How I learned to stop worrying and accept community organising

Mark Ferguson writes in the LabourList blog "This morning I’m in Walthamstow where Ed Miliband and Tom Watson will be appearing as part of their “Real Change” tour. The Labour Party has been converted to community organising – and this tour seems designed to tell the world. Well…maybe not the world exactly (turns out the Olympics and the crashing economy are bigger news that the Labour Party changing), but the party is being open about the change of heart nonetheless.

This morning Ed and Tom – along with Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and activists from Movement for Change – will be meeting campaigners against legal loan sharks, hearing their stories and helping to highlight the rise of unscrupulous payday loan providers. . . . . . .

. . . . The more I learn about the remarkable capacity of Labour Party activists the more I believe that our big, old and clunky party can both campaign to win elections and campaign to change communities. Because Labour Party campaigning at its best is about issues, not elections. But it just do happens that campaigning on dog mess, local hospitals and parks wins elections. Ask a Lib Dem if you don’t believe me.

It’s by harnessing local issues that the best local campaigns are run.

And of course – if you want to be a narrow electoralist about it (and make no mistake I’m a narrow electoralist – winning is the whole point), the better the community campaigning the more people who are not only enthused to vote for you but to join you. It looks like floaty abstract “nice” campaigning that is irrelevant to the party. But it’s not. It’s a way to win back the trust of the electorate. It’s about showing that Labour can still get things done.

It’s retail politics – pure and simple.

And if – as I expect – it means more people knocking on doors in 2015 – this narrow electoralist ex-organiser will be very happy indeed.

Read the full article here: How I learned to stop worrying and accept community organising:

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 20 July Holding an appointment only surgery (booking on020 8521 1223) before taking part in the sexual health meeting organised by Walthamstow women.
• Saturday 21 July Accompanying one lucky resident to the Waltham Forest Olympic Torch Relay celebration.
• Monday 23 July Holding an appointment only surgery (to book an appointment please call 020 8521 1223).
• Wednesday 25 July Accompanying one lucky resident to the technical rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games.
• Thursday 26 July Bringing Ed Miliband to Walthamstow as part of our campaign against legal loan sharking.
• Saturday 28 July Holding a drop in surgery at the Mall, Selborne Walk, from 12 – 2pm. 

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 13 July Holding an appointment only surgery (call for surgery booking: 020 8521 1223), before meeting with Network Rail to discuss residents’ problems with the Barking to Gospel Oak line.
• Saturday 14 July Running a workshop about credit unions at the London Co-operative Party Conference.
• Sunday 15 July Attending the Waltham Forest Mela.
• Tuesday 17 July Holding the One Billion Rising workshop as part of campaigning against violence against women.
• Friday 20 July Holding an appointment only surgery (booking on020 8521 1223) before taking part in the sexual health meeting organised by Walthamstow women.

EMD Appeal objections - correction

The deadline for objections to the UCKG appeal is slightly later than posted on June 24th: it's actually 5pm Monday July 9th. Objections to this appeal, which need a planning basis, go to the  Planning Inspectorate. You can find suggestions to include in your objection on the Save Walthamstow Cinema campaign pages.  The Inspectorate will take account of the views of local residents in its decision, so the more local people who respond the better.

You can email your objection to: 
dmconsultations@walthamforest.gov.uk, 

or you can drop it in at the town hall:

Development Management, 
Sycamore House, 
Town Hall Complex, 
Forest Road, London E17 4JS 

If you're not familiar with the history of this campaign the Waltham Forest Guardian summarised the background:

• The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) bought and closed the listed cinema in 2003, and has been trying to get permission to convert it for religious use ever since.
• The UCKG's bid was refused by the council last year and an appeal against that decision was due to be heard by the government's planning inspectorate in June.
• The council planning committee rejected the application partly because it contained no provision for the loss of leisure use at the site.
• But now the UCKG has amended its application for the building in Hoe Street to include a church, training centre, cafe and six screen cinema.
• The planning inspectorate has said the alterations are so extensive that the UCKG must re-apply for permission from the council within the next month.

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 6 July Meeting with the new police Borough Commander to discuss policing in Walthamstow and anti-racism campaigners.
• Saturday 7 July Attending the AGM of the Football Supporters Federation to lobby against payday lenders advertising in football as part of the 'red card for Wonga' campaign.
• Monday 9 July Taking part in Home Office Questions
• Tuesday 10 July Attending the official launch of the report of the parliamentary inquiry into restrictions in access to contraception services which will discuss Walthamstow's campaign (see below for details).
• Friday 13 July Holding an appointment only surgery (call for surgery booking: 020 8521 1223), before meeting with Network Rail to discuss residents’ problems with vibration caused by trains on the Barking to Gospel Oak line. If you want to attend this please get in touch.