I ‘listened’ to Ed’s big speech last week via Twitter in Amman, Jordan. Quite rightly it got strong support and was acclaimed as a big and brave move. There has been much commentary on it, so I want to focus on one thought that emerged for me – not least because of where I was when it was happening.
I was in Jordan as part of an ongoing project to support them in building a democratic political culture and infrastructure – and in particular to help the development of political parties. Political parties were abolished in Jordan in 1957 and not reinstated until 1992. This, coupled with a strong clan history and an electoral system which favours individuals rather than party slates means that there are few well-developed national parties capable of developing a programme, running a national election campaign and sustaining a cohesive parliamentary presence.
Experiencing the absence of something helps to identify its benefits and strengths. Without a party programme to campaign on and win support for, there is nothing to hold politicians to account for; nothing to inform a coherent programme for government; nothing to support a challenge to institutional and economic vested interests nor to drive progressive change.
Without a party organisation and ‘discipline’, there is no parliamentary majority which can form the basis for a government. In Jordan, the prime minister is chosen by the king in ‘consultation’ with parliamentarians and none of his ministers are serving members of parliament. Furthermore, there’s no organised opposition to scrutinise and challenge government policy. There is no developed link between local and national politicians. There is little institutional knowledge of policy development or opportunity to debate and develop policies.
Finally, without an organised and funded campaigning structure, there is little opportunity for candidates without their own financial and organisational resources.
Of course I’m not suggesting that there is any risk in the UK of dismantling our political party structure. However, if we want a more direct relationship with union members and with supporters as well as building membership, we need to start making the positive case for political organisation through political parties.
There is too much of a tendency, even among the politically active, to view single-issue campaigning organisations as ‘virtuous’ and political parties as slightly suspect. But for almost every issue that I care strongly about and campaign for, government action and support is necessary to make progress. It is only through my political party that I can support the election of councillors, MPs and MEPs and put real political power behind the causes I support.
And, as Peter Watt knowledgeably and vividly spelt out in a prescient piece in November 2011 on party funding, ‘Politics is expensive. Staff that run campaigns, develop policy and arrange conferences, plan strategy, engage the public and design materials, websites and videos cost money’, but politicians have to be dragged kicking and screaming to fundraise. I am as guilty as any of this.
Ed has made the right call on opening up our party, but a change this radical means we all have to review how we act and how we support the party. We all have a responsibility to make the case for party politics and for the money needed to make it work. Speak up and pay up to build our party.
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Jacqui Smith is former home secretary, writes the Monday Politics column for Progress, and tweets @smithjj62
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