Calls for rethink of Clause IV
The Fabian Society has called for Clause IV of the Labour Party constitution to be reconsidered.
The think-tank, which is affiliated to the Labour Party and has close connections with senior figures, argues that the clause “no longer holds the Labour Party together.”
The updating of Clause IV was Tony Blair’s first major signal of his determination as leader to modernise the Labour Party. His intention to re-write the clause, which among other things includes a pledge to work for the “common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange” as well as to cooperate with other “labour and socialist organisations”, were signalled at his election in 1994. In 1995, the old clause was abolished and replaced with a new clause that instead spoke of a “dynamic economy, serving the public interest” and removed all references to socialism.
Ten years on, the Fabians argue the clause, and the whole constitution, should be re-debated. Its special edition, designed to coincide with the upcoming Labour Party conference, calls for a major new debate among MPs and party members.
It will host a number of fringe meetings on the issue, which will be attended by Education Minister Stephen Twigg and MP, and Fabian vice-chair, Eric Joyce.
Fabian research director, Richard Brooks, will argue that: “If the party is to maintain its cohesion and vigour, it must be able to debate its values and vision every political generation, not just once a century.
“Rewriting Clause IV in 1994/95 was essential to the party’s electoral survival. Yet ten years on many Labour Party members cannot identify enthusiastically with the new Clause because it misses out key elements of what makes politics important to them. In a world where party membership and the activist base are steadily declining, this is a serious problem.
Commenting on his decision to become involved in the debate, Stephen Twigg – who also chairs the Fabian Society – said: ‘Ten years ago those who didn’t want to change Clause IV said debating it was a waste of time and a distraction from beating the Conservatives. That was wrong then, and it’s wrong now. We need to ensure we have this debate regularly, not just once a century. Parties of the left need to be constantly renewing themselves and their ideas.”
The Minister for Europe, and former Fabian chair, Denis MacShane, however sounded a cautious note. Whilst saying that he welcomes the initiative to get the party “thinking about ideas again” he said “but first let us defeat the Tories in debate and at the ballot box, and keep inching Britain towards economic progress and social justice.”
