labourlist--2020-11-10--“Bold and ambitious”: Labour puts forward green economic recovery plan

“ It ’ s time for a bold and ambitious plan.
” Ed Miliband and Anneliese Dodds have challenged the government to ‘ Build it in Britain ’ and support the creation of 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery from the Covid crisis .
It would see at least £30bn invested over the next 18 months , dedicating funds to low-carbon industries .
The stimulus package would aim to recover jobs , retrain workers via an emergency training programme to equip those affected by Covid unemployment , and rebuild business with the creation of a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John McDonnell ) .
Developed after a consultation on a green new deal , proposals include upgrading ports and shipyards for offshore wind supply chains ; expanding investment in carbon capture tech ; accelerating investment in electric vehicle charging ; new orders for electric buses to help struggling manufacturers ; a new National Nature Service ; energy efficiency and retrofit programmes , including in social housing ; new sectoral deals to protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero ; and flood protection investment .
The challenge is there .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending review expected later this month .
Cautious optimism was the watchword for the Prime Minister ’ s Covid briefing in the wake of the news of the first effective vaccine .
With a string of frankly painful metaphors – featuring trains , football , arrows , “ the distant bugle of the scientific cavalry ” , swallows and slam dunks – Jonathan Van-Tam and Boris Johnson stressed that its still early days in delivering a vaccine .
Although we know the vaccine is effective , the government does not yet know that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult challenges with the roll out .
But this is , for the first time in months , good news .
Trials show 90 % Covid protection achieved within seven days of the second dose ( keep in mind , that figure is based on only 94 confirmed cases out of the 43,538 participants so precise effectiveness may change ) .
And Pfizer and BioNTech say they will have enough safety data by the third week of November to take their vaccine to regulators .
As Labour leader Keir Starmer has said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general secretary Len McCluskey also welcomed the news from Pfizer , saying it “ reflects the professionalism , skill and dedication of Unite ’ s membership across the company ” .
He called on the government to “ build on this glimmer of hope ” by investing in manufacturing supply chains needed to “ turn it into the genuine breakthrough it can become ” .
UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea declared that “ this could be the news the world ’ s been waiting for ” , but has strongly warned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bodies and the NHS after the “ test and trace fiasco ” .
The government suffered a large defeat in the House of Lords last night on its internal market bill , with peers voting to reject clauses allowing ministers to break international law and override the EU withdrawal agreement .
Members voted by a majority of 268 against the powers and all parties expressed concerns about the contents of the proposed legislation .
Labour ’ s leader in the House of Lords Baroness Angela Smith said the government would likely react with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the votes , and indeed Downing Street has already said it will retable the clauses in the Commons .
Keep watching for some parliamentary ping-pong .
Also to watch out for is our editor Sienna Rodgers live in conversation with John Healey this evening .
Tune in here at 6pm and please email in any questions you have for the Shadow Defence Secretary .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

“It’s time for a bold and ambitious plan.” Ed Miliband and Anneliese Dodds have challenged the government to ‘Build it in Britain’ and support the creation of 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery from the Covid crisis. It would see at least £30bn invested over the next 18 months, dedicating funds to low-carbon industries. The stimulus package would aim to recover jobs, retrain workers via an emergency training programme to equip those affected by Covid unemployment, and rebuild business with the creation of a national investment bank (a policy promoted by John McDonnell). Developed after a consultation on a green new deal, proposals include upgrading ports and shipyards for offshore wind supply chains; expanding investment in carbon capture tech; accelerating investment in electric vehicle charging; new orders for electric buses to help struggling manufacturers; a new National Nature Service; energy efficiency and retrofit programmes, including in social housing; new sectoral deals to protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero; and flood protection investment. The challenge is there. Let’s see what happens at the comprehensive spending review expected later this month.
Cautious optimism was the watchword for the Prime Minister’s Covid briefing in the wake of the news of the first effective vaccine. With a string of frankly painful metaphors – featuring trains, football, arrows, “the distant bugle of the scientific cavalry”, swallows and slam dunks – Jonathan Van-Tam and Boris Johnson stressed that its still early days in delivering a vaccine. Although we know the vaccine is effective, the government does not yet know that it is safe and there will be difficult challenges with the roll out. But this is, for the first time in months, good news. Trials show 90% Covid protection achieved within seven days of the second dose (keep in mind, that figure is based on only 94 confirmed cases out of the 43,538 participants so precise effectiveness may change). And Pfizer and BioNTech say they will have enough safety data by the third week of November to take their vaccine to regulators.
