Political parties continue to have a stranglehold over British democratic institutions. They act as a cartel, controlling access and progression in politics. But parties have not adapted sufficiently to declining interest in the political process. If they do not change, the danger is not just that they will be unpopular but that people will continue to disengage from democratic politics. We should always remember that extremist populism is the ugly sibling of apathy. So how will successful parties look in 2013?
Political parties will be funded by the state on the basis of their levels of activity
Labour in 2013 will receive around 50 percent of its income from the Treasury. The funding system will reward mass recruitment and small-scale local fund raising. Parties will not get large donations from the rich but encourage low-level giving. There will be greater scope for new parties to emerge and reinforcement for existing parties to widen their base.
There will be a form of proportional representation for all elections
This being so, political parties will compete for every vote in every seat. There will be no areas where there is little party competition and few where one party has a massive majority. Labour will have the incentive to have strong constituency parties in every area of the country (and with the new funding system a basis for supporting them). The party system will be more fluid and parties will better reflect ideological divisions in the country. The party or parties in government nationally, regionally and locally will have the support of the majority of the population.
Successful parties will have large memberships representative of society
With the funding system and PR in place, political parties will be better placed to create mass membership organisations. Political parties will aspire to having more members than any other voluntary organisation in the country. Labour will have more women, ethnic minority and young people as active members.
The Labour Parties at regional and local level will have a high degree of autonomy
The national party will recognise that parties have a vital role to play in their local communities and that their credibility as community champions rests on their capacity to respond to local concerns. Parties will campaign for change, undertake initiatives and provide local political leadership. Elections will be important points in the calendar but not the be-all and end-all of party activity. With representatives in different layers of government in different regions and localities, national parties will embrace and welcome policy differences within an overarching set of values and aims. Central intervention will only be deemed legitimate when it is clear that local parties are failing in their duty to engage with and represent local people.
Parties will be a hub for community activists and social entrepreneurs
Political parties will be organisations where local activists network, share skills, join up thinking and develop new ideas. For example, Labour school governors will welcome the resources and ideas that they gain from their membership of the party and will link up with members of other local bodies such as parents’ organisations, teachers and other education workers. A local party meeting will be the centre of debate in the community and an invaluable space for like-minded people to talk and work together. The structure of each party will reflect the different interests and levels of support that its members need.
Candidates for election will be selected according to their ability
Parties will no longer select candidates because of the length of time they have been in the party or the political faction they represent. Labour will begin its selection process by looking at its local community and identifying people who are most effective at articulating local concerns and providing political leadership.
Labour will have strong grassroots connections with trade unionists
Trade unions, which share Labour’s values, will play an important part in the party. But this relationship will be based on grassroots links and member consent rather than deals between general secretaries and party chiefs. Union members will keep their local party in touch with their campaigns and the practices of local employers. The unions will also help their members recruit new members to the party by encouraging them to donate to Labour through their political fund.
Parties will take the leading role in citizenship education in schools
It will be the responsibility of parties to lead debates and education on citizenship. This programme will help young people understand politics better and keep politicians in touch with young people. Local parties will have a strong commitment to building a habit of citizenship among school children. They will encourage young people’s democratic institutions such as youth parliaments, councils and school forums. This will be a good way for parties to engage with young people’s issues and also reach the parents of the pupils.
Parties will have imaginative and effective ways of communicating directly with citizens In order to undercut the shallowness and deception of the commercial media, parties will co-operate in providing new platforms and information sources such as digital TV channels and websites that allow citizens to make real choices between different values and policies, rather than the depressing pantomime of existing media-driven election campaigns.
Labour will develop strong relationships with progressives across the world
The party will recognise that in order to have an impact on foreign policy and globalisation it needs to forge strong links with people and progressive movements across the world. This will not be restricted to Europe or the USA, and relationships will be fostered at all levels of the party from youth groups to pensioner campaigns. Activists of centre-left parties will meet to find solutions ahead of global summits and will act as a powerful lobby for practical, progressive policies. Labour’s party networks will renew the idea of solidarity for the 21st century.