Twenty-one years ago former Labour Leader John Smith began
the journey to make Labour a more democratic and open political party by
introducing the principle of One Member, One Vote, into the way we select
Parliamentary candidates. Ed Miliband hopes the reforms announced this week will complete this
unfinished business and restore trust in our democracy.
Ed says: "These reforms are about letting people into our politics as well as our party. I hope we can attract more people who share Labour values and who are passionate about improving our communities.
"Trade unions are hugely important institutions that helped found our party over one hundred years ago. They fight for working people and I'm proud of Labour's links with the thousands of nurses, teachers, shopworkers, engineers and bus drivers that are in affiliated unions.
"But it's no longer acceptable for people to give money to a political party without having made an active choice to do so. Therefore every individual member of an affiliated trade union will be given a straight Yes or No choice about whether they want to pay a small a sum to ensure their union's voice is heard within the Labour party.
"Members are the lifeblood of the party and these reforms ensure that they retain rights which are not available to anyone else. Members' votes in leadership elections will now carry as much weight as anyone else's. Members will also remain the only people who can select parliamentary candidates, become constituency delegates to annual conference or stand for election as Labour representatives."
A REAL CHOICE, A REAL VOICE AND REAL CHANGE FOR THE LABOUR PARTY
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