Lab12: Last post from Peoples Party Conference

Once again I ran out of time during the 2012 Labour Party Conference to write posts on the last two days. So here is a quick summary of some of the highlights during the last few days of Conference.

Clockwise. Due to disorganisation and meanness I stayed in a hotel in Rushholme which had the worse reviews on Booking.com that I have ever seen. It wasn't that bad but one of the things that kept me fairly sane during Conference was a morning run around the fantastic City green lung Platt Fields Park (the Peoples Park).

Picture of Peoples Republic Newham Crew (and guests) in Midland Hotel bar stairs. Below Gerry Sutcliffe MP, speaking at the EU fringe for Azerbaijan (UK is the biggest investor) ; Ed Balls MP speaking to UNISON reception at the "Peoples History Museum". Ed admitted that he would have lost his seat at the last General election if not for the help of UNISON - "no doubt" and he pledged to never ignore anything that UNISON said but we would not always agree.

Then a very good and sharp fringe on ending poverty by Webb Memorial Trust (lost notes), another on pension auto enrollment with Labour Shadow minster Gregg McClymont sponsored by the Peoples Pension (lost notes); then picture of UNISON reception with Andy Burham MP and Rachel Reeves MP and final centre picture of the great leader with UNISON delegates Mike and Mandy. What a great natural relaxed smile Ed? We never knew!

Roll on Brighton 2013.

Lab12: North & WSPA Fringes

Still catching up from Labour Party Conference. The North Fringe on Monday evening reminded me of a proper traditional Labour Party event. Before Ed came to speak there was an auction and raffle. I didn't win anything, not even the GMB branded Whiskey!

It was also the only event I went to during conference that served bottles of Brown Ale. 

Harriet Harman firstly thanked the region for its massive support for the Labour Party. When Ed came he told us that this was his 10th fringe of the night.
He also said how much he enjoyed the Durham Miners Gala and would return next year. 21 years was too long (since last Labour leader attended). He pledged to build new houses and get young people into work when the next Labour Government is elected.

Next was the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Fringe. They had the World's only Parliamentary band MP4 playing. I must admit that I thought they were very good and didn't realise that they were amaters. Hope they are members of the MU!  There was a number of MP's boogying on down including John Healey, Mike Gapes and Caroline Flint. There were others who declined the spotlight.

Top picture is of my fellow Gog (north walian) John Prescott with UNISON Local organiser Joel Bodmer and UNISON SGE member Mike Davy. Afterwards we went to the Midland Hotel bar to yet again put the world to rights.

Lab12: One nation infrastructure in Britain

(Guest post by Cllr Gavin Pearson) Labour Party Conference saw the launch of a new ethos from Labour headlined “One Nation Labour” in Ed Miliband’s leader’s speech. Four hours later, a fringe reception held by the infrastructure industry, saw some interesting questions raised.

The World Economic Forum ranks the UK a disastrous 24th in the world for infrastructure. The British public face high and rising transport costs. We have drought warnings and flooding at the same time. Our rail franchises finance legal challenges not better trains. And we face an energy crunch.

Yet treating the UK as One Nation could solve this.

Infrastructure is what made the UK One Nation. Be it road, rail or canals, before these things were established, our clocks all read different times. Once they were built, we were as one.

But we remain divided. We may not want division between the North and the South, but economically speaking, we have it. Likewise with HS2. Rural villages declare it satanic while Birmingham welcomes business opportunities. Scotland and Wales meanwhile, look on enviously at the chance of such disagreement.

So can a One Nation spirit prove practical? It is probably too much to hope that rural areas will start welcoming wind farms in the service of their country. Many will continue to demand the lights stay on with energy produced out of their sight, far from their homes. But strategically, a plan for the nation makes sense.

A renewable future is likely to see over-generation in sparsely populated Scotland, with a grid able to carry it south to English cities. But it is also likely to see more generation and energy saving in people’s own homes and communities. Giving everyone a stake in the nation’s energy – and publishing a mapped out national strategy would be very One Nation.

Likewise we have plenty of national rainfall but no national distribution – thus vast areas face drought while others flood.

