Grassroots « Labour Uncut

Honour and shame in Tower Hamlets

17/12/2011, 12:30:55 PM

by Dan McCurry

We used to be proud of spreading our ideas around the world. Now we are confused about how we explain our identity to the people who have settled here.

The problem is that we need to understand their culture and identity, before we can explain to them our own. With 3,000 honour crime complaints to the police last year, maybe this is the issue that we’re failing to comprehend.

It would help to understand what happened in Tower Hamlets last year, when the Labour party collapsed in on itself over the selection of Lutfur Rahman as candidate for mayor.

It started out as a conversation about secularism. But we didn’t know it was about secularism, because in school we learn everything there is to know about Martin Luther King, but nothing about Martin Luther. We know about the rights of minorities, but not about the separation of church and state.

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Michael Gove, Nelson Mandela and the King James bible

05/12/2011, 08:23:09 AM

by Stephanie Peacock

It is often said that the only way a politician can leave a legacy is to name a building after himself. I say “him” because, other than a hundred Conservative clubs in the provincial towns of England, I cannot think of a building that carries the name of a former female politician. There is the Centre Pompidou in France, The Reagan National airport. You can’t walk through a Labour borough in London without finding at least one tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Michael Gove, though, got an ‘A’ for originality last week. Michael has created a whole new genre of political legacy. Without any sense of irony, Mr Gove has personalised his very own version of the bible. For ever more, the Michael Gove King James bible will be a sought after piece of ebay memorabilia.

Of course it was Mrs Thatcher who once said that “No-one would remember the good samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well”. Of all of Mrs Thatcher’s biblical quotes, this is the one that most showed her to be out of touch. The Michael Gove King James bible may be the education secretary’s good samaritan moment: an act of political messaging that spectacularly misses the mark.

Pupils and parents will see this for what it: a misguided and expensive piece Govian spin. According to reports, the gesture could cost the taxpayer £375,000. At a time when dinner ladies are striking over their pension increases this is an appalling piece of mixed messaging. There are a lot of dinner ladies you could make happy with £375,000.

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Socialism for today

03/12/2011, 05:27:56 PM

by Robin Thorpe

“It is necessary and possible to create an altogether different society in Britain, a society whose organising principles will be co-operation, fellowship, democracy and egalitarianism…a society free from every form of domination and exploitation, of class, of sex and of race”.

That statement is hard to argue with. However, when one realises that these are the words of Ralph Miliband speaking at a socialist conference in the mid 1980s, then the statement becomes more controversial. Following 30 years of neo-liberal dogma and 60 years of anti-communist propaganda, the term socialism carries such pejorative connotations that no mainstream politician would dare mention it. Yet I think that the core of socialist philosophy has a lot to offer contemporary society even if the methods of implementing such a paradigm shift have yet to be determined.

The three principles of socialist international are freedom, justice and solidarity. They define the goal of democratic socialism as “to achieve a peaceful world where these basic values can be enhanced and where each individual can live a meaningful life with the full development of his or her personality and talents and with the guarantee of human and civil rights in a democratic framework of society”. The fundamental difference between the various political groups is the emphasis on individual and collective rights. Liberalism and its modern mutation neo-liberalism value individual freedom over justice and solidarity; by contrast the communist movements claimed to have created an equal society but sacrificed individual freedom. The conservative right espouses both stronger communities (in a nostalgic, village green kind of way) and the freedom of the individual. During the 80s the Conservative government even started their very own revolution; a revolution of ideas that has all but removed the notion of “class” from public discourse.

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Tom Harris’s election email to Scottish Labour members

29/11/2011, 01:00:35 PM

As leadership ballot papers arrive through members’ letterboxes, I want to remind you of the task Scottish Labour now faces.

Political recovery starts with acceptance: not just acceptance that we lost, or even acceptance of the reasons why we lost. But acceptance that we deserved to lose, that the electorate is never wrong.

Too often, Labour gives into its instinct to blame the electorate for our failings and we spend the next four years telling the voters that it was they, not us, who got it wrong. And when we do that, we lose again. And deservedly.

And if it wasn’t the voters who got it wrong, then we blame the leadership. They ignored the wider party, says received wisdom, and produced a manifesto that the grassroots had no say in. An easy excuse, but just that: an excuse, with very little truth to support it.