As Labour leader Keir Starmer has said, this is “encouraging”. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey also welcomed the news from Pfizer, saying it “reflects the professionalism, skill and dedication of Unite’s membership across the company”. He called on the government to “build on this glimmer of hope” by investing in manufacturing supply chains needed to “turn it into the genuine breakthrough it can become”. UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea declared that “this could be the news the world’s been waiting for”, but has strongly warned the vaccine must be delivered by public health bodies and the NHS after the “test and trace fiasco”.
The government suffered a large defeat in the House of Lords last night on its internal market bill, with peers voting to reject clauses allowing ministers to break international law and override the EU withdrawal agreement. Members voted by a majority of 268 against the powers and all parties expressed concerns about the contents of the proposed legislation. Labour’s leader in the House of Lords Baroness Angela Smith said the government would likely react with “bravado” and try to dismiss the votes, and indeed Downing Street has already said it will retable the clauses in the Commons. Keep watching for some parliamentary ping-pong. Also to watch out for is our editor Sienna Rodgers live in conversation with John Healey this evening. Tune in here at 6pm and please email in any questions you have for the Shadow Defence Secretary. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-11-10--WATCH: “We get bang for our buck if we invest in green,” says Miliband

Ed Miliband has argued that “ we get bang for our buck if we invest in green ” while urging the government to seize the opportunity to both provide jobs for the UK and help the country combat the climate emergency .
Discussing the launch of Labour ’ s new green economic recovery report in a Sky News interview this morning , the Shadow Business and Energy Secretary stressed that previous evidence shows green industries are “ jobs rich ” .
He told viewers : “ We ’ ve got a jobs crisis .
We know we ’ ve lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis caused by coronavirus .
We know we ’ ve got masses to do in getting our economy ready for the green transition that we need to make .
“ And that ’ s everything from industry , we want our aerospace manufacturers making the low-carbon engines of the future , to the electric vehicle charging points we need , to the nature-based solutions , the tree planting to retrofitting homes .
“ We ’ re saying to government , you ’ re planning to spend around £100bn on infrastructure in this parliament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that over the next 18 months to provide a stimulus to the economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
” Miliband and Anneliese Dodds have challenged the government to ‘ Build it in Britain ’ and support the creation of 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery from the ongoing coronavirus crisis .
Commenting on specific industries this morning , Miliband said : “ They ’ re [ aerospace manufacturers ] saying to me , government said we ’ ll spend about £150m on getting the low-carbon engines of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double that amount , £300m , it could make a massive difference to us .
It could protect jobs , and we ’ re ready to go on that .
We ’ re ready to develop that technology .
“ Or something as simple as tree planting – we know that is a nature-based solution to the climate challenge , we know it can be done quickly .
Or retrofitting homes , putting the insulation that will cut bills and also protect the planet… “ We get bang for our buck if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last financial crisis is that when there was investment in green industry , its jobs rich.
” He added : “ Its value for money – we ’ ve got to spend this money anyway – and it makes for a better country at the end of it.
” Labour ’ s stimulus package would aim to recover jobs , retrain workers via a training programme to equip those affected by Covid unemployment , and rebuild business with the creation of a national investment bank .
Developed following a consultation on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business and Energy Secretary in June this year , the proposals being put forward by the Labour Party include : • placing new orders for electric buses to help struggling manufacturers ; • creating a new National Nature Service ; energy efficiency and retrofit programmes , including in social housing ; • negotiating new sectoral deals to protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero ; The consultation on the creation of an ambitious , just recovery was led by Miliband and Dodds , and ran through the party ’ s national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy-making process .
It received almost 2,000 responses .
Labour for a Green New Deal , the group which successfully campaigned for the party to adopt a 2030 net-zero target , has said that 1,400 of the submissions – 70 % – endorsed its proposals for a socialist Green New Deal .
The Prime Minister is considering delivering a major speech on climate change in the coming weeks , Politico has reported .
There has been no sign so far of a ten-point plan promised by Boris Johnson to “ build back greener @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LabourList that Chancellor Rishi Sunak could be behind the delay in the release of the low-carbon industrial revolution plan that was first trailed in Johnson ’ s Tory conference speech .

