'Old Right' Group Labour First Launches New Parliamentary Network
Peer and former Labour MP John Spellar (Alamy)
2 min read
‘Moderate’ members of the Parliamentary Labour Party have launched their answer to the Labour left’s Socialist Campaign Group, PoliticsHome has learned.
Labour First, an existing group within the party that represents the ‘old Labour right’ tradition, has started a parliamentary network welcoming MPs and peers who share its politics.
The Labour First Parliamentary Network is convened by new Labour MP Gurinder Singh Josan, who represents Smethwick which includes the old seat of Warley that was previously occupied by John Spellar, who is now a peer.
A statement by Josan and Spellar as well as Luke Akehurst, the secretary of Labour First outside Parliament, and Baroness Anderson, the former Stoke-on-Trent North MP, said it had taken “several years of hard graft to win back the Party from those on the hard left who had no interest in winning elections and to bring the Party to the point where we could win”.
Inviting Labour parliamentarians to get in touch if they were interested in attending meetings, the statement also warned that “the left are still waiting in the wings to take advantage of any discord within the party”.
“Going forward maintaining discipline, a focus on delivery, winning future elections and protecting and building the party should remain our priorities,” they added.
The new network restores Labour First to its roots: the organisation was originally, in 1980, established as a group of MPs. It is only when refounded in 1988, by activists led by Spellar who was not a parliamentarian at the time, that it became extra-parliamentary.
Over the summer, Akehurst and Josan sought to determine whether there was enough demand among colleagues of their tradition for a “safe space” where they could come together formally.
PoliticsHome now understands that the Labour First Parliamentary Network is up and running, and has held its first meeting.
As a parliamentary force, it is expected to behave in a similar way to the Socialist Campaign Group. In one notable difference with the left, however, Labour First does not presently take policy positions and nor is it expected to do so in Parliament.
The group is supportive of Keir Starmer but Labour insiders have speculated whether its ultimate aim will be to smooth the path, eventually, for a coronation of his successor as party leader.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
