labourlist--2020-11-06--Labour opens up five-point lead on Tories, new YouGov poll finds

New polling has indicated that the Labour Party is leading the Tories on Westminster voting intention by five points as voters react to the government ’ s new coronavirus lockdown , which came into force on Thursday .
In research carried out between November 4th and 5th , YouGov found that 40 % of those polled expressed support for the Labour Party while just 35 % of them said they were planning on supporting the Conservatives .
This is the highest margin recorded in favour of Labour by the polling agency since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister .
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition party was in mid-July 2018 .
The new data found that among those surveyed and likely to vote , on top of the 40 % backing Labour and the 35 % supporting the Tories , a further 7 % backed the Lib Dems and 5 % expressed support for the SNP .
It also indicated that support for Labour among young people was holding up , with 48 % of 18- to 24-year-olds and 50 % of 25- to 49-year-olds expressing support for Labour , compared to 16 % and 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new polling will likely prove to be a strong vindication of Labour leader Keir Starmer , who called for a short , sharp ‘ circuit breaker ’ lockdown weeks ago but saw the call rejected by Boris Johnson in favour of his tiered local Covid restrictions .
Since then , the government has been forced to implement its own nationwide lockdown for England , which will last a month compared to Labour ’ s proposed two or three weeks and comes weeks after SAGE first warned of rising infection rates .
Keir Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s House of Commons Covid update of having “ overpromised and under-delivered ” at “ every stage ” of the crisis and highlighted “ the human cost of the government ’ s inaction ” .
The gap between Starmer and Johnson on the question of who would make a better Prime Minister widened in today ’ s YouGov analysis by several points in comparison to similar polling from last week .
36 % of those surveyed this week said the Labour leader would make a better Prime Minister than Johnson , a ten-point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backed by just 26 % of respondents .
Last week , Starmer led by 34 % to 29 % .
The new polling comes in the week following the suspension of former Labour Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour Party in response to his much-criticised reaction to the EHRC report on antisemitism .
The EHRC concluded on Thursday that Labour is responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act – relating to political interference in antisemitism complaints ; failure to provide adequate training to those handling them ; and harassment .
Corbyn issued a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which claimed the “ the scale of the [ antisemitism ] problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party ” .
A Labour spokesperson subsequently announced that Corbyn had been suspended , and the Parliamentary Labour Party whip removed from the Labour MP , “ in light of his comments made today and his failure to retract them ” .
Several MPs and groups within the Labour Party , as well as trade union Unite leader Len McCluskey , have argued that the suspension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour leader to reverse the disciplinary action taken against Corbyn .
YouGov polling last week indicated that 58 % of the public thought that the party was right to suspend Corbyn , compared to 13 % who thought it was wrong .
29 % of respondents opted for ‘ don ’ t know ’ .
The new YouGov results follow the release of an Ipsos MORI poll last week , which also showed that Labour leads the Tories by five points , with 42 % of people supporting Labour compared to 37 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out between October 22nd and 28th , Ipsos MORI found that support for the opposition party rose by five points since last month while the popularity of Boris Johnson ’ s Conservative Party fell by three .
It marked the first time that Labour has been ahead in an Ipsos MORI poll since Theresa May stepped down as Prime Minister and Johnson took over the top job , with the party seeing its best score since March 2018 .

New polling has indicated that the Labour Party is leading the Tories on Westminster voting intention by five points as voters react to the government’s new coronavirus lockdown, which came into force on Thursday.
In research carried out between November 4th and 5th, YouGov found that 40% of those polled expressed support for the Labour Party while just 35% of them said they were planning on supporting the Conservatives.
This is the highest margin recorded in favour of Labour by the polling agency since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. The last time YouGov recorded a five-point lead to the opposition party was in mid-July 2018.
The new data found that among those surveyed and likely to vote, on top of the 40% backing Labour and the 35% supporting the Tories, a further 7% backed the Lib Dems and 5% expressed support for the SNP.
It also indicated that support for Labour among young people was holding up, with 48% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 50% of 25- to 49-year-olds expressing support for Labour, compared to 16% and 26% respectively for the Tories.
The new polling will likely prove to be a strong vindication of Labour leader Keir Starmer, who called for a short, sharp ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown weeks ago but saw the call rejected by Boris Johnson in favour of his tiered local Covid restrictions.
Since then, the government has been forced to implement its own nationwide lockdown for England, which will last a month compared to Labour’s proposed two or three weeks and comes weeks after SAGE first warned of rising infection rates.
Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister in Monday’s House of Commons Covid update of having “overpromised and under-delivered” at “every stage” of the crisis and highlighted “the human cost of the government’s inaction”.
The gap between Starmer and Johnson on the question of who would make a better Prime Minister widened in today’s YouGov analysis by several points in comparison to similar polling from last week.
36% of those surveyed this week said the Labour leader would make a better Prime Minister than Johnson, a ten-point lead on the Tory incumbent who was backed by just 26% of respondents. Last week, Starmer led by 34% to 29%.
The new polling comes in the week following the suspension of former Labour Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour Party in response to his much-criticised reaction to the EHRC report on antisemitism.
The EHRC concluded on Thursday that Labour is responsible for three breaches of the Equality Act – relating to political interference in antisemitism complaints; failure to provide adequate training to those handling them; and harassment.
Corbyn issued a statement in response to the EHRC report, which claimed the “the scale of the [antisemitism] problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party”.
A Labour spokesperson subsequently announced that Corbyn had been suspended, and the Parliamentary Labour Party whip removed from the Labour MP, “in light of his comments made today and his failure to retract them”.
Several MPs and groups within the Labour Party, as well as trade union Unite leader Len McCluskey, have argued that the suspension is wrong, and called on the Labour leader to reverse the disciplinary action taken against Corbyn.
YouGov polling last week indicated that 58% of the public thought that the party was right to suspend Corbyn, compared to 13% who thought it was wrong. 29% of respondents opted for ‘don’t know’.
The new YouGov results follow the release of an Ipsos MORI poll last week, which also showed that Labour leads the Tories by five points, with 42% of people supporting Labour compared to 37% backing the Tories.
In research carried out between October 22nd and 28th, Ipsos MORI found that support for the opposition party rose by five points since last month while the popularity of Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party fell by three.
It marked the first time that Labour has been ahead in an Ipsos MORI poll since Theresa May stepped down as Prime Minister and Johnson took over the top job, with the party seeing its best score since March 2018.


labourlist--2020-11-06--Democracy matters. Trump’s dishonest and dangerous take on the US election

Labour has opened up its biggest lead over the Tories since Keir Starmer became Labour leader .
A new YouGov poll shows the opposition party on 40 % with the Conservatives behind on 35 % .
Coming out a little over 24 hours into lockdown 2.0 for England , a measure the PM assured us would not be needed , the latest numbers suggest the emphasis on ‘ competence ’ has gone down well .
Labour is benefitting from the the contradiction between a Prime Minister who repeatedly says he is ‘ following the science ’ while rejecting for weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lockdown .
And , as Starmer highlighted at PMQs this week , no one is buying the argument that the facts “ suddenly changed ” .
But Labour knows it needs to avoid attaching Tory failure over Covid to Boris Johnson alone .
Over the past few days we have seen the Labour leader blame Rishi Sunak for not implementing a two- to three-week national lockdown earlier as “ his decision ” , and Anneliese Dodds yesterday slammed the Chancellor for the “ last-minute ” U-turn on extending the furlough scheme .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Shadow Chancellor told the Commons that he “ can change his mind at the last minute , but businesses can ’ t ” .
As the current favourite to replace Johnson at the top of the Tory Party , Sunak is firmly in the Labour Party ’ s sights .
The poll released this morning comes as the Labour leadership tries to maintain control of the row over the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn .
General secretary David Evans issued a warning to local parties last night , saying there should be no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A similar instruction was circulated by his predecessor Jennie Formby in 2019 .
The latest directive comes after allegations emerged earlier in the week that a motion expressing solidarity with the former Labour leader was blocked by party officials at a meeting of the London regional executive committee .
Across the pond , Donald Trump gave a dishonest and frankly dangerous take on the US election overnight .
The President made a number of unfounded claims of vote tampering and being barred from overseeing counts .
He declared , without any evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so much proof.
” Several news networks cut their feed of the press conference and the rambling 16-minute speech has been roundly condemned , including by numerous Republican politicians .
In a cringeworthy interview this morning , Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi repeatedly refused to condemn Trump ’ s comments .
Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy , in contrast , slammed “ attempts to attack and undermine ” , tweeting : “ Democracy matters and we should not be silent when it is threatened.
” Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Labour has opened up its biggest lead over the Tories since Keir Starmer became Labour leader. A new YouGov poll shows the opposition party on 40% with the Conservatives behind on 35%. Coming out a little over 24 hours into lockdown 2.0 for England, a measure the PM assured us would not be needed, the latest numbers suggest the emphasis on ‘competence’ has gone down well. Labour is benefitting from the the contradiction between a Prime Minister who repeatedly says he is ‘following the science’ while rejecting for weeks calls from his own experts to introduce a lockdown. And, as Starmer highlighted at PMQs this week, no one is buying the argument that the facts “suddenly changed”.
But Labour knows it needs to avoid attaching Tory failure over Covid to Boris Johnson alone. Over the past few days we have seen the Labour leader blame Rishi Sunak for not implementing a two- to three-week national lockdown earlier as “his decision”, and Anneliese Dodds yesterday slammed the Chancellor for the “last-minute” U-turn on extending the furlough scheme. Venting frustrations seen across the country, the Shadow Chancellor told the Commons that he “can change his mind at the last minute, but businesses can’t”. As the current favourite to replace Johnson at the top of the Tory Party, Sunak is firmly in the Labour Party’s sights.
The poll released this morning comes as the Labour leadership tries to maintain control of the row over the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn. General secretary David Evans issued a warning to local parties last night, saying there should be no discussion or motions on individual disciplinary cases. A similar instruction was circulated by his predecessor Jennie Formby in 2019. The latest directive comes after allegations emerged earlier in the week that a motion expressing solidarity with the former Labour leader was blocked by party officials at a meeting of the London regional executive committee.
Across the pond, Donald Trump gave a dishonest and frankly dangerous take on the US election overnight. The President made a number of unfounded claims of vote tampering and being barred from overseeing counts. He declared, without any evidence: “We have so much evidence, so much proof.” Several news networks cut their feed of the press conference and the rambling 16-minute speech has been roundly condemned, including by numerous Republican politicians. In a cringeworthy interview this morning, Tory minister Nadhim Zahawi repeatedly refused to condemn Trump’s comments. Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy, in contrast, slammed “attempts to attack and undermine”, tweeting: “Democracy matters and we should not be silent when it is threatened.” Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-11-07--Care workers “undervalued and underpaid for too long”, says Labour