Ed Miliband has argued that “we get bang for our buck if we invest in green” while urging the government to seize the opportunity to both provide jobs for the UK and help the country combat the climate emergency.
Discussing the launch of Labour’s new green economic recovery report in a Sky News interview this morning, the Shadow Business and Energy Secretary stressed that previous evidence shows green industries are “jobs rich”.
He told viewers: “We’ve got a jobs crisis. We know we’ve lost about a million jobs in the economic crisis caused by coronavirus. We know we’ve got masses to do in getting our economy ready for the green transition that we need to make.
“And that’s everything from industry, we want our aerospace manufacturers making the low-carbon engines of the future, to the electric vehicle charging points we need, to the nature-based solutions, the tree planting to retrofitting homes.
“We’re saying to government, you’re planning to spend around £100bn on infrastructure in this parliament – bring forward at least £30bn of that over the next 18 months to provide a stimulus to the economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
Miliband and Anneliese Dodds have challenged the government to ‘Build it in Britain’ and support the creation of 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery from the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Commenting on specific industries this morning, Miliband said: “They’re [aerospace manufacturers] saying to me, government said we’ll spend about £150m on getting the low-carbon engines of the future ready.
“If they double that amount, £300m, it could make a massive difference to us. It could protect jobs, and we’re ready to go on that. We’re ready to develop that technology.
“Or something as simple as tree planting – we know that is a nature-based solution to the climate challenge, we know it can be done quickly. Or retrofitting homes, putting the insulation that will cut bills and also protect the planet…
“We get bang for our buck if we invest in green. The evidence of the last financial crisis is that when there was investment in green industry, its jobs rich.”
He added: “Its value for money – we’ve got to spend this money anyway – and it makes for a better country at the end of it.”
“We get bang for our buck if we invest in green.” Shadow business secretary, @Ed_Miliband explains why the UK should rebuild the economy by investing in green technology.#KayBurley
Get live updates 👉 https://t.co/HxlHDvUWqI pic.twitter.com/Vm58xtFRgT — SkyNews (@SkyNews) November 10, 2020
Labour’s stimulus package would aim to recover jobs, retrain workers via a training programme to equip those affected by Covid unemployment, and rebuild business with the creation of a national investment bank.
Developed following a consultation on a green new deal launched by the Shadow Business and Energy Secretary in June this year, the proposals being put forward by the Labour Party include:
upgrading ports and shipyards for offshore wind supply chains;
expanding investment in carbon capture tech;
accelerating investment in electric vehicle charging;
placing new orders for electric buses to help struggling manufacturers;
creating a new National Nature Service; energy efficiency and retrofit programmes, including in social housing;
negotiating new sectoral deals to protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero;
and expanding flood protection investment.
The consultation on the creation of an ambitious, just recovery was led by Miliband and Dodds, and ran through the party’s national policy forum as part of an open policy-making process. It received almost 2,000 responses.
Labour for a Green New Deal, the group which successfully campaigned for the party to adopt a 2030 net-zero target, has said that 1,400 of the submissions – 70% – endorsed its proposals for a socialist Green New Deal.
The Prime Minister is considering delivering a major speech on climate change in the coming weeks, Politico has reported. There has been no sign so far of a ten-point plan promised by Boris Johnson to “build back greener”.
Labour sources have suggested to LabourList that Chancellor Rishi Sunak could be behind the delay in the release of the low-carbon industrial revolution plan that was first trailed in Johnson’s Tory conference speech.


labourlist--2020-11-10--“Labour can speak for the squaddie”: Healey sets out approach to defence

Labour ’ s Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey set out his approach to the policy brief and plan to win back the trust of the armed forces in an exclusive interview with LabourList broadcast live on Tuesday evening .
The online event saw the long-serving shadow cabinet member cover coronavirus , the election of Joe Biden in the US , the changing nature of warfare , the recent overseas operations bill and the impact of Brexit on defence .
Healey told LabourList that he had not suggested a move to defence before being appointed by Keir Starmer , but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ develop an authoritative Labour voice on defence again ” .
The shadow cabinet member said he wanted people to know that “ Labour could speak for the squaddie ” while also maintaining its “ adherence to international law , human rights and those sort of values ” .
