The future of the Labour party is important to me and I imagine to you too. The growth in membership is to be welcomed and new energy is good to see. But the future of the Labour party goes way beyond itself and its members. In a world of growing uncertainty and insecurity more than ever our country needs an effective opposition and one which can lead a broad range of support. At present this need is not being met and there is the prospect that it will only further deteriorate in its capability to hold the current government to account. If this need is not addressed now in a way which reunites the Labour party the future appears to present years of dominance by a single political party … this is no good for Labour, no good for parliamentary democracy and ultimately no good for the future of our country.
Protest is important. But more important is being in a position to form a government. Labour cannot be a party which is only ‘against’, it must be a party which is ‘for’ an array of policies designed to realise social justice. And to be this Labour must be aimed at forming a government and not just protesting against the current one. To make real progress a party of protest is not enough … only through the ballot box and standing at the dispatch box will Labour be able to realise a fairer, better country.
The risks are too high to let this moment pass and the opportunities too great to stand aside and allow others to take control. Everyone has an opportunity to influence the future of not only the Labour party but of how our parliamentary democracy will or will not work effectively in holding the current government to account.
The Labour movement has at its heart a belief that together we can achieve a better place in which to live and work for all. Realisation of this belief has always and will continue to rest upon the necessity of being an effective party of opposition in preparation for forming a progressive government. Progress relies upon engaging our beliefs with reality.
I hope you will join Labour as a supporter and invite others to do so. Then judge what is good for our future, for our parliamentary democracy and for Labour. Every vote counts. Your democracy needs you.
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Jon Wheale is former parliamentary candidate for Burton. He tweets @JonWheale
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