I've completed the first draft of the political statement. I'm now provisionally calling this the Liverpool Community Part.
My apologies in advance if this seems naive, repetitive waffle that insults your intelligence. I'm trying to appeal to as broad and general an audience so I feel it's necessary to emphasise points. It's (mostly) all up for negotiation, especially the provisional policies. I've spoilered each section for convenience and I hope it generates some positive feedback.
Liverpool Community Party
1 - IntroductionSpoiler
Do you feel there is no longer a valid or viable political voice for you at parliamentary level?
As a socialist, do you feel that the Labour Party no longer represents your views and takes your vote for granted?
Do you feel there being no real voting choice denigrates some of the greatest achievements this nation has accomplished when working for the good of the many and not a select few?
Have you become generally apathetic towards politics in general, believing that, whoever you vote for, nothing will really change, and that all major parties are working with similar agendas?
Do you feel disenfranchised by the British political system?
Do you believe that the British political system is, at best, being manipulated, or, at worst, directly serving the self interest of a governing "elite"?
The Liverpool Community Party (LCP) seeks to return representative political social activism back to the people of Merseyside.
2 - BackgroundSpoiler
Thatcherism succeeded in portraying Socialism as an evil; something to be ashamed of.
Q - Is the LCP a political party designed to replace Labour at Parliamentary level?
A - No. Unpalatable as the Labour Party's current form is, we believe that it is still preferable to ANY form of Conservative government. We do not wish to see a repeat of the 1980s vote splitting that occurred with the SDP/Liberal Alliance, allowing the Conservatives into government by the back door.
Q - Does this mean the LCP does not aspire to Parliamentary power?
A - No. Not contesting for government does not mean we cannot contest Parliament. In the future we intend to field candidates at by-elections as a means of applying pressure upon Labour to change their ways - to remind them they can no longer take their bedrock support for granted and that there is now a viable socialist alternative that will deprive them of that support if they do not remember it.
Q - Does this mean the LCP is little more than a pressure group?
A - No. The ultimate purpose of the LCP is to challenge and eventually replace Labour as the dominant force in local politics, and establish itself with a nationwide powerbase. But this is a long term challenge where there are real needs at grass roots level that need to be addressed NOW.
Q - Does the LCP want to turn back the clock?
A - No. The LCP seeks a restoration of progressive socialism with the core emphasis of the community. People are at the heart of everything we seek to do because ultimately beliefs, ideology and policies can accomplish nothing without people. It is people who do things and the LCP wishes to build the framework by which people can accomplish for themselves as individuals and for one another as a community.
The LCP is not about aspiring to a particular ideology; it is a common sense party that seeks to do what works.
3 - Not using the "S" wordSpoiler
It is indeed a sad state of affairs that the words “Socialist” and “Labour” have become so tainted that even using the words carries a risk political rejection without consideration. To redress this imbalance and alter public perception of Socialism being destructive, antagonistic, and economically damaging will likely take decades.
Place a perfectly reasonable policy in front of a typical voter and there’s a good chance they will see the sense in it. Put the same policy in front of a voter and describe it as a Socialist policy however, and they will likely reject it out of hand. It is therefore necessary to be Socialist in all but name.
This is not a deception. This is re-creation. Once people can see the good Socialism can accomplish they will gradually be re-educated as to what constitutes good, sound, one nation politics that benefits the many.
This will not be an easy task. The right wing media has a vested interest in portraying Socialism as “bad”. In Labour heartlands this will be less of an issue, but as the party’s profile becomes more nationwide the political attacks will inevitably come. It is therefore vital that arguments are won by deeds and not words.
Liverpool - a city that suffered greatly under the industry-decimating policies of the 1980s - is to be the core of socialism’s rebirth.
4 - Actions, not WordsSpoiler
It could well take up to 50 years to rehabilitate the word ‘socialism’ and it will indeed prove difficult to persuade proud, politically active socialists to leave that word behind. But we must be pragmatic. Whatever war socialism was waging on a national level was lost at least a generation ago. To continue to fight under this banner may be noble, but it is also futile. It dooms the work and accomplishments of socialism to the political margins.
However, this does NOT mean socialism needs some kind of New Labour style re-branding.
