Barry Gardiner appointed Shadow Natural Environment and Fisheries Minister

Making sure we hear young people’s voices

Young people have been some of the hardest hit by the Coalition’s cuts. Tuition fees trebled, the Future Jobs Fund abolished, EMA scrapped and destructive higher education cuts. If the UK’s young unemployed formed one dole queue, it would stretch from London to Edinburgh. With all this in mind, it’s more important than ever that young people play a big role in the 2015 election. As Labour puts together the 2015 manifesto in the coming months, it is crucial that […]

If you want change, be a part of it

By Simon Burgess

Another miserably cold GC meeting on a Monday night in the late 90’s, the secretary reads out some standard resolutions condemning the party leadership and some round-robin letters from head office… “They are seeking nominations for something called the National Policy Forum.”  The room falls silent, then the usual suspect mutters; “It’s bound to be another head office stitch up.”  That was it, I wanted to prove him wrong; “Put my name down.” A decade and a half later here […]

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 […]