When I joined the Labour Party it was because I wanted to play my part in creating the good society.
 
But we have to face the difficult truth that too many people feel that politics has nothing to do with them.  Too many seem disinterested, disengaged, too often disillusioned.
 
There are those who suggest this is inevitable and irreversible. Fifty years ago 10% of the adult population joined political parties and now it is just 1%. They say we should resign ourselves to lower and lower political participation.
 
I disagree. I was moved by the commitment shown by the one third of all young people who campaigned to Make Poverty History. They showed that politics motivates – as it did for us. The same is true for environmental activism and community campaigns.
 
So I believe we can encourage more people to become engaged and involved – but we can only do so through new forms of participation. I want us to help renew politics in Britain – but we have to renew ourselves as well.
 
We need to become more open and more democratic. We must find new ways of building links with millions of people in every community. The most successful campaigning movements today are the ones that give everyone a chance to make a difference. 

This means more ways to get involved and help us shape the policies that will meet the great challenges of our time. Not more of the same. We must take advantage of new technology to make sure we open up every route to participation - not as a substitute for debate, but to deepen and widen it.

Stronger democracy, treating people equally are the ways we – the Labour Party – can drive new politics in Britain. But this isn't just about creating a healthy political process. It is core to meeting the great challenges we face as a country.
 
The old ways – top down politics, policy-making by a show of hands, horse-trading over words not ideas – will simply not work any more. Ensuring security, meeting global competition, tackling climate change, and building stronger communities as we respond to rising aspirations. We can address them – but with new ways not old.

 If you share my view of a renewed Labour Party join us now.