Labour’s renewal: A new member, and now a new CLP secretary

By Nicky Clark / @Dontplaymepayme

The unedifying spectacle of Clegg-eron smirking and power back-slapping their way through their joint press conference from the Number 10 Rose garden in the days after the formation of the coalition was nauseating. I fully expected them to grab their microphones and give us a rendition of Disney’s “A Whole New World”.

I joined The Labour Party in April 2010. I’d never joined a political party before but had always been a Labour voter. This election galvanised many people to act as I did – both before and after May 6th. The idea of waking up to a Tory government without fighting to prevent it was something I couldn’t have reconciled.

As primary carer to two daughters who are disabled, and to my mum who now is in a nursing home with end stage Alzheimer’s, I’ve campaigned for several years on disability issues. The challenges faced by carers and the inequality which disabled people and carers battle against, is immense.

The emergency budget presented by George Osborne, a man who finds it hilarious to use disability diagnosis as a mocking jibe, showed us the future under the new order. The vulnerable are acceptable targets, it seems. Benefits on which disabled people depend are the first to be sliced and diced and VAT hikes will target the elderly and those on low income. No wonder that Lib Dem voters who carried their champion to power are now joining The Labour Party in their thousands. Nick Clegg grabbed the greasy pole with sweaty palms and is using it to batter both his policies and that support to death.

After I joined, I immediately began canvassing on doorsteps and leafleting and stuffing envelopes. I was so pleased to know that I was fighting for a party I loved and for policies that I believed in. I was also greatly inspired by Gordon and Sarah Brown. To me they represent integrity and a commitment to tackle poverty and social injustice.

In these few short months, I’ve learned that Labour people come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and they achieve a broad range of lifestyles. Irrespective of the circumstances in which you were raised, educated or now live, whether from deprivation or millionaire status – what unites us is a determination to champion social justice.

That’s why I was so proud, and pleased, to be approached to become secretary of my CLP by our chair after the general election. He’s a good man and a fantastic councillor. He knows that the future for the party both locally and nationally lies with new members and with party and CLP rejuvenation.

Following the AGM vote I was appointed. I think that speaks to the potential of the party to renew during this time in opposition. In my new position, I’m committed to ensuring that issues around disability are equally represented and I know that this falls in line with many policies of social justice which Labour champions. I feel my CLP showed great strength by encouraging me to become secretary, even though I’m a new member.

I canvassed hard in the general and local elections, but I’m still new. It hasn’t always been a smotth start: I’ve made mistakes since I started – who doesn’t in a new job? But having fought for a long time against issues that need addressing, I’m very comfortable giving my opinion. I know that the changes to the party, which are vital, are coming. I know that we will emerge stronger and that the country will soon return the Labour Party to our rightful place, leading Britain into the future.