As Barack Obama got closer to the White House in 2008, many Labour activists were stunned by his campaign’s ability to inspire thousands of volunteers to take his message to the public. We laughed at Trekkies and Dogwalkers for Obama and marvelled at the online phone banking they had set up through mybarackobama.com. Some Labour activists, mainly organised by the Labour Staff Network and Young Fabians, did their part working in swing states across America and came back fired-up with enthusiasm about what we could learn back home from Obama’s success. Will Straw and Nick Anstead published an excellent Fabian book earlier this year called ‘The Change We Need’ which set out the lessons. In their introduction they argued that Obama’s win showed that the Labour party no longer had to “choose between being, on the one hand, an electorally successful organisation, and on the other, an open party that empowers citizens.” They suggested that the Labour Party needed to remove barriers to participation in the party and reward hard work and entrepreneurialism.
 
So it’s great to see that today the Labour Party has launched its own ‘Volunteer Task Force’ which has the explicit aim of “harnessing the talents of our members and supporters”. The party has set up a national programme to recruit volunteers who can prove they have the “experience and ability to project manage, think innovatively and make strategic decisions”. This followed the piloting of new organisation methods such as creating listening panels of local community champions, and setting up house parties along the Obama model. Labour’s new Contact Creator system can now prove that the local Labour parties that engage the most with their electorate, with intensive voter engagement, win elections for Labour.
 
At the same time, more and more people, particularly young people, are contacting the Labour Party to volunteer for the election. Given that the last two elections were almost foregone conclusions for Labour, it’s not surprising that people who are worried the Tories might win are keen to sign up for the fight this time. But instead of assigning volunteers to local parties, who may or may not use them effectively, the Party is going to manage volunteer applications so that everyone’s talents are put to use. Volunteers might be allocated to a marginal constituency, form part of a team which engages with local stakeholders, become a house party facilitator, be offered an internship at the Party’s offices in London or Gosforth, or become part of the General Election team in London.
 
This is a genuinely exciting development and one which Progress wholeheartedly supports. Many Progress members and supporters will have wondered at one stage or another how they might be able to help the party in the next six months. This is your opportunity to find out. Visit http://members.labour.org.uk/volunteer and sign in to Membersnet. If you have not used Membersnet before it is easy to register. Or contact Angela Wilkins at [email protected] or on 0207 783 1360.
 
Do think about whether you have any family or friends who might be interested in getting involved too. Particularly younger people or students who might benefit from the experience!