labourlist--2020-08-20--Labour must challenge the ‘Red Wall’ framing – or risk a ‘balancing the books’ trap

Under Ed Miliband , the Labour Party tied itself up in knots trying to sell social democratic policies to a country dominated by an austerity narrative .
This narrative was captured in the phrase ‘ balancing the books ’ , which placed the blame of the financial crisis on Labour ’ s public sector spending .
Sadly , the party did not challenge this argument and lost heavily in 2015 .
Just two years after that defeat , Labour managed to win 40 % of the vote on a platform that defied the economic nonsense of treating government spending like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tories have slowly abandoned their ‘ balancing the books ’ rhetoric , and the governing party is now borrowing vast amounts for the furlough scheme – proposed by the TUC and Labour – and of course indulging in their favourite pastime of giving away public money to whichever one of their pals asks for it .
Brexit gave way to a new set of rhetorical terms that fulfil the same function as ‘ balancing the books ’ .
The most prominent of these is the ‘ Red Wall ’ .
Coined by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is used to describe long-held ( and some not long-held ) Labour seats in the North of England and the Midlands that voted to leave the EU .
Clearly , there are questions to be asked about how and why these seats turned blue last year , and many answers have been offered – from Jeremy Corbyn being the devil to young people moving to cities and being replaced by retirees with austerity-insulated pensions .
These are important matters to discuss – and it is entirely possible to do so without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right .
What I want to consider here is the rhetorical importance of the term Red Wall , now and in the coming years .
We have seen it used not simply to refer to a set of constituencies but to tell a very particular story about these regions .
When the term ‘ Red Wall voter ’ is invoked by Tories and their client journalists , it usually refers to an imagined socially conservative person , normally a man , who either does or previously did a working-class job .
The ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the most .
And this man doesn ’ t simply dislike Corbyn – instead , he views the Labour Party as inherently out of touch with their stance on any number of issues that coincidentally animate the reactionary press : racism , LGBT+ issues , gender equality , free speech , migration , sex on TV , the failure to teach ‘ proper British history ’ , the IRA , the renaming of the ‘ Marathon ’ bar and the metric system , among others .
In the mouths of the Tories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reactionary as a ConservativeHome article .
No doubt such former Labour voters exist , but it is quite a leap to describe these views as dominant across entire swathes of the country .
The ‘ Red Wall ’ often wishes a world into being where social and economic progress is basically incompatible with English identity .
Used in this way , the term can be applied to shut down any progressive argument made by Labour representatives and portray it as ‘ out of touch ’ .
Dawn Butler recently recounted how she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a story that is emblematic of the treatment of Black people in the UK .
Amid a slew of conspiracy theory responses , former Tory advisor Tim Montgomerie identified this act as exactly the sort of thing that would not go down well in the Red Wall .
The existence of racialised policing is well-evidenced , but the Red Wall framing was used to say that even discussing this issue proves that Labour is distant from ‘ the people ’ .
Butler rightly pushed back against the absurd notion that whole regions are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking about said policing .
Her example needs to be followed more generally .
Keir Starmer ’ s leadership has so far entailed a deafening silence on social issues – the Black Lives Matter movement , trans rights , immigration – that we are told would alienate the Red Wall voter .
Allegedly progressive newspapers such as The Guardian also lean into the Red Wall framing .
A recent article that interviewed three people in Leigh presented recent conspiracy theories about migrants spreading disease as the voice of the working class in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand Labour ’ s broad voting coalition , the term is increasingly a byword for varying racist or bigoted views – and as a reason for not addressing social and cultural issues .
If Labour can not push back against this framing , the party risks falling into a ‘ balancing the books ’ trap .
Any attempt to talk about progressive causes will be delegitimised for not speaking to the imagined Red Wall .
Labour must work to win back these constituencies , but it won ’ t do so by being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will only become more salient in the coming years .
In capitulating to the Red Wall narrative , Labour not only risks rhetorical defeat but further electoral defeat , too .
The irony is that the Tories are not treating people ’ s views here as fixed : the narrative seeks to construct an identity by developing and encouraging increasingly extreme right-wing views within a public space .
Labour staying silent won ’ t win over people in those seats by default – it will simply help the Tories continue to build a @ @ @ @ @ @

Under Ed Miliband, the Labour Party tied itself up in knots trying to sell social democratic policies to a country dominated by an austerity narrative. This narrative was captured in the phrase ‘balancing the books’, which placed the blame of the financial crisis on Labour’s public sector spending. Sadly, the party did not challenge this argument and lost heavily in 2015. Just two years after that defeat, Labour managed to win 40% of the vote on a platform that defied the economic nonsense of treating government spending like a household budget. Since then, the Tories have slowly abandoned their ‘balancing the books’ rhetoric, and the governing party is now borrowing vast amounts for the furlough scheme – proposed by the TUC and Labour – and of course indulging in their favourite pastime of giving away public money to whichever one of their pals asks for it.
Brexit gave way to a new set of rhetorical terms that fulfil the same function as ‘balancing the books’. The most prominent of these is the ‘Red Wall’. Coined by a Tory pollster in the 2019 election, it is used to describe long-held (and some not long-held) Labour seats in the North of England and the Midlands that voted to leave the EU. Clearly, there are questions to be asked about how and why these seats turned blue last year, and many answers have been offered – from Jeremy Corbyn being the devil to young people moving to cities and being replaced by retirees with austerity-insulated pensions. These are important matters to discuss – and it is entirely possible to do so without using the favoured framing of the political right.
What I want to consider here is the rhetorical importance of the term Red Wall, now and in the coming years. We have seen it used not simply to refer to a set of constituencies but to tell a very particular story about these regions. When the term ‘Red Wall voter’ is invoked by Tories and their client journalists, it usually refers to an imagined socially conservative person, normally a man, who either does or previously did a working-class job. The ‘former miner’ is the one they like the most. And this man doesn’t simply dislike Corbyn – instead, he views the Labour Party as inherently out of touch with their stance on any number of issues that coincidentally animate the reactionary press: racism, LGBT+ issues, gender equality, free speech, migration, sex on TV, the failure to teach ‘proper British history’, the IRA, the renaming of the ‘Marathon’ bar and the metric system, among others.
In the mouths of the Tories, the Red Wall voter is as reactionary as a ConservativeHome article. No doubt such former Labour voters exist, but it is quite a leap to describe these views as dominant across entire swathes of the country. The ‘Red Wall’ often wishes a world into being where social and economic progress is basically incompatible with English identity. Used in this way, the term can be applied to shut down any progressive argument made by Labour representatives and portray it as ‘out of touch’. Dawn Butler recently recounted how she was seemingly racially profiled by the police, a story that is emblematic of the treatment of Black people in the UK. Amid a slew of conspiracy theory responses, former Tory advisor Tim Montgomerie identified this act as exactly the sort of thing that would not go down well in the Red Wall. The existence of racialised policing is well-evidenced, but the Red Wall framing was used to say that even discussing this issue proves that Labour is distant from ‘the people’.
Butler rightly pushed back against the absurd notion that whole regions are supportive of racist policing or against politicians talking about said policing. Her example needs to be followed more generally. Keir Starmer’s leadership has so far entailed a deafening silence on social issues – the Black Lives Matter movement, trans rights, immigration – that we are told would alienate the Red Wall voter. Allegedly progressive newspapers such as The Guardian also lean into the Red Wall framing. A recent article that interviewed three people in Leigh presented recent conspiracy theories about migrants spreading disease as the voice of the working class in the Red Wall. Rather being used to understand Labour’s broad voting coalition, the term is increasingly a byword for varying racist or bigoted views – and as a reason for not addressing social and cultural issues.
If Labour cannot push back against this framing, the party risks falling into a ‘balancing the books’ trap. Any attempt to talk about progressive causes will be delegitimised for not speaking to the imagined Red Wall. Labour must work to win back these constituencies, but it won’t do so by being timid on issues like migration, which will only become more salient in the coming years. In capitulating to the Red Wall narrative, Labour not only risks rhetorical defeat but further electoral defeat, too. The irony is that the Tories are not treating people’s views here as fixed: the narrative seeks to construct an identity by developing and encouraging increasingly extreme right-wing views within a public space. Labour staying silent won’t win over people in those seats by default – it will simply help the Tories continue to build a solid ‘Blue Wall’.


labourlist--2020-08-21--Tsunami of evictions after ban lifts could overwhelm courts, Labour warns

