labourlist--2020-01-14--“I am asking you to make the brave, not the easy choice” – Lisa Nandy’s launch speech

Below is the full text of Lisa Nandy ’ s leadership campaign launch speech .
I am so pleased to be back here in Dagenham today .
This is a place that means so much to me for so many reasons .
The home of the Ford Machinists and their landmark fight for Equal Pay .
A fight that showed the world what strong women leaders like Rose Boland and Vera Sime could do when they refused to accept the status quo .
Where , against the far right , who have tried to exploit the insecurity of a community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across Dagenham and Rainham have used the strength and moral courage of our movement to defeat hate with hope time and time again .
So it is awesome – in the literal sense of the word – to be standing here in this community , so rich with the past and so radical about the future , asking for your permission to lead our Party back to power and become this country ’ s next Labour Prime Minister .
Barbara Castle once said , “ in politics , guts is all ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to talk about the leadership that is needed at this moment .
The empathy , stamina and moral courage that has driven big , deep lasting change in this country over 100 years .
These have been a bruising few years and a shattering defeat .
But now is not the time to steady the ship or play it safe .
If we do not change course as a labour movement , we will die and we will deserve to .
This is the moment when we up our game and recover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you to make the brave , not the easy choice , in this leadership contest .
Ours has always been a movement that faces north , south , east and west .
But at this critical moment in our nation ’ s history , Labour is in retreat .
Defeated and divided in Scotland .
Beaten back in North Wales and large parts of the northern , southern and Midlands towns .
And in the fight of our lives in many parts of the major cities .
The stark reality is the path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red wall but across a red bridge that connects our towns and cities and stretches from Dagenham to Fulham , Aberdeen to Glasgow , and Cardiff to Wrexham .
But some no longer seem to believe we can stand for all of the diverse communities in Britain .
They have accepted the idea , peddled by those who seek to defeat us , that we are locked into a tug of war and we must choose : between working and middle class , leave and remain , north and south , young and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not accept this .
For all of the radicalism and energy of our recent years , they are wrong to believe that this is a zero-sum game .
I am not giving up .
Ours is a harder and a better path than the Tories .
Not just to try and game out how far along the see-saw we can shuffle to win Putney without losing Mansfield .
But to make the case to both and to win the argument .
So on Brexit – one of the biggest tests Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – we completely failed to offer the leadership the country needs .
While one part of our leadership bounced up and down for Remain , others clamoured for Leave .
We let the Tories determine how we would become divided from our people .
And we put our activists and councillors in an impossible position in both Leave and Remain areas .
The choice : to be for Labour , or to be for your community .
You could not be both .
I promise you that under my leadership this will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a family that spans the broadest political tradition , from Liberalism to Marxism , and it ’ s that that makes me understand that you take on your opponent ’ s argument at the strongest , not the weakest point , or you do not defeat it at all .
It demands that you run towards trouble .
The path of least resistance has never pointed towards progress .
In Scotland , where we have been beaten by nationalists again and again , we have to accept we do not have all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to argue amongst ourselves about resources or strategies .
Now is the time to look outwards , paint with broad strokes and set up an international commission , led by and for Scottish people , that seeks to learn from the few examples where at times in modern history the cause of social justice has beaten divisive nationalism .
Because I believe there is more we have in common as a nation than that which divides us .
This is the country that lies beneath the surface and it must be heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at moments in our history .
Tough on crime , tough on the causes of crime was a slogan .
But behind it lay something far more profound .
It recognised that people who were victims of crime and wanted more police on the streets so that the people who were ruining their lives would be taken off them – were right .
And that people who hated the fact that children who were poorer or from minority backgrounds were more likely to end up in prison – were right .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could break the cycle and deal with the concerns of both .
That is as true now as it was then .
Knife crime in Croydon and drug running in Barrow is not a tug of war for more resources but the same disease with different symptoms .
Young people who feel little hope and little stake .
Take climate change .
Without any doubt the biggest challenge we face .
But when activists in Balham talk about a green revolution , people in Bassetlaw , whose power stations are closing , hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their energy bill is going up .
But what those Balham activists are talking about when they call for a green revolution can create jobs and bring down bills , and means action on transport – one of the biggest remaining sources of emissions .
To tackle climate change we need new , cleaner , more reliable transport .
This is the better buses that Bassetlaw needs .
We might speak a different language but our ambitions are the same .
And Labour is already building this red bridge .
Whether it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the local council have used the power of clean energy to drive investment , support struggling families and cut carbon emissions .
It ’ s no longer a zero-sum game .
Or back home in Wigan when youth services collapsed across the country , our Labour Council put up millions so that right there in the centre of town stands not just a youth zone but a visible symbol to young people of how much they mean to Labour .
We believe in them , and because of that , they believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power , but we should never believe we ’ re powerless .
Just look at the campaigns trade unions like Unite and the GMB are winning that are improving pay and conditions for millions .
We have ambitions for the future that match those of our communities .
For 15 years , we ’ ve thought we could change the man at the top and it would fix this .
But the leadership that is needed now is not the man standing behind the despatch box .
It is the leadership of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made waves and said not one moment longer will we accept that we are worth less than other workers and we will build a movement to create change .
And the Cabinet Minister who stepped forward , heard them and opened that door .
Kennedy said , “ We choose to go to the moon in this decade not because it is easy but because it is hard ” .
That is what I have learnt – from my battle against the last Labour government to get child refugees out of Yarls Wood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets of Soho .
As a new MP waging a lonely war to defeat the free schools that deny children with special needs a decent education .
As the vice-chair of Labour Friends of Palestine , standing up for Palestinian children and against anti-Semitism , for the right of both Palestine to be recognised and Israel to exist .
Or in recent years , standing up for a compromise on Brexit that has pitted me against our party ’ s leadership and my constituents and forced me to take on , and win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have learnt that progress is not inevitable .
If you want a better country you have to go out and fight for it .
The arc of history does not always bend to the left .
But these are the fights that Labour must have .
And that Labour can win .
When we are prepared to go out , take on the argument and do so from a place of hope and not anger , we always win .
From the Race Relations Act – deeply personal to me and part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reforms that ensured children in this country could grow up with others from different backgrounds – and gave me my lifelong best friends – we have never enabled this country to be the best it can be by playing it safe .
There are moments in history when you stand up .
Now is one of those moments .
10 years ago – what feels a lifetime – I was scooped up by Tessa Jowell as a new MP from a very different wing of the party , and the country , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It remains one of the formative experiences of my life .
Just down the road from here , in an act of extraordinary symbolism , Bury lad Danny Boyle organised rehearsals for the opening ceremony in the car park of the old Ford plant .
It was to become the moment when the real , radical patriotic story of Britain in all it ’ s messy complexity and diversity was told to millions around the world .
Thousands of volunteers took part in hundreds of hours of rehearsals and nothing leaked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boyle said “ we could film , tweet , text and post if we wanted to but he asked us not to.
” This was a unique bond of trust .
He believed in them , so they believed in him .
I do too .
That is why I want to lead this party , and seek your permission to become the next Labour Prime Minister , to enable us to become the country that I have believed in all of my life but never seen .
I can see it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley once said Labour is the light on the hill for people in times of darkness .
That is my Labour , our Labour , our country .
With your help I can do this .
We can do this .
Our country can do this .
We win this together .