Liz Kendall has declared that care workers have been “ undervalued and underpaid for too long ” following the publication of a new report warning of a looming recruitment crisis in the sector if conditions do not improve .
Responding to the release of research by Age UK this morning , the shadow minister for social care described the “ immense sacrifices ” made by care workers in the pandemic and stressed the need for a long-term plan for reform .
In its report , Time to bring our care workers in from the cold , the charity raised concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , as well as highlighting the 122,000 care sector job vacancies needing to be filled .
Kendall said today : “ Care staff have made immense sacrifices to look after our loved ones throughout this pandemic .
Care workers have been undervalued and underpaid for too long , and it is time the government took action to fix this .
“ We need a long-term plan for the care workforce as part of wider reforms to tackle the crisis in social care .
The Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these vital services by the end of the year and make sure our care workforce get the recognition they deserve.
” The analysis from Age UK today highlighted a disparity between the government ’ s approach to supporting NHS workers in the Covid pandemic and its efforts to protect employees working in the care sector during the health crisis .
The organisation argued that the 1.65 million people working in care have seen “ only relatively limited support put in place ” with poor access to PPE , testing , mental health support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlighted that the average care worker salary is £15,000 a year , meaning they are paid 24p an hour less than shop assistants , and that 54 % were paid less than £8.72 prior to the latest increase in the new living wage .
Referring to a workforce survey by UNISON , Age UK said four in five care workers reported that their mental health had been damaged by work during the pandemic and that 42 % of healthcare workers thought the government had not done enough .
It also highlighted that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of colleagues who continued to work despite having Covid symptoms , fuelling concerns that poor government support for the sector is undermining public health objectives .
8 % of those surveyed earlier this year by the trade union reported being told they would receive no pay at all if they had to self-isolate or if they had to take time off sick as a result of contracting coronavirus .
Commenting on the research from Age UK , UNISON assistant general secretary and co-chair of the ‘ Future Social Care Coalition ’ Christina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a wake-up call to government that enough is enough .
“ Care staff can ’ t go on being ignored , undervalued and left to exist on poverty wages .
A wage boost is needed now to get them through the pandemic and attract new recruits .
“ A national care service would also bring about long overdue reform of the sector .
It would drive up standards , boost pay and training and ensure the care service is put on an equal footing with the NHS.
” Age UK acknowledged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the care sector throughout the Covid crisis , that “ richly deserved gratitude must now translate into practical improvements ” .
The charity has demanded action in two key areas : • “ Implementing nationally set pay scales that providers must meet , that achieve parity with the NHS for the same roles , paid for through extra government funding ; • “ Making an improved learning and development offer to care workers so they are better equipped to care for people with increasingly complex needs ; • “ Ensuring that any new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including those from the EU to enter the country easily , to take up a role working in social care ; and • “ Support the physical and mental wellbeing of care staff through a national initiative , locally implemented , as the NHS has done with its ‘ people plan ’ .
” Protect social care workers and those they care for in the pandemic by : • “ Publishing a workforce plan which addresses minimum staffing ratios and how to increase the number of staff working in care ; • “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to all social care providers and really does reach everyone on the front line , not only those working in care homes ; • “ Continuing to distribute money via the Infection Control Fund to support providers to meet the extra costs of PPE , and to allow care staff to remain on full pay if they have to self-isolate ; and • “ Tasking ‘ Skills for Care ’ and the Care Quality Commission to work with social care providers to spread good practice in managing and supporting care staff through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK director Caroline Abrahams said today : “ The lack of government funding for care often translates into exploitative working conditions for care staff , which in turn undermine the quality of care on offer to older and disabled people .
“ Social care is above all a people business and if you don ’ t value the men and women who provide it you are undervaluing those who receive it too.
” “ For the sake of everyone who needs social care as well as all those who deliver it we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers fairly and provide the funding for them to get a decent wage .
“ Their pay and conditions need levelling up to match those of similar roles in the NHS .
The pandemic has shown how much we rely on social care and how badly it needs to be reformed , and a good place to start is by paying the workforce properly.
” Labour has repeatedly demanded that the government publish its plans to fix social care .
Deputy leader Angela Rayner called for a plan guaranteeing that all workers be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of £9.30 an hour in September .
Boris Johnson has on several occasions promised to reform social care since becoming Prime Minister .
In his first speech after after taking the role in July 2019 , the Tory Party leader pledged to “ fix the crisis in social care once and for all ” .

Labour’s Liz Kendall has declared that care workers have been “undervalued and underpaid for too long” following the publication of a new report warning of a looming recruitment crisis in the sector if conditions do not improve.
Responding to the release of research by Age UK this morning, the shadow minister for social care described the “immense sacrifices” made by care workers in the pandemic and stressed the need for a long-term plan for reform.
In its report, Time to bring our care workers in from the cold, the charity raised concerns over low pay and a sustained lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), and highlighted the 122,000 care sector job vacancies needing to be filled.
Kendall said today: “Care staff have made immense sacrifices to look after our loved ones throughout this pandemic. Care workers have been undervalued and underpaid for too long, and it is time the government took action to fix this.
“We need a long-term plan for the care workforce as part of wider reforms to tackle the crisis in social care. The Prime Minister must bring forward a plan to reform these vital services by the end of the year and make sure our care workforce get the recognition they deserve.”
The analysis from Age UK today highlighted a disparity between the government’s approach to supporting NHS workers in the Covid pandemic and its efforts to protect employees working in the care sector during the health crisis.
The organisation argued that the 1.65 million people working in care have seen “only relatively limited support put in place” with poor access to PPE, testing, mental health support and priority access to shops.
It highlighted that the average care worker salary is £15,000 a year, meaning they are paid 24p an hour less than shop assistants, and that 54% were paid less than £8.72 prior to the latest increase in the new living wage.
Referring to a workforce survey by UNISON, Age UK said four in five care workers reported that their mental health had been damaged by work during the pandemic and that 42% of healthcare workers thought the government had not done enough.
It also highlighted that one in ten care workers said they were aware of colleagues who continued to work despite having Covid symptoms, fuelling concerns that poor government support for the sector is undermining public health objectives.
8% of those surveyed earlier this year by the trade union reported being told they would receive no pay at all if they had to self-isolate or if they had to take time off sick as a result of contracting coronavirus.
Commenting on the research from Age UK, UNISON assistant general secretary and co-chair of the ‘Future Social Care Coalition’ Christina McAnea said: “These shocking findings are a wake-up call to government that enough is enough.
“Care staff can’t go on being ignored, undervalued and left to exist on poverty wages. A wage boost is needed now to get them through the pandemic and attract new recruits.
“A national care service would also bring about long overdue reform of the sector. It would drive up standards, boost pay and training and ensure the care service is put on an equal footing with the NHS.”
Age UK acknowledged that while the public clapped for workers in the care sector throughout the Covid crisis, that “richly deserved gratitude must now translate into practical improvements”. The charity has demanded action in two key areas:
Treat care workers fairly by:
“Implementing nationally set pay scales that providers must meet, that achieve parity with the NHS for the same roles, paid for through extra government funding;
“Making an improved learning and development offer to care workers so they are better equipped to care for people with increasingly complex needs;
“Ensuring that any new immigration system allows for overseas workers, including those from the EU to enter the country easily, to take up a role working in social care; and
“Support the physical and mental wellbeing of care staff through a national initiative, locally implemented, as the NHS has done with its ‘people plan’.”
Protect social care workers and those they care for in the pandemic by:
“Publishing a workforce plan which addresses minimum staffing ratios and how to increase the number of staff working in care;
“Ensuring PPE of appropriate quality is readily available to all social care providers and really does reach everyone on the front line, not only those working in care homes;
“Continuing to distribute money via the Infection Control Fund to support providers to meet the extra costs of PPE, and to allow care staff to remain on full pay if they have to self-isolate; and
“Tasking ‘Skills for Care’ and the Care Quality Commission to work with social care providers to spread good practice in managing and supporting care staff through the remainder of the pandemic.”
Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said: “The lack of government funding for care often translates into exploitative working conditions for care staff, which in turn undermine the quality of care on offer to older and disabled people.
“Social care is above all a people business and if you don’t value the men and women who provide it you are undervaluing those who receive it too.”
“For the sake of everyone who needs social care as well as all those who deliver it we are calling on the government to treat care workers fairly and provide the funding for them to get a decent wage.
“Their pay and conditions need levelling up to match those of similar roles in the NHS. The pandemic has shown how much we rely on social care and how badly it needs to be reformed, and a good place to start is by paying the workforce properly.”
Labour has repeatedly demanded that the government publish its plans to fix social care. Deputy leader Angela Rayner called for a plan guaranteeing that all workers be paid at least the real living wage of £9.30 an hour in September.
Boris Johnson has on several occasions promised to reform social care since becoming Prime Minister. In his first speech after after taking the role in July 2019, the Conservative Party leader pledged to “fix the crisis in social care once and for all”.


