| Save the Labour Party |
| NEWS RELEASE 01/04
Blair faces grass-roots membership revolt on eve of most difficult week of Premiership London, 24 January Prime Minister Tony Blair is being challenged by the growth of a new 'grass-roots' organisation committed to promoting active Labour Party membership and mobilising members in constituencies across the country. Newly-elected members of Save the Labour Party (STLP)’s national committee – all longstanding Labour Party members - met today in London to finalise a programme of activity through to the 2004 Annual Labour party Conference this autumn. STLP events in 2003 attracted support from former government minister, the Rt Hon Michael Meacher MP, Manchester Central MP and former government member Tony Lloyd, leading political scientist, Professor Sir Bernard Crick, and Labour National Executive Committee member Ann Black. At present the Labour Party is faced with mounting evidence of a collapse of both membership and campaigning activity. Under Tony Blair’s leadership, membership has fallen to less than 250,000, fewer than when he was first elected Leader of the Labour Party in 1994. A major battle is looming over the way the Labour’s manifesto for the next election will be decided. Broken manifesto promises over higher education funding and policy making on the hoof by the Labour government over Foundation Hospitals have angered thousands of Labour party activists. Peter Kenyon – a spokesman for STLP – said: “We want Labour to win a third term with more people willing to join in and actively campaign for our party’s policies. So we have taken a key decision to work closely with all other Labour Party organisations, including the trade unions and socialist societies, across the political spectrum with the Party. “Our aim is to restore proper accountability in the way policies are formulated and decisions are taken whether or not Labour is in power, otherwise there is no point in people belonging to the Labour Party.” Since its first AGM in Manchester at the end of November last year, STLP has established a website www.savethelabourparty.org and recruited some 120 members from around Britain. It is offering facilities for all 600+ constituency parties to publicise resolutions of current interest. Criticism of Labour Party control freaks editing contributions to the ‘Big Conversation’ has been countered with a facility to post constituency and branch views unedited on the STLP site. In an attempt to break the stranglehold of the Party machinery, all Labour Party delegates are being encouraged to publish their attendance and voting records. Examples of good practice will be posted as will alleged breaches of party rules.. Fringe meetings are being planned at all Labour Party regional and national events – including the Spring national conferences in Manchester - at which the Prime Minister is expected to be the main speaker - to publicise the need to grow membership and give members a real say in policy making. ends Media Enquiries: Peter Kenyon – 078 0221 6591 eMail: peter.g.kenyon@btinternet.com Notes to Editors 1. Save the Labour Party is a voluntary association, open to all Labour Party members and affiliates and includes members from the left, right and centre of the Labour Party committed to democratic socialism. 2. Details of its activities – past present and future can be seen at: www.savethelabourparty.org |