Below is the full text of Lisa Nandy’s leadership campaign launch speech.
I am so pleased to be back here in Dagenham today. This is a place that means so much to me for so many reasons. The home of the Ford Machinists and their landmark fight for Equal Pay. A fight that showed the world what strong women leaders like Rose Boland and Vera Sime could do when they refused to accept the status quo.
Where, against the far right, who have tried to exploit the insecurity of a community in economic decline, Jon and activists across Dagenham and Rainham have used the strength and moral courage of our movement to defeat hate with hope time and time again.
So it is awesome – in the literal sense of the word – to be standing here in this community, so rich with the past and so radical about the future, asking for your permission to lead our Party back to power and become this country’s next Labour Prime Minister.
Barbara Castle once said, “in politics, guts is all”. It’s in that spirit I want to talk about the leadership that is needed at this moment. The empathy, stamina and moral courage that has driven big, deep lasting change in this country over 100 years.
These have been a bruising few years and a shattering defeat. But now is not the time to steady the ship or play it safe. If we do not change course as a labour movement, we will die and we will deserve to. This is the moment when we up our game and recover our ambition. So I am asking you to make the brave, not the easy choice, in this leadership contest.
Ours has always been a movement that faces north, south, east and west. But at this critical moment in our nation’s history, Labour is in retreat. Defeated and divided in Scotland. Beaten back in North Wales and large parts of the northern, southern and Midlands towns. And in the fight of our lives in many parts of the major cities.
The stark reality is the path back to power runs not along our red wall but across a red bridge that connects our towns and cities and stretches from Dagenham to Fulham, Aberdeen to Glasgow, and Cardiff to Wrexham.
But some no longer seem to believe we can stand for all of the diverse communities in Britain. They have accepted the idea, peddled by those who seek to defeat us, that we are locked into a tug of war and we must choose: between working and middle class, leave and remain, north and south, young and old, towns and cities.
But I do not accept this. For all of the radicalism and energy of our recent years, they are wrong to believe that this is a zero-sum game. I am not giving up. Ours is a harder and a better path than the Tories. Not just to try and game out how far along the see-saw we can shuffle to win Putney without losing Mansfield. But to make the case to both and to win the argument.
So on Brexit – one of the biggest tests Labour’s diverse coalition has ever faced – we completely failed to offer the leadership the country needs. While one part of our leadership bounced up and down for Remain, others clamoured for Leave.
We let the Tories determine how we would become divided from our people. And we put our activists and councillors in an impossible position in both Leave and Remain areas. The choice: to be for Labour, or to be for your community. You could not be both. I promise you that under my leadership this will never, ever happen again.
I come from a family that spans the broadest political tradition, from Liberalism to Marxism, and it’s that that makes me understand that you take on your opponent’s argument at the strongest, not the weakest point, or you do not defeat it at all. It demands that you run towards trouble. The path of least resistance has never pointed towards progress.
In Scotland, where we have been beaten by nationalists again and again, we have to accept we do not have all the answers. Now is not the time to argue amongst ourselves about resources or strategies.
Now is the time to look outwards, paint with broad strokes and set up an international commission, led by and for Scottish people, that seeks to learn from the few examples where at times in modern history the cause of social justice has beaten divisive nationalism.
Because I believe there is more we have in common as a nation than that which divides us. This is the country that lies beneath the surface and it must be heard. We have done it before, at moments in our history.
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime was a slogan. But behind it lay something far more profound. It recognised that people who were victims of crime and wanted more police on the streets so that the people who were ruining their lives would be taken off them – were right.
And that people who hated the fact that children who were poorer or from minority backgrounds were more likely to end up in prison – were right. And that both more police, and restorative justice could break the cycle and deal with the concerns of both. That is as true now as it was then.
Knife crime in Croydon and drug running in Barrow is not a tug of war for more resources but the same disease with different symptoms. Young people who feel little hope and little stake.
Take climate change. Without any doubt the biggest challenge we face. But when activists in Balham talk about a green revolution, people in Bassetlaw, whose power stations are closing, hear that their job is being lost and their energy bill is going up.
But what those Balham activists are talking about when they call for a green revolution can create jobs and bring down bills, and means action on transport – one of the biggest remaining sources of emissions. To tackle climate change we need new, cleaner, more reliable transport. This is the better buses that Bassetlaw needs.
We might speak a different language but our ambitions are the same. And Labour is already building this red bridge. Whether it’s here in Dagenham, where Darren and the local council have used the power of clean energy to drive investment, support struggling families and cut carbon emissions. It’s no longer a zero-sum game.
Or back home in Wigan when youth services collapsed across the country, our Labour Council put up millions so that right there in the centre of town stands not just a youth zone but a visible symbol to young people of how much they mean to Labour. We believe in them, and because of that, they believe in us.
We may not be in power, but we should never believe we’re powerless. Just look at the campaigns trade unions like Unite and the GMB are winning that are improving pay and conditions for millions. We have ambitions for the future that match those of our communities. For 15 years, we’ve thought we could change the man at the top and it would fix this.
But the leadership that is needed now is not the man standing behind the despatch box. It is the leadership of those Dagenham women who went out, made waves and said not one moment longer will we accept that we are worth less than other workers and we will build a movement to create change. And the Cabinet Minister who stepped forward, heard them and opened that door.
Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade not because it is easy but because it is hard”. That is what I have learnt – from my battle against the last Labour government to get child refugees out of Yarls Wood or to take homeless teenagers off the streets of Soho.
As a new MP waging a lonely war to defeat the free schools that deny children with special needs a decent education. As the vice-chair of Labour Friends of Palestine, standing up for Palestinian children and against anti-Semitism, for the right of both Palestine to be recognised and Israel to exist.
Or in recent years, standing up for a compromise on Brexit that has pitted me against our party’s leadership and my constituents and forced me to take on, and win, the argument with both.
I have learnt that progress is not inevitable. If you want a better country you have to go out and fight for it. The arc of history does not always bend to the left. But these are the fights that Labour must have. And that Labour can win. When we are prepared to go out, take on the argument and do so from a place of hope and not anger, we always win.
From the Race Relations Act – deeply personal to me and part of my family story – to the Crosland Reforms that ensured children in this country could grow up with others from different backgrounds – and gave me my lifelong best friends – we have never enabled this country to be the best it can be by playing it safe. There are moments in history when you stand up. Now is one of those moments.
10 years ago – what feels a lifetime – I was scooped up by Tessa Jowell as a new MP from a very different wing of the party, and the country, to support her to deliver the Olympic Games. It remains one of the formative experiences of my life.
Just down the road from here, in an act of extraordinary symbolism, Bury lad Danny Boyle organised rehearsals for the opening ceremony in the car park of the old Ford plant. It was to become the moment when the real, radical patriotic story of Britain in all it’s messy complexity and diversity was told to millions around the world.
Thousands of volunteers took part in hundreds of hours of rehearsals and nothing leaked. In the words of one volunteer Danny Boyle said “we could film, tweet, text and post if we wanted to but he asked us not to.” This was a unique bond of trust. He believed in them, so they believed in him. I do too.
That is why I want to lead this party, and seek your permission to become the next Labour Prime Minister, to enable us to become the country that I have believed in all of my life but never seen. I can see it and I feel I can almost touch it.
The Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley once said Labour is the light on the hill for people in times of darkness. That is my Labour, our Labour, our country. With your help I can do this. We can do this. Our country can do this. We win this together.


labourlist--2020-01-14--How each Labour leadership candidate has voted on key issues

Labour leadership candidates Keir Starmer , Rebecca Long-Bailey , Lisa Nandy , Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry have passed the MP and MEP nomination threshold and will now enter the second stage of the contest .
Ahead of local party and affiliate nominations opening on Wednesday , LabourList has taken a look at the voting records of the five leadership hopefuls .
We ’ ve also included a list of how each contender chose to cast their nomination papers in the recent Labour leadership elections of 2015 and 2016 .
Starmer , Long-Bailey and Phillips entered parliament in 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having first been elected in 2010 and Thornberry took her Commons seat in 2005 .
During the 2015 leadership contest , interim leader Harriet Harman decided that Labour should abstain rather than vote against the government at second reading .
Although 48 MPs defied the whip to vote against the government , it passed by 308 to 124 votes .
Harman ’ s so-called “ reasoned amendment ” opposed child poverty targets and changes to employment and support allowance ( ESA ) , but made no mention of changes to child tax credits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welfare cap to £20,000 per year .
It was defeated by 308 votes to 208 .
Rebecca Long-Bailey , against Lisa Nandy , abstained ( maternity leave but spoke out against it ) Jess Phillips , abstained Emily Thornberry , abstained Keir Starmer , abstained All of the candidates voted against at the final legislative stage in the Commons , but this second reading of the bill was crucial in shaping the 2015 leadership election .
In July 2016 , the House of Commons voted on a motion to renew Trident , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership gave Labour MPs a free vote .
In November 2016 , the SNP tabled a motion calling for parliament to hold to account former Prime Minister Tony Blair for misleading the House over the Iraq war .
On February 8th 2017 , MPs voted on triggering Article 50 in the third reading of the EU ( Notification of Withdrawal ) Bill , which began the process of the UK leaving the EU .
15 Labour MPs later voted to back Boris Johnson ’ s Withdrawal Agreement , including Nandy .
She then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme motion in October , and the legislation didn ’ t proceed .
On June 25th 2018 , MPs voted to approve the national policy statement that called for a third runway to Heathrow airport .
Labour opposed the expansion , but the leadership gave MPs a free vote on the issue .
December 2015 saw MPs vote for the UK to conduct airstrikes in Syria by 397 to 223 votes .
Corbyn said the action would “ almost certainly ” result in the death of innocent people but gave MPs a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House of Commons voted to pass phase 1 of High Speed Rail 2 ( HS2 ) – the bit from London to the West Midlands .
Labour whipped in support of the legislation .
MPs voted for phase 2 of HS2 – the bit from the West Midlands to Crewe – in July 2019 and the Bill passed by 263 to 17 votes .
Who did they each nominate in the 2015 leadership election ?
Which candidates nominated Owen Smith in the 2017 leadership contest ?
As incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn automatically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and did not need to be nominated by colleagues .
Owen Smith received 162 MP nominations .

