Ideas, not smears: LabourList launches a summer of new ideas for a renewed movement

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Damian McBride has reared his ugly head again today, with an interview with the Guardian and another with Radio 5. I don’t want to dwell on his nauseating return to the headlines, but I will say that I – and all those who contribute to LabourList – reject McBride and his bullying style, neither of which are fit for the sort of politics we subscribe to.

The day after McBride was caught slurring and defaming our political opponents, rather than challenging them on policy, LabourList put out a statement called Ideas, not smears. Later, we signed the Progressive Blogging Statement that has guided our conduct ever since. And when I became editor, I promised to set LabourList on a new course that would “engage candidly on the direction and causes of the centre-left”.

So today LabourList is launching our summer series of New Ideas for a renewed and better movement.

Starting from Bill Dewison’s call to arms, which asks for three new ideas from LabourList readers that will improve and repair Britain during and after the recession, we will be polling Labour people throughout the summer on their views on current policy, and their hopes and expectations for the next Labour manifesto, and we will be asking for new policy ideas and more.

Next Friday, July 31st, we will publish brand new policy suggestions from a number of respected commentators on how we can improve our schools, housing and public services and how we can rebuild our democracy and our economy for the modern age. Jessica Asato will be leading that discussion as guest editor next Friday.

In the meantime, please contribute to Bill’s discussion and Mike Ion’s on how we might improve Labour conference.