Forum 09: Ed Miliband – Labour Party Manifesto

(Better late than never – this is my report on Ed Miliband's speech to UNISON Labour Link Forum at Manchester the other Saturday – usual health warning that this is based on my very hurried typed notes)

“Ed started off by paying tribute to UNISON and to Labour Link and its leadership. He then mentioned that it was the first time he had ever shared a panel with his families midwife. It turns out that NHS Nurse, Rachel Voller, who was chairing the Forum had been the midwife at the recent birth of his child. He praised Rachel for being brilliant at calming down “panicking dads”. He then said that he was sure that she was also very discreet. There was a gentle heckle from a certain former UNISON president on the floor who claimed that Rachel had not - and she had “spilled the beans”. Never!

Ed then got stuck in with telling us that all MP’s owed us an apology. They had let us down. Most had not personally abused the system but they should have not allowed the scandal to have happened in the first place. Especially for those of us in public service who work for a Labour Government and expected better.

There are 5 things we now need to do. Firstly, we need to remember our values and why we came into Party. Not about the better management of the economy but a battle of competing visions. It’s about fairness and justice. Who we stand up for. The role of the market is not about who can manage it better. The Tories believe that the recession should take its course. This is their belief in free markets. While we do believe that government can be a force of good. There is a basic difference in values.

Secondly the Tories believe “if it isn't hurting it is not working” and “unemployment is a price worth paying”. We don’t - and what this means is that we put money into the economy. To prevent all the repossessions compared to last time. We have forced the banks to keep lending and prevent massive long term unemployment. We have guaranteed job/training to all under 25 for 6 months. There is a big difference between us and them. No matter what - the recession would have been deeper and more painful under Tory rule.

It’s no more “business as usual”. Unfairness has to change. The increase in higher rate tax is an example. Why have working people voted in the past more or less for Labour? The minimum wage shows we have raised the living standard of the people we represent. Need to show how we will further raise this standard of living for our people.

We have unfinished business. The Social Care lottery needs reform. We need to make Social Care a central part of the welfare state. Family Policy is key. Scandinavian countries are way ahead of us. Not only use minimum wage but also use tax credits

Thirdly. Climate change. This is the area. The biggest challenge. But it is not the biggest challenge in everybody’s lives. In 60 years time people will ask did we face up to the challenge. Need to show big ambition in climate change. What do you get with a Labour government you won’t get with Tories? We want growth, jobs and a sustainable environment. Our values are to make sure poor don't pay the most to counter climate change.

Fourth: We have to show the contrast with the Tories. They want a referendum on the Labour Government rather than a debate on who they stand up for. Ken Clarke, when he became a shadow minister again, said that the inheritance tax policy commitment “is an aspiration”. The Tory high command said “No it’s a commitment”. They want a smaller state - that is what they believe in. Need to warn people about the Tories. We have made enormous gains - 18 weeks hospital waiting lists and the massive school building programme. His CLP has been transformed. Massive changes. For example, Surestart, which they will do away with. What if Tories get in - what does it mean for Doncaster North?

Fifth: Why did we come into the Party - because we are idealists. We are the real idealists. We are the people who think that public services can transfer people’s lives. Idealism is a missing component of government. My brother (who I don't usually quote) said recently When you are out of Government you know too much of it and when you are in Government you know too little of it. The country is not crying out for Tories. If we get this manifesto right we will win”.

(Compared to Harriet the previous day - Ed did get a bit of a pummelling in the Q&A. Especially over transport policy, public housing and privatisation. He tried to give assurances that there was no plan to market test 75% of elective NHS services but Forum was determined to give let the minster responsible for drawing up the Party manifesto for the next election know that things need to change. In the nicest possible way of course).

UNISON London Labour Link (APF) Forum

I’m playing “catch up” tonight but a quick report on last week’s Forum meeting at the House of Commons.

It is really lovely to have a meeting in this venue, even if was in committee room 9, the “Peel Room” named in honour of 19th century Tory Prime Minister, Robert Peel. No doubt the forces of darkness will see in this some sort of scary conspiracy but such is life.

We had as our keynote speaker, Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, who gave what I thought was a feisty and pugnacious speech reminding everyone what the Government had achieved especially in the NHS. Good stuff! I think it is gradually dawning on some people that actually Labour hasn’t been “all that bad” and that it would be an absolute complete disaster for working people if the Conservatives are elected. Better late than never I suppose.

