labourlist--2020-07-05--75 years since Labour’s 1945 victory. Is Keir Starmer a Clem Attlee figure?

In the week when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Clem Attlee leading Labour to victory on July 6th , 1945 , the party is in as grim a position as it was when Attlee was first elected leader in 1935 .
A lot rests on whether the newly elected leader is a Clem Attlee figure – capable of both leading Labour to victory and making the most of that victory .
What are the Attlee qualities we most hope for in Keir Starmer ?
Attlee , outwardly the most modest of people , actually had a self-belief the size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own judgement absolutely .
His decision-making was like a steel trap .
He never revisited his decisions , and he claimed never to have lost a night ’ s sleep over a decision .
Attlee was also ruthless .
He was “ the best butcher since the war ” , wrote Harold Wilson , who was one of the worst ( and who is , apparently , the Labour Prime Minister most admired by Starmer . )
In 1947 , Attlee ’ s Chancellor , Hugh Dalton , revealed key aspects of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he got up to deliver the speech , and the paper was on the streets with the information before he sat down .
There was no corruption , no harm was done , and many Prime Ministers would have let it go – but under Attlee , Dalton was out and his career ruined .
Another minister – there is a dispute about which one – answered a summons to see the Prime Minister , and was horrified to find that he had been called in to be fired .
What was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to it , ” said Attlee , and that was that .
Starmer looks as though he may have that .
The decision to fire Rebecca Long-Bailey was made like an Attlee decision : fast , and with no second thoughts .
Some of the most dedicated Corbynites say it was the result of a long plan , but I don ’ t buy that .
Starmer reacted on the day to what was happening .
Attlee was genuinely modest in an important way : he thought he was nothing without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laski that he had “ neither the personality nor the distinction to tempt me to think that I should have any value apart from to the party which I serve ” .
He once told Jawaharlal Nehru that if Britain had had a presidential system , Churchill would have won in 1945 .
That sort of modesty keeps a Prime Minister sane .
Some Prime Ministers start to believe they have a special connection with their people , and that ’ s dangerous and delusional .
Tony Blair claimed in his memoirs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the head of his party , and Boris Johnson seems to imagine that Britons have some special affection for him .
Can Starmer stay sane ?
It ’ s too early to say .
Ask again when he ’ s been Prime Minister for a while .
But he sounds grounded .
Attlee was no inspiring public speaker , but he inspired trust .
With his trim moustache and his ever-present pipe , the most revolutionary Prime Minister Britain has ever had looked and sounded like what he was : a professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wife , four children and job in London .
If you are trusted , you can change the world .
We can ’ t expect Starmer to go on the campaign trail as Attlee did – in the passenger seat of the family Hillman Minx , with his wife Violet at the wheel .
But Starmer , like Attlee , is not a great speechmaker , and he manages to sound un-threatening even when he is saying quite radical things .
Of course , he hasn ’ t said anything terribly radical yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important Attlee quality Starmer needs .
Attlee believed in is heart that capitalism had made a brutally unfair society , and the job of a Labour government was to unmake it , and make a fair society .
His politics were rooted in the poverty he had seen in East London .
Now the job Attlee did will have to be done all over again .
Does Starmer have the fire that burned discreetly beneath Attlee ’ s three-piece suit ?
Sometimes it does not sound as though he does .
Deciding not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the early relaxation of the lockdown or its determination to leave the EU without a deal and throw us all on the tender mercy of President Trump , does not look radical .
But I suspect he is playing a long game .
His politics , like Attlee ’ s , are rooted in hardship – that of his own family .
His parents were Labour Party people and named him after Keir Hardie .
As a young lawyer , he went to the picket lines during the print unions ’ dispute with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help the trade unionists arrested there .
When I interviewed him , I asked him about education – not his specialist subject , but he knew where he stood : “ I ’ m a supporter of comprehensive schools and our boy has just gone to a comprehensive school and it is where our daughter will go.
” If you ask me , I ’ d say that he had Attlee ’ s discreet revolutionary fervour .
Let ’ s hope so .

In the week when we celebrate the 75th anniversary of Clem Attlee leading Labour to victory on July 6th, 1945, the party is in as grim a position as it was when Attlee was first elected leader in 1935. A lot rests on whether the newly elected leader is a Clem Attlee figure – capable of both leading Labour to victory and making the most of that victory.
What are the Attlee qualities we most hope for in Keir Starmer? Attlee, outwardly the most modest of people, actually had a self-belief the size of a mountain. He trusted his own judgement absolutely. His decision-making was like a steel trap. He never revisited his decisions, and he claimed never to have lost a night’s sleep over a decision.
Attlee was also ruthless. He was “the best butcher since the war”, wrote Harold Wilson, who was one of the worst (and who is, apparently, the Labour Prime Minister most admired by Starmer.) In 1947, Attlee’s Chancellor, Hugh Dalton, revealed key aspects of his budget to an evening newspaper reporter minutes before he got up to deliver the speech, and the paper was on the streets with the information before he sat down. There was no corruption, no harm was done, and many Prime Ministers would have let it go – but under Attlee, Dalton was out and his career ruined.
Another minister – there is a dispute about which one – answered a summons to see the Prime Minister, and was horrified to find that he had been called in to be fired. What was wrong, he asked? “Not up to it,” said Attlee, and that was that.
Starmer looks as though he may have that. The decision to fire Rebecca Long-Bailey was made like an Attlee decision: fast, and with no second thoughts. Some of the most dedicated Corbynites say it was the result of a long plan, but I don’t buy that. Starmer reacted on the day to what was happening.
Attlee was genuinely modest in an important way: he thought he was nothing without the Labour Party. He wrote to Harold Laski that he had “neither the personality nor the distinction to tempt me to think that I should have any value apart from to the party which I serve”. He once told Jawaharlal Nehru that if Britain had had a presidential system, Churchill would have won in 1945.
That sort of modesty keeps a Prime Minister sane. Some Prime Ministers start to believe they have a special connection with their people, and that’s dangerous and delusional. Tony Blair claimed in his memoirs to have built a link with the people over the head of his party, and Boris Johnson seems to imagine that Britons have some special affection for him. Can Starmer stay sane? It’s too early to say. Ask again when he’s been Prime Minister for a while. But he sounds grounded.
Attlee was no inspiring public speaker, but he inspired trust. With his trim moustache and his ever-present pipe, the most revolutionary Prime Minister Britain has ever had looked and sounded like what he was: a professional middle-class man from the suburbs with a wife, four children and job in London.
If you are trusted, you can change the world. We can’t expect Starmer to go on the campaign trail as Attlee did – in the passenger seat of the family Hillman Minx, with his wife Violet at the wheel. But Starmer, like Attlee, is not a great speechmaker, and he manages to sound un-threatening even when he is saying quite radical things.
Of course, he hasn’t said anything terribly radical yet, and instinctive radicalism is the most important Attlee quality Starmer needs. Attlee believed in is heart that capitalism had made a brutally unfair society, and the job of a Labour government was to unmake it, and make a fair society. His politics were rooted in the poverty he had seen in East London.
Now the job Attlee did will have to be done all over again. Does Starmer have the fire that burned discreetly beneath Attlee’s three-piece suit? Sometimes it does not sound as though he does. Deciding not to challenge the government, either over the early relaxation of the lockdown or its determination to leave the EU without a deal and throw us all on the tender mercy of President Trump, does not look radical.
But I suspect he is playing a long game. His politics, like Attlee’s, are rooted in hardship – that of his own family. His parents were Labour Party people and named him after Keir Hardie. As a young lawyer, he went to the picket lines during the print unions’ dispute with Rupert Murdoch’s News International, to help the trade unionists arrested there.
When I interviewed him, I asked him about education – not his specialist subject, but he knew where he stood: “I’m a supporter of comprehensive schools and our boy has just gone to a comprehensive school and it is where our daughter will go.” If you ask me, I’d say that he had Attlee’s discreet revolutionary fervour. Let’s hope so.
Francis Beckett’s Clem Attlee: Labour’s Great Reformer is published by Haus Publishing.


labourlist--2020-07-05--Sunday shows: Scrap “one-size-fits-all” approach to economy, says Anneliese Dodds

