September « 2010 « Labour Uncut

Archive for September, 2010

New MPs’ open letter endorsing David Miliband

16/09/2010, 11:17:08 AM

Why we are voting for David Miliband

As new MPs, we have thought long and hard about who should be our first preference in the leadership ballot. We are voting for David Miliband because we have been inspired by his campaign and the way he represents the change our party needs to win again.

Most of all, we want to give Labour the best chance possible of returning to government quickly rather than slipping back into being a party of perpetual opposition that is powerless to tackle injustice. (more…)

Posted in Inside | 4 Comments »

Making childish noises at the unions is not the way to lead Labour, says Dan Hodges

16/09/2010, 09:00:56 AM

Re-watching Tony Blair and Andrew Marr earlier this week reminded me of Denis Healey’s classic put down of Geoffrey Howe, in which he compared an attack by the Tory grandee to being savaged by a dead sheep. Perhaps Marr had on off day, or maybe he’s mellowed since his forensic and rigorously sourced examination of Gordon Brown’s mental health. Whatever the reasons, it’s safe to assume that ‘Marr/Blair’ will not be appearing at our cinemas any time soon.

But one exchange was revealing. When asked about his dalliances with business, Blair replied:

“I had far more trouble, if I may say this to you, with union leaders demanding something back than I ever did with high value donors”. (more…)

Posted in Uncut | 6 Comments »

Thursday News Review

16/09/2010, 08:29:35 AM

Mili-sagaThe battle of the Miliband brothers exploded yesterday – when David claimed Ed risked being a “heroic failure” if he won the Labour leadership. Ed privately told union bosses at the TUC he thought he had it sewn up but David said his younger sibling could repeat Michael Foot’s mistakes in 1983’s election disaster. He warned: “We cannot allow ourselves to become heroic failures again.” But Ed, lifted by a poll putting him two points up, told the BBC: “I am increasingly confident.” They will appear on Question Time tonight with rivals Andy Burnham, Ed Balls and Diane Abbott. – The Mirror

David Miliband has won the support of more of Labour’s new generation of MPs than his younger brother, Ed. Allies of the shadow Foreign Secretary trumpeted his lead as they sought to fight his brother’s claims that he has the momentum in Labour’s leadership election. Of the 64 Labour MPs elected for the first time in May, 29 have now declared their support for David, and 25 for Ed. In a statement, those backing David made a coded criticism of Ed, who has been accused of telling Labour members what they want to hear during the campaign. They said: “We think that David has best understood how we must regain the trust of those who have turned away from us. That not only must we re-energise our supporters and shape a new movement together, we must also reach out to the whole country and never be satisfied with simply talking to ourselves.” – The Independent

(more…)

Posted in Unbound | No Comments »

Shadow cabinet “vote for me” letters

15/09/2010, 09:29:16 PM

The shadow cabinet race is well under way, and a welcome distraction from the leadership contest. The decisions have been made and confirmed. The nominations must be in by Wednesday 29 September and the canvassing has begun.

So far we have seen “vote for me” letters from:

Roberta Blackman-Woods

We will keep posting over the coming days until we, like Bob, get tired of them:

Posted in Inside | 1 Comment »

Shadow cabinet: Vote for Tom

15/09/2010, 05:44:25 PM

You need a reason to vote for me? Heres two: I look sexy-fresh on bridges & I rock stripey ties which are big in ‘010. Boom. TH #1

Posted in Inside | 3 Comments »

Big Bob’s had enough shadcabbery already

15/09/2010, 05:42:19 PM

Posted in Home | No Comments »

Shadow cabinet: Vote Meg

15/09/2010, 05:13:11 PM

From: HILLIER, Meg
Sent: 15 September 2010 xx:xx
Subject: Shadow Cabinet Elections

MEG HILLIER MP

Dear colleague

I just wanted to let you know that I will be putting my name forward in the Shadow Cabinet elections.

