Young Labour calls for a party that embraces, not controls, the next generation

By Callum Munro and Susan Nash

The Refounding Labour process offered an exciting opportunity for Young Labour to truly become the movement that young members want and the force that the Labour Party needs. It was a chance to give thousands of young members the tools with which they could build their own active and effective youth wing.

Since the last election thousands of young people have joined the Labour Party, eager to campaign, mobilise and contribute to the development of our policy.

To capture the enthusiasm which existed in the movement, young members themselves organised events all across the country so that members had the chance to shape a new Young Labour. Through these regional events, online contributions and personal discussions it was clear that members were crying out for a functioning youth wing. Time and time again people were calling for more power to lead and deliver for young members. Young members want to be at the heart of the party but also the ability to stretch out into all corners of our movement and our society.

If Young Labour is to be the natural home for those young people who want to make a difference in our society then Young Labour must be able to make a difference in our party. Rights which have long been afforded to other sections of our movement must be given to Young Labour if our movement is to feel valued and able to shape the party to which we belong. The proposal to give Young Labour affiliate rights is a recognition that although Young Labour is very much part of the wider party, it needs a degree of autonomy and independent power if it is to exist as a movement and not simply as a grouping of Labour Party members under the age of 27. Young members often disagree with each other on a whole host of issues, however the question of whether or not we should have affiliate rights received unanimous support from our national committee and was very much the will of our national conference in February. We now call for Young Labour to have policy making powers, delegates at conference and a fair say in the leadership election. All these powers are afforded to other affiliates of the party, such as Labour Students.

We are not the only ones calling for these reforms, both Ed Miliband and Iain McNicol explicitly promised these rights prior to their respective elections.

As this coalition government turns its back on young people, it is our party that must be the natural home for all those with progressive, Labour values.

It is time that our NEC listened to what young members are saying. They must support these reforms and help us to unleash our potential, to create an effective youth movement able to organise and deliver, a party that embraces, not controls, the next generation.

Callum is the NEC Youth Rep and Susan is the Chair of Young Labour. You can add your name to their statement here.