| Save the Labour Party |
| NEWS RELEASE 11/04
Will Milburn appointment mean more, active members? London – 9 September Will the appointment of Alan Milburn to lead Labour’s next general election campaign with a seat in the Cabinet inspire more people to join the Party and actively campaign for a Labour victory? That is the question the campaigning group Save the Labour Party (STLP) says should be top of the agenda later today when the Cabinet discusses conference which takes place in little over two weeks time. Among reforms being promoted by rank and file members is a direct challenge to Prime Minister Tony Blair’s right to make such appointments in the first place. Slotting Party functionaries into government posts raises issues of probity and a constitutional nature both for the Labour Party and the country. None of these issues has ever been debated and resolved by a Labour Party Conference. A resolution calling for a change to the Party Rules to ensure that in future a Party chair is elected by the membership has been tabled by Manchester Central Constituency Labour Party. STLP chair Peter Kenyon said, “This latest development provides an opportunity for a Conference debate promoting collective responsibility both in the Party and in government and strengthening democratic procedures.” “We note that recent polling data suggests that Labour will inevitably win the next election whatever. What we are concerned about is whether a 3rd term could prove a pyrrhic victory. The loss of members and decline of activism means the Labour Party’s ability to fight active campaigns has been seriously eroded. Unless that is addressed at the 2004 Conference, the next Labour General Election win could be its last.” STLP is campaigning to win elections with more, active members and challenging the Leadership to work with it ahead of the next general election. Since it was set up a year ago, STLP has attracted support from most sections of the Labour Party, not just its left wing. It has members in nearly 100 parliamentary constituencies and close links with other campaigning organisations in the labour movement in England, Scotland and Wales. Media enquiries: Peter Kenyon Mobile 07802 216 591 eMail: peter.g.kenyon@btinternet.com Notes to Editors 1. Save the Labour Party is a voluntary association, open to all Labour Party members and affiliates and includes members from the left, right and centre of the Labour Party committed to democratic socialism. 2. Details of its activities – past present and future can be seen at: www.savethelabourparty.org |