It has taken a while for Labour local government to be properly recognised by the party nationally. While there is still much work to be done, the efforts of Labour LGA under the leadership of Nick Forbes and the brilliant Jim McMahon before him, mean that the argument is finally being heard that to win back power nationally, Labour needs to use the experience and expertise of our councillors. That means learning from how we deliver where in power, but also from those of us who are leading in opposition.
How you ‘do’ opposition is one of most difficult things to pin down in politics. One thing we should all be able to agree on is that oppositions should be focused on returning to power and plotting a route to get there. However, too often over the last year the leadership of our party has given the impression that it does not share even that basic aspiration. If opposition is primarily viewed as an opportunity to define ideological positions, to protest, or to focus on internal party politics ahead than the hopes and priorities of voters – then you are not seriously thinking about returning to power. The truth is, Labour has not looked serious recently and that needs to change.
Labour councillors in opposition know you need a better offer. Oppositions need to set out a vision of how our communities can grow, prosper and live together. When we offer a positive vision of what the future looks like, we win elections. Look at the examples of where Labour has won control locally in places like Crawley where we need to win again if we are to win the country. We won by listening, winning trust, and presenting an offer to people that spoke to the reality of their lives and how Labour could improve their community. The art of the possible.
What lessons can the party learn from local government about the art of opposition?
Our job is hold the administration to account
That does not mean sloganeering, nor should it mean opposition for the sake of it. What it does mean is a forensic, scrutiny led approach that shines a light on why and where policies are not delivering for local people. Councillors are familiar with the value of their scrutiny committees. Frustratingly, the party nationally has too often appeared unwilling to follow that example. With the government failing to deliver a credible plan for Brexit and policies on grammar schools and housing evidence free zones, Labour needs to get to work in committee and hold government plans up to the light. The devil is always in the detail.
Listen
At the last election, too many people felt the things they cared about – security, family, home, community, hope for the future – just were not that important to Labour. No wonder we lost. Labour stopped listening to what people cared about and told them what we felt they should care about instead. Councillors need to take a different approach – the principles of listening, understanding what affects our residents’ lives, what could make it better and forming a plan to get it done. It does not matter how many million conversations we have on the doorstep unless they are exactly that – conversations. Labour needs learn from local government and start listening again.
Finally, set out a vision
Vague promises and slogans just do not cut it. Nor do ideas so lofty they simply do not connect with most voters. Labour’s vision needs to be rooted in the art of the possible. That should not mean a lack of ambition – far from it. But by properly understanding where and why the government is failing to deliver, by listening to people concerns, hopes, aspirations and fears, by understanding what measures could make a difference to the people we seek to represent, Labour can begin to build a vision for Britain based in the art of the possible. We win trust by being credible. We win credibility by being in touch with people’s lives. We win power by articulating a vision and offer than speaks to the aspirations of people and is rooted in the community they live in.
Labour councillors understand this. Progress understands this. Sadly, the leadership of our party have not demonstrated they understand it. Opposition leaders can help define what a renewed, radical and voter-led Labour party needs to look like. This is the start of the work we all need to do to win again.
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Jonathon Hawkes is a candidate in the councillors’ section in the Progress strategy board elections. He tweets at @CllrJonHawkes
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