The debates went pretty well, despite the representative of the bosses’ class from Islington making his usual weird and wonderful comments on a daft rule amendment proposal. I think he threatened to report me to Private Eye or something for exposing last year the practice of SWP branch officers voting for their mates in Labour Link elections. Yeah, well - make my day.

The rule amendment for all elections to take place at the annual forum rather than postal ballot (and thus disenfranchise those who cannot attend) was kicked out pretty convincingly. The motion about supporting the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) was passed and will be one of the two motions we will sent to National Labour Link Forum. I’ll post on this important motion another time.

The Parliamentary report was by Tooting MP, Sadiq Khan, who has done really good work in supporting UNISON in local hospitals in his CLP. National Labour Link vice Chair Rachel Voller gave a succinct update on the review of the UNISON political funds.

I'll post as soon as I know the results of the 2009 London Labour link elections.

Rae Voller - Labour’s Voice for Romford

After canvassing for Rachel Saunders in Mile End East Ward, I then went last night to a reception for Rachel (Rae) Voller in Committee room 5, House of Commons.

Rae is the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Romford in the next general election. She is also a UNISON activist and elected member of UNISON National Labour Link committee (and its deputy chair).

Local Romford Labour Party members and UNISON members who live in Romford had been invited to meet Rae and discuss local issues.

I was there with my colleague, John Gough (London Ambulance Service) on behalf of the London UNISON Labour Link committee.

Rae gave a confident and very coherent “off the cuff” talk (without any notes!) about who she was, her background, why she joined the Party, her trade union and why the Party was so important for her and what she believed in. She mentioned her passionate belief in better social and childcare facilities for young and old. Her fear that the Tories have committed themselves to cutting Surestart. Rae is a midwife by profession and her colleagues, who are community based, are horrified at this prospect since they see the good that these centres achieve with families. For her Politics is all about making a difference, changing real peoples lives for the better, its not about the politicians you just see on TV.

Rae spent most of the meeting taking questions and comments (and asking questions back herself) about what Romford people think is important and what we should do to as a Party and her as a candidate to earn the votes of the people at Romford at the next general election.

Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor Jack Straw popped in to say "hello" and give a short speech reminding everyone that, although he represents the Northern consistency of Blackburn, he is really an Essex boy! Born in a LCC Council estate in Harold Hill. Romford and the surrounding area was his old “stomping ground”. His Mum aged 87, still lives in the area and had served as a local Councillor until she was nearly 80.

He describes life in politics at this moment as a “roller coaster”. He is still optimistic of victory at the next election, the maths are with us (we have some 356 seats while the Tories have under 200). He talked about his belief that politics is about improving people’s chances and how we need to defeat the BNP. We must win back the traditional solid Labour LCC estates. The BNP only succeed when we leave a vacuum in local politics for them to move into.

Victory in Romford in 2010 (or before) will be tough to achieve since the sitting Tory MP has an 11,500 majority. However, from 1997 to 2001 it was a Labour seat and the constituency is surrounded by sitting Labour MPs. If anyone can do it, it will be Rae.

Afterwards, some of us went to watch the debates in Parliament, while others managed to have a quick sherbet or two in the “Sports and Social” while putting the world to rights. I’ll leave it to your imagination to guess which option I took.

Rachel Saunders 4 Mile End East

Today was for me a very busy Labour Movement day. I went on an excellent UNISON training event on Pension governance which will finish tomorrow (I’ll post on this later), then at 6pm I met up with Labour canvassers outside Mile End Station to go out and work the ward for the forthcoming Council by-election in Mile End East.

The Labour Party candidate is Rachel Saunders, (see picture) who will make a superb Councillor if she is elected.

Rachel works for UNISON as a national officer. She went off with a canvass team including Councillors Helal Uddin Abbas (former leader of Tower Hamlets Council) and Marc Francis. I went with another team together with local ward Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman.

We went to a high rise tower block in the ward which was run by the large housing association “Places for People”. The block was actually in a very good condition and seemed to be well run and cared for by residents and staff. The canvass went very well even though I am always a little doubtful about what people tell you to get rid of you from the door step.

The other Mile End East Councillor was formerly a Respect Councillor and SWP member, who bizarrely defected to the Tories, so I assume he is pushing the Tory vote. So, to make sure the Tories do not win, vote Labour.

One of the residents I canvassed was a UNISON Health branch secretary who promised to “spread the word”. I had to leave early to another “Rachel” Labour event. This was "Rachel Voller 4 Romford" at the House of Commons which I will also post on soon as well.

