Labour is the natural party for young people. We have both progressive policies of the centre-left, which a majority of those under 25 support, and a structure of youth representation and involvement right to the highest level of the party.
As someone who has benefited more than most from the system (finding myself after only four years of party membership on the National Executive), I retain a natural respect for it. However, it is my belief that every day the party wastes the opportunity to both give the most to, and make the most of, its young members.
I believe that there is a genuine desire throughout the party to involve young people. The existence of youth representatives on most party committees, my place on the NEC and the regular appearances on the stage at annual Conference of myself and my predecessors, provide evidence.
However, at some levels this commitment is tempered by a desire to defend the current balance of power and, at others, by a reluctance to create a relationship where young members may demand authority and respect, as well as deliver leaflets and smile for the camera.
Is the current structure proof of a genuine empowerment of young members? Or does it expose a failure to mainstream young members and youth issues, which, at best, fails to reap the potential benefits of this asset and, at worst, is embarrassingly tokenistic?
Naturally, there is a need to retain the representative structure and ensure that every CLP has a youth officer and that every youth place on the National Policy Forum is filled. However, we also have to create an ethos where a young member is just as likely to serve as CLP secretary or as a CLP representative on the NEC, where they may be asked their views on transport or health – not just education and votes at sixteen.
Yes, some young members feel a little undervalued and the structures provide inadequate means of accountability and they have no resources. But why should anyone the other side of 25 care?
Well, both potentially and historically, young people have been some of Labour’s most active members, not to mention the fact that they are inevitably the very future of the party.
The majority of young members I meet love to talk about policy and politics but are also active in their communities or on their campuses. They are not obsessed with GCs and welcomed the opportunities of the recent 21st Century consultation. They joined Labour not to be weighed down with petty bureaucracy, but to be involved in a democratic organisation that was going to change Britain irrevocably. Many retain a zeal for party modernisation, which undoubtedly holds the key to Labour’s political and electoral future.
If the last twenty years of Labour history are to mean anything we must replace them with a progressive agenda that will transform our country, ensuring that never again can governments of any colour betray the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society. I witness the vision and desire to achieve this in young members ever day. Given the respect, resources and support they need, Young Labour – and individual young members – will help to deliver the party about which we have all dreamed.