A programme for change inside the Labour Party

Labour needs to rediscover its idealism. Our country desperately needs optimism to rally around.

We must remember that Labour’s historic task, now as ever, is changing the status quo, not just accommodating it.

Now is the time for a clear vision of what we think a better life for ordinary people actually looks like.

That means securing genuinely affordable and decent housing, meaningful work, and a comfortable balance between income and bills for everyone, to open up new horizons so that we can all stop worrying about having enough money at the end of the month and start living our lives.

It also means caring about more than just GDP figures, but also a public realm to be proud of, an environment that isn’t a constant reminder of decline, and more space and time in our lives for the things that really matter – leisure, being with friends and family, art, culture and self fulfilment.

This is the moment for a progressive political reset that makes our vision and offer absolutely clear. To avoid the nightmare of a Reform government at the next election, we need decisive action now, throughout the rest of this Parliament and in Labour’s next manifesto.

The following programme is not the sum total of what Labour needs to do, but it is the bare minimum to ensure that the public can see and feel the difference a socialist government makes to their lives.

This programme also relies on the party changing as well. We must restore party pluralism and party democracy and bring back meaningful backbench involvement in the policy making process, prior to announcements being made.

We must stop using the suspension of the whip as a threat and embrace the democratic value of debate. This also means ensuring the Government includes MPs from all wings of the party who have the talent and expertise to serve. Members should be back in control at CLP level and there should be an end to spurious de-selection tactics ahead of the next election.

This programme unashamedly draws on Labour values and historic commitments, as well as amplifying a number of existing manifesto commitments.

Despite the challenges our Labour Party currently faces, we believe that this programme charts a clear route to defeating the radical right and gives us a solid platform on which to win the next general election.