Labour Party Annual Conference Saturday #Lab19

I am on route to Labour Party conference in Brighton belatedly looking through the handbook and trying to decide which debates and fringes to attend. This year I am attending as a Councillor not a delegate. Being a delegate gives you the opportunity to vote and possibly make a speech but it is far more fun being a visitor and being able to go, see and hear what you are really interested in.

There has already been one massive row over the attempt to get rid of Tom Watson as Deputy Leader. While I can understand why people are frustrated with Tom, kicking a directly elected deputy out at the eve of a general election was not a great move.

Hopefully, we will not score anymore home goals during Conference and instead concentrate on attacking the Tories, trying to clear up the Brexit mess and preparing for the election.

So far, I am planning to attend this evening the Labourlist fringe and then the Greater London regional reception. Sunday has a number of debates on “rebuilding public services” and in evening there is the Newham Labour “Get together”.

I am due to speak at some housing fringes and hope to attend the Unison reception and Local Authority Pension Fund Forum fringe on “A Just Transition” on Tuesday evening.

Conference finishes on Wednesday afternoon following the Leaders speech. I hope to post more often at this conference... but I say this every year.

Update: I arrived at Brighton station and walked to my hotel near the Pier. I had booked accommodation via the Expedia website some months ago. Last Thursday I got a text saying that this had been cancelled due to “over booking”. After a series of telephone calls Expedia eventually booked me into suitable alternative accommodation at a cost of over 4 times my original booking. They covered the extra costs. Something to think about if you normally do not use a booking agency for booking accommodation.

Labour Local Government Association Conference 2019

Last weekend I went to the Labour LGA conference in Coventry. There were Labour councillors from all over England. On the Friday evening Tom Watson was the speaker at a buffet meal. The next day Jeremy was our keynote speaker (see main picture with Jeremy and Newham Labour directly elected Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, both arriving at the conference following a personal meeting)

At the start of conference, local Cllr Jackie Taylor welcomed us. LGA Group leader, Nick Forbes, reminded everyone that we are are a Labour movement family with the odd wayward teenagers & grumpy uncles (I plead innocence). 

There were a number of seminars and fringes including an important one on "New municipalism community wealth building" and another with John Healey MP on housing campaigning. Where following negative comments about the problems caused by Airbnb in some areas, I had to admit to staying in a flat for this weekend via this said website.

I am so pleased that Labour has committed to getting rid of section 21 (no fault legal evictions). We also need to support the Tenants/leaseholders representative movement, since we will never get first class housing services without this.

Rokhsana also skyped into two Newham Citizen assemblies that were being held in East Ham town hall at the same time. I filmed her on her phone as she addressed the morning and afternoon assemblies. It is amazing what modern technology can achieve. 

Sunday Night Live: Corbyn and the (new) Labour Landscape

This looks interesting. 5-6.30pm next Sunday 25 October 2015 at Stratford Picture House Bar, London, E15 (5 mins from Stratford Station). I wonder if the West Ham Corbynistas Fashion Gurus will be present?

Denis Healey: the Labour Giant who did the dirty work for socialism

I was at home today recovering still from this weeks Labour Party conference, when I saw on the news that Denis Healey had died this morning in his sleep aged 98.

Which is a good age by any standards, so some of the reporting I have seen that his death is a "grave loss to Labour" is a little misplaced. Instead we should be celebrating his long life of public service to the Party and to our Country.

He was a brave soldier who saw active front line service in North Africa and Italy in the Second War and a brave politician who did what he thought was right regardless (or in spite?) of opposition or abuse.

Our Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has described the former Chancellor, Defence Secretary, Shadow Foreign Secretary and Party deputy leader as a "Labour Giant".

I heard our current Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, say he had "towering intellectual" and although they disagreed politically, he was the "kindest" (that word again) of people privately and completely loyal to the Labour Party in its time of need. 

I only ever saw Denis in person once at the "Stand Up for Labour" event at the Labour Party conference in Brighton 2013. He read out his limericks to the audience. He looked a little frail but he went down very well with the audience who sang "Happy Birthday" to him (it was 30 August).

