In the 1980s, following the disastrous defeat of Michael Foot during the 1983 general election, what had been an ascendant Left in the Labour Party collapsed. Having taken the commanding heights of the party, infighting and factionalism spread through the ranks sowing widespread chaos and demoralisation. Through the following years, Neil Kinnock rose amid an embattled and war-torn party with the promise of ending this infighting for good.

The marginalisation of the Left that followed is something that many are familiar with. For socialists, the resulting shift to New Labour came at an unacceptable cost to the core values of our movement. Although New Labour’s government implemented many progressive policies, and much needed investment into our regions, it did so without a core commitment to social ownership and control at its heart. We invested in the NHS, but through PFI agreements which saddled it with debt and expanded a disastrous free market in care. We spent more money on welfare, but encouraged councils to sell off their homes to Housing Associations which are run more like private business. 

Being a socialist in the Labour Party for years felt like being in the wilderness. That’s why so many in the party – and outside of it – responded with enthusiasm to the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn leading us back to some of the founding principles of our movement. But the recent general election loss was chastening for our movement; and the defeat of Rebecca Long-Bailey’s leadership bid which followed showed that the trust placed by members in the Left is not an infinite well.

The Left needs to reflect on both of these experiences. There are no doubt many mistakes that can be pointed to – things that could and should have been done differently. But the key thing that the Labour Left must do now is take stock, and avoid the mistakes of the past. For that reason, I am heartened to hear that the National Coordinating Group (NCG) of Momentum – the largest Left organisation within Labour – has committed to reviewing its strategy and bringing the disparate elements of the Left within Labour together once more.

For this to work, it must be a sincere and dedicated approach to many on the Left who have been alienated through the trials and tribulations of the past few years. But if the Left can emerge from the following period of turbulence intact and united, the socialist flame within Labour will remain alight.

In recent years, the Labour Left has completely rejuvenated its image. It is no longer a movement directed by doddery old paper sellers. Now we are a dynamic, youthful movement at the cutting edge of popular culture. The media and tech-savviness of Momentum during the last two elections – especially the 2017 election – has put paid the longstanding idea of the Left as backwards, technophobic and unprofessional. 

Most importantly of all, we have shown that values of common ownership, social justice and people before profit are not marginal demands but areas in which our politics find mass appeal. These gains are huge, and nothing to be sniffed at. But as history shows, coming together following defeat is not always easy. It’s the duty of every socialist within Labour to act in good faith, conduct debate and discussion amongst our ranks with civility and compassion and above all build collective consensus on how we move forward, together.

As we speak, we are laying the foundations for the next generation of Left activists, leaders, organisers and thinkers. If we lay them well, our movement will thrive.