Labour leadership candidates Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry have passed the MP and MEP nomination threshold and will now enter the second stage of the contest.
Ahead of local party and affiliate nominations opening on Wednesday, LabourList has taken a look at the voting records of the five leadership hopefuls.
We’ve also included a list of how each contender chose to cast their nomination papers in the recent Labour leadership elections of 2015 and 2016.
Starmer, Long-Bailey and Phillips entered parliament in 2015, whereas Nandy has a longer voting record having first been elected in 2010 and Thornberry took her Commons seat in 2005.
Welfare benefit cap
During the 2015 leadership contest, interim leader Harriet Harman decided that Labour should abstain rather than vote against the government at second reading. Although 48 MPs defied the whip to vote against the government, it passed by 308 to 124 votes.
Harman’s so-called “reasoned amendment” opposed child poverty targets and changes to employment and support allowance (ESA), but made no mention of changes to child tax credits and offered support to cut the household welfare cap to £20,000 per year. It was defeated by 308 votes to 208.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, against
Lisa Nandy, abstained (maternity leave but spoke out against it)
Jess Phillips, abstained
Emily Thornberry, abstained
Keir Starmer, abstained
All of the candidates voted against at the final legislative stage in the Commons, but this second reading of the bill was crucial in shaping the 2015 leadership election.
Trident
In July 2016, the House of Commons voted on a motion to renew Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The leadership gave Labour MPs a free vote.
Long-Bailey, against
Nandy, against
Phillips, for
Thornberry, abstained
Starmer, for
Chilcot enquiry
In November 2016, the SNP tabled a motion calling for parliament to hold to account former Prime Minister Tony Blair for misleading the House over the Iraq war.
Long-Bailey, abstained
Nandy, abstained
Phillips, against
Thornberry, abstained
Starmer, against
Brexit
On February 8th 2017, MPs voted on triggering Article 50 in the third reading of the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which began the process of the UK leaving the EU.
Long-Bailey, for
Nandy, for
Phillips, for
Thornberry, for
Starmer, for
15 Labour MPs later voted to back Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement, including Nandy. She then voted against the government’s fast-track programme motion in October, and the legislation didn’t proceed.
Third runway at Heathrow
On June 25th 2018, MPs voted to approve the national policy statement that called for a third runway to Heathrow airport. Labour opposed the expansion, but the leadership gave MPs a free vote on the issue.
Long-Bailey, abstained
Nandy, against
Phillips, for
Starmer, against
Thornberry, against
Syria
December 2015 saw MPs vote for the UK to conduct airstrikes in Syria by 397 to 223 votes. Corbyn said the action would “almost certainly” result in the death of innocent people but gave MPs a free vote.
Long-Bailey, against
Nandy, against
Phillips, against
Thornberry, against
Starmer, against
HS2
On March 23 2016, the House of Commons voted to pass phase 1 of High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) – the bit from London to the West Midlands. Labour whipped in support of the legislation.
Long-Bailey, for
Nandy, for
Phillips, for
Starmer, against
Thornberry, for
MPs voted for phase 2 of HS2 – the bit from the West Midlands to Crewe – in July 2019 and the Bill passed by 263 to 17 votes.
Long-Bailey, for
Nandy, abstained
Phillips, abstained
Starmer, abstained
Thornberry, abstained
Who did they each nominate in the 2015 leadership election?
Long-Bailey – Jeremy Corbyn
Nandy – Andy Burnham
Phillips – Yvette Cooper
Starmer – Andy Burnham
Thornberry – Jeremy Corbyn
Which candidates nominated Owen Smith in the 2017 leadership contest?
As incumbent leader Jeremy Corbyn automatically secured a place on the ballot paper and did not need to be nominated by colleagues. Owen Smith received 162 MP nominations.
Keir Starmer
Lisa Nandy
Jess Phillips
Rebecca Long-Bailey and Emily Thornberry endorsed Corbyn.


labourlist--2020-01-13--It is “wrong” to list Extinction Rebellion as extremist group, says Labour

The Labour Party has said it is “ wrong ” that South East counter-terror police guidance listed environmental protest network Extinction Rebellion as an extremist group .
“ It is quite wrong to list Extinction Rebellion as an extremist group , and the government knows it , ” Labour ’ s Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott commented this afternoon .
It was recently revealed by The Guardian that non-violent organisation ‘ XR ’ had been included on a list of ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent programme .
A 12-page guide produced by counter-terrorism police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for included people who speak in “ strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change , ecology , species extinction , fracking , airport expansion or pollution ” .
Responding to the news , Abbott said : “ There is a world of difference between a genuine security or terrorist threat and the mild inconvenience caused by people legally and peacefully protesting .
This is about the broader rights to assembly and to protest.
” “ The decision also further damages the tarnished image of the Prevent programme and reinforces the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping terrorism , but is a state intervention into communities and groups that the government believes are suspect.
” Labour leadership candidate and former chief prosecutor Keir Starmer also branded the decision as “ completely wrong and counterproductive ” , as Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the move .
Asked about the condemnation of former Prevent head Sir Peter Fahy , Patel said : “ When it comes to anti-terrorism , Prevent and the work that the government is doing , and has done for a considerable period of time – we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ That ’ s right and that ’ s proper .
But everything has to be based and calibrated upon risk .
Sir Peter Fahy has made one comment .
Quite frankly , I look at a range of security risks .
”

The Labour Party has said it is “wrong” that South East counter-terror police guidance listed environmental protest network Extinction Rebellion as an extremist group.
“It is quite wrong to list Extinction Rebellion as an extremist group, and the government knows it,” Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott commented this afternoon.
It was recently revealed by The Guardian that non-violent organisation ‘XR’ had been included on a list of ideologies that should be reported to the authorities running the Prevent programme.
A 12-page guide produced by counter-terrorism police reportedly said that issues to look out for included people who speak in “strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution”.
Responding to the news, Abbott said: “There is a world of difference between a genuine security or terrorist threat and the mild inconvenience caused by people legally and peacefully protesting. This is about the broader rights to assembly and to protest.”
“The decision also further damages the tarnished image of the Prevent programme and reinforces the idea that it is not aimed at stopping terrorism, but is a state intervention into communities and groups that the government believes are suspect.”
Labour leadership candidate and former chief prosecutor Keir Starmer also branded the decision as “completely wrong and counterproductive”, as Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the move.
Asked about the condemnation of former Prevent head Sir Peter Fahy, Patel said: “When it comes to anti-terrorism, Prevent and the work that the government is doing, and has done for a considerable period of time – we are constantly looking at individuals, groups.
“That’s right and that’s proper. But everything has to be based and calibrated upon risk. Sir Peter Fahy has made one comment. Quite frankly, I look at a range of security risks.”


labourlist--2020-01-13--Leadership starts with listening – and I want to hear from you

Today nominations closed in the Parliamentary Labour Party part of the contests to elect Labour ’ s next leader and deputy leader .
I ’ m incredibly proud to have the support of so many elected representatives from across our movement – and now it ’ s over to our members and affiliates .
I want Labour to offer a socialism that ’ s rooted in people ’ s real lives , underpinned by properly-resourced activism and effective organisation that ultimately takes us to power .
We have to look at how we campaign , how we resource our grassroots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we turn our huge number of activists into a nationwide Labour community with the collective knowledge , skills and ambition to win .
By doing that , we can achieve some of what we all joined this party to do .
As vital as canvassing is , none of us became involved in politics just to endlessly ask the same five questions on the doorstep .
If we change how we do things , we can build trust and election-winning campaigns while changing lives at the same time .
I know our members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day by running food banks , offering welfare advice , running school uniform swaps for struggling families , organising WASPI groups and contributing to their communities in so many other ways .
I want to do more of that , and I want to do it unashamedly as Labour so there is never any doubt that our party is truly on the side of the people ; not just in the weeks leading up to polling day but every day , everywhere .
As a trade union organiser for most of my life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done through top-down structures .
Our movement ’ s story is of collective action to achieve change .
I don ’ t have all the answers – no one person does .
But I know a few million people who can help .
That ’ s why I ’ m asking members , affiliates , councillors , candidates and everyone across the movement what you think we need to do .
It starts with the lessons to learn from the election campaign but it goes much deeper than that – we haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have lost support in too many areas of the country .
How should we be campaigning as a party ?
Is there something your CLP or branch is doing that you think everyone should know about ?
What resources and technology would really get us moving ?
What frustrates you – but also what inspires you ?
To be blunt : what went wrong this time , what can we do better and where do we need wholesale change ?
You can tell me here .
I will never forget how I felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10pm on 12th December .
This deputy leadership campaign is a chance to look at all of the reasons we suffered such a seismic defeat .
That ’ s not easy .
The pundits and papers have had their say .
But I want to hear from you .
Leadership starts with listening – and that ’ s what I ’ ll do if you place your trust in me as our party ’ s next deputy leader .

Today nominations closed in the Parliamentary Labour Party part of the contests to elect Labour’s next leader and deputy leader. I’m incredibly proud to have the support of so many elected representatives from across our movement – and now it’s over to our members and affiliates.
I want Labour to offer a socialism that’s rooted in people’s real lives, underpinned by properly-resourced activism and effective organisation that ultimately takes us to power. We have to look at how we campaign, how we resource our grassroots, the technology we use and how we turn our huge number of activists into a nationwide Labour community with the collective knowledge, skills and ambition to win.
By doing that, we can achieve some of what we all joined this party to do. As vital as canvassing is, none of us became involved in politics just to endlessly ask the same five questions on the doorstep.
If we change how we do things, we can build trust and election-winning campaigns while changing lives at the same time. I know our members and elected representatives already do that every day by running food banks, offering welfare advice, running school uniform swaps for struggling families, organising WASPI groups and contributing to their communities in so many other ways.
I want to do more of that, and I want to do it unashamedly as Labour so there is never any doubt that our party is truly on the side of the people; not just in the weeks leading up to polling day but every day, everywhere.
As a trade union organiser for most of my life, I know this isn’t done through top-down structures. Our movement’s story is of collective action to achieve change. I don’t have all the answers – no one person does. But I know a few million people who can help.
That’s why I’m asking members, affiliates, councillors, candidates and everyone across the movement what you think we need to do. It starts with the lessons to learn from the election campaign but it goes much deeper than that – we haven’t won an election since 2005 and have lost support in too many areas of the country.
How should we be campaigning as a party? Is there something your CLP or branch is doing that you think everyone should know about? What resources and technology would really get us moving? What frustrates you – but also what inspires you? To be blunt: what went wrong this time, what can we do better and where do we need wholesale change? You can tell me here.
I will never forget how I felt when that exit poll came out at 10pm on 12th December. This deputy leadership campaign is a chance to look at all of the reasons we suffered such a seismic defeat. That’s not easy. The pundits and papers have had their say. But I want to hear from you. Leadership starts with listening – and that’s what I’ll do if you place your trust in me as our party’s next deputy leader.


labourlist--2020-01-13--5 leadership and 5 deputy candidates through to next stage of contests

Five leadership and five deputy leadership candidates have won the required support from their parliamentary colleagues to enter the next stage of Labour ’ s two election processes .
The contenders had until 2.30pm this afternoon to secure at least 22 nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs in order to progress to the second round of the contests .
Keir Starmer emerged as the clear frontrunner at the end of the first round with 88 nominations .
Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy gained 33 and 31 respectively .
Jess Phillips secured 23 .
Emily Thornberry only just scraped through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last hour , eventually winning 23 MP and MEP nominations including from colleagues such as Nadia Whittome and Alex Sobel who lent their support .
Clive Lewis withdrew from the leadership contest 45 minutes before the deadline .
He issued a statement that said he was doing so “ in the spirit of pluralism , diversity and generosity ” .
The four MPs who had nominated Lewis were then able to recast their nomination papers in favour of different leadership candidates , and Thornberry in particular benefitted .
Angela Rayner came out ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the next closest candidate was Labour ’ s only Scottish MP Ian Murray , a vocal Corbynsceptic .
Dawn Butler , Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon also all secured enough support to enter the next stage .
Khalid Mahmood had already withdrawn from the race .
The ten candidates are not yet guaranteed a place on the final ballot paper .
They must first secure either 5 % of local parties – a total of 33 – or three affiliated organisations including two trade unions adding up to 5 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the leadership contests begin on Wednesday , January 15th .
Contenders will have until Friday , February 14th , to secure nominations either via the CLP route or the affiliates path .

