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| Labour Party Policy Forum | |
|---|---|
| Name | Labour Party Policy Forum |
| Formation | 2011 |
| Type | Think tank / intra-party forum |
| Headquarters | London |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organisation | Labour Party |
Labour Party Policy Forum is an internal platform associated with the Labour Party created to coordinate policy discussion among elected officials, trade unions, campaign groups and think tanks. It connects networks such as Trades Union Congress, Fabian Society, Institute for Public Policy Research, Progress (Labour faction), and Momentum (organisation) to shape manifestos influenced by figures like Keir Starmer, Jeremy Corbyn, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and historic movements tied to Ramsay MacDonald. The forum operates within the spheres of UK parliamentary politics and wider civic organisations including Local government in England, Scottish Labour, Welsh Labour, Northern Ireland Labour Party and partner bodies like Citizens Advice.
The forum was launched amid policy debates following the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum, and the austerity measures after the 2010s deficit crisis, responding to pressures from groups including the Trades Union Congress, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of the Earth (UK), Resolution Foundation, and the National Health Service (England). Early convenings featured contributions from academics at London School of Economics, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and think tanks such as the Adam Smith Institute and New Economics Foundation, alongside MPs who served in cabinets under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. Across subsequent cycles it interacted with manifesto teams for the 2015 United Kingdom general election, 2017 United Kingdom general election, 2019 United Kingdom general election, and the 2024 United Kingdom local elections.
Its stated remit is to collate input from unions like Unite the Union, civil-society actors like Shelter (charity), policy institutes like the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and parliamentary committees including the Public Accounts Committee to inform platforms crafted by shadow cabinets such as those led by Neil Kinnock and John Smith. The forum organises workshops with representatives from European Parliament delegations, international partners such as Socialist International, legal experts from Bar Council, and sector specialists from bodies including Royal College of Nursing, British Medical Association, and EngineeringUK. It publishes briefings used by manifesto drafters and offers evidence to select committees including the Treasury Select Committee and Health and Social Care Select Committee.
Administrative oversight has been provided by staff connected to central offices in Millbank Tower and constituency offices across Westminster (district), with governance arrangements referencing party rulebooks adopted at Labour Party conference. Leadership roles have been filled by former advisers to leaders linked to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, as well as directors with backgrounds at Institute for Public Policy Research and Fabian Society. Decision-making interfaces with the National Executive Committee (Labour), regional structures like London Labour Party, and affiliated groups such as Labour Women's Network, BAME Labour, and Young Labour.
The forum convenes taskforces and commissions modelled on procedures used by the Social Democratic Party merger talks and evidence-gathering standards from the Behavioural Insights Team, drawing written submissions from organisations including Resolution Foundation, Adam Smith Institute, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Nesta, and unions like Unison. Reports circulate to manifesto teams and shadow ministers referencing legislative frameworks such as the Equality Act 2010 and regulatory bodies like the Competition and Markets Authority. It runs public consultations resembling inquiries by the Committee on Climate Change and partners with academic consortia from University College London, King's College London, and Imperial College London on policy modelling.
Participants include MPs, members of the House of Commons, peers from the House of Lords, councillors from authorities such as Manchester City Council and Glasgow City Council, union delegates from GMB (trade union), and activists connected to local CLPs at events held alongside the annual Labour Party conference and regional policy fora in cities like Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and Cardiff. External contributors have included representatives from Age UK, Citizens Advice, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, British Chambers of Commerce, and international delegations from Socialist International and the Progressive Alliance.
Advice from the forum has been linked to manifesto commitments reflected in documents for the 2017 United Kingdom general election and policy shifts emphasized by leaders such as Keir Starmer and predecessors, influencing positions adopted by the shadow cabinet and ministerial briefings in portfolios like Department of Health and Social Care, HM Treasury, and the Department for Work and Pensions. Its work has informed white papers, amendments seen in debates at Westminster Hall, and submissions to parliamentary inquiries by the Select Committee on Work and Pensions and Environmental Audit Committee.
Critics aligned with factions such as Momentum (organisation) and Progress (Labour faction) have disputed the forum's transparency and balance, citing contested exchanges over links to think tanks like the Institute for Public Policy Research and Centre for Policy Studies, alleged influence by unions such as Unite the Union, and debates involving MPs from wings associated with Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair. Concerns have been raised at Labour Party conference sessions and in coverage from outlets like The Guardian (London), The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, and commentators connected to Institute for Fiscal Studies. Disputes have occasionally led to motions before the National Executive Committee (Labour) and calls for reform from constituency parties and affiliated organizations.