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Has anybody joined the Labour Party since 2019 Elections?

(60 Posts)
CosyCrafter Wed 08-Jan-20 09:04:49

I have just looked at the post/discussion about the Labour Party Leadership candidates and it is now 30 pages long so I hope this does not repeat anything. I am wondering if anybody has decided to join the Labour Party in order to vote for the new leader. In order to get a credible opposition party on it's feet maybe it needs everybody to take some action.

M0nica Sun 12-Jan-20 10:22:49

Blebelle I tend not to use emojis a lot.

After which comment I will leave you to work out whether that means I am serious about my plan or not. It does seem a very good idea, especially if enough people did it,

However I am serious when I say that I want to see the complete collapse of the current Labour party and its replacement by a outward democratic left of centre party.

Anniebach Sun 12-Jan-20 10:30:04

Me too MOnica

Niobe Sun 12-Jan-20 10:56:28

I cancelled my membership when Corbyn became leader but rejoined last week so I can give Kier Starmer my vote.

suziewoozie Sun 12-Jan-20 11:09:39

I simply can’t see that happening MOnica - the Labour Party will just have to refashion itself under a new leader - I hope KS. Am in two minds as to whether to join to vote for him - it feels wrong really, sort of opportunistic- as to joining with the aim of wrecking, that’s utterly dreadful and although some may do it, it won’t be in anything like sufficient numbers. We need a proper opposition as soon as not in some utopian future with a newly formed unicorn party.

vegansrock Sun 12-Jan-20 11:15:25

I’m with you suzie in two minds whether to join in order to vote for the leader. I do like Jess Phillips but think I’d vote for KS. - a credible leader, he is articulate and could appeal to a wider audience than just the politically minded. I know several people who left the LP over Corbyn and have now rejoined.

suziewoozie Sun 12-Jan-20 12:25:49

BTW I’m not critical of people rejoining - I feel uncomfortable about joining for the first time in order to vote.

Grany Sun 12-Jan-20 12:52:07

I have voted Labour always and joined for the first time when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. Lots of younger people joined Labour because of him too but not as many older folk.

I don't know who to vote for yet but they have to be from the left no neoliberal Blairites. The French are on strike demonstrating for many weeks now. And neoliberal Macron has halted temporarily so the force of the many won against the might of the few.

Labour polices are doing well in Scandinavian countries it is mainstream there.

The Labour movement is strong we need a truly socialist government again.

Devorgilla Sun 12-Jan-20 13:00:53

To those of you debating whether to join or not to vote for new leader - please do. We need every vote to restore faith in the Party. I didn't vote for JC but I remained a member to retain the right to vote in elections of NEC members etc. You don't win them all but you do win some. Every win is a step towards that outward, tolerant left of centre Party you want. Don't hesitate, join today. Those who want to keep the Party as it has become will be sure they are registered.
Suziewoozie, loads joined specifically to vote for JC so what's the difference? Welcome to the Party when you join and be part of the movement to bring it more centre left. Some of the things JC brought about are worth preserving but we need a leader who can translate that to the people. He couldn't gain the trust of enough of the electorate. We need a leader who can change that.

GracesGranMK3 Sun 12-Jan-20 15:07:01

A standard Labour membership costs £4.38 a month. There is also a discounted price for people who are 20 to 26-years-old, retired, unwaged or in part-time work which costs £2.21 a month. This also applies to members of affiliated trade unions.

Labour supporters who do not wish to become a member can join as a registered supporter by paying £25. The window to sign-up in this category is narrow, though: you have 48 hours from 14-16 January.

The third way to vote is by being a member of one of the socialist societies which are registered affiliates to Labour. The cut off for these groups is also 20 January.

The affiliated groups you can join are:
BAME Labour
Chinese for Labour
Christians on the Left
Disability Labour
Fabian Society
Jewish Labour Movement
Labour Animal Welfare Society
Labour Business
Labour Campaign for International Development
Labour Housing Group
Labour Movement for Europe
Labour Party Irish Society
Labour Women's Network
LGBT Labour
National Union of Labour and Socialist Clubs
Scientists for Labour
Socialist Educational Association
Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA)
Socialist Health Association
Society of Labour Lawyers

inews.co.uk/news/politics/labour-leadership-election-how-vote-who-can-next-leader-join-party-membership-explained-1357904

GracesGranMK3 Sun 12-Jan-20 15:19:06

I'm still deciding. I don't think I would join just to influence the vote. Firstly I would be asking myself what one vote can do and secondly, it seems a little cynical as in "I'll belong to this party only if it does exactly what I want all the time" I think if I felt like that the choice is - go off and start your own so it can be all about what I want or accept you will be voting for the nearest to the most important of my views. I would also be asking "How green is your Labour Party" before I did.

GracesGranMK3 Sun 12-Jan-20 15:22:33

Just read your post Devorgilla which restores my faith a little. It's those who tried to destroy from within and subsequently left and tried to destroy it from there. Does anyone really need that angst? It's good to see someone accepting it will not always be exactly what they want.

Grandad1943 Sun 12-Jan-20 17:22:43

It will take a great number to join now to realistically affect the outcome of the vote. At the last Labour leadership in 2016 over half a million members and affiliate members polled in that ballot.

