UNISON National Labour Link Forum 2019 - Day 1

I arrived yesterday morning for a pre meeting of the National Labour Link Committee where we agreed policy towards toward motions and agreed our speakers. In the evening I chaired the London regional delegation meeting, after which 11 of us went for a meal in a local curry restaurant.  

Forum started at 9.30am with a report by Standing Orders committee followed by debates on motions. I spoke on motion 2 "Cuts in Local Government" on behalf of the National Committee.  Next was a speech and Q&A by Richard Corbett MEP, leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. Richard is quietly spoken for a politician but gave an impressive and good humoured analysis of the Brexit crisis. I just hope he is right that backing a second referendum will not damage Labour's election prospects.  

After more debates on motions, our Keynote speaker was our General Secretary, Dave Prentis, who pointed out that there is no such thing as a "left wing No Deal" Brexit. "No deal" will be hugely damaging. 

Lunch was followed by a workshops and at 4pm there was a panel of MPs who used to UNISON activists,  Melanie Onn,  Liz Twist and Daniel Zeichner. Mel told Forum that our Party needs to unite and get its act together to defeat the Tories and "stop the nonsense" (to loud applause). 

Later that evening there was the famous Labour Link meal for delegates at the hotel. A good time was had by all. Forum restarted 9.30 sharp the next day. 

Greater London UNISON Labour link Regional Forum 2017 (and Eastern Region)

Pictures from recent Regional Labour Link Forum in central London.  Labour Link is the UNISON political vote that supports the Labour Party.  I chaired the meeting and after opening remarks, introductions, workplan, financial report (don't ask) we moved on to motions.

My branch had submitted a motion on building a new national consensus on why we need to build affordable and decent homes for all. This motion was moved by our ace branch officer, Mitsy Harmon-Russell, and after some minor amendments on restrictions on rent levels (which were accepted by our branch with qualifications about how the motion was about building a national consensus and not just a wish list) was accepted unanimously. Another motion submitted by Lambeth branch on "Labour is the Party of the the NHS" was also passed overwhelmingly.

The meeting was then joined by UNISON Eastern Region Labour Link, who also had their annual forum next door. Tracey Grant and I co-chaired the rest of the meeting. We were joined by our guest speakers, National UNISON Labour Link secretary Keith Birch, Daniel Zeichner MP and Chuka Umunna MP (to give a joint Parliamentary report).

Keith talked about the continued threat from the Tory trade union bill which was designed not only to to attack unions but also to starve the Labour Party of funds.

Daniel is a well respected former UNISON Labour link national official who was elected for the first time as MP for Cambridge in 2015. He is now shadow Labour minister for buses and is their most energetic supporter.  He pointed out that nationally more people in this country rely on buses for their transport needs than trains. This fact is rarely mentioned during the often wall-to-wall media coverage about commuter railway problems in the South East of England.

Chuka is the MP for Streatham, London and a former shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. He gave a powerful speech on how he believes we can still win the next General election and also the hypocrisy of the other opposition parties who are attacking Labour for accepting the democratic decision of the electorate over Brexit when before the referendum they were attacking Labour for opposing having a referendum in the first place.

In the Q&A Chuka was challenged by delegates concerned by the actions of the Parliamentary Labour Party towards our leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Chuka accepted that this was a fair criticism of the PLP before the outcome of the second leadership election but since then it is now accepted that Jeremy is the leader and should be supported. However, that does not mean that there should be no criticism of those who advise him. He pointed out that The Times had leaked before the recent budget that the Tories would be breaking a manifesto promise by raising National Insurance for the self employed but this was not written into Jeremy's speech on budget day and was a lost opportunity to attack the Tories.

The forum ended on what I thought to be a positive and constructive note. The Labour movement family is like all families. At times fractious and argumentative, with all sides convinced they are right and have been wronged but we must all put this aside since we share a common enemy and a common solution. The Tories are our enemy and our common goal is the election of a Labour Government. If we unite, it is still possible and we can still do it.