Asked about the scale of Labour ’ s challenge in the policy area for which he is responsible , Healey said : “ Quite simply , defence and security may not win Labour an election , but it can be a big factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On defence and security , we had an even greater deficit than we do on the economy… These are deep deficits , damage our standing in the public mind , which aren ’ t attached to particular policies but are something we must tackle.
” On the 2019 election campaign , he added : “ Anyone who reads LabourList that knocked on doors in that December election will know that the toughest doors to knock were those with Help for Heroes or British Legion stickers in the windows .
“ It was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the question , let alone get a hearing .
Labour was so far ruled out in people ’ s minds… Despite the change of leadership , we are still 21 points behind the Tories on defence and security.
” The Shadow Defence Secretary said armed forces and their families should be “ part of the natural base ” for Labour , yet the voter group had slipped away over the “ last couple of decades – and decisively so in 2019 ” .
Emphasising that winning back trust is a “ four-year project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after “ fundamental shifts ” took place , starting under the last Labour government – the ‘ squeezed middle ’ and a “ cultural and social sense of alienation ” .
Labour “ failed to pick up ” on these changes , Healey told LabourList , and the sense of alienation experienced by former supporters was used by Nigel Farage and “ found its full expression ” in the Brexit referendum .
Asked about Starmer ’ s campaign pledges on a “ Prevention of Military Intervention Act ” , Healey said the leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the principle that government must refer to parliament and the public before taking military action .
Healey mentioned the relaunch of Labour Friends of the Forces , saying “ over 400 people ” had already joined since June , and revealed : “ We are set to launch a call for evidence about the way this country fails its veterans.
” He added : “ The first duty of any government , including any Labour government , has got to be to safeguard the country – that ’ s surely not a point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force for good in the world.
” The role of the armed forces during coronavirus “ Our troops have been building hospitals , distributing PPE [ personal protective equipment ] , helping run testing and behind-the-scenes planning , ” he said .
“ They ’ re part and parcel of our resilience as a country.
” Healey said he was supportive of the armed forces contributing to the UK ’ s Covid efforts , but highlighted that the public “ deserve to know how the forces are being used ” and regular reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2019 commitment on creating a representative body for the armed forces as a “ good policy ” , and criticised Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for failing to improve public understanding of the forces during Covid .
Holding the Treasury responsible for the delay to the integrated review , Healey said it was needed “ now more than ever ” as the UK faces “ an unprecedented escalation of technology , greater complexity , fresh threats and adversaries ” .
“ I think the upsides are very significant , ” Healey said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Paris climate change agreement among other positives , he concluded : “ Joe Biden is an internationalist.
” He said of the new President-Elect : “ I also believe that he is likely to be more interested in some of the really critical multilateral treaties that help to govern some of the proliferation of some of our worst nuclear weapons.
” Healey struck an optimistic note when he told LabourList that the level of training of British troops operating remote weaponry is “ very high indeed ” and “ likely to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said the developments , however , add “ a new lethal level in the hands of other countries ” , as : “ We simply don ’ t yet have an architecture of international law or proper military convention to deal with some of the new domains of warfare.
” “ I can certainly see over the next decade a much greater use of artificial intelligence , of robotics , ” the frontbencher said .
But he stressed that personnel would remain “ indispensable ” , as shown by their contribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick Sanders noting that there is no longer the same binary distinction between war and peace , Healey replied : “ I do agree with that .
It ’ s why the integrated review is so essential… “ For most of us , we don ’ t see the conflict , the aggression , the threats in practice that our defence and security systems are repelling and protecting us from on a continuous basis in the same way as we did with the very obvious , more traditional forms of conflict.
” Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reading of the government ’ s controversial overseas operations bill , which led to the party losing three frontbenchers , but at third reading instructed MPs to vote against it .
Healey commented : “ I ’ m really sad we lost Beth Winter , Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake .
They ’ re all newly-elected , really talented , good , centre-left Labour MPs for the future , but I recognise people have strongly-held views on this.
” He explained that “ simply voting against the bill ” at second reading “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims against military personnel and veterans who have been repeatedly investigated for alleged war crimes .
“ I did not walk us to walk into what is totally a Tory trap , which is a very crude attempt to continue the divisive culture war conflict , to re-stoke the sentiments that were there in the Brexit debate and vote .
“ It is no coincidence that the [ Tory manifesto pledge on this issue ] was squeezed between the pