I’m here to stay

I was really saddened earlier when one of my best friends joined a long list of young people to leave the Labour Party. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of you all for sticking to your principles, but leaving the Labour Party whilst it’s going through a rough patch is not the way to change things for the better.

I’ve been a member ever since I turned 15 and I have never looked back. I love this party, I love the people, I love its history. I don’t always agree with it’s policies, who does?

Why am I sticking around?

1.       Not all politics is national. Yes, national messages and responses to the Coalition Government matter to people up and down the country, but Labour Councils and Labour Councillors working their arses off to defend vulnerable, hard working families against the ConDem’s policies is what drives me, what makes me believe that Labour really is on the side of ordinary people.

2.       I believe that the Labour Party (sorry for clichéd tone) really is the party of opportunity. The last Labour Government delivered so much for families and workers in its 13 years in office – you all know the story. Of course, being the liberal-lefty that I am, I didn’t agree with a lot of what New Labour did, but the positives massively outweighed the negatives.

3.        There has never been a greater opportunity for young people to have their say on what the party should be doing. The rise of Young Labour and the empowerment of young people has inspired me; I’m running for National Policy Forum this year because I truly think, as a young person, I can make a difference and I will be heard.

4.       I don’t like the current economic strategy being spouted by the two Eds, but I want to stay and join members up and down the country in telling them that they’re wrong. Labour can only become what you want it to be if you stay and change it from within, with your comrades.

Remember this: “When you believe in something, you should stand up and fight for it.”? I do, and intend to stay and fight for what we want.

Don’t know about you, but I’m staying.

You with me, comrade?