Anneliese Dodds discussed the upcoming summer statement from the Chancellor and called on the government to abandon its “ one-size-fits-all approach ” to supporting the economy during the coronavirus crisis .
• On the economic statement : “ We really need to have that proper package put in place – not just so that we can help people if they become unemployed , but above all to prevent people becoming unemployed in the first place.
” • On a sector-specific approach : “ Let ’ s have an approach which reflects the fact this is an economic crisis which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need that strong support now.
” • She added : “ If they adopt that one-size-fits-all approach to removing support… then we will see higher levels of unemployment.
” • On the urgency : “ Now is not the time to be looking into different measures .
It ’ s the time to be putting them into place .
And frankly our country is behind lots of others on this… They really need to be far speedier.
” • Asked about NHS funding : “ We could well see , very sadly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s really important that the NHS has that stability of funding so that it can plan towards that eventuality.
” • On longer-term planning : “ If we end up having to take measures at the last minute , that ’ s obviously very expensive in the short term and therefore we do need to see that sustainable funding.
” • She added : “ The government should be looking at , for example , expanding the flu vaccination programme to over 50s so that we can try and reduce that pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Asked about the possibility of the government scrapping the triple lock on pensions : “ This is a technical issue for government to sort out – it shouldn ’ t effect whether the triple lock applies.
” • On the government ’ s claim that it doesn ’ t want a return to austerity : “ Actually , local authorities are looking many of them at potentially having to shed a fifth of their staff… We shouldn ’ t pretend we ’ re in very different circumstances.
” • On taxation : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and middle income people should be targeted for tax rises… Where there needs to be additional funds going into the system , they should be coming from those with the broadest shoulders.
” • She added : “ That debate would only arise at the stage if we need additional contributions… I ’ m hoping we won ’ t see the continued reduction in the size of our economy .
Actually , it ’ s best if we can grow our way out of this.
” • On schools remaining closed : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children – but of course , I ’ m aware of the fact it means so many parents are not able to go back to work… It ’ s something government critically needs to get a grip on.
” • On the decision to end Huawei ’ s involvement in the 5G network : “ Government needs to have a proper strategy… We really don ’ t want to have policy made in this sort of lurching manner – we need to have a long-term strategy.
” '' Now is not the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support [ for hard-hit sectors ] … it 's the time to be putting them into place '' says @ AnnelieseDodds She warns `` frankly our country is behind lots of others on this '' .
Matt Hancock discussed the reopening of pubs and bars on Saturday , telling viewers that he was “ pleased with what happened yesterday ” and saying that people were “ very largely social distancing ” .
Ahead of the economic statement from the Chancellor next week , the Health Secretary said that he wanted to “ reward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” – but refused to commit to a pay rise .
Anneliese Dodds also appeared on Marr .
She reiterated Labour ’ s call for taking a sectoral approach to extending the furlough scheme , would not confirm that Labour wants to nationalise the social care system , and commented on a wealth tax .
• On extending the furlough scheme : “ I don ’ t think it ’ s correct to be withdrawing support from that job protection scheme , nor indeed from the self employed scheme , at the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a more sectoral approach to this.
” • Asked which sectors should have furlough extended beyond October : “ I think where it ’ s possible for employers to demonstrate that it ’ s not feasible for them to be returning to full capacity , that there ’ s still the need for that support.
” • On the cost of furlough : “ It is expensive , that ’ s clear , but we also know that long-term unemployment is very expensive.
” • On social care : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care that really is delivering that national service .
We entered this crisis with 120,000 vacancies in social care.
” • None On Labour plans for a nationalised care system : “ I would say , right now , the idea is just to protect that sector… I ’ m not going to say to you that Labour is going to be advocating some massive grand scheme right at this moment when social care is in crisis .
We need a new approach for social care into the future.
” • Pushed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We certainly need to see much , much more responsibility from government for that sector , no question about that.
” • On a wealth tax : “ If we do need to see an increased tax take , we shouldn ’ t see it coming from those low and middle income people .
Instead , we should have a focus on the very best off people… .
I think those with the broadest shoulders should be bearing more of a contribution , if that contribution is needed.
” • On whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the UK ’ s 5G network : “ I haven ’ t seen that [ intelligence ] evidence .
I can ’ t take a judgment .
But surely the government could have taken that earlier.
” Asked again about trade unions demanding a pay rise for health workers , Matt Hancock replied : “ Well , of course I want to see people properly rewarded , absolutely.
” But he did not commit to a pay rise .

Ridge on Sunday
Anneliese Dodds discussed the upcoming summer statement from the Chancellor and called on the government to abandon its “one-size-fits-all approach” to supporting the economy during the coronavirus crisis.
On the economic statement: “We really need to have that proper package put in place – not just so that we can help people if they become unemployed, but above all to prevent people becoming unemployed in the first place.”
On a sector-specific approach: “Let’s have an approach which reflects the fact this is an economic crisis which is affecting sectors differently. Different sectors really need that strong support now.”
She added: “If they adopt that one-size-fits-all approach to removing support… then we will see higher levels of unemployment.”
On the urgency: “Now is not the time to be looking into different measures. It’s the time to be putting them into place. And frankly our country is behind lots of others on this… They really need to be far speedier.”
Asked about NHS funding: “We could well see, very sadly, an additional wave of this disease… It’s really important that the NHS has that stability of funding so that it can plan towards that eventuality.”
On longer-term planning: “If we end up having to take measures at the last minute, that’s obviously very expensive in the short term and therefore we do need to see that sustainable funding.”
She added: “The government should be looking at, for example, expanding the flu vaccination programme to over 50s so that we can try and reduce that pressure on the NHS up to winter.”
Asked about the possibility of the government scrapping the triple lock on pensions: “This is a technical issue for government to sort out – it shouldn’t effect whether the triple lock applies.”
On the government’s claim that it doesn’t want a return to austerity: “Actually, local authorities are looking many of them at potentially having to shed a fifth of their staff… We shouldn’t pretend we’re in very different circumstances.”
On taxation: “I don’t think low and middle income people should be targeted for tax rises… Where there needs to be additional funds going into the system, they should be coming from those with the broadest shoulders.”
She added: “That debate would only arise at the stage if we need additional contributions… I’m hoping we won’t see the continued reduction in the size of our economy. Actually, it’s best if we can grow our way out of this.”
On schools remaining closed: “Obviously it’s bad for those children – but of course, I’m aware of the fact it means so many parents are not able to go back to work… It’s something government critically needs to get a grip on.”
On the decision to end Huawei’s involvement in the 5G network: “Government needs to have a proper strategy… We really don’t want to have policy made in this sort of lurching manner – we need to have a long-term strategy.”
"Now is not the time to be looking into different forms of support [for hard-hit sectors]… it's the time to be putting them into place" says @AnnelieseDodds She warns "frankly our country is behind lots of others on this". Live: https://t.co/K23libu3og#Ridge pic.twitter.com/Us7wLggoTB — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) July 5, 2020
Matt Hancock discussed the reopening of pubs and bars on Saturday, telling viewers that he was “pleased with what happened yesterday” and saying that people were “very largely social distancing”. Ahead of the economic statement from the Chancellor next week, the Health Secretary said that he wanted to “reward NHS staff for what they have done” – but refused to commit to a pay rise.
The Andrew Marr Show
Anneliese Dodds also appeared on Marr. She reiterated Labour’s call for taking a sectoral approach to extending the furlough scheme, would not confirm that Labour wants to nationalise the social care system, and commented on a wealth tax.
On extending the furlough scheme: “I don’t think it’s correct to be withdrawing support from that job protection scheme, nor indeed from the self employed scheme, at the same rate right across the economy… We need to have a more sectoral approach to this.”
Asked which sectors should have furlough extended beyond October: “I think where it’s possible for employers to demonstrate that it’s not feasible for them to be returning to full capacity, that there’s still the need for that support.”
On the cost of furlough: “It is expensive, that’s clear, but we also know that long-term unemployment is very expensive.”
On social care: “We need to have a system for social care that really is delivering that national service. We entered this crisis with 120,000 vacancies in social care.”
On Labour plans for a nationalised care system: “I would say, right now, the idea is just to protect that sector… I’m not going to say to you that Labour is going to be advocating some massive grand scheme right at this moment when social care is in crisis. We need a new approach for social care into the future.”
Pushed on whether Labour still supports nationalisation plans: “We certainly need to see much, much more responsibility from government for that sector, no question about that.”
On a wealth tax: “If we do need to see an increased tax take, we shouldn’t see it coming from those low and middle income people. Instead, we should have a focus on the very best off people…. I think those with the broadest shoulders should be bearing more of a contribution, if that contribution is needed.”
On whether Labour would back Huawei being stripped out of the UK’s 5G network: “I haven’t seen that [intelligence] evidence. I can’t take a judgment. But surely the government could have taken that earlier.”
Asked again about trade unions demanding a pay rise for health workers, Matt Hancock replied: “Well, of course I want to see people properly rewarded, absolutely.” But he did not commit to a pay rise.


labourlist--2020-07-03--Government should consider wealth taxes to fund coronavirus recovery, says Dodds