The biggest key though, remains transport. People need to move freely around their One Nation. Yet rail firms raise prices and franchises collapse in acrimony and legal costs. We break up the network and services into patches and regions instead of a cohesive nation.

At the same time our One Nation debates where around London we should build new airport capacity. But why not build a new hub airport in the North, serving Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle – instead of yet another London airport in the Thames that business travellers from the whole of our Islands must go to for flights to China and India?

Not that One Nation means ignoring the local. Look to Liverpool’s docks to see regeneration in practice. We can apply that to Hull. Look at London Overground’s impact at Dalston and Hackney. Let’s apply the model to West Bromwch and Bradford. One Nation should recognise its own successes and build on them for all.

So as Labour looks to a One Nation future, let’s take that ethos back to the hard-edge of nation building and bring our country together.

Lab12: Scottish reception

Still on Monday evening. The Scottish reception was next to the Welsh. The Scots had a "ceilidh" (see picture). I didn't want to disgrace my Scottish heritage by taking part in the dancing!

Afterwards a number of us went to the Midland Hotel bar (which was packed) and tried to put the world to rights.

Lab12: Welsh Reception

Still Monday evening and picture from the Welsh Reception. Appropriately for the land of song they had an excellent band playing.

They performed "Manchester Ramblers". Which Captain Swing tweeted to remind me is about the Kinder Mass Trespass.

Lab12: National Association of Local Councils reception

This is from Monday evening as well. Guest speaker, Shadow Secretary of State, Hilary Benn MP is always good value. I also wanted to go to the National Association of Local Councils reception to find out more about Parish Councils.

We have a Newham Compass meeting on 9th October on the new parish council being set up in Westminster. I asked a question about the suitability of parish councils in large cities such as London and was assured that it can (and does) work perfectly well.

Picture taken in the magnificent Manchester town hall. 

Lab12: Labour Housing Group/SERA fringe

I'm trying to catch up and post on Conference fringe events I attended. I'm using my twitter feed to remind me what went on. This event is actually from Monday evening at the Labour Housing Group/SERA fringe "Tackling Rents and Bills" in the Friends meeting house.

Both are affiliated socialist societies of the Party.  This was pretty much packed out and keynote speaker was of course Housing Shadow Minister, Jack Dromey MP.  I did try writing notes on what contributors said rather than "twitter" but have since lost them somehow (teach me not to rely on dead trees).

Jack spoke about a House building programme being the means to help take us out of recession; high land values to be tackled and there will be a Housing summit in the Autumn for the 20 top performing Labour Councils and their partners.  I'm sure that Newham will get an invite.

Lab12: Ed Miliband Speech to Conference

Good but not great speech by Labour Leader, Ed Miliband to Conference. The stage management stuff just doesn't work for me but nearly everybody else seemed really pleased with content and delivery.

I like the content. The "One Nation" argument and the hint about a truly alternative economic policy. Likewise the emphasis on the unacceptable gap between rich and poor. The need for greater income equality.

It's the devil is in the detail problem.  The only way that we are going to get people back in work and reduce the national debt is to spend more in the short term.

The only way we are going to get greater income equality is by taxing more and providing more public services such as affordable housing and child care. We need to be open and honest with the public about this. Or am I just being incredibly naive? Discuss...

Lab12: TULO reception (and the move to the right)

While waiting for Ed Miliband to come and speak to the packed out fringe organised by TULO (trade union liaison organisation). General Secretary of the CWU, Billy Hayes, made a request for the Labour Movement present to move to the right (and stop blocking the doorway to people trying to get in)

Harriet Harman spoke first about the need to get the Tories out and how the unions can help especially in areas such as East of England where we are still strong but the Labour Party are weak. She also made it clear that she wanted Labour MPs to be as representative and diverse as our voters.

Which was a theme taken up by Billy and GMB General Secretary, Paul Kenny. Who both made it clear that there must be more working class and trade unionists MPs. Paul said "People who know what its like to be shouted at by their bosses".

Ed talked about taking the fight to the Tories, need for self discipline, build more homes and make Banks serve the public, not the other way round.

Highlight was a rousing passionate speech by Laura Pidcock (see picture - sorry about quality) who reminded us that if MPs don't understand, talk, look or sound like working class people then they will not vote for them.   

