Let’s restore some faith in the process – and give the NEC a real choice

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

The race to become Labour’s next general secretary has become a hot topic of conversation on LabourList this week. Whereas last week it was something of a niche issue that only political obsessives (like me) cared about, it’s now – following reports of a stitch up – being seen an an indication of Ed Miliband’s true intentions. In a way, the anger inspired by rumours of insider fixing has been positive for the party and the membership at large – it has made the contest, which is as organisationally important as the leadership contest – a mainstream party issue.

Yet the rumours of fixes and deals will not go away easily. The party has – if we are completely honest – form on this issue. In too many party selections in years gone by – especially for by-election selections – members have been presented with no real alternative whatsoever. There may be a technical choice – with more than one candidate to choose from – but the real selection has taken place at the shortlisting meeting. Candidates who can challenge the annointed frontrunner can be excluded, or persuaded to stand down in their own interrests (and those of the party, naturally).

A final selection goes ahead, but it is between a frontrunner, and candidates who have no chance against them.

When it comes to the top staff job in the party, and choosing the person who will have a huge impact of Ed Miliband’s chances of seeing the inside of Downng Street again, we can’t allow the process to be marked with such a taint. I have every faith that the NEC officers responsible for drawing up the shortlisting will focus on the respective talents and qualities of the candidates. But the process as a whole is distrusted by grassroots Labour supporters now. If we are to have any confidence in the outcome, and be certain that the old politics of briefing and candidate hobbling won’t win out, we need the NEC to be presented with the widest possible choice.

The longlist for the job will be determined on the basis of those candidates who have the qualifications necessary to advance to the next phase of the process – effectively those who are capable of doing the job. The shortlisting is a case of picking out the “best” candidates from that longlist.

If the shortlisting panel are brave (and I believe sensible) they will automatically advance all qualified candidates to the final stage of the process, and allow them all to go before a vote of the NEC. Only by ensuring that all candidates can have their voice heard and make their full pitch to the duly elected representatives of our movement can the membership be sure that due process and an open and transparent selection has taken place. Preferential voting can allow for the consensus candidate to be chosen. And we can all be assured that the best candidate for the job has won on merit, not on who, or what, they know. And wouldn’t that be best for everyone?

Ed was elected on a mandate to “change to win – change policy, change our movement so that every party member, every trade unionist has a voice”. It’s now time to hold Ed to that promise – party democracy and an end to fixing is something that members – and LabourList – will not let him bypass.