The NPF meets in two weeks, which is actually more exciting than it sounds…

In two weeks, members of the National Policy Forum will meet in Birmingham. I appreciate that not all LabourList readers may consider this exciting news, but actually there are a few reasons why you should.

First, it marks a key point in our policy development cycle – the last full NPF before our Policy Commissions begin writing the policy documents which will go out for consultation early next year; and which following a process of discussion and amendment will ultimately go to Conference 2014 for adoption as Labour’s policy programme. Second, because this is the first full NPF meeting to take place since the Refounding Labour reforms to our policy development process were agreed at Conference 2012, and the launch of Your Britain.

An effective NPF – with active, committed, responsive NPF reps – remains the key to ensuring that the policy making hierarchy remains rooted in the grassroots of our Party.

I know that, in the past, many members were sceptical about where submissions ended up.  Often the only recognition was a standard response from Labour Party Head Office. The truth is, those submissions did go to meetings, were discussed, and were used in drafting policy documents. But that’s not enough: to have confidence in the system, and to take the time to contribute, members need to know where their work is going. NPF reps have been as frustrated as members that the old system was opaque and appeared to be a black hole in spite of the hard work being put in by many NPF reps.

Most members, let alone members of the public, were unclear how the old policy making process worked.  Many had their suspicions that the reigns were held by an elite few at the top. Again, it wasn’t necessarily always that way in practice. But it does show that there was a failure of transparency and engagement.

I can say with great confidence that times have really started to change, there have been a few technical gremlins but they are being tackled and there is really positive momentum in the process now.

Under the wings of NPF Chair Angela Eagle, who has been a real champion for transparency and accessibility, we’ve come a long way in just a year.  We have a new policy commission structure, giving every NPF rep a part to play year-round; a consultation process that starts with a vote at Conference on priority issues, leading through to Challenge Papers and then Policy Papers setting out what we’ve learned and where we go to next; and above all, a website which puts all of our work as the NPF out in the open, so that members, affiliates, and indeed the wider public, can see what we’re up to, make their submissions (either written or as video clips), comment on other people’s submissions, and see responses from their NPF reps.

Under these reforms, we are seeing greater engagement from members, CLPs, affiliated unions and socialist societies, alongside useful input from outside the movement – from charities and NGOs, companies and trade associations, and indeed members of the public.

With the number, and I have to say the quality, of submissions we receive increasing exponentially, the Party’s leadership would have no choice but to listen. That said, I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind that Ed, and indeed the vast majority of the Shadow Cabinet, are willing and keen to do so. If you look on Your Britain, you’ll see that many Shadow Ministers have personally been online responding to submissions (for example, here, here and here). Your CLP may even have played host to one of the 100 or so Your Britain discussion events that frontbenchers have been attending across the country.

As the Vice Chair of the NPF for CLPs and Regions, I also want to say something about the role and work of NPF reps.  The role of NPF reps, in the past, hasn’t always been too well defined. The best reps have always emailed out updates and consulted with the CLPs they represent, made themselves available for local policy forums, and have come to NPF meetings not simply to push their own agenda, but bringing with them the views and ideas of members in their region. But to tell you the truth, not all NPF reps have and that is partly because the old system was often frustrating rather than enabling.

There’s no room for that type of dis-engagement on the NPF – and I have to say the current crop of NPF reps are doing a great job adapting to the new process. To back this up, we’ll shortly be publishing a statement setting out clearly what CLPs and members should expect of their NPF reps. This means taking the time to read submissions from members in your region, and turning up at NPF meetings with some ideas to push. It means responding personally on Your Britain to submissions, letting members know that their work is being used. It’s supporting the wider public engagement work being done through local Your Britain events.

Ultimately, none of this will bear fruit unless grassroots members have faith in the system. I know that at times in the past that faith has been shaken. But I’d ask that everyone take a look at Your Britain, spend some time reading the policy papers and getting involved in the discussions. Your NPF reps want to do their jobs and represent you to the best of their abilities – but to do so, they need to know what you’re thinking.

Please, go to Your Britain and get involved, contact your regional NPF reps, organise a public engagement event – whatever works for you – but above all remember that this is your policy development process, Your Britain is your website, and ultimately it’s up to you to take advantage of them if we are going to build the manifesto we all want.

Simon Burgess is NPF Vice-Chair (CLPs and Regions)