Labour has warned the government today that the lifting of the eviction ban – due on Sunday – risks English County Courts being overwhelmed as a “ tsunami of cases ” are unleashed .
The opposition party is calling for the coronavirus evictions ban to be extended , and for the government to enact the Queen ’ s Speech promise to end Section 21 ‘ no fault ’ evictions .
Although emergency ‘ Nightingale Courts ’ are being built , progress is “ slow ” according to Labour – and almost 250,000 potential eviction proceedings could soon add to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a new letter by Labour ’ s David Lammy , Thangam Debbonaire and Karl Turner , sent to Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland .
Commenting on the letter , legal aid shadow minister Turner said : “ It is utterly jaw-dropping that the government have sat on their hands until just days before a self-made homelessness crisis .
“ Pushing ahead with the end of the evictions ban risks unleashing a tsunami of cases which could leave tens of thousands of people homeless and overwhelm our courts .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act now , the complete absence of legal advice in huge swathes of the country will leave tenants at risk of homelessness .
“ Ministers ’ promises that the courts will take account of the impact of Covid on tenants amount to nothing , as despite having five months to do so , they have not changed the law on S.21 or ground 8 , so judges will have no choice but to evict in the middle of a global pandemic , regardless of the circumstances.
” There are rumours that the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evictions ban , or a similar intervention , but campaigners are expected to criticise the last-minute timing of the move .
Below is the full text of the letter to Robert Buckland .
As you know , the Secretary of State for Housing , Communities and Local Government , Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP , promised in March that “ no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home ” .
Labour supports this aim , and as such welcomed the extension of a stay on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to address the impending homelessness crisis , Sunday 23rd August marks the resumption of court actions and the breaking of that promise .
Pushing ahead with the end of the evictions ban risks unleashing a tsunami of cases which could leave tens of thousands of people homeless and overwhelm our courts .
Beyond the widely highlighted impact on those who rent their home , this decision has the potential to overwhelm our already over-stretched justice system .
The housing charity Shelter has estimated that almost a quarter of a million renters face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial hardship incurred as a result of the Covid-19 crisis .
Efforts to establish emergency ‘ Nightingale ’ Courts notwithstanding , you will be well aware that the system can not cope with such an overwhelming number of new cases .
In addition to the strain on court capacity , Labour has serious concerns regarding access to justice for tenants .
As you know , analysis from the Law Society shows that almost 40 percent of people in England & Wales live in a local authority with no housing legal aid providers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not provide housing legal aid services .
What provisions have been put in place to ensure adequate , functioning duty solicitor schemes at all County Courts hearing possession proceedings ?
This government have had five months since the start of the pandemic to fix the law surrounding s.21 ‘ no fault ’ evictions , as pledged in the Queen ’ s Speech , and ground 8 rent arrears claims .
However , as highlighted by organisations from the Master of the Rolls ’ working group , none of the procedural changes so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ground 8 are mandatory grounds for repossession , leaving judges without discretion .
In practice , judges will be unable to consider the impact of Covid-19 upon tenants .
The situation is urgent , there is no more opportunity for delay .
Without the requisite legal advice provision , court capacity , and judicial discretion , the resumption of eviction proceedings will be disastrous for tenants and the justice system alike .
The ban must therefore be extended .
We look forward to your swift reply .
Rt Hon David Lammy MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State for Justice Thangam Debbonaire MP , Shadow Secretary of State for Housing Karl Turner MP , Shadow Minister for Legal Aid CC : Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP , Secretary of State for Housing , Communities and Local Government

Labour has warned the government today that the lifting of the eviction ban – due on Sunday – risks English County Courts being overwhelmed as a “tsunami of cases” are unleashed.
The opposition party is calling for the coronavirus evictions ban to be extended, and for the government to enact the Queen’s Speech promise to end Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.
Although emergency ‘Nightingale Courts’ are being built, progress is “slow” according to Labour – and almost 250,000 potential eviction proceedings could soon add to the backlog.
The alarm has been raised in a new letter by Labour’s David Lammy, Thangam Debbonaire and Karl Turner, sent to Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland.
Commenting on the letter, legal aid shadow minister Turner said: “It is utterly jaw-dropping that the government have sat on their hands until just days before a self-made homelessness crisis.
“Pushing ahead with the end of the evictions ban risks unleashing a tsunami of cases which could leave tens of thousands of people homeless and overwhelm our courts.
“If the government do not change course and act now, the complete absence of legal advice in huge swathes of the country will leave tenants at risk of homelessness.
“Ministers’ promises that the courts will take account of the impact of Covid on tenants amount to nothing, as despite having five months to do so, they have not changed the law on S.21 or ground 8, so judges will have no choice but to evict in the middle of a global pandemic, regardless of the circumstances.”
There are rumours that the UK government will imminently announce an extension to evictions ban, or a similar intervention, but campaigners are expected to criticise the last-minute timing of the move.
Below is the full text of the letter to Robert Buckland.
Dear Lord Chancellor,
As you know, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, promised in March that “no renter who has lost income due to coronavirus will be forced out of their home”. Labour supports this aim, and as such welcomed the extension of a stay on eviction proceedings in June. Despite ample opportunity to address the impending homelessness crisis, Sunday 23rd August marks the resumption of court actions and the breaking of that promise.
Pushing ahead with the end of the evictions ban risks unleashing a tsunami of cases which could leave tens of thousands of people homeless and overwhelm our courts. Beyond the widely highlighted impact on those who rent their home, this decision has the potential to overwhelm our already over-stretched justice system. The housing charity Shelter has estimated that almost a quarter of a million renters face possession proceedings, many directly due to financial hardship incurred as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Efforts to establish emergency ‘Nightingale’ Courts notwithstanding, you will be well aware that the system cannot cope with such an overwhelming number of new cases.
In addition to the strain on court capacity, Labour has serious concerns regarding access to justice for tenants. As you know, analysis from the Law Society shows that almost 40 percent of people in England & Wales live in a local authority with no housing legal aid providers, whilst over half of all local authorities do not provide housing legal aid services. What provisions have been put in place to ensure adequate, functioning duty solicitor schemes at all County Courts hearing possession proceedings?
This government have had five months since the start of the pandemic to fix the law surrounding s.21 ‘no fault’ evictions, as pledged in the Queen’s Speech, and ground 8 rent arrears claims. However, as highlighted by organisations from the Master of the Rolls’ working group, none of the procedural changes so far introduced change the fact that s.21 and ground 8 are mandatory grounds for repossession, leaving judges without discretion. In practice, judges will be unable to consider the impact of Covid-19 upon tenants.
The situation is urgent, there is no more opportunity for delay. Without the requisite legal advice provision, court capacity, and judicial discretion, the resumption of eviction proceedings will be disastrous for tenants and the justice system alike. The ban must therefore be extended. We look forward to your swift reply.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Shadow Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Thangam Debbonaire MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing
Karl Turner MP, Shadow Minister for Legal Aid
CC: Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government


labourlist--2020-08-21--Leonard launches vision for Scottish Green New Deal to create 130,000 jobs

