Progress’ new strategy board means that for the first time members can have a voice in the decisions which direct the organisation’s – and, by extension, the Labour party’s – future direction.
This is an incredible opportunity, at a time when Progress is enjoying both unprecedented success in membership numbers and influence, and also facing down criticism from within and outside the party. Progress’ membership is increasingly large, and diverse: not only in terms of gender and ethnicity, where a priority must be made of building on a strong base to make Progress the most inclusive and diverse organisation on the left of British politics, but also in the regional distribution of members, in their life experiences, and in the skills and networks our members have.
The role of the strategy board’s new members must be to make the most of Progress’ members, and give them every chance possible to do what they do best. In the past, Progress has achieved great things in publishing thought-provoking ideas and organising for progressive politics in the Labour party, but with a relatively passive membership. This is no criticism – Progress’ does an incredible job in providing publications and events for members which made your subs worth every penny. But to develop as an organisation Progress needs to make platforms available for members to contribute to its work, regularly and in as many ways as they wish.
The election has already shown that Progress members buzz with enthusiasm, and brim with ideas about what the organisation could do. Mandy Telford, for example, proposes that Progress should establish a women’s network – an excellent idea, which the strategy board should take up whoever is elected. For every idea put forward by any of the candidates, there are dozens more out there among the membership.
Strategy board members should act as advocates for Progress’ membership, both in and out of Progress. Inside the organisation they will be the ideal channel for members’ passion to feed into the organisation, providing senior sponsorship for campaigns, projects and local Progress groups to get started and grow organically from our membership. They will represent members’ interests in safeguarding Progress’s governance and overall direction, so that decisions are shaped by members’ experiences in CLPs, local councils, campaigning groups and communities.
Outside, strategy board members will be Progress’ most vocal allies and fiercest supporters: giving full-throated support to Progress candidates in NEC and NPF elections; advocating a clear progressive on policy issues in print, in person and online across the party; and organising fearlessly and fairly for New Labour politics in and out of the party, no matter how strong our opponents may be.
Above all, strategy board members must be prepared to graft. They should be at the centre of Progress’ work, which means putting in the hard and often thankless works. They should organize and lead Progress campaign days for the Labour party, help to set up and attend Progress events around the country, lend help where needed to Progress projects, and make themselves available to members however members feel is best.
I don’t doubt that all of the candidates in the election share this vision, nor that they have it in them to work hard for Progress. Having read the candidates’ statements, I’ll admit that I have a dilemma about what to do with my own votes – I could conceivably endorse any of those standing, such is the calibre of Progress’ members and of the other candidates. Like everyone else in this election, I offer my experiences, expertise, my commitment, enthusiasm, and hard work – and I have every hope that, whether I’m elected or not, Progress will make the most of these qualities in all of our members in the future.
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David Green is a candidate in the members’ section in the Progress strategy board elections 2012. You can find out more about all the candidates at the dedicated Progress strategy board election microsite