Blow for Labour as double-edged sword of membership surge draws to a close
Exclusive: But party giant fears new members may not convert to voters
A stunning influx of 150,000 new party members has boosted Labour’s numbers, but many are left wondering how many of these recruits will actually be converted into voters at the next election.
The dramatic surge in membership was sparked by the party’s left-wing surge orchestrated by Jeremy Corbyn and his allies during the leadership campaign.
But Labour insiders fear that the mass membership drive, which has seen the party’s overall vote swell to 540,000, may not necessarily translate into a shift in the number of voters this May.
This assumes that many would-be members may not necessarily follow through and become active voters, experts warn.
Russell Lynch, a politics lecturer at the University of Kent, believes that many of the new recruits may be casual members who are not committed to the party or its values.
He stated that ‘just because someone has joined a political party, it doesn’t mean they will necessarily turn out to vote.’
Other experts have suggested that the party must convince the new members to become active and engaged to make a difference in the outcome of the election.
Tom Quinn, a politics expert at the University of London, pointed out that the party needs to be seen as a ‘viable alternative’ to the Conservative party and that the new members must be involved in the campaign from the onset.
Additionally, Labour must work to retain and mobilise its existing members, who have been loyal to the party for years, according to party insiders.
In a move aimed to address this issue, party officials have launched a series of measures to boost member engagement, including training and support for constituency parties and increased opportunities for volunteers to participate at petitioning and canvassing events.
As the party continues to gain new recruits, the question remains whether enthusiasm will translate into electoral success.