Experience

3 years as a Home Office minister with a challenging portfolio (including ID cards, vetting and barring, Europe and immigration)

5 years as MP for inner city London

4 years as a London Assembly member, active in my scrutiny of Mayor Ken Livingstone and promoting an agenda that would deliver for my constituents in transport and planning in particular

8 years as an elected local councillor in both opposition and control (I was also Mayor with the casting vote when Labour was evenly balanced with the LibDems)

I am a practised media and Commons performer.

I am a strong grassroots campaigner – in the 1998 local elections Labour held control of the council because we won back a Lib Dem seat by three votes after a relentless campaign in my ward (Jeremy Corbyn and Stephen Twigg know the work involved)

Personal

We often talk about diversity in politics. I am a school gate Mum of three (the youngest is aged 18 months) and I have also been a carer for two disabled adults (I now provide respite care for one of them).

I grew up under Margaret Thatcher and saw the Tories dismantle Britain. Labour spent 13 years rebuilding our country. We have seen huge investment in schools, hospitals and other local facilities. We cannot let this Government wreck that. We need to win again in 5 years time to stem their worst excesses and work to invest in the human capital in our regions and nations. As a young journalist in South Yorkshire I saw first hand the direct impact on families and communities of Tory inspired pit closures. We must stop their wrecking spree.

I want to take on the Tories and Lib Dems in the House of Commons, in the media and on the doorstep.

We also have a huge opportunity to develop policies with our membership. I am no lone ranger. As a minister I reached out to MPs across the party and the UK to make sure their views were heard and acted on as policy decisions were made and implemented. As a shadow minister I would continue to work with colleagues in the party and in Parliament. The leader and shadow cabinet need this input.

I represent one of the poorest constituencies in the UK. Over half my constituents live in social housing and unemployment is still too high. Having a Labour MP and a Labour council is not enough. My constituents need a Labour Government.

I hope to speak to you over the next few days. You can reach me on XXXXXXXXXX.

Meg Hillier

Posted in Inside | No Comments »

Shadow cabinet: Vote Helen

15/09/2010, 05:06:19 PM

Helen Goodman

Shadow DWP Minister & MP for Bishop Auckland

Dear Colleague,

I am asking for your support in the Shadow Cabinet Elections.

I was really proud to be a Minister at DWP in the last government, when we were providing real support for young unemployed people through the Future Jobs Fund. In 1979 I lost my first job before I had even started due to the first round of Thatcher’s cuts and I had to live in a hostel for homeless women behind Victoria Station for several months, so I know how much our support mattered to people and I find it incredible that the Coalition Government is taking the country back through all that pain.

Clearly our first priority as an Opposition is to oppose the Government cuts, and the harsh social consequences. But we need to be forensic in going through the detail, as I have sought to do on Housing Benefit and Child Poverty and expose the big lie – that their course of action is necessary.

We also need to present the public with a more positive alternative. I believe that we need to concentrate on what people want, and I think we should be bolder. I would like see the next Labour Government undertake to deliver:

A million new homes

A million new childcare places

A million new green jobs.

Of course these could not all be financed through public spending: we should be flexible in terms of policy instruments and concentrate on what works. The key thing is to be confident that we can change things for the better.

I entered Parliament in 2005 and as well as being a Junior Minister at DWP taking the Child Poverty Bill through Parliament, I have been Deputy Leader of the House, in the Whips Office, PPS at the MOJ, and on the PAC. I was also elected as PLP rep on the NPF. I belong to the GMB, CSM, Fabians and the Co-op Party.

In my constituency I have campaigned strongly against the BNP and succeeded in turning the tide by building a coalition with the trade unions, local churches and community groups.

But I would say my experience beforehand was just as important: for seven years I worked in the voluntary sector mainly on children’s issues, and I was a Treasury official for 17 years working on both domestic and international policy, representing the UK in the EU and OECD.

I am currently not planning to write to you several times, so if you would like to talk to me further please ring me on xxxxxxxxxxxxx.

Yours,

Helen Goodman

Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland

Posted in Inside | No Comments »

Shadow cabinet: Vote for Sadiq

15/09/2010, 03:27:47 PM

A shadow cabinet vote for me letter, from an actual member of the shadow cabinet.