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has used a keynote speech in Glasgow this morning to launch his vision for a Scottish Green New Deal that would create 130,000 new jobs .
The announcement follows work by economist Laurie Macfarlane on the party ’ s plans for a Green New Deal , which was commissioned by Leonard earlier this year .
Speaking today , the Scottish Labour leader said : “ In Scotland we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources .
We also have the will to change and to make things better .
“ We must bring together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , harnessing all our natural resources , all our workforce skills , and all our ambition to create a greener better future for us all.
” • build 12,000 council homes each year to the highest energy efficiency standards • establish a new Land and Communities Development Agency to employ and train thousands of new workers • improve all of Scotland ’ s homes , to reach at least Energy Performance Certificate C energy efficiency standard by 2030 , and be zero-carbon by 2045 • expand Scotland ’ s bus network by investing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ domestic manufacturers As well as the green economic plan , Leonard urged the SNP government to introduce a “ full-time , well-paid jobs guarantee ” and a “ ban on evictions for the remainder of this parliament ” .
He also listed several pieces of legislation proposed by Labour MSPs that the party would like to see the SNP support : • Elaine Smith ’ s bill to enshrine the right to food in law The Scottish Labour leader said it was time for a Community Wealth Building Act , which would “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public procurement to boost local economies , not big corporations ” .
The speech represents an effort by Labour in Scotland to broaden the terms of the upcoming Holyrood elections , which are otherwise set to be dominated by debates over Scottish independence .
The party has recently promoted new research by the Scottish Fabians that showed 52 % of Scottish voters saying the issue of independence “ distracts ” from other issues .
Leonard ’ s speech , which also criticised the Scottish government over its care homes crisis , concluded : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will emerge stronger from this pandemic .
And I hope that we do .
“ But I say that we must never ever forget those wonderful friends and those deeply missed relatives who we have lost over the last six months .
“ It is to their memory , it is in their name , that we fight for this better future for Scotland .
That is our duty .
That is the call of these times to us .
Let us answer that call .
And let us rise to that challenge.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard Leonard ’ s speech .
When future generations look back on 2020 , they will look back on a defining year in Scotland ’ s history .
A global pandemic .
The beginning of an economic crisis without parallel .
The spectre of mass unemployment levels of government intervention in Scotland ’ s economy unprecedented in peace time .
But a government that has failed our most vulnerable older people living in care homes .
And a government forced to fundamentally re-consider the exam system , stalling in the task , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U-turn to right the government ’ s wrong .
At the start of this year , I said that in 2020 we would face a choice : whether we broaden our horizons , or narrow them .
Today I am going to set out , not just how we should broaden our horizons .
I am going to set out why we must broaden our horizons .
In the past six months , we have seen governments take steps that they would have dismissed out of hand a year ago .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in areas that many politicians previously would not have touched with a bargepole .
And all the time we hear those politicians say that they are doing things differently .
But there is still far too much that has stayed the same .
And even where changes have been made , the ground is already being prepared to return to the same old failed normal .
And those same politicians still rely on the same rigid doctrines and outdated practices which left us unprepared for the public health crisis , unprepared for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis .
So today I am issuing a warning to Scotland ’ s political establishment .
Your old ways were never the answer .
But the need to break with them is more urgent now than ever .
It is time to fight for Scotland ’ s future .
And that is the fight that I will lead Scottish Labour into the 2021 elections to win .
The fight for a fairer Scotland , a greener Scotland , a better Scotland .
Before I set out the changes we need to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address something which is hugely personal to me , and to many of you .
Last weekend , thanks to an investigation by the Sunday Post , we learned for the first time the shocking news that hospital patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 were discharged to care homes .
And we know the lived experience of people in care homes .
Loved ones living in isolation .
Families unable to visit them for weeks , sometimes months , desperate to see them .
And so for some unable to say even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final hug , a final kiss , a precious time , a time that families will never get back .
We know the pain because this is the example of many families .
And it is the example of my own family .
When I first spoke about my uncle Ralph ’ s death in a care home , I received many messages of sympathy .
But I also received messages attacking me for mentioning his death – because he had died in a care home in England .
I wish it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with relatives in residential care had had a better experience .
I wish care homes residents in Scotland had been better protected during this crisis .
But we know that while only 0.7 % of the population live in our care homes , almost 50 % of all Covid 19 deaths have been in care homes .
In fact the situation is so bad that the Scottish Human Rights Commission had to call for the future Covid-19 public inquiry to investigate whether the fundamental human right to life of residents has been violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this .
And the First Minister has now conceded it .
But we need to go further .
So that those who knowingly decided to transfer patients with Covid-19 to care homes , and those who knowingly took the decision to transfer patients to care homes in the full and certain knowledge that there was Covid-19 present , must face justice if necessary in a court of law .
We know that families are already considering bringing about prosecutions .
And we will be on the side of those families in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accept once and for all that our fragmented care system is broken .
That the profit motive and the shareholder dividend should have no place in it , in my view that means we must establish a National Care Service , with national standards for service users and staff .
It means a new care service that can create 25,000 quality jobs – building a sustainable workforce that can care for our ageing population .
Because never again can our care service be treated by government as a poor relation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about care and restore dignity to our care system .
Never again can 15 minute visits be an acceptable standard of home care .
Never again can precarious employment contracts mean a continued rotation of home carers .
And never again can those working people who keep our care service running be left to languish on poverty pay .
The way we value our older citizens says a lot about the kind of society that we are .
And for Scottish Labour , a National Care Service that puts the dignity of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a powerful expression of the new society , the fair economy , the post-Covid Scotland that we must create .
Over the past six months , people across Scotland have got to know their neighbours many for the first time .
Communities have come together to provide a helping hand to those in need .
But too many families have seen changes for the worse .
A deepening of poverty , a rise in inequality .
Those already in debt plunged even further into misery and hardship .
Those with limited personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and so across the board poverty and indebtedness up , with new anxieties and new fear .
Add to this that we are also on the brink of a massive rise in unemployment , we are witnessing the potential collapse of town centres , all around us night-time economies in danger of going bust , youth unemployment at levels not witnessed for decades , and so for many and little wonder that a feeling of uneasiness persists across the country .
Boris Johnson ’ s government must allow for flexibility in extending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As too many people are having sleepless nights in fear of not having a job or a business to go to .
So this pandemic is not just a public health danger that takes the form of a physical threat but it takes the form of a mental health threat too .
We know that the pandemic has had an adverse and disproportionate impact on women .
Unemployment among women in Scotland has increased by almost half in the past year .
Which is why any Scottish Jobs Guarantee Scheme should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to other people of working age disadvantaged by the economic lockdown .
It must also offer more than the part-time , low-paid and short-term jobs and training that the Tory government ’ s Kickstart scheme promises .
Scotland needs a full-time , well-paid Jobs Guarantee that will equip people with skills that they can use for the rest of their working lives .
And if the SNP government is genuinely interested in developing such a quality Jobs Guarantee Scheme , we will work with them to deliver it , but that must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least the real Living Wage .
And the urgent introduction of a quality Scottish Jobs Guarantee Scheme must be part of a Post Covid alternative Programme for Government .
And there are a few other radical steps I would like to see .
Make no mistake , jobs will be critical .
Jobs must be the economic priority .
Job Guarantees , Job Retention and Job creation .
As thousands of people in Scotland lose their jobs , and as debts rise many will fall into rent arrears .
But the SNP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delayed them .
Which is why today I am calling on the Scottish government to introduce a ban on evictions for the remainder of this parliament .
And I am also calling again on the SNP government to re-consider its opposition to Pauline McNeill ’ s Fair Rents Bill .
They should ask themselves if continuing to join forces with the Tories to block the Bill from making it on to the statute book really puts them on the right side of history .
Daniel Johnson ’ s Bill to protect retail workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but its necessity has been brought into sharp relief by the experience of shop workers during this pandemic .
It should be in the Programme for Government .
Period poverty will increase too – making Monica Lennon ’ s Bill to eradicate it truly transformational .
And so truly a priority for the Parliament to use its powers to pass this year .
And while I am on the subject of bills , we need a parliament focused on the job in hand that ’ s why Neil Findlay ’ s double jobbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians who are on their side , not someone more interested in catching footballers offside .
We know as well that we are seeing more families slide into food poverty .
Which makes Elaine Smith ’ s Bill to enshrine the right to food in law all the more important .
And today I am calling for the Programme for Government next month to contain a commitment to bring forward the Scottish Child Payment of £10 per child per week sooner than February .
We think that the time has also come for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stimulate more local initiatives like the one launched this year in North Ayrshire .
So that we start to use public procurement to boost local economies , not big corporations .
So that we support worker ownership and co-operatives as a viable option to re-float businesses as we come out of lockdown .
Because why on earth shouldn ’ t the people who create the wealth own the wealth that they create ?
It would mean greater community ownership of land as well because land reform remains an important chapter of unfinished business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wealth building approach to reduce inequality .
Spread democracy and to reinvest in local communities and local people .
That is what is needed .
It is an economy that has to be re-imagined with a renewed emphasis on investing in and so diversifying our manufacturing base and the skills of our people .
As the climate and ecological crisis continues to escalate , 2020 must also mark a turning point in the direction of Scotland ’ s economy and its environmental impact .
We can not afford to return to business as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovery must focus on tackling the economic crisis and the climate crisis at the same time .
That is why , earlier this year , I asked the economist Laurie Macfarlane to draw up a report with recommendations for a Scottish Labour Green New Deal .
In Scotland we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources .
We also have the will to change and to make things better .
So we must bring together all sectors and sections of our society , harnessing all our natural resources , all our workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a greener better future for us all .
Scotland has a housing crisis which stretches back before the pandemic .
Too many people are stuck on never ending housing waiting lists , losing hope by the day , too many young people with no prospect of having their own home outside of the private rental market , and too many children going to sleep at night in damp and overcrowded accommodation .
So , we will build 12,000 council homes each year , to the highest energy efficiency standards .
And to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new Land and Communities Development Agency to employ and train thousands of new workers .
We will improve all of Scotland ’ s homes , to reach at least Energy Performance Certificate C energy efficiency standard by 2030 , and be zero-carbon by 2045 .
A safe , warm , affordable home should be the human right of every person , and our homes plan will help to make that right a reality in Scotland .
We should also set a target for expanding Scotland ’ s domestic renewable energy production to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs by 2030 .
This will ensure that we are ready for future increases in demand and can be a net exporter to the rest of the UK .
But I have always been clear that when reviewing energy , we must ensure there is a Just Transition for workers and communities .
To do this we must establish a £500m Just Transition Fund to assist workers and businesses with the realities of transition .
And we must create a new Scottish National Energy Development Agency to coordinate the development of renewable energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we get the jobs dividend here .
Working with experts such as Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage and learning from the world leading work at Heriot Watt University , we must focus on carbon capture , maximising Scotland ’ s potential to become a European leader in CO2 management with a state owned carbon capture company .
But we can ’ t just use up our natural resources , we must replenish and look after them too .
That ’ s why we must have a major reforestation plan and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the next quarter of a century .
To do this we must employ and train a new workforce dedicated to restoring Scotland ’ s natural environment and meeting our climate commitments .
Just yesterday , ADL in Falkirk announced 160 job cuts .
At the very point when a modern moving Scotland needs a modern public transport system these jobs are at risk .
So we must expand Scotland ’ s bus network by investing £100m in buying new electric buses from domestic manufacturers .
I want to also reaffirm Scottish Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the over 60s bus pass , but to provide free bus passes for the under 25s , with the ultimate ambition to expand this to everyone of all ages .
We know that encouraging the habit of using public transport when people are young is more likely to result in a lifelong habit of public transport use – reducing future car miles and emissions .
However , we must also understand that some people will still need and want to drive , so to ensure this can be done in a more environmentally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to invest £200m in rolling out electric vehicle charging points .
Housing , energy , infrastructure , environmental restoration , and transport , our bold plans would create in total up to 131,000 new jobs .
With careful planning involving businesses , trade unions and government and the right investment , we can create sustainable jobs in all parts of the country , staving off the imminent and real threat of mass unemployment .
We can retain jobs , guarantee jobs , we can create jobs .
We can move away from low-paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors of the future ” such as those that are necessary to decarbonise the economy .
Not only will this create apprenticeships and jobs for our young people , but it will provide retraining opportunities for all working people who have the skills and experience to help build the Scotland of the future .
And people will say , how will you pay for this ?
To them I say the Scottish Parliament needs more borrowing powers to provide the investment that is required now .
And as one of our post Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ £800m per year from the current EU contribution to the Scottish Parliament ’ s budget , in addition to Barnett formula funding .
And lastly we must draw down on the benefit of being part of a stable and credible monetary union .
We are backing the IMF ’ s call for countries with ‘ fiscal space ’ to run deficits to promote growth .
THE OBR reported last month , “ One silver lining to the current fiscal cloud is that it remains relatively cheap for the government to borrow – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So my call today is that Boris Johnson ’ s government must unleash the monetary fire power to stimulate Scotland ’ s economy .
In 2020 we have seen the need for a brighter vision of the future based on communities united , and as we look to the next Programme for Government .
We believe that it is the task , that it is the responsibility , not just of this current Parliament and this current Government but of the next Parliament and the next Scottish Government , to build a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy on a different path .
To make full employment a central goal of public policy .
To put people and planet first .
We can not just talk about Scotland ’ s future : it ’ s time to fight for Scotland ’ s future .
Let me end with this final thought .
We are regularly told that we will emerge stronger from this pandemic .
And I hope that we do .
But I say that we must never ever forget those wonderful friends and those deeply missed relatives who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months .
It is to their memory , it is in their name , that we fight for this better future for Scotland .
That is our duty .
That is the call of these times to us .
Let us answer that call .
And let us rise to that challenge .