The Legacy of Tony Blair was to leave us with a right-of-centre Parliament of new age Whigs and Tories. Labour are now One-Nation Conservatives vying for power with a Neo-Thatcherite Conservative Party. Whilst it may be true that Britain is predominantly a conservative country that does NOT mean there is no place for socialism on a national level. It does mean, though, that a lot of work has to be done to make the case for socialism on a national level.
There is currently no place in national politics for socialism and so we should retreat from that battle-ground and begin rebuilding our power-base. It is on the local level that socialism must fight and in order to do that it must aspire.
How is this to be done?
5 - A Credible AlternativeSpoiler
There are many active socialist groups at local level, yet their political representation is limited at best. Why is this?
There are many reasons - too many to go into. On the simplest level though, the Labour Party simply has the greater resources and history on its side. Additionally, local politics has been crippled by voter apathy. Of course, Liverpool is far from being a one party city; as recently as the early 1980s, Conservative councillors were still being elected and the Liberals have held sway for at least half of the last 45 years or so.
However, things are changing. And with change arises opportunity.
The Liberals have consistently targeted resources at Liverpool as it has been both a major and also realistic target for them. Nationally, though, the Liberal Democrat’s decision to enter into coalition with the Conservatives has effectively sounded the death knell for the party at local level in Liverpool. That the Conservatives gave up on Merseyside years ago is a matter of public record.
What we are seeing is a combination of people voting Labour out of habit and also to punish the Liberal Democrats. Indeed, neighbouring Knowsley IS a one party borough, but this is NOT good for democracy.
There is, essentially, no effective alternative to voting Labour - even though Labour has long since ceased to realistically represent the views of Merseyside as a whole and Liverpool in particular. They are in essence elected by default. When was the last time you even spoke to a canvasser, much less a prospective candidate?
Therefore the task ahead is deceptively simple. Present the Liverpool electorate with a credible alternative to Labour and they will support it.
6 - Getting the Ball RollingSpoiler
The minority parties in this city may consistently succeed in getting their ‘hard core’ support out but equally they appear to be running into a brick wall when it comes to breaking out into the local voting populace at large.
Why should this be the case?
Liverpool is a city full of generous people; Merseyside is a community 400,000 strong. There are many willing hands and quick minds available - a vast untapped resource of sinew and brain power - and yes, votes. Give the people of Liverpool something to work towards and they will accomplish it with pride and passion.
Our greatest enemy is inertia. The political apathy that has descended upon Liverpool over the past 20 years stems from the growing realisation that those vying for office are more concerned about the office then the people voting for them. We have seen a collapse in voter turnout due to the “Nothing changes” factor.
The key, then, is doing what the major political parties say should be done but are happy not to because it guarantees the smooth running of the current political system. We need to reconnect to the voters.
This is more about simply “discussing the issues that resonate with the electorate”. Talk may be a two-way process but increasingly political representation is seen as one way. What are we getting in return for our support?
Therein lies the key.
The key to voter support, and breaking the curse of voter apathy, is empowerment. First of all we need to view the electorate as real people and not merely votes or voters. If we can then help local people rediscover the power to effect real change in their local environment then political support should follow.
7 - UnitySpoiler
Unity of strength, resources and common purpose is what the LCP aspires to. Coalition requires compromise; compromise generates friction; friction can fracture common purpose and ultimately weaken strength.
Ultimately, the LCP wishes to become the banner of unity under which all those who feel disenfranchised can gather. There are many organisations currently in existence all trying to accomplish goals somewhat separately; it will prove far more effective if these organisations can all pull in the same direction, helping one another achieve their aims without necessarily compromising those aims.
As an example, there are many good men and women who work very hard for the Labour party at local level. We hope to offer these people a viable opportunity to fully express their socialist views. In this way they can walk away a party so obsessed with regaining power on a national level that it has abandoned its roots, leaving party activists afraid of being 'too' socialist.
Of course, some form of compromise is inevitable; not everybody will agree on everything and it’s important that unity does not collapse into petty squabbles once power is achieved. It is by this manner that the LCP seeks to offer political representation to those who currently lack it - without “being under their thumb” but equally without taking their support for granted. Labour has struggled with this balancing act in its relationship with the unions.
There are many other forms of political expression - art, music, modern and traditional media, etc. We see these forms of expression every day, from our newspapers to sub-culture - even businesses and local religious leaders. LCP will seek to mobilise this expression. Rallies, fund raising gigs, radio broadcasts, even galleries and poetry, can all be utilised to send the message of political solidarity and strength.
