Labour Party Conference 2024: Sunday

 

Labour Party conference formally started at 11am on the Sunday but since I was not a delegate, I was able to go for a run in the morning around Sefton Park (which is near my hotel room). I once again left it too late to book accommodation nearer but it was only a 20 minute bus journey away. I find the buses in Liverpool to be as good or better than London. Sefton Park is a huge City "lung" with a marvellous lake in the middle. 

I went straight to the fringe panel that I was on representing the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF)  with Liam Byrne MP and TUC Economics head, Nicola Smith. The topic was "Labour New Deal for Working Peoples: How will investors react".  I will post separately on this event which I really enjoyed. 

My next fringe was also on Pensions but I missed the beginning. "The Pensions Review: What is the right role for Pensions in Supporting UK Growth". I did try and ask a question about possible risks of consolidation and being directed" by the Government into so called "productive finance" but was not picked (it happens). 

I visited the Fabians/UNISON Health & Social Care fringe in the Maritime Museum with Wes Streeting MP. Having a National care service and sectoral pay bargaining for all care workers will be transformational.

At 5.30pm I went to the Annual Trade Union Rally and Reception: For a New Deal for Working People (Labour Unions). Which went well and I was able to meet up with trade union friends and colleagues including someone I did a health and safety course in 2003 (remembered due to incident that year at an infamous  Trade Union BBQ).

I left early for The Housing Fringe "More than a Landlord: How can Housing Associations help tackle the Housing Crisis". Where I made the point that Housing Associations can certainly do many good things and help to tackle the housing crisis, we need public subsidy in order to meet the scale of the problem. For example, Newham has 6500 families in temporary accommodation, 30,000 on its waiting list and 50% of our children live in poverty after housing costs are taken into account. 

I went back into the Labour Unions rally then went to the Association of Labour Councillors Annual Reception. More speeches and gossip.  Final visit was to the Labour Friends of Bangladesh Annual Conference Dinner. I missed the speeches and the main meal but enjoyed the company.

Canvassing in West Ham & Bow for Labour Candidate James Asser

Yesterday and this evening I was out with local residents and Labour Party supporters in West Ham and Beckton, knocking on doors and speaking face to face to people about real local and national issues.

We had Labour Friends of Bangladesh with us also yesterday and we were honoured to be joined by the former High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Anwar Choudhury, who gave a rousing endorsement of James and the Labour Party.

Tomorrow, there will be only 1 more day to stop 14 years of Tory chaos.

Canning Town and Beckton visits and doorsteps

 

Today  I joined the West Ham & Beckton Labour Parliamentary candidate, James Asser, with local Councillors, Rohit and Shabs, for a tour of shops and businesses in Canning Town. James chatted to owners about issues facing them on the high street. It then absolutely poured with rain, during which I drove to the printers to pick up leaflets while James and the others took shelter in a Labour supporter home. 

The rain stopped and for a while it was blue skies and sunshine. We then went and knocked on doors in a relatively new, nearby high rise and talked to residents about what issues were important to them. 

The need for safer streets was a number one priority for both residents and local businesses.  Tory governments cut the Police of 20,000 experienced officers and the Met by over £1 billion. They are not the party of law and order.  

In the afternoon I went to knock on doors in Beckton with our council by election candidate, Blossom Young, my fellow ward Councillor John and UNISON colleague Mushtaq. Labour Friends of Bangladesh were also there to help with the door knock and we got over 150 contacts.  

Labour Party conference 2023 - Sunday

Today started off with a gentle 2.5 mile jog along the Mersey then back again.  At 12.30 I took part in a well attended, lively panel organised by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum on "Green washing" which I will post on later.  

I am not a delegate this year at conference but attending as a elected Labour Councillor and enjoying the freedom of not being required for early morning delegation meetings and attending all conference debates and speeches (no matter how boring).

In the afternoon I checked out the conference stalls and met up with various contacts and colleagues for coffee and gossip. I had a "hello stranger, long time no see" from London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, as he walked past quickly with his escort to his next event. 

At 6pm I attended the Labour Unions reception and heard some great speeches and contributions especially from our deputy leader Angela Rayner MP and leader Keir Starmer. 

Afterwards I went to the Association of Labour Councillors reception and then the Labour Friends of Bangladesh event. During which I was asked to make a speech on my role as a housing worker in Tower Hamlets for the past 31 years and as a UNISON trade union and Labour activist.  Great food and company. 

After that I went back to my accomodation and will very shortly crash out. A good day. 
 

Labour Party Conference 2022: Day 2 Monday

 

Another rather random collection of photos from Day 2 of Conference. I posted here on my early morning run and seeing some well known local lads

Top left is a picture from "Newham Night" when delegates and visitors from Newham met up for a drink and gossip at a local bar. 

Next was a picture of the Police on top of my hotel roof looking out, I assume, for possible security threats. 

Then pictures from an interesting fringe chaired by my Councillor colleague "Red Terry" Paul on the new trade union recognition agreement between Deliveroo and the GMB. 

As a delegate on the conference floor, I enjoyed the panel session with Keir Starmer and former England footballer, Gary Neville. I am not a football fan and had little knowledge of Gary before this but he seemed an intelligent and thoughtful bloke. 

There was the LAPFF fringe on Climate Change and Just Transition that I spoke at and have posted elsewhere. Final pictures of some great speeches by my General Secretary Christina McAnea and my London UNISON colleague, Anu Prashar. 

I also had a tasty evening meal at the Labour Friends of Bangladesh event and one or maybe even two whiskeys at the wonderful Labour Irish reception.