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has used a keynote speech in Glasgow this morning to launch his vision for a Scottish Green New Deal that would create 130,000 new jobs.
The announcement follows work by economist Laurie Macfarlane on the party’s plans for a Green New Deal, which was commissioned by Leonard earlier this year.
Speaking today, the Scottish Labour leader said: “In Scotland we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. We also have the will to change and to make things better.
“We must bring together all sectors and sections of our society, harnessing all our natural resources, all our workforce skills, and all our ambition to create a greener better future for us all.”
He outlined specific measures, including commitments to:
build 12,000 council homes each year to the highest energy efficiency standards
establish a new Land and Communities Development Agency to employ and train thousands of new workers
improve all of Scotland’s homes, to reach at least Energy Performance Certificate C energy efficiency standard by 2030, and be zero-carbon by 2045
establish a £500m Just Transition Fund
expand Scotland’s bus network by investing £100m in buying new electric buses from domestic manufacturers
invest £200m in rolling out electric vehicle charging points
As well as the green economic plan, Leonard urged the SNP government to introduce a “full-time, well-paid jobs guarantee” and a “ban on evictions for the remainder of this parliament”.
He also listed several pieces of legislation proposed by Labour MSPs that the party would like to see the SNP support:
Pauline McNeill’s fair rents bill
Daniel Johnson’s bill to protect retail workers
Monica Lennon’s bill to eradicate period poverty
Neil Findlay’s bill on “double jobbing” politicians
Elaine Smith’s bill to enshrine the right to food in law
The Scottish Labour leader said it was time for a Community Wealth Building Act, which would “stimulate local initiatives” and “use public procurement to boost local economies, not big corporations”.
The speech represents an effort by Labour in Scotland to broaden the terms of the upcoming Holyrood elections, which are otherwise set to be dominated by debates over Scottish independence.
The party has recently promoted new research by the Scottish Fabians that showed 52% of Scottish voters saying the issue of independence “distracts” from other issues.
Leonard’s speech, which also criticised the Scottish government over its care homes crisis, concluded: “We are regularly told that we will emerge stronger from this pandemic. And I hope that we do.
“But I say that we must never ever forget those wonderful friends and those deeply missed relatives who we have lost over the last six months.
“It is to their memory, it is in their name, that we fight for this better future for Scotland. That is our duty. That is the call of these times to us. Let us answer that call. And let us rise to that challenge.”
Below is the full text of Richard Leonard’s speech.
When future generations look back on 2020, they will look back on a defining year in Scotland’s history. A global pandemic. The beginning of an economic crisis without parallel. The spectre of mass unemployment levels of government intervention in Scotland’s economy unprecedented in peace time.
But a government that has failed our most vulnerable older people living in care homes. And a government forced to fundamentally re-consider the exam system, stalling in the task, and our school students rising up and securing a U-turn to right the government’s wrong.
At the start of this year, I said that in 2020 we would face a choice: whether we broaden our horizons, or narrow them. Today I am going to set out, not just how we should broaden our horizons. I am going to set out why we must broaden our horizons.
In the past six months, we have seen governments take steps that they would have dismissed out of hand a year ago. We have witnessed a new willingness to intervene in areas that many politicians previously would not have touched with a bargepole.
And all the time we hear those politicians say that they are doing things differently. But there is still far too much that has stayed the same. And even where changes have been made, the ground is already being prepared to return to the same old failed normal.
And those same politicians still rely on the same rigid doctrines and outdated practices which left us unprepared for the public health crisis, unprepared for the education crisis, and unprepared for the economic crisis.
So today I am issuing a warning to Scotland’s political establishment. Your old ways were never the answer. But the need to break with them is more urgent now than ever. It is time to fight for Scotland’s future.
And that is the fight that I will lead Scottish Labour into the 2021 elections to win. The fight for a fairer Scotland, a greener Scotland, a better Scotland.
Before I set out the changes we need to make to our economy, I want to address something which is hugely personal to me, and to many of you. Last weekend, thanks to an investigation by the Sunday Post, we learned for the first time the shocking news that hospital patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 were discharged to care homes.
And we know the lived experience of people in care homes. Loved ones living in isolation. Families unable to visit them for weeks, sometimes months, desperate to see them.
And so for some unable to say even a final farewell to them, a final hug, a final kiss, a precious time, a time that families will never get back. We know the pain because this is the example of many families.
And it is the example of my own family. When I first spoke about my uncle Ralph’s death in a care home, I received many messages of sympathy. But I also received messages attacking me for mentioning his death – because he had died in a care home in England.
I wish it was the case that here in Scotland families with relatives in residential care had had a better experience. I wish care homes residents in Scotland had been better protected during this crisis.
But we know that while only 0.7% of the population live in our care homes, almost 50% of all Covid 19 deaths have been in care homes. In fact the situation is so bad that the Scottish Human Rights Commission had to call for the future Covid-19 public inquiry to investigate whether the fundamental human right to life of residents has been violated.
For two months, I pushed for this. And the First Minister has now conceded it. But we need to go further. So that those who knowingly decided to transfer patients with Covid-19 to care homes, and those who knowingly took the decision to transfer patients to care homes in the full and certain knowledge that there was Covid-19 present, must face justice if necessary in a court of law.
We know that families are already considering bringing about prosecutions. And we will be on the side of those families in their pursuit of justice.
It is time to accept once and for all that our fragmented care system is broken. That the profit motive and the shareholder dividend should have no place in it, in my view that means we must establish a National Care Service, with national standards for service users and staff.
It means a new care service that can create 25,000 quality jobs – building a sustainable workforce that can care for our ageing population.
Because never again can our care service be treated by government as a poor relation of the NHS. It is time to care about care and restore dignity to our care system.
Never again can 15 minute visits be an acceptable standard of home care. Never again can precarious employment contracts mean a continued rotation of home carers. And never again can those working people who keep our care service running be left to languish on poverty pay.
The way we value our older citizens says a lot about the kind of society that we are. And for Scottish Labour, a National Care Service that puts the dignity of our elderly at the heart of all decisions is a powerful expression of the new society, the fair economy, the post-Covid Scotland that we must create.
Over the past six months, people across Scotland have got to know their neighbours many for the first time. Communities have come together to provide a helping hand to those in need.
But too many families have seen changes for the worse. A deepening of poverty, a rise in inequality.
Those already in debt plunged even further into misery and hardship. Those with limited personal savings have seen them wiped out, and so across the board poverty and indebtedness up, with new anxieties and new fear.
Add to this that we are also on the brink of a massive rise in unemployment, we are witnessing the potential collapse of town centres, all around us night-time economies in danger of going bust, youth unemployment at levels not witnessed for decades, and so for many and little wonder that a feeling of uneasiness persists across the country.
Boris Johnson’s government must allow for flexibility in extending the furlough scheme in certain sectors and areas.
As too many people are having sleepless nights in fear of not having a job or a business to go to. So this pandemic is not just a public health danger that takes the form of a physical threat but it takes the form of a mental health threat too.
We know that the pandemic has had an adverse and disproportionate impact on women. Unemployment among women in Scotland has increased by almost half in the past year.
Which is why any Scottish Jobs Guarantee Scheme should be open not just to young people, but to other people of working age disadvantaged by the economic lockdown. It must also offer more than the part-time, low-paid and short-term jobs and training that the Tory government’s Kickstart scheme promises.