From: KHAN, Sadiq
Sent: 13 September 2010
To: KHAN, Sadiq
Subject: Shadow Cabinet election

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask for your support in the Shadow Cabinet election that will take place between 30th September and 7th October. I know you’ll be receiving many other emails along the same lines from other colleagues, so I’ll try to keep it concise.

Over the last few years, I hope that I have shown the energy, skills and values to be an effective, hard working and approachable member of the Shadow Cabinet. If elected to continue serving, I will be:

Campaigning – highlighting and challenging the failures and bad policy of the coalition nationally while making sure you have the materials and information you need to campaign locally and represent your constituents in the House.

Collegiate – working with all colleagues, through the backbench committee and PLP policy groups, to shape policy, develop our arguments and define our positions

Committed – I’ll put to use the same zeal and energy which saw me re-elected in a key marginal to tackling the Tories and Lib Dems and representing the Party to the public

Following stints as a Whip and then a Minister at DCLG, I worked with Andrew Adonis as Minister of State for Transport (attending Cabinet). I’m immensely proud of the work we did in that time, and of the ambitious approach we took to tackling the transport challenges of the future. I’m confident that our actions improved our national and local transport networks, contributing to improved quality of life, fairness, and economic recovery across the country.

As you know, I was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in May, a position which, as the son of a London bus driver, I’ve been very proud to hold for these last few months. During that time, I hope that you have found me approachable and ready to take on board any insights you have had on transport (or any other area), to answer any questions and to provide support and advice on your local campaigns. I also hope you have found me to be an effective performer both in the Commons and the media.

I realise that voting will take place during recess, so if we don’t have chance to speak in person during the next few days or at Conference, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by phone or email. I’ll be writing again over the next few days to set out in more detail why I’m standing for the Shadow Cabinet. I know that you’ll be receiving a lot of communications on this subject, so if you’d rather not hear from me again, please do let me know.

Best wishes
Sadiq

Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP

Member of Parliament for Tooting

House of Commons

London

Posted in Inside | No Comments »

Shadow cabinet: Vote for Kevin

15/09/2010, 03:12:30 PM

We have recieved four of these already.

From: BRENNAN, Kevin
Sent: 15 September 2010 15:01
Subject: FW: Shadow Cabinet Election

Shadow Cabinet Elections
Help shape Britain’s progressive future

Dear friend,

This is to let you know formally that I will be a candidate for the Shadow Cabinet.

At the first PLP meeting after the General Election I said that we would be fooling ourselves if we thought that the coalition would last months rather than years. I hold to that view, and to the belief that we need to think strategically about our path back to power.

The Coalition’s strategy is to emphasise the pain, to lower expectations and hope that, like in the 80s, Labour will be divided. Even with higher unemployment they calculate that sufficient voters will be relieved to have survived the recession and still be in work, and that this will win them re-election. Combined with the rushing through of partisan constitutional changes, they hope to consign us to opposition for at least two terms.

If we are going to thwart them we need to set out a strong positive alternative to their politics of fear, as well as exposing how their policies are damaging Britain.

We need a powerful, united and strategically focussed Shadow Cabinet team to counter their plans, containing colleagues capable of taking on Government Ministers in the Commons, the media and the country.

As well as having been Head of Economics in a Cardiff, I have been in the Party for 31 years, was a local councillor for 10 years and ran Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan’s office and campaigns. I came into the House in 2001 and led the campaign on behalf of Allied Steel and Wire workers which led to the setting up of the Pension Protection Fund. I was epolitix Disability Charity Champion of the Year 2004 for my work on Muscular Dystrophy. Comprehensive School

Until May I was Minister of State for Apprenticeships, FE, Skills and Consumer Affairs at BIS. I have also served as Minister for the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, as well as Children’s Minister at DCSF. Prior to that I spent two years serving in the Government Whips’ office. I established a reputation across the House as a strong campaigner and performer in all these roles.

I believe that I have a lot to offer to the party in opposition too, and have got stuck into the new government from day one. I hope that you will give me one of your votes in the upcoming contest. Please call me on xxxxxxxxxxxxx if you would like to ask me anything.
Best wishes

Kevin