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"I want to build an International Young Labour which provides all members the opportunity to pursue their interests in other countries and organisations, ensuring that Young Labour is an active and engaged member of the international young socialist and social democrat community.”
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+ An International Young Labour for all members "I want to build an International Young Labour which provides all members the opportunity to pursue their interests in other countries and organisations, ensuring that Young Labour is an active and engaged member of the international young socialist and social democrat community.”
Manifesto for Young Labour International Officer Ben Murray
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+ Proposal for an International Young Labour
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1) I will create Young Labour Ambassadors and Country Groups
I will work to establish a network of Young Labour
working groups in each country for which there
exists interest. These groups will elect a chair who
will act as our Ambassador to our sister
organisations in the given country.
2) I will ensure that Young Labour plays a
prominent role in the debate about Britain’s relationship with the European Union
Whether we like it or not, debate about the
European Union is not going away. We need to
ensure that we are involved with the progressive
defence of cooperation.
3) I will deepen relations between Young
Labour and our sister/cooperation organisations
I hear time and time again from our friends across
the world – particularly in Europe – that they want
to see more of us. I will deepen our relationships
with the youth sections of our sister parties,
improving attendance at their events and
congresses, and also those of ECOSY and IUSY. I
want it to be the norm rather than a novelty that we
are attending these events.
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4) I will develop inward campaign exchanges
Having helped campaign with our friends in Europe,
and hosted others from New Zealand, I have seen
the great benefit that campaign exchanges can have.
We need to develop this further.
5) I will open Young Labour’s international work
to all members, both in terms of awareness and participation
Too few members know anything about the
international side of Young Labour. That needs to
change. As an internationalist party, each and every
member should have the knowledge of how we
conduct our international relations.
Each and every member should also have the
opportunity to engage in this area of Young Labour
activity. I will investigate the potential for funding
support for those who would rule out participating on
the grounds of cost.
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+ Ambassadors establishment of Country Groups
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Why create Country Groups and Ambassadors?
This will massively increase the engagement of
Young Labour with our sister parties and their
countries.
It’s also an effective and accessible way of engaging
all members with countries and member organisations
in which they have an interest.
How would it work?
To ensure accessibility, the Country Groups would
exist primarily on Facebook. Eventually, the groups
could have their own space on a Young Labour
International website, or section of the new Young
Labour website. I will create an online questionnaire,
asking which Country Group members would like to
join. Having compiled the results, I will set up
Facebook groups for the countries that were
requested.
• All members will be encouraged to join any
country group that they wish
• The group will elect a chair who will serve as
the Young Labour Ambassador to that country
• In liaison with their group, and the IO, the
Ambassador will be responsible for co-
ordinating relations between YL and the
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respective member organisation(s) in those
countries
• Young Labour/Labour conference would be a
useful opportunity for each Country Group to
meet
• The ‘Group Chairs/Ambassadors’ will meet with
the IO to report back and share ideas
• The Group, led by their ‘Ambassador’ will have a
major role in organising the inward exchange of
their respective member organisation for the
2015 short campaign, and potential outward
exchanges
• At IUSY/ECOSY festivals, members of the
Country Groups will be encouraged to participate
in bilateral meetings between YL and their
respective countries
• In Country Groups that contain just one member,
that person will become Ambassador. This
provides both the opportunity for the individual to
pursue their interest, and also deepens our
relations with those organisations
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+ Europe defending cooperation
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Debate on Britain in Europe
Barely a day passes without comment on Britain’s
place within the European Union. As progressive
internationalists, we support the principle of
cooperation across borders – knowing important
issues require such cooperation, and the
formalised institutions to ensure the effective
delivery of agreed policies. We also know that our
position is not one that is heard often in public. As
the debate steps up a gear, we, as the Youth
section of the largest political party in Britain, need
to be at the forefront of that argument. It’s our
future that would be adversely affected should we
leave.
Defending the principles of cooperation
Whether we like the current form of Europe or not,
we cannot deny that the principle of pooling
sovereignty is a necessary one, considering the
globalised world in which we all strive to effect
positive change. I will launch a Young Labour
campaign to defend our role in the European
Union.
Championing reform
Defending the principles of cooperation that lie at
the heart of the European project does not mean
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we can’t be critical of the current model or policies,
which come from Brussels. We should call for greater
democracy in these institutions, and challenge the
Commission to offer an alternative strategy to
imposed austerity, which has seen the tragic
suffering of many of our friends on the continent.
Campaigning for a social Europe
With colleagues from across Europe, we must fight
for a Union in which our cooperation focuses on
improving people’s lives and supporting the
vulnerable. Within ECOSY, we’ve called this vision a
social Europe. This is a vision of sustainable
economic growth where profits are shared equally,
‘guaranteeing the best achievable living and
working conditions to all’. The purpose of our
movement is to to ‘empower and enable every
European to have a decent life, a life filled with
opportunities for self determination and self-
expression, participation in the democratic life of a
society in which knowledge, services, prosperity and
power are equally shared.’ Young Labour must join
our colleagues in campaigning for this social Europe
in the 2014 European Parliamentary elections across
Britain.
