by Rory Palmer
Reconnecting with working class communities is seen as a vital part of Labour's post-election debate. That said, leadership contender Andy Burnham was right to suggest that it was not the case that we had not delivered for heartland communities. Opening this discussion at the Progress Conference Burnham reflected on the last 13 years as being the foundation for our political recovery and not something to be denied or disowned.
Social housing was mentioned as a common doorstep issue where the Labour government could have done more. Constituency rep on the NEC Ellie Reeves made the case for a wider programme of social housing building - work started by John Healey but something we should have done more of and sooner.
The way we organise on the ground will be a crucial part of any solution aimed to win back hearts and minds in working class communities. The right policy and message are only half the solution, we need to recognise where our grassroots organising has worked and led to trend-bucking results.
Margaret Hodge set out the approach used in Barking to crush the BNP and double her majority. Good organising on the ground, with a genuine drive to reach out and a real commitment to listen to what communities are saying.
This debate will go on. Yesterday's discussion set out some key themes: the need to have an honest discussion where we properly listen to peoples' insecurities about the economy, jobs and their communities and where we build a grassroots organisation to do this in communities up and down the country.
Visit the Progress website here, for more details on yesterday’s conference and further planned events.
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No really it is...
The fundamental question that the labour party does not want to deal with is "How do we reconnect with something we had no connection to?"
The party was too busy occupying the centre ground, in competition perhaps, and redefining itself at the expense of forgotten communities?
I hope we have learnt great lessons from the last 13 years, of which there have been some good acheivements like the minimum wage and Surestart.
If the Labour party can't reconnect to its roots and identity- who can?!
We have got to do this; there is also a danger we will end up with the USA style DIY version under the Tories. This will be fragmentary and ineffective.Social problems may get much worse.
I think we have to focus our energies on where resources are needed, and pay attention to poorer communities' needs and concerns.This needs to go much further than just lip service.
I think the whole party and movement needs to unite- not just revolve around a small cabal of ministers on the front benches to dictate policy and direction.
There is a great deal of existing talent, ideas and goodwill...it just needs to be harnessed as a bigger movement, and reach out further.
Perhaps we can learn from Obama's campaign?
How different are we from the tories when the next best thing seems to be another middle-aged white guy who did PPE at Oxford? People aren't stupid, they know it's a lot of old cobblers when that sort of person appears on the TV says "I understand your life!"
I was really inspired from what I heard about the Civic forum(?) that the 3 leaders spoke at. Also the mutualism movement.
We must reclaim our natural "territory", and from history.
All this focus on the centre ground and appealing to so called MC voters has its limits. It should be about "all" -not just the few.
In actions not just words...
We also have the ability to remain truly "progressive" and radical; as opposed to clever speeches currently being made by the opposition to appear so!
Labour needs to become a movement again, reconnecting with the traditional labour voter and the their communities. Action needs to start almost immediately with getting people into the party (possibly with low or no fee), getting volunteers out doing community projects, not just canvassing and traditional methods, but long term committed service. MPs need to be totally in tune with their constituents the Party Leaders need to facilitate this approach.
Most important we need to connect with the young working class who aren't making it to the ballot box they are the missing ingredient. We need to offer ways into Labour through youth events, drop in groups, sponsership etc
Above all we need to listen, and we need to do these things in opposition to regain trust. In the coming months people will be suffering and we need to be there for them. Most people realise that things were pretty good under Labour but they feel disconnected and now rightly unnerved by what's in store.
If we we can create a sense of social responsibility, pride in community, and belief in core values that will inevitably lead to long term government again.
"Eurozone crisis has made cuts imperative says Clegg....
"300,000 jobs in public sector face the axe." Times Online today.
I think these cuts had been agreed to, regardless of the state of Euro affairs...could that just provide further justification?
I think this will test the LD's to the limit, considering their stance during the election campaign.
It was a big choice between severe swingeing cuts in the short term, or staging/phasing in under AD; whilst protecting vital services.