Chris Winwood and Roger Jenkins have both confirmed to Worcester Constituency Labour Party (Worcester CLP) that they do not wish to be considered for their respective roles as CLP Chair and CLP Secretary once again. Both Chris and Roger will step down from their posts at the CLP AGM on Monday 14 November. 

Roger said “I have been promising to stand back for four years. Now I feel that standing down will be a good step for my health and I will be available to help my successor”. Roger will continue in his role as local election agent for the 2017 County Council election.

Chris commented “It’s no secret that I have been thinking about leaving the role for some time and, with Roger’s retirement, I feel that this is the right time for me to go. I have done all that I can, as Chair: improving our communications with members; increasing our fundraising; working to support our Councillors; working with our Parliamentary Candidate and our Labour MP. With the Party having expanded so massively in the last year, the time has come for someone else to take a lead and find a new direction. This is a challenging job, and there are some days when I receive thirty emails, so I will be on hand to provide as much – or as little – support as our next Chair feels he or she needs”. Chris added “I could not have performed this role without the support of Officers, Co-ordinators, members, Councillors, and the Labour Party’s regional office. Most of all, I could not have done this without Roger Jenkins as Secretary”. 

The AGM of Worcester CLP, and the AGM of the Worcester CLP 100 Club, will be held on Monday 14 November, with the venue to be confirmed. 

In order to be nominated for a CLP Officer or Co-ordinator role, a Labour Party member must receive a nomination from his or her own Branch (BLP) at a BLP AGM. These BLP nominations are then voted on at the CLP AGM. In Worcester, the AGMs of East, West and South BLPs took place before the summer, so these three BLPs may wish to hold an extraordinary meeting in order to consider the Chair and Secretary vacancies. North BLP has yet to hold its AGM, and eligible members will be contacted in due course.