Labour- the reformation?

By Anthony Parker

This week saw the launch of “Refounding Labour” , a document that the leadership hopes will initiate internal debate about how the party can change – a link to the weighty document is here, but in Peter Hain’s words,

“The analysis in this consultation paper pulls no punches, so people can expect to feel unease as they confront some facts that we might all prefer to forget, but cannot afford to ignore. The Labour Party is a great organisation but it is only by facing up to our flaws and responding to the new reality that we will resume our winning ways.”

However, within a day of this being announced, controversy had already surrounded the document,with Darrell Goodliffe in his post on LabourList, stating that suggesting anybody could register as a Labour ‘supporter’ and vote on who is our leader risks disenfranchising party members. He adds:

“Frankly, we deserve better as a membership. Whether left or right, it’s time we at least spoke with one voice and demanded much more democracy in our party. We are not just there for delivering leaflets and nothing else. In terms of our collective and cumulative experience we have much input of value to offer this party. It is high time the leadership recognised that and stopped treating us with such high-handed contempt.”

Strong words but I do agree here. If one involves people who may vote Labour in our party process, where does this leave ordinary party members who a) pay membership fees and b) have demonstrated their loyalty to the party? I welcome a debate about the future of the party and I hope this is something that is continued with vigour and involves all members first before reaching out to the public.

I hope that through the refounding, we can heal the Blair/Brown, Old/New Labour wounds in our party. One only has to look at blogposts and tweets across the internet to see the angry exchanges and recriminations that still ensue. I hope that this refoundation can take place without recrimination, factionalism and witch-hunting of those with different opinions on all sides and that we can re-embrace as a family again.

As Ed states, ” Our task is nothing less than the refoundation of the Labour Party: The People’s party”, I hope we all put forward ideas, we all contribute to the debate no matter our differing views. Let’s make sure we write the next chapter of our party – together.