Our 10 pledges for leadership contenders

Open Labour believes there is no one part of the Labour movement with all of the solutions we need to take us forward. It is important that we not only listen to all who make up the broad church of our party, but speak to those voters that have the power to make us a government for positive change.

In that light Open Labour calls for all those standing for leadership positions to sign up to the following as the basis for taking us forward to Government:

The #OLpledge

1. I will stand for a transformative socialist economic agenda, to make sure this is credible and coherent, and that it resonates with voters priorities.
2. I will support a respectful & comradely political culture and demand a high standard of conduct both from my supporters and other members.
3. I will fight for a truly independent and transparent complaints process, giving members clear guidance on their rights and responsibilities. I will work pro-actively to improve relations with Britain’s diverse faith communities.
4. I will seek to increase the party’s BAME, LGBT+, Disabilities and Women’s societies’ roles in related policy, representation and internal party matters, and safeguard the rights of trade unions in the party.
5. I will lead a review of the party’s campaign infrastructure, policy-making processes and priorities, and the work of the NEC and Leader’s Office to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
6. We need a more pluralist party. I will campaign for the party to adopt the voting system used to elect the leader (STV) for use in all internal elections above CLP level, guaranteeing wider and more accurate representation for our members.
7. I will only attend leadership hustings where all candidates have been given the opportunity to attend.
8. I will encourage all socialist societies, affiliates and Labour member-based organisations to ballot their members before endorsement of candidates, and to give all candidates an opportunity to be heard by their members.
9. I will commit to a voluntary spending cap on campaign costs and call on other candidates to agree the same.
10. I will broaden Labour’s international cooperation with like-minded parties and civil society in other countries and strengthen our relationship with non-UK citizens resident in the UK. I will fight any effort by the government to use Brexit to reduce rights and living standards for all residents.

We’re calling on activists as well as candidates to support these. You can add your support to the pledges below, and we will be using the hashtag #OLpledge to support the debate. If we want the right leadership in place, we have to make sure that we are having the right debate first.