Policy consultation - Open or opaque?

Peter Kenyon Fri May 02, 2008 at 09:17:37 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Gordon Brown has been asked by LabOUR Commission members and others to support an open and transparent policy consultation from now on. The letter can be seen here.



To win the next election in the light of last night's election results, putting Labour third on 24% of the vote so far, will require a herculean effort. He could rely on his prowess as a manager of the economy, and the consoling thought that this is just mid-tem blues.
As a prudent man, you would have thought this was the time when he would want to make sure loyal Labour supporters were behind him - not to knife him in the back, but to get Labour's message across better in the pubs, at work and the corner shop.

There were too many of us out campaigning (and not for the first time) who are doing so despite Labour in government. Now is the time to ask: are you with us Gordon, or willing to risk opposition by pretending to listen,  but actually ignoring us?



tags: , , (all tags)

Display: Sort:
Policy consultation - Open or opaque? | 2 comments (2 topical)

Re: Policy consultation - Open or opaque? (#1)

by fluffymike on Fri May 02, 2008 at 09:38:48 AM GMT

Think you need to reword your poll!

"Should the policy consultation be open or opaque?"


I kind of think it's got to be one or other of those options so 'yes' would seem to be the only answer - but I guess that's not what you wanted to ask!


Re: Policy consultation - Open or opaque? (#2)

by Peter Kenyon on Fri May 02, 2008 at 10:03:00 AM GMT

Dear fluffymike


Thanks and done.


Tribune this week is also calling for this.

From today (May 2), constituency parties will be receiving policy documents which they will be able to amend in order to inform the next election manifesto. It is imperative that views on, for example, council housing, the 10p tax, non-doms, Trident and others are pressed with the maximum support that can be mustered. To be fair and open the consultation process should include publication to all members of the documents and the amendments. But crucially, it will need individual members to get involved.


Policy consultation - Open or opaque? | 2 comments (2 topical)