Scotland needs a full-time, well-paid Jobs Guarantee that will equip people with skills that they can use for the rest of their working lives.
And if the SNP government is genuinely interested in developing such a quality Jobs Guarantee Scheme, we will work with them to deliver it, but that must include a rate of pay based on at least the real Living Wage.
And the urgent introduction of a quality Scottish Jobs Guarantee Scheme must be part of a Post Covid alternative Programme for Government.
And there are a few other radical steps I would like to see. Make no mistake, jobs will be critical. Jobs must be the economic priority. Job Guarantees, Job Retention and Job creation. As thousands of people in Scotland lose their jobs, and as debts rise many will fall into rent arrears.
But the SNP government has not banned evictions, only delayed them. Which is why today I am calling on the Scottish government to introduce a ban on evictions for the remainder of this parliament.
And I am also calling again on the SNP government to re-consider its opposition to Pauline McNeill’s Fair Rents Bill. They should ask themselves if continuing to join forces with the Tories to block the Bill from making it on to the statute book really puts them on the right side of history.
Daniel Johnson’s Bill to protect retail workers has a universal and enduring application, but its necessity has been brought into sharp relief by the experience of shop workers during this pandemic. It should be in the Programme for Government.
Period poverty will increase too – making Monica Lennon’s Bill to eradicate it truly transformational. And so truly a priority for the Parliament to use its powers to pass this year.
And while I am on the subject of bills, we need a parliament focused on the job in hand that’s why Neil Findlay’s double jobbing bill is so important. People want politicians who are on their side, not someone more interested in catching footballers offside.
We know as well that we are seeing more families slide into food poverty. Which makes Elaine Smith’s Bill to enshrine the right to food in law all the more important.
And today I am calling for the Programme for Government next month to contain a commitment to bring forward the Scottish Child Payment of £10 per child per week sooner than February.
We think that the time has also come for a Community Wealth Building Act, to stimulate more local initiatives like the one launched this year in North Ayrshire. So that we start to use public procurement to boost local economies, not big corporations.
So that we support worker ownership and co-operatives as a viable option to re-float businesses as we come out of lockdown. Because why on earth shouldn’t the people who create the wealth own the wealth that they create?
It would mean greater community ownership of land as well because land reform remains an important chapter of unfinished business for the Scottish Parliament.
A community wealth building approach to reduce inequality. Spread democracy and to reinvest in local communities and local people. That is what is needed.
It is an economy that has to be re-imagined with a renewed emphasis on investing in and so diversifying our manufacturing base and the skills of our people.
As the climate and ecological crisis continues to escalate, 2020 must also mark a turning point in the direction of Scotland’s economy and its environmental impact.
We cannot afford to return to business as usual – instead a green and just recovery must focus on tackling the economic crisis and the climate crisis at the same time.
That is why, earlier this year, I asked the economist Laurie Macfarlane to draw up a report with recommendations for a Scottish Labour Green New Deal.
In Scotland we are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. We also have the will to change and to make things better.
So we must bring together all sectors and sections of our society, harnessing all our natural resources, all our workforce skills, and all our ambition to create a greener better future for us all.
Scotland has a housing crisis which stretches back before the pandemic. Too many people are stuck on never ending housing waiting lists, losing hope by the day, too many young people with no prospect of having their own home outside of the private rental market, and too many children going to sleep at night in damp and overcrowded accommodation.
So, we will build 12,000 council homes each year, to the highest energy efficiency standards.
And to carry out this work we will establish a new Land and Communities Development Agency to employ and train thousands of new workers.
We will improve all of Scotland’s homes, to reach at least Energy Performance Certificate C energy efficiency standard by 2030, and be zero-carbon by 2045.
A safe, warm, affordable home should be the human right of every person, and our homes plan will help to make that right a reality in Scotland.
We should also set a target for expanding Scotland’s domestic renewable energy production to meet 200% of our own electricity needs by 2030. This will ensure that we are ready for future increases in demand and can be a net exporter to the rest of the UK.
But I have always been clear that when reviewing energy, we must ensure there is a Just Transition for workers and communities. To do this we must establish a £500m Just Transition Fund to assist workers and businesses with the realities of transition.
And we must create a new Scottish National Energy Development Agency to coordinate the development of renewable energy infrastructure, generation and local supply chains, so we get the jobs dividend here.
Working with experts such as Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage and learning from the world leading work at Heriot Watt University, we must focus on carbon capture, maximising Scotland’s potential to become a European leader in CO2 management with a state owned carbon capture company.
But we can’t just use up our natural resources, we must replenish and look after them too. That’s why we must have a major reforestation plan and a plan to restore degraded peatland every year for the next quarter of a century.
To do this we must employ and train a new workforce dedicated to restoring Scotland’s natural environment and meeting our climate commitments.
Just yesterday, ADL in Falkirk announced 160 job cuts. At the very point when a modern moving Scotland needs a modern public transport system these jobs are at risk.
So we must expand Scotland’s bus network by investing £100m in buying new electric buses from domestic manufacturers.
I want to also reaffirm Scottish Labour’s commitment to not only retain the over 60s bus pass, but to provide free bus passes for the under 25s, with the ultimate ambition to expand this to everyone of all ages.
We know that encouraging the habit of using public transport when people are young is more likely to result in a lifelong habit of public transport use – reducing future car miles and emissions.
However, we must also understand that some people will still need and want to drive, so to ensure this can be done in a more environmentally friendly way, we believe we need to invest £200m in rolling out electric vehicle charging points.
Housing, energy, infrastructure, environmental restoration, and transport, our bold plans would create in total up to 131,000 new jobs.
With careful planning involving businesses, trade unions and government and the right investment, we can create sustainable jobs in all parts of the country, staving off the imminent and real threat of mass unemployment.
We can retain jobs, guarantee jobs, we can create jobs. We can move away from low-paid, insecure work and towards the “sectors of the future” such as those that are necessary to decarbonise the economy.
Not only will this create apprenticeships and jobs for our young people, but it will provide retraining opportunities for all working people who have the skills and experience to help build the Scotland of the future.
And people will say, how will you pay for this? To them I say the Scottish Parliament needs more borrowing powers to provide the investment that is required now.
And as one of our post Brexit calls should be that Westminster reallocate around £800m per year from the current EU contribution to the Scottish Parliament’s budget, in addition to Barnett formula funding.
And lastly we must draw down on the benefit of being part of a stable and credible monetary union.
We are backing the IMF’s call for countries with ‘fiscal space’ to run deficits to promote growth.
THE OBR reported last month, “One silver lining to the current fiscal cloud is that it remains relatively cheap for the government to borrow – and indeed it has become more so.”
So my call today is that Boris Johnson’s government must unleash the monetary fire power to stimulate Scotland’s economy. In 2020 we have seen the need for a brighter vision of the future based on communities united, and as we look to the next Programme for Government.
We believe that it is the task, that it is the responsibility, not just of this current Parliament and this current Government but of the next Parliament and the next Scottish Government, to build a better future.
To put Scotland’s economy on a different path. To make full employment a central goal of public policy. To put people and planet first.
We cannot just talk about Scotland’s future: it’s time to fight for Scotland’s future.
Let me end with this final thought. We are regularly told that we will emerge stronger from this pandemic. And I hope that we do. But I say that we must never ever forget those wonderful friends and those deeply missed relatives who we have lost over the last six months.
It is to their memory, it is in their name, that we fight for this better future for Scotland. That is our duty. That is the call of these times to us. Let us answer that call. And let us rise to that challenge.


