The Labour Party has come under concerted attack for allegedly attempting to put all power into the hands of Tony Blair and a small group of senior ministers and spin doctors.

Recent moves by the party's ruling executive committee which changed the way parliamentary candidates will be selected in future led to claims that the leader was being given an effective veto over those he deemed not to be New Labour enough.

There has also been criticism from the left of the party that policy making has been taken away from the trade union and constituency dominated annual conference and put into the hands of the leaders.

This week the party launches its new local Policy Forums which will give ordinary members a say on what should be in the next election manifesto and is claimed to be one of the biggest ever extensions of democracy within the party and involve many more people in decision making than ever before.

Writing for BBC News online, Trade Minister Ian McCartney - who is vice chair of the National Policy Forum - explains how the system will work:

"There have been many changes since the general election of May 1, 1997 returned the first Labour government for two decades.

"Fulfilling the pledges in our manifesto, the Labour Party has abolished the internal market in the NHS, made improved education the right of all children rather than a privileged few, begun the introduction of devolution for Scotland and Wales, and put forward plans for decent minimum standards at work and a national minimum wage.

"Over the next two months another major, but less well known Labour initiative, "One member, One Voice", will begin to transform the way in which political parties draw up the manifesto they put to the public at election time, and make Labour's Whitehall a real two-way street.

"Over the next two months the Labour Party is establishing 45 local Policy Forums across England, Scotland and Wales, aimed at giving as many people as possible a say in the drawing up of future policies.

"Open to every member of the Labour Party, the Forums will begin discussing future policy on health, law and order, welfare and Europe, all subjects which will have a real impact on every household in Britain in years to come.

"Local Forums will be able to meet as often as they want, to discuss a wide range of issues including local policy priorities.

"Forums will be attended by ministers, including members of the Cabinet, and representatives of business, community organisations and other interested groups with an expert view on the subjects under discussion will be invited to contribute.

"The Forums will cover the whole range of policy areas in two year "cycles", and the results of each year_s discussions will be brought together by the National Policy Forum for approval by Labour's annual conference and inclusion in the platform on which Labour will stand at the next election.

"Labour's local Policy Forums will give those attending the chance to discuss subjects in depth, and ensure that a wider variety of views are taken into account in the drawing up of policy.

"The new system is already proving popular. More than 2,000 Labour Party members contributed to 15 pilot Forums held earlier this year - more than twice the number of constituency delegates able to debate policy at Labour party conference in the past.