How to Join the Labour Party

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posted on 6 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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If you are interested in joining the Labour Party, you are not alone. The Labour Party is one of the UK's largest political parties. The present-day Labour Party comes from an early 20th-century trade union and socialist movement. Many of the core values remain similar today, especially the party's commitment to representing the working class. As long as you are over the age of 14 and a citizen or resident of the UK, you are eligible to become a member. Research what the Labour Party is doing today to make sure it aligns with your personal values. Then sign up to start getting involved!

Steps

Determining Your Eligibility

Be a citizen or resident of the UK. In order to join the Labour Party, you must either be a citizen of the UK or a resident for more than 1 year. This includes citizens of Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. If you are a UK citizen living abroad, you can still join the Labour Party. You can also join Labour International to learn more about how to get involved with the Labour Party while living abroad.

Make sure you are 14 years of age or older. Those under the age of 14 are not eligible to join the Labour Party. If you are between the ages of 14 and 26, you are eligible for a discounted membership. Those over the age of 26 are eligible for membership at full price.

Terminate your membership if you belong to another political party. In the UK, you can only be an official member of one party at a time. If you are already a member of a different political party, refer to that party's rulebook to find out how you can terminate your membership. Parties that have working relationships with the Labour Party, namely the SDLP and the Co-operative Party are excepted from this rule.

Check that your workplace allows you to be a member of a political party. If you work in the public sector, you may be required to declare party affiliations to your employer. Members of the civil service should check if their post is "politically free" or "politically restricted," as either of these designations may restrict what activities members can participate in. If you don't know if your job prohibits joining political parties, talk to your supervisor or look online.

Signing up to Be a Member

Choose a membership rate based on your age and military status. The Labour Party currently has three basic membership rates. Anyone eligible to join can become a member by choosing the Standard membership. However, if you fit certain criteria, you can join at a discounted rate. The Standard membership is available to all eligible UK citizens and residents. This is the full-price membership at £4.30/month. The Reduced membership is available to those between ages 20 and 26, retired workers, members of trade unions affiliated with the Labour Party, and people who are unemployed or work less than 16 hours per week. The cost is £2.17/month. The Other membership is available to those between ages 14 and 19, students who are currently enrolled, and active members of the military. This is the cheapest membership at £3/year. Sometimes there are special discounted rates available for limited times, particularly for specific groups like students or military.

Fill out the necessary forms and send in your information. Most of this information you will need to provide is your contact information. This is so that the party will be able to keep accurate records of who is a member, as well as ways to get in contact with members. You can most easily send this information in online, but you can also do it over the phone or by post. You can find the form to join at https://join.labour.org.uk/ or call 0345 092 22 99 to reach the Labour Membership Team. To join by post, download the form at https://d13wwf00y6e5uj.cloudfront.net/static/prod/pdf/join.pdf and post it to Labour Party Membership Services, Earl Grey House, 75-85 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 6EF.

Pay your dues based on your membership level. You will need a credit or debit card to pay your dues online. Contact the Labour Membership Team to ask about other ways you can pay. Your membership will last for one year. After the year is over, you can renew your membership. Your dues may increase.

Look for your membership package in the post. Once you have given your contact information and paid your dues, you will receive a membership pack which includes information about ways you can get more involved, along with your membership card. Once you receive your membership card, you can also activate an account on the Labour website. This is optional, but a convenient way to find out about information and events in your area.

Get involved in events to make the most of your membership. In general, becoming a member of the Labour Party will allow you to run for office as a Labour candidate, vote in local Labour elections, and receive updates and invitations to participate in Labour events. You can start participating in campaigns, rallies, and activism. You can also spread the word about your involvement and get more people on board by going door-to-door or delivering leaflets and information in your community. If you are a UK citizen living abroad, you may not be able to participate in some Labour events. Contact Labour International to find out what you can be involved with at http://www.labourinternational.net/.