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+ Deeper involvement with our community
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Deeper relations with our sister organisations
I hear time and time again from our friends across
the world – particularly in Europe – that they want
to see more of us. Last September I was lucky
enough to participate in a campaign exchange with
the PvDA (Dutch Labour Party). Friends I have met
at previous IUSY and ECOSY events were
surprised to see British campaigners, rather
expecting us not to attend. The recent improvement
in our engagement should be celebrated, and used
as a springboard to further involvement, both for
further exchanges, and also attendance at their
party congresses. Our German colleagues, for
instance, are organising a camp to celebrate the
150th anniversary of their mother party’s founding
(www.workersyouthfestival.org). Sister
organisations from all over Europe will be sending
their members to join in the celebrations, and
participate in the workshops and seminars that
have been organised. We should be doing exactly
the same.
Improved attendance at ECOSY and IUSY
in 2009. For different reasons, UK attendance was
virtually non-existent.
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This photo, from IUSY World Festival, Hungary, 2009
says ‘Great Britain - Young Labour - 4 participants’.
Since then we’ve made progress. In 2012, we took a
delegation of 40 to Croatia. This might seem
impressive – and is certainly a welcome increase –
but other countries, such as Sweden, France, Austria
and Germany frequently take delegations exceeding
200. Our low attendance has not been due to a lack
of interest – after all, who wouldn’t enjoy a low-cost
summer holiday with international comrades and
never-ending parties? It’s been a lack of awareness.
Should you elect me, I will keep reminding every
member of the fantastic week available in Turkey this
summer.
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Outward exchanges
Campaign exchanges are great fun. In September
I, and four others, helped the PvDA (Dutch Labour
Party) campaign in their general election campaign.
It’s a brilliant way for Young Labour members to
immerse themselves in the politics of another
country, to meet like-minded people, share
campaigning best practice and to build
relationships with both the sister organisation, and
their members. These relationships can prove
incredibly valuable – for instance, if you find
yourself stranded in Amsterdam, there’s a good
chance that one of our friends from the PvDA will
put you up!
This is a photo of all who participated in the
+ Campaigning exchanges
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campaign exchange. I know many of our members
would want to be involved with exchanges, and I
would arrange similar and regular exchanges to other
countries. I envisage the Country Groups also being
involved with arranging these exchanges.
Inward exchanges
Just as it’s great to participate in outward exchanges,
we should invite our international friends to support
our electoral campaign efforts. Based upon my
experiences, I have drafted proposals for how an
inward exchange might operate. Again, I would look
to involve the relevant Country Group with the
organisation of the exchange. During the 2010
campaign, I hosted a Kiwi in my home constituency
of Waveney, while others hosted a young US
Democrat. Not only did this deploy keen campaigners
onto the streets of Lowestoft, it helped generate a
buzz within our campaign. Members of the local
campaign – particularly young – enjoyed talking to
them about New Zealand and US politics, and we
shared best practice ideas with them. Many
international colleagues have expressed an interest
in coming to Britain to campaign, and as engaged
members of the international young socialist and
social democrat community, it’s right that we should
facilitate this.
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+ Opening international to every member
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Increased awareness of Young Labour’s international work amongst the membership
I’m fully aware that I may have been using
acronyms in this manifesto that have made little
sense to many members. So, for those who do not
know what IUSY or ECOSY mean, let me explain.
Both are what I’ve referred to in this manifesto as
cooperation organisations. IUSY, or the
International Union of Socialist Youth, is the global
organisation for cooperation between socialist,
social democrat, and Labour party youth sections.
It is closely related to, although its membership
differs slightly from, the Socialist International.
ECOSY, or the European Community of Socialist
Youth, is based upon the same idea, but its
membership is European, and it is the official youth
section of the Party of European Socialists (PES).
ECOSY is a member of IUSY.
Both organisations arrange regular events, the
highlights of which are IUSY’s World Festival and
ECOSY’s Summer Camp. Both comprise a week of
workshops, seminar, rallies, bilateral meetings,
sport, sunbathing, and, of course, parties. I’ve been
fortunate enough to attend two IUSY festivals in
Hungary and Austria, and one ECOSY festival in
Croatia. Prominent speakers from the host
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countries have addressed each event. Prime
Ministers and others usually address, and then
engage with, the delegations.
I make no apologies for using a page of my manifesto
to explain the international cooperation organisations
of which we are members. I hope this brief summary
will have instilled some interest in members, so that
they will join us in Turkey this summer for ECOSY
Summer Camp, 2013.
