We look to the future at the Labour party conference, with a new leader and a new shadow cabinet to come. As iconic figures of our movement have moved on, new leaders are emerging to take up the mantle. That’s as it should be as we renew ourselves in opposition, ready to come back to power with enthusiasm, hunger and a fresh approach.
I took over as leader of Labour in local government in July of this year; at conference I take my seat on Labour’s National Executive Committee. One of the main pledges I made when I stood for leader was to develop talent in Labour Local Government. At the top of Labour Local Government we have new deputy leader, a new whip, new deputy whip, new chair and new vice-chair. I am very pleased we have been able to bring through a new talented set of leaders. More broadly I would like to see us develop new talent in every Labour group in the country and in that context I want us to look at how we are recruiting and promoting younger party members to become councillors.
Looking across our full field in local government it is clear we have a lot of work to do. Too many of our Labour groups don’t have any members under the age of 35 and too few of our councillors are under the age of 35.
A local council can have a major impact over the lives of the people it serves. That is why we fight so hard to take control of them and that is why we work so hard where we run councils. That is why it is important that our Labour groups are balanced, representative of the populations they serve, and inclusive. I want to be sure we are hearing the voices of all our community.
Local councillors are leaders of their community, they are the ones who make the political arguments, build capacity in the community, keep the party and the council in tune with public opinion and make the case for more resources in their neighbourhood. They decide council policy, allocate resources and provide a valuable safety net to the most vulnerable through their casework duties. Councillors have more of an impact over how our community looks than anyone else. That is why we need to make sure we are continuously developing talent in our party.
We also have the responsibility to develop new talent ready to enter parliament, ready to become party officials, MEPs, MSPs and assembly members. Local government is our talent factory. Because it is by being a councillor that we learn to represent, learn about the difficulties of decision-making, about working as part of a team in a disciplined way. Many of our best MPs have learned their political skills in community halls, municipal buildings and on doorsteps as councillors.
That is why I want Labour to have more young councillors.
Young people who are involved in politics should be drawn to the local government flame. I want to encourage this to happen.
So this is my calling to all younger members of the Labour party. If you want to make real change happen, stand to be a councillor. If you think your neighbourhood could be better, stand to be a councillor. If you are idealistic and believe in the positive power of politics, then stand to be a councillor.
To support this end the LGA Labour group has set up a Younger Labour Councillors’ Network. I want a network that allows our experienced younger councillors to support new younger councillors, I want to develop a team of people that will go to Labour student clubs, constituency Labour party meetings, and trade union branch meetings. We need councillors who will speak with youth parliamentarians and young mayors and their friends and work colleagues to tell them all that it is only by being in a position of power that you have the ability to make real change happen. And we need our younger councillors and our younger party members to tell the party the changes and support needed so we can be much better at recruiting young people.
If you are interested in helping me make this happen please come along to our event at conference.
Cllr David Sparks
Leader of the Local Government Association Labour group
At Labour party conference the LGA Labour group, the Leadership Centre and Progress are hosting ‘Labour’s future: changing the world through local politics’ in Peter House, Oxford Street at 7.30pm Tuesday evening. If you are a young councillor or a party member who is interested in standing to be a councillor then please join us.
If you would like anymore information in this article please email David at [email protected]