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Time for policy in the pub with Maria Eagle

23/01/2013, 08:14:56 PM

Will you be in or around Bristol tomorrow evening? Yes? Well, good news. There will be some policy in the pub, Bristol style, with Maria Eagle, shadow secretary of state for transport. The fun happens this Thursday 24th January at the Hen and Chicken (upstairs from 6.30-8.30pm) on North street, Bedminster.

For those that haven’t been to one of these Pragmatic Radicalism events before, it’s a quick fire format with 90 seconds for speakers to present a policy idea, 2 minutes for questions and answers and then a vote at the end on the best policy. The topics up for discussion will be transport, communities, tackling poverty and social exclusion.

There will be pizza, prizes and drinks all thanks to the good people at ASLEF and TSSA.

So come on down, set the world to rights, and failing that, have a pint and slice of pizza.

See you in the pub.

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Time for policy in the pub with Iain Wright

17/10/2012, 02:48:49 PM

Yes, it’s that time of the month again: time to go to the pub and talk policy. Tonight it’s all about industry with shadow minister for competitiveness and enterprise Iain Wright.

So, if you want to know how we can get this country moving again, get yourself down to the Barley Mow pub on Horseferry Road SW1P 2EE this evening. The fun kicks off at 1830 and runs till 2030.

Tonight as a special bonus, if the whole pub chants “Iain Wright, Wright, Wright,” the winning policy will be automatically adopted in the next manifesto.

OK, that last bit isn’t true, but it wouldn’t it be fun?

See you in pub.

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Time for policy in the pub, Southwark style

01/09/2012, 08:00:37 AM

Hear ye, hear ye, good people of the London Borough of Southwark. What are you doing this afternoon?

Finish the shopping early, forget about the football results (it’s barely September, you know it means nothing) and get yourself along to the Roebuck pub (upstairs) on Great Dover street SE1 at 4pm for a world premiere.

Yes, it’s the first local government policy in the pub.

You know the format:- 90 seconds for folk to present a policy idea, in this case for the glorious Borough of Southwark, followed by 3 minutes Q&A. After all the ideas have been aired and discussed, you get to vote on the best.

But here’s the twist.

The event will be chaired by mayor Althea Smith and council leader Peter John will be on hand to respond to the best ideas.

You read right. You’ll be able to speak the truth to power. Shake the hand of power. Maybe even hear a reasoned and cogent response from power to your ideas.

So what are you waiting for? Make the arrangements, sort the kids and get down to Roebuck at 4.

And you can have a fully justified early pint into the bargain.

What’s not to like? See you in the pub.

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In honour of Bradley Wiggins…

22/07/2012, 07:00:33 AM

The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods by UniversalMusicUK

The premier music video of cycling mods for the world’s number one mod on a bike. From 1984, the peerless Style Council with their ever changing moods: bringing together competitive cycling with a biting excoriation of American militarism in Vietnam. Seriously. Watch the video.

No, we don’t know how they make the connection either, but somehow it all works thanks to the magic of Paul Weller, “Merton” Mick Talbot, Steve White and Dee C Lee.

Enjoy.

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Time for policy in the pub with Sadiq Khan

09/07/2012, 07:27:19 PM

The government might be engaged in a slow motion, policy car crash over Lords reform, but could you do better? Really?

OK, it’s highly likely that Stevie Wonder at the wheel of a McLaren, going the wrong way round the Hanger Lane Gyratory System, would be a case study in safety compared to the attempts of this government’s business managers to steer Lords reform through parliament. But how much better could you do?

Well, here’s your chance to show the world. It’s that time of the month again. It’s policy in the pub with the Pragmatic Radicalism funsters. This month, the topic is justice and constitutional reform with our shadow justice secretary, Sadiq Khan in the chair.

You know the format – 90 seconds on your policy idea, quick-fire questions and then the popular vote. It will all be happening tomorrow night, the 10^th of July, at the Barley Mow Pub (upstairs restaurant), 104 Horseferry Road, Westminster, London, SW1P 2EE, between 1900 and 2100.

The winning idea will be automatically adopted as the first policy in Labour’s next manifesto.

Alright, that last bit isn’t quite true. But the winner does get a slot on Uncut to share their insight with the viewing public, so that’s nearly as good.

See you in the pub.

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Policy in the pub with Maria Eagle

13/06/2012, 12:30:58 PM

This month it’s transport. Pragmatic Radicalism is hosting a “Top of the Policies” session chaired by shadow secretary of state for transport, Maria Eagle, tonight, in the pub.

The fun and games will run from 18.30 to 20.30 at the St Stephen’s Tavern (upstairs restaurant), 10 Bridge Street, Westminster, London, SW1A 2JR (next to Portcullis House) 2 mins walking distance from Parliament.

The “Top of the Policies” debates feature a series of speakers with 90 seconds each to set out a policy proposal of their choice, followed by three minutes of Q&A.

At the end of the session there is a vote for the top policy, prizes and the winner will get to write up their idea for inclusion in Pragmatic Radicalism’s forthcoming policy pamphlet.

It’s all to play for.

In the words of Connor Macleod, “there can only be one (policy)”.

See you in the pub.

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FRIENDS OF AL’AQSA: APOLOGY

07/06/2012, 06:30:40 AM

On 16 March 2011 an article I had written (“When bigotry comes disguised as compassion, Labour must recognise it and root it out”) was published on Labour Uncut. In the article, I stated that Friends of Al’Aqsa (FOA) had referred to the “so-called Holocaust”. In fact, this was an error and was untrue. The publication in which this phrase was used was written by someone else, and had nothing to do with FOA. The article had the effect of wrongly labelling FOA as Holocaust deniers and I apologise unreservedly for making this allegation.

Ian Austin MP

This statement was first published on May 29th 2012

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Time for policy in the pub with Jack Dromey

23/05/2012, 03:06:07 PM

It’s that time of the month again. Pragmatic Radicalism is hosting a “Top of the Policies” session on housing, chaired by shadow housing minister Jack Dromey, tonight, in the pub. The fun and games will run from 18.30 to 20.30 upstairs at the Barley Mow pub, 104 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2EE.

The “Top of the Policies” debates are designed to make the floor accessible to as many Labour voices as possible: speakers have just 90 seconds to speak on a policy proposal of their choice, followed by three minutes of Q&A.

At the end of the session there is a vote for the top policy, prizes and the winner will go on to set out their idea in all it’s glory in an article right here, in the hallowed pixels of Labour Uncut.

Yes, wow indeed.

And failing all else, there are free refreshments. What more could you ask for?

See you in the pub.

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When I die: Lessons from the death zone

19/04/2012, 09:30:56 AM

In November 2011 Philip Gould, Labour peer and strategist, died from oesophageal cancer. In the final two weeks of his life Philip completed a book and his quest to find purpose and meaning in what he called the “death zone” was also documented by Adrian Steirn in a short film, “When I Die”. This is the film; the book “When I Die: Lessons from the Death Zone” is published today and all proceeds from the book will go to the National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Fund.

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