Oh Well, Win Some Lose Some

I have just got the results about the UNISON London Local Government Service Group Executive Election. I was well beaten by incumbent David Eggmore who got 2,882 votes. Second was Glenn Kelly who got a surprising (to me anyway) 2,528. I came third with 1,430 and Oreleo DuCran came 4th with 677. See previous post.

Congratulations to David!

The good news is that Irene Stacey (see next post) won the London female seat 3586 to 3532. Narrowing defeating Sonya Howard. Interesting to speculate about what this actually means?

Bad news I fear also about Rachel Voller and Bill Beekoo in the London Health SGE elections. I am sure that this is just a blip!

Nationally the centre left seemed to have done better.

I enjoyed the campaign and have a number of ideas on how to possibly get a better result in any future elections.

Turnout was as always very poor. 79,507 members balloted, total number of valid votes counted only 7,517. There was an incredible 677 invalid votes cast in my election and 1076 for the female seat? Scotland who balloted 102,282 members only had 61 invalid votes? (Only one seat up for election in that region).

The low turnout meant that in London you only needed just fewer than 3% of the membership vote to win.

Would better publicity, raising the profile of the SGE, internet voting, voting via mobile phones make any difference?

Anyway, such is life, I am now settling down to a nice cup of tea. (still using skimmed milk)

UNISON Health Service Group Executive Elections (London region)

As well as the GLA and other Council elections taking place across the land, there are also some fairly important UNISON internal elections taking place.

UNISON is divided into 7 Service Groups. These elections are to elect regional members of each National Service Group Executive (SGE).

In London Region there are only two contested elections for regional delegates. For Health and Local Government service groups. Here is the election statement for the Health centre left slate that I am supporting. I will post next the Local Government slate (guess who is standing in that election!).

If you are a member of UNISON in London, please copy these statements and email or photocopy to any other members you know. UNISON branch funds and distribution lists should not be used for such purposes. Ballot papers are due to be sent out tomorrow to members home addresses. Enjoy!

"United Left" SWP and SP Trotskyite candidates are standing against them. Nuf said?


LAYLA RUMBLE, BILL BEEKOO AND RACHEL VOLLER
ALL HERE FOR YOU ON THE HEALTH SERVICE GROUP EXECUTIVE

Dear Colleague,

As you will be aware we are currently in the nomination period for the Service Group Executive (SGE) elections. We are writing to you to seek your branch’s nomination for the three positions available to represent the Greater London Region.

As your existing SGE representatives we have worked hard together as a team to speak up for our members. Sometimes speaking up is not easy but we have always aimed to put UNISON members first and not political agendas as some representatives are known to do. We have consistently fought to use UNISON budgets in the best interests of our membership, to serve all of our members not just the more vocal, and have particularly spoken up on behalf of our low paid members.

Bill Beekoo (General seat)
Bill works for Havering PCT and has been an SGE representative for 6 years bringing with him a vast amount of experience in negotiating and organising. He is a firm believer that NHS workers should be well rewarded for the hard work that they do. He has contributed to debates on pay, pensions and privatisation and if re-elected would be particularly interested in making sure low paid contract workers received Agenda for Change in ALL Trusts in London.

Layla Rumble (Low paid seat)
Layla works as a Maternity Health Care Assistant and is also training to be a midwife. She is passionate about representing our lower paid workers as they are integral to the smooth functioning of the NHS. Layla is also keen to see more opportunities for our members to increase their skills and prospects through the Knowledge and Skills framework and if re-elected would make this a priority.

Rachel Voller (Women’s seat)
Rachel works as a midwife at UCLH. She has served on the SGE for 4 years and has fought hard for recognition by the government of the high standards of work provided by our NHS workers. Rachel is keen to see an end to privatisation and outsourcing of services within the NHS and if re-elected would make it a priority to address ways in which Trusts can be supported to bring their facilities back in house.

We hope that you will re-nominate us so that we can continue with the work we have been doing and ensure that the voices of London members are heard at the highest levels. There is important work to be done especially with changes afoot under the Darzi report and we feel that with our experience and motives for standing we are the best placed to serve you.

Bill, Layla and Rachel.

Rachel Voller: Vice Chair of UNISON Labour Link

Congratulations to London nurse Rachel Voller, who has been elected as the National UNISON Labour Link committee Vice Chair.

Rachel is the Greater London regional delegate to the committee.

Labour Link (it use to be known as the "Affiliated Political Fund" or the APF) supports members views and argues for UNISON policies within the Labour Party.

Picture (right) is of Rachel as a member of the UNISON delegation to the Labour Party conference at Bournemouth 2007 asking a question to a panel of ministers.

