Labour Party Conference 2022 - Final Day 4 Wednesday

 

Belated post on final day of Labour Party conference in Liverpool. I went for an early morning run in sunshine (for a change) then had to check out of hotel room and leave my suitcase with them. 

A great morning session of speeches then our deputy leader, Angela Rayner, closed conference with a superb speech following by traditional singing of "The Red Flag" and "Jerusalem".  Somewhat different lyrics from "God Save the King" on day one. 

On Saturday there will be a feedback session in Newham on Party conference before canvassing for the National Day of Action https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2022/10/newham-affiliated-trade-union-focused.html

Newham Affiliated Trade Union Focused Feedback on #LABCON22

I am looking forward to this trade union Labour Party focused debate on 29 October (in personal capacity only). It was an amazing conference and while we should not be at all complacent, the Tories were (and still are) seemingly trying to do everything possible (despite the maths) to bring about a future Labour Government. 

Labour Party Conference 2022: Day 3 Tuesday

 

I have just realised that I still have 2 more days to post on this year's Labour Conference. So Tuesday started off with another short run along the Mersey and back from my hotel. Weather was kind compared to Monday. The UNISON delegation started with a "huddle" on the day's business just before the start of conference. 

NHS Mental health Nurse and UNISON delegate, Gordon McKay gave a marvellous and passionate speech on the Health debate. 

As posted here I spoke on the Climate change/environment debate on behalf of UNISON but by coincidence, Newham Labour member Ken Penton moved the motion  while his colleague Luke Chartist (also a PPC) spoke. At the same time James Asser was on the NEC panel. 

There was many good conference debates and Keir's speech went down so, so well. We are starting to believe we can win at the next General Election and he will be our Prime Minister. The Tories, of course, were helping by doing every single thing possible to make our conference successful with their ridiculous unfunded tax cuts which sent the pound plummeting and raised interest rates.

After conference finished I went to the UNISON reception, were our deputy leader, Angela Rayner (UNISON's own of course) came to see us and gave a great speech followed by Keir who also spoke very well and stayed chatting to delegates and enjoying the event far longer than his aides had wanted.

Only one more (half) day to go. 

Labour Conference: Day 3 A Green & Digital Future debate - My speech "No jobs in a dead planet"

 

This is photo from Tuesday morning (Day 3 of Labour Party Conference) of me giving a speech to Labour Conference as a UNISON Labour Link delegate. It was during the debate on Climate change. It was titled the "decarbonisation of public services".  A bit of a mouthful but hopefully I got my point across. Many thanks to UNISON staff for speaker notes. Hat tip Julian Cooke for photo.

Check out here on Labour Party YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9-TW2vii0Q and go to 1 hour 39 minutes & 25 seconds

DECARBONISING PUBLIC SERVICES

Conference, John Gray speaking for UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union. Conference let’s be clear we don’t need any persuading that climate change is real, is dangerous and is destructive.

We know that there are no jobs on a dead planet. And if the transition to net zero is not just, it is working people and their families who will suffer the worst consequences.

And Conference, the breadth of our public services means that UNISON members see the effects of climate change at work. Whether working for the Environment Agency and local government at the time of flooding, or NHS staff seeing the rise in air pollution and asthma.

And we all know the impacts of pollution and climate change fall more heavily on the disadvantaged.

Conference, last year, UNISON supported the UK and global trade union movement at the United Nations COP26 Conference. The global trade union movement had four clear demands:

1) Raise climate ambitions with Just Transition policies;

2) Respect and promote human and labour rights;

3) Provide climate finance for the Global South;

4) Funded plans that would achieve net zero.

Conference, trade unions must play a central role so that workers voices are at the table. That way we will deliver the policies and measures that ensure the transition is fair. This is a once in a generation challenge that we have to rise to. And as part of this endeavour We know that decarbonising public services is key.

Public Services, even excluding transport, represents around 8% of UK’s direct greenhouse gas emissions And that’s before you factor in procurement, construction and social housing impacts which make it much higher. 

Conference, Decarbonisation in Public Services needs new money now! Local Government alone needs major investment to cover works including building retrofits, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure 
and enhanced waste collection and processing services.

I could give similar examples across the rest of the public sector but the Chair would agree that there isn’t enough time in this speech!

Conference, In the absence of a significant capital injection of funds, public services will only move slowly towards its decarbonisation targets, taking resources from already stretched budgets, with disastrous consequences.

So, Liz Truss, Your government needs to start the funding NOW! But also, I say to our Labour leadership Public Services must have a separate, significant additional climate and decarbonisation budget .And there must dialogue with trade unions on this issue NOW.

Conference, if we get this right with such ambitious plans Labour will win the next election. Thank You.

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. 

Labour Party Conference 2022 - Monday morning run

 An early morning run before conference in wet and windy Liverpool. I came across some local lads.

Labour Party Conference 2022 - Sunday PM

 

A rather random collection of photos from the first afternoon and evening of conference. With picture from an excellent fringe in support of Ukraine with its UK ambassador as well as David Lammy MP and John Healey MP. I asked a question how can we can encourage local Labour Parties to engage with their Ukrainian and East European communities? 

I went also to a fringe addressed by our UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, on fixing the social care crisis. As well as the Labour Unions (TULO) fringe where our former vice President Sian Stockham, spoke about her life experiences as a low paid care worker. As did later Labour Deputy leader (and former care worker) Angela Rayner MP. 

I visited various receptions and fringes in the evening but had a relatively early night since I had to prepare for being on a pension panel the following day. 

Labour Party Conference 2022 (& plug for fringe ‘Levelling up net zero: How can we invest in a fair and just transition?’)

 

Labour Party conference starts on Sunday in Liverpool and I am looking forward to being one of the two elected UNISON Labour Link delegates for Greater London. I will post when I can.

However, quick plug with a different hat for a fringe I will be speaking at on behalf of the Local Government Pension Fund Forum. 

Levelling up net zero: How can we invest in a fair and just transition?’

Labour Party Conference fringe meeting

Monday 26 September at 12:30 to 13:30

Hall 2, Room 4, ACC Liverpool

CHAIR 

·         Paul Hackett, Director, the Smith Institute

SPEAKERS

·         Olivia Blake MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Net Zero

·         Professor Nick Robins, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, LSE

·         Cllr John Gray, Vice-Chair, Local Authority Pension Fund Forum