labourlist--2020-11-07--Labour highlights SNP “dereliction of duty” over government contracts

Richard Leonard has accused Nicola Sturgeon of committing a “ dereliction of duty ” after new analysis found that billions of pounds of government contracts supported just 100,000 jobs and were almost exclusively with large corporations .
Responding to reports released today , Scottish Labour found that £1.2bn of private procurement contracts supported a relatively low number of full-time jobs despite them generating around £10bn of economic activity for Scotland .
The Scottish Labour leader described it as a “ gross failure ” by the Holyrood administration as the party also revealed that just 0.29 % of Small and Medium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scottish government ’ s procurement spend .
Commenting on the data , Leonard said : “ With Scotland facing its worst unemployment crisis since the height of Thatcherism in the 1980s , this is a gross failure by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP .
“ At the very moment when the future of hundreds of Scottish businesses hangs in the balance , we discover that less than 1 % of SMEs benefitted from the Scottish government ’ s procurement spend .
“ Scottish Labour has been calling for further support for local businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proper jobs guarantee scheme to protect livelihoods and stimulate growth .
“ In stark contrast , Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP government have handed billions of pounds of public money over to contracts , with little job creation and SME support in return .
Scotland can ill afford this dereliction of duty by the SNP.
” The information obtained by the Scottish Labour Party found that the country ’ s private contract expenditure contributing £6bn to the country ’ s GDP as well as generating overall around £10bn of economic activity .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s annual report into its procurement practice , found that just 1,034 SMEs in Scotland benefited from the contracts out of a total of 354,125 SMEs operating in the country as of March 2019 .
Of the total £1.2bn spent by the Scottish government on private procurement contracts , just £103m was spent on SMEs .
That means just 8 % of total expenditure on procurement benefited Scottish small businesses .
Leonard has previously called on the SNP to commit to a ‘ jobs guarantee scheme ’ , which would provide well-paid , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help combat the risk of mass unemployment in the devolved nation .
The Scottish Labour leader ’ s criticism follows the release of Scotland ’ s benefit claimant statistics .
In September , there were 224,200 people claiming Jobseeker ’ s Allowance and Universal Credit , a 101.2 % rise on the start of the year .
Coronavirus has badly hit the UK jobs market .
It was reported last month that the UK unemployment rate had surged to its highest level in over three years – 4.5 % of people were without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous quarter .
It was previously predicted by the Scottish government , in advance of the Chancellor ’ s decision to extend the furlough scheme this week , that the nation ’ s unemployment rate could rise as high as 8.2 % by the end of the year .
Anneliese Dodds has criticised Rishi Sunak ’ s decision to make the U-turn on extending the furlough scheme at such a late hour and warned that many jobs may have already been lost due to government inaction .
Reacting to a statement from Sunak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses impacted by restrictions , the Shadow Chancellor told MPs that “ the Chancellor can change his mind at the last minute , but businesses can ’ t ” .

Richard Leonard has accused Nicola Sturgeon of a “dereliction of duty” after new analysis found that billions of pounds of government contracts supported just 100,000 jobs and were almost exclusively with large corporations.
Responding to reports released today, Scottish Labour found that £1.2bn of private procurement contracts supported a relatively low number of full-time jobs despite them generating around £10bn of economic activity for Scotland.
The Scottish Labour leader described it as a “gross failure” by the Holyrood administration as the party also revealed that just 0.29% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from the Scottish government’s procurement spend.
Commenting on the data, Leonard said: “With Scotland facing its worst unemployment crisis since the height of Thatcherism in the 1980s, this is a gross failure by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP.
“At the very moment when the future of hundreds of Scottish businesses hangs in the balance, we discover that less than 1% of SMEs benefitted from the Scottish government’s procurement spend.
“Scottish Labour has been calling for further support for local businesses during the pandemic and has demanded a proper jobs guarantee scheme to protect livelihoods and stimulate growth.
“In stark contrast, Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP government have handed billions of pounds of public money over to contracts, with little job creation and SME support in return. Scotland can ill afford this dereliction of duty by the SNP.”
The information obtained by the Scottish Labour Party found that the country’s private contract expenditure contributing £6bn to the country’s GDP as well as generating overall around £10bn of economic activity.
The party analysis, based on Holyrood’s annual report into its procurement practice, found that just 1,034 SMEs in Scotland benefited from the contracts out of a total of 354,125 SMEs operating in the country as of March 2019.
Of the total £1.2bn spent by the Scottish government on private procurement contracts, just £103m was spent on SMEs. That means just 8% of total expenditure on procurement benefited Scottish small businesses.
Leonard has previously called on the SNP to commit to a ‘jobs guarantee scheme’, which would provide well-paid, green jobs for workers across Scotland and help combat the risk of mass unemployment in the devolved nation.
The Scottish Labour leader’s criticism follows the release of Scotland’s benefit claimant statistics. In September, there were 224,200 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit, a 101.2% rise on the start of the year.
Coronavirus has badly hit the UK jobs market. It was reported last month that the UK unemployment rate had surged to its highest level in over three years – 4.5% of people were without work compared to 4.1% in the previous quarter.
It was previously predicted by the Scottish government, in advance of the Chancellor’s decision to extend the furlough scheme this week, that the nation’s unemployment rate could rise as high as 8.2% by the end of the year.
Anneliese Dodds has criticised Rishi Sunak’s decision to make the U-turn on extending the furlough scheme at such a late hour and warned that many jobs may have already been lost due to government inaction.
Reacting to a statement from Sunak this week in parliament on support for businesses impacted by restrictions, the Shadow Chancellor told MPs that “the Chancellor can change his mind at the last minute, but businesses can’t”.


labourlist--2020-11-06--The path to power Downing Street begins by winning in 2021

Seven months from now Britons across the country will go to the polls , their first chance to pass judgement on the Tory mishandling of the pandemic and vent their anger over the coming recession .
It will be their first chance to vote for the Labour Party of Keir Starmer , Anneliese Dodds and Nick Thomas-Symonds .
They will judge the records of Mark Drakeford in Wales , Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland , metro mayors in England and countless councils across the country .
To say that these elections matter for Labour is an understatement .
They are as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Labour in government at all levels leads to the best outcomes for lives and communities , for business , workers and the economically inactive .
Next May , this will be more true than ever as recession bites and the pandemic continues to harm health and livelihoods .
These elections matter too for the trajectory of Labour over the next four years .
If Labour were to do badly it would be far harder to stage a Westminster recovery in 2024 .
Narratives matter .
Labour ’ s story needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership , we are winning votes and seats in areas in which we need to do well in 2024 .
This means winning in the ‘ Red Wall ’ , Wales and Scotland .
Post-election headlines need to celebrate Labour ’ s success and the consequent failure of the Tories and SNP .
The counternarrative would be a huge blow .
If Starmer appears personally popular but hampered by a still unpopular party it will be far harder to win power in 2024 .
We should not underestimate the scale of our challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tory unpopularity or repeated Starmer wins at PMQs to get us where we need to be .
We need to win in parts of the country where Labour did very badly last December , and in many cases in years before that .
In England , the clearest way to do so will be to win the four metro mayor positions we do not currently hold – beating Tory mayors in the West Midlands , West of England and Tees Valley and taking the new West Yorkshire mayoralty .
Each of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but none can be taken for granted .
In Wales , Labour is narrowly ahead in most polling but given our collapse in the north of the devolved nation last December we can take nothing for granted .
Welsh Senedd results are complicated by the voting system and the impact of votes for Plaid Cymru , the Lib Dems and the Greens , which can gift seats to the Tories .
Yet the importance of Wales for Labour can not be overstated – we must not let the narrative next May be that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Red Wall in 2019 and Wales in 2021 .
It would be hard in those circumstances to make the case that Labour is a government in waiting .
In England there are also a swathe of local elections .
Given where we are in the cycle it will be difficult for Labour to pick up large numbers of council seats .
Our big win was supposed to be last year , but we underperformed badly as voters fled to the Lib Dems and the Greens in protest to our Brexit position .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win to disguise losses elsewhere .
Our challenge is arguably greatest in Scotland , where the last decade has been catastrophic for Labour .
We lost half our Scottish vote between 2010 and 2015 .
In 2019 , we won only a third of the Scottish votes won by Gordon Brown .
When for decades we could count on 40 or more Scottish seats , in the 2015 and 2019 elections we won a single seat .
The small increase to seven seats in 2017 was down to our vote holding up while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trajectory has been downward since 2007 .
That year we won two thirds of the SNP vote and were a single seat behind , the Scottish Tories a distant third .
When Holyrood was last elected in 2016 we won a handful more votes than the Tories but fewer seats .
Polls since then have consistently put Labour in third place – we are in danger of becoming the Lib Dems of Scotland .
This matters for governance in Scotland , for the question of Scottish independence and for the integrity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Labour majority in Westminster , something that has never happened without circa 40 Scottish seats .
Given the scale of the task , the inevitable question is : what must we do about it ?
You could argue that holding the Tories to account for their pandemic response is the priority and that next May is far off , but this is merely to articulate the difficulty of being in opposition .
There is no doubt that the pandemic response must take priority .
Labour opposition can save lives by prompting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power in Wales , mayoralties and councils , we are and must continue to do all we can to save lives – both from the pandemic and Tory incompetence .
We must do the same for jobs and businesses as the economic crisis develops .
But we must also prepare for the next challenge .
Even though resources are thin and real world priorities are beyond important , we must take next year ’ s elections seriously .
As a party we must invest in the preparation required .
As members we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be Constituency Labour Party meetings or canvassing sessions but there are candidates who need help , there is phone banking to be done , there are conversations to be had with friends and family .
Next May can be a springboard for Labour into 2024 and back into government .
Or it can be a missed opportunity and another chance for the Tories to cling on to power .
Make no mistake , they will not be underprepared for next May .
Boris Johnson wrote to Tory members in August asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are getting ready , fully aware of the danger a winning Labour Party represents , and they will do whatever it takes to succeed , as will the SNP .
We must do all we can to match them .

