Events in England really highlight the different processes of the two main parties. The Conservatives have completed their leadership transition in their elitist but efficient manner – closed rooms, long knives, blood on the floor, done. Labour have barely started the challenge process in their (largely) democratic but cumbersome manner – an open selection, with real input from the members.
I believe in the Labour model – both here and in the UK – as I think anyone who believes in democracy should. But there is no doubt that it is cumbersome, it paralysed (and will continue to paralyse) UK Labour at a time when it should have been moving decisively. Plenty of commentary has highlighted this contrast, and in effect praised the Tories for “getting on with it”.
There needs to be a counter-narrative. As the UK accepts the “democratic” Brexit vote, it should also accept and celebrate the democratic Labour process. Yes it’s cumbersome, but it involves we the people in politics, when it is obvious that the Tory “closed doors” model has been undermining democratic participation for decades.
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