by René Lavanchy
Labour Party activists are being encouraged to register their desire to have a say in the party’s election manifesto, in a new web-based venture designed to challenge the party’s policymaking procedure.
Pressure group Save the Labour Party has launched an online survey which they are offering to constituency Labour parties, socialist societies and other interested groups. The survey asks users if policies are important to winning the election; if they want a say in the manifesto; and if they are involved in the process.
The survey has appeared as party officials belatedly informed constituency members of the National Policy Forum about the policymaking process agreed last month. Meanwhile, manifesto coordinator Ed Miliband is reported to have received some 250 policy submissions sent to him directly, which his office is seeking to acknowledge.
STLP chair Peter Kenyon, who is overseeing the survey, said: “If you can get 10 members per constituency, you’d have a population of 6000 which would be enormous in polling terms.”
He criticised the current process for not allowing participants to cross-check their policy submissions and not being well publicised: “That process is completely opaque. It’s worse. The party, although it has invested God knows how much money in [Labour Party members’ website] membersnet, the use of it is derisory. It could work if the party devoted a little effort to using the facilities it has got to contacting people.”
The survey has been tested on two constituencies and publicised on Labour-supporting websites Labourhome and Labourlist. Over 300 party members responded to a short trial last week. Over 80 per cent said policies were important, and that they wanted a say.
Members of Labour’s NPF are to hold regional meetings to choose delegates to meet Mr Miliband, but the dates have still not been announced.
