David Miliband today made a speech in which he called for fundamental reform of the structure of the Labour Party. I applaud many of his proposals including open primary is to select candidates for local and Parliamentary elections and to involve in party meetings the 3 million trade unionists who pay the political levy.
Cynics might suggest that these are desperate measures aimed at trying to resurrect a dying party. Miliband himself said that certain political parties were close to death, made up of “shrinking membership, declining affinity and fuzzy identity lead many to proclaim that death has already happened, with a few tears at the funeral”.
Compare the Labour Party today to the thriving activity of the 1980s. It is the Blairites who killed Labour, being themselves largely responsible for the infighting, in tolerance, and witch hunts that suck the lifeblood out of local activity.
I agree with many of the measures that Miliband has proposed, not least the open primary is the selection of candidates. However, the sad truth is that none will be implemented, not least by Miliband himself should he in the unlikely event ever become Labour Party leader.
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: Blairites, David Miliband, Labour Party, political levy, primary elections, selection of candidates | Leave a Comment »