Labour ’ s Anneliese Dodds has advised the government to consider using wealth taxes to fund the UK ’ s coronavirus recovery in a key intervention on its handling of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis this morning .
Answering questions after her first major speech as Shadow Chancellor , Dodds said Labour was against “ generalised tax rises across the whole of the population ” but advised the government to look at wealth taxation .
She said : “ For the very , very best off people , quite a bit of their money coming in is derived from wealth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new settlement and actually the opinion data has indicated that has got a lot of support among the UK population.
” Dodds rejected the idea of extending the current furlough scheme indefinitely , instead reiterating Labour ’ s support for targeted measures including extending the job retention scheme for specific sectors .
She also said she would not be going to the pub herself this weekend due to childcare issues , but added : “ I hope people will be going out to make use of those new opportunities to support local businesses.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a “ back to work Budget with a focus on jobs , jobs and jobs again ” and warned against the “ hands-off approach ” taken by government , which she described as “ worrying ” .
The Shadow Chancellor blamed the “ wave of companies announcing enormous job losses ” this week on the government “ refusing to shift from its one-size-fits-all approach ” and the Chancellor ’ s “ wait and see ” attitude .
Below is the full text of the Shadow Chancellor ’ s first major speech .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hastily written notes were placed in the windows of shops and businesses on high streets across the country .
They announced an unavoidable shut down with no certainty about how or when they could re-open .
This is every business ’ nightmare , but for three long months , it has been their waking reality .
Now , for some parts of our economy , the notes are beginning to come down , and the shutters are beginning to come up .
But for others , the crisis is still not over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the greatest crisis in a generation one where our government , sadly , has been too slow to act .
Too slow to lockdown .
Too slow to ramp up testing .
And too slow to get PPE to our brilliant frontline workers .
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease , attention is turning to the economic impact of coronavirus .
Labour is very clear : the government can not afford to be too slow .
Britain needs a Back to Work Budget with a focus on jobs , jobs and jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government on the economy is worrying .
Worrying that – yet again – they plan to take a hands-off approach to helping business and people ’ s livelihoods .
Worrying that the Chancellor is reported to have said he “ shouldn ’ t be picking winners.
” As if supporting a local pub or family-run restaurant , that has been boarded up at the direction of government is somehow cheating the natural order of things .
Worrying that some press reports suggested the Chancellor was considering putting off his Summer Economic Update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens this weekend , when more of the lockdown lifts .
Even though many other countries announced weeks ago , their recovery packages , focused on backing the green jobs of the future .
Waiting to see is not a strategy .
The OECD ’ s Global Outlook report published last month made for sobering reading .
It suggested that the economic hit on the UK due to the coronavirus would be the worst of all industrialised nations .
And that unemployment levels in the UK could be the second worst in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit to our population ’ s health from coronavirus threatens to be one of the worst of all industrialised countries , so our economy stands at a crossroads .
This is not a time to wait and see .
In Leicester this week we have seen the first major re-imposition of lockdown .
The government promised these lockdowns would be local .
But the reality is they are being driven from Whitehall .
We still do not have a functioning track , trace and isolate system .
And local authorities are not getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they need it .
The experience in recent days and weeks in Leicester is a familiar one in our response to this crisis .
Muddled .
Confusing .
With a refusal to bring in local authorities and too slow – much – much too slow .
We desperately need and want government to get this right .
Lives and livelihoods depend upon it .
Because for as long as there is confusion and delay in the public health response , many people will stay away from our high streets and out of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time of continued national crisis , Labour is determined to act as a constructive opposition .
So , in that spirit , I call on the Chancellor to acknowledge the impact of the slow health response on our economy and do something about it .
Today we call on government to lay out plans to extend support schemes for businesses and people in areas like Leicester that are forced into local lockdowns .
These support schemes should serve as economic sandbags , ensuring localised second waves of Covid-19 don ’ t wash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Labour has also repeatedly set out constructive solutions when it comes to test , track and isolate , including changes to sick pay , so people are not having to choose between self-isolating and providing for their families .
And we have repeatedly called for clear public health messaging – with unambiguous and strongly-enforced guidance .
These solutions are critical to reducing infection and to building trust and aiding our economic recovery .
We have also set out the fiscal measures Government should take , to first secure , and then turbocharge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Summer Economic Update ’ promised next week , we need a real Back to Work Budget .
It must focus on preventing unemployment , supporting the unemployed back into work , and creating the jobs of the future , so that when we emerge from this crisis , Britain is ready to come back even better than before .
We already know many of the policies which can prevent and combat unemployment , and the long-term costs unemployment incurs .
And we know that many other countries announced their economic recovery packages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Already we are falling behind others .
This is no time to wait and see : it ’ s the time to act in our country ’ s interest .
Labour supported the Job Protection Scheme and self-employed schemes – indeed , we called for them .
We also called for an exit strategy .
But as with the lifting of lockdown , what we have now is an exit without a strategy .
First , government must abandon its one-size-fits-all wind-down of the Job Protection and self-employed schemes .
We need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in struggling sectors can not and should not be treated the same way , as workers in sectors that are already back to full capacity .
This is not about ‘ picking winners ’ , in the Chancellor ’ s words .
It is about protecting those who have lost – through no fault of their own .
It is about giving people across the country a fair chance .
The reward for months of sacrifice can not be a redundancy notice .
This week we saw a wave of companies announcing enormous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing to shift from its one-size-fits-all approach .
Smaller companies have a shorter redundancy period .
To avoid the same flood of redundancy notices for workers within smaller companies later on this month , government must act now – and abandon its one-size-fits-all approach .
When we talk about our economy , it can feel distant and remote : interest rates and budgets and spreadsheets .
It is anything but .
The economy is our jobs and family incomes .
It is our high streets and our communities .
It is the things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places we live and love .
It is small business owners , who have put their life and soul into building their businesses .
It has been heartbreaking to hear from many of them in recent weeks .
How they feel their businesses slipping through their fingers because of a temporary lack of cash flow , even though with the right , targeted support now , they would be perfectly viable in the long term .
That frustration , that anger , at working hard all your life , playing by the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your place patiently in the queue .
Only to find it snatched away from you by a combination of this terrible crisis and government ’ s refusal to help .
Supporting them now isn ’ t about picking winners .
It ’ s about basic fairness .
Government must also act now to provide support for those who have become unemployed .
Instead , the DWP are re-introducing sanctions at a time when there are more than eight people unemployed for every vacancy .
This government seems completely divorced from the scale of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must speedily put in place the ‘ active labour market policy ’ that already operates in many other countries , and which our JobCentres do not have the capacity to provide .
Government must also act now to support the jobs of the future .
And here we need guarantees of delivery , not just warm words .
In 2015 , the Conservative government promised to huge fanfare 200,000 new homes for first-time buyers .
Not a single one of those homes was built .
The Conservatives have talked and talked : they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construct houses out of Conservative press releases , promises and hot air , the housing crisis in this country would have ended years ago .
Instead , the rate of homeownership has fallen , and almost 800,000 fewer households under-45 own their own home now , compared to in 2010 .
The Conservatives have talked and talked : they have not built .
And on the green infrastructure that every region and nation of this country is crying out for , there have been promises and paper commitments , but precious little action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : they have not built .
Two years ago , the National Infrastructure Commission published an assessment .
There has been no official response .
And this week the Prime Minister tried to claim he was creating a ‘ New Deal ’ .
Most of it was re-announcements of things we have heard before .
So , it wasn ’ t really ‘ new ’ .
And , when we cut through the bluster and looked at the detail of what the Prime Minister was actually offering , it works out at less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s not much of a deal either .
Ten years of Conservative government .
Ten years of talk .
Ten years of inaction .
Instead of yet more promises and yet more talk , we need a laser focus – on jobs , jobs , jobs .
To deliver on jobs , the Chancellor ’ s statement must meet four key tests .
First , it must focus , not on re-announced , re-hashed prestige projects , but on supporting high-quality jobs .
The test of a project can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Prime Minister ’ s closest advisor .
Instead , projects must involve local firms .
They must give the local workforce new skills and training .
They must lead to material improvement in the quality and availability of local employment .
And , programmes to support employment must be measured against the success of schemes like the Future Jobs Fund , and reflect the different challenges faced by young workers , older workers , and particularly impacted areas of the UK .
Second , the Chancellor ’ s statement must buck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rebuild economic resilience right across our country .
As a recent report noted : “ [ t ] here is little chance of a so-called ‘ bounce-back ’ in areas such as Pendle , Burnley , or Barnsley where local authority service spending has fallen by 53 per cent , 51 per cent , and 35 per cent over the decade in real terms ” .
And public support for ailing companies must come with good-value strings attached , to support local employment , to keep value in the UK by avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of tax havens , and to adhere to strong environmental requirements .
Third , every single project must be consistent with the drive to net-zero – so we can build the green jobs of the future .
Last week ’ s Committee on Climate Change report showed how far behind the UK is falling – now is the time for action .
Just as the German , Danish and South Korean stimulus packages have focused on green technologies , so must the UK ’ s , if we are to avoid falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any benefits of investment now must not be cancelled out by poor decisions later .
Because , while the Prime Minister says now that those who have borne the brunt of the crisis will not be called on to pay for it , we ’ ve seen the opposite over the last ten years .
Since this dreadful virus struck , we have seen who our key workers really are .
Those who staff our NHS ; those working in our emergency services ; those keeping supermarkets open ; and the elderly and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the people keeping bins collected , children educated , and the country safe .
Those on the frontline of this crisis have heroically risen to the challenge over the last few months – but , for many , that follows a decade of reductions in pay , security and living standards .
Over the last ten years , the gap in income and wealth has increased , and living standards for low and middle-income people have stagnated – at the same time as taxes for the very best-off have been reduced .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the very least , to not increase taxes or cut support for low and middle-income people , during the period while we recover from this crisis .
Because just like the small business that fears for its future , what people want – what they deserve – is fairness .
We can not go back to business as normal .
We can not “ wait and see ” .
We can not have more empty promises .
We can not have more inaction .
We need a response which recognises the scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first step in this , the first move to get Britain back on its feet , needs to happen now .
Britain needs a Back to Work Budget – one that focuses on jobs , jobs , jobs .