Five leadership and five deputy leadership candidates have won the required support from their parliamentary colleagues to enter the next stage of Labour’s two election processes.
The contenders had until 2.30pm this afternoon to secure at least 22 nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs in order to progress to the second round of the contests.
Keir Starmer emerged as the clear frontrunner at the end of the first round with 88 nominations. Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy gained 33 and 31 respectively. Jess Phillips secured 23.
Emily Thornberry only just scraped through the initial phase of the race in the last hour, eventually winning 23 MP and MEP nominations including from colleagues such as Nadia Whittome and Alex Sobel who lent their support.
Clive Lewis withdrew from the leadership contest 45 minutes before the deadline. He issued a statement that said he was doing so “in the spirit of pluralism, diversity and generosity”.
The four MPs who had nominated Lewis were then able to recast their nomination papers in favour of different leadership candidates, and Thornberry in particular benefitted.
Angela Rayner came out ahead in the nomination process for deputy leader, and the next closest candidate was Labour’s only Scottish MP Ian Murray, a vocal Corbynsceptic.
Dawn Butler, Rosena Allin-Khan and Richard Burgon also all secured enough support to enter the next stage. Khalid Mahmood had already withdrawn from the race.
The ten candidates are not yet guaranteed a place on the final ballot paper. They must first secure either 5% of local parties – a total of 33 – or three affiliated organisations including two trade unions adding up to 5% of the affiliated membership.
The second stage of the leadership contests begin on Wednesday, January 15th. Contenders will have until Friday, February 14th, to secure nominations either via the CLP route or the affiliates path.


labourlist--2020-01-14--National Union of Mineworkers backs Lisa Nandy for leader

The National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM ) has backed the Labour leadership bid of candidate and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy in a fresh boost for her campaign .
It had been thought by some that the NUM leadership nomination would go to Rebecca Long-Bailey , who is often regarded as the most left-wing candidate in the election .
She has strong trade union ties and the backing of former NUM president Ian Lavery .
But the union did endorse Yvette Cooper in 2015 and chose not to support any candidate in the 2016 leadership contest .
The NUM has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to rebuild the party and regain trust with the voters we ’ ve lost ” according to its general secretary Chris Kitchen .
Commenting on the endorsement revealed by the Yorkshire Post on Tuesday evening , Nandy said : “ I represent a former coalfield community .
I ’ m really proud of that , and I am really proud to work alongside the NUM since I was first elected .
“ Former coalfields and towns are crying out for real change .
Some of these areas are part of the famous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
I get it .
If Labour wants to be part of making that change happen , we have to go back out into our communities and fight for it.
” Talking about the history of mining in her area , Nandy added : “ When that way of life was destroyed by Thatcherism it left a massive gap that successive governments have failed to address .
Whilst some efforts were made by the last Labour government , it failed to implement the long-term industrial strategy that is necessary .
“ Permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short-term work in the gig economy , from call centres to packing depots to takeaways – economically insecure and accompanied by the erosion of the rich social fabric built around mining communities .
“ It is so important to me that we as a Labour movement prioritise the regeneration of coalfield communities right across the United Kingdom , from Barnsley to Bannockburn to Blaenau.
” After securing the required nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs to enter the second stage of the contest , Nandy will now seek the support of local parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To be on the ballot paper , each of the five leadership candidates must now secure nominations from 5 % of local parties – a total of 33 – or three affiliates including two unions adding up to 5 % of Labour ’ s affiliated membership .
Nandy is rumoured to be likely to gain the nomination of GMB – one of the largest affiliated unions .
She would then only need an affiliate group of any size to be guaranteed a place on the ballot paper .

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has backed the Labour leadership bid of candidate and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy in a fresh boost for her campaign.
It had been thought by some that the NUM nomination could go to Rebecca Long-Bailey, often regarded as the most left-wing candidate in the election. She has strong trade union ties and the backing of former NUM president Ian Lavery.
But the union did endorse Yvette Cooper for the Labour leadership in 2015 and chose not to support any candidate in the 2016 contest between Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith.
The NUM has now chosen Nandy, who “Labour needs to rebuild the party and regain trust with the voters we’ve lost” according to its general secretary Chris Kitchen.
Commenting on the endorsement revealed by the Yorkshire Post on Tuesday evening, Nandy said: “I represent a former coalfield community. I’m really proud of that, and I am really proud to work alongside the NUM since I was first elected.
“Former coalfields and towns are crying out for real change. Some of these areas are part of the famous red wall that fell in the last election. I get it. If Labour wants to be part of making that change happen, we have to go back out into our communities and fight for it.”
Talking about the history of mining in her area, Nandy added: “When that way of life was destroyed by Thatcherism it left a massive gap that successive governments have failed to address. Whilst some efforts were made by the last Labour government, it failed to implement the long-term industrial strategy that is necessary.
“Permanent, stable jobs have been replaced by short-term work in the gig economy, from call centres to packing depots to takeaways – economically insecure and accompanied by the erosion of the rich social fabric built around mining communities.
“It is so important to me that we as a Labour movement prioritise the regeneration of coalfield communities right across the United Kingdom, from Barnsley to Bannockburn to Blaenau.”
After securing the required nominations from Labour MPs and MEPs to enter the second stage of the contest, Nandy will now seek the support of local parties and affiliate groups including trade unions.
To be on the ballot paper, each of the five leadership candidates must now secure nominations from 5% of local parties – a total of 33 – or three affiliates including two unions adding up to 5% of Labour’s affiliated membership.
Nandy is rumoured to be likely to gain the nomination of GMB – one of the largest affiliated unions. She would then only need an affiliate group of any size to be guaranteed a place on the ballot paper.


labourlist--2020-01-14--Labour cannot solve an organisational problem with a political solution

We are all looking closely at the candidates coming forward to be the next Labour leader .
A lot of the discussion is around who might be the ‘ best ’ socialist among them , with the best policy programme to lead the charge in 2024 .
Little is being said about who might have the best plan to promote and persuade communities of our politics .
But experienced Labour community and workplace organisers tend to look for solutions from the bottom up – not the top down .
Re-arranging the deck chairs at the commanding heights of the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is time for the party to take advice from its roots about how we earn , and re-earn the right to be heard in the towns we lost to the Tories .
The deep splits in the Labour Party are being exposed for all to see on pretty much every news channel , while Boris Johnson maintains his charmed life of no media scrutiny .
Much of the initial analysis has become shamelessly factional and tending towards backing specific personalities for the leadership .
But organisers are about action more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerging , which indicate that the way forward lies in listening to those currently shouting – to the top of the party – about grassroots change .
These truths include the fact that our disconnect with voters began decades ago and that organisationally – as well as maybe politically – we have taken the votes of some communities for granted for far too long .
And paid a terrible price .
Brexit became the petrol thrown onto a fire that was already burning , and will be remembered by history as the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of our communities and our lives .
Buried underneath the X Factor-style leadership race is our longstanding strategic challenge .
Are fighting elections and building a left consensus mutually exclusive or can they ever be complementary ?
Are we really just an electoral machine , impotent in opposition ?
Or can we , as many organisers like me believe , pivot to becoming a genuine social movement that actually does things in communities between elections ?
Community and workplace organising has the best potential to navigate the tension between the two , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trap of campaigning against ourselves where we control councils .
We have at various times bounced between the two extremes of this challenge .
In the days of Tony Blair , Labour set out to win elections with as little politics as possible and focused on organisation , micromanagement and mobilising what they saw as the ‘ Labour vote ’ .
Keeping commitments paper thin and few in number , openly taking communities and potential Labour voters for granted , and preparing the ground for later triangulations with the Tories .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisation over politics , Jeremy Corbyn ’ s had a tendency to become more about policy over organisation .
Despite our offer , our organisation on the ground was what it always is : last minute , panicked , shallow and measured more by numbers on a tweet than electoral impact .
We went into this election on the doorsteps with Corbynite policies and Blairite scripts – and the two conflicting approaches cancelled each other out .
Despite being philosophically flawed in this new and volatile voting climate , the basic campaign infrastructure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1997 is still with us in our local campaigning .
Even with a radical socialist manifesto in our hands , we were still briefed to ask : “ Do you normally vote ?
” Followed by , “ do you normally vote Labour ?
” .
Before recording the answer for posterity , which can sometimes mean ten years or more , and moving on .
We need a campaigning approach in communities that persuades and supports our policies and a leader who gets this contradiction .
Done better – with challenge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been the best place for us to counter the Tory attack lines of ‘ get Brexit done ’ .
But , in the end , organisations tend to do what they are built to do .
Despite attempts to drive radical change in community organising with a bottom-up approach by many activists and Momentum , in our communities the party essentially remains a short-term mobilising force .
One locked into the electoral cycle and slightly uncomfortable with politics or long-term perspectives .
We still have a long way to go to finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – in wards , CLP ’ s and regional offices .
Of course , mobilising work is an attractive shortcut .
It feels good to fill a room with people for the leader and key campaigners to meet .
The mass selfies before canvasses are great fun on Twitter .
But the problem is that mobilising does not jump-start organising – more often it replaces it .
Mobilisation gives the impression of success but fails to build agency and power – the essential ingredients of real organising .
It can even reinforce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear at election times and are soon gone when the balloons burst and the bunting comes down .
We need a new leader who will avoid the pitfall of trying to solve an organisational problem with a political solution , and who will bring in fundamental reorganisation of the party .
They must continue to turn the party on its head , revitalise our local branches , re-write our campaign plans and our doorstep scripts .
The next leader must make us a social movement – between elections – that asks for votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part .
We must fill every space we can with our politics .
The next leader must make sure that we maintain an organising presence in every community which has told us that the Labour Party has neglected them .
We should establish street and ward organisers in every town ; organise the food banks ; campaign to protect migrant workers and victims of universal credit , take on the slum landlords and rip-off bosses with our trade union and campaign allies .
And in the end , we must turn up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can help .