Bearing in mind the current fuss and bother over Jeremy Corbyn's remarks that if he ever became Prime Minister, he would never authorise the use of British Nuclear weapons. The BBC reminded me that Denis, the archetypal multilateralist cold war warrior, had said in an interview that he would have done the same. 

The BBC obituary claims that Denis prided himself on doing "the dirty work for socialism". Which if true (and I can't find any other source for this so far) is a fair reflection of the man who stood up to a hostile Labour Party conference and spoke what he thought to be uncomfortable truths. As far as I am aware Denis was very loyal publicly to Labour leader, Michael Foot, while he was his deputy. I have no doubt that he spoke his mind to him. I hope (and frankly have no doubts) that our current deputy leader, Tom Watson, will do the same to Jeremy.

Denis was famous (and wise) for having a "hinterland" away from politics - photography, music, poetry. At a Memorial Poetry Reading in  2005 he read out this marvellous verse about a Royal Navy Fleet Arm pilot which I assume he related to his own war time service.

"Fleet Fighter

Olivia Fitzroy

"Good show !" he said, leaned his head back and laughed. 
"They're wizard types !' he said, and held his beer 
Steadily, looked at it and gulped it down 
Out of its jamjar, took a cigarette 
And blew a neat smoke-ring into the air. 
"After this morning's prang I've got the twitch; 
"I thought I'd had it in that teased-out kite." 
His eyes were blue and older than his face, 
His single stripe had known a lonely war, 
But all his talk and movements showed his age, 
His jargon was of aircraft and of beer. 
"And what will you do afterwards ?' I said. 
Then saw his puzzled face and caught my breath. 
There was no afterwards for him but death".

Rest In Peace Denis.

Jeremy Corbyn Wins! Our New Labour Leader of the Opposition

I was at the Special conference held this lunchtime to announce the result of the Labour Leader and Deputy leadership elections. I am an UNISON delegate to this year's Labour Party conference, so was automatically able to attend this one as well.

I had a number of quick chats with various UNISON and Labour Party colleagues in the queues to get my credentials and then into the hall including our UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis.  I managed to get a seat near the front. The hall was packed, warm and stuffy. Lots of hot air around no doubt!

There was an air of excitement and anticipation even though I don't think there was much doubt at the result. The press was gathered like a pack of wolves at the front staring at the crowd looking for a good (or rather salacious) photo opportunity.

While we were waiting for the start I overheard a delegate say that he had joined the Party in 1968 and had waited all his life for this moment. Sitting next to me a fellow IPAD user pointed out that the Jeremy Corbyn Wikipedia page was already showing him as "Leader of the Opposition".

The meeting began just after 11am with the Labour Party General Secretary, Iain McNicol, making a good joke at our expense by pretending to make the announcement there and then. He made some interesting comments about making sure that all the new Labour members and supporters actually turn up and campaign at the doorstep during elections. Also, that we must always make sure that our policies must relate to the concerns of ordinary people.

He introduced the new Labour Candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, who started his speech by saying that he can still not believe that a "sarf" London boy and son of immigrants was standing as Labour Mayor. Sadiq stressed how important it was that we all unite around the new leader.

All the Leader and Deputy leader candidates then trooped into the hall and sat down. There was a lot of cheering and clapping. They were all smiling even though by then they knew the results.

The first result was for Deputy leader and Tom Watson was elected by a comfortable majority, Stella Creasy was second.  He then gave a speech noting firstly that he had been told to "keep it brief" (which he rightly ignored) and that he would be loyal to any leader but that the Party itself was greater than any leader. He also had a clear sense that the election result would be a referendum on the political process as much as anything else. He warned the Tories who are sneering that Labour will not win to just "watch this space, watch this space".

Finally, the vote for Leader. It was all over in minutes. Jeremy won an outright majority on first preference vote in all 3 categories of membership. He got a quarter of million votes compared to second place Andy Burnham's 80,000. A decisive victory and mandate.

His acceptance speech was typical Jeremy. Gracious, polite but direct and to the point. He was emotional when he attacked the media for their vile behaviour towards former leader Ed Miliband, and members of Jeremy's own family.  He thanked all his fellow candidates. They have always remained friendly with group hugs.

