We must resist the urge to navel gaze for too long
After the cataclysm of Thursday’s election result, many Labour politicians have suggested a need for reflection on the party’s fundamental values, either before or in parallel with the leadership election.
That is, of course, necessary after such a disappointing result.
This reflection must not, however, come at the cost of leaving a political vacuum to the right. We must resist the urge to navel gaze for too long, given that we are possibly (and some say likely) less than twelve months away from a referendum on membership of the European Union.
The beginnings of a cross-party ‘in’ campaign are already in place, with Lord Mandelson as the key Labour representative. But the Scottish referendum clearly demonstrated the negative consequences of Labour being identified with an ‘elite’, ‘establishment’ consensus.
There are three reasons why a Labour (rather than cross-party) ‘in’ campaign could – and I hope, will – offer the first step towards rebuilding Labour.
First, despite the disappointing result, more people were engaged in political activity this election than ever before – the vast majority of them, with the Labour Party. No less than 200,000 people left their comfort zone to tap on doors and speak to complete strangers as Labour canvassers.
For many I spoke to, from Milton Keynes to Dover, this was their first experience of political activism. Labour as a party must ensure it is not their last engagement in organised politics. This can be done by offering people a meaningful role in an optimistic, forward-looking ‘in’ campaign.
Second, many of those new, often young (in age or spirit) activists were energised by the very values that Labour is trying to pursue in Europe. They abhor the xenophobia of UKIP and reject racism instinctively. They care passionately about increasing living standards, not just for themselves but across the world. They are disturbed by current rates of youth unemployment, and would be appalled by the job losses that would occur if Britain cuts itself off from the rest of Europe.
They are also often passionate about the need to tackle climate change and air pollution, viewing these issues as core to Labour’s progressive message.
A strong Labour ‘in’ campaign offers a chance to champion these values. It also gives Labour a chance to offer hope to young people, capitalising on the wave of support from younger people that arose in the latter stages of the election campaign (even if that did not always translate into votes, given the challenge we still face in getting younger voters to turn out in the same numbers as their parents and grandparents).
Labour should now repay that commitment by demanding that 16-year-olds be given a vote in this referendum, and redouble its efforts to register young voters, more necessary than ever before given the Tories’ new, US-style measures to make registration harder.
And third, a progressive ‘in’ campaign offers an excellent chance for local Labour parties to renew their links with trade union members. Just as it was the trade unions who made much of the running against UKIP over the last two years, so it has been the trade unions who have loudly and proudly argued for Britain’s continued place in Europe.
A strong Labour campaign, joint with trade unions, will not only be essential to mobilise ‘in’ voters, but also important in ensuring that Cameron’s ‘renegotiation’ does not remove the working protections and social rights that stop Europe from being just a trade club for multinational companies. It will also prevent accusations that the ‘in’ campaign is dominated by captains of industry and not representative of working people, a card that UKIP has attempted to play in recent months.
Labour activists, politicians and supporters will need some time to lick their wounds and regroup. But as soon as this is done, we must move quickly to mobilise again all those people who put worked so hard for a better, fairer future for Britain, and provide hope to all those who, despite all the smears and brickbats, did opt to vote Labour last Thursday.
Despite the spin, we know that there is a large body of support across the whole of Britain, and particularly amongst the young, for membership of an EU focused on jobs and living standards. Labour cannot waste any time in arguing for it.
Anneliese Dodds MEP is a member of the European Parliament economic and monetary affairs committee. Follow her on Twitter
22 Responses to “Comment: A progressive ‘in’ campaign is the first step to rebuilding Labour”
Leon Wolfeson
A tiny number of votes? Ohnoes! The reality is that very few Labourites will switch to a party which has the entire far right vote.
And you DO want to be part of that Union – England, Wales and Northern Ireland, dominated by the Tories. The opposition to TTIP is at EU level, the opposition to capitalism is at EU level.
You say the future is right wing, isolated from the countries you want much harder barriers against.
Leon Wolfeson
Magical marxism, again, as you call on Satan, and claim a majority is well under a third. That the “signs” are there that people love being poor, as you ignore why Labour lost – as you say people who sat at home because Labour moved right and away from them magically voted alongside far right voters.
Nope, they DID stay at home.
Leon Wolfeson
Keep chanting the same old lies about workers, as you ignore the benefits of trade.
You keep talking about rates which we’d make mild in your scenario, where we cancel every trade treaty. We are already at very high rates and your Tories will take us up with those countries anyway, this is true.
As you talk about how wonderful air pollution is. As you ignore where the votes come from – Labour lost the connection with the left because they moved tight, the left sat at home.
You keep advocating hiding from the world.
Jeanne Tomlin
Deciding to present yourself as ‘progressive’ when most votes in Westminster have been anything but doesn’t fool people. I suggest first that Labour find its soul-if that isn’t permanently mislaid.
Elizabeth
Deeply dismayed by the idea of a Labour (rather than cross-party) “in” campaign. Please don’t advocate that, it’s a terrible idea.
I was deeply involved in the “Yes Oxfordshire” campaign in the AV referendum. We worked with people from all political parties and from none. I was myself, erm, strongly encouraged to take a central role early because I was not (and am not) a member of any party. A very large fraction of our large, energetic group of activists were first-time activists, as I myself was, who cared about that particular issue. We interfaced with the party groups who did a lot of our leafletting, but we made sure our campaign events were inclusive and welcoming.
This was really important when talking to people from the streets. SO many people who I approached said “Oh I suppose you’re with x party” in a dismissive way, and then actually stopped to talk when I replied that I was with no party, I just cared about the issue.
Also important for engaging new young passionate people in the political process. People who were not about to join a party and would have been put off from volunteering for a party-based campaign may very well stay with you. One of our first-time activists is now a local councillor.
Finally, really important for making friends and coalition-building among progressives. There is a long way to come back from. Coalition-building will help. Infighting absolutely will not.
Seriously, please, make it a non-partisan broad church.