We are all looking closely at the candidates coming forward to be the next Labour leader. A lot of the discussion is around who might be the ‘best’ socialist among them, with the best policy programme to lead the charge in 2024. Little is being said about who might have the best plan to promote and persuade communities of our politics.
But experienced Labour community and workplace organisers tend to look for solutions from the bottom up – not the top down. Re-arranging the deck chairs at the commanding heights of the party is unlikely to work on its own. It is time for the party to take advice from its roots about how we earn, and re-earn the right to be heard in the towns we lost to the Tories.
The deep splits in the Labour Party are being exposed for all to see on pretty much every news channel, while Boris Johnson maintains his charmed life of no media scrutiny. Much of the initial analysis has become shamelessly factional and tending towards backing specific personalities for the leadership. But organisers are about action more than faction. And some fundamental truths are emerging, which indicate that the way forward lies in listening to those currently shouting – to the top of the party – about grassroots change.
These truths include the fact that our disconnect with voters began decades ago and that organisationally – as well as maybe politically – we have taken the votes of some communities for granted for far too long. And paid a terrible price. Brexit became the petrol thrown onto a fire that was already burning, and will be remembered by history as the vehicle that the Tories used to take back control of our communities and our lives.
Buried underneath the X Factor-style leadership race is our longstanding strategic challenge. Are fighting elections and building a left consensus mutually exclusive or can they ever be complementary? Are we really just an electoral machine, impotent in opposition? Or can we, as many organisers like me believe, pivot to becoming a genuine social movement that actually does things in communities between elections? Community and workplace organising has the best potential to navigate the tension between the two, and can ensure we avoid falling into the trap of campaigning against ourselves where we control councils.
We have at various times bounced between the two extremes of this challenge. In the days of Tony Blair, Labour set out to win elections with as little politics as possible and focused on organisation, micromanagement and mobilising what they saw as the ‘Labour vote’. Keeping commitments paper thin and few in number, openly taking communities and potential Labour voters for granted, and preparing the ground for later triangulations with the Tories.
If Blair’s Labour was all about organisation over politics, Jeremy Corbyn’s had a tendency to become more about policy over organisation. Despite our offer, our organisation on the ground was what it always is: last minute, panicked, shallow and measured more by numbers on a tweet than electoral impact. We went into this election on the doorsteps with Corbynite policies and Blairite scripts – and the two conflicting approaches cancelled each other out.
Despite being philosophically flawed in this new and volatile voting climate, the basic campaign infrastructure, and importantly doorstep script, of 1997 is still with us in our local campaigning. Even with a radical socialist manifesto in our hands, we were still briefed to ask: “Do you normally vote?” Followed by, “do you normally vote Labour?”. Before recording the answer for posterity, which can sometimes mean ten years or more, and moving on.
We need a campaigning approach in communities that persuades and supports our policies and a leader who gets this contradiction. Done better – with challenge, persuasion and discussion – the doorstep should have been the best place for us to counter the Tory attack lines of ‘get Brexit done’. But, in the end, organisations tend to do what they are built to do.
Despite attempts to drive radical change in community organising with a bottom-up approach by many activists and Momentum, in our communities the party essentially remains a short-term mobilising force. One locked into the electoral cycle and slightly uncomfortable with politics or long-term perspectives. We still have a long way to go to finish re-organising the party where it matters most – in wards, CLP’s and regional offices.
Of course, mobilising work is an attractive shortcut. It feels good to fill a room with people for the leader and key campaigners to meet. The mass selfies before canvasses are great fun on Twitter. But the problem is that mobilising does not jump-start organising – more often it replaces it.
Mobilisation gives the impression of success but fails to build agency and power – the essential ingredients of real organising. It can even reinforce the impression in some communities that we only appear at election times and are soon gone when the balloons burst and the bunting comes down.
We need a new leader who will avoid the pitfall of trying to solve an organisational problem with a political solution, and who will bring in fundamental reorganisation of the party. They must continue to turn the party on its head, revitalise our local branches, re-write our campaign plans and our doorstep scripts. The next leader must make us a social movement – between elections – that asks for votes from communities of which it is a part. We must fill every space we can with our politics.
The next leader must make sure that we maintain an organising presence in every community which has told us that the Labour Party has neglected them. We should establish street and ward organisers in every town; organise the food banks; campaign to protect migrant workers and victims of universal credit, take on the slum landlords and rip-off bosses with our trade union and campaign allies. And in the end, we must turn up in people’s lives and ask how we can help.


labourlist--2020-01-15--Where is Rebecca Long-Bailey?

Where is Rebecca Long-Bailey?

The second stage of Labour ’ s leadership elections begins today .
All ten candidates – five in each race – will be seeking local party and affiliate group nominations as the window for these endorsements has now opened .
If you ’ ve forgotten the requirements , here ’ s a reminder : each contender must either be nominated by 5 % of CLPs or by three affiliate organisations including two trade unions , adding up to 5 % of affiliated membership .
In other words , 33 CLPs or a big trade union ( Unite , UNISON , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another union and another affiliate ( such as the Fabians ) .
Lisa Nandy had a fresh boost to her leadership campaign last night thanks to an endorsement by the National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM ) .
This has widely been described as a symbolic victory , but that isn ’ t quite right .
Emphasising that she represents a former mining community is clearly helpful , though it should be noted – as Patrick Maguire has done – that the NUM did back Yvette Cooper in 2015 and neither candidate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NUM endorsement is that it pushed Nandy further along the track towards a place on the ballot paper .
There are only a dozen affiliated unions in total , after all .
If the Wigan MP secures the nomination of GMB on January 21st , she only needs another affiliate group to make it through the second stage via that route .
Of course , she does also have a plan for winning CLP nominations – more on that later today – but an early pass to Round Three would hugely benefit her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is the big question currently being asked by Labour members as well as journalists .
She was seen as the natural frontrunner before the selection period officially started , but her campaign has been remarkably quiet .
There is now a website up – though it looks incredibly rushed – and a campaign team in place .
Yet there have been no press releases , no video racking up views on social media , apparently little touring of constituencies apart from the listening exercise on Saturday .
Meanwhile , her opponents are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country and briefing journalists on their strong points .
The relative silence is creating selectoral problems .
Some members on the Labour left who agreed with Nandy on Brexit are now wondering which of the two candidates to put first on their preferential ballot .
Others are attracted to the idea that Keir Starmer looks ‘ Prime Ministerial ’ , and they desperately want to win the next election .
The backing of Momentum – likely to be confirmed when the results of the all-member ballot are released tomorrow – will provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources and organisational power .
She is also likely to pass through the affiliates route .
However , LabourList understands that there are still deep divides within the Long-Bailey camp : chaotic in-fighting , and factions within factions , as the power struggle continues .
Members of the Labour left deserve a better campaign from the left candidate , and members across the party deserve a real political debate .
This is not the right moment to be overly cautious .
It ’ s time to move on from this slow start , @ @ @ @

