required to Returning Officers. The Electoral Commission will be informed of any donations made to Blue Revolution.
Individuals campaigning on their own behalf will submit their own returns to the Local Authority Returning Officers as required by electoral law.
The Treasurer is responsible for and manages and is a signatory for the Blue Revolution Bank account and submits accounts annually to the management team and AGM for approval.
THE FOURTH OFFICER
The fourth officer, if appointed, supports the work of Blue Revolution in a range of capacities which can include publicity, liaison and public relations. The fourth officer is a member of the Management Committee and is entitled to be a signatory to the Blue Revolution Bank account.
ROLE OF THE MANAGEMENT TEAM
All decisions about party strategy have to be agreed by a majority of the management team with the leader having the casting vote.
These roles are elected annually by the membership of the party. Holders can be re-elected as many times as the membership accept. The membership consists of all those individuals who request membership and agree to have their data held. Donations will cover the administrative cost involved in the management of the individual’s membership and any subsequent administration of the nomination process at elections of their choosing. Any surplus will be used to support elections to Parliament where a Deposit is required.
The Management team considers and makes a final determination on all matters of dispute between members and Blue Revolution where the dispute has not been resolved by appeal to the leader.
The annual AGM is organised by the management team and takes place within three months of the 1st of January. Nominations for the four officers positions can be submitted in advance in writing to the party address at 22 Tower Street or can come from the floor at the AGM in the absence of a formal nomination. The AGM will be quorum with three officers in attendance and as many members who are able to attend
The annual AGM is the only formal membership meeting convened by the party. There will be no formal branches although local campaign groups will be permissible.
Any changes to the Constitution proposed by the Management Team must have the full backing of the membership at the AGM.