Whoever becomes the next leader of the Labour party will play a critical role in determining how long we remain in opposition. Therefore our next leader requires the backing and confidence of both party members and our voters.
In May, Bassetlaw Labour party determined to hold a primary and ballot all identified local Labour voters on their choice for the next leader of the Labour party. Bassetlaw Labour party is keen to strengthen and develop its relationship with its electorate and this widening of democracy enables Labour party supporters to participate in our decision-making processes, building new and stronger links with those who put their faith in our party. The decision in May was groundbreaking, with it perhaps being the first Labour party in the country to put the leadership contest into the hands of ordinary voters! This is something that local party activists are proud of.
Trust and faith is a two-way process and this has been damaged during this recent time of grave cynicism about politics and politicians. The opening of our democratic processes to ordinary people will help rebuild our relationship if the Labour party are to return or hold onto power both at local levels and nationally.
The result of the primary will determine who Bassetlaw Labour party nominates and I as Bassetlaw’s MP will vote for. Party members are also being encouraged to back the voters’ decision.
Bassetlaw Labour are using this opportunity to build upon their identification of Labour supporters. Those who have not already been identified are being encouraged to come forward and request a ballot paper. Alongside the hand delivery of ballot papers, this is motivating the party into action as its timing has coincided with the latest onslaught by Tory-controlled Notts County Council, who this week announced proposals to sell off their caterers, cleaners, highways and supported workers scheme.
The principles of community engagement are being actively promoted by all five candidates and the hope is that they will also be enthused by Bassetlaw’s primary.
Progress campaigns for the introduction of primaries for parliamentary and mayoral selections in the Labour party – please click on our PRIME TIME link above to read about our work and sign our call for primaries’ greater use in the party
John will write a follow-up piece to this in the next edition of Progress Magazine. If you’d like to receive this magazine then please follow this link to join Progress – membership includes a copy of Progress Magazine delivered straight to your door ten times a year
Is Bassetlaw paying for this itself? is it expensive? and when will the results be known?
We have been planning to do the same in Twickenham for a while. We invited all the leadership contenders to attend our CLP special meeting this coming Monday 5th July (I know, I know, but it was worth a shot) where we will debate the issue. As a result Ed Balls attended a special meeting a while ago and Charlie Falconer will attend on Monday to talk on behalf of David Milliband. (We had a resp once from Ed but nothing from Diana or Andy) We will conduct a secret ballot, people who helped during the election campaign are also invited as well as new members who have applied but have yet to receive their card.
It has really engaged members and getting people to do leaflets rounds has been easier than before the election, mind you, that might be to do with the weather.
Open primaries are bonkers.
In olden days squires and landowners decided who would speak for the rest of us. Then it was the millowners and the like. I don’t want to hand that power to the Editors which open primaries would. They have way too much influence already.
People always bang on about Habeas Corpus, Freedom of Expression, of the Press, of Information, and others and so they should. But no-one these days cares much about Freedom of Association. Party procedures should be private, provided no laws are being broken.
I would not waste my time the people who get worked up with Primaries are the one that go to meetings anyway, what I need to know are the policies people would put forward, and whether they keep them policies if they win, after Blair I’d not believe an MP if it would save their lives.
But John Mann has already come out in favour of Ed Miliband so what if supposed Labour voters say we want one of the others. Will Mann change his mind? How will we know who he’s voting for? How will we know who the supposed Labour voters choose – is and independent body collecting the ballot papers? And what’s the point of me paying my subs. if I’m letting those who aren’t members choose who they want?
Saffron Walden Labour party members will be standing in Market Sq (weather permitting ) this Sat. 17th p m. inviting our suporters, and others if they wish , to give their views on choice of leader.
The problem is John Mann is proposing to ballot all the people who said they would vote labour on the election canvass. We all know people will sometimes say anything to get rid of you when you are on the doorstep. Therefore he could have con/libs, ukip or bnp voters influencing who Bassetlaw nominates for leader. NOT A GOOD IDEA