We had a GLA report from Joanne McCartney and “Fighting the BNP” call to arms from Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking. Our key note speaker was the Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP who arrived fresh from giving evidence at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq war.
The usual daft rule change by the usual suspects on restricting the franchise on electing our committee members to delegates who only attend the Forum meeting was overwhelmingly defeated. A fairly useful motion by LFEPA branch on “Investment not cuts in public service-sorting Labour Priorities” was “improved” by an amendment.
We also passed a motion in favour of proportionate representation. Both these motions will be going to national Labour Link forum.
I only took notes about on Joanne’s report since I chaired the meeting for the other two speakers. She started off by pointing out if you want to see what a Tory Government would be like - look at what is happening to London. Conservative mayor Boris Johnson is already breaking manifesto promises. He is cutting full time Police numbers and trying to replace them with unpaid specials. There will be a smaller GLA budget for policing for the first time. Boris not committed to Safer Neighbourhood Team model (which in my view would be a disaster if it went). There have been massive increases in London transport fares particularly for buses. Boris is of course not a “detail person” and this can be seen at Mayor “Question time” were he relies on “bluster and bluff” rather than answering the questions. There is no vision out there. Gossip from City Hall 8th floor is that Boris wants to return to Parliament if the Tories win. Watch your back Cameron! On a serious note many community groups have complained that they now feel distant from the Mayor and the Assembly since Boris has cancelled nearly all community based events.
Joanne was aware of our request to arrange a meeting with GLA members and staff from Notting Hill Housing Group who are due on strike next week and we be arranging this soon.
Both David and Margaret gave positive and confident speeches and were well received by the Forum. David comprehensively destroyed the Tory myths that Labour had not improved or invested in public services and that the Tories had not really “changed” into a modern centre and progressive Party. He also dismissed the other myths that there was no difference between Labour and the Tories. This was not at all a speech from anyone expecting defeat any time soon. Margaret gave a firsthand account of the nasty, violent and thuggish BNP threat in Barking and Dagenham. On Saturday I hope to be part of a UNISON Labour Link canvassing team in Barking.
The Finance report and work plan went well and we also had a short report by national Labour Link officer Daniel Zeichner. In AOB I wished all the London UNISON Labour link members who are Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (2 were present) and all those standing for election to Councils (7 present) the best of luck. I also asked for messages of support to be sent to my branch over the Notting Hill Housing Strike for “fairness and dignity”. Forum closed until 2011.
Roll on a historic 4th term Labour victory in the Parliamentary elections and a majority of London Councils turning red as well.
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