Labour’s Anneliese Dodds has advised the government to consider using wealth taxes to fund the UK’s coronavirus recovery in a key intervention on its handling of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis this morning.
Answering questions after her first major speech as Shadow Chancellor, Dodds said Labour was against “generalised tax rises across the whole of the population” but advised the government to look at wealth taxation.
She said: “For the very, very best off people, quite a bit of their money coming in is derived from wealth. I think we need to have that new settlement and actually the opinion data has indicated that has got a lot of support among the UK population.”
Dodds rejected the idea of extending the current furlough scheme indefinitely, instead reiterating Labour’s support for targeted measures including extending the job retention scheme for specific sectors.
She also said she would not be going to the pub herself this weekend due to childcare issues, but added: “I hope people will be going out to make use of those new opportunities to support local businesses.”
The speech delivered by Dodds called for a “back to work Budget with a focus on jobs, jobs and jobs again” and warned against the “hands-off approach” taken by government, which she described as “worrying”.
The Shadow Chancellor blamed the “wave of companies announcing enormous job losses” this week on the government “refusing to shift from its one-size-fits-all approach” and the Chancellor’s “wait and see” attitude.
Below is the full text of the Shadow Chancellor’s first major speech.
Back in March, as lockdown began, hastily written notes were placed in the windows of shops and businesses on high streets across the country. They announced an unavoidable shut down with no certainty about how or when they could re-open. This is every business’ nightmare, but for three long months, it has been their waking reality.
Now, for some parts of our economy, the notes are beginning to come down, and the shutters are beginning to come up. But for others, the crisis is still not over.
We are still in the middle of the greatest crisis in a generation one where our government, sadly, has been too slow to act. Too slow to lockdown. Too slow to ramp up testing. And too slow to get PPE to our brilliant frontline workers.
As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, attention is turning to the economic impact of coronavirus. Labour is very clear: the government cannot afford to be too slow. Britain needs a Back to Work Budget with a focus on jobs, jobs and jobs again.
What we are hearing from the government on the economy is worrying. Worrying that – yet again – they plan to take a hands-off approach to helping business and people’s livelihoods. Worrying that the Chancellor is reported to have said he “shouldn’t be picking winners.” As if supporting a local pub or family-run restaurant, that has been boarded up at the direction of government is somehow cheating the natural order of things.
Worrying that some press reports suggested the Chancellor was considering putting off his Summer Economic Update, in order to wait and see what happens this weekend, when more of the lockdown lifts. Even though many other countries announced weeks ago, their recovery packages, focused on backing the green jobs of the future.
Waiting to see is not a strategy. The OECD’s Global Outlook report published last month made for sobering reading. It suggested that the economic hit on the UK due to the coronavirus would be the worst of all industrialised nations. And that unemployment levels in the UK could be the second worst in the industrialised world.
Just as the hit to our population’s health from coronavirus threatens to be one of the worst of all industrialised countries, so our economy stands at a crossroads. This is not a time to wait and see.
In Leicester this week we have seen the first major re-imposition of lockdown. The government promised these lockdowns would be local. But the reality is they are being driven from Whitehall.
We still do not have a functioning track, trace and isolate system. And local authorities are not getting the data they need in the time they need it.
The experience in recent days and weeks in Leicester is a familiar one in our response to this crisis. Muddled. Confusing. With a refusal to bring in local authorities and too slow – much – much too slow.
We desperately need and want government to get this right. Lives and livelihoods depend upon it. Because for as long as there is confusion and delay in the public health response, many people will stay away from our high streets and out of our shops, pubs and restaurants.
At this time of continued national crisis, Labour is determined to act as a constructive opposition. So, in that spirit, I call on the Chancellor to acknowledge the impact of the slow health response on our economy and do something about it.
Today we call on government to lay out plans to extend support schemes for businesses and people in areas like Leicester that are forced into local lockdowns. These support schemes should serve as economic sandbags, ensuring localised second waves of Covid-19 don’t wash away businesses and jobs in their wake.
Labour has also repeatedly set out constructive solutions when it comes to test, track and isolate, including changes to sick pay, so people are not having to choose between self-isolating and providing for their families.
And we have repeatedly called for clear public health messaging – with unambiguous and strongly-enforced guidance. These solutions are critical to reducing infection and to building trust and aiding our economic recovery.
We have also set out the fiscal measures Government should take, to first secure, and then turbocharge our recovery. Instead of the limited ‘Summer Economic Update’ promised next week, we need a real Back to Work Budget.
It must focus on preventing unemployment, supporting the unemployed back into work, and creating the jobs of the future, so that when we emerge from this crisis, Britain is ready to come back even better than before.
We already know many of the policies which can prevent and combat unemployment, and the long-term costs unemployment incurs. And we know that many other countries announced their economic recovery packages not just days, but weeks ago.
Already we are falling behind others. This is no time to wait and see: it’s the time to act in our country’s interest. Labour supported the Job Protection Scheme and self-employed schemes – indeed, we called for them. We also called for an exit strategy. But as with the lifting of lockdown, what we have now is an exit without a strategy.
First, government must abandon its one-size-fits-all wind-down of the Job Protection and self-employed schemes. We need a targeted strategy that acknowledges that workers in struggling sectors cannot and should not be treated the same way, as workers in sectors that are already back to full capacity.
This is not about ‘picking winners’, in the Chancellor’s words. It is about protecting those who have lost – through no fault of their own. It is about giving people across the country a fair chance.
The reward for months of sacrifice cannot be a redundancy notice. This week we saw a wave of companies announcing enormous job losses – because the government is refusing to shift from its one-size-fits-all approach.
Smaller companies have a shorter redundancy period. To avoid the same flood of redundancy notices for workers within smaller companies later on this month, government must act now – and abandon its one-size-fits-all approach.
When we talk about our economy, it can feel distant and remote: interest rates and budgets and spreadsheets. It is anything but.
The economy is our jobs and family incomes. It is our high streets and our communities. It is the things that add meaning and character to the places we live and love. It is small business owners, who have put their life and soul into building their businesses.
It has been heartbreaking to hear from many of them in recent weeks. How they feel their businesses slipping through their fingers because of a temporary lack of cash flow, even though with the right, targeted support now, they would be perfectly viable in the long term.
That frustration, that anger, at working hard all your life, playing by the rules, doing the right thing, waiting your place patiently in the queue. Only to find it snatched away from you by a combination of this terrible crisis and government’s refusal to help.
Supporting them now isn’t about picking winners. It’s about basic fairness.
Government must also act now to provide support for those who have become unemployed. Instead, the DWP are re-introducing sanctions at a time when there are more than eight people unemployed for every vacancy.
This government seems completely divorced from the scale of the unemployment crisis facing us. It must speedily put in place the ‘active labour market policy’ that already operates in many other countries, and which our JobCentres do not have the capacity to provide.
Government must also act now to support the jobs of the future. And here we need guarantees of delivery, not just warm words.
In 2015, the Conservative government promised to huge fanfare 200,000 new homes for first-time buyers. Not a single one of those homes was built. The Conservatives have talked and talked: they have not built.
If you could construct houses out of Conservative press releases, promises and hot air, the housing crisis in this country would have ended years ago. Instead, the rate of homeownership has fallen, and almost 800,000 fewer households under-45 own their own home now, compared to in 2010.
The Conservatives have talked and talked: they have not built.
And on the green infrastructure that every region and nation of this country is crying out for, there have been promises and paper commitments, but precious little action.
The Conservatives have talked and talked: they have not built. Two years ago, the National Infrastructure Commission published an assessment. There has been no official response.
And this week the Prime Minister tried to claim he was creating a ‘New Deal’. Most of it was re-announcements of things we have heard before. So, it wasn’t really ‘new’.
And, when we cut through the bluster and looked at the detail of what the Prime Minister was actually offering, it works out at less than £100 investment per person. So, it’s not much of a deal either.
Ten years of Conservative government. Ten years of talk. Ten years of inaction. Instead of yet more promises and yet more talk, we need a laser focus – on jobs, jobs, jobs.
To deliver on jobs, the Chancellor’s statement must meet four key tests.
First, it must focus, not on re-announced, re-hashed prestige projects, but on supporting high-quality jobs. The test of a project can’t be if it piques the interest of the Prime Minister’s closest advisor.
Instead, projects must involve local firms. They must give the local workforce new skills and training. They must lead to material improvement in the quality and availability of local employment.
And, programmes to support employment must be measured against the success of schemes like the Future Jobs Fund, and reflect the different challenges faced by young workers, older workers, and particularly impacted areas of the UK.
Second, the Chancellor’s statement must buck the trend of the last ten years and rebuild economic resilience right across our country.
As a recent report noted: “[t]here is little chance of a so-called ‘bounce-back’ in areas such as Pendle, Burnley, or Barnsley where local authority service spending has fallen by 53 per cent, 51 per cent, and 35 per cent over the decade in real terms”.
And public support for ailing companies must come with good-value strings attached, to support local employment, to keep value in the UK by avoiding dividend payments, share buybacks and the use of tax havens, and to adhere to strong environmental requirements.
Third, every single project must be consistent with the drive to net-zero – so we can build the green jobs of the future. Last week’s Committee on Climate Change report showed how far behind the UK is falling – now is the time for action.
Just as the German, Danish and South Korean stimulus packages have focused on green technologies, so must the UK’s, if we are to avoid falling behind other countries.
And fourth, any benefits of investment now must not be cancelled out by poor decisions later. Because, while the Prime Minister says now that those who have borne the brunt of the crisis will not be called on to pay for it, we’ve seen the opposite over the last ten years.
Since this dreadful virus struck, we have seen who our key workers really are. Those who staff our NHS; those working in our emergency services; those keeping supermarkets open; and the elderly and vulnerable cared for.
Our key workers are the people keeping bins collected, children educated, and the country safe. Those on the frontline of this crisis have heroically risen to the challenge over the last few months – but, for many, that follows a decade of reductions in pay, security and living standards.
Over the last ten years, the gap in income and wealth has increased, and living standards for low and middle-income people have stagnated – at the same time as taxes for the very best-off have been reduced.
So finally, government must commit, at the very least, to not increase taxes or cut support for low and middle-income people, during the period while we recover from this crisis.
Because just like the small business that fears for its future, what people want – what they deserve – is fairness.
We cannot go back to business as normal. We cannot “wait and see”. We cannot have more empty promises. We cannot have more inaction. We need a response which recognises the scale of the challenge we face.
And the first step in this, the first move to get Britain back on its feet, needs to happen now. Britain needs a Back to Work Budget – one that focuses on jobs, jobs, jobs.


labourlist--2020-07-05--Momentum replaces Lansman with firefighter and climate activist co-chairs

Labour left organisation Momentum has replaced co-founder and former chair Jon Lansman with a firefighter and a climate activist as new co-chairs following internal elections for its national coordinating group .
The activist network , which grew out of Jeremy Corbyn ’ s 2015 leadership campaign , recently held contests in which members chose between 57 candidates .
Forward Momentum won a majority of the NCG seats .
Meeting for the first time over the weekend , the new ruling body elected two among them to replace Lansman : climate activist Gaya Sriskanthan , who is based in New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an active member of Labour International and the Democratic Socialists of America .
She develops solar energy co-operatives .
Scattergood is the West Midlands regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union .
The pair , both elected on the Forward Momentum slate , wrote for LabourList last month setting out their aims for the group .
They pledged to boost internal democracy , “ put members in charge ” , and transform the Labour Party .
Momentum has said that the first task ahead of the new leadership will be to negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single left slate of candidates for Labour ’ s upcoming national executive committee ( NEC ) elections .
Although Forward Momentum promised to ballot members before forming slates , it has been decided that there will not be enough time for a vote as the party ’ s deadline for candidate statements is July 10th .
In the new NCG ’ s first meeting , members voted in favour of putting Momentum ’ s data – currently owned by Lansman , who is no longer on the ruling body – in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this handover will take place .
Commenting on their election , Scattergood said : “ As a firefighter and Fire Brigades Union official , I ’ ll make it my mission to reach out across the labour movement and build cast iron bonds between Momentum and left trade unions.
” The choice of Bedford-born New Yorker Sriskanthan as one of the co-chairs represents a willingness for the organisation to do more international work and “ deepen Momentum ’ s links with US progressive forces ” .
On her election , she has stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to back a Green New Deal and become a “ driver of big economic change ” , warning that the party will otherwise “ crash and burn with the under 40s ” .
“ The pandemic has changed everything and people don ’ t want to go back to business as usual .
There is an appetite for big , bold ideas and Labour will only win in 2024 if we are the drivers of big economic change , ” Sriskanthan said .
The new co-chair has also criticised the Labour leadership ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement following the murder of George Floyd and its reaction to the leaked report on the party ’ s handling of complaints .
“ Taking a knee is not enough , ” Sriskanthan added .
“ It ’ s a tragedy that so many BAME people are leaving Labour and Keir must deal swiftly with the racism revealed by the leaked report and get Labour ’ s house in order .
“ Momentum will do everything it can to make Labour a friend of social movements and welcoming for BAME people .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earnest with the Black Lives Matter movement , not criticise it.
” Momentum Renewal put forward a rival platform in the NCG elections that was more closely associated with Lansman .
But the slate was only successful in the four office holder posts elected by MPs and councillors .
Momentum founder and then chair Jon Lansman used a LabourList comment piece in May to announce that he would not be standing in the internal elections of the Corbynite organisation .
The supporter of Corbyn ’ s leadership and former campaigner for Tony Benn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his family “ after working seven days a week for the better part of five years ” .
Lansman also said : “ I shall return to blogging and focusing my attentions on Labour ’ s national executive committee.
” Whether he is included on the next left slate of NEC candidates will be revealed in the coming days .

Labour left organisation Momentum has replaced co-founder and former chair Jon Lansman with a firefighter and a climate activist as new co-chairs following internal elections for its national coordinating group.
The activist network, which grew out of Jeremy Corbyn’s 2015 leadership campaign, recently held contests in which members chose between 57 candidates. Forward Momentum won a majority of the NCG seats.
Meeting for the first time over the weekend, the new ruling body elected two among them to replace Lansman: climate activist Gaya Sriskanthan, who is based in New York, and firefighter Andrew Scattergood.
Sriskanthan is an active member of Labour International and the Democratic Socialists of America. She develops solar energy co-operatives. Scattergood is the West Midlands regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union.
The pair, both elected on the Forward Momentum slate, wrote for LabourList last month setting out their aims for the group. They pledged to boost internal democracy, “put members in charge”, and transform the Labour Party.
Momentum has said that the first task ahead of the new leadership will be to negotiate with other Labour left groups to establish a single left slate of candidates for Labour’s upcoming national executive committee (NEC) elections.
Although Forward Momentum promised to ballot members before forming slates, it has been decided that there will not be enough time for a vote as the party’s deadline for candidate statements is July 10th.
In the new NCG’s first meeting, members voted in favour of putting Momentum’s data – currently owned by Lansman, who is no longer on the ruling body – in their own hands. They are confident that this handover will take place.
Commenting on their election, Scattergood said: “As a firefighter and Fire Brigades Union official, I’ll make it my mission to reach out across the labour movement and build cast iron bonds between Momentum and left trade unions.”
The choice of Bedford-born New Yorker Sriskanthan as one of the co-chairs represents a willingness for the organisation to do more international work and “deepen Momentum’s links with US progressive forces”.
On her election, she has stressed the need for Labour under Keir Starmer to back a Green New Deal and become a “driver of big economic change”, warning that the party will otherwise “crash and burn with the under 40s”.
“The pandemic has changed everything and people don’t want to go back to business as usual. There is an appetite for big, bold ideas and Labour will only win in 2024 if we are the drivers of big economic change,” Sriskanthan said.
The new co-chair has also criticised the Labour leadership’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement following the murder of George Floyd and its reaction to the leaked report on the party’s handling of complaints.
“Taking a knee is not enough,” Sriskanthan added. “It’s a tragedy that so many BAME people are leaving Labour and Keir must deal swiftly with the racism revealed by the leaked report and get Labour’s house in order.
“Momentum will do everything it can to make Labour a friend of social movements and welcoming for BAME people. Our party must reach out and work in earnest with the Black Lives Matter movement, not criticise it.”
13 NEC members wrote to Keir Starmer earlier in the week to complain about a statement on the leaked report that was sent by the party to journalists. Labour has said it was not intended as an official party statement.
Momentum Renewal put forward a rival platform in the NCG elections that was more closely associated with Lansman. But the slate was only successful in the four office holder posts elected by MPs and councillors.
Momentum founder and then chair Jon Lansman used a LabourList comment piece in May to announce that he would not be standing in the internal elections of the Corbynite organisation.
The supporter of Corbyn’s leadership and former campaigner for Tony Benn concluded that he would spend more time with his family “after working seven days a week for the better part of five years”.
Lansman also said: “I shall return to blogging and focusing my attentions on Labour’s national executive committee.” Whether he is included on the next left slate of NEC candidates will be revealed in the coming days.


labourlist--2020-07-06--Why council workers are fighting back in Tower Hamlets

The pandemic has forced us to evaluate how we think about work , what is and isn ’ t essential work , and how we reward those who perform vital functions in our society .
Unfortunately , Tower Hamlets Council appears determined to pass up this opportunity for reflection as it is pushing ahead with highly controversial plans to impose worse conditions on its workforce .
The ironically named ‘ Tower Rewards ‘ scheme is a complex package of changes to council workers ’ contracts that include cuts to the starting salaries in lower-paid jobs , reductions in travel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flexible working system and cuts to redeployment and severance pay .
With some staff in higher grades seeing an increased salary , trade unions stress that the changes will disadvantage lower-paid , frontline workers most – disproportionately women and BAME staff .
The dispute has been festering locally for about a year , with a series of ballots by all unions indicating time and time again that council staff are not happy with the proposed changes .
As of February , UNISON ’ s Tower Rewards industrial action ballots showed conclusively that workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees , with 52.5 % turnout , 89.6 % were ‘ yes ’ votes – while community schools staff delivered a massive 98 % ‘ yes ’ vote for strike action .
This is an overwhelming vote that not only meets the 50 % threshold imposed by the most recent Tory legislation , but even the higher threshold for ‘ essential services ’ , with over 40 % of the total membership balloted in each case .
The NEU recorded a similar result with turnout of 51.5 % and 95.4 % voting ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chief executive has always openly acknowledged his willingness to use regressive ( Tory ) anti-union legislation to force a sacking and re-employment of the workforce regardless of their views on the new conditions .
In fact , from the start of the ‘ consultation ’ – when proposals were presented to staff before the unions , and presented as if they were part of the previous year ’ s nationally-negotiated settlement – management has sidelined unions in favour of one-to-one staff meetings .
In these meetings , workers have only heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and were told that they needed to sign the new contracts or face being sacked and forced to accept the new terms regardless .
In March , we saw the horrific mix of a deadly virus and government incompetence , of underfunding and undervaluing essential services .
NEU and UNISON responded immediately by recognising that their planned strike action would be untimely .
They offered to continue supporting our communities through their work .
Because , while office workers took to lockdown and sourdough baking with varied success , it turned out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff were essential and social care workers were essential .
When the economic pain of Covid-19 truly hits families this winter , every single one of our frontline council workers will become essential .
Yet , despite clapping for them week after week , Labour-run Tower Hamlets Council is preparing to go back to business as usual .
In this case , that means firing and re-hiring our essential staff on worse contracts .
Nothing says ‘ thank you ’ like a kick in the behind .
The local Labour Party is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been ever since union reps first voiced their concerns .
The council ’ s executive mayor is , even more predictably , ignoring local policy .
After spending months trying to placate local members , claiming that this is not a political matter and the officers are simply going through due process , John Biggs seems determined to hide behind his chief executive .
The responsibility for Tower Rewards and the negative impact it will have on our workforce and the local community lies squarely at the feet of our executive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of backbench councillors wrote to express their opposition to the plans and their concerns were sidelined .
If the proposals were all about modernising the workforce management and extending benefits across all pay grades – as the mayor claims – then there would be little for unions to protest against .
This has not been the case .
It is shameful for a Labour council to side with generously-paid upper management and not with the rank and file of its workers .
What about that other big headline this spring – Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I am proud to say that Tower Hamlets has a rich history of anti-racist organising , a history that we honour and celebrate – and that we recently added to by removing a slaver ’ s statue from Canary Wharf .
It was right for the council to facilitate that , and it was right for mayor Biggs to make a statement on Black Lives Matter .
But with the economic hit of the Covid-19 crisis set to hit harder this autumn , it is worrying that the impact assessment of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender and ethnicity breakdown according to pay grade .
Instead , the council and our executive mayor deny any detrimental impact on women and especially women of colour .
It is a denial not based on fact , however , because the relevant information has simply not been gathered .
Unions have repeatedly demanded a proper equalities impact assessment since the proposals were presented .
They know their colleagues and their circumstances much better than the CEO , and they know that the changes hit the lower pay grades disproportionately – exactly where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women .
Leaving aside the implications of this status quo for a borough committed to racial justice and battling with over 50 % child poverty , surely now is the time to take some positive steps to address this inequality and not force through detrimental changes to women ’ s contracts .
Although Covid-19 and circumstances around schools specifically have disrupted the cross-union strike action , this should not be read as a retreat from the dispute among the members of the other unions represented in the council ’ s workforce .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NEU , Unite and GMB at the beginning of the dispute illustrated the level of dissatisfaction across the board .
Even if bureaucracy may have intervened , it is still the case that the country ’ s largest union , UNISON , is behind the strike action on July 3rd , 6th and 7th .
In fact , general secretary Dave Prentis joined the Friday online picket rally , which welcomed over 400 attendees , to voice his full support for the council workers on strike and deliver a clear warning to executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Tower Hamlets MPs , Apsana Begum , also attended and gave enthusiastic thanks and full backing for UNISON workers on strike .
Former Shadow Chancellor and picket veteran John McDonnell also made a welcome appearance .
It is unclear why a Labour-run authority is determined to antagonise UNISON , or paint a picture of the local branch as isolated and unsupported when there has been an outpouring of solidarity from across the labour movement .
An open letter opposing the Tower Rewards scheme has been signed by over 1,000 residents and trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the first day of industrial action , with pickets over six sites across the borough .
There was a beautiful show of solidarity when refuse truck drivers stood with their picketing comrades , despite not being covered by the Tower Rewards changes ( waste collection in Tower Hamlets only recently moved back in-house after years of headaches with private provider Veolia ) .
Shamefully , council managers called the police on the solidarity picket .
As the strikes continue today and tomorrow , the timeless phrase “ a Labour council , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The pandemic has forced us to evaluate how we think about work, what is and isn’t essential work, and how we reward those who perform vital functions in our society. Unfortunately, Tower Hamlets Council appears determined to pass up this opportunity for reflection as it is pushing ahead with highly controversial plans to impose worse conditions on its workforce.
The ironically named ‘Tower Rewards‘ scheme is a complex package of changes to council workers’ contracts that include cuts to the starting salaries in lower-paid jobs, reductions in travel, unsocial hours, reductions to the existing flexible working system and cuts to redeployment and severance pay. With some staff in higher grades seeing an increased salary, trade unions stress that the changes will disadvantage lower-paid, frontline workers most – disproportionately women and BAME staff.
The dispute has been festering locally for about a year, with a series of ballots by all unions indicating time and time again that council staff are not happy with the proposed changes. As of February, UNISON’s Tower Rewards industrial action ballots showed conclusively that workers reject the proposals. Among core council employees, with 52.5% turnout, 89.6% were ‘yes’ votes – while community schools staff delivered a massive 98% ‘yes’ vote for strike action. This is an overwhelming vote that not only meets the 50% threshold imposed by the most recent Tory legislation, but even the higher threshold for ‘essential services’, with over 40% of the total membership balloted in each case. The NEU recorded a similar result with turnout of 51.5% and 95.4% voting ‘yes’.
However, the council’s chief executive has always openly acknowledged his willingness to use regressive (Tory) anti-union legislation to force a sacking and re-employment of the workforce regardless of their views on the new conditions. In fact, from the start of the ‘consultation’ – when proposals were presented to staff before the unions, and presented as if they were part of the previous year’s nationally-negotiated settlement – management has sidelined unions in favour of one-to-one staff meetings. In these meetings, workers have only heard one side – that of the management – and were told that they needed to sign the new contracts or face being sacked and forced to accept the new terms regardless.
In March, we saw the horrific mix of a deadly virus and government incompetence, of underfunding and undervaluing essential services. NEU and UNISON responded immediately by recognising that their planned strike action would be untimely. They offered to continue supporting our communities through their work. Because, while office workers took to lockdown and sourdough baking with varied success, it turned out that cleaners were essential, teaching support staff were essential and social care workers were essential. When the economic pain of Covid-19 truly hits families this winter, every single one of our frontline council workers will become essential.
Yet, despite clapping for them week after week, Labour-run Tower Hamlets Council is preparing to go back to business as usual. In this case, that means firing and re-hiring our essential staff on worse contracts. Nothing says ‘thank you’ like a kick in the behind. The local Labour Party is, predictably, opposed to the scheme and has been ever since union reps first voiced their concerns. The council’s executive mayor is, even more predictably, ignoring local policy. After spending months trying to placate local members, claiming that this is not a political matter and the officers are simply going through due process, John Biggs seems determined to hide behind his chief executive.
The responsibility for Tower Rewards and the negative impact it will have on our workforce and the local community lies squarely at the feet of our executive and the cabinet, after a small number of backbench councillors wrote to express their opposition to the plans and their concerns were sidelined. If the proposals were all about modernising the workforce management and extending benefits across all pay grades – as the mayor claims – then there would be little for unions to protest against. This has not been the case. It is shameful for a Labour council to side with generously-paid upper management and not with the rank and file of its workers.
What about that other big headline this spring – Black Lives Matter? As a diverse inner-London borough, I am proud to say that Tower Hamlets has a rich history of anti-racist organising, a history that we honour and celebrate – and that we recently added to by removing a slaver’s statue from Canary Wharf. It was right for the council to facilitate that, and it was right for mayor Biggs to make a statement on Black Lives Matter. But with the economic hit of the Covid-19 crisis set to hit harder this autumn, it is worrying that the impact assessment of the Tower Rewards scheme fails to provide a gender and ethnicity breakdown according to pay grade.
Instead, the council and our executive mayor deny any detrimental impact on women and especially women of colour. It is a denial not based on fact, however, because the relevant information has simply not been gathered. Unions have repeatedly demanded a proper equalities impact assessment since the proposals were presented. They know their colleagues and their circumstances much better than the CEO, and they know that the changes hit the lower pay grades disproportionately – exactly where the majority of the workforce is BAME women. Leaving aside the implications of this status quo for a borough committed to racial justice and battling with over 50% child poverty, surely now is the time to take some positive steps to address this inequality and not force through detrimental changes to women’s contracts.
Although Covid-19 and circumstances around schools specifically have disrupted the cross-union strike action, this should not be read as a retreat from the dispute among the members of the other unions represented in the council’s workforce. The coordination between Tower Hamlets UNISON, the NEU, Unite and GMB at the beginning of the dispute illustrated the level of dissatisfaction across the board. Even if bureaucracy may have intervened, it is still the case that the country’s largest union, UNISON, is behind the strike action on July 3rd, 6th and 7th. In fact, general secretary Dave Prentis joined the Friday online picket rally, which welcomed over 400 attendees, to voice his full support for the council workers on strike and deliver a clear warning to executive mayor John Biggs. One of the two Tower Hamlets MPs, Apsana Begum, also attended and gave enthusiastic thanks and full backing for UNISON workers on strike. Former Shadow Chancellor and picket veteran John McDonnell also made a welcome appearance.
It is unclear why a Labour-run authority is determined to antagonise UNISON, or paint a picture of the local branch as isolated and unsupported when there has been an outpouring of solidarity from across the labour movement. An open letter opposing the Tower Rewards scheme has been signed by over 1,000 residents and trade unionists from across the country. Friday saw the first day of industrial action, with pickets over six sites across the borough. There was a beautiful show of solidarity when refuse truck drivers stood with their picketing comrades, despite not being covered by the Tower Rewards changes (waste collection in Tower Hamlets only recently moved back in-house after years of headaches with private provider Veolia). Shamefully, council managers called the police on the solidarity picket. As the strikes continue today and tomorrow, the timeless phrase “a Labour council, a Labour council!” comes to mind.


labourlist--2020-07-06--I’ll take unconscious bias training, Keir Starmer tells LBC caller

Keir Starmer has told an LBC caller who raised concerns over his recent comments on the Black Lives Matter movement that he will be the first of Labour Party staff to undergo unconscious bias training .
A Labour Party member who identified herself as Sharon from Waltham Forest told Starmer this morning that she was “ disappointed ” he had referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as a “ moment ” .
Asked whether he would consider taking unconscious bias training , the Labour leader replied : “ What I was saying last week is that Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I meant a defining moment and a turning point… “ The reason I said that Sharon is because I ’ ve spoken to lots of Black community leaders over the last few weeks and they ’ ve told me over and over again , for heaven ’ s sake this has got to be a turning point.
” He added : “ I have to admit that if I ’ d put the word ‘ defining ’ actually into the moment , it would have been a lot easier.
” Addressing the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ In the Labour Party , we are introducing that for all of our staff , and I ’ m going to lead from the top on this and do that training first .
“ I think it ’ s very important we do .
We took a decision to introduce it across the Labour Party , and I think that ’ s the right thing to do and I think I should lead by example by doing it first.
” The Labour leader went on to tell LBC host Nick Ferrari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or three hours ” and said he would “ do it as soon as I can book in for it ” .
He told Ferrari , who questioned the need for the training : “ I think everybody should have unconscious bias training .
I think it is important .
There is always the risk of unconscious bias .
“ Just saying , oh well it probably applies to other people , not me , is not the right thing to do .
So I ’ m going to lead from the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Asked whether he regretted ‘ taking the knee ’ , Starmer said : “ I don ’ t regret it at all .
It was an expression of solidarity , a recognition of the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and what they stand for across the world.
” Starmer also talked about the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey , reiterating that he thought the Independent article she tweeted included antisemitism .
He said the firing was a “ shame ” .
Asked about a tweet by shadow cabinet member Steve Reed describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ master ” , the Labour leader said : “ I haven ’ t seen that tweet and I ’ ll have a look at it when I finish here.
” Reed , Labour ’ s spokesperson for local government , tweeted : “ Is billionaire former porn-baron Desmond the puppet master for the entire Tory cabinet ?
” .
The post has now been deleted .
Amid concerns that the comment about the Tory donor involved in the Westferry scandal played into an antisemitic trope , Starmer said he would be talking to @ @ @ @ @ @

Keir Starmer has told an LBC caller who raised concerns over his recent comments on the Black Lives Matter movement that he will be the first of Labour Party staff to undergo unconscious bias training.
A Labour Party member who identified herself as Sharon from Waltham Forest told Starmer this morning that she was “disappointed” he had referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as a “moment”.
Asked whether he would consider taking unconscious bias training, the Labour leader replied: “What I was saying last week is that Black Lives Matter needs to be a moment, and I meant a defining moment and a turning point…
“The reason I said that Sharon is because I’ve spoken to lots of Black community leaders over the last few weeks and they’ve told me over and over again, for heaven’s sake this has got to be a turning point.”
He added: “I have to admit that if I’d put the word ‘defining’ actually into the moment, it would have been a lot easier.”
Addressing the point about unconscious bias training, Starmer said: “In the Labour Party, we are introducing that for all of our staff, and I’m going to lead from the top on this and do that training first.
“I think it’s very important we do. We took a decision to introduce it across the Labour Party, and I think that’s the right thing to do and I think I should lead by example by doing it first.”
The Labour leader went on to tell LBC host Nick Ferrari that the training takes around “two or three hours” and said he would “do it as soon as I can book in for it”.
He told Ferrari, who questioned the need for the training: “I think everybody should have unconscious bias training. I think it is important. There is always the risk of unconscious bias.
“Just saying, oh well it probably applies to other people, not me, is not the right thing to do. So I’m going to lead from the front on this and do the training.”
Asked whether he regretted ‘taking the knee’, Starmer said: “I don’t regret it at all. It was an expression of solidarity, a recognition of the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and what they stand for across the world.”
Starmer also talked about the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey, reiterating that he thought the Independent article she tweeted included antisemitism. He said the firing was a “shame”.
Asked about a tweet by shadow cabinet member Steve Reed describing developer Richard Desmond as a “puppet master”, the Labour leader said: “I haven’t seen that tweet and I’ll have a look at it when I finish here.”
Reed, Labour’s spokesperson for local government, tweeted: “Is billionaire former porn-baron Desmond the puppet master for the entire Tory cabinet?”. The post has now been deleted.
Amid concerns that the comment about the Tory donor involved in the Westferry scandal played into an antisemitic trope, Starmer said he would be talking to Reed after the LBC session.


labourlist--2020-07-06--Labour calls for £1.7bn fightback fund to protect hospitality and high streets

Momentum is now chaired by a climate activist living in New York and a firefighter working for the Fire Brigades Union .
Replacing Jon Lansman with Gaya Sriskanthan and Andrew Scattergood serves to highlight a number of aims and values for the organisation ’ s new leadership : diversity , links with the wider labour movement , an emphasis on the Green New Deal policy proposals and a renewed focus on international work .
Of course , what everyone wants to know is how they will handle Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) elections .
The hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance meeting tomorrow goes smoothly and a single slate is formed .
In news from Labour itself , the party is calling today for a new £1.7bn fightback fund to protect the hospitality industry and high streets amid the lifting of coronavirus restrictions .
On the theme of “ jobs , jobs , jobs ” , the shadow business team has identified those most at risk of going under : beauty salons , nail bars and gyms , which remain closed ; pubs , bars , hotels and restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not trade as normal due to distancing guidelines still in place .
These partially and fully shut down sectors could risk the loss of one million jobs , Labour says .
The proposed new fund would give councils more flexibility over support for their local economy .
This fightback fund idea follows the demand by Labour that the government adapts the furlough scheme being wound down by the Chancellor amid many thousands of job cuts .
Anneliese Dodds used the Sunday shows media round to reiterate her message that the “ one-size-fits-all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sector-specific support .
Shadow minister Lucy Powell has warned that the employer contribution aspect of the scheme , which kicks in next month , will be a “ step too far ” for many businesses .
The whole job retention programme is due to end in October , but – as we heard DCMS Secretary Oliver Dowden this morning – many areas of the economy , such as theatres , are not expected to be up and running by the end of the year .
Labour has been attempting throughout this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting impractical ideas or by being overly critical of the government .
But the party could also be trapped if it underestimates the scale of this crisis .
The furlough scheme being extended to October , for example , was warmly welcomed by the labour movement .
And it was indeed a great victory for trade unions that thoroughly deserved celebration .
But that move now looks seriously lacking in ambition : the depth and length of the crisis was not appreciated in that moment .
Repeating similar miscalculations must be avoided .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