Well done Rachel!

UNISON Labour Link London Victory

Well done to London Nurse, Rachel Voller, for winning the Greater London UNISON Labour Link National Committee elections.

Rachel won by a very comfortable majority in the recent postal ballot of all London Labour Link members (2,857 votes against 2,245, a 612 majority over her opponent Andrew Berry - formal commiserations to Andrew).

I think this is a ringing endorsement from London for the UNISON Labour Link National Committee and their democratic decision to nominate Gorden as the Leader of the Labour Party (and Alan for Deputy Leader).

However, it looks very likely (if not certain) that we are facing a real general election in the very near future. so we need to move on and unite and concentrate our energies against the hideous prospect of a Tory Government. Nuff said?

Vote Rachel Voller - UNISON Labour Link Elections

Ballot papers are being sent out from today to the home addresses of all UNISON members who pay the Labour Party political levy (also known as the APF). Each UNISON region elects one delegate to the National Labour Link Committee. In most regions there is a contested election. In London I am supporting Rachel Voller (together with the overwhelming majority of the UNISON London regional committee - I haven’t been able to contact everyone but so far the endorsement for Rachel has been solid)

Rachel works as a midwife for UCH in central London. She is a committed UNISON and Labour party activist and has done an excellent job for London UNISON Labour link. My branch Tower Hamlets nominated her at our last Labour Link meeting.

Below is Rachel’s election address, please “copy & paste” and email to anyone who pays the UNISON Labour link levy in London.


VOTE RACHEL VOLLER

A STRONG VOICE FOR LONDON MEMBERS
I’m an ordinary community midwife who witnesses the result of poverty pay and poor housing daily. That’s why I want to continue doing all I can for our members and the community we serve.

Like many UNISON members I live a long way from work to live in affordable accommodation, adding to the daily pressure of being a shiftworker.

EXPERIENCED CAMPAIGNER
Since my election I’ve made sure the voice of ordinary UNISON members has been heard at the highest levels within the Labour party.

Whether questioning Gordon Brown directly or lobbying Ken Livingstone I have put London UNISON members first.

I have:

- successfully lobbied to stop the late start of weekend tube trains which would have hit thousands of shiftworkers;
- won support for the LGPS amongst London Labour MPs;
- represented UNISON on London Labour party’s ruling body;
- organised UNISON members to visit Parliament to meet MPs face to face.

PRIORITIES
I will:

- demand Gordon Brown builds enough affordable houses across London;
- campaign for a Ken Livingstone victory in 2008 to ensure a living wage is introduced;
- expose the racist lies of the BNP;
- organise more chances for members to meet Labour politicians.

WORKING WITH DAVE PRENTIS

Dave Prentis, our General Secretary, has shown strong leadership and won major concessions from Labour.

I want to work with Dave to build on this and put our members’ priorities first.

I will not enter into alliances with outside extremist political parties like the Socialist Workers’ Party, Militant Tendency or obscure backbench MPs like others would.

UNISON has a central role to play in the Labour Party and I intend to use it for the best interests of all our members.

Remember your vote will count.

Contact Rachel via RchlVollerataol.com

UNISON Labour Link Forum – Manchester 2007

Busy couple of days, we firstly had apologies from Gordon Brown for not being able to attend (we let him off, he had a baptism of fire with international terrorists and floods), had a new minister of local government, Hazel Blears, as guest speaker, key note speech by our General Secretary, Dave Prentis, Q&A with Labour MEPs and then MPs, workshop on implementing national delegate conference decisions, annual report, debate on Labour Leadership election and motions. There was of course the obligatory UNISON social on the Friday evening where “a good time was had by all”. My red eyes and shaky voice the following morning was down to a horrible common cold and no other possible reason.

The Forum is the annual meeting of elected UNISON Labour Link representatives and was held in the Midland Hotel Manchester city centre. The hotel is actually built on or about the site of the Peterloo Massacre. There was about 150 members present from all over the UK. I haven’t been to Manchester since I was in my 20s, and I was most impressed. I will definitely be coming back for a weekend soon.

Hazel was her usual very impressive self – the four “C’s”, combative, confident, certain and proper working "class". She appears to have shrugged off her defeat in the Deputy Leadership, probably thinks “it’s their loss”. I liked her story about how after she became a young Councillor at Salford (fictional setting for Coronation Street); the Town Clerk (who in those days still used to wear a wig and gown at Council meetings) approached her and said he had a “really important job for her”. She was really excited and thought it would be some significant committee position. However, he then told her “we are refurbishing the member’s room and we would like you to choose the curtains”. She said she was so shocked that she agreed. She pointed out the danger Cameron and the Tories poised at the next election as just being “different”. Regardless of policies there will be a “momentum of change” at the next election which will favour the Tories. Labour has got to be different, not in values but in policies.

