I am standing to be National Chair of Young Labour because now, more than ever is the need for progressive Labour Government; progressive solutions are needed to take our country forward. Young Labour must be at the heart of this. Young Labour must be a space in which progressive ideas and debate can flourish, and where those debates and ideas are turned into real campaigns to deliver social justice, equality and fairness for all.

Many in our generation are turning to single issue and pressure group politics. We need to show them that this is not enough. Young Labour must become the first place people look to make change happen. That is why I put forward to you a comprehensive set of policies and ideas to make Young Labour fit for the challenges ahead.

As someone who grew up on an estate in Dagenham, East London, I understand the challenges facing young and vulnerable people in my community; I never forget where my politics come from or who I am fighting for.

As a community organiser, and professional campaigner I know that I can deliver for Young Labour. I have an impressive record of campaigning at a national level where campaigns I have been involved in have even succeeded in putting new laws on the statute books. I have pioneered innovative community based campaigning in Barking and Dagenham including targeted anti-racism sports events for young people with the help of GMB Young London and a local Trades Union sponsored educational program for young disadvantaged people on some of the local estates.

I have been incredibly active in Young Labour since joining the party nearly five years ago. I have unrivalled experience in Young Labour in fighting the BNP; I have as London Young Labour Anti Racism Officer for the past three years and as an organiser and campaigns trainer for the Hope not Hate campaign organised some of the biggest anti-BNP interventions in the region. Including regular days of action focussing on BNP strongholds in East London and Essex. The biggest to date saw over 100 Young Labour activists turn out to campaign in Barking and Dagenham.

As an elected lay officer in my local GMB Trade Union branch for nearly three years I have first hand experience of fighting on the side of working people. I play a very active and key role in my local branch helping them organise local political and campaigning activity.

I believe this experience is built into the policy platform I am standing on - This election is not about me, it is about you. I will put you as a young member at the heart of driving our campaigns and policies.

I ask you to join with me in campaigning, organising, and the rebuilding of our youth movement from the bottom-up.

News

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Sam Tarry launches campaign for Young Labour Chair

Sam Tarry is standing to become the first democratically elected Chair of Young Labour.

Sam's experience within the Labour movement is impressive. In particular, his record of fighting the BNP in Barking & Dagenham and across the country is probably unrivalled within Young Labour. That's one of the reasons why Sam is backed by Jon Cruddas MP. Sam is also highly active within the trade union movement. He sits on the Young Labour National Committee as Trade Union Rep and is a key activist within the GMB, in wich he serves as his branch Youth Officer and Vice-Chair of GMB Young London.

National Young Labour can often seem distant and remote from ordinary members. Most young members have little or no idea what it does. Sam has a vision for Young Labour that will transform it into a vibrant, active and campaigning movement. His ideas include a full time paid national organiser for Young Labour, regular campaign training workshops across the country, a programme to increase women's representation within Young Labour, a more dynamic Young Labour website which allows members to feed in policy ideas, more grassroots activism around the country and redoubling our efforts for an equal minimum wage and Votes at 16.

The election will take place at Labour's National Youth Day in Gillingham, Kent on 18th April. Young Labour/CLP delegates will be eligible to vote.

Young Labour is about, vision, campaigning and optimism. Sam has these three qualities in abundance; I believe he will be a strong Chair bringing all these qualities to the position.

Iain McNicol
National Political Officer, GMB

Ben Folley
Islington North CLP

Click here to read more endorsements.

Sign up to support Sam's campaign:

Sam has received support from Labour members across the country:

Tom Miller
Youth Officer, Woking CLP

Chris Lloyd
PPC for Brecon and Radnorshire

Alejandro Olmos
Young Labour Member

Cat Smith
Disabilities Officer, London Young Labour

Daryn McCombe
Sutton & Cheam CLP & London Young Labour Exec

Mikey Franklin

Justin Meadows
Chair North Oxfordshire Young Labour / President Oxford Brookes Labour Students

Cllr Rania Khan
London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Cllr Val Morris-Cook
Chair, Thurrock CLP

Simon Bullough
Political Development Officer, Epping Forest CLP

Will Martindale
Former Chair, London Young Labour

Oliver Segal
Under-19s Officer, London Young Labour

David Levene
Chair, York University Labour Club

Gus Baker

Matthew Pallas
York CLP Delegate

Jabran Hussain
Youth Officer, Bradford West CLP

Michael Calderbank
Electoral Reform Society

Martin Linton MP
Battersea

Chuka Umunna
PPC for Streatham

Andy Morton
Chair, Unite the Union - Edinburgh University

Mick Rankin
Youth/Student Officer, Thurrock CLP

David Taylor
South East Rep, Co-operative Party Youth NEC

Neil Foster
Membership Secretary, Wansbeck CLP

Noel Hatch
Development Officer, Compass Youth

Paul Riley
Chair, UCL Labour Students

Tom Copley
Chair, London Young Labour

Marcus Shukla
Compass Youth

Joshua Fenton-Glynn

Sarah Vero
Trade Union Liaison Officer, London Young Labour

Cllr Dave Harris
Colchester Councillor

Stephen Brown
Former National Secretary, NUS

Dan Whittle
London Co-op Party Youth Rep

Chris Clark
PPC for Ashford

Bhavna Joshi
PPC for Central Suffolk & North Ipswich

Cllr Imran Hussain
Deputy Leader, Bradford Council Labour Group / Chair, Bradford West CLP

Cllr Pav Akhtar
National Race Equality Officer, UNISON

Joe Pearson
Intern, Wimbledon Labour Party

Alexandra Jackson
Friend

Matthew Pennycook

Aidan Williams
Disability Officer, Lancaster & Fleetwood CLP

Huw Irranca-Davies MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary, DEFRA

Laura Purll
Chatham & Aylesford CLP

John Wiseman
PPC for Westmorland and Lonsdale

Matt Hurst
Youth Officer For St Ives CLP

Sachin Shah
Fundraising Officer - London Young Labour

Neil Murray
Secretary, Ballochmyle Branch Labour Party

Kate Fry

Laura McGhee

Ben Singleton
Oxford East CLP

Peter Lamb
Grassroots Labour activist