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Bin off the member democracy
I've said this somewhere on this thread (or a similar one). I think, as nice as it is, the member democracy is a hurdle to being elected. Their concerns often don't seem to match the general electorate's and it sometimes pushes the party in difficult directions.
For instance I'd say it was clear pretty early that Corbyn needed to go but with the members as they were this didn't happen.
aggi-
I've said this somewhere on this thread (or a similar one). I think, as nice as it is, the member democracy is a hurdle to being elected. Their concerns often don't seem to match the general electorate's and it sometimes pushes the party in difficult directions.
Agreed. I think the same argument applies to the question about who's going to door knock and volunteer and phone bank and the like - don't get me wrong, those things are important, but members tend to overestimate their input into a win. For the average voter, the leadership and policies are much more important. A large and active membership does not translate into election success, and sometimes actively harms it.
And that argument also applies to the unions. I am still in favour of collective action and I still think worker solidarity has a place in the world. I also recognise that people like Len McClusky are utterly toxic to the electorate, and that our association with people like him cost us votes. I also further recognise that union membership is at an all time low and excludes a significant number of precarious / zero hours workers.
I think unions have done some great things. I also think they have done some terrible things. I want a new model.
EDIT - Blair's Labour was not in hock to the unions. Other funding models are clearly possible.
ReekBlefs
Short answer, no. But there's also no majority in failing to appeal to anyone outside that bracket too. I think Labour's decline is terminal and they need to arrest it fast by changing the way the party is run. Bin off the member democracy. Bin off the unions. Bin off the Corbynites. Bin off the flag chat.
Start talking about meritocracy. Start talking about roads / crime / antisocial behaviour / housing / the damage of Brexit. Openly argue for social justice. Make electoral pacts with the Greens, Lib Dems, SNP. Create a progressive alliance.
I do appreciate that I'm speaking a bit fast and loose and from frustration but I do think this weekend's results show that a significant change in approach is required. Blairism won't work. Corbynism won't work. And the first attempt at Starmerism hasn't worked.