Facing Out: How party politics must change: Facing Out: How party politics must change

Reconnecting people to politics is the issue of the moment. Alongside public scrutiny of our constitutional settlement, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, renewal must also involve thinking about how parties can contribute to strengthening democracy.

In the latest Fabian publication Facing Out, by Tim Horton, David Pinto-Duschinsky, and Jessica Studdert, the authors reject the idea that political parties are a relic of the past, and show how populist frustration with party politics can often demonstrate a refusal to confront the compromises and trade-offs that remain the essence of democracy.

Parties will need to change to remain relevant and to respond to the transformations in society that are threatening all political parties.

The Labour Party, under new leadership, has a chance to take stock of the future organisational challenges it faces. The central question must be how Labour can remain at the forefront of campaigning for, and achieving, progressive social change. This will demand major changes in how the Party thinks, organises and acts.

You can buy a printed copy edition of Facing Out: How party politics must change to build a progressive society for £6.95, plus £1 p+p, by phoning the Fabian Society bookshop on 020 7227 4900, emailing us at bookshop@fabian-society.org.uk or send a cheque payable to “The Fabian Society” to 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H 9BN.