UKIP’s secret weapon in Rotherham – Neil Hamilton?

In focus: Better Politics Policy Commission

By Johanna Baxter and Sadiq Khan MP When the Tory-led Government came to power in 2010, they promised a fresh start and a different kind of politics. But instead of opening up politics, they have closed it down. Instead of reaching out, they have appealed only to narrow sectional interests. And whenever they’ve been given an opportunity to rebuild trust and restore faith in our democracy, they’ve taken the side of the powerful, rather than the people. The British people […]

Let’s get stuck in

By Jon Cruddas

Today is the start of a process that will result in the manifesto the next Labour government will implement in office. The launch of the 8 National Policy Forum Final Year Documents – the framework for discussion at an NPF meeting in July and then for a vote at conference – are the result of massive input from the party and communities right across the country. Every one of these documents is rooted in the belief Ed Miliband has been […]

The highlight of Labour’s long political cycle

By Billy Hayes

Today’s publications of the Labour Party’s final year policy documents opens up a wide range of issues for debate and decision by the whole Party. Amendments can be offered by affiliates and CLPs by June 13th. The National Policy Forum on 18th to 20th July will take a decision on these amendments. Party conference from the 21st to 24th September, will take the final decisions. Together, these documents will form the framework from Labour’s General Election manifesto in 2015. So […]

This is what an open party feels like

By Emma Burnell

The Labour Party has more members than any other political party in the UK. In fact, according to Hansard we have more members than the Tories and the Lib Dems put together. Unlike these parties we have strength in Local Government all over the UK, running many of our great cities – particularly in the North where the Tories have next to no representation. We run the Welsh Assembly and have the largest representation on the GLA. In addition to […]

Writing our manifesto together, from the grassroots up

By Angela Eagle

Today we are publishing Labour’s final year policy consultation documents which will ultimately become Labour’s policy programme and the foundation for our offer to the electorate in 2015. We all know the damage that this Government is doing. We see it every week when we knock on doors. Working people on average £1600 a year worse off. Families distraught about the bedroom tax. Kids without food at the end of the month. Too many young people without a job. We […]