| Save the Labour Party |
| NEWS RELEASE 05/05 Media coverage focuses on membership; Mirror reports Labour 'to be extinct by 2010' London, 24 September 2005 – In pre-Conference coverage Labour's dwindling membership is emerging as a dominant theme. Today the Daily Mirror newspaper reported a Fabian Society report predicting Labour could be extinct by 2010. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16167602%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=labour%2d%2dto%2dbe%2dextinct%2dby%2d2010%2d-name_page.html This follows a reportin the FT yesterday that Labour is to overhaul the way it makes policy, announcing reforms at the start of its annual conference this weekend in the hope they will reverse a steep fall in membership. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/56f618aa-2bcf-11da-995a-00000e2511c8.html Earlier the Times Online service reported the Party Leader Tony Blair Blair focuses on need to revitalise his jaded party http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1790325,00.html On Tuesday Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance members of the NEC were joined by some PLP and Trade Union members opposing a last-minute plan from the Party Leadership to increase subscriptions by 50%. This is despite a loss of over 200,000 in the past eight years. Save the Labour Party (STLP) chair Peter Kenyon said, “Battle-lines are being drawn between those who favour a small elitist Labour Party, and those want to rebuild mass membership and encourage active promotion of Labour’s 21st century political aims and values.” Emergency motions opposing the subscription increase have been tabled by Brent East and City of London and Westminster CLPs. Once again the Labour Party is failing to provide dedicated time for delegate to question the whole NEC about their stewardship of the Party since last conference. STLP is campaigning for a conventional AGM during Conference, like every other incorprated body whether for profit or charity is obliged to do by law. More information from STLP Chair Peter Kenyon 078 0221 6591 eMail: Peter Kenyon Notes to editors: 1. STLP was formed in 2003 and campaigns to restore the Labour Party as a democratically run membership organisation. 2. STLP supports the independent LabOUR Commission on Accountability, Party and Parliamentary democracy announced by Michael Meacher MP on 8 September www.labourcommission.org.uk 3. In a joint Statement filed with the Electoral Commission General Secretary Matt Carter and Treasurer Jack Dromey said that Labour had recruited 17,000 new members in the year [2004]. But they also reported that net membership fell by 13,578. That means Labour lost some 30,578 former members in 2004. Total membership was only propped up over the 200,000 level by pre-election recruitment. http:/www.electoralcommission.org.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/13292 4. STLP holds an AGM in the interests of promoting good practice both for corporate governance and democracy. Its next AGM will be on 12 November 2005 in Manchester. Ends |