Bassetlaw and beyond

The leadership candidate hails the Bassetlaw primary, and outlines how else he intends to boost Labour party democracy and involve members more closely the year round, including in CLPs without MPs

Choosing the next Labour leader - the next Labour prime minister - is not a simple task and not one to be taken lightly. That's why I'm glad that party members have got the summer to hear the arguments and make up their minds. The Bassetlaw approach - where John Mann and his CLP are opening up their nomination process to all Labour supporters, not just members - is an interesting one, and is a great way of engaging those who always vote Labour but haven't yet crossed the line into membership.

Some in the party may question this: why should those who don't pay their way in the party have a say on something this important? I take a different view. The membership fee is a barrier to many people who would like to join the Labour. Thirty-nine pounds to be invited to a meeting in a few weeks' time, to be in a room with people you've never met before - and perhaps would rather never meet again - is a lot to ask of people, particularly when times are tough.

As Labour leader, I want to look again at what we offer members, how they can get engaged from day one. But I also want to see how we can offer more to supporters, by creating an affiliate membership, giving them access to the party and encouragement to take up full membership.

During this leadership campaign, I have said that the party appeared no longer to be on the side of ordinary people, but it could also be said that we haven't listened to ordinary members. Over the past 16 years, the party has been managed in an increasingly top-down manner, excluding rather than engaging members. Candidates have been imposed on constituencies, almost as though they can't be trusted to make the right decision. I make the pledge here and now that there will be no more parachutes under my leadership.

I want to give members greater opportunity to discuss policy and party direction. In particular, under my leadership, being a delegate to annual conference will be more than wearing a pass and debating composites for five days. I want our conference delegates to be appointed in October and to take a full and active role within and on behalf of their constituencies throughout the year. They will work alongside the National Policy Forum, giving local constituency parties, particularly those without a Labour MP, a real voice in the party's direction and bringing authentic commentary to our party's conference. Under my leadership, the dead hand of stage management on party conference will finally be lifted.

Whether it's at conference or choosing a new leader, the party has to trust its members. That's why I applaud what John Mann and Bassetlaw CLP are doing with their primary and why I await their verdict with interest.

Photo: andy4leader.com

Andy Burnham MP is MP for Leigh and a Labour leadership contender

06 Jul 2010 16:17

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Comments

• Posted by Andrew Dodgshon on 06 July 2010, 5:26:48 PM

  I rather resent this assertion that "Thirty-nine pounds to be invited to a meeting in a few weeks' time, to be in a room with people you've never met before - and perhaps would rather never meet again - is a lot to ask". The reality I've always come across, especially just having moved to London, is party members, whatever their views and backgrounds and however robustly they argue their points, do engage especially with new members. The party is and should be more than meetings. It's about working together and out in our communities arguing our case and then sharing the experiences together. How else do we get people elected? How else do we encourage people to join? Andy, you should think again on what you've said.

• Posted by David Brede on 06 July 2010, 9:20:20 PM

  Sound stuff Andy. You really have to convince though that this has more to offer than Partnership in Power and other previous consultation ideas. Labour Conference supported rail renationalisation. Where do you now stand on that?

• Posted by Mark on 07 July 2010, 4:50:55 PM

  Andy, I welcome youir something different approach. I believe that being a Labour party member it is priority that you have equality of access to ALL events. Unfortunately the party, including some leadership candidates champiion diversity propaganda to the public but ignore it in the party. Double standards. As you are a northern individual you would perhaps understand more than most that LONDON where all the key meetings and hustings take place it does not take into account all the labour party membership. Convenience for MP's attending these functions does not win elections. Many disabled, old, working and families cannot attend at 6 pm on a weekday day evening. It would appear that these meetings are specifically designed for the political class and think tanks. Think tanks have too much of an influence on certain left wing MP's. IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. Individuals like Neal Lawson , Sunder Katwala et know nothing about the real world outside London. These individuals and many more are destroying labour. Years ago many MP's came from union backgrounds particularly around pit villages. Good working class candidates who wore their heart on their sleeve. This has now been replaced by chosen high flyers (Oxbridge elite) picked by the Labour hierachy to candidates in safe seats. This is wrong, it is unfair, it is not equality of opportunity. it simply needs to change. The members are the masters MP's, NEC etc are the servants. We do not need more of the same. If Miliband senior is successfull Labour will suffer. Blairism is dead. Now for next labour. We need something different not an orchestrated propaganda circus with nodding dogs surrounding by students who have no experience of life and obviously plenty of time on their hands. Experience in life is just as important as graduates just out their nappies with no life skills. Take your pick Andy It would be nice to have feedback Andy to confirm you are really listening. Other candidates might also catch on