Seven months from now Britons across the country will go to the polls. This will be their first chance to pass judgement on the Tory mishandling of the pandemic and vent their anger over the coming recession. It will be their first opportunity to vote for the Labour Party of Keir Starmer, Anneliese Dodds and Nick Thomas-Symonds. They will judge the records of Mark Drakeford in Wales, Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland, metro mayors in England and countless councils across the country.
To say that these elections matter for Labour is an understatement. They are as important as any election because we know that Labour in government at all levels leads to the best outcomes for lives and communities, for business, workers and the economically inactive. In May 2021, this will be more true than ever as recession bites and the pandemic continues to harm health and livelihoods.
These elections matter, too, for the trajectory of Labour over the next four years. If Labour were to do badly, it would be far harder to stage a Westminster recovery in 2024. Narratives matter. Labour’s story needs to be that, a year into our new leadership, we are winning votes and seats in areas in which we need to do well in 2024. This means winning in the ‘Red Wall’, Wales and Scotland. Post-election headlines need to celebrate Labour’s success and the consequent failure of the Tories and SNP. The counter-narrative would be a huge blow. If Starmer appears personally popular but hampered by a still unpopular party, it will be far harder to win power in 2024.
We should not underestimate the scale of our challenge next May. Nor should we rely on Tory unpopularity or repeated Starmer wins at PMQs to get us where we need to be. We need to win in parts of the country where Labour did very badly last December, and in many cases in years before that. In England, the clearest way to do so will be to win the four metro mayor positions we do not currently hold – beating Tory mayors in the West Midlands, West of England and Tees Valley and taking the new West Yorkshire mayoralty. Each of these seats is a realistic prospect for Labour but none can be taken for granted.
In Wales, Labour is narrowly ahead in most polling but given our collapse in the north of the devolved nation last December we can take nothing for granted. Welsh Senedd results are complicated by the voting system and the impact of votes for Plaid Cymru, the Lib Dems and the Greens, which can gift seats to the Tories. Yet the importance of Wales for Labour cannot be overstated – we must not let the narrative next May be that Labour lost Scotland in 2015, the Red Wall in 2019 and Wales in 2021. It would be hard in those circumstances to make the case that Labour is a government in waiting.
In England, there will be a bumper set of local elections. Given where we are in the cycle, it will be difficult for Labour to pick up large numbers of council seats. Our big win was supposed to be in 2019, but we underperformed badly as voters fled to the Lib Dems and the Greens in protest to our Brexit position. We cannot rely on a big council win to disguise losses elsewhere.
Our challenge is arguably greatest in Scotland, where the last decade has been catastrophic for Labour. We lost half our Scottish vote between 2010 and 2015. In 2019, we won only a third of the Scottish votes won by Gordon Brown. When for decades we could count on 40 or more Scottish seats, in the 2015 and 2019 elections we won a single seat. The small increase to seven seats in 2017 was down to our vote holding up while turnout overall fell.
In Holyrood, our trajectory has been downward since 2007. That year we won two thirds of the SNP vote and were a single seat behind, the Scottish Tories a distant third. When Holyrood was last elected in 2016 we won a handful more votes than the Tories but fewer seats. Polls since then have consistently put Labour in third place – we are in danger of becoming the Lib Dems of Scotland. This matters for governance in Scotland, for the question of Scottish independence and for the integrity of the union. And with it the likelihood of a Labour majority in Westminster, something that has never happened without circa 40 Scottish seats. Given the scale of the task, the inevitable question is: what must we do about it?
You could argue that holding the Tories to account for their pandemic response is the priority and that next May is far off, but this is merely to articulate the difficulty of being in opposition. There is no doubt that the pandemic response must take priority. Labour opposition can save lives by prompting better government choices. Where we are in power in Wales, mayoralties and councils, we are and must continue to do all we can to save lives – both from the pandemic and Tory incompetence. We must do the same for jobs and businesses as the economic crisis develops.
But we must also prepare for the next challenge. Even though resources are thin and real world priorities are beyond important, we must take next year’s elections seriously. As a party we must invest in the preparation required. As members we must get to work. There may not be Constituency Labour Party meetings or canvassing sessions but there are candidates who need help, there is phone banking to be done, there are conversations to be had with friends and family.
Next May can be a springboard for Labour into 2024 and back into government. Or it can be a missed opportunity and another chance for the Tories to cling on to power. Make no mistake, they will not be underprepared for next May. Boris Johnson wrote to Tory members in August asking for donations for their local elections campaign. They are getting ready, fully aware of the danger a winning Labour Party represents, and they will do whatever it takes to succeed, as will the SNP. We must do all we can to match them.


labourlist--2020-11-06--Labour, the EHRC report and Corbyn’s suspension. One week on

When the Equality and Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism within Labour was published just over a week ago , it was thought a full scale civil war would ensue .
The damning report found Labour responsible for unlawful acts and it was , as Keir Starmer put it , a dark day for the party .
Within hours Jeremy Corbyn had been suspended for his EHRC response , in which he argued that “ the scale of the problem was dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party ” .
Reactions to his suspension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margaret Hodge saw it as a triumph for Starmer , while John McDonnell branded it “ profoundly wrong ” .
Before long , a petition calling for Corbyn ’ s reinstatement was gathering signatures .
LabourList understands that longstanding Corbyn allies Jon Trickett MP and Unite ’ s Len McCluskey have been working behind the scenes to de-escalate the row and create a way back for the former leader .
But the general response from left MPs has been markedly muted .
The Socialist Campaign Group of MPs tweeted on the day that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspend Jeremy Corbyn ” and have pledged to “ work tirelessly for his reinstatement ” .
Reports quickly emerged that not all in the left-wing SCG group had been consulted on the post , however .
And only 18 of the 33 SCG MPs ( not counting Corbyn himself ) signed a full statement this week that argued the disciplinary action should be “ quickly reversed ” .
It is worth noting that some may not have been present at the meeting , as Nadia Whittome later said , adding her support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs were missing .
MPs lying low is not entirely surprising .
The Parliamentary Labour Party was warned ahead of the report ’ s release that they were not to wade into any public discussion of the EHRC report unless they had been specifically requested by the party to do so .
The action taken last week in suspending Corbyn suggests the warning was a serious one .
Clearly many Corbynite MPs are keenly aware of the danger that making any comment on the substance of the former Labour leader ’ s statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there is a reluctance to speak out when it is possible the situation could be resolved .
Other parts of the labour movement have been more bold .
Unite the Union ’ s party staff branch complained that “ due process appears to have broken down ” in a letter last week sent on behalf of Labour employees , particularly in the governance and legal unit , which is responsible for handling complaints until they may be referred to the national executive committee .
It said staff have been left “ feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processes ” as they alleged the disciplinary action was “ apparently not done using the formal GLU system and structures ” .
Starmer has said he did not take the decision to suspend the former leader himself and it was taken independently by David Evans .
But some have criticised this process , as they interpret the EHRC report as determining that the general secretary also counts as “ political interference ” .
Grassroots organisations and members acting in Constituency Labour Parties ( CLPs ) have been pushing back on the suspension .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of the leader , including the Labour Left Alliance ( LLA ) ; Labour Against the Witchhunt ; Welsh Labour Grassroots ; the Labour Representation Committee ; Jewish Voice for Labour ; the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy ( CLPD ) ; and Socialist Appeal .
The LLA and CLPD have circulated model motions for members to table at local party meetings , and the petition calling for Corbyn to be reinstated has reached over 30,000 signatures .
Attempts to express a view on the suspension from the grassroots have not gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( REC ) meeting ended in confusion on Monday evening , as a party officer reportedly prevented the board voting on a motion expressing solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn .
Participants claimed the vote was blocked via the chair being removed as a co-host , disabling his control of the voting functions .
Supporters of the decision say the vote could not take place since the REC , as an agent of the party , is not allowed to comment on ongoing disciplinary cases .
Labour has declined to comment on the matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to local party chairs on Thursday , saying there should be no discussion or motions on individual disciplinary cases .
It is worth noting that a similar instruction was circulated by his predecessor Jennie Formby in 2019 .
Jewish Labour Movement national secretary Peter Mason hit back at attempts to express support for the former leader in a LabourList article on Wednesday .
He warned the row over the suspension of Corbyn is distracting from the EHRC findings and the impact on Jewish members : “ The full consequences of the report into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully understood .
They may well have lasting impact for not only Labour , but for all political parties and campaigning organisations .
Apparently those who most need to read the report have not bothered to do so.
” The intervention echoed comments from the group ’ s parliamentary chair Margaret Hodge on the day the report was published , in which she described Corbyn as “ yesterday ’ s man ” and said she did not want someone so “ absolutely irrelevant ” to be the focus .
Meanwhile , left Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspension of MPs Lisa Nandy , Steve Reed , Barry Sheerman , Rachel Reeves , Luke Pollard and former general secretary Iain McNicol .
The group said it welcomed the Labour leader ’ s “ commitment to swift action and a zero-tolerance approach ” , then listed alleged antisemitic comments and behaviour by pro-Starmer Labour figures .
In response , some of those have directed LabourList to apologies already offered , including MPs Sheerman and Reed .
Lord McNicol told us : “ Such false allegations are already in the hands of my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If people want to continue to repeat such baseless allegations , they do so in the knowledge that legal action will follow.
” A party spokesperson told LabourList that Labour “ takes all complaints extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures , and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken ” .
The Campaign Against Antisemitism , which formally referred the party to the EHRC in 2018 prompting its investigation , submitted complaints against Corbyn when the report was published – along with 16 other sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Diane Abbott , Rebecca Long-Bailey , Tahir Ali , Mike Amesbury , Apsana Begum , Richard Burgon , Barry Gardiner , Lloyd Russell-Moyle , Barry Sheerman and Zarah Sultana , but also frontbenchers Angela Rayner , Steve Reed , Mike Amesbury and Afzal Khan .
The organisation has given Labour “ six months to conduct transparent investigations and finally deliver justice for the Jewish community ” .
The party is not in full-blown civil war .
Many left figures in the PLP have held back , partly out of concern for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hope that a resolution between Labour and Corbyn can be found .
But grassroots members and groups have been much stronger in staking out a position .
Overall , a stalemate has been reached as the party waits for its former leader to row back more strongly on his EHRC comments .
There is much to be done , however , with further tricky moments for Starmer on the horizon .
Labour faces a deadline , as the EHRC ’ s unlawful act notice requires the party to produce an action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forde Inquiry , launched following a leaked report alleging antisemitism complaints were mishandled by party officials , is due to report before the end of the year .
And the party still faces a number of potential legal challenges over the substance of the leaked report .
Solicitor Mark Lewis told BBC Newsnight in July that 32 people had instructed him to take action , including former general secretary McNicol , while reports at the time suggested the potential payouts could exceed £8m .
Some believe the party could be bankrupted .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new leader are anything but over .