Too few members know anything about the
international side of Young Labour. That needs to
change. As we are an internationalist party, each and
every member should have the knowledge of how we
conduct our international relations. I will ensure that
opportunities to participate in international activities
are communicated properly to all members.
Investigation into potential funding support
I cannot promise that I will realise a solution to this
problem, but I recognise that it’s not right that we
have members who would otherwise love to attend
international events, but because of cost, exclude
themselves from enjoying the benefits that
engagement with our international colleagues brings.
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+ Supporting an International Young Labour
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“What I respect most about Ben is his commitment to our members and the innovations he deploys in their aid. When I found myself stranded in Amsterdam one night his IUSY couch-surfing site linked me up with a local comrade who kindly put me up for the night. It is this commitment and forethought he puts into our international movement which makes him an ideal candidate for this role”
Tony Richards, Coventry South CLP & Communications Officer, LSE Labour
“It's great to see Ben running for YL International Officer because he really gets what the role is about. Ben has been one of UK Labour's most prominent representatives at ECOSY and IUSY over the past few years, and he's enthusiastic about making sure other YL members get the chance to get involved too. This might be a new role for Young Labour but it's not a new concept - we need an experienced candidate to make sure even more young members participate in ECOSY and IUSY events. Ben has great ideas to enable more people do that.”
Caroline Hill, Tewkesbury CLP, UCLU Labour & TU Officer, YLNC 2013-15 “Over the last few years I have seen Ben prove his
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dedication to getting more young people involved in the work our sister parties are doing in ECOSY and IUSY.” Hazel Nolan, Secretary, SERTUC Youth & Trade Union Officer, London Young Labour “I'm supporting Ben Murray for Young Labour International Officer because he's passionate about strengthening our links with Europe, which I believe is vitally important. It's also great to know that he will work to widen participation at international events, something which really needs doing.” Alice Smart, Vice Chair, Leeds Labour Club “I met Ben at the IUSY summer festival in 2011, where he led the UK delegation, and again this year at ECOSY with a considerably larger delegation in tow! Ben is well known among international comrades thanks to his stellar efforts setting up the young socialist and social democrat couch-surfing network, and general likeability. If you want an excellent international officer who has and will reach out to international comrades, I couldn’t recommend Ben more for the position.” Ciara Leena, Irish Labour Youth To read all endorsements, visit Ben4YL.info
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+ Supporting an International Young Labour
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Bob Blizzard, PPC for Waveney, MP 1997-2010, Government Whip 2007-2010 Chelsea Torrance, Chair of VicLabour, New Zealand Rajen Giri, President, Youth Organisation of Bhutan Pavel Melendez Cruz, International Secretary, Party of the Democratic Revolution & Former Vice President of IUSY Brando Benifei, Vice President of ECOSY James Sleep, former LGBT Coordinator, IUSY Bart van Bruggen, Amsterdam President, Dutch Young Socialists Tore Sinding Bekkedal, Norwegian Workers’ Youth League (AUF) Jauke Lodder, International Secretary, Dutch Young Socialists Guy Bromley, Brent Central CLP & Brussels Labour Cllr Chris Carter, Charnwood Borough Councillor & Loughborough University Labour Society Conrad Landin, Associate Editor, Left Futures & Cambridge CLP Stuart Benson, Former Australian Young Labor (Tasmanian Branch) President Raed Debiy, International Secretary, Fatah Youth Movement Nimrod Barnea, IUSY Vice President, Israel Tim Barnett, General Secretary, New Zealand Labour Party
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Robert Steenbergen, Vice President, Dutch Young Socialists Jakob Esmann, Executive Committee, Danish Social Democratic Youth & Presidium Member, Nordic Youth Council Thomas Messenger, President, Warwick Labour Club Dominic Curran, Coventry South CLP & Associate Editor, Left Futures Andrea Campos-Vigouroux, Streatham CLP; Treasurer, Manchester Labour Students
Curtis McLellan, International Officer, Labour Students Richard Howitt MEP, Member of the European Parliament for the East of England & Labour’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament
Kirstin Hay, Hammersmith CLP Benjamin Butterworth, LSE Labour Club Stephen Fulham, Bristol East CLP & Acting Chair of Bristol Young Labour
Daniel Warham, Islington North CLP, President – UCLU Labour
Cllr Cris Drew, Penzance Town Council, St Ives CLP
Colm Flanagan, Blackley & Broughton CLP, Young Fabians Political Education Officer
For a full list of supporters, or to pledge your support, visit Ben4YL.info
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+ Facebook.com/BMYLIO
www.Ben4YL.info
@Ben_Murray
IUSY World Festival & ECOSY Summer Camp – Austria 2011, Croatia 2012. Dutch campaign exchange.
Don’t forget to sign up to IUSYCouches.com – the couch surfing network for young socialists across the world!