The Labour party has been an incredible part of the Labour movement’s struggle to increase opportunities for workers and make society fairer. It should be the natural party of all those who feel their talents are being suppressed by those with power. But how far has the party come in handing power to those who have been without for generations? Twinning and all women shortlists have meant the number of women in politics has increased. However, these can be undermined by emergency selections and tokenistic appointments.

Those who speak against positive discrimination say people should be judged on merit. This is right. But underrepresented groups have often not had the same chances to demonstrate their abilities as those who easily get the top jobs.

The Labour party selection officials say they are looking for the best candidates, and some have even stated their dissatisfaction with the quality of those coming forward. In my view, the party doesn’t need to look outside to find the best candidates. Although they are not out there ready to knock on the party’s door, they are already in the party in the form of members with untapped potential.

The British Olympic and Paralympic teams were not born the best in their fields. Many were born disadvantaged, but through being nurtured, coached and supported, some of them went on to become gold medal-winning Olympians. The Labour party needs to provide its members with similar support. It is no good drawing up criteria for what a Labour candidate should ideally be as the party should be proactive in transforming members who would otherwise not have the resources to become the best.

The trade unions have up to now played a vital role in the training and selection of Labour party candidates, many of whom have been competent union officials. The trade union link has allowed non-Labour party members to have a say in the selection of the party’s candidates long before talk of US-style open primaries. The party cannot, however, rely on the unions alone to develop its members; it is only through the Labour party seizing the initiative that it can become the force for social change in society that acts as a leading example for others to follow.

Each member that wants to be a candidate should be invited to have a mentor, perhaps a local councillor or governor, to guide them through the process. Each should be invited to a training course, which is nationally accredited and related to the personal specification for candidates and other public positions. This could do for the Labour party what the New Deal did for employers – raise the standard of those available in the marketplace so that there is more choice available to those choosing candidates. It would mean that all those with potential, especially those who were not born into privilege, have in the end an equal chance to represent the party and be judged on their actual abilities as demonstrated by an accreditation of their experiences.