The second stage of Labour’s leadership elections begins today. All ten candidates – five in each race – will be seeking local party and affiliate group nominations as the window for these endorsements has now opened. If you’ve forgotten the requirements, here’s a reminder: each contender must either be nominated by 5% of CLPs or by three affiliate organisations including two trade unions, adding up to 5% of affiliated membership. In other words, 33 CLPs or a big trade union (Unite, UNISON, GMB, Usdaw or CWU) plus another union and another affiliate (such as the Fabians).
Lisa Nandy had a fresh boost to her leadership campaign last night thanks to an endorsement by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). This has widely been described as a symbolic victory, but that isn’t quite right. Emphasising that she represents a former mining community is clearly helpful, though it should be noted – as Patrick Maguire has done – that the NUM did back Yvette Cooper in 2015 and neither candidate in 2016.
The important thing about the NUM endorsement is that it pushed Nandy further along the track towards a place on the ballot paper. There are only a dozen affiliated unions in total, after all. If the Wigan MP secures the nomination of GMB on January 21st, she only needs another affiliate group to make it through the second stage via that route. Of course, she does also have a plan for winning CLP nominations – more on that later today – but an early pass to Round Three would hugely benefit her campaign.
Where is Rebecca Long-Bailey? That is the big question currently being asked by Labour members as well as journalists. She was seen as the natural frontrunner before the selection period officially started, but her campaign has been remarkably quiet. There is now a website up – though it looks incredibly rushed – and a campaign team in place. Yet there have been no press releases, no video racking up views on social media, apparently little touring of constituencies apart from the listening exercise on Saturday. Meanwhile, her opponents are building support with visits to CLPs across the country and briefing journalists on their strong points.
The relative silence is creating selectoral problems. Some members on the Labour left who agreed with Nandy on Brexit are now wondering which of the two candidates to put first on their preferential ballot. Others are attracted to the idea that Keir Starmer looks ‘Prime Ministerial’, and they desperately want to win the next election. The backing of Momentum – likely to be confirmed when the results of the all-member ballot are released tomorrow – will provide Long Bailey’s campaign with financial resources and organisational power. She is also likely to pass through the affiliates route.
However, LabourList understands that there are still deep divides within the Long-Bailey camp: chaotic in-fighting, and factions within factions, as the power struggle continues. Members of the Labour left deserve a better campaign from the left candidate, and members across the party deserve a real political debate. This is not the right moment to be overly cautious. It’s time to move on from this slow start, and get going.


labourlist--2020-01-15--Nandy: We must tax polluters and unearned wealth, not just high incomes

Lisa Nandy has suggested that discussions on taxation must focus on “ unearned wealth ” and “ polluters ” , rather than just on high incomes .
Speaking to Andrew Neil in a BBC interview , the leadership hopeful answered a series of questions about her political views and policy positions .
Nandy also talked about whether she would re-nationalise Royal Mail , renew Trident , abolish tuition fees and what the top rate of tax should be .
The Wigan MP said : “ We talk a lot about taxing earned wealth .
I would like to get into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unearned wealth.
” She added : “ I would put much higher taxes on polluters , it can not be right that we tax income more than we tax people who are destroying our environment.
” Neil also quizzed Nandy on her record on Brexit and said the candidate had “ flirted with the May deal ” .
She responded that “ there wasn ’ t a single thing about my position that changed during that time ” .
Talking about the investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission ( ECHR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abide by whatever verdict it reached .
The contender to be the next Labour leader also declared that the “ clamour out there in the country is not for more of the paternalism from Westminster and Whitehall… What people really want is power ” .
Asked what she had done in her career to qualify her to be leader , she said : “ What I ’ ve done is I ’ ve built and I ’ ve empowered good teams of people in order to make change possible.
” Nandy was nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with four other candidates to the next stage of the process , in which she needs to secure the backing of CLPs and affiliated organisations .
The representative for Wigan has so far been nominated by the National Union of Mineworkers ( NUM ) .

Lisa Nandy has suggested that discussions on taxation must focus on “unearned wealth” and “polluters”, rather than just on high incomes.
Speaking to Andrew Neil in a BBC interview, the leadership hopeful answered a series of questions about her political views and policy positions.
Nandy also talked about whether she would re-nationalise Royal Mail, renew Trident, abolish tuition fees and what the top rate of tax should be.
The Wigan MP said: “We talk a lot about taxing earned wealth. I would like to get into a discussion about other forms of taxation, unearned wealth.”
She added: “I would put much higher taxes on polluters, it cannot be right that we tax income more than we tax people who are destroying our environment.”
Yes or no? Lisa Nandy asked by @afneil: • Abolish university tuition fees?
• Renationalise Royal Mail?
• Scrap or renew Trident?
• NHS using private providers?
• Top rate of tax?#andrewneilshow https://t.co/6CVoda3dIK pic.twitter.com/mULOhI6eNK — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 15, 2020
Neil also quizzed Nandy on her record on Brexit and said the candidate had “flirted with the May deal”. She responded that “there wasn’t a single thing about my position that changed during that time”.
Talking about the investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR), Nandy said that she would abide by whatever verdict it reached.
The contender to be the next Labour leader also declared that the “clamour out there in the country is not for more of the paternalism from Westminster and Whitehall… What people really want is power”.
Asked what she had done in her career to qualify her to be leader, she said: “What I’ve done is I’ve built and I’ve empowered good teams of people in order to make change possible.”
Nandy was nominated by 31 Labour colleagues and has proceeded with four other candidates to the next stage of the process, in which she needs to secure the backing of CLPs and affiliated organisations.
The representative for Wigan has so far been nominated by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).


labourlist--2020-01-15--Exclusive: Poll of members shows leadership race narrowing

Labour ’ s leadership race appears to be far from settled with Rebecca Long-Bailey coming out just ahead of her opponents on the basis of first preferences in a new poll of party members – with Keir Starmer close behind .
Long-Bailey , who is on the Labour left and widely seen as a Corbynite , has had a slow start to her campaign – but was still the most popular first-ranked contender in a survey of LabourList readers conducted by Survation and weighted to reflect the membership .
If the election took place today , the results of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of first preferences while Starmer would receive 37 % .
Jess Phillips is far behind on 9 % , Lisa Nandy on 7 % and Emily Thornberry on just 1 % .
Although Starmer receives the majority of second preferences from all candidates in the race , they are not enough to eliminate Long-Bailey ’ s first round lead , with Long-Bailey leading 51 % to 49 % after second preferences are taken into account .
The Holborn and St Pancras MP , who has pitched to the left in his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportions of second preferences from rivals Phillips ( 60 % ) and Nandy ( 63 % ) in the survey .
The first poll of Labour members by YouGov for the Party Members Project put Starmer ahead both in terms of first preferences and the overall result .
The new research suggests there is all to play for in Labour ’ s leadership contest .
34 % of Labour members surveyed by LabourList/Survation said they had not decided who they would be voting for in the leadership election , and of those ranking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they were certain that they would not change their preferences .
The LabourList/Survation poll includes Clive Lewis as a candidate , but the Norwich MP is now out of the running as he failed to secure the necessary MP and MEP nominations to continue .
Lisa Nandy comes behind Jess Phillips in fourth place on first preferences among those surveyed , but excluding Clive Lewis , Lisa Nandy was the most popular second choice and joint with Emily Thornberry for most popular third choice .
The research also indicates that party members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her policy platform .
24 % said they were unfamiliar with Nandy and what she stands for , compared to 5 % for Starmer and 8 % for Long-Bailey .
This could show that the ‘ soft left ’ candidate has much room for improvement as she becomes better known .
She came out in favour of free movement today in a key speech .
Emily Thornberry had the lowest percentage of respondents – 37 % – saying they were familiar to her and her policy platform , according to the fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Starmer and 73 % for Long-Bailey .
In Labour ’ s deputy leadership race , the poll shows Angela Rayner far ahead of her opponents as she wins the contest on the basis of first preferences alone with a huge 60 % of top rankings .
Richard Burgon , often considered the most left-wing of the deputy leadership candidates , comes second with 19 % of first preferences in the survey .
But , along with vocal Corbynsceptic Ian Murray , he is also one of the most divisive contenders .
Murray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was ranked sixth by 39 % of respondents , while Burgon was put in last place by 31 % .
The Edinburgh South representative and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan were found to be the least well-known candidates for deputy , with 63 % and 60 % of respondents respectively selecting the low familiarity option .
Survation surveyed 3,835 Labour members between 8th and 13th January 2020 via LabourList ’ s database .
Data were weighted to the profile of party members by age , sex , and UK region , with targets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
LabourList has partnered up with Survation to add statistical heft to our reader surveys .
Full data tables and methodology can be viewed here and a summary presentation of the polling can be found here .

Labour’s leadership race appears to be narrowing with Rebecca Long-Bailey coming out just ahead of her opponents on the basis of first preferences in a new poll of party members – with Keir Starmer close behind.
Long-Bailey, who is on the Labour left and widely seen as a Corbynite, has had a slow start to her campaign – but was still the most popular first-ranked contender in a survey of LabourList readers conducted by Survation and weighted to reflect the membership.
If the election took place today, the results of the poll suggest that Long-Bailey would win 42% of first preferences while Starmer would receive 37%. Jess Phillips is far behind on 9%, Lisa Nandy on 7% and Emily Thornberry on just 1%.
Although Starmer receives the majority of second preferences from all candidates in the race, they are not enough to eliminate Long-Bailey’s first round lead, with Long-Bailey leading 51% to 49% after second preferences are taken into account.
The Holborn and St Pancras MP, who has pitched to the left in his campaign so far, also picks up high proportions of second preferences from rivals Phillips (60%) and Nandy (63%) in the poll.
The first poll of Labour members by YouGov for the Party Members Project put Starmer ahead both in terms of first preferences and the overall result. The new research suggests there is all to play for in Labour’s leadership contest.
34% of Labour members surveyed by LabourList/Survation said they had not decided who they would be voting for in the leadership election, and of those ranking candidates for leader, only 22% said they were certain that they would not change their preferences.
50% of those participating ranked Phillips – the most openly Corbynsceptic of the leadership candidates – as their sixth preference choice, suggesting that she could be the most divisive contender.
The LabourList/Survation poll includes Clive Lewis as a candidate, but the Norwich MP is now out of the running as he failed to secure the necessary MP and MEP nominations to continue.
Lisa Nandy comes behind Jess Phillips in fourth place on first preferences among those surveyed, but excluding Clive Lewis, Lisa Nandy was the most popular second choice and joint with Emily Thornberry for most popular third choice.
The research also indicates that party members are not familiar with the Wigan MP and her policy platform. 24% said they were unfamiliar with Nandy and what she stands for, compared to 5% for Starmer and 8% for Long-Bailey.
This could show that the ‘soft left’ candidate has much room for improvement as she becomes better known. She came out in favour of free movement today in a key speech.
Emily Thornberry had the lowest percentage of respondents – 37% – saying they were familiar to her and her policy platform, according to the fresh poll. This compares to 77% for Starmer and 73% for Long-Bailey.
In Labour’s deputy leadership race, the poll shows Angela Rayner far ahead of her opponents as she wins the contest on the basis of first preferences alone with a huge 60% of top rankings.
Richard Burgon, often considered the most left-wing of the deputy leadership candidates, comes second with 19% of first preferences in the simulation. But, along with vocal Corbynsceptic Ian Murray, he is also one of the most divisive contenders.
Murray, Labour’s only Scottish MP, was ranked sixth by 39% of respondents, while Burgon was put in last place by 31%.
The Edinburgh South representative and Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan were found to be the least well-known candidates for deputy, with 63% and 60% of respondents respectively selecting the low familiarity option.
Survation surveyed 3,835 Labour members between 8th and 13th January 2020 via LabourList’s database. Data were weighted to the profile of party members by age, sex, and UK region, with targets derived from Labour membership composition data, 2016.
LabourList has partnered up with Survation to add statistical heft to our reader surveys. Full data tables and methodology can be viewed here and a summary presentation of the polling can be found here.


