On the basis of their address Labour Party members belong to one of the three Branches in the Richmond Constituency.. The three Branches are still very large in area - it can take an hour to travel from one side of the Dales Branch to the other.

So welcome to one of the largest constituencies in England; from Hawes to Great Ayton is about 70 miles so communications between members rely a lot on phone, fax and e-mail. The constituency has three Branches.

Each Branch has its own local Party for District Elections: Hambleton District Labour Party includes the Great Ayton & Stokesley Branch and the Northallerton Branch; the Dales Branch is also the Richmondshire District Labour Party.

Selection and support of prospective councillors is done at Branch level though a Constituency-wide team of canvassers and is often formed to target particular wards. District bye-elections will usually have Constituency support, financial and for canvassing. A chair, secretary and treasurer are elected annually by each Branch at an AGM held in Jan/Feb/Mar

These AGMs also nominate delegates and officers to run Constituency affairs:

The General Committee has overall responsibility for running the Constituency Party and is made up of delegates from the three Branches and from Organisations Affiliated to the Labour Party.

Normally communications from the Constituency officers (and the Labour Party Regional Office in Wakefield) will come to you via your Branch Secretary.

Policy Forums are the Labour Party's main way of learning about members' views and formulating policy. They have a rolling programme and offer an opportunity for every member to have their say.

You will hear direct from the CLP representatives on the National Policy Forum your local link person is the Branch Secretary who should be sent written notice of any motions you may wish to propose to Branch meetings; local fund raising, campaigns, canvassing (often by phone) and keeping members informed are often the focus of activities at this level.

An occasional Richmond Labour Link is published for the whole Constituency membership