Sorry, I can’t resist a pun, however, I was in fact recommended to become a “navigator” by one of the workshop speakers, so perhaps it is actually quite apt. The 4th annual conference of “Compass” took place yesterday at Central Hall, Westminster. The web site claims “Compass is the democratic left pressure group, whose goal is to debate and develop the ideas for a more equal and democratic world, then campaign and organise to help ensure they become reality”.
The journey to Westminster was a bit confusing. The district and circle lines where closed due to engineer works (which caused the conference to start very late). A practice of the “Trooping of the Colour” was also taking place close by at Horseguards. The conference went on all day. I will break this up into 2 posts, morning speeches and them post something later on work shops and closing session.
Neal Lawson, chair of Compass, was the first keynote speaker. I think he was trying to attack the current labour government while at the same time saying he was giving Brown the benefit of the doubt. He was “optimistic” over Brown and wanted to move beyond the “politics of betrayal”. However, the left must offer Brown support when he gets things “right” and constructive but friendly criticism when he gets things wrong. I bet Brown can’t wait for the constructive stuff. He ended by reminding people that it was Margaret Thatcher (of all people) who said “socialism is never defeated”.
Dave Prentis, the general secretary of UNISON (who had sponsored the conference) spoke next and gave a well received speech. He spoke about a new political landscape that is taking place “another world is possible”. A “new course for our country”. “Gordon says he is listening, our job is to make sure he is”.
Then Deputy Leader of the TUC Frances O’Grady, who was introduced by the great “hope” of the trade union movement! More good stuff on managing globalisation (see previous posts).
An extra speaker was Mustafa Barghouti, Palestine information minister (a former Presidential candidate and not Hamas – seen as a “moderate”) who gave a tub thumping speech on Palestine. While it went down well with the audience, I don’t think simply blaming Israel for all the ills in the region is going to change things. In fact I think that such rhetoric lets Israel off the hock, since most people would accept that in this complex conflict there is more than one party to blame (including the British) and will dismiss his views as mere propaganda. Which just plays into Israeli’s hands and enable them to successfully paint all their opponents as extremists and terrorists who they can’t do business with? I think that Mustafa knows this.
Final speaker was Ken Livingston. Another Bravo performance. Part “cheeky chappie” part Left intellectual and free thinker. He admitted that in the past the Left has been wrong about how to respond to globalisation. Giving subsidies to London manufacturing industries had completely failed to do anything to protect them. Instead he has now gone on the offensive for social progress by acting globally. London was part of an international consortium made up of the 40 biggest cities in the world. Which had combined to use their purchasing power to arrange multi-billion loans to retro fit for energy efficient, purposes every public building in London? Nothing to do with central government. Ken said “this is globalisation” not just leaders going to international conferences held in nice hotels. He finished by talking about local income taxes which if he could set at 2% in London would solve practically all its social problems. He recognised that you need to set taxes at a point which is a bit painful but not so painful that they (City financial services) would “bugger off”.
Picture of Tower Hamlets Labour Party activists Cllr Anwara Ali (and local GP), Cllr Bill Turner (UNISON member) and Law centre worker Amina Ali (who has been short listed as a PPC in Bristol)
I'll post the report on the workshops and closing sessions later
