| Save the Labour Party |
| SAVE THE LABOUR PARTY
SEMINAR Can the Party win a 3rd term without the Party on the ground? 19:30 - 21:00 - Monday 5 July 2004 Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, London SW1 The seminar will analyse the role of the Labour Party’s grassroots in the run up to the next general election. It will explore what the Leadership needs to do to ensure it can reverse falling membership and activism to win a 3rd term. Chaired by STLP Chair Peter Kenyon – confirmed speakers include: · Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Peter Hain MP · Citizenship advisor/political scientist Professor Sir Bernard Crick · Founder member of STLP Dr Gaye Johnston If you would like to come to this event please email your details to: lizzie@savethelabourparty.org or telephone 020 7354 3332 |
| Seminar Notes The evening before the Prime Minister addressed the House of Commons Liaison Committee and the seats were being warmed in the Boothroyd Room of Parliaments Portcullis House. The Save the Labour Party seminar featured Dr Gaye Johnson presenting her paper on “Can Labour win a third term without the party on the ground”, Professor Sir Bernard Crick, and Leader of the House of Commons and author of “The Future Party” Peter Hain MP. First to speak was Dr Johnson with a very well researched and methodical analysis of the issues facing the party if membership decline is not reversed. Some shocking statistics showing the real difference grassroots activism can make. Points were raised which I’m sure will resonate well with most people involved in the June 10th election campaigns. Sir Bernard analysed the reasons for the lack of grassroots activism. Presidential Politics, he stated, was the underlying cause. The current party leadership had decided to model the party on an American style party. Members are not stakeholders but simply registered supporters. They are people whose role is to attend rallies and provide basic support campaigning. Sir Bernard, traditionally a moderate within the Labour Party, perhaps epitomises the not-the-usual-suspects who are now taking issue with the style and manner of the current Labour leadership. Finally, the act which drew the audience was Peter Hain. He started off saying he had no plans to make any controversial comments. His presence itself and some casual remarks told a different tale. As one might expect he offered a sterling defence of government policy and difficult decisions. But rather than come back on the conventional round of three questions, he listened patiently to wave after wave of critical questioning. In his closing remarks he confided that he had been questioned himself by colleagues for attending this “dodgy group”. Just by being his being there tells us that at least one member of the government does not believe the basic principles Save the Labour Party fights for are “dodgy”. Mr Hain told us he does not take up every speaking opportunity he is offered, we are sure he doesn’t. But his presence certainly added to the legitimacy and rationale of the message Save The Labour Party has to offer. Bob Silby - East Yorkshire Young Labour |