When the Equality and Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism within Labour was published just over a week ago, it was thought a full scale civil war would ensue. The damning report found Labour responsible for unlawful acts and it was, as Keir Starmer put it, a dark day for the party. Within hours Jeremy Corbyn had been suspended for his EHRC response, in which he argued that “the scale of the problem was dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party”. Reactions to his suspension have been mixed. Some such as Margaret Hodge saw it as a triumph for Starmer, while John McDonnell branded it “profoundly wrong”. Before long, petitions calling for Corbyn’s reinstatement were gathering signatures.
LabourList understands that longstanding Corbyn allies Jon Trickett MP and Unite’s Len McCluskey have been working behind the scenes to de-escalate the row and create a way back for the former leader. But the general response from left MPs has been markedly muted. The Socialist Campaign Group of MPs tweeted on the day that they “firmly oppose the decision to suspend Jeremy Corbyn” and have pledged to “work tirelessly for his reinstatement”. Reports quickly emerged that not all in the left-wing SCG group had been consulted on the post, however. And only 18 of the 33 SCG MPs (not counting Corbyn himself) signed a full statement this week that argued the disciplinary action should be “quickly reversed”. It is worth noting that some may not have been present at the meeting, as Nadia Whittome later said, adding her support. It is nonetheless notable that left Labour MPs were missing.
MPs lying low is not entirely surprising. The Parliamentary Labour Party was warned ahead of the report’s release that they were not to wade into any public discussion of the EHRC report unless they had been specifically requested by the party to do so. The action taken last week in suspending Corbyn suggests the warning was a serious one. Clearly many Corbynite MPs are keenly aware of the danger that making any comment on the substance of the former Labour leader’s statement could lead to their own suspension – and there is a reluctance to speak out when it is possible the situation could be resolved.
Other parts of the labour movement have been more bold. Unite the Union’s party staff branch complained that “due process appears to have broken down” in a letter last week sent on behalf of Labour employees, particularly in the governance and legal unit, which is responsible for handling complaints until they may be referred to the national executive committee. It said staff have been left “feeling very uncertain about the integrity of our processes” as they alleged the disciplinary action was “apparently not done using the formal GLU system and structures”. Starmer has said he did not take the decision to suspend the former leader himself and it was taken independently by David Evans. But some have criticised this process, as they interpret the EHRC report as determining that the general secretary also counts as “political interference”.
Grassroots organisations and members acting in Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) have been pushing back on the suspension. Various left groups have drafted statements in support of the leader, including the Labour Left Alliance (LLA); Labour Against the Witchhunt; Welsh Labour Grassroots; the Labour Representation Committee; Jewish Voice for Labour; the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy (CLPD); and Socialist Appeal. The LLA and CLPD have circulated model motions for members to table at local party meetings, and the two petitions calling for Corbyn to be reinstated have reached over 34,000 and 63,000 signatures.
Attempts to express a view on the suspension from the grassroots have not gone far. A London regional executive committee (REC) meeting ended in confusion on Monday evening, as a party officer reportedly prevented the board voting on a motion expressing solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn. Participants claimed the vote was blocked via the chair being removed as a co-host, disabling his control of the voting functions. Supporters of the decision say the vote could not take place since the REC, as an agent of the party, is not allowed to comment on ongoing disciplinary cases. Labour has declined to comment on the matter. General secretary David Evans then issued guidance to local party chairs on Thursday, saying there should be no discussion or motions on individual disciplinary cases. It is worth noting that a similar instruction was circulated by his predecessor Jennie Formby in 2019.
Jewish Labour Movement national secretary Peter Mason hit back at attempts to express support for the former leader in a LabourList article on Wednesday. He warned the row over the suspension of Corbyn is distracting from the EHRC findings and the impact on Jewish members: “The full consequences of the report into the Labour Party have yet to be fully understood. They may well have lasting impact for not only Labour, but for all political parties and campaigning organisations. Apparently those who most need to read the report have not bothered to do so.” The intervention echoed comments from the group’s parliamentary chair Margaret Hodge on the day the report was published, in which she described Corbyn as “yesterday’s man” and said she did not want someone so “absolutely irrelevant” to be the focus.
Meanwhile, left Jewish group Jewdas complained on Thursday demanded the suspension of MPs Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, Barry Sheerman, Rachel Reeves, Luke Pollard and former general secretary Iain McNicol. The group said it welcomed the Labour leader’s “commitment to swift action and a zero-tolerance approach”, then listed alleged antisemitic comments and behaviour by pro-Starmer Labour figures. In response, some of those have directed LabourList to apologies already offered, including MPs Sheerman and Reed. Lord McNicol told us: “Such false allegations are already in the hands of my solicitor in respect of very serious libels. If people want to continue to repeat such baseless allegations, they do so in the knowledge that legal action will follow.” A party spokesperson told LabourList that Labour “takes all complaints extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken”.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which formally referred the party to the EHRC in 2018 prompting its investigation, submitted complaints against Corbyn when the report was published – along with 16 other sitting Labour MPs. These include MPs such as Diane Abbott, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Tahir Ali, Mike Amesbury, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Barry Gardiner, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Barry Sheerman and Zarah Sultana, but also frontbenchers Angela Rayner, Steve Reed, Mike Amesbury and Afzal Khan. The organisation has given Labour “six months to conduct transparent investigations and finally deliver justice for the Jewish community”.
The party is not in full-blown civil war. Many left figures in the PLP have held back, partly out of concern for their own future in the party and partly in the hope that a resolution between Labour and Corbyn can be found. But grassroots members and groups have been much stronger in staking out a position. Overall, a stalemate has been reached as the party waits for its former leader to row back more strongly on his EHRC comments. There is much to be done, however, with further tricky moments for Starmer on the horizon.
Labour faces a deadline, as the EHRC’s unlawful act notice requires the party to produce an action plan within six weeks. The ongoing Forde Inquiry, launched following a leaked report alleging antisemitism complaints were mishandled by party officials, is due to report before the end of the year. And the party still faces a number of potential legal challenges over the substance of the leaked report. Solicitor Mark Lewis told BBC Newsnight in July that 32 people had instructed him to take action, including former general secretary McNicol, while reports at the time suggested the potential payouts could exceed £8m. Some believe the party could be bankrupted. The challenges for Labour and its still relatively new leader are anything but over.


labourlist--2020-11-06--What we know about the 2021 Senedd elections and how Welsh Labour can win

