Why I came back to Labour

By James Patterson

Despite its election defeat, the Labour Party seems to have enjoyed a surprising renaissance. Some 40,000 new members have joined, or rejoined, since last year. I am one of the re-joiners. During the 1990s, I had been an enthusiastic, energetic activist. Still, I was one of those who drifted away in the mid-2000s. I began a political journey that took me to the sillier fringes of the left. However, the 2010 general election forced me to political maturity.

As a teenager, I became active just after the 1992 general election. The party then was demoralised by its defeat. Many were asking whether Labour could ever win a general election. Meanwhile, public awareness of economic globalisation was increasing. Party ‘modernisers’ understood that a new approach was needed. They quickly won my sympathy.

I campaigned vigorously in the 1997 election. Needless to say, I shared the subsequent sense of elation. It was clear how Blair had delivered this victory. A broad electoral coalition had been forged. This included plumbers and hairdressers from Basildon who had previously voted Tory. It also included left-leaning academics living in Edgbaston.

A few years later, however, I left the party. This was for a number of reasons. Some were political and others were deeply personal. I suppose I felt jaded and disillusioned. On some level, being in government just seemed to be less fun. I missed what seemed like the relative simplicity and clarity of opposition.

Eventually, I joined the Green Party. I was impressed by their left-wing positions. They seemed very principled and worthy. However, I failed to consider the reasons for their marginality. Once immersed, I began to understand these very well.

Greens’ attitudes are similar to those on Labour’s fringes before 1994. This is evident in a predisposition to opposition. Activists display a certain eccentric insularity. They tend to be preoccupied with obscure, esoteric issues. Worst of all, Greens seem to assume that the voters share these preoccupations. This is fatal for a political party intent on winning electoral support.

I soon tired of their trite moral outrage and denunciations. Still, I realise that permanent dissent is easy for those without responsibility. Having grown up in the Labour Party, I take politics seriously. I understand the importance of winning elections. To this end, parties need to make a pitch to voters. Hectoring and finger-wagging is not conducive to electoral success.

During the 2010 general election, I reappraised New Labour’s record. Obviously, the spectre of Cameron’s ideological Tories was a factor. Somewhat belatedly, I began to appreciate its many achievements. These include Sure Start, the New Deal for Communities, the minimum wage and increased investment in public services. None of this would have come from a Tory government.

I can see now that New Labour was able to deliver because of its pragmatism. As a young, idealistic activist, at the time, I sometimes found that difficult. However, the party cannot win unless it is credible as a party of government. The internecine strife of the early 1980s was beyond damaging. Still, we learnt that voters are unimpressed by ideological posturing.

In many ways, rejoining was very easy for me. I am a tribal partisan. Nevertheless, the party has a task more important than consolidating its membership. That is winning a general election. Caroline Flint recently spoke of the need to “reach out once more to people who are not instinctively Labour.” Ultimately, we need to rebuild the electoral coalition forged in 1997. This requires a combination of progressive pragmatism and idealism. I think that we are capable of this as a party.

That is why I came back.