Other areas may exist that could be considered apolitical, such as foodbanks welfare rights, homeless shelters, the Salvation Army etc, that nonetheless may exist in part due to the existing political landscape. These organisations may feel it prudent - indeed necessary - to maintain an apolitical standpoint, yet will still require support and representation.
8 - It’s okay to be “Left”Spoiler
While it is fair to say that, on a local level at least, the Labour Party is more socialist than it's Parliamentary counterpart, it is also clear that, even with a Labour government, the needs and issues of Merseyside have not been addressed and will continue to be overlooked. There is a disconnection between the two.
Indeed, local politics itself is awash with petty feuds and power grabs. Our current Mayor appears to be all bluster, talking a good fight to local media yet seemingly treated as an irrelevance by Whitehall.
The Labour party has adopted an increasingly centre right stance over the past 20 years. Some modifications could be argued as necessary to make the party truly electable but the continued tinkering and 'modernisation' - such as parachuting centre right candidates into safe Labour seats - has taken the party too far.
It is possible therefore - perhaps even desirable - that, seeing their traditional voter power base come under threat, the Labour Party may try to “tack back” towards the left, attempting to appease Socialist voters with new policies, whilst at the same time attempting to maintain a position as a centre right party for the swing voters.
9 - Proposals and AimsSpoiler
The people need to be involved and feel that they are part of the process of change. This will excite them, engage them and encourage them.
First and foremost LCP will require willing hands and brains. Volunteer work within the community, helping as best we can, is important to establish our credentials. We are not to become just another organisation “doing what we can” to plug the gaps left by big government and local politics - our challenge is to augment and support these existing organisations whilst offering them a platform for a political voice that local leaders must eventually listen to.
Yes, there are several powerful, locally based lobby groups for small business etc that seem to be ignored when it suits the purpose of the council, but these groups are working within the existing system, rather than outright challenging it.
Funding drives and donation requests could be made to such organisations, but with a note of caution: it is not a “You scratch our back and we’ll scratch yours” arrangement. We do not want to get ‘into hoc’ with any organisation who feel we owe them. We must deny such leverage as our prime responsibility is to people, not organisations.
One possibility is serving local communities via their parishes. The local church was traditionally the hub of most small communities and many still strive to do what they can for residents and parishioners. An existence of mutual encouragement and support could be fosters. This does not require any religious conviction - it is common sense compassion to make use of pre-existing support networks.
10 - Basic Policy OutlineSpoiler
Currently, key policy recommendations under consideration are as follows:
1 - To avoid regeneration for regenerations' sake. That is, to refurbish pre existing communities, limiting demolition and renewal schemes to where they are absolutely necessary.
Currently many large derelict homes have the potential to become “community hubs”. This would involve social housing investments to provide tenant-specific accommodations that will help avoid “bedroom tax” penalties.
Similarly, such buildings can offer student accommodation facilities for non-students. This will help focus efforts on increasing the quality of life for pre existing local residents rather than those coming in from outside the city.
2 - Employment and education opportunities for local people. This involves the re-establishment of local [collective] industry. The wholesale destruction of Britain’s manufacturing base in the 1980s threw 2 million people out of work. We must now seek to redress this balance by reviewing the city’s portfolio of potential for new heavy industry.
3 - Nationalisation. Council run services, such as emergency services, libraries, meals-on-wheels, are essentially state owned and state run. Is it possible for a council to, for example, buy and operate a coal mine? In short can we establish local, state owned industry and infrastructure that could improve job opportunities for local people, save them money and aid their quality of life/
4 - Transport. Increased pedestrianisation and a complex city one-way system makes Liverpool city centre’s roads difficult to navigate. Queen’s Square, serving routes for central and northern Liverpool, is not fit for purpose and is a massive cause of congestion. To that end a new bus station for buses serving North Liverpool and Sefton areas, is required.
5 - Political aims. Measured political progress would be to contest a single council seat in the next three years, ie, by 2016. In the long term, we will attempt to challenge Labour in any local by-elections and also ultimately field candidates at General Elections. For example, where a Liberal Democrat holds a seat, we will seek to appeal to disaffected Liberal, Labour and minority voters. We will also seek to challenge the 'three way' seats as a means of establishing public recognition nationally.