labourlist--2020-01-15--Leadership races, 2020 conference and complaints process – Alice Perry’s NEC report

Sub-committees of Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) met on January 14th to discuss a range of issues including the leadership election , preparation for conference , policy making and improving the disciplinary and complaints process .
The procedures for administering the leadership and deputy leader elections are decided by the procedures committee – a sub-committee of the NEC .
There was a discussion about access to and use of membership data , to ensure that all the candidates have a level playing field .
The committee has agreed hustings in every region of the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are keen to attend hustings .
If people are not able to attend in person , they can hopefully watch via live stream .
There will also be a special hustings event for councillors at the local government conference in Nottingham in February .
The NEC discussed plans for the 2020 Labour Party conference , which will take place in Liverpool on September 19th to 23rd .
The NEC discussed possible ways to improve how delegates can reference back conference reports .
The body also discussed possible options for women ’ s conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year but could take place before the national conference in September .
Members of the committee stressed the importance of women ’ s conference , which now has policy making powers .
This summer , there will be elections for the NEC and national constitutional committee ( NCC ) .
There were also elections scheduled for national policy forum ( NPF ) representatives .
We are now back to year one in the manifesto process , which is likely to run over five years in the run-up to a general election in 2025 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some time .
I pointed out that the last time the body met in Leeds I was mid-way through a pregnancy , and my daughter is now walking and talking .
NEC members noted that the democracy review was supposed to assess Labour ’ s policy-making process .
This could potentially mean changes to the NPF , which everyone agreed could function more effectively and be more engaging .
It was agreed that elections to the forum would be deferred until next year and that current members would have their terms extended .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to create small disciplinary panels to hear cases and speed up the time it takes to hear cases .
The panels are able to impose a range of sanctions , including excluding members from the Labour Party .
These panels have been meeting and working through the backlog of cases .
The general election and the leadership contest have taken up a significant amount of staff time , which can have an impact the speed at which cases can be heard .
The committee will continue to work to improve the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EHRC investigation currently taking place .
The NEC considered a letter from CLP sectaries about their experiences of bullying and harassment .
It is important that people have confidence in the complaints process .
Some committee members highlighted the benefits of having more independent reporting or a more independent process .
The important work of CLP officers , who as volunteers make enormous contributions to the party , was highlighted and praised .
The NEC discussed what more could be done to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trigger ballot process for single authority mayors .
There was a question about whether the process should be brought into line with that of combined authority mayors and police and crime commissioners .
It would be interesting to hear people ’ s views on this ahead of future discussions .
( You can contact me through my blog ) .

Sub-committees of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) met on January 14th to discuss a range of issues including the leadership election, preparation for conference, policy making and improving the disciplinary and complaints process.
Leadership election
The procedures for administering the leadership and deputy leader elections are decided by the procedures committee – a sub-committee of the NEC. There was a discussion about access to and use of membership data, to ensure that all the candidates have a level playing field.
The committee has agreed hustings in every region of the country. It recognised that members across the UK are keen to attend hustings. If people are not able to attend in person, they can hopefully watch via live stream. There will also be a special hustings event for councillors at the local government conference in Nottingham in February.
2020 Labour Party conference
The NEC discussed plans for the 2020 Labour Party conference, which will take place in Liverpool on September 19th to 23rd. The NEC discussed possible ways to improve how delegates can reference back conference reports.
The body also discussed possible options for women’s conference – which was a stand-alone conference last year but could take place before the national conference in September. Members of the committee stressed the importance of women’s conference, which now has policy making powers.
Internal elections
This summer, there will be elections for the NEC and national constitutional committee (NCC). There were also elections scheduled for national policy forum (NPF) representatives. We are now back to year one in the manifesto process, which is likely to run over five years in the run-up to a general election in 2025.
The NPF has not met for some time. I pointed out that the last time the body met in Leeds I was mid-way through a pregnancy, and my daughter is now walking and talking. NEC members noted that the democracy review was supposed to assess Labour’s policy-making process. This could potentially mean changes to the NPF, which everyone agreed could function more effectively and be more engaging. It was agreed that elections to the forum would be deferred until next year and that current members would have their terms extended.
Improving the disciplinary process
New powers were given to the NEC to create small disciplinary panels to hear cases and speed up the time it takes to hear cases. The panels are able to impose a range of sanctions, including excluding members from the Labour Party. These panels have been meeting and working through the backlog of cases.
The general election and the leadership contest have taken up a significant amount of staff time, which can have an impact the speed at which cases can be heard. The committee will continue to work to improve the process. We should also welcome any recommendations from the EHRC investigation currently taking place.
Bullying and harassment
The NEC considered a letter from CLP sectaries about their experiences of bullying and harassment. It is important that people have confidence in the complaints process. Some committee members highlighted the benefits of having more independent reporting or a more independent process.
The important work of CLP officers, who as volunteers make enormous contributions to the party, was highlighted and praised. The NEC discussed what more could be done to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive for all members.
Mayoral trigger ballots
There was a discussion about the trigger ballot process for single authority mayors. There was a question about whether the process should be brought into line with that of combined authority mayors and police and crime commissioners. It would be interesting to hear people’s views on this ahead of future discussions. (You can contact me through my blog).


labourlist--2020-01-15--Affiliate group SERA nominates Keir Starmer for leader

Labour-affiliated environment group the Socialist Environment and Resources Association ( SERA ) has nominated Keir Starmer as their preferred candidate in the ongoing leadership election .
The frontrunner has now gained the backing of UNISON , one of the largest affiliated trade unions , and one affiliate organisation , which means he only needs another union of any size to secure a place on the ballot paper .
Starmer is expected to gain a nomination from Usdaw , which backed Owen Smith in Labour ’ s 2016 leadership race , as well as possibly the Musicians ’ Union .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the endorsement , SERA co-chairs Jake Sumner and Melanie Smallman said : “ We looked hard at the record and competences of all of the candidates and it was very clear to us that Keir stood out as the candidate who had consistently supported SERA ’ s positions within the party and in parliament – opposing the expansion of Heathrow airport , standing up to protect environmental legislation in the Brexit debate , and campaigning with us on air quality .
“ Most importantly , we are in a race to tackle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader who can take on the government now and who has the experience and broad appeal to take Labour into power and urgently deliver the measures needed to address the looming climate emergency.
” Founded in 1973 , SERA is the only environmental group affiliated to the Labour Party .
The decision to endorse Starmer was made by its executive body .
SERA strongly supported the fresh EU referendum position widely seen as having been pushed by Starmer within Labour .

Labour-affiliated environment group the Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA) has nominated Keir Starmer as their preferred candidate in the ongoing leadership election.
The frontrunner has now gained the backing of UNISON, one of the largest affiliated trade unions, and one affiliate organisation, which means he only needs another union of any size to secure a place on the ballot paper.
Starmer is expected to gain a nomination from Usdaw, which backed Owen Smith in Labour’s 2016 leadership race, as well as possibly the Musicians’ Union. Both supported Andy Burnham in 2015.
Commenting on the endorsement, SERA co-chairs Jake Sumner and Melanie Smallman said: “We looked hard at the record and competences of all of the candidates and it was very clear to us that Keir stood out as the candidate who had consistently supported SERA’s positions within the party and in parliament – opposing the expansion of Heathrow airport, standing up to protect environmental legislation in the Brexit debate, and campaigning with us on air quality.
“Most importantly, we are in a race to tackle the climate emergency. We need a leader who can take on the government now and who has the experience and broad appeal to take Labour into power and urgently deliver the measures needed to address the looming climate emergency.”
Founded in 1973, SERA is the only environmental group affiliated to the Labour Party. The decision to endorse Starmer was made by its executive body.
SERA strongly supported the fresh EU referendum position widely seen as having been pushed by Starmer within Labour.


labourlist--2020-01-15--Ruth Smeeth: Why I’m backing Ian Murray for deputy leader

I think it ’ s fair to say that being an activist in the Labour Party over the last four years has been an emotional treadmill for too many of us ; the ongoing misery of Brexit , the constantly draining factional rows within the party itself , the heartache of being investigated for being institutionally racist .
It ’ s fair to say this is a chapter in our history that I for one will be glad to turn the page on .
On a personal level , the devastating and seemingly unending horror of the anti-Jewish hate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our party has been heart-breaking , and the anti-racist fight has at times been a lonely one .
Too many of my colleagues thought that it would be too difficult to stand publicly with me .
Too many sent nice text messages but wouldn ’ t speak out against the racism we were seeing daily in our party .
Too many were happy to hide behind the Jewish women who were having to lead the fight alone rather than help shoulder the burden .
Too many abandoned us when we needed them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
His personal private support , his interventions within the PLP and his public statements made sure that I wasn ’ t alone .
That solidarity really was more than a word .
Ian was one of those who shielded me after yet another PLP meeting from hell .
One in which we had to talk about anti-Jewish hate – again .
He was one of my friends who took me for dinner to make sure that I laughed that night , not cried .
He proved himself to be , always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Naively , I never thought I would have to feel grateful to my friends for standing with me in a fight against racism .
It turns out that I did .
But with Ian , I didn ’ t need to say thank you .
He was there without asking when I needed him .
He has shown me time and again what a wonderful man he is , how brave politicians can be and what leadership should look like – which is why I ’ m proud he ’ s my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for deputy leader .

