Ed Miliband seeks to rewrite Labour's founding principles

[UrbScotty]

Source: Guardian

Ed Miliband is to propose rewriting the Labour party's 93-year-old founding principles, amending clause I of its constitution to explicitly put the principles of community organising at its heart.

In the first redrafting of the party's clauses in 17 years since Tony Blair famously scrapped clause IV, which until then had committed Labour to a programme of mass nationalisation, Miliband hopes to get party support for his wider ambitions for the party, which have so far been controversial with union leaders. The constitution was adopted by the party in 1918.

The Guardian has seen a draft of the proposed changes Miliband will put to the Labour party conference in Liverpool in three weeks. Aides say he believes the current statement as set out in the party's constitution – "to organise and maintain in parliament and in the country a political Labour party" – suggests the party's objective is simply to maintain elected office. Now, in a document that has been sent to Labour's ruling national executive committee (NEC), the leadership is proposing a new clause I to reflect a party as welcoming to "members and supporters alike" – making formal its desire to be attractive to a far greater range of people.

The proposal, contained in the Refounding Labour document, which has been drawn up by Peter Hain, chair of the national policy forum, would also insert into the new clause I the statement that Labour is "a force for social justice".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/04/ed-miliband-labour-founding-principles

[jerseyjack]

1. Does the Democratic Party have a statement of founding principles?

If so, what are they? IF so, are they being followed by the leaders?

If there is not such a statement, why not?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. fwiw

http://www.democrats.org/issues

I guess US political parties have platforms with policy position more than overarching principles.

[RyanPsych]

2. We need to bring *TRUE* grassroots organizing to the roots of the Democratic party

before it is too late

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. We could start by having people..

....with prior community-organizing experience serving in the highest levels of our government.