Features
|
USEFUL WEBSITES The official website of the Labour Party includes the latest party news plus information on campaigns and policies. You can also post questions to various forums and find out more about your local Labour MP, MEP, councillor and party.
There is open access to large areas of this site covering many aspects of the party's activities in local councils and their communities, including advice on how to become a councillor. There are also areas aimed specifically at councillors which they access via their own passwords. Sets out the Labour Party's policies and campaigning on equality issues, including those for women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and lesbians and gay men. CONTACT INFORMATION Labour Party Equalities Unit: equalities@new.labour.org.uk Tel: 020 7802 1213 |
If you're unhappy with the way your local services are run, becoming a Labour councillor can empower you to make a difference. Helen Findlay (Labour Party local government unit) and Annie Keys (Labour Party equalities officer) explains how you can get involved
Changing the faces of local government
Care about your neighbourhood? Keen to make a difference? Then becoming a Labour councillor could be for you.
Labour Party members and supporters can be found in all walks of life
and in all occupations. A common thread is a wish to give something back
to our communities.
This could be as a school governor, working locally with tenants and
residents associations or even being a local councillor or other elected
representative.
Labour councillors put the party’s programme into action and help
form policies to improve the lives and opportunities of the people in
their own areas. Councillors give a voice to the people they represent
– an important and fulfilling task. But there’s work to be done.
An IDeA survey in 2001 showed that nearly 10% of the population in the
UK were from an ethnic background, but only 2.5% were councillors; only
27.9% of councillors were female and the average age of a local government
councillor was 57.
Councillors should represent the diversity of people within their communities
- so why don’t you think about it?
Labour government and diversity
Legislation was introduced on 1 January 2003 that outlaws religious discrimination
in the workplace – just one measure that this Labour government has
taken to ensure a fair and equitable society that celebrates its diversity.
Other measures include the Race Relations Amendment Act, Sex Discrimination
Act 2000 and, famously, the repeal of Section 28.
But legislation is only one method for changing society. When prejudices
become institutionalised, a more holistic approach is needed, involving
education, training and support, as well as enshrining rights in law.
This is never truer than in local government.
All-women shortlists
In May 2003 the Welsh Assembly became the first elected body in the world
to achieve gender parity of 50/50 men and women. This was due in the main
to the equalities agenda that the Labour Party has enacted since election,
using positive action measures. Labour returned 63% women members.
This success is part of a larger programme ensuring gender parity throughout
the party involving all-women shortlists in Parliamentary selections and
a rolling pilot programme of all-women shortlists in local government
selections.
The Labour Party aims to have more women than ever representing the party
from all walks of life whilst realising there may be cultural and institutional
barriers to doing so. But if you are interested in seeking selection,
the party can offer training and support.
The Labour Party is committed to ensuring that, by 2010, women are 50%
of our elected representatives in local government.
Diversity toolkit
Ethnic community groups are under-represented in political life, not just
as elected representatives but also in terms of electoral registration
and voting. In January 2004, the Labour Party will be launching a comprehensive
toolkit to promote diversity within the party and civic society.
This includes advice and support to target political representation in
a wide range of communities and will be supported by training activities,
including Parliamentary Panel Training, aimed at members of the ethnic
community.
Labour Party local government unit
The local government unit, based at the party’s national office,
provides advice, guidance and information on local government issues for
Labour councillors and members. It also provides a programme of support
and development for council candidates, new councillors and those seeking
office on their council, once elected.
Labour Academy
The Labour Academy is a new way of providing training, political education
and skills development for all party members. A series of courses and
seminars are being run across the country this Autumn, with more in Spring
2004, for party officers, election agents, councillors, Labour school
governors, members wanting to be elected representatives, amongst others.
It will enable members to learn and share knowledge on the core organisation
skills required to build the party; address electoral challenges and the
campaign techniques needed to win future elections and also help the discussion
and understanding of the key themes and ideas that have helped make the
Labour Party what it is today.
More information and details on how to register for the courses can be
found at: 
www.labour.org.uk/labouracademy
|
|
ON THE FRONTLINE 29 year old Kuheli Mookerjee
(above) is a Labour councillor in Greenwich, south east London:
What inspired you to become an active
member of the Labour Party? And more recently the minimum wage and debt
relief for poorer countries. Of course I don’t agree with everything
all of the time. I like to be involved in changing society and the
community I come from for the better. What made you become councillor? I didn’t want to stand on the sidelines
and be an academic studying regeneration and development but actually
do something practical to help implement it. What support did you get to become a Labour
councillor? Informally, I found my local party and existing
councillors to be a great wealth of advice and encouragement, from
my selection to election, and then on how to get the job done. What advice would you offer to anyone
thinking about becoming a Labour councillor? Although it is packed with surprises, I was
very impressed when I first went on the licensing committee and
realised that we had a direct influence on opening hours. How do you think the experience of being
a Labour councillor benefits you? Have you achieved anything? |
LOTS MORE FEATURESIncluding stress in the workplace, getting out of debt and the pensions crisis more... |
© Copyright 2008