UNISON Labour Link 2015: Day 2 - meet the "Newbie" MPs

Day 2 of the National UNISON Labour Link Forum in Manchester started this morning with a "Parliamentary Panel" of MPs and  MEPS (see picture). It was inspiring to see 3 new MPs who come from our movement sitting for the first time alongside longer serving panel members. Former UNISON NEC member, Dave Anderson MP, spoke first about the risk to the union from indiscipline and how we must remain loyal and united to fight off Tory attacks on the union and the cuts.

Next was the first "Newbie" MP (as she described herself) former UNISON branch secretary and regional convener, Angela Rayner MP.  Angela described her first few weeks in Parliament as getting "constantly lost" and grappling with the often arcane practices and procedures. Especially when it comes to what she can and cannot say about her political opponents during debates. In her first speech to the House of Commons she spoke about her life experiences as a single Mum at age 16 and working as a home carer.

In a question from the floor about the proposed new trade treaty with Europe and America (TTIP) MEP Jude Kirton-Darling, promised to oppose it if it threatens any form of public services.

2nd Newbie was former UNISON regional officer, Melanie Onn MP, who told us about her joy at winning her seat (and defeating UKIP) and her sadness about resigning as a union official since she worries about her members, especially those facing the Tory cuts onslaught. She recalled how she was nervous about her first speech to the Commons  but she had carefully prepared a short timed speech only to be told immediately beforehand by the Whips that she had to pad it out to 20 minutes!

Not a newbie but always good to see and hear was Lilian Greenwood MP who told us how awful opposition is and how we need to go and speak and listen to the general public before we decide what to do next. We cannot just say to them that we were right and you were wrong.

Final "Newbie" was Daniel Zeichner who is a new MP but has worked for UNISON Labour Link for many years and has helped run this National Forum. Daniel thought we had 3 things to do. First, defend public services. Second, defend the union since the Tories are coming for us. Thirdly, we had to build an alternative political narrative for the public. He also described how unpleasant it was to be sitting for 7 hours a day in front of 350 Tories.

Final speaker was MEP Theresa Griffin, who defeated BNP leader Nick Griffin last year. She put down one reason for her success was ordinary UNISON members passing messages to other UNISON members.

After the panel we had a discussion and vote on the UNION Labour Link annual report followed by motions. First debate was on Local Government Finance. The mover brought alongside a jar of pickles to compare the value of former Minister Eric. There were other motions on Employment tribunals; engagement of young people; encouraging Black Labour Link officers; BME representation and equalities. Husband of Angela, Mark Rayner gave a passionate speech about the importance of doing every things we can to get more unison candidates to stand as Labour candidates in 2020. There was also motions on TTIP, "Fit to Work" Scheme, affordable housing and Union busting by UK Public Service providers and final one on human rights.

Chair Eleanor Smith closed the conference by hoping at next year's Forum following successful results in the elections in London, Scotland and local councils we will be in better spirits than this year.  

Labour will get rid of Katie Hopkins

Hat tip to Cambridgeshire University Labour club for this poster.

Katie Hopkins is the Sun columnist who recently called migrants "cockroaches"..."feral humans" and "doesn't care if migrants die while trying to leave their countries by boat" " even if she was shown “coffins and bodies floating in water” she would not be moved.

This was in response to the 400 migrants - men, women and children who drowned last week.

I was due once to debate pensions with this person on Radio 5 Live. However thankfully she pulled out of the interview. Imagine being in the same room as someone who thinks like this. 

Daniel Zeichner - Labour PPC for Cambridge

Good news! Daniel Zeichner has been selected as the Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge at the next general election. The seat use to be Labour until 2005. Now held by Lib Dems.

Daniel is a national officer for UNISON Labour Link - seen in this photo (wearing grey jacket) running a very successful and innovative UNISON Computer telecanvass team during the May 2012 elections.

UNISON London Labour Link Forum 2010

This year’s Forum took place in a committee room at the House of Commons. The Forum is a regional annual meeting of Labour Link delegates from London UNISON branches. It debates Rule amendments, policy motions and tabled reports on finances and work plans.

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.