“Next Generation Labour” launched

By Cat Smith

With recent days showing the obsession from some with undermining Ed Miliband, I am proud to be leading the launch of a new network of younger Labour Party members, pledging to support the party in moving on from New Labour. Initiated by the majority of Compass Youth Committee who resigned following Compass’ decision to become a cross-party body, the network will contribute to the thinking and campaigning necessary to see Labour swiftly return to power.

Next Generation Labour are stressing the need for coordination amongst centre-left voices in the party. We see as a priority the creation of a platform that can reach out not only to the five million voters Labour lost between 1997 and 2010 – four million of which were lost by 2005 – but to our younger generation who are experiencing the impact of a Tory-led government for the first time. With one in five young people unemployed, tuition fees trebled and EMA slashed, our generation has become all too aware of the serious damage the Tory-led government is inflicting.

Many young party members took great hope from the election of Ed Miliband. But we know that a strong and united party is essential to see his post-New Labour agenda – endorsed by members through his victory – followed through.

Labour are at a cross roads, with some seemingly determined to repeat the errors of the past. A number of critics continue to advocate economic neo-liberalism and triangulation, whilst others advocate a backward step to pre-1945 welfare provision, social conservatism and concessions to racism. These must not be the only voices in the debate over our party’s future – neither vision advocates the progressive centre-left politics, capable of fulfilling the historic aims of the Labour Party. We continue to believe we must be ‘for the many, not the few’ to make modern Britain a fairer, more prosperous and sustainable country where no person or group is ever left behind.

I hope all who agree with our statement will take this opportunity to get involved – sign up on our website for more info. Our founding statement is as follows:

Next Generation Labour:

Now more than ever, we need to ensure that the next general election sees the return of a Labour government.

The Tories are using their return to power to unleash an unprecedented and ideologically-driven attack on our communities and the life chances of millions. The Tories cut, slash and burn agenda is leaving 1 in 5 young people unemployed, will drive down living standards for most and hits the most vulnerable hardest whilst protecting the wealthiest.

But to win again, Labour needs to need understand the reasons why we lost and offer an alternative.

We believe that Ed Miliband was right to say we must learn why five million people stopped voting Labour during the 13 years we were in power. The loss of these voters lay behind the general election defeat; it was certainly not a resurgent Tory party, which was unable to even form a majority government on its own.

However some in the party seem determined to repeat the old errors. Some continue to advocate economic neoliberalism and triangulation, whilst others advocate a backward step to pre-1945 welfare provision, social conservatism and concessions to racism.

As younger Labour Party members we believe the Party must move on from such thinking.

We grew up with a Labour government and saw the improvements in the health service, the new schools and early years provision. We recognise Labour’s increased investment and spending on public services was the right thing to take forward our country. We are proud of the minimum wage, the EMA and the equalities agenda that Labour advanced. But for so many of our generation, Labour became a party of the establishment. It failed to ensure growth was shared fairly enough – whilst the very wealthiest got ever richer; it raised tuition fees, pursued war, attacked civil liberties and let immigration be demonised.

To win, Labour must be willing to articulate a modern left politics and reconnect with the coalition of supporters it lost and the vast majority opposed to the Tories’ reactionary agenda. The same people who are most under threat from the Tories reactionary agenda include those we must win back to Labour: young people, ordinary working people, the most deprived and impoverished, ethnic minorities and women. A positive agenda from Labour that protects people’s living standards, defends public services against further Tory onslaughts, builds a green economy, champions equality for all and a just and peaceful foreign policy can help us do this.

Tens of thousands have already joined the Labour Party, rebuilding a winning alliance under Ed Miliband’s leadership, including many younger people who worry their future is being sold off to pay for the mistakes of the ‘buy-now, pay-later’ generation.

As the next generation of Labour supporters, we want Labour to tackle the Tories and their reactionary politics head on and offer truly progressive alternatives. As younger members we want to see Labour re-elected at the earliest opportunity and believe this requires a progressive programme that can deliver social justice.