Lab12: Homes for the future - Where are our grandchildren going to live?

Rushing into the Conference centre I found out about this fringe (picture left to right) with Andew Heywood (Housing Consultant), Jack Dromey MP (shadow housing minister); Jon Bernstein (New Stateman and Chair) and Rod Cahill (CEO of Catalyst Housing).

Jack spoke about the need to improve the private rented sector. 39% of its stock does not meet decent homes standard. The chief problem in the past has been the lack of political will. The next Labour Government will make housing a top priory and will have that will.

Rod reminded us that 30 years ago 6% of Government spending was on housing now it is less than 1%. State support for affordable housing is crucial. Andrew said the bi-party approach to housing in the last 25 years has failed. Supply is key and if housing is going to be given more money then what will the government spend less on?

In the Q&A I asked Rod why he thinks pension funds don't invest in residential housing (never mind social) in the UK and I also asked the panel what they thought of the £412,000 pay off to the CEO of Metropolitian Housing when it is at the same time cutting the wages of its care workers by 30%?

Rod said that the problems with pension investment is that they don't think that the return is sufficient. They can only make money if rents are high enough and secure. Affordable rents are too low for this. He also said that the £412k pay off including salary and that he understood that there had been higher pay offs in the sector. Jack replied that he was not aware of the details but could he be sent to him (I agreed).  

Lab12: Some pre conference thoughts?

I'm in Manchester for the 2012 Labour Party Conference which starts today at 2pm.  I'm here as a Ex-officio (Councillor) not a trade union or CLP delegate.

On the one hand the Party looks in good shape. The Tory Coalition government economic policies are failing, Labour is well ahead in the polls, its in reasonably good financial shape and still pretty united despite the 2010 defeat.

On the inevitable other hand, no one should believe polls, many voters still think that austerity is needed and I don't think we have really worked out a truly believable alternative offer.  There is still time but just being seen as a little bit less nasty than the Tories is not going to really convince anyone nor is it an answer to our economic woes.

Picture is from last nights London Regional reception.  Ed spoke to us about keeping our foot on the throats of the Tories (which went down well) and that the Olympics had showed us what individuals and government could achieve working together. He finished by promising that if elected he would lead a "radical and transforming government".  Bring it on.

Metropolitan Housing CEO £412k payoff while carers wages to be decimated

I'm on route to Labour Party conference and still fuming from yesterday’s news. Metropolitan Housing Association has announced that its former CEO, Bill Payne, was paid £412,000 last year.  At the same time as its front line care and health workers have been threatened with 30% pay cuts. According to Inside Housing this is the biggest ever payout. He was only in post for 4 years.

Staff who care for the disabled and mentally ill are going to be paying the price for this greed and incompetence. Who on earth agreed these terms? Ironically Metropolitan are also planning to reduce redundancy payments to near the legal minimum. Someone over age 41 on £20k would get say £2000 if laid off, Payne gets £209k. One law for the Directors and another for everyone else.

This is a registered charity that is even planning to sack full time workers in order to employ part timers at rubbish money since they could have their wages boosted by Government tax credits. Such behaviours are simply vile in any organisation but this is not G4S but one which claims to be “socially responsible”. Ed Miliband talks sense about “Predistribution” and increasing the pay of the low paid.  Labour must oppose this race to the gutter.

This is all just unbelievable and shows that some (not all) Housing Associations are completely out of control, ungoverned and corrupted with rotten practises. This is destroying the reputation of the whole sector. Lets fact it, many remuneration committees are just "mates clubs". Advised by consultants who know they have stuff the mouths of their clients (the Senior Management team and Chairs) with money or they will be fired. How can the excuse of always being in the top 25% quartile of pay not be anything but a means to ratchet up SMT pay?

For a while now I have been going to Labour Party conferences and asking first Labour Housing ministers, now shadow ministers, what are they going to do about poor governance and excessive executive pay in Housing Associations?  This year I hope lots of delegates do the same. Enough with the waffle. No government or Council money nor contracts should be given to organisations who act in this way.  We need a commitment to properly regulate and democratise associations by the next Labour Government.

Picture is of Metropolitan SMT on beano.