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It's time for open conferences: Labour

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29 September 2009

The debate dominating the conferences this year is the future of politics itself, and ippr will be hosting a key event at each of the three main conferences where leading figures will discuss how to renew trust in politics and the crucial issues facing us in the coming general election.

In the current climate where faith in politics, political institutions and our politicians has been battered, we intend to bring people in to the heart of the debate. In this instance that means not just the people who usually attend conference or the people on our panel. After a successful event at the Liberal Democrats' conference, we will continue to include your views directly in the discussion. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ippr.

To open up the debate, ippr and Labourhome asked party members for their ideas and opinions on how politics needs to change and the challenges facing the party and country. These results were sent to our panel and influenced discussion at the conference event. Read more about the event including links to recordings.

Q1. How well do you think the Labour leadership handled the expenses scandal? (1=very poorly, 10=very well)
Answer	%
1	7.8%
2	11.8%
3	27.5%
4	19.6%
5	15.7%
6	9.8%
7	2.0%
8	3.9%
9	0%
10	2.0%

Q2. What do you think is the most important political reform needed in the wake of the expense scandal?
Answer	%
A more proportional voting system	29.4%
Primaries for selecting candidates	9.8%
An elected House of Lords	3.9%
More power for the Commons to hold the government into account	23.5%
Other (please Specify). More detailed responses are in this document (pdf).	33.3%

Q3. How well do you think the Labour leadership has handled the economic crisis? (1=very poor, 10=very well)
Answer	%
1	2.0%
2	0.0%
3	5.9%
4	2.0%
5	5.9%
6	3.9%
7	17.6%
8	41.2%
9	7.8%
10	13.7%

Q4. To what extend has the crisis damages Labour's reputation for economic competence?
Answer	%
Completely	5%
Severely	39.2%
To Some Extent	51.0%

Q5. Do you think an election campaign strategy based on ‘Labour investment versus Tory cuts’ is going to be successful?
Answer	%
Yes	23.5%
No	76.5%

Q6. What should the next government be focussing on to bring down the level of national debt?
Answer	%
Increasing taxes on the well off	51.0%
Increasing general taxes	9.8%
Making public service cuts	7.8%
Other (please specify). Detailed responses are in this document (pdf)	31.4%

Q7. Which area, if any, of public spending should be protected from cuts above all else?
Answer	%
None	11.8%
NHS	49.0%
Education	33.3%
Overseas Aid	0.0%
Defence	5.9%

8. What would you highlight as Labour’s biggest achievement in power over the last 12 years?

Download the results in this document (pdf).

9. What would you highlight as Labour’s biggest mistake in power over the last 12 years?

Download the results in this document (pdf).

10. How would you rate the performance of the Labour government over the past 12 years on a scale of 1-10?
Answer	%
1	0.0%
2	0.0%
3	7.8%
4	5.9%
5	3.9%
6	11.8%
7	35.3%
8	31.4%
9	3.9%
10	0.0%

Q11. Do you think Labour would be stronger if it had a different leader?
Yes	72.5%
No	27.5%

Q12. If your answer to Question 11 was Yes, which leader do you think would be strongest?
Answer	%
Ed Balls	3.0%
Jon Cruddas	15.2%
Harriet Harman	15.2%
Alan Johnson	18.2%
David Miliband	27.3%
Ed Miliband	21.2%

13. How would you rate your mood and willingness to campaign for Labour at the forthcoming general election?
Answer	%
Optimistic and very motivated	25.5%
Fatalistic, but will do what I can	51.0%
Pessimistic and de-motivated	23.5%