Keir Starmer must not alienate Labour‘s climate activists

Green New Deal — Yesterday, it was announced that Labour Green New Deal would be blocked from the Party Conference, which begs the question: why is the Labour leadership alienating this vital campaign group as the planet burns?

The world of internal Labour Party organising is long and arduous. With its Annual Conference every September (except for when pandemics get in the way), activists start the process of developing motions to send as early as January. This was when Labour for a Green New Deal began deliberating on our priorities amid a new context: a pandemic, unemployment crisis, new Tory government, and new Labour leadership. Not to mention worsening extreme weather induced by climate change. 

Nine months later, our ‘green jobs revolution’ motion had been submitted to Labour Conference by 21 constituency parties (CLPs). On Thursday, we received the news that these motions had been ruled out of order by the party’s Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC). The justification given was that the motion “refers to more than one subject area”, thus not meeting criteria set out in the Party’s rulebook. 

The decision and the reasoning came as a surprise. The motion was written to have a tight focus on a core element of the Green New Deal: the creation of good green jobs. The thing about putting forward a plan to create millions of green jobs through mass investment and expanding public ownership is that it necessarily touches on many areas of the economy. The motion calls for investment in green tech, housing, public transport, agriculture, care, telecommunications, energy and nature. That a green jobs revolution is broad in scope does not mean it is greater than “one subject”. 

Based on Keir Starmer’s track record as Labour Party Leader, it’s not unreasonable to assume that blocking this motion is yet another in a long line of factional anti-democratic moves to alienate ordinary members. The irony is that Labour for a Green New Deal is a campaign group which prioritises unity, actively engaging with the Party at every level of democratic process.

Labour Party members from numerous constituencies have submitted a resolution so that the Party Conference discusses a comprehensive policy for a Green New Deal to tackle the climate crisis. It’s been ruled out of order on spurious grounds. Appalling decision by Labour leadership https://t.co/BILsxlHPlM

— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) September 16, 2021

Since we founded the organisation in March 2019, a core aim has been bringing together both the labour movement and climate activists around a shared vision and policy platform, with the Labour Party as the vehicle for that unity. We have constructed motions designed to maximise support from all wings of the party and our movements so that we can build from what we agree on rather than getting bogged down in where we differ.

It is true, and no secret, that we are proudly socialist. We believe that capitalism is the root cause of the climate crisis and economic justice, and that socialist transformations of the economy are necessary preconditions for decarbonisation and eliminating inequality. But we also believe that any movement for climate and economic justice must maintain a broad base. We are an open organisation which empowers new activists to take responsibility rather than relying on the same old cliques. We engage in dialogue with MPs, trade unions and climate groups across the political spectrum. 

We have played our part in reaching across our movements to develop a compelling and popular platform that can convince a majority of voters to put their trust in Labour to form a government. For these reasons, the bureaucratic blockage of our motion can only be seen as a repudiation of a politics of unity and consensus. Instead, the Labour Party machine chooses self-defeating factionalism and political vapidity.

Keir Starmer and his General Secretary, David Evans, now have two options. The first, which they should take, would be to overturn CAC’s decision. With this path, they can begin to re-engage members, facilitate lively democratic debate, and maintain a party capable of winning elections. The second, which seems to be more in character, would be to ignore this decision and leave opaque committees to conduct their dirty work. It would contribute to further alienating a generation for whom climate justice is a priority and the Green New Deal a ray of hope. The former gives Starmer’s Labour a fighting chance. The latter is a shot in both feet.

Chris Saltmarsh is a co-founder of Labour for a Green New Deal. Follow him on Twitter

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

 


You might like

Activism

How to blow up a pipeline

An ensemble of radical climate activists attempt to sabotage an oil pipeline in Daniel Goldhaber's environmentalist action-thriller.

Dimly lit underground carpark, long winding corridor with concrete walls, floor, and pipes above.
Activism

Youth violence’s rise is deeply concerning, but mass hysteria doesn’t help

Safe — On Knife Crime Awareness Week, writer, podcaster and youth worker Ciaran Thapar reflects on the presence of violent content online, growing awareness about the need for action, and the two decades since Saul Dibb’s Bullet Boy.

Written by: Ciaran Thapar

Red shop frontage with "Open Out" branding and appointment-only signage.
Activism

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims

Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Elderly man with glasses, white hair, and suit; young woman with long brown hair playing electric guitar on stage in green jacket.
Activism

Bernie Sanders introduces Clairo at Coachella, urging young Americans to “stand up for justice”

Coachella charmed — The Vermont Senator praised the singer-songwriter for her efforts in raising awareness of women’s rights issues and Gaza.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Focus on humanising people. Text over a bright green background with a faint image of a person's face.
Activism

Plestia Alaqad: “Journalists should focus on humanising people”

Huck’s April interview — Having become one of the most crucial and followed voices from inside Gaza in the aftermath of October 7, the award-winning author and journalist is releasing a new memoir, ‘The Eyes of Gaza’, collating diary entries made over the past 18 months. We caught up with her to hear more about it.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Music

Jack Johnson

Letting It All Out — Jack Johnson’s latest record, Sleep Through The Static, is more powerful and thought provoking than his entire back catalogue put together. At its core, two themes stand out: war and the environment. HUCK pays a visit to Jack’s solar-powered Casa Verde, in Los Angeles, to speak about his new album, climate change, politics, family and the beauty of doing things your own way.

Written by: Tim Donnelly

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.