Why a restored and active Youth movement can make a difference

By Stephanie Peacock

After a difficult week for our Party, the focus of hundreds of young members gathering in Gillingham this weekend for Young Labour’s bi-annual conference will be on debating key policy areas, campaigning in a crucial marginal seat and taking the next steps to rejuvenate Young Labour itself.

Over the last two years Young Labour has been transformed: a new £1 youth rate has seen youth recruitment double, we’ve finally got a Young Labour website as well as the Young Labour toolkit and training days. And perhaps our most important and long overdue change has been the amendment to our Party’s constitution, which has delivered the biggest ever reform of Young Labour. The changes we have pushed through will mean that for the first time this weekend Young Labour will elect all of its national committee members.

But despite the progress of the last two years in getting these basic foundations in place, there is much more to do before we have the strong, inclusive and campaigning youth movement a Party like ours deserves. So while I understand the difficult financial constraints on our Party at this time, we must invest in the things that are vital for the future of our movement.

That’s why I believe it is crucial that the Party take the youth section more seriously and commit greater resources to its development. Young members must continue the fight for a full time youth officer at Party HQ, argue for an improvement to the £1 youth rate so the jump to the second year rate is not as high, extend campaign training for young members and ensure there are Young Labour groups in every part of the country.

A fully resourced youth movement really can make the difference, helping young activists play their part on the ground, knocking on doors, fighting the Tories and the BNP in the run up to this year’s local and European elections and campaigning for a fourth term.

Young members must also have their voices heard on policy – whether it be calling for bolder action on climate change, equalisation of the minimum wage or more investment in youth services so that teenagers have things to do and places to go after school and at weekends. We delivered a campaign win at last year’s National Policy Forum with a manifesto commitment for “Votes at 16″. But we need to build on this and help to shape the next manifesto if we are to win the support of first-time voters at the next election – many of whom will have no memory of a Tory government.

It’s only with a stronger, more engaging and more effective organisation that we can bring Young Labour back to its members – and use their energy and passion so that in seats like Gillingham and around the country we can win the next election.