A new website was launched today by a group of London-based Labour activists. "Labour values" contains campaign case studies & three key goals for party reform.
A new website was launched today by a group of London-based Labour activists (including me). “Labour values” contains some of the best examples of local campaigning during the general election and sets out three key goals for party reform.
As Andy Hull writes on Labour List:
“The challenges at the start of this century – global recession, climate change, distrust in politics – demand a progressive response. But we will only ensure that the future is shaped by our values if our primary vehicle for change – the Labour Party – itself responds and changes.”
Campaign organisers are asked to submit ideas for case studies. Labour supporters can sign a petition calling for the party to be reformed so that it:
• becomes a mass participation progressive movement
• empowers members, activists, and supporters with the tools and resources to transform their communities
• invests authority in the people and groups that deliver this change
In recent days, a number of Labour MPs have identified strong local campaigns as being one of the few highlights of the general election. In today’s Independent, Ed Balls writes:
“We need to learn from our successes this year in local government, and in constituencies which stood firm against the Tory tide, like Edgbaston, Oxford East and Gedling, where councillors and MPs have been talking to voters in this way: winning the argument door by door and street by street, proving to people that we listen, that we are on their side and understand their concerns.”
Last week, addressing a meeting of Labour Party activists at the Local Government Association in Westminster on Wednesday, Jon Cruddas MP said:
“That we did not suffer a more crushing blow is down to one thing, and one thing only: the culture of organising that is rooted in many of our local parties. There are many examples to point to: Islington, Birmingham Hodge Hill, Oxford East, Blackburn – my own area of Barking and Dagenham where we crushed the BNP. We must learn from these shining examples of what is possible when our local parties are organised and up for the fight. Organisation is the key to our renewal.”
In Friday’s Guardian, Liam Byrne wrote:
“The new leader’s second test is not policy – it is organisation. In Birmingham we did well fending off a Tory attack. Gisela Stuart’s extraordinary triumph in Edgbaston will be one of the great memories of election night. In my own seat we managed to put up the Labour majority. These results were not delivered by direct mail from on high, but by community campaigning on the ground. Not many of Stuart’s – or my – volunteers were paid-up Labour members. But they delivered a Labour victory.”
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8 Responses to ““Labour values” launches with mass movement objective”
Robert
@Sue – Kelvin Hopkins’ point about Conservatives voting for him has validity.
However one needs to think carefully.
In Edgbaston there were local elections on the same day, as in many places. By adding up the Conservative supporters in the local elections in Edgbaston we find 1500 or so more than those voting Tory in the general. Similarly the total labour vote in the council elections was well over 2000 less than for Gisela Stuart in the general.
Had all voters stayed in their normal mould then Labour would have easily lost Edgbaston, swamping the 1270+ eventual majority.
So Gisela Stuart had winning support in two ways – staunch Tories refraining from voting for their Conservative candidate and non-labour voters voting for her. A mix of abstention and cross party support.
Both are important and are not likely to be achieved on policy grounds alone.
Joanna Daly
Is ‘Labour Values’ the same as ‘Socialist Values’ because I’m finding it difficult to find socialism alive in Britain today – is the Labour party in danger of becoming similar to the other parties to attract voters back – doesn’t that mean socialism is no longer welcome in Britain? Labour seems to be watering down itself – but how many people didn’t vote at all – why? That is a big percentage.
With respect, I’m wondering if Labour is missing the point.
joannadaly.wordpress.com
Henry
It’s encouraging that the Labour Party are at last waking up to the importance of grassroots campaigning. And I thought they were meant to be the ‘people’s party’.
Hopefully, they’ve now learned that it is not wise to rely on the support of charmers like Rupert Murdoch.