Labour probes democracy of party

Thursday, 8 September 2005 12:00 AM

The Labour party has set up a commission to look into why its membership has fallen by thousands since taking power eight years ago.

The loss of 200,000 members and four million votes is causing concern, with some attributing the loss of support to an increasing lack of democracy and consultation within the party.

Although membership is falling among all political parties, the Labour veteran heading the commission believes his party must do more to involve ordinary members.

Former minister Michael Meacher told Today that morale in the party was "unquestionably at a low ebb" thanks to a perceived increase in autonomy by the government.

Individual members can contribute to Labour policy through their constituency party, regular policy forums and through representation on the main policy-making body, the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Decisions are then voted on at the annual conference, but critics argue that in recent years the government has taken less and less account of popular opinion at this level.

"When policies have been exhaustively discussed within the policy making process of the National Policy Forum, which I think is an excellent innovation that has been set up, they then go to annual conference," Mr Meacher said.

"They are voted on sometimes with a two to one vote against the platform, for example on foundation hospitals, PFI and restoring railways to public ownership, and the government simply says that they are not going to do it," Mr Meacher said.

He said the party should not automatically follow the main views that emerge at conference, but argued for some "serious engagement" with those who disagree with party policy.

People joined a political party, he argued, to play some part in local and national politics, but there was a "widespread perception" that the government was not listening.

"The writing is on the wall and we have set up this commission to examine the reasons behind this and how far the state of democracy and accountability in the party have contributed to this, and basically to allow ordinary party members to have their say," he said.

Tags: