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This is partly factional, as some local branch members may be less into Corbyn than their new friends. There's also power at play, with members keen to keep hold of whatever influence they've built up for themselves. "Branch members have cosy arrangements. They know all the people who turn up for meeting and they are guaranteed to keep their position year after year. They don't want that upset by newcomers," says the councillor. "Some local branch officers have been completely stonewalling, others have been making it difficult for new members to get involved."Eslamdoust agrees: "It's hard to navigate around party structures if you haven't been a party member for a long time. Constituency Labour Party meetings are structured in quite a hostile way, some with lists on the door for instance. Some people are even being denied attendance."Others believe the media played up the archetype of the young Corbynista too much, while the return of ageing lefties is now making its mark. "Young people are one half of those that liked him, but the other half are sleeping Labour Party members or those who have been out for 20 years and are coming back now. They are more likely to come to meetings," says the councillor."In our meetings, there's been one or two that turn up at different times and then you never see them again," says one party member in Hackney South. "Often they'll say, 'oh, I just joined to vote for Jeremy', which is fine, but they don't seem to want to win council seats or the mayoral election. They're just concerned about Jeremy, it's all about him really."Branch members have cosy arrangements. They don't want that upset by newcomers.
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Wes Streeting, the new Labour MP for Ilford North, has a more positive view on the new members, but says it's hard to turn their enthusiasm into action. "Our new member events have had good turnout, but it's hard to get them out knocking on doors and delivering leaflets and there are lots we haven't been able to mobilise at all," he says."I don't think the Labour leadership elections has created a new paradigm in British politics with young people all of a sudden wanting to be involved. We still face the same challenges. The winning candidate might have been able to pack assembly halls, but the culture of campaigning has not changed, it just hasn't. The overwhelming majority aren't involved."It doesn't help that no one knows what the party message is. The lack of clear message around the EU campaign from Jeremy Corbyn has made it difficult for party activists on the doorstep. And the silence around other issues such as the junior doctors' strike is taking its toll on young supporters. "The party needs to agree a position and go on that and really cause the government some problems. We don't do that at the moment and we're missing easy shots. There's no kind of plan on individual issues, never mind on overarching issues," says one new party member.I don't think the Labour leadership elections has created a new paradigm in British politics… the culture of campaigning has not changed, it just hasn't.
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