I was able to ask her my usual question to new ministers about the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) “governance” issues i.e. why is it that staff are excluded from being represented on their pension schemes. Hazel (as Malcolm Wicks, Stephen Timms and Phil Woolas have responded in the past) admitted that this issue was something that she had not been briefed upon beforehand but suggested that involving staff in their pensions was obviously “a good idea”. We need to speak to her further before she gets nobbled by her civil servants. There is a draft Code of Practice on governance issues out at the moment.

Dave Prentis obviously felt at home at the forum. He was amongst friends. He started off by attacking the BNP, he also had a bit of a dig at the “revolutionary groups” who feed off and take for granted the hard work done by Labour Link in trying to influence MPs. He praised Alan Johnson, for wanting talks to take place over NHS pay within 5 days of him taking over as health secretary, when just 2 weeks ago Brown had told Dave himself that there was no more negotiations over pay. Alan Johnson, even thought we won’t agree with everything he does is someone UNISON can deal with.

Dave went off his speech to respond to Hazel and have a go at the awful governance of many (not all) LGPS schemes. Despite a clear European Union directive that we should have the legal right to 50% representation on these schemes we have none. He pointed out that huge amounts of money in the LGPS is used to provide cheap loans to local authorities instead of being invested for the long term. We will probably need to recruit some 800 UNISON pension reps in the near future to sit on pension schemes.

Dave pointed out that UNISON Labour Link is an integral part of the Union and that as General Secretary he will do everything in his power to promote it.

I spoke on the London motion on the Living Wage, the problems with Co-op and the 4th choice for Housing.

Labour Link is obviously as Dave mentioned a “broad church”. However, despite occasional problems, I felt that pretty much everyone present was genuinely united about promoting the wider Labour movement. All of us have shared values and aspirations and we feel the best way forward to pursue these ideals is via the Labour Party and our affiliated trade union UNISON. Watch this space.

Picture above is of London Delegation - Left to right me, Rachel Voller, Louise Couling, Norma Stephenson (UNISON President), John Gough, Bill Beekoo and Ian Horrigan.

Pictures below of London UNISON members in action Bill, Rachel (left), John Gough and Khi Rafe.

Next Labour MP for Bethnal Green & Bow speaks to local UNISON Labour Link

Rushanara Ali, the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow (BG&B) was the guest speaker at our Tower Hamlets branch UNISON Labour Link meeting. Cuckoo George Galloway, has “promised” not to stand in BG&B at the next election since he knows he will lose.

Rushanara spoke about local and national issues then we had informal but wide ranging “question and answers”. Some of the points we discussed with Rushanara were: -

A major local issue was the recent collapse of “1st Solutions” a money transfer service to Bangladesh from the UK. It would appear that many people all over Britain who thought they were sending money to their families may have lost everything. Incredibly it seems that such services are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

We also discussed the London Living Wage campaign. This campaign which is supported by London Mayor Ken Livingston, wants a higher minimum wage for London (currently £7.20 per hour) to take into account the higher costs of living in the Capital. Labour Boroughs want to make sure that all their directly employed workers and sub-contractors have this amount but are worried that if they specify a living wage in any tenders without specific legal authority, they could be sued by whoever failed to be awarded the contract. This could be challenged if the Labour Boroughs worked together.

We also talked about working together to lobby the government about re-introducing a “Fair Wages Clause” which was done away by Thatcher. This clause use to state that if any public service was privatised then new starters would still be paid the same amount as if they remained in the public sector. This would benefit low paid workers who work in privatised services nationally and not just in London.

Tomorrow I am off to UNISON Labour Link Forum in Manchester. Our branch has had its motion on the Living Wage supported by London Labour Link Forum. I hope it will be adopted by the National Forum then we can take it hopefully to the Labour Party Conference later this year.

The GLA elections next year and in particular practical support for Ken and our local hard working GLA member, John Biggs, was agreed. Also the local by-election in Shadwell following the resignation of the Respect Councillor. For the next few weeks the priority will be canvassing in the Ealing Southall Parliamentary by-election (Sedgefield is a bit too far)

Also at meeting we unanimously nominated Rachel Voller, to be the London UNISON National Labour Link committee member. Rachel is a nurse at UCL hospital and has been an excellent Labour Link rep for London.