The highlight of Labour’s long political cycle

Today’s publications of the Labour Party’s final year policy documents opens up a wide range of issues for debate and decision by the whole Party.

Amendments can be offered by affiliates and CLPs by June 13th. The National Policy Forum on 18^th to 20^th July will take a decision on these amendments. Party conference from the 21^st to 24^th September, will take the final decisions. Together, these documents will form the framework from Labour’s General Election manifesto in 2015.

So far, so very dry. Actually, this is the highlight of Labour’s long political cycle. We are preparing for government; best then to have a good idea of what you intend to do.

Ed Miliband has said that the promise of Britain to the next generation has been broken. Can Labour really promise to see today’s youth educated, employed and housed to a higher level than their parents? Yet that is the challenge an incoming Labour government must meet.

Our manifesto will not, at a stroke, promise this. But we must restore hope by outlining a path to greater prosperity.

It is incumbent upon all of Labour’s component organisations and lobbies to contribute to this process. You could be forgiven for finding the NPF process a tiresome rigmarole.  But it matters, and now it matters desperately. It is not just our gateway to government – it is also our guide in government.

Of course, each affiliate and CLP will have their own key issues. For the CWU, we have some obvious industrial preoccupations, alongside a range of political issues which we will focus upon.  All of us must converse in the language of priorities against the backdrop of principles.

The NPF is a unique combination of discussion and negotiation. We debate and assess the amendments. But the different influences – the leadership, the Shadow Cabinet, the unions, and the CLPs – cast their shades across disputed questions. Pressure is felt to strengthen one area, soften another. In the end, a settlement is reached.

Ungainly and frustrating as the process is, it still produced the outline of Labour’s manifesto in 2005 and 2010. It is then vital for us to put routine grumbling aside.

Make sure your union, your socialist society and your CLP are preparing their ideas and amendments. For that will serve your constituents, our common purpose, and the whole country.

Billy Hayes is Vice Chair of the National Policy Forum and General Secretary of CWU