labourlist--2020-08-21--“Keir’s got this exactly right,” says McDonnell on Starmer’s Covid response

Labour left figure John McDonnell has praised new leader Keir Starmer ’ s response to coronavirus and his approach to opposition during the crisis as “ exactly right ” during a Times Radio interview .
In a boost for the new leadership team , the former Shadow Chancellor talked to John Pienaar about the fresh strategy and style of the opposition party , and declared : “ I think Keir ’ s got this exactly right .
“ He ’ s approached the government in a constructive way – and we ’ ve got to get through this crisis together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but point out failure after failure .
And people are getting pretty angry.
” Outlining examples of “ incompetence ” by the government during Covid , McDonnell added : “ Keir ’ s offering that alternative .
And as we go forward , I think we ’ ll see a narrowing [ in the polls ] and maybe Labour will overtake .
“ The issue I would say to Labour , though , is don ’ t just pin this on Johnson .
There ’ s a whole team of them .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – they would get rid of Johnson tomorrow if necessary.
” The former Labour frontbencher , who stood down when Jeremy Corbyn was replaced in early April , expressed concern about Rishi Sunak replacing the Prime Minister and a subsequent “ boost in the polls ” .
Asked about the idea that the Labour left has been marginalised and this has improved Labour ’ s position in the polls , McDonnell said of Starmer : “ He ’ s taking this government on .
“ What ’ s interesting is the government itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies – not just the ones we advocated for in the last general election , the investment , etc – but also the policies that we put to them in March to cope with this Covid crisis .
“ The furlough scheme was our proposal .
The support for small businesses , the self-employed – our proposals .
I think he ’ s gaining the benefit of that .
“ Of course , with a new leader , the media will give you a much wider leeway to a large extent and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good for him.
” Asked whether Starmer is a “ proud socialist ” , the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington replied : “ Keir has made it clear he ’ s a socialist .
If you look at his expressions in the past and throughout – of course he ’ s a socialist .
“ The issue is , what does socialism mean in the 21st century ?
And the ten-point plan he put forward to be elected as leader was 21st-century socialism .
The Labour Party isn ’ t about one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He added : “ We ’ re on the same page .
Sometimes I ’ ll want the party to be a bit more vociferous on some of these things , but that ’ s a matter of style .
As long as we get the point across.
” Starmer has been criticised by some left-wing activists for appearing to row back on pledges such as the Green New Deal and defending free movement after Brexit , as well as by Alastair Campbell for an “ inability to take [ the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments of McDonnell , who acknowledged in the interview that he was aiming to play the role of the “ elder statesman ” , offered Starmer encouragement from a key figure of the Corbynite era .

Labour left figure John McDonnell has praised new leader Keir Starmer’s response to coronavirus and his approach to opposition during the crisis as “exactly right” during a Times Radio interview.
In a boost for the new leadership team, the former Shadow Chancellor talked to John Pienaar about the fresh strategy and style of the opposition party, and declared: “I think Keir’s got this exactly right.
“He’s approached the government in a constructive way – and we’ve got to get through this crisis together – but he can’t help but point out failure after failure. And people are getting pretty angry.”
Outlining examples of “incompetence” by the government during Covid, McDonnell added: “Keir’s offering that alternative. And as we go forward, I think we’ll see a narrowing [in the polls] and maybe Labour will overtake.
“The issue I would say to Labour, though, is don’t just pin this on Johnson. There’s a whole team of them. Because you know how ruthless the Tories are – they would get rid of Johnson tomorrow if necessary.”
The former Labour frontbencher, who stood down when Jeremy Corbyn was replaced in early April, expressed concern about Rishi Sunak replacing the Prime Minister and a subsequent “boost in the polls”.
Asked about the idea that the Labour left has been marginalised and this has improved Labour’s position in the polls, McDonnell said of Starmer: “He’s taking this government on.
“What’s interesting is the government itself has had to adopt many of the policies – not just the ones we advocated for in the last general election, the investment, etc – but also the policies that we put to them in March to cope with this Covid crisis.
“The furlough scheme was our proposal. The support for small businesses, the self-employed – our proposals. I think he’s gaining the benefit of that.
“Of course, with a new leader, the media will give you a much wider leeway to a large extent and of course he’s exploiting that. Good for him.”
Asked whether Starmer is a “proud socialist”, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington replied: “Keir has made it clear he’s a socialist. If you look at his expressions in the past and throughout – of course he’s a socialist.
“The issue is, what does socialism mean in the 21st century? And the ten-point plan he put forward to be elected as leader was 21st-century socialism. The Labour Party isn’t about one individual either, and Keir knows this.”
He added: “We’re on the same page. Sometimes I’ll want the party to be a bit more vociferous on some of these things, but that’s a matter of style. As long as we get the point across.”
Starmer has been criticised by some left-wing activists for appearing to row back on pledges such as the Green New Deal and defending free movement after Brexit, as well as by Alastair Campbell for an “inability to take [the government] apart”.
But the latest comments of McDonnell, who acknowledged in the interview that he was aiming to play the role of the “elder statesman”, offered Starmer encouragement from a key figure of the Corbynite era.


labourlist--2020-08-21--Why Brent’s Labour council has created a support fund for residents

One of the many tragedies of Covid-19 is the way that it has brutally exposed and exacerbated longstanding inequalities across the UK .
In Brent , poor quality privately rented homes , overcrowding and health inequalities have taken their toll .
The uncomfortable truth is that these inequalities were known to us .
Back in January , I commissioned a piece of work , independently chaired by Lord Best and involving a range of local partners , to make practical , evidence-based recommendations on how to reduce poverty in the borough .
After housing costs , 43 % of children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second highest number of people furloughed , a proactive effort will be needed to rebuild our local economy .
This work was important back in January and is non-negotiable now .
One immediate step we ’ re taking is using money left over from the hardship grant from government to create a support fund for residents .
We ’ re proud to have a fairly generous Council Tax Support Scheme and , as a result , after allocating the £150 reductions to council tax liabilities for anyone of working age in receipt of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just over £2.5m to put to immediate use .
The fund is being used in two ways : either going directly to residents as a grant or used to assist residents access an interest-free loan from a local credit union .
We ’ ve kept the criteria as loose as possible .
It can be used for anything from paying off credit card and other household bills , rent , mortgage or council tax arrears , getting access to the internet or accessing skills training .
In its first week , the fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need is real , and the money – though a drop in the ocean – is exactly the sort of action local government can and should take to provide immediate relief to residents .
In the medium term , there ’ s much to do to rebuild our local economy .
Our schools and results are excellent , but our economy is relatively low wage and low skill .
Post-Covid , it is also terrifyingly fragile .
It ’ s clearly also time to take a more interventionist approach to our local private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low levels of pay , our housing costs are very high , forcing many families into poor quality homes that they can barely afford .
Our commission was about identifying systemic interventions that would work locally and not just act as a sticking plaster for deep-seated inequalities .
Developing this fund has been a sobering reminder that sometimes , if it ’ s all you have , a sticking plaster is better than nothing .
But it ’ s also a reminder of the absolutely essential role of local government and the ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the longer term .

One of the many tragedies of Covid-19 is the way that it has brutally exposed and exacerbated longstanding inequalities across the UK. In Brent, poor quality privately rented homes, overcrowding and health inequalities have taken their toll.
The uncomfortable truth is that these inequalities were known to us. Back in January, I commissioned a piece of work, independently chaired by Lord Best and involving a range of local partners, to make practical, evidence-based recommendations on how to reduce poverty in the borough. After housing costs, 43% of children live in poverty and, with the second highest number of people furloughed, a proactive effort will be needed to rebuild our local economy.
This work was important back in January and is non-negotiable now. One immediate step we’re taking is using money left over from the hardship grant from government to create a support fund for residents. We’re proud to have a fairly generous Council Tax Support Scheme and, as a result, after allocating the £150 reductions to council tax liabilities for anyone of working age in receipt of CTS, we have a pot of just over £2.5m to put to immediate use.
The fund is being used in two ways: either going directly to residents as a grant or used to assist residents access an interest-free loan from a local credit union. We’ve kept the criteria as loose as possible. It can be used for anything from paying off credit card and other household bills, rent, mortgage or council tax arrears, getting access to the internet or accessing skills training.
In its first week, the fund has had over 300 applications. The need is real, and the money – though a drop in the ocean – is exactly the sort of action local government can and should take to provide immediate relief to residents.
In the medium term, there’s much to do to rebuild our local economy. Our schools and results are excellent, but our economy is relatively low wage and low skill. Post-Covid, it is also terrifyingly fragile.
It’s clearly also time to take a more interventionist approach to our local private rented sector. In contrast to relatively low levels of pay, our housing costs are very high, forcing many families into poor quality homes that they can barely afford.
Our commission was about identifying systemic interventions that would work locally and not just act as a sticking plaster for deep-seated inequalities. Developing this fund has been a sobering reminder that sometimes, if it’s all you have, a sticking plaster is better than nothing. But it’s also a reminder of the absolutely essential role of local government and the ways we must galvanise ourselves to respond in the longer term.


labourlist--2020-08-21--Labour candidate for London Assembly suspended over alleged antisemitism

Preston Tabois , a Haringey Labour councillor and Momentum-backed candidate for the London Assembly , has been suspended by the party over a complaint relating to alleged antisemitism .
Tabois was selected by party members in February this year , ahead of the London Assembly elections that will now take place in May 2021 .
He placed fourth on the London-wide list .
But it is understood that Labour has suspended him after Guido Fawkes alerted the party to social media posts , which appear to show the councillor sharing an article about antisemitism .
The news piece apparently posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a UKIP candidate claiming that “ Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel ” .
Underneath the shared article , Tabois appears to have commented on Facebook : “ You ’ re not wrong brother P !
” , according to the Guido screengrab .
The other post sent by Guido to Labour seems to show Tabois saying Zionist “ conspiracy theories can be used as an educational tool to understand and relate to how governments are run [ and ] financed ” .
Asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures , and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.
” While the party can not comment on individual cases for confidentiality and data protection reasons , LabourList understands that Tabois is administratively suspended pending investigation .
Suspended members are not able to stand as Labour candidates in elections .
The next candidate on the list – Murad Qureshi – is expected to replace Tabois unless he is unsuspended before May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Preston Tabois, a Haringey Labour councillor and Momentum-backed candidate for the London Assembly, has been suspended by the party over a complaint relating to alleged antisemitism.
Tabois was selected by party members in February this year, ahead of the London Assembly elections that will now take place in May 2021. He placed fourth on the London-wide list.
But it is understood that Labour has suspended him after Guido Fawkes alerted the party to social media posts, which appear to show the councillor sharing an article about antisemitism.
The news piece apparently posted by Tabois six years ago reports on a UKIP candidate claiming that “Jews murdered each other in the Holocaust in masterplan to create State of Israel”.
Underneath the shared article, Tabois appears to have commented on Facebook: “You’re not wrong brother P!”, according to the Guido screengrab.
The other post sent by Guido to Labour seems to show Tabois saying Zionist “conspiracy theories can be used as an educational tool to understand and relate to how governments are run [and] financed”.
Asked for comment, a Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
While the party cannot comment on individual cases for confidentiality and data protection reasons, LabourList understands that Tabois is administratively suspended pending investigation.
Suspended members are not able to stand as Labour candidates in elections. The next candidate on the list – Murad Qureshi – is expected to replace Tabois unless he is unsuspended before May.
Preston Tabois has been contacted by LabourList.


labourlist--2020-08-21--As Labour’s first Tees Valley mayor, I’ll fight to ensure everyone has a home

I used to run a charity that dealt with many people facing homelessness .
I remember walking into a derelict building where a young woman was living .
She cried while explaining to me how she had nothing but a carrier bag of belongings , and told me that we all needed to come together to do something .
Never have her words felt more important , as youth homelessness reaches its highest rate in 14 years and those have failed to make rent through Covid face evictions once the ban comes to an end .
We all must come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the Covid crisis there seemed to be a glimmer of hope .
Homelessness , and in particular rough sleeping , is not a new problem .
Successive governments have vowed solemnly to tackle the very visible blight of people sleeping on the streets of our big cities .
Just before Christmas 2019 , the Prime Minister announced that the government was committed to ending rough sleeping by November 2024 .
Many of us who have worked in that sector felt a sense of déjà vu – yet , at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened .
People realised that rough sleepers were unable to adhere to social distancing and lockdown rules , and were not only at an enhanced risk of contracting the virus , but also a huge potential risk to those that came into contact with them on the streets .
On March 27th , Louise Casey , then newly appointed to the role of homelessness tsar , wrote to local government housing managers and others involved in the sector to demand help in getting rough sleepers off the streets within 72 hours .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those on the streets had offers of accommodation according to the government .
They were no doubt aided by the appearance of many newly empty hotel rooms , but nevertheless this was an astonishing achievement .
There were no waiting lists or groups ineligible for this support .
If you had nowhere to sleep , you got an offer – even if you had no recourse to public funds or had given up your previous accommodation ‘ voluntarily ’ .
It was unprecedented , and reduced the number of rough sleepers by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to being solved , it seemed .
The government pledged £85m to ensuring that those housed during the pandemic would not have to return to the streets .
Fast forward to this week and the finding by StreetLink that the total number of alerts for rough sleepers increased to almost 17,000 in April to June .
This is shocking given that we know the government had managed to house almost 15,000 rough sleepers .
The only logical explanation is that the effect of the economic downturn caused by Covid has led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which coincides with similarly big increases in those claiming benefits and out of work .
The situation is likely to worsen significantly over the coming months .
It is estimated by Shelter that 227,000 renters in the UK have fallen into rent arrears during the pandemic , and there is no doubt that the end of these protections will lead to another surge in homelessness .
This isn ’ t only a social and economic issue but a public health one .
Covid has disproportionately affected deprived areas – and if huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made homeless with nowhere to go , it could lead to a resurgence in Covid in our cities .
We must act swiftly .
Covid has been a PR disaster for Boris and his government but this was one area where they initially got it right and undoubtedly saved the lives of some of our most vulnerable people .
We know what we need to do because we ’ ve already done it once .
Immediately , the eviction ban must be extended by longer than just four weeks and we must do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new rough sleepers off the streets in a similar fashion .
It will undoubtedly cost some money but the opportunity cost is another widespread lockdown , which we simply can not afford .
I have seen at first hand the devastating cost of homelessness .
This isn ’ t party political : it is a humanitarian issue , and one we have found a solution for .
There is no doubt that the economic road ahead is going to be difficult but we have seen a way forward .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make rough sleeping a thing of the past .

I used to run a charity that dealt with many people facing homelessness. I remember walking into a derelict building where a young woman was living. She cried while explaining to me how she had nothing but a carrier bag of belongings, and told me that we all needed to come together to do something. Never have her words felt more important, as youth homelessness reaches its highest rate in 14 years and those have failed to make rent through Covid face evictions once the ban comes to an end. We all must come together to do something – although at the beginning of the Covid crisis there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.
Homelessness, and in particular rough sleeping, is not a new problem. Successive governments have vowed solemnly to tackle the very visible blight of people sleeping on the streets of our big cities. Just before Christmas 2019, the Prime Minister announced that the government was committed to ending rough sleeping by November 2024. Many of us who have worked in that sector felt a sense of déjà vu – yet, at the end of March, something quite remarkable happened. People realised that rough sleepers were unable to adhere to social distancing and lockdown rules, and were not only at an enhanced risk of contracting the virus, but also a huge potential risk to those that came into contact with them on the streets.
On March 27th, Louise Casey, then newly appointed to the role of homelessness tsar, wrote to local government housing managers and others involved in the sector to demand help in getting rough sleepers off the streets within 72 hours. Within a couple of weeks, 90% of those on the streets had offers of accommodation according to the government. They were no doubt aided by the appearance of many newly empty hotel rooms, but nevertheless this was an astonishing achievement.
There were no waiting lists or groups ineligible for this support. If you had nowhere to sleep, you got an offer – even if you had no recourse to public funds or had given up your previous accommodation ‘voluntarily’. It was unprecedented, and reduced the number of rough sleepers by almost 15,000. Overnight the problem was close to being solved, it seemed. The government pledged £85m to ensuring that those housed during the pandemic would not have to return to the streets.
Fast forward to this week and the finding by StreetLink that the total number of alerts for rough sleepers increased to almost 17,000 in April to June. This is shocking given that we know the government had managed to house almost 15,000 rough sleepers. The only logical explanation is that the effect of the economic downturn caused by Covid has led to a huge increase in new rough sleepers, which coincides with similarly big increases in those claiming benefits and out of work.
The situation is likely to worsen significantly over the coming months. It is estimated by Shelter that 227,000 renters in the UK have fallen into rent arrears during the pandemic, and there is no doubt that the end of these protections will lead to another surge in homelessness. This isn’t only a social and economic issue but a public health one. Covid has disproportionately affected deprived areas – and if huge numbers of people are allowed to be made homeless with nowhere to go, it could lead to a resurgence in Covid in our cities.
We must act swiftly. Covid has been a PR disaster for Boris and his government but this was one area where they initially got it right and undoubtedly saved the lives of some of our most vulnerable people. We know what we need to do because we’ve already done it once. Immediately, the eviction ban must be extended by longer than just four weeks and we must do everything that we can to get all of the new rough sleepers off the streets in a similar fashion.
It will undoubtedly cost some money but the opportunity cost is another widespread lockdown, which we simply cannot afford. I have seen at first hand the devastating cost of homelessness. This isn’t party political: it is a humanitarian issue, and one we have found a solution for. There is no doubt that the economic road ahead is going to be difficult but we have seen a way forward. Let’s work together to ensure that we make rough sleeping a thing of the past.


labourlist--2020-08-21--U-turn on evictions ban “necessary” – but extension too brief, says Starmer

Keir Starmer has slammed the government ’ s latest U-turn – a new month-long extension of the coronavirus evictions ban that was due to be lifted on Sunday – as “ necessary ” but too brief .
Labour had called for this extension in the run-up to this weekend , with metro mayors and council leaders from across the country writing to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday .
It has now been confirmed that the ban on evictions will be extended by four weeks to September 20th , after plans were urgently worked up to protect tenants still affected by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be extending the notice period required from landlords to six months in England – a move that the Welsh Labour government made at the start of the month .
Responding to the last-minute intervention , Starmer said : “ This eleventh hour U-turn was necessary , but such a brief extension means there is a real risk that this will simply give renters a few more weeks to pack their bags .
“ Boris Johnson has been warned for months about the looming evictions crisis , but stuck his head in the sand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be paying the price for this government ’ s incompetence.
” As well as reiterating Labour ’ s message on competence , the Labour leader put forward some of the demands being made by the opposition party to remedy the difficult situation for many renters .
Starmer said : “ Section 21 evictions must be scrapped and renters must be given proper support .
The ban should not be lifted until the government has a credible plan to ensure that no-one loses their home as a result of coronavirus.
” Think tank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extend the ban for another six months , rather than just four weeks , and to offer more financial help to those in the private rented sector .
Local housing allowance should be increased to cover 50 % of market rates , IPPR has advised , as the current 30 % of market rate level means there are too few properties if people need to move .
The leading housing charity Shelter has warned that 227,000 private renters will be at risk of eviction when the ban is lifted , and campaigners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures in place A London Renters Union organiser , Ghazal Haqani , reacted to the reports of a fresh government U-turn today by pointing out that that the government is “ kicking the can down the road ” .
Haqani added : “ Because so many of us are in arrears , we have been constantly worried for months that we are about to become totally defenceless against landlords who want to kick us out of our homes .
It looks like that could happen all over again in September .
“ Rents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic has cut our incomes and this recession has only just begun .
Of course we ’ re in arrears , and of course we ’ re not going to be able to pay off our rent debt for a very long time.
” Labour ’ s David Lammy , Thangam Debbonaire and Karl Turner wrote to Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland this morning to warn that English County Courts could be overwhelmed .
The stay on eviction proceedings coming to an end “ risks unleashing a tsunami of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people homeless and overwhelm our courts ” , the letter read .
A number of Labour MPs on the left , such as Zarah Sultana and Bell Ribeiro-Addy , are demanding a cancellation of rent debt .
But the party as a whole has not backed the idea so far .
It is thought that the government will use the following four weeks as a temporary measure while deciding on new legislation that can be brought forward once parliament returns in September .

Keir Starmer has slammed the government’s latest U-turn – a new month-long extension of the coronavirus evictions ban that was due to be lifted on Sunday – as “necessary” but too brief.
Labour had called for this extension in the run-up to this weekend, with metro mayors and council leaders from across the country writing to Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday.
It has now been confirmed that the ban on evictions will be extended by four weeks to September 20th, after plans were urgently worked up to protect tenants still affected by Covid.
The UK government will also be extending the notice period required from landlords to six months in England – a move that the Welsh Labour government made at the start of the month.
Responding to the last-minute intervention, Starmer said: “This eleventh hour U-turn was necessary, but such a brief extension means there is a real risk that this will simply give renters a few more weeks to pack their bags.
“Boris Johnson has been warned for months about the looming evictions crisis, but stuck his head in the sand. People living in rented accommodation should not be paying the price for this government’s incompetence.”
As well as reiterating Labour’s message on competence, the Labour leader put forward some of the demands being made by the opposition party to remedy the difficult situation for many renters.
Starmer said: “Section 21 evictions must be scrapped and renters must be given proper support. The ban should not be lifted until the government has a credible plan to ensure that no-one loses their home as a result of coronavirus.”
Think tank IPPR has called on the UK government to extend the ban for another six months, rather than just four weeks, and to offer more financial help to those in the private rented sector.
Local housing allowance should be increased to cover 50% of market rates, IPPR has advised, as the current 30% of market rate level means there are too few properties if people need to move.
The leading housing charity Shelter has warned that 227,000 private renters will be at risk of eviction when the ban is lifted, and campaigners are urging the government to put further measures in place
A London Renters Union organiser, Ghazal Haqani, reacted to the reports of a fresh government U-turn today by pointing out that that the government is “kicking the can down the road”.
Haqani added: “Because so many of us are in arrears, we have been constantly worried for months that we are about to become totally defenceless against landlords who want to kick us out of our homes. It looks like that could happen all over again in September.
“Rents have been sky high for decades, the pandemic has cut our incomes and this recession has only just begun. Of course we’re in arrears, and of course we’re not going to be able to pay off our rent debt for a very long time.”
Labour’s David Lammy, Thangam Debbonaire and Karl Turner wrote to Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland this morning to warn that English County Courts could be overwhelmed.
The stay on eviction proceedings coming to an end “risks unleashing a tsunami of cases, which could leave tens of thousands of people homeless and overwhelm our courts”, the letter read.
A number of Labour MPs on the left, such as Zarah Sultana and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, are demanding a cancellation of rent debt. But the party as a whole has not backed the idea so far.
It is thought that the government will use the following four weeks as a temporary measure while deciding on new legislation that can be brought forward once parliament returns in September.