Labour friends new and old

By Emma Burnell / @scarlettstand

Becoming a new member of a political party can and should be a really exciting experience. It’s a chance to make new friends, get involved in local and national politics and make a difference to the world we live in.

But it can also be a strange and bewildering experience, with a language and set of rules all of its own. I believe if Labour are to give our 13,000 new members the best experience possible we need to be there to help each other – after all, that’s what the Labour Party is all about!

To this end, I have launched a new Facebook group. This group is for people new to the party to connect with people who have been in the party for a while, for old members to get the chance to offer friendship, camaraderie and tips on how to get the most from Labour Party membership, and for new members to get some support through the process of becoming a Labour activist.

This group is completely unofficial and will stay that way. It is for grassroots members to talk to each other and – particularly as we elect a new leader – help those who are unsure of our internal processes though their first steps in the party. This group is designed to ensure that all new members don’t feel overwhelmed, and have a place to ask questions about everything and anything Labour. We can’t guarantee we will know the answers, but we can invite a friend who might to join!

So if you’re a new member, and you don’t know your CLP from your EC, your AGM from your NPF, don’t panic! Join this group and we’ll try and help you though it.

I’d like to invite all the Labour readers of LabourList to get involved and help get the party re-started!