Grass Is Greener

As part of my initial critique of 'Go Fourth', Labour's campaign for a 4th Term, I suggested that the core of the movement - grassroots engagement and mobilisation - was essential to electoral success but that the campaign does not go far enough. We are living in an age of increasing voter apathy and public disengagement with politics. The recent scandal in the Lords has only entrenched the popular opinion that politicians are simply concerned with maximising personal gain. The scandal also highlighted one of the largest domestic failures of the present Labour government - not carrying out the constitutional reform they heralded. With an ever faster lunge for the centre ground, the differences between Labour and the Tories can often be hard to determine. This apparent 'merging', in combination with increasing disengagement and the development of a 'Westminster Village' mentality are greatly responsible for the prevailing public opinion that voting is essentially a pacifier for the masses but has no tangible effect on ordinary lives. In fairness, the same can be said for almost every developed democracy around the world... with one notable exception - America.

Obama's recent victory was built on an unprecedented grassroots foundation. His message of change demolished the encroaching walls of voter apathy and kick started voter engagement with issues and elections. It was only through a complete revolution in party structure and what it means to be a member of a political party that such a dramatic change could be realised. He bucked the trend, now how do we continue? Current party policy is not conducive to such Obama-esque grassroots revolution. To better understand this problem it is perhaps useful to consider the level of support for the party is as a continuum:

Passive Support
Uncommitted member of the constituency
Progressive minded member of the constituency
General Supporter (Name and contact details)
Non-committed supporter (in civil service, or within Parliament)
Unpaid Party Member
Paid Party Member
Donor
Active Volunteer (including non election years)
Party Structure Executive (Branch, Sector, Region and Nationwide)
UKLP employed staff
Member of Parliament
Active Support

(Thanks to Geoff Hayward for the original rough breakdown of Party structure... and the following:

"Obviously access to some levels of support is exclusive, but perhaps what is most important to note is that we all too often fail to see involvement as more than just paying membership, or panic during campaigns to find volunteers and convert them into organisers in a haphazard fashion. In fact, paying your membership, is just one way to show your support, and it is certainly not the highest level one can show their support.")


Obama did more than get volunteers out on the street and his message on the airwaves. His volunteers saw their action as fun and exciting - not as a chore. And the public saw them embodying the message of social democracy they were espousing. And he is still capitalising on the wave of support (and accompanying organisation) with his 'Organising America' initiative. In order to prevent the return of apathy and disillusion, Obama wants ordinary citizens to take an active role in future policy - extending a willing ear beyond the traditional party confines to voters of all affiliations. HOWEVER, the distinction between this engagement and the centrist pandering of both major UK parties over the last 10 years must be stressed to the greatest degree. This is not tabloid indulgence, this is active engagement and argument - resulting in stronger and more relevant legislation.


Such a revolution of party membership definition must not be considered as a return to the traditional Greek meaning of democracy - with all citizens voting on all legislation. The public elect politicians as their delegates in the democratic process and too much engagement can be just as effective at losing engagement as too little. There is obviously still a need for expert law makers and considered opinion when drafting legislation but nobody knows what the wider public wants and needs more than the wider public. Obama has introduced a system where American citizens can comment on each piece of legislation before he signs it into law. Such a measure, in isolation, does not equate to true engagement but when considered in combination with the numerous other reforms he has instituted it can be seen, very clearly, as a step in the right direction.

Obama was a community organiser in the very poorest districts of Chicago and his politics is irrevocably centred around social justice. Inspiring activists to proactively participate in social/ community projects - whilst distributing the Labour message and the positive benefits of the last 11 years - is a great way to redefine Party membership (and distinguish Labour from the Tories). Campaigning should not just be restricted to a few months before an election but a continuous presence in the community. This will bring 'politics to the people' showing that putting a tick on a ballot paper every four years is not just a way of choosing which candidate gets the Parliamentary salary and a comfy seat in the Commons but a way of changing every constituents' life - for the better.

Door knocking direct public engagement should not just be confined to a limited election period, after which new MPs shrink into the shadows for another term of "self-advancement". This task of re-engagement is even more essential if a party is in opposition. But rather than tasking volunteers to knock on doors and tell the residents of Council Flats how much Labour has improved their lives over the last decade (the improvements should speak for themselves) why not get the volunteers to work in community projects, get trained in basic citizen's advice info so that they can help with benefits queries (or Working for Families problems in NZ) whilst all the time presenting the Labour message of positive social democratic effort for a more equal society. Not only would such volunteer action address any accusation that a party had lost touch but it is totally consistent with the Party's values and core principles. Let's show that Labour believes in and practices the social democratic progressive agenda it espouses. One thing's for sure, we cannot continue as we are. There lies the political doldrums of the 1980's - another time of recession where Labour should have come into its own. What better way to evolve the party whilst differentiating Labour from the Tories. The day I see a Conservative Party volunteer working in a community project for a block of council flats I can give up politics for the battle will be won. Cameron likes to talk of cosy conservatism... well lets challenge him to show it whilst doing good for the electorate politicians are supposed to serve.