He was thinking of forming an ABBA tribute band with them. He thanked Andy for his work on NHS. Yvette for bringing attention to refugees and described his friendship with Liz, who despite differences, is someone with real conviction.

He told us he will be attending the demonstration today in London in support of refugees. 

Thanked his staff and all unions including UNISON who nominated him. "We are a party that is organically part of the union movement". He then attacked the Tory attempts to shackle unions with their new anti-union bill.

He also thanked his friends and for their advice. Sometimes he would have rather not received this advice but that is what friends are there for.

This election was about "hope and opportunity". He welcomed back all those who had recently joined the Party who had left in the past disillusioned.

He thinks that his election shows that the young generation are "political". It was just they were turned off by the way we do politics.

The fight back starts now. 

He thanked the Labour leaders of Scotland and Wales for their work. Praised the Mayoral candidate for Bristol and Sadiq in London. "We must stop the social cleansing of London" and build homes.

"London needs a Labour Mayor and Sadiq is the man to do this".

"There has been an incredible mood change in Europe towards refugees. They are human beings just like you and me". We must recognise that going to war causes bitterness.

"We cannot accept the world's gross inequality... We are one world... Let that message go out today".

"The Tories have used the 2008 financial crisis to attack the poor". We need an economic strategy that deal with real issues.

He stands here today because of the work in the past of Labour giants but their work must now continue and now no one must be left behind.

"This campaign is about shaping our future. This will be good for everyone and bring about the justice we all crave". 

The conference then ended with the traditional Labour Party standing ovation for our new leader. I suspect that this one was more heartfelt than most have been in the past.

I'm off to Brighton for TUC Congress tomorrow morning. In the light of events this should be even more interesting than usual.

 One final thought for now. I chair the UNISON London Labour Link Committee and our next meeting is on the 21st September. Will Jeremy turn up as he always did in the past to deliver his Parliamentary report and answer our questions? I suspect that he will be far too busy but if he possibly can, he will.

Unison Labour Link 2015: Day 1. "...We will never walk away from the Labour Party"

The UNISON political fund representing members who have decided to affiliate to the Labour Party began its Annual Forum this morning in Manchester.

The forum was opened by Dave Prentis who promised delegates that as long as he is General Secretary, unison will never walk away from the Labour Party. The unions formed the Labour Party and we need the Party to make a fairer society.

Following the defeat in May and the Party leadership elections it was decided to cancel the usual workshops and hold hustings of leadership candidates at Forum.

The four candidates for leadership were given 4 minutes to speak, then there was a Q&A and finally they were given 2 minutes each to make a closing speech.

Andy Burnham was first and he stood on his past record, opposition to Tory welfare cuts and new anti trade unions laws.  Labour will be more diverse and look, sound and be different if he is the Labour leader.

Next was Liz Kendall who thanked Unison for all the help we gave during the general election and especially for the ethical charter for social care. She made it clear that the Party must elect the best candidate to become a Prime minster.

Former NUPE union official Jeremy Corbyn wanted the Labour Party to be and act differently and challenge the government over austerity.  You cannot cut your way to prosperity.

At noon the hustings stopped for a minutes silence in memory of the victims of the massacre in Tunisia, at least 3 of whom are Unison members.

Final speaker was Yvette Copper who started by stating that "opposition sucks" and described herself as the granddaughter of a miner, daughter of a trade union official and a working Mum.

Following lunch the deputy leadership hustings began. The format was the same as before.

Stella Creasy was first and she told us how proud she had been to work with Unison in successfully challenging loan sharks and support of a living wage.  She wants the Labour Party to be a movement and not a machine.

Former union official, Angela Eagle, argued she loves the Labour Party and that the Party and the trade unions are two sides of the same coin.  If elected she will be a members' deputy and will put you first.

Dave Anderson MP stood in and gave a speech on behalf of Tom Watson, who was attending a memorial service for victims of Tunisia in his consistency. It was Labours fault they lost the election since they lost trust with voters. He would restore it.

