We’re five years old today – and we couldn’t have done it without you

LabourList celebrates something of a milestone this morning – today marks our fifth birthday.

It’s safe to say that LabourList hasn’t always had the easiest of times, both financially and organisationally. Certainly there were times when it seemed like a milestone like this fifth anniversary would never come. However thanks to so many of you supporting, reading, contributing and donating to LabourList, 2014 looks set to be our biggest year yet.

To celebrate – we’re holding a birthday party tonight from 7pm UPSTAIRS at the WESTMINSTER ARMS –  and you’re invited.

We’re even providing drinks for the first hour – so make sure you arrive promptly.

We understand that not everyone can get to London, and that not all of you will be able to make it along to see us tonight. So we’ll be hosting other events around the country in 2014 – details of which will come soon.

It’s been a tremendous pleasure to edit this site over the past three and a half years. Whilst many people are cynical about politics (and at times, rightly so), the conversations that take place on this site and those which are inspired by what’s written here give me real hope for the future of our party and British politics more broadly. Hearing your voices and engaging with Labour Party members and supporters is a huge privilege, and there’s not a day goes by when I’m not thankful for that.

It’s important today to also thank all of the contributors to LabourList over these five past years – you know who you are – as well as former guest editors and regular columnists who help keep the quality of writing on the site high and the range of opinions diverse. I also want to thank the two people who edited this site before my time too – Alex Smith, a good friend who guided this site through difficult times and gave me an opportunity to do a job I love, and Derek Draper, who although his time here was short, I owe a great debt of gratitude to. This website wouldn’t be here today without him.

Later today I’ll be picking some of my favourite LabourList posts from the past five years, but as well as looking back, today is an opportunity to look forwards. Thanks to your support, LabourList has a good chance of celebrating a 10th anniversary too. Imagine how far we could have grown by then. Thank you for reading.