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Labour has a “fixing” problem, say LabourList readers

June 12, 2012 11:54 am

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Mark Ferguson

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The latest LabourList State of the Party survey has delivered a stark message to the party – we have a “fixing” problem. 59% of those who voted said that the party has a problem with “fixing” (stitching up selections etc), with only 17% saying that this isn’t the case. LabourList has been campaigning for change within the party and an end to the fixers culture.

It’s clear we aren’t the only ones concerned about it.

Elsewhere in the survey, Ed Miliband has seen a surge in support for his leadership. Two months ago just 39% of LabourList readers thought Miliband was doing either an “Excellent” or “Good” job – now that figure is 61%. Meanwhile the percentage who think his performance has been “Poor” or “Very Poor” has dropped from 37% down to just 14% – with Miliband clearly benefitting from Labour’s upswiing in the national polls and positive local election results.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the Jubilee weekend, we asked you if you were a Monarchist, a Republican or neither. The results suggest Republicanism is alive and well in the Labour Party. 57% of you said you were Republicans, while just 19% of you said you were a Monarchist (23% said neither). Ed Miliband is in touch with the country when he praises the Queen, but not, perhaps, with all Labour supporters.

815 LabourList readers voted this month – thanks to everyone who took part.

jonlansman

Fascinating stuff, Mark, but its validity is a function of the sample size. Can we be told?
- http://twitter.com/HarryThompson11 Harry Thompson
  
  It says, 815. That’s actually not too bad, most opinion polls are 900-1100 (from what I’ve noticed, anyway). Obviously this one isn’t weighted, but its still a good indication of what diehard Labour supporters think.
  - Chris
    
    I suspect that the sample size is OK but it is self selecting so it is probably not statistically valid! But then the Labour Party membership is self selecting so maybe not that bad.
  - Stato
    
    Could be one person voting 815 times. Fix!
James

Mark, given that 815 people voted, and the party has an overall membership of 193,96 – and that was in 2010, probably more now – is this really an accurate reflection of opinion in the party?
- AlanGiles
  
  All credit to Mark for persisting in the matter of internal hanky-panky, but he cannot be responsible for how many readers choose to respond to the monthly questionnaire. Like Harry, I think 815 is a respectable figure too.
  
  On the subject of the Monarchy, it would be a heartless man who would want to put our present Queen on a month’s notice, and let’s be honest she has, as Roger rightly says, been the epitome of dedicated public service (and I would trust her to fill out her expenses forms more than a great number of MPs) but I do think the Royal Family needs to be slimmed down even further – far too many obscure members are recognized – do we need the Princess of Ponders End* – perhaps just the Monarch and their immediate family.
  
  * I know she doesn’t exist, but you get my point
PaulHalsall

I think there is significant republican support among activists and the “highly informed people” who must form a majority of LabourList readers. But I doubt that can be extended to Labour Party voters in general.

I suggest the question asked was a little skewed.

To say one is a “monarchist” could mean agreeing to the claim that all or most societies should have a monarchy. I know some people (mostly distributivists) who would like a monarchy *on principle*. I could not go along with that. In principle, say we were setting up a new state, I support a republic.

But in the contingent reality we have, I support the continuation of the particular British monarchy that we have.
aracataca

Based on the maxim that governments lose elections rather than oppositions win them I personally think Em has played a blinder. Especially last year when he basically kept his trap shut and this lot seem particularly keen to self destruct.
http://twitter.com/RF_McCarthy Roger McCarthy

‘Ed Miliband is in touch with the country when he praises the Queen, but not, perhaps, with all Labour supporters’.

I don’t think we needed a poll to tell us that!

And as a republican I have no problem whatsoever with Ed else or anyone praising the Queen – she is in so many ways the model of a dedicated public servant.

But there is no contradiction between admiring the individual holding a position and demanding the eventual abolition of that position – not least because it represents a peculiar form of hereditary servitude which no one should be subjected to.
- Jimr
  
  Well said Sir.
- Dave Postles
  
  60 years on the throne – sounds like constitutional constipation to me, an enema of the people.
Mario Dunn

Being an anti-monarchist in the UK is rather pointless. It’s like being against the weather. Afrter 60+ years the Queen has ensured the succession will continue largely untroubled with massive public consent.

Of more relevance is how HM Charles III will manage his reign. Will he make it a more “political” monarchy by speaking out on public issues? (thus drawing the ire of right wing newspapers). Personally I hope he does speak out. It will certainly be more interesting if he does.
http://www.themoronmormon.com/ TheMoronMormon

The Monarchy Question Was Pretty Much A Given Among Informed Labour Supporters – Be It A Skewed Question Or Not, Reading The Previous Comments. Miliband’s Rating Going Up From 39% To 61% Is Certainly No-Small Achievement For Miliband.
I Just Hope He & Ball’s Continue To Relentlessly & Loudly Promote The Message That Austerity Without A Genuine, Sophisticated Plan For Growth Leads To Economic Stagnation.
- The Angel Moroni
  
  Yea, unto and forever.
Lucy

The fact that the brilliant Liam Byrne isn’t leader of the Labour Party shows that the hierarchy of the Party is fixed.
- AlanGiles
  
  I really hope that was either a joke or sarcasm!
  - Lucy
    
    Liam is truly a giant amongst men, despite being no taller than a hobbit, with a heart as big a super-massive black hole, who bestrides the alpha and omega of the universe of political endeavour. Liam is a veritable titan who exudes a spellbinding masculine magnetism and charm like some kind of super-sexy dynamo: a husband to every woman and a wife to every man. Here at last is a demi-god worthy of our worship: a man so high above the common ruck he looks down on the sky.
    
    Liam for Prime Minister!
    
    Liam for King!
    - Martin
      
      That’s you isn’t it, Liam? Trying to big yourself up dressed in drag?
      - http://twitter.com/Greenleftie Michael Bater
        
        Is Lucy being sarcastic or is she now the mouth piece of Progress? If it is the Latter move over Luke! Lucy is coming!
      - Billsilver
        
        That’s not very PC is it ‘Martin’ ?
      - Martin
        
        PC? Huh? I use an iPad for jazz like this!
http://twitter.com/robertsjonathan Jonathan Roberts

worth noting that the Mori poll here – http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/10250269 found that 74% of labour supporters back the Monarchy.
Janiete

Not sure this is too reliable. Maybe the only ones who voted Yes were those who understood the question. I didn’t!
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