Ben Bradshaw wanted to mend not break the link with unions and the Party. He is not from the right nor the left of the Party but he is loyal and would tell the leader privately if they were wrong and not in a right wing tabloid.

Final candidate was Caroline Flint who gave a very personal account of why she joined the Party as the daughter of 17 year old single parent. The Party is not a pressure group but exists to change society by winning elections.

The National Labour Link Committee will meet on July 29th and make a decision about nominations.

After the hustings the forum started debating motions and passed significant policy on the response to the General Election; the crisis in Scotland; devolved power in England; Labour leadership ballot and the Labour Link & Fighting Austerity.

Forum finished at 5.30pm. The Labour Link Political Reception begins at 7pm. Business resumes at 9.15am tomorrow.

Picture of Leadership candidates with London delegates.

(Update: for a more detailed and thoughtful account of the Leadership husting see http://unisondave.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/uk-labour-leadership.html) 

LAPFF Conference 2011: The Continuing Crisis

Another early start on Thursday to get to the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) 16th annual conference in Bournemouth from East London for 9am. LAPFF “exists to promote the investment interests of local authority pension funds, and to maximise their influence as shareholders whilst promoting social responsibility and corporate governance at the companies in which they invest....Formed in 1990....combined assets of over £100 billion”.

It is of course quite ironic that this conference took place less than 24 hours after I had been on a (number of) picket lines in the biggest industrial dispute since 1926 over pensions.

Both of the local government pensions schemes I have an “interest” in are members of LAPFF. This year for the first time I was at the conference as a Councillor rather than as a Staff side representative. Which caused some confusion. I’ll try and post on as many of the excellent presentations and debates as possible. If you are a member of a local authority pension committee or panel in any capacity (and any Party or Union) then this is the conference to come to. It is politically non-partisan which in this context I think is very much a good thing.

Tom Watson MP was to be the opening speaker but his mum has fallen ill so he has had to send his apologies. The Chair of LAPFF Cllr Ian Greenwood and PIRC Tom Powdrill instead did a presentation on “The Hacking Scandal: Lessons for Investors”.  

LAPFF have been trying to remove James Murdock (son of Rupert) as Chair of BSkyB not so much with regard to the appalling behaviour of News of the World reporters etc but concern about his independence and the reputational risk to our investments and what this is doing to shareholder value. For example will OFCOM still consider NewsCorp to be a fit and proper shareholder of BSkyB? If they don’t - what impact will this have to Pension fund investments in BSkyB?

Netroots UK 2011

This was supposed to be a "live post" from today's Netroots conference at Congress House.  However, my netbook battery ran out at the crucial time.  Which is typical.

Netroots UK was a hugely impressive and well attended event.

I had my Council surgery first thing so I only arrived at the end of the morning session.  I went straight into the "Engaging with politicians online" workshop.

Picture is of Tom Watson MP, Rachel Gibson (Manchester University), Matthew McGreggor (Blue State Digital) and Mark Pack (Liberal Democratic Voice).  I'll post further details on conference tomorrow.

UPDATE:
Some stuff I found interesting during this panel discussion but was too tired and emotional to blog on my return last night (it had had been a good night).

Mark talked about “drive by democracy”. Problem with e-petitions. He would like to see a Council site were instead of just submitting your view about a planning application it actually links to those who support or who are against the application.

Tom praised the unions for taking the on-line lead and mentioned Unison for having “on-line branches”. Online petitions do not work. Standard campaign email gets standards response. Bespoke gets bespoke response.

Rachel pointed out 16% of voters used political website in the 2010 election compared to 3% in 2005. Small but growing. Rachel also described twitter as possibly being an elite conversation but with Facebook there is a broader appeal (which I agree).

Someone from 38 degrees website defended “Cloned emails” by saying 2/3 of those who send standard emails to MPs have never contacted their MP before. So this is a good thing.

BTW I was surprised bearing in mind this type of conference how many people present were taking notes on the discussion with pen and paper. Next was a brown bag lunch and fringes. I went to the “beyond Obama” fringe and will hopefully blog soon but a teeny-weeny bit busy at the mo.