There are a fixed number of seats in the Senedd but all political parties want to , and expect to , make gains .
Obviously some or most will be disappointed .
Starting with Labour , the targets have to be Rhondda and Aberconwy .
The Conservatives will look to turn UK parliament victories in Delyn , Vale of Clwyd , Clwyd South , Wrexham , Ynys Mon , the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend from Labour and Brecon and Radnor from the Liberal Democrats into Senedd gains .
Plaid Cymru will look to win some of their perennial Senedd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold the Rhondda and make gains on the regional list .
The Lib Dems will look to hold Brecon and Radnor , win Cardiff Central and regional seats .
The former UK Independence Party under its various guises will attempt to win regional seats .
What we discovered at the last Senedd election was that huge swings could be achieved in certain seats , even if Rhondda was the only constituency to change hands .
The way the electoral system operates is that a close loss of constituency seats can be partially made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that constituency gains can and have in the past been followed by the loss of regional seats .
Labour will be standing on its record in government and its commitment to continually improve the lives of the people of Wales .
The Conservatives will focus on North Wales , Betsi Cadwalladr health board and their claim of greater economic competence .
Plaid Cymru will return to their roots and campaign for independence and be critical of Westminster and the Welsh Labour government .
The Lib Dems will again attempt to find some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westminster , which electorally has seriously hurt them .
The former UKIP will support abolishing the Senedd and other minority causes , hoping to get enough votes to keep some or all of their regional seats .
Covid will cast a shadow over the election .
Will we have a vaccine ?
Will we be in lockdown again , and how will people react ?
What will the effect of Brexit be ?
The 2019 general election was the Brexit election and previous Labour voters and non-voters flocked out to vote Conservative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 1st 2021 , it will be done .
Any prediction made six months before an election is almost certain to be wrong .
But what we do know is that there are four groups of electors that Labour needs to convince to not only support it , but to actually go out and vote in the Senedd election .
These groups include younger people .
For anyone 22 or younger this will be their first Senedd vote and they make up over 10 % of those eligible to vote .
Traditional Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for us in 2019 ( voting either Tory or not voting ) due to wanting to get Brexit done .
And voters who are caring and compassionate but who have recently voted for other political parties , often Plaid Cymru or Green .
We win these voters not by following the latest opinion poll or vox pop , but by showing them how our values are their values .
There are five areas on which we need to concentrate .
• Animal welfare .
Treating all animals as sentient beings and taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Action on climate change , including large scale tree planting and stopping floods – higher walls are not the answer .
What we need is to give the water somewhere to go before it floods and to do all we can to stop climate change .
• Tackling poverty .
Whilst many of the tools to do so are held by Westminster , we can do things including offering free school meals in school holidays , building council homes and working to make Wales a living-wage nation .
• Improving health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reducing poverty will reduce health inequality .
According to the World Health Organisation , material poverty is the most important single determinant of life expectancy in Europe .
• Building a sustainable economy and benefitting from Wales ’ world class universities to promote sectors such as the green industries , ICT and life sciences , high-skilled , high-paid jobs not geographically constrained .
And , of course , we could still be in the middle of the pandemic next May .
But I am much more confident in the handling of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government than the Tories in Westminster .

There are a fixed number of seats in the Senedd but all political parties want – and expect – to make gains. Obviously some or most will be disappointed. Starting with Labour, the targets must be Rhondda and Aberconwy. The Conservatives will look to turn UK parliament victories in Delyn, Vale of Clwyd, Clwyd South, Wrexham, Ynys Mon, the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend from Labour and Brecon and Radnor from the Liberal Democrats into Senedd gains.
Plaid Cymru will look to win some of their perennial Senedd targets such as Llanelli and Caerphilly, hold the Rhondda and make gains on the regional list. The Lib Dems will look to hold Brecon and Radnor, win Cardiff Central and regional seats. The former UK Independence Party under its various guises will attempt to win regional seats.
What we discovered at the last Senedd election was that huge swings could be achieved in certain seats, even if Rhondda was the only constituency to change hands. The way the electoral system operates is that a close loss of constituency seats can be partially made up by gains in regional seats – and that constituency gains can be, and have in the past been, followed by the loss of regional seats.
Labour will be standing on its record in government and its commitment to continually improve the lives of the people of Wales. The Conservatives will focus on North Wales, Betsi Cadwalladr health board and their claim of greater economic competence. Plaid Cymru will return to their roots and campaign for independence and be critical of Westminster and the Welsh Labour government. The Lib Dems will again attempt to find some relevance following their period in government in Westminster, which electorally has seriously hurt them. The former UKIP will support abolishing the Senedd and other minority causes, hoping to get enough votes to keep some or all of their regional seats.
Covid will cast a shadow over the election. Will we have a vaccine? Will we be in lockdown again, and how will people react? What will the effect of Brexit be? The 2019 general election was the Brexit election and previous Labour voters and non-voters flocked out to vote Conservative to ‘get Brexit done’. On January 1st 2021, it will be done. Any prediction made six months before an election is almost certain to be wrong. But what we do know is that there are four groups of electors that Labour needs to convince to not only support it, but to actually go out and vote in the Senedd election.
These groups include younger people. For anyone 22 or younger this will be their first Senedd vote and they make up over 10% of those eligible to vote. Traditional Labour voters as well, who did not vote for us in 2019 (voting either Tory or not voting) due to wanting to get Brexit done. And voters who are caring and compassionate but who have recently voted for other political parties, often Plaid Cymru or Green. We win these voters not by following the latest opinion poll or vox pop, but by showing them how our values are their values. There are five areas on which we need to concentrate.
Animal welfare. Treating all animals as sentient beings and taking action to stop all animal cruelty. Action on climate change, including large scale tree planting and stopping floods – higher walls are not the answer. What we need is to give the water somewhere to go before it floods and to do all we can to stop climate change. Tackling poverty. Whilst many of the tools to do so are held by Westminster, we can do things including offering free school meals in school holidays, building council homes and working to make Wales a living-wage nation. Improving health and wellbeing. Improving the quality of housing and reducing poverty will reduce health inequality. According to the World Health Organisation, material poverty is the most important single determinant of life expectancy in Europe. Building a sustainable economy and benefitting from Wales’ world class universities to promote sectors such as the green industries, ICT and life sciences, high-skilled, high-paid jobs not geographically constrained.
And, of course, we could still be in the middle of the pandemic next May. But I am much more confident in the handling of it by Mark Drakeford and the Welsh Labour government than the Tories in Westminster.


labourlist--2020-11-08--Sunday shows: Labour “comparing notes” with Democrats, says Lammy

Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy discussed the 2020 US election this morning , describing it as a “ reset moment ” and telling viewers that the Labour Party is “ comparing notes ” with the Democratic Party after its success .
• On the US 2020 election : “ Electing Joe Biden on a ticket that ’ s about unity , that ’ s about decency , bringing the states back together and re-entering the global world in a multilateral way , must be a good thing… it ’ s a reset moment.
” • Asked if there are lessons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour Party : “ The centre-left has been on the back foot across the western world… Of course we are comparing notes , talking to one another.
” • He listed : “ How do we defeat those with this populist tradition ?
How do you move forward against a backdrop of culture wars ?
How do you re-listen to voters ?
And how do you run effective , modern campaigns for the 21st century ?
” • He added : “ [ Labour ] wants to be a party for this whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s what we ’ ve seen in the US with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and of course we will seek to replicate that.
” • On links with the Democrat Party : “ I ’ ve got longstanding relationships with Democrats .
Most of my colleagues have who ’ ve been in parliament for a significant period .
We ’ re sister parties in a sense.
” • On his personal connections with Democrats : “ My friendship with former President Barack Obama is well documented , well known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Patrick Leahy , the Father of the House.
” • Asked if Labour has told the Democrats that Labour will now vote for a Brexit deal in parliament : “ I don ’ t think we ’ ve been discussing issues like Brexit , that is for the government to negotiate.
” • On the UK relationship with Biden : “ For Boris Johnson , it was foolish to put the Good Friday Agreement on the table in the way that he did when you know you ’ ve got an Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country.
” • On Boris Johnson ’ s past comments about Democrat figures : “ It was foolish to insult Barack Obama .
Foolish to insult Hillary Clinton .
All of those things we ’ ve reflected and discussed with our Democratic colleagues.
” • Pressed on the Democrats view on Labour supporting Brexit : “ They recognise that this was an intense debate here in the UK .
The decision has been made , we ’ re leaving the EU .
The Labour Party accepts that we ’ re leaving.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Biden as President : “ It would be very good for us to have a deal with the US but clearly Europe comes first .
47 % of our trade is with the EU and that deal has to be struck with them.
” • On supporting the government over stronger enforcement of Covid restrictions : “ I ’ d like to see the evidence , we mustn ’ t be too draconian… We ’ ll support them if it ’ s clear the infection rate isn ’ t coming down and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Trade Secretary Emily Thornberry discussed the US election and criticised the UK government for “ sucking up ” to Donald Trump even as the President continued to deny the results of the vote this week .
• On Trump refusing to accept the results : “ I don ’ t think anybody can be surprised .
I think it is very much the sort of pattern of behaviour that he indulges in and he has told us himself for some time that this is what he was going to do.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s very important that we speak with one voice on this .
And we ’ re quite clear that there ’ s been an election , there has been a huge turnout , all the votes have been counted and President Biden is President Biden.
” • On the UK relationship with Trump : “ The government had a choice when he was elected .
They could have spent their time holding his hand , sucking up to him and hoping to get some crumbs from the table , and how has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from that.
” • On the Tories and Trump : “ We have seen the way they never criticised , they have never said they disagreed with him .
Even during the election itself , we saw them being mealy-mouthed and not standing up to Trump.
” • On Trump and Johnson : “ There has been a general approach , a populist approach , from Boris Johnson that I think he has had in common with Donald Trump , which is why they have had such a close friendship.
” • On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have with Joe Biden somebody who does understand that we have to work together .
It ’ s not a question of America first , it ’ s a question of the world first.
” • On a US/UK trade deal : “ The reality is that getting an all-singing , all-dancing trade deal is something that takes many years and is quite complex and quite difficult to put together.
” • On whether she had spoken to Jeremy Corbyn since his suspension from the Labour Party : “ I haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably going to be seeing him today obviously as it ’ s Remembrance Sunday.
” • On her view on the disciplinary action : “ I am not expressing an opinion on the disciplinary process in regards to Jeremy because it has always been my firmly held view that it is not for politicians to make decisions on this front.
” • She added : “ The EHRC report has also specifically said that politicians should keep out on this and it should be done in an independent way , so , whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not going to express them on national television.
” • On whether she regretted serving in Corbyn ’ s shadow cabinet : “ I felt that it was a struggle but that we were going in the right direction .
The processes were taking too long to improve but they were getting better.
” • On political interference with the complaints process : “ I didn ’ t know the extent of the issues in terms of the interference… I didn ’ t know the extent of that because obviously , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Mark Drakeford also appeared on the programme .
He discussed the end of the Welsh ‘ firebreak ’ lockdown tomorrow and said the country would not return to a “ patchwork of local measures ” in the coming weeks .
• On the success of the lockdown : “ We said all along we won ’ t know the effect of the firebreak until beyond the firebreak period but early indications… tell us that people have done what we ’ ve asked of them.
” • On the rising numbers of Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable .
The people who were falling ill during the two weeks of the firebreak period were already infectious before the firebreak period began.
” • On the impact of the Welsh lockdown : “ It is only in the couple of weeks after the 9th of November that we will see the impact of the firebreak .
Then is when we hope to see numbers declining.
” • On whether Wales would return to local restrictions : “ We will not go back and rely on a patchwork of local measures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national set of rules that are clearer and I hope simpler , and therefore easier to follow.
” • On how the country will respond to local outbreaks : “ That does not mean , of course , that if there are local flare-ups that local action may not need to be taken .
But it will not be a reliance on entirely local measures.
” • On Christmas : “ The restrictions that people have had to live with are very difficult and demanding , everybody is tired and fatigued of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the Christmas period that is what we would want to do.
” • On how the UK could ease restrictions for Christmas time : “ It needs to be a common plan and a common approach , where the rules are the same – as much as we can make them – across the UK for that very special period.
” • He added : “ The only way to do that is for us to have that opportunity to meet and talk together .
We have been promised we will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope that the UK government is serious about this.
” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab argued this morning that there is a “ huge bedrock of underlying interests and values ” between the US and the UK , which mean Biden would “ have no greater ally and no more dependable friend than the UK ” .
Asked about reports that Biden dislikes the Prime Minister for his past comments on Obama and the UK government ’ s response to Black Lives Matter , Raab said : “ There will always be points of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary also declared that he would “ make no apology ” for “ treading very sensitively and carefully ” after he was criticised for a tweet that was seen to be sympathetic to Trump ’ s false claims of electoral fraud .

The Andrew Marr Show
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy discussed the 2020 US election this morning, describing it as a “reset moment” and telling viewers that the Labour Party is “comparing notes” with the Democratic Party after its success.
On the US 2020 election: “Electing Joe Biden on a ticket that’s about unity, that’s about decency, bringing the states back together and re-entering the global world in a multilateral way, must be a good thing… It’s a reset moment.”
Asked if there are lessons to learn from the result for the Labour Party: “The centre-left has been on the back foot across the western world… Of course we are comparing notes, talking to one another.”
He listed: “How do we defeat those with this populist tradition? How do you move forward against a backdrop of culture wars? How do you re-listen to voters? And how do you run effective, modern campaigns for the 21st century?”
He added: “[Labour] wants to be a party for this whole nation, not for just one tribe. That’s what we’ve seen in the US with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and of course we will seek to replicate that.”
On links with the Democrat Party: “I’ve got longstanding relationships with Democrats. Most of my colleagues have who’ve been in parliament for a significant period. We’re sister parties, in a sense.”
On his personal connections with Democrats: “My friendship with former President Barack Obama is well-documented, well-known, and I was speaking yesterday to Senator Patrick Leahy, the Father of the House.”
Asked whether Labour has told the Democrats that Labour will now support Brexit: “I don’t think we’ve been discussing issues like Brexit – that is for the government to negotiate.”
On the UK’s relationship with Biden: “For Boris Johnson, it was foolish to put the Good Friday Agreement on the table in the way that he did when you know you’ve got an Irish American who might become leader of his country.”
On Boris Johnson’s past comments about Democrat figures: “It was foolish to insult Barack Obama. Foolish to insult Hillary Clinton. All of those things we’ve reflected and discussed with our Democratic colleagues.”
Pressed on the Democrats’ view of Labour supporting Brexit: “They recognise that this was an intense debate here in the UK. The decision has been made, we’re leaving the EU. The Labour Party accepts that we’re leaving.”
Asked whether a deal is more likely with Biden as President: “It would be very good for us to have a deal with the US but clearly Europe comes first. 47% of our trade is with the EU, and that deal has to be struck with them.”
On supporting the government over stronger enforcement of Covid restrictions: “I’d like to see the evidence, we mustn’t be too draconian… We’ll support them if it’s clear the infection rate isn’t coming down and people are flouting the rules.”
#Marr asks Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy if there are lessons for the Labour Party to learn from Joe Biden’s victory#Election2020 https://t.co/R6BD26SeAM pic.twitter.com/jexyNqsf1I — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 8, 2020
Sophy Ridge on Sunday
Shadow International Trade Secretary Emily Thornberry discussed the US election and criticised the UK government for “sucking up” to Donald Trump even as the President continued to deny the results of the vote this week.
On Trump refusing to accept the results: “I don’t think anybody can be surprised. I think it is very much the sort of pattern of behaviour that he indulges in and he has told us himself for some time that this is what he was going to do.”
On the UK response: “It’s very important that we speak with one voice on this. And we’re quite clear that there’s been an election, there has been a huge turnout, all the votes have been counted and President Biden is President Biden.”
On the UK relationship with Trump: “The government had a choice when he was elected. They could have spent their time holding his hand, sucking up to him and hoping to get some crumbs from the table, and how has that worked? We have got nothing from that.”
On the Tories and Trump: “We have seen the way they never criticised, they have never said they disagreed with him. Even during the election itself, we saw them being mealy-mouthed and not standing up to Trump.”
On Trump and Johnson: “There has been a general approach, a populist approach, from Boris Johnson that I think he has had in common with Donald Trump, which is why they have had such a close friendship.”
On the incoming President: “Now we have with Joe Biden somebody who does understand that we have to work together. It’s not a question of America first, it’s a question of the world first.”
On a US/UK trade deal: “The reality is that getting an all-singing, all-dancing trade deal is something that takes many years and is quite complex and quite difficult to put together.”
On whether she had spoken to Jeremy Corbyn since his suspension from the Labour Party: “I haven’t spoken to Jeremy. I’m probably going to be seeing him today obviously as it’s Remembrance Sunday.”
On her view on the disciplinary action: “I am not expressing an opinion on the disciplinary process in regards to Jeremy because it has always been my firmly held view that it is not for politicians to make decisions on this front.”
She added: “The EHRC report has also specifically said that politicians should keep out on this and it should be done in an independent way, so, whatever my private views are, I am not going to express them on national television.”
On whether she regretted serving in Corbyn’s shadow cabinet: “I felt that it was a struggle but that we were going in the right direction. The processes were taking too long to improve but they were getting better.”
On political interference with the complaints process: “I didn’t know the extent of the issues in terms of the interference… I didn’t know the extent of that because obviously, I’m not on the NEC.”
“Donald Trump has not been a good thing for the international world” and “now we have with Joe Biden somebody who does understand that we need to work together” says shadow international trade secretary @EmilyThornberry Follow #Ridge live 👉 https://t.co/CWZwst9mC0 pic.twitter.com/DiO0j8V0q6 — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) November 8, 2020
First Minister Mark Drakeford also appeared on the programme. He discussed the end of the Welsh ‘firebreak’ lockdown tomorrow and said the country would not return to a “patchwork of local measures” in the coming weeks.
On the success of the lockdown: “We said all along we won’t know the effect of the firebreak until beyond the firebreak period but early indications… tell us that people have done what we’ve asked of them.”
On the rising numbers of Covid cases in Wales: “That was inevitable. The people who were falling ill during the two weeks of the firebreak period were already infectious before the firebreak period began.”
On the impact of the Welsh lockdown: “It is only in the couple of weeks after the 9th of November that we will see the impact of the firebreak. Then is when we hope to see numbers declining.”
On whether Wales would return to local restrictions: “We will not go back and rely on a patchwork of local measures, we are going to have a new national set of rules that are clearer and I hope simpler, and therefore easier to follow.”
On how the country will respond to local outbreaks: “That does not mean, of course, that if there are local flare-ups that local action may not need to be taken. But it will not be a reliance on entirely local measures.”
On Christmas: “The restrictions that people have had to live with are very difficult and demanding, everybody is tired and fatigued of coronavirus. If we could offer some respite over the Christmas period that is what we would want to do.”
On how the UK could ease restrictions for Christmas time: “It needs to be a common plan and a common approach, where the rules are the same – as much as we can make them – across the UK for that very special period.”
He added: “The only way to do that is for us to have that opportunity to meet and talk together. We have been promised we will have that opportunity this week. I really hope that the UK government is serious about this.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab argued this morning that there is a “huge bedrock of underlying interests and values” between the US and the UK, which mean Biden would “have no greater ally and no more dependable friend than the UK”.
Asked about reports that Biden dislikes the Prime Minister for his past comments on Obama and the UK government’s response to Black Lives Matter, Raab said: “There will always be points of tension in any relationship.”
The Foreign Secretary also declared that he would “make no apology” for “treading very sensitively and carefully” after he was criticised for a tweet that was seen to be sympathetic to Trump’s false claims of electoral fraud.


