Clarion call for open debate

By Peter Kenyon

Save the Labour Party, of which I was recently re-elected chair, has just issued a call for a debate at the Labour Party National Policy Forum about the Party’s relationship with the private sector.

Its constitution prohibits STLP from taking a view about what that role should be. But it seems obvious in the light of the near-collapse of the banking system prevented by our Labour government, the consequent recession and risk of depression refered to at PMQs today that we have got to rethink our policies towards the private sector.

We are calling on all Labour Party members whatever their views on this defining issue to use the next NPF on 28 February 2009 as an opportunity to have a say, and stimulate an open debate.

You can read our latest bimonthly members’ newsletter here.

We have also started a monthly newsletter for local party officers here.

Our aim is to provide single points of reference until Labour Party staff under Ray Collins leadership get the message – there is too much stuff for most members with other lives and responsibilities to make sense of and be effective volunteers/activists, unless they happen to be on a career path in politics, the trades unions or socialist societies. That means the vast majority of members struggle to follow what’s going on, if they bother at all. even though we are much reduced in numbers.