Momentum is now chaired by a climate activist living in New York and a firefighter working for the Fire Brigades Union. Replacing Jon Lansman with Gaya Sriskanthan and Andrew Scattergood serves to highlight a number of aims and values for the organisation’s new leadership: diversity, links with the wider labour movement, an emphasis on the Green New Deal policy proposals and a renewed focus on international work. Of course, what everyone wants to know is how they will handle Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) elections. The hope for the party’s left is that the Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance meeting tomorrow goes smoothly and a single slate is formed.
In news from Labour itself, the party is calling today for a new £1.7bn fightback fund to protect the hospitality industry and high streets amid the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. On the theme of “jobs, jobs, jobs”, the shadow business team has identified those most at risk of going under: beauty salons, nail bars and gyms, which remain closed; pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants, which are allowed to open but cannot trade as normal due to distancing guidelines still in place. These partially and fully shut down sectors could risk the loss of one million jobs, Labour says. The proposed new fund would give councils more flexibility over support for their local economy.
This fightback fund idea follows the demand by Labour that the government adapts the furlough scheme being wound down by the Chancellor amid many thousands of job cuts. Anneliese Dodds used the Sunday shows media round to reiterate her message that the “one-size-fits-all” approach should be dropped in favour of sector-specific support. Shadow minister Lucy Powell has warned that the employer contribution aspect of the scheme, which kicks in next month, will be a “step too far” for many businesses. The whole job retention programme is due to end in October, but – as we heard DCMS Secretary Oliver Dowden this morning – many areas of the economy, such as theatres, are not expected to be up and running by the end of the year.
Labour has been attempting throughout this crisis to avoid getting trapped, either by promoting impractical ideas or by being overly critical of the government. But the party could also be trapped if it underestimates the scale of this crisis. The furlough scheme being extended to October, for example, was warmly welcomed by the labour movement. And it was indeed a great victory for trade unions that thoroughly deserved celebration. But that move now looks seriously lacking in ambition: the depth and length of the crisis was not appreciated in that moment. Repeating similar miscalculations must be avoided. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-07-06--Universal basic income should be considered for recovery, says Burnham

Andy Burnham has suggested that the government should consider introducing a universal basic income to “ address health and economic resilience ” and aid the country ’ s recovery from coronavirus .
The Greater Manchester mayor talked to BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme this morning about how the government can support communities with a large proportion of people in low-paid and insecure work .
Burnham said that the pandemic had revealed how “ hugely unequal ” the UK is , and argued that many people “ simply were not able to protect their own health because of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furlough scheme , he urged government : “ Don ’ t let that become a cliff edge in October .
It ’ s likely you will have to extend that scheme or adapt it to help people stay in work and to fulfil the original purpose of the scheme – which is to keep jobs .
He added : “ It ’ s towns in the Midlands and the North that are being singled out today as being potentially being hardest hit… There ’ s too many people in those places in low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t take time off work if they had symptoms because they knew they wouldn ’ t be paid .
“ And I would urge the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to address this issue of health and economic resilience in some of our poorest places .
I think they should be talking about a real living wage across the country and also potentially even a universal basic income .
“ Because what we have seen with this virus – it ’ s been very clearly exposed – it is hugely unequal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who simply were not able to protect their own health because of their poor working conditions.
” In May , London mayor Sadiq Khan also backed proposals for a universal basic income to aid economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis – despite UK Labour not supporting the move .
The Labour leadership had rejected the idea in April – a spokesperson for Keir Starmer said : “ Creating an entirely new social security system is unlikely to be possible during the crisis.
” 170 MPs and peers wrote to the Chancellor in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal basic income ’ in the pandemic – to “ give everyone the financial support they need to provide for themselves and their families ” .
Labour ’ s 2019 general election manifesto included proposals to pilot the policy in several towns and cities across the UK , with bids from Liverpool and Sheffield among other areas .

Andy Burnham has suggested that the government should consider introducing a universal basic income to “address health and economic resilience” and aid the country’s recovery from coronavirus.
The Greater Manchester mayor talked to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning about how the government can support communities with a large proportion of people in low-paid and insecure work.
Burnham said that the pandemic had revealed how “hugely unequal” the UK is, and argued that many people “simply were not able to protect their own health because of their poor working conditions”.
On the furlough scheme, he urged government: “Don’t let that become a cliff edge in October. It’s likely you will have to extend that scheme or adapt it to help people stay in work and to fulfil the original purpose of the scheme – which is to keep jobs.
He added: “It’s towns in the Midlands and the North that are being singled out today as being potentially being hardest hit… There’s too many people in those places in low paid, insecure work – people who couldn’t take time off work if they had symptoms because they knew they wouldn’t be paid.
“And I would urge the Chancellor and the Prime Minister to address this issue of health and economic resilience in some of our poorest places. I think they should be talking about a real living wage across the country and also potentially even a universal basic income.
“Because what we have seen with this virus – it’s been very clearly exposed – it is hugely unequal our country, and there are some people who simply were not able to protect their own health because of their poor working conditions.”
In May, London mayor Sadiq Khan also backed proposals for a universal basic income to aid economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis – despite UK Labour not supporting the move.
The Labour leadership had rejected the idea in April – a spokesperson for Keir Starmer said: “Creating an entirely new social security system is unlikely to be possible during the crisis.”
170 MPs and peers wrote to the Chancellor in March, calling for an ’emergency universal basic income’ in the pandemic – to “give everyone the financial support they need to provide for themselves and their families”.
Labour’s 2019 general election manifesto included proposals to pilot the policy in several towns and cities across the UK, with bids from Liverpool and Sheffield among other areas.


labourlist--2020-07-06--WATCH: Furlough scheme contributions a “step too far” for businesses, says Labour

Lucy Powell has warned that changes to the furlough scheme in August requiring contributions from employers will be a “ step too far ” for many businesses across the country .
In an interview with BBC Breakfast this morning , the shadow business minister said that there would be “ many more thousands of job losses ” if the furlough scheme is not extended .
The Labour MP argued for “ more flexibility and an extension ” to the government support programme , describing it as the “ very best way to ensure the public finances ” .
Asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wealth tax to pay for its extension , she said : “ Well we ’ re not talking about those things – we ’ re talking about how we can protect the public finances by protecting jobs and businesses today.
” Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds advised last week that the government should consider using wealth taxes to fund the UK ’ s recovery , and said that Labour is against “ generalised tax rises across the whole of the population ” .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to give a ‘ summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plans to support the economy in a statement to the Commons on Wednesday .

Lucy Powell has warned that changes to the furlough scheme in August requiring contributions from employers will be a “step too far” for many businesses across the country.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast this morning, the shadow business minister said that there would be “many more thousands of job losses” if the furlough scheme is not extended.
The Labour MP argued for “more flexibility and an extension” to the government support programme, describing it as the “very best way to ensure the public finances”.
Asked if Labour wants an increase in taxes or a wealth tax to pay for its extension, she said: “Well we’re not talking about those things – we’re talking about how we can protect the public finances by protecting jobs and businesses today.”
Shadow Business Minister, Lucy Powell MP, tells #BBCBreakfast the reduction of the furlough scheme is going to "be a step too far" for many businesses.
More here: https://t.co/KWg2j5eBYe pic.twitter.com/0BpD4w7rz0 — BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 6, 2020
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds advised last week that the government should consider using wealth taxes to fund the UK’s recovery, and said that Labour is against “generalised tax rises across the whole of the population”.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to give a ‘summer economic update’ outlining the government’s plans to support the economy in a statement to the Commons on Wednesday.


labourlist--2020-07-06--Open Labour announces internal national committee election results

Soft left organisation Open Labour has announced the results of its internal national committee elections that saw 50 candidates compete for 17 places and concluded on July 4th .
The group attracted a record number of candidates for the latest set of internal contests , including former Labour MEP Julie Ward and past parliamentary candidates Lucy Burke and Sarah Sackman .
1,209 ballots were issued to members and 605 votes cast , according to Open Labour , making the overall turnout 50.04 % .
San Francisco RCV and Scottish STV were used as voting systems .
The following two candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Sobel MP The following candidates were elected after contested elections : The following ten were elected to the ‘ open ’ section after contested elections and application of the Women ’ s quota : Following the election , Open Labour has issued ballots for members to choose candidates that they would like the organisation to endorse for Labour ’ s upcoming national executive committee ( NEC ) elections .
The soft left group , which was co-founded by Labour frontbencher Alex Sobel in 2015 , will be supporting two local party rep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one councillor candidate for the contests .
They are expected to back Ann Black for the local party section on the NEC and Alice Perry for local government rep .
Both are Open Labour members and have applied for endorsement .

Soft left organisation Open Labour has announced the results of its internal national committee elections that saw 50 candidates compete for 17 places and concluded on July 4th.
The group attracted a record number of candidates for the latest set of internal contests, including former Labour MEP Julie Ward and past parliamentary candidates Lucy Burke and Sarah Sackman.
1,209 ballots were issued to members and 605 votes cast, according to Open Labour, making the overall turnout 50.04%. San Francisco RCV and Scottish STV were used as voting systems.
The following two candidates were elected unopposed:
Wales – Matthew Hexter
Parliamentary – Alex Sobel MP
The following candidates were elected after contested elections:
Disability – Lucy Burke
BAME – Amen Tesfay
Women – Charlotte Norton
LGBT – Megan Birchall
Scotland – Keiran O’Neill
The following ten were elected to the ‘open’ section after contested elections and application of the Women’s quota:
Abi Barinski
Amrita Rose
Anisha Faruk
Jake Cable
Julie Ward
Omar Salem
Rachael Ward
Sarah Sackman
Tessa Milligan
Tom Miller
Following the election, Open Labour has issued ballots for members to choose candidates that they would like the organisation to endorse for Labour’s upcoming national executive committee (NEC) elections.
The soft left group, which was co-founded by Labour frontbencher Alex Sobel in 2015, will be supporting two local party rep candidates, one disability, one youth and one councillor candidate for the contests.
They are expected to back Ann Black for the local party section on the NEC and Alice Perry for local government rep. Both are Open Labour members and have applied for endorsement.