labourlist--2020-11-08--“We will never forget their sacrifice”: Starmer’s Remembrance Sunday message

Keir Starmer has described attending the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday as “ an honour ” while commemorating “ all those brave men and women who gave , and continue to give , so much to keep us safe ” .
After joining the wreath laying ceremony , the UK Labour Party leader tweeted : “ We will never forget their sacrifice.
” He released a video paying tribute to “ those who sacrificed so much in the fight for our freedom ” .
Below is the full text of Keir Starmer ’ s Remembrance Sunday message .
“ Today marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our whole nation remembers and honours those who sacrificed so much in the fight for our freedom .
“ And while on this Remembrance Sunday public commemorations have been scaled back and people will not be able to come together in person , I know that up and down the country – our friends , family and neighbours – will all be privately paying their respects .
“ 2020 has been a year of struggle and sacrifice and we know many challenges lie ahead .
But in these difficult times whenever we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always look with pride , not only to our wartime generations or those who are currently serving our nation at home and abroad , but to all our service men and women who throughout this pandemic have stood side by side with our key workers in the battle against this virus .
“ So on this special Remembrance Sunday where we mark 80 years since the battle of Britain and 75 years since the end of the Second World War , let us say thanks to all those who have served and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
”

Keir Starmer has described attending the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday as “an honour” while commemorating “all those brave men and women who gave, and continue to give, so much to keep us safe”.
After joining the wreath laying ceremony, the UK Labour Party leader tweeted: “We will never forget their sacrifice.” He released a video paying tribute to “those who sacrificed so much in the fight for our freedom”.
Today we remember those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.#RemembranceDay #RemembranceSunday pic.twitter.com/IHjOzm7bd5 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) November 8, 2020
Below is the full text of Keir Starmer’s Remembrance Sunday message.
“Today marks a special day, a day when our whole nation remembers and honours those who sacrificed so much in the fight for our freedom.
“And while on this Remembrance Sunday public commemorations have been scaled back and people will not be able to come together in person, I know that up and down the country – our friends, family and neighbours – will all be privately paying their respects.
“2020 has been a year of struggle and sacrifice and we know many challenges lie ahead. But in these difficult times whenever we are in need of inspiration, we can always look with pride, not only to our wartime generations or those who are currently serving our nation at home and abroad, but to all our service men and women who throughout this pandemic have stood side by side with our key workers in the battle against this virus.
“So on this special Remembrance Sunday where we mark 80 years since the battle of Britain and 75 years since the end of the Second World War, let us say thanks to all those who have served and all those who continue to serve this great country.”


labourlist--2020-11-09--WATCH: In conversation with… John Healey MP

Join us at 6pm on Tuesday , November 10th , for our latest “ In conversation with… ” online event @ @ @ @ @ and Labour ’ s Shadow Secretary of State for Defence John Healey .
If readers @ @ @ @ @ the policy brief held by Healey , which is the focus of the event , @ @ @ @ @ them to us in advance .
You will also be able to offer suggestions during @ @ @ @ @ page will refresh automatically to show the livestream below when the event starts at 6pm @ @ @ @ @ able to watch it directly on YouTube by clicking here .

Join us at 6pm on Tuesday, November 10th, for our latest “In conversation with…” online event featuring LabourList editor Sienna Rodgers and Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.
If readers have suggestions for questions about the policy brief held by Healey, which is the focus of the event, please feel free to email them to us in advance. You will also be able to offer suggestions during the live broadcast.
This page will refresh automatically to show the livestream below when the event starts at 6pm. You will also be able to watch it directly on YouTube by clicking here.


labourlist--2020-11-09--Lessons to be learned. Starmer draws parallels between Democrats and Labour

“ The Democrats ’ path to victory was paved by a broad coalition , ” Keir Starmer has written in The Guardian .
Arguing there are lessons to be learned , the Labour leader told readers that Joe Biden won back the trust of the American people with a focus on “ family , community and security ” .
Sound familiar ?
Starmer made similar points in his first ( virtual ) speech to Labour conference as leader .
He announced back in September that Labour would be a party of opportunity , family and security as he urged voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
It seems for the Labour leader the Democrat win has vindicated his plan to bridge the ‘ cultural values gap ’ between cosmopolitans and traditionalists , between Londoners and the ‘ Red Wall ’ , to build a broad coalition of voters to win in 2024 .
Bye bye Bingham ?
The Sunday Times has reported that vaccine tsar Kate Bingham spent £670,000 of taxpayer money on a team of boutique public relations consultants .
The vaccine taskforce chief , married to Tory minister Jesse Norman , already faced questions over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and for showing “ official sensitive ” government documents to US financiers at a $ 200-a-head conference .
Labour has slammed the “ huge sums of public money needlessly sprayed on spin doctors ” and Rachel Reeves highlighted that it “ doesn ’ t do much for public confidence at all that this is yet another close friend of the Conservative Party ” .
She has called for an investigation while Downing Street has pointed out that Bingham ’ s contract is up next month .
Marcus Rashford scores again .
The 23-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U-turn over holiday hunger .
After the Conservatives voted down a Labour motion to extend free school meals over the holidays ahead of half term last month , some some truly terrible Tory excuses followed for why we can ’ t feed starving children .
But Boris Johnson has now conceded defeat , and the Prime Minister phoned Rashford on Saturday to confirm he had changed his mind .
The government will now provide a package of £400m to support families , including a £170m ring-fenced fund distributed through councils for help with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be on the table for the government this afternoon .
The Lords will today debate the controversial internal market bill and the peers are expected to ditch the international law-breaking powers in the legislation .
Shadow Attorney General Lord Falconer this morning urged the government to “ stop and think ” and asked : “ What on earth is the point of making the UK an international pariah ?
” He highlighted that incoming US President Biden wants the UK to abide by the Northern Ireland protocol and the implications for future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be at all unusual for the upper chamber to reject government proposals – it has done so 42 times since the last general election .
That ’ s one to watch today .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

“The Democrats’ path to victory was paved by a broad coalition,” Keir Starmer has written in The Guardian. Arguing there are lessons to be learned, the Labour leader told readers that Joe Biden won back the trust of the American people with a focus on “family, community and security”. Sound familiar? Starmer made similar points in his first (virtual) speech to Labour conference as leader. He announced back in September that Labour would be a party of opportunity, family and security as he urged voters to “take another look at Labour”. It seems for the Labour leader the Democrat win has vindicated his plan to bridge the ‘cultural values gap’ between cosmopolitans and traditionalists, between Londoners and the ‘Red Wall’, to build a broad coalition of voters to win in 2024.
Bye bye Bingham? The Sunday Times has reported that vaccine tsar Kate Bingham spent £670,000 of taxpayer money on a team of boutique public relations consultants. The vaccine taskforce chief, married to Tory minister Jesse Norman, already faced questions over the launch of a biotechnology investment fund and for showing “official sensitive” government documents to US financiers at a $200-a-head conference. Labour has slammed the “huge sums of public money needlessly sprayed on spin doctors” and Rachel Reeves highlighted that it “doesn’t do much for public confidence at all that this is yet another close friend of the Conservative Party”. She has called for an investigation while Downing Street has pointed out that Bingham’s contract is up next month.
Marcus Rashford scores again. The 23-year-old footballer has forced the government into another U-turn over holiday hunger. After the Conservatives voted down a Labour motion to extend free school meals over the holidays ahead of half term last month, some some truly terrible Tory excuses followed for why we can’t feed starving children. But Boris Johnson has now conceded defeat, and the Prime Minister phoned Rashford on Saturday to confirm he had changed his mind. The government will now provide a package of £400m to support families, including a £170m ring-fenced fund distributed through councils for help with food and bills.
And another defeat could be on the table for the government this afternoon. The Lords will today debate the controversial internal market bill and the peers are expected to ditch the international law-breaking powers in the legislation. Shadow Attorney General Lord Falconer this morning urged the government to “stop and think” and asked: “What on earth is the point of making the UK an international pariah?” He highlighted that incoming US President Biden wants the UK to abide by the Northern Ireland protocol and the implications for future trade deal with the country. It would not be at all unusual for the upper chamber to reject government proposals – it has done so 42 times since the last general election. That’s one to watch today. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.