This is a campaigning party. All these jobs are challenging. Job share is permitted.
Organiser This is the most important post in the Constituency Party (CP). We are aiming to deliver a leaflet produced at HQ to 40,000+ households every 4 or 5 weeks, for two or three years. In safe Labour seats, where there may be Tory councillors, there will still be a substantial pool of potential “Left Labour” voters in the Tory wards. In a safe Labour seat, every polling district must be delivered.
The Organiser needs to build and to maintain teams capable of delivering to almost every household.
In practice, some are better delivered by Royal Mail, which is unionised. The norm for local leaflet delivery services is that they are not unionised, so we cannot use them.
With help from leafletters from other constituencies, the job is not as challenging as it would otherwise be. It is the key job in the campaign.
[ A 2018 survey showed that 20% of people have such poor digital skills that even if their household has a computer they personally cannot use it. This 20% are disproportionately poor and old ]
As the information base grows, some households will be dropped from the leafletting round. In marginal constituencies it may be appropriate to drop entire streets. Council Tax bands may be an indicator.
In practice, the Organiser will co-opt ward and polling district leaders to help the Organiser lead the leafletting. Linking helpful constituency parties to individual wards for campaigning may be a good idea.
Even if the Organiser was doing a similar job for the rump Labour Party, the political context is changing so radically that it is almost like starting from scratch. One cannot assume that any household is “for” or “against”. One has to ask. Canvassing is best deferred until at least six leaflets have been delivered. By then, applications for membership will help to identify the areas in which our message is popular, and the areas in which it is not.
The Organiser will have to prioritise which areas are to be first for canvassing and for second canvasses.
The Organiser will identify potential Committee Rooms for election time.
The Organiser will seek out and create opportunities to raise the public profile of Left Labour locally.
Courses will be provided for Organisers. Until courses are organised a FB group will be set up. New activists should read http://chasjames.com/home/socialism-politics/the-effective-activist/ , which Charles James wrote for new Labour Party activists.
The Fundraiser
Even though leaflets in bulk are amazingly cheap, they still have to be paid for. Where postage to Royal Mail has to be used, that has to be paid for. Although advertisements on social media can be good value, they still have to be paid for. Posters and billboards are expensive.
See the fundraising chapter in http://chasjames.com/home/socialism-politics/the-effective-activist/ .
Most trade unions are today affiliated to the Labour Party. Those that are not affiliated may be willing to make donations. Do not expect any money from this source until the trade unions have given up on the Labour Party.
The most fruitful source is significant standing orders from individuals who have good incomes.
Constituency Parties that are not running candidates must step up and contribute money to the central party or to constituencies that are running candidates.
The Treasurer
In many Labour Parties, the Constituency Treasurer is a passive bookkeeper. In Left Labour s/he is an activist. Your principal job is to liaise with the Treasurers of nearby constituency parties to try to obtain monthly income, and pledges for when a General Election is called.
You work with the Fundraiser and the Organiser to make sure the money is raised, and that the money is used intelligently.
You keep the accounts!
Media/Research Officer
The local MP is an opponent. We need to know as much as possible about this person’s history, affiliations, social media history, and finances. Are there issues where their financial interests have gained from their votes or other activities as Members of Parliament?
You may be asked to work with HQ if you have an expertise, researching for the entire party. You may be asked to help with writing leaflets and memes.
Womens Officer
Over half the population are female. Despite this, women often have difficulty gaining headway in politics. The needs of women are often not understood. Fix it! The male leaders will help as needed.
Constituency Secretary
The level of activity will be high. You may need a Minutes Secretary to give you the space to do your job properly.
It is not your job to do everyone else’s job.
It is your job to check that all the jobs are being done properly. It is your job to be nosy and to “interfere”.
The officers mentioned above are all concentrating on election organisation for the next General Election. Your role is to look further forward. Are there members who should be given training courses? Are there potentially useful members who need encouragement? Are there social or political activities that the constituency party should be involved in? Are new members welcomed?
Are there local issues the Organiser does not have time to deal with properly? In consultation, take these issues on.
You will write (or delegate) the first draft of the Constituency Party Development Plan including SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses, Threats, Opportunities) analysis.
Are there officers your constituency should have? Youth, Elderly, BAME, Ex Services, Disability …? Do you have enough members in a particular industry to form a group to discuss / engage with the industry? Do you have members who should join our national sector groups?
Chair
Apart from chairing the meetings you are often the public face of the constituency party. Working closely with the other officers, you will issue press releases, make speeches, lead demonstrations, etc. You may double as social media officer or you may elect /co-opt one.
Membership Officer
Meet and encourage new members. Be sensitive about venues and timings so all new members can meet some or all of the officers. Link with other officers to have a regular email mailing.
Contact leftlabour@yahoo.com .
LEFT LABOUR 