The fact is that May 2011 was a rejection, not of a manifesto or of a leadership: but a rejection of our party. A party so set in its ways, so convinced that it and only it has the answers to the challenges facing Scotland, that it stopped saying anything interesting or relevant to the Scottish people years before that cataclysmic election defeat six months ago. The seeds of our 2011 defeat were sown many years earlier, not in the few weeks of the campaign.

There persists a myth – and it is a myth – that Scottish Labour rejected New Labour and Blairism because we were too socialist. Wrong. Scottish Labour rejected Blairism and New Labour because we were too conservative.

The ability to change has never been one of our strong suits. That’s why we’re in this mess now.

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Tribute to Alan Keen

19/11/2011, 08:00:26 AM

by Amanda Ramsay

Alan was a very good friend and always found time to meet and to advise, with a wicked sense of humour and wit so dry, it was positively arid. He was always quick to help, without exception. He was a constant support, when deciding to stand as a Councillor in 2002 and then when seeking selection to be a Labour prospective Parliamentary candidate for the 2005 general election.

We shared a love of football and would go to games, my first at the Emirates in fact, which was a big thrill. A former talent scout for Middlesborough FC and life-long fan, he was hugely supportive attending meetings in the House of Commons and offering advice when as a Merton councillor, myself and colleagues on the Labour Group were fighting to support AFC Wimbledon and their search for a ground, attending a match with me in Sutton and doing TV interviews to raise their profile.

Back in May of this year he wrote very warmly via e-mail, expressing great sympathy for my search for full-time paid employment. It was then he dropped the bombshell, he’d been diagnosed with lung cancer the previous December, after experiencing increased breathlessness while playing football. It was all the more shocking as he’d never smoked and was so vehemently focussed on health and fitness, playing football regularly and being very weight conscious.

Back then, Alan thought it very unlikely that anything else would occur, reporting that his tumour disappeared after just three weeks and head and bone scans were all fine. Six weeks of radiotherapy and his consultant had given him a clean bill of health. I made my blood boil to then hear people deriding his appearance, when he sat on the committee for culture, media and sport and heard the now infamous Rupert Murdoch evidence back in July.

Then last weekend, reading over his last email, reminded of his humour: “when my hair grows again I will be back to normal. I frighten myself when I look in the mirror”. Anyone who knows Alan will almost be able to hear him say this.

Alan always had a smile on his face and did not take life too seriously. He was non-egotistical and well-respected by those who knew him well.

Though not close mates in recent years, I will miss this very softly spoken, gentle man. Rest in peace, Alan and thank you for always finding time for me.

Amanda Ramsay worked alongside Alan Keen in the House of Commons.

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Gordon Brown’s tribute to Alan Keen

14/11/2011, 11:13:32 AM

by Gordon Brown

ALAN KEEN MP (1937 – 2011)

Alan Keen, who was member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston for more than 19 years since his election in 1992, has died after a heroic fight against cancer. The chairman of both the all party football committee and all party athletics committee in Parliament, as well as a member of the culture, media and sport select committee, Alan will long be remembered as the greatest champion of football in Parliament.

He was born 25th November 1937 and is the husband of former health minister, Ann Keen.

Alan was a great MP: locally popular, diligent, and a great fighter for local causes.

He was born in London, but brought up in the Grangetown and Redcar area of the north east of England, attending Sir William Turner’s grammar school in Redcar. He served in the British Army for 3 years before joining the fire protection industry.

He was a great footballer, and a scout for his favourite club, Middlesbrough, for eighteen years. Working with Jackie Charlton, the footballers he spotted included Graeme Souness.

Having served as a member of Hounslow borough council from 1986–90, he unseated the sitting Conservative MP in 1992 and served on both the education (1995–96) and the culture, media and sport select committees (1997–99 and since 2001).

He was Chairman of the all party football group with over 150 members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, making it one of the largest all party groups at the palace of Westminster and spoke up for the grassroots and fans. He conducted two major inquiries into “English football and its governance”.

Alan is survived by his wife Ann and two sons and a daughter.

As Alan always said, serving the people of all his communities – Heston, Cranford, Hounslow West, Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth – was his primary duty supporting all the different and diverse groups in his constituency. He held regular advice surgeries and was assiduous and conscientious at all times in speaking up for local needs.

