Making policy in a different way

There is less than 18 months to go until the general election. Up and down the country we’re pounding pavements, racking up the doorstep conversations, and supporting community campaigns to get Labour back in to Number Ten so that we can stand up for the hardworking people David Cameron refuses to back.

But it isn’t enough just to knock on the door, we need to win people over. We need a policy platform that speaks to them, and that reflects the concerns and aspirations of communities across Britain.

That’s why we’re making policy in a different way. Our manifesto will be built from the knowledge, the ideas and the experience of our movement and our country. And our online policy hub Your Britain is at the heart of that.

Ed Miliband and my Shadow Cabinet colleagues are making their contribution under the banner of the Policy Review, which is led by Jon Cruddas. At Conference we published a One Nation Economy document, setting out the work undertaken so far under the economy stream, as a submission to the NPF. We’ve also had useful input from external reviews such as Sir John Armitt’s review of infrastructure and Nick Tott’s work on the case for a British Investment Bank – all feeding into the National Policy Forum (NPF). So far thousands of people have got involved and we have had more submissions than ever before from CLPs, members, businesses, charities and individuals.

We’re about to reach a key stage in the cycle:

• In February, the NPF’s Policy Commissions will publish their ‘final year’ policy consultation documents. These represent the work of the commissions and NPF over the last couple of years.
• CLPs and affiliates have the right to submit amendments to these papers up until June.
• The NPF will meet to consider amendments and finalise the policy documents in July.
• Finally, in September, Annual Conference will vote on whether to accept the documents as Labour’s policy programme – the foundation for a One Nation Manifesto in 2015.

Our new policy process is designed to give everyone a chance to contribute. If you have a view, log on to Your Britain and tell us. And if you run a CLP, make sure you make time in your schedule ahead of May’s elections to hold a discussion on the policy papers.

We need to work together to hear the voices of community groups, businesses, friends and relatives. Let’s show the country that Labour is listening, and that Labour has the answers to David Cameron’s cost of living crisis. Visit yourbritain.org.uk and get stuck in!

PS – If you need any help, or suggestions for how to organise a good event, email [email protected] and Labour’s Policy Development Team will be happy to help.

Angela Eagle MP is Chair of the National Policy Forum