The ballot is also held on a "preferential vote" basis, so no member can guarantee that their first preference will not eventually be transferred to an alternative candidate.

The rules of such a ballot are, If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote on first preferences, the candidate with the lowest number of votes has their votes redistributed. This is repeated until the winner reaches the threshold.

Simple as that. ?

Cunco Sun 12-Jan-20 17:46:33

Grandad1943: That's interesting. So if, on the first round of voting, Kier Starmer scored 40%, Long Bailey 35% and Nandy 25%, Starmer would still not become leader unless he picked up more than 10% of second preferences when Nandy's votes were redistributed. If that's right, it is an interesting speculation as to how second preferences might be determined. If voters for Long Bailey and Nandy were to influenced by the view that the next Labour leader should be a woman, it could add another twist to the saga.

NotSpaghetti Sun 12-Jan-20 17:52:01

Iam64 - I did the same. Resigned over Iraq and re-joined with Miliband and then left again.
Maybe now is the time to re-join...

janipat Sun 12-Jan-20 18:34:26

Out of interest (I'm not a member) are voters allowed to just vote for one candidate, and therefore not have their (if unsuccessful) vote transferred to another candidate?

Grandad1943 Sun 12-Jan-20 18:36:39

Cunco, what you state in regards to the preference vote in your post @17:46 today is correct.

If I remember correctly from the leadership poll in both 2015 and 2016, members had to list in order of preference by number their choice for leader.

Therefore if on the first preference count no candidate secures more than fifty percent of the total vote, then those who voted for the candidate with the lowest first preference have their second, third and so on preferences distributed among the other candidates.

The above is repeated until one candidate secures more than fifty percent of the total vote.

I believe that when the above was first brought about in 2015, one member of the NEC described it as "complex simplicity". ?

Iam64 Sun 12-Jan-20 18:54:20

Hi NotSpaghetti - it's good to know I'm not alone. I'm not usually a flouncer and my commitment to voting/supporting the LP throughout my adult life hasn't wavered. I was reluctant to re-join, didn't want to be/feel like a fair weather friend. However the mess the country is in, my belief in good public services and desire to do something, rather than just grumble and criticise influenced me. I'll be attending local LP meetings again. Keir S was in Manchester this weekend. I couldn't go but friends did and reported back positively

Barmeyoldbat Sun 12-Jan-20 19:56:37

I did that Monica, joined the Tory party to vote against Boris, but he still got in. Joined by paying a direct debit and as soon as I had voted I cancelled it. They still keep me updated and think I am a member.
I am still a member of Labour and will probably vote for Keir, Philips or Nancy. we need to be ready for the next election when everything has gone wrong and no promises have been kept.

NotSpaghetti Sun 12-Jan-20 19:58:24

I really liked Milliband. I felt he was sincere and totally honest about complex decisions. I liked the way that his answers were always qualified and explained. My husband says that is exactly why he was no use. You needed to think rather than just react. To gain power in this country you need to be certain about everything it seems.

I was never a Blair fan - he could easily have been a Tory I thought.

Lovemybed Sun 12-Jan-20 20:07:12

Thank you for this thread, Feeling I would like to join the Labour animal welfare group but can't see how.
If I join the LP now will I be in time to vote in the leadership election?
Have searched for answers to both queries but not been v successful - too close to my bedtime!
Any help much appreciated but will explore again tomorrow when a bit fresher.

GrannySquare Sun 12-Jan-20 20:21:25

I am tempted to rejoin, but hand on heart I am not impressed by any of the candidates so feel it would hypocritical of me to join to vote, so will sit this dance out.

KS seems to be the most credible of the runners to be Leader of the Opposition, & a vigorous parliamentary opposition to this majority Tory Government is a priority for me.

I favour Lisa Nandy as back up as she seems to be the right stuff with just a bit of time needed to develop full gravitas.

The others ? Nope, either insufficient, not credible or just no.

Devorgilla Sun 12-Jan-20 22:22:01

labour.org.uk shows the MPs who have nominated each candidate. GracesGranMK3 has put on the dates etc for eligibility to vote on page 2 of this thread - higher up than this post. I think the decision to vote in this for people whose natural political home would be Labour is a bit like the one for Brexit. No guarantee you will get the result you want but at least you made your mark in good faith for the person you thought would be best for the job.

Devorgilla Sun 12-Jan-20 22:24:39

It is also important as a member to attend your CLP nomination meeting to vote for the person you think should be on the list.

Cunco Thu 16-Jan-20 21:19:26

For what it is worth, the odds on Long-Bailey have shortened considerably in the last few days. They were 6/1 and are now just 2/1 in places behind Starmer who is still odds-on at 4/6. It looks quite uncertain to me but if Long-Bailey wins, what will it say about the Labour membership's assessment of the recent election loss? If it were to happen, could Labour avoid a major split?

Iam64 Thu 16-Jan-20 21:53:48

I don’t believe RLB will win, I suspect Keir Starmer will. The poll is Labour List, heavily momentum influenced. It may not represent the membership