Every journey begins with a first step and so is the case with reform of Young Labour. Over the last year there have been a number of improvements to Young Labour including a Young Labour website, a toolkit to support young members, more links with young trade unionists and more regular meetings of the Young Labour national committee. However, the reforms to Young Labour passed by Labour Party Conference last week represent the first step ensure that these improvements are not an isolated occurrence but result in a permanent change to a more active, open, democratic and effective Young Labour. Their passing signified an acceptance by the conference that Young Labour’s structures needed improvement and were not open or democratic enough. The question is whether these reforms will do enough to solve these problems – and ensure long-running improvements.
Tony Blair, speaking about education reform, once said ‘what can we learn from reform; what works and what doesn't; what is it necessary to do, to take the logic of the reforms presently in place, to their completion?’
So how do the Young Labour reforms measure up? The greatest significance of the changes is that Young Labour’s structures will no longer be able to collapse into complete inactivity - as sadly has happened in the past. The process for electing the chair of Young Labour will be more open and democratic, with him or her being elected by Young Labour delegates to Young Labour Conference rather than the more opaque process that has existed so far. The reforms will ensure greater democracy by bringing all regions in line with the current position of London and Scotland (where regional chairs are elected by young members). Similarly, Young Labour will get equality officers, as already exist in London Young Labour and Labour Students. Finally, Young Labour will get a dedicated policy committee providing more scope for Young Labour to influence the party policy process - as has already successfully been the case with the campaign for votes at 16.
In order to complete these reforms though, to further open up, democratise and strengthen Young Labour, at least three further improvements are needed.
Firstly, the youth representatives on the National Policy Forum should be elected by young members, rather than as present by CLP delegates to Labour Party Conference. It is difficult to see how they can really be representative of young members when that is not their electorate.
Secondly, the requirement that candidates for chair of Young Labour must be members of the Young Labour National Committee is overly restrictive. At a time when our Labour Government is working to give people more of a direct say – such as through the community calls for action developed by Hazel Blears – we should be willing to put more trust in Young Labour delegates to elect who they want rather than artificially restricting their choice.
Thirdly, the age rates for various positions in Young Labour need to be rationalised. Candidates for the youth representative on the NEC have traditionally been required to be aged under 23 (when Young Labour membership goes covers those 26 or under), whilst candidates for other positions, such as Young Labour chair, can (as far as I know) be elected even if they turn 27 the day after being elected. This does not seem to make sense, and should be replaced with a single and consistent age rate for all positions.
Changing structures and systems is all well and good, but real change depends on action - as Young Labour chair Richard Angell argued forcefully in respect of community involvement. As young Labour members we will need to work to turn these reforms into greater involvement of young people across the country in the Labour Party. To help, more resources to train young members to campaign and develop their ability to become CLP officers, NEC members, councillors, Assembly Members, MEPS and MPs would be welcome. As would more scope for Young Labour to develop policies and campaigns to feed into a dedicated youth manifesto. There will always be more that can be done – but the good news is that the first steps have been taken.
Omar Salem is chair of London Young Labour and a member of the Young Labour executive.
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