The Left is reaching out – but the Right is looking inwards

A Cameron aide calling the Tory grassroots “swivel-eyed” illustrates neatly a chasm which is opening up in the different political cultures of the left and the right. The right has taken to a bunker with Cameron ignoring his own MPs and only trusting a small circle of old school friends. Even the right’s grassroots uprising in the form of a UKIP surge has a distinctly top down feel, based as it is around Nigel Farage’s common sense and love of smoke filled pubs. This is in stark contrast to the left who at the moment are attempting to engage the entire country in conversation.

This bottom up approach seemed to start with Ed Milliband’s leadership campaign – asking Labour Party members for their input and concerns in person, on the web and via text – but has now ballooned to encompass all parts of the party as well as affiliated groups and other left-leaning organisations.

The national policy review headed up by Jon Cruddas has been an unprecedented success giving members a real say, however the party hasn’t stopped there, creating new online tools such as ‘Your Britain’ and the Campaign Engine Room to make sure everyone is able to chip in ideas and feel empowered to have their say on the issues that affect them. This coupled with the fact the Ed Milliband seems to be always hopping on a train to have a real conversation with the people of Britain – even if it includes having difficult discussions in the street – means that it’s not just the same old faces driving the change within the Labour Party.

It is not just the party who is reaching out beyond their base to get people involved. Unite has set up the Unite You service which allows anyone to join the network to keep updated and offer their opinion on issues and policy.

As well as the Unions and the Party, groups such as Progress are offering the space for people to have a real debate on policy. Almost every week a member of the Progress team is off at a university or CLP – not simply making speeches, lecturing or offering up the Progress line but actually having meaningful discussions with party members so as to make sure their research and policy proposals are anchored in people’s real experiences.

Taking it a step further than simply having input in the policy process, organisations such as Movement for change and The People’s Assembly are equipping people with the skills to take on campaigns and win locally on the issues they and their neighbours care about.

This process of reaching out is strengthening Labour. Firstly, as the Tories become more and more inward looking and remote there is great power in giving people a voice and making sure policies are anchored in their day to day lives. Secondly, it’s creating better policy and campaigns; it’s forcing us out of our comfort zone, increasing the number of people who can help knock on doors and offering new perspectives on how we can win, both locally and nationally. With Labour trusting people to have real influence and Cameron’s Tories looking inwards the next election will offer the public a choice between a movement of millions and a movement of six old school chums.