What kind of party are we?

The Labour Party have returned from our annual conference with sore heads and slightly sore hearts. The atmosphere rarely got off the ground. Whereas usually this is our first big event of the political season – one wecome to fresh from our holidays – the referendum changed all that. There were many who were completely exhausted from campaigning before the week had even begun.

But it was more than that. The referendum showed us a glimpse of a different kind of politics – both good and bad. It showed us the best in political engagement with record turnouts bad an electorate that was passionate and engaged. However, this may have occasionally tipped over into bad behaviours. Friends who campaigned on both sides said they felt physically threatened at times. That is unacceptable in a modern democracy. We all need to ensure we harness those political passions and deliver a better politics without ever encouraging or allowing violence and threat to be an accepted part of our political lexicon.

So yes, the referendum had an impact on conference. So too did rumours of Parliamentary recall. With all that was going on, it didn’t feel that conference was the place to be. I’m not sure that any speech could have overcome that sense. Certainly it is clear that those given by the two Ed’s this week could not. Ed Balls speech was made up of too much tough (though largely symbolic) medicine, Miliband lacked his usual passion and oratorical strength as well as a headline grabbing measure like last year’s price freeze to get tongues wagging.

So yes conference fell a little flat. Ultimately though that probably doesn’t matter all that much. But what the past few weeks and months have exposed is that Labour face some quite serious existential choices. Ones that have to be taken pretty soon and not ducked.

What kind of party are we? Do we want to be a party of mass membership? We aren’t currently. We are a party that is moribund in places and propped up by energetic representation in our core cities. I heard a story from a Scottish friend of mine who now lives in London who went up to campaign for a no vote and found that the only other person doing so in that area (a key part of Edinburgh) was the local MSP. This  is the result of relying on ever dwindling numbers of activists. It is a result of the now deeply unfashionable professionalisation of politics that leads to such a strong sense of disconnect between Westminster and the rest.

Are we a Party that reaches out? With community campaigning guru Arnie Graf now gone seemingly for good, is Labour retreating into the comfort zone of our old ways – despite so many obvious signs of diminishing returns?

Who are we as a Party and how should we organise and present ourselves? These are vital questions that need vital answers. Soon, before it’s too late.