I think it’s fair to say that being an activist in the Labour Party over the last four years has been an emotional treadmill for too many of us; the ongoing misery of Brexit, the constantly draining factional rows within the party itself, the heartache of being investigated for being institutionally racist. It’s fair to say this is a chapter in our history that I for one will be glad to turn the page on.
On a personal level, the devastating and seemingly unending horror of the anti-Jewish hate that has been empowered from certain quarters in our party has been heart-breaking, and the anti-racist fight has at times been a lonely one.
Too many of my colleagues thought that it would be too difficult to stand publicly with me. Too many sent nice text messages but wouldn’t speak out against the racism we were seeing daily in our party. Too many were happy to hide behind the Jewish women who were having to lead the fight alone rather than help shoulder the burden. Too many abandoned us when we needed them.
Ian Murray was not one of those people. His personal private support, his interventions within the PLP and his public statements made sure that I wasn’t alone. That solidarity really was more than a word. Ian was one of those who shielded me after yet another PLP meeting from hell. One in which we had to talk about anti-Jewish hate – again. He was one of my friends who took me for dinner to make sure that I laughed that night, not cried. He proved himself to be, always, a mensch – a good man.
Naively, I never thought I would have to feel grateful to my friends for standing with me in a fight against racism. It turns out that I did. But with Ian, I didn’t need to say thank you. He was there without asking when I needed him. He has shown me time and again what a wonderful man he is, how brave politicians can be and what leadership should look like – which is why I’m proud he’s my friend and delighted he’s running for deputy leader.


labourlist--2020-01-15--PMQs: Corbyn attacks Tories on NHS funding and social care

The NHS took centre stage at Prime Minister ’ s Questions today as Jeremy Corbyn pressed Boris Johnson on waiting times , the government ’ s funding bill for the health service , and social care .
The Labour leader asked Johnson to “ let the British people know why after almost ten years of Tory government , patients are waiting longer for essential NHS care , whether it ’ s in A & Es , on waiting lists or for a GP appointment ?
” Johnson replied that his government is introducing a bill that would introduce a legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an additional £33.9bn a year by 2024 .
The Labour leader pointed out that the number of patients waiting for more than four hours is “ at its highest on record for the second month in a row ” .
Focusing specifically on cancer treatment , he asked : “ How many more patients will face are life-threatening delays because our NHS is understaffed an underfunded ?
” Johnson admitted that NHS waiting times “ indeed unacceptable ” .
He added : “ That is why we ’ re investing in 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re investing in 6,000 GPs .
And that is why this government is investing record sums in the NHS .
We will get those waiting lists down.
” The MP for Islington North pointed out that 20,000 of the 50,000 nurses referred to by the Tory leader “ already work for the NHS ” .
He went on to highlight the case of the 92 year-old RAF veteran in Leicester , who had to wait 12 hours on a trolley because there were no beds available .
He asked the Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ over 2,000 patients had to wait more than 12 hours before they could get into a hospital bed last month alone ” .
Sidestepping the apology , Johnson answered that we all have “ every sympathy for people who have a bad and unacceptable experience in the NHS .
And we all share that .
On the other hand most people in this country , most patients in the NHS have a fantastic experience ” .
Johnson said : “ The hospital he mentions is one of those which – as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme .
40 new hospitals , 20 upgraded , under this government.
” Corbyn replied that “ the problem is the Prime Minister promised 40 hospitals – in reality it was 20 , then it became six ” .
Turning to the issue of social care , Corbyn said : “ It has now been almost three years since the government promised a green paper on social care , and seven months since the Prime Minister himself stood on the steps of Downing Street and said he had prepared a clear plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , what ’ s the hold up ?
Where ’ s the plan ?
” The reply from Johnson was that he does “ intend to begin with cross-party talks ” , adding that “ with the help and co-operation of the Labour Party and other parties in this house , we will go ahead with a plan for social care ” .
Corbyn urged Johnson to take a look at the 2019 Labour manifesto , in which he claimed his party had a “ very clear ” plan of free personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carers .
Returning to the NHS funding bill , he said : “ All this gimmick means is even longer waiting lists , more delays for cancer patients and more A & Es bursting at the seams.
” The Labour leader went on to say : “ If he ’ s really committed to fixing the crisis his government has created over the last decade , he should end the empty rhetoric and back out proposals to give the NHS the funding it needs rather than putting into law an insufficiency of funding.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ delighted ” to see the Labour leader still fighting on the last manifesto and added that it ’ s pretty clear what the public thought of it , before he ended by saying that the the Tories “ are the party of the NHS ” .
The NHS Funding Bill is being introduced to parliament today and will enshrine in law a minimum spending requirement on NHS revenue from the Treasury over the next four years .
Labour ’ s health spokesperson said that the it amounts to a “ capped expenditure bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get the resources it needs for the remainder of this parliament ” .

The NHS took centre stage at Prime Minister’s Questions today as Jeremy Corbyn pressed Boris Johnson on waiting times, the government’s funding bill for the health service, and social care.
The Labour leader asked Johnson to “let the British people know why after almost ten years of Tory government, patients are waiting longer for essential NHS care, whether it’s in A&Es, on waiting lists or for a GP appointment?”
Johnson replied that his government is introducing a bill that would introduce a legal obligation on ministers to fund the NHS with an additional £33.9bn a year by 2024.
The Labour leader pointed out that the number of patients waiting for more than four hours is “at its highest on record for the second month in a row”. Focusing specifically on cancer treatment, he asked: “How many more patients will face are life-threatening delays because our NHS is understaffed an underfunded?”
Johnson admitted that NHS waiting times “indeed unacceptable”. He added: “That is why we’re investing in 50,000 more nurses. That’s why we’re investing in 6,000 GPs. And that is why this government is investing record sums in the NHS. We will get those waiting lists down.”
The MP for Islington North pointed out that 20,000 of the 50,000 nurses referred to by the Tory leader “already work for the NHS”.
He went on to highlight the case of the 92 year-old RAF veteran in Leicester, who had to wait 12 hours on a trolley because there were no beds available. He asked the Prime Minister to apologise and to explain why “over 2,000 patients had to wait more than 12 hours before they could get into a hospital bed last month alone”.
Sidestepping the apology, Johnson answered that we all have “every sympathy for people who have a bad and unacceptable experience in the NHS. And we all share that. On the other hand most people in this country, most patients in the NHS have a fantastic experience”.
Johnson said: “The hospital he mentions is one of those which – as he knows – we are rebuilding under this programme. 40 new hospitals, 20 upgraded, under this government.” Corbyn replied that “the problem is the Prime Minister promised 40 hospitals – in reality it was 20, then it became six”.
Turning to the issue of social care, Corbyn said: “It has now been almost three years since the government promised a green paper on social care, and seven months since the Prime Minister himself stood on the steps of Downing Street and said he had prepared a clear plan to fix the crisis in social care. Well, what’s the hold up? Where’s the plan?”
The reply from Johnson was that he does “intend to begin with cross-party talks”, adding that “with the help and co-operation of the Labour Party and other parties in this house, we will go ahead with a plan for social care”.
“It’s now been almost three years since the government promised a green paper on social care… What’s the hold-up?” asks Jeremy Corbyn “We do intend to begin with cross-party talks,” says Boris Johnson
“We can do it… I look forward to his support”#PMQs https://t.co/ItBqZA0MpZ pic.twitter.com/fHOfcrmhYU — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 15, 2020
Corbyn urged Johnson to take a look at the 2019 Labour manifesto, in which he claimed his party had a “very clear” plan of free personal care, more funding and support for carers. Returning to the NHS funding bill, he said: “All this gimmick means is even longer waiting lists, more delays for cancer patients and more A&Es bursting at the seams.”
The Labour leader went on to say: “If he’s really committed to fixing the crisis his government has created over the last decade, he should end the empty rhetoric and back out proposals to give the NHS the funding it needs rather than putting into law an insufficiency of funding.”
Johnson replied that he was “delighted” to see the Labour leader still fighting on the last manifesto and added that it’s pretty clear what the public thought of it, before he ended by saying that the the Tories “are the party of the NHS”.
The NHS Funding Bill is being introduced to parliament today and will enshrine in law a minimum spending requirement on NHS revenue from the Treasury over the next four years.
Labour’s health spokesperson said that the it amounts to a “capped expenditure bill guaranteeing in law that the NHS won’t get the resources it needs for the remainder of this parliament”.