LabourLost – what should we do with LabourList?

By David Chaplin & Steve Race

LabourList has experienced a controversial birth. Derek Draper‘s captaincy doesn’t so much divide opinion, as manage to form previously unheard-of coalitions. But LabourList has got the ball rolling on a viable web-community for Labour supporters and there is the kernel of a good idea that shouldn’t be allowed to fail.

Much of the hyperbole over Draper’s intentions was probably that; however, many people’s fears have been confirmed by events rightly condemned as the seedy side of blogging, which must not be endorsed by the party. However, let’s take a breath, and not throw the baby out with the bathwater. LabourList is well-designed and accessible, and most importantly in the age of fleeting attention spans, it has worked its way into the consciousness of many. The potential for this website is immense.

Young Labour week on LabourList was vibrant and active, ideas were free flowing and innovative arguments were made by the youngest members of the Labour movement. Why can’t it be like this all the time?

With some work, LabourList could fulfil its promise of being a place ‘Where Labour Minded People Come Together’. We propose that LabourList should be developed into an online ‘hub’ – showcasing challenging and engaging examples of Labour thought from every strand of our thinking.

It could be a place of convergence for Fabian articles, Progress commentaries, Compass thinkpieces, Trades Union campaigns; a place for us all to set out our thoughts on Labour’s past, present and most importantly our future.

The resignation of Alice Mahon from the Party signposts our dangerously shrinking coalition – we are treading water in terms of internal political debate – this has to change. LabourList has the potential to truly bridge the artificial divides that needlessly separate us as a Party, both on and off-line, and by creating intellectual traffic amongst us, we will be better able to incorporate our ideas into the general stream of progressive Labour thinking.

Labour needs an authentic and flourishing web presence which is not about control or messaging, but about debate and engagement. Currently, Compass supporters in the main read the Compass website; Progress supporters the Progress Homepage; Fabians and Young Fabians their own quiet sections of the internet. LabourList could provide a forum for the best articles from all of these and more, and become a true marketplace (less ‘choice agenda’ and more ‘village square’) for all members to query, question and debate – all in one place.

LabourList would still need a day-to-day editor, but they could now work with all parts of the Party to collate articles and comment pieces, providing a forum to debate opposing arguments and views. With support and oversight from the various socialist societies and organisations who hold a stake in the future of the Labour Party, LabourList can ensure that everyone is represented.

To understand and develop our ideas, they need to be shared with critical friends. By debating together on a new LabourList and challenging one another’s’ ideas, socialists and social democrats will no doubt find the common ground on which we all stand.

So let’s dispense with Derek’s twitterings and psychotherapy links, and encourage a truly independent party-supporting site, where NEC reps can report back to members and where CLPs can find an audience for their proposals. This website can be an important tool in our electoral and policy fight with the Tories – we shouldn’t junk it on a whim.