If Ed Miliband really wanted the registered supporters scheme to take off, then he would make it free of charge, and open to anyone who neither belonged to a party which contested elections to the House of Commons, nor did so individually as an Independent.
That would create a relationship with, for example, the Independent Councillors who are individually and collectively so important in many, especially rural, areas.
Or with all sorts of community campaigners whose work might be hindered by formal membership of a party.
Or with those who stand for the European Parliament under the aegis of No2EU, but who also do many other things in the five years between European Elections; being affiliated to the Labour Representation Committee, the No2EU-bankrolling RMT is already constitutionally committed to the election of a Labour Government.
Among others.
Or with all sorts of community campaigners whose work might be hindered by formal membership of a party.
Or with those who stand for the European Parliament under the aegis of No2EU, but who also do many other things in the five years between European Elections; being affiliated to the Labour Representation Committee, the No2EU-bankrolling RMT is already constitutionally committed to the election of a Labour Government.
Among others.
Individual party membership would still be a prerequisite to be a Labour candidate for anything, and affiliated membership might also usefully be so, whether through a trade union, or through one or more of the other affiliated organisations. (Half of Labour Party members are teachers, whose unions are unaffiliated.)
Progress, Movement for Change, Compass and the Labour Representation Committee ought all to join the ranks of the affiliated organisations, which would have half the votes in the Electoral College, in parliamentary selections, at Conference, and on the NEC.
The other half would go to individual members at Conference and on the NEC, and to them and registered supporters together in the Electoral College and in the final stage of parliamentary selections, choosing from the shortlist compiled by the Constituency Labour Party.
Moreover, the registered supporters might elect representatives with the right to speak, but not to vote, at Conference and at NEC meetings, very much like Group Observers in local government.
In each region, each supporter would vote for one candidate, and the top two for the NEC, the top 10 for Conference, would be elected.
Since Labour does not contest parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland, the bar to members of parties that did becoming registered supporters need not apply there.
In each region, each supporter would vote for one candidate, and the top two for the NEC, the top 10 for Conference, would be elected.
Since Labour does not contest parliamentary elections in Northern Ireland, the bar to members of parties that did becoming registered supporters need not apply there.
By far the biggest political movement in the country beckons.
No comments:
Post a Comment