I salute his bravery in facing cancer – fighting it as long as he could – and he will be remembered as someone who taught us how to fight illness. As he acknowledged, the NHS could not have done more to be of help and support.

Tributes have come from Lawrie McMenemy, the former manager of Southampton, who said of Alan Keen that he never lost touch with the people he represented.

He was a fine man. I will miss him.

Gordon Brown is Labour MP for Kircaldy and Cowdenbeath and a former prime minister.

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Our good friend Tony Gardner

08/11/2011, 12:01:29 PM

by Peter Watt and friends of Tony Gardner

Tony was formally remembered at the NEC this week and his funeral on Friday. I was proud and moved to deliver a eulogy along with Tony’s former agent Keith Humphries, his nephew Roger Gardner and representatives from the charities that Tony worked for.

We sang Jerusalem, Abide With Me and The Red Flag and celebrated Tony’s life. It was, of course, tinged with sadness at losing a friend. The comments that were posted in response to my original tribute reflect the warmth with which Tony is remembered. That same warmth was reflected by all those present on Friday.

Thank you for your comments.

swatantra:

October 20, 2011 at 8:34 am

You won’t get many like Tony around theses days. The interns and spads and youngsters don’t believe in hard graft. Its mobiles blackberries and telephone canvassing, rather than pounding the streets talking face to face with people. And the people at the top, the people we vote for, rarely venture into their constituencies.

Jon Lansman:

October 20, 2011 at 10:20 am

A nice piece, Peter. And I don’t often say that about what you write.

Damien watt:

October 20, 2011 at 12:54 pm

Well written Peter I agree Tony was a lovely guy.I also remember him driving down the road while I was running up and Down driveways leafleting and canvassing you’ll be sadly missed.A real local hero and force to be reckoned with and a very good counsellor. He was very suportive to our family whilst our dad was dying. RIP Tony.

Ralph Baldwin:

October 20, 2011 at 6:20 pm

Well when the Party starts promoting the Tony’s of the world, rather than the lazy and very ambitious, you’ll be sure to let me know.

Philip Hills:

October 20, 2011 at 9:36 pm

I’ve known Tony for 56 years when we both started at Southampton University, where he spent 4 years ending up as President of the Students Union. He was substantially instrumental in bringing me into the Labour Party and as good a friend as one could wish to have. As, in effect, you say above, no one could have been a more energetic and loyal member of the Labour Party than he was, working his heart out for it until long after infirmity would have caused most people to give up. It must be a bit over a year since I last saw him. I shall miss our meetings and occasional telephone conversations greatly.

Roger Gardner:

October 21, 2011 at 3:20 pm

Dear Peter
Thanks for writing such a warm piece about my uncle. Its funny that now he has passed away you get to hear from people in all walks of life that have been great friends with Tony. The phone hardly stops ringing and he will be greatly missed by all the family. My father, his brother David, asked if it will be a small family service and I had to tell him that he had no chance of that, bless.

The service will be held at Poole Crematorium Nov.4th 12.30pm
Pie and a pint after at Parkstone Trades and Labour Club, Ashley Road, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset.

Once again many thanks
Roger Gardner

Cecil Fudge:

October 27, 2011 at 9:42 am

Tony Gardner was a friend and fellow LP member for over 60 years and notwithstanding his parliamentary experience he constantly reminded me that whatever the leadership did “up there” the real world of politics was down at the local level where the real bastards were. And his love of local history meant that he could quote relevent Poole names over the last few hundred years! But I also remember his delight at finding new sea-food restaurents, purring over a good wine list and then complaining about the ourageous prices! In truth I think he would have liked to have spent all his weekends on a cafe crawl in the south of France. Thank you Tony for the many good times.

John Arnold:

October 30, 2011 at 7:46 pm

Like Philip Hills I first met Tony as an undergraduate at Southampton University in 1955. Tony came as a mature student having obtained a certificate after a course at the Cooperative college. He had had experience of real politics and had also studied political philosophy. He was very important to me as I had done my 6th form A levels but had a 2 year gap from academic study due to national service. I think that I learned at least as much from Tony as I did from our lecturers. He taught me how to learn from others.
After my first lecture I went into the Library to write up my notes, but after my second lecture Tony said lets go for coffee, so I did and that began my real education.
Tony was convinced that the opportunity given by University education required a commitment to public service. When ever we discussed what we intended to do with our lives Tony would always say ‘ we are not studying for degrees in order to sell soap’

Jenny Arnold:

November 2, 2011 at 8:57 pm

Tony liked the ladies so let a female friend speak up for him. When Tony was President of Southampton Students’ Union I was his vice president and sat beside him through many meetings.
Tony liked a good argument and could put his views clearly and cogently, but his sense of humour nearly always bubbled up to lighten any dispute.
I think he saw himself as a “man of the people” working for the disadvantaged through the Labour Party and through the World Development Movement, to which he contributed much time and effort in the Dorset area.
As well as appreciating good food and wine, Tony had green fingers and was a gifted gardener producing impressive crops and flower borders, he demonstrated that the “answer lies in the soil”! He will not be forgotten.

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Labour primaries: a dash for cash?

02/11/2011, 08:43:54 AM

by Andy Howell

As Labour’s newly elected NEC prepares to settle in for the new year, it appears that one of the issues they will be considering carefully is that of primaries for selections. Primaries are loved by some and hated by others and, perhaps, the controversy over them was why refounding Labour was relatively passive on the subject or, at least, kicked it into the long grass.

Renewed interest in primaries follows the French socialist party’s recent use of a primary system to select their presidential candidates. Here at party HQ, interest in the French experiment seems to lie less with a desire to expand democracy, and more with of a sense that primaries are an opportunity to pull in some quick cash.

The business case following the French primaries is simple. To vote in the French Socialist’s primary voters had to pay a €1 fee. 2,860,157 people voted in the second round which, of course, equates to a lot of dosh — just short of £2.5 million pounds. (more…)

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60 more seconds: 60 more votes

26/10/2011, 06:00:01 AM

by Adam Richards

A former colleague, now a journalist, took to tweeting an exasperated message because his newsroom hadn’t picked up on the political [in]significance of the EU debate that took place last night. Nor did the BBC it seems, who took nearly an hour to feature the story on their site, at the bottom of the newsfeed.

With the government moving the debate forward so that David Cameron and William Hague could [not] attend it seemed to appear out of nowhere. The newspapers covered the story over the weekend and the majority of pundits, from the left and right, focussed their ire towards the Conservatives, with only a couple foolishly believing Cameron would come out of it strengthened. Today’s media coverage seems to confirm this. In a flash, Cameron has suffered an embarrassing erosion of his leadership.

When Tories debate Europe time goes backward. It is a common mistake to believe the digital clock in the chamber represents time; it is the number of Conservative voters jumping ship. As sure as tick follows tock, Tory followed Tory and story followed story. There aren’t many more satisfying things than watching Jacob Rees-Mogg on telly – he is after all a walking talking party political broadcast for Labour. There were wry smiles allround when his honourable colleague intervened and he was granted a further 60 seconds on the floor. 60 seconds, 60 votes, thank you very much, sir. (more…)

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Labour should champion good “producer” journalism

16/10/2011, 09:17:23 AM

by Carl Packman

At the start of last week many people were tuning in to watch the Lords debate the health and social bill. But at the same time, the House of Lords communications committee hosted a hearing attended by Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, the Guardian editor Alan Rushbridger and investigative journalist Nick Davies.

Up for discussion was what Roy Greenslade, writing for the Evening Standard, noted as the three things that haunt journalism: budget constraints, press freedom and regulation and libel laws. On the first of those, Alan Rushbridger mentioned that 70% of what is seen in the Guardian can be found free online, while in ten to 15 years’ time many towns will be without a local newspaper. For the most part, the panel were at pains not to do down the work of unpaid bloggers and citizen journalists. But, as they were keen to address, investigative reportage often costs money and takes time that volunteers often don’t have.

On the second thing to haunt journalism today – press freedom – Ian Hislop complained that Article 8 of the human rights act, respect for private and family life, has too much swing against Article 10, the freedom of expression. Nick Davies fantasised about throwing defamation law “in the river” and starting again “with a blank slate with statute law”. Balancing the right to privacy with free speech is one issue, but the other is how this fares in the eyes of the law. (more…)

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