Labour must be proud, not cowed

For the last 18 months the Labour Party has had its head down, staring at the floor at its shuffling feet. We have been cowed, embarrassed, struggling to cope with the shock of life in opposition.

We haven’t been apologetic as such – although there have been fleeting mea culpas – but we have even cowed. As our record in government was trashed, our leaders mocked or reviled and our historic union link was under attack, the party seemed to retreat ever further into itself. Tugging at the forelock.

Ever so ‘umble.

Sorry sir.

In the face of those who wish to destroy our party and rip up our achievements, we say too little and allow too much to slip by uncontested.

But – quite rightly – no-one wants to vote for a party that’s cowed and embarrassed of its own shadow. If we want to win again, we need to be confident in our own arguments, but more than that – we need to be proud to be Labour.

And despite holding some fairly profound gripes over Labour’s 97-2010 record, I think we have a phenomenal amount to be proud of. Most of you will know the full list, but even an abridged version is something to warm the heart of even the most hacked off party member – The Minimum Wage, Sure Start, Maternity Pay, Paternity Leave, The Future Jobs Fund.

We made Britain better. But to speak to our cowed party, our cowed membership and even our cowed leadership, you wouldn’t always believe it.

There are signs though that the party is stirring and beginning to stand up for itself. In a speech yesterday on the need for change in the party and the country, Ed Miliband spoke unprompted and proudly about Labour’s link to millions of ordinary workers through the union link. Proud, not cowed. He later went on to speak in Bradford West. The audience was larger than expected, he had to face down numerous people who rejected Labour, and yet – proud not cowed – he won over the crowd and left to applause.

Yet where the party feels most cowed is not always at the top, but at the grassroots and in our communities. Across the country when I’m out campaigning I hear people sound almost apologetic when they say they’re party members.

Yet we are members of the Labour Party, the greatest fighting force for social and political change this country has ever known. Most of what I care about and hold dear in this country either exists (the NHS) or has been markedly improved (working conditions, schools) by the existence of the Labour Party. That’s why I’m a member, and I’m sick of feeling sorry about it.

I’m a member of the Labour Party. And I’m proud of it.

Now go out there and tell your friends, your colleagues, your families and your neighbours. The Labour Party is us, all of us, and if we are going to change Britain again we’ll need to become proud again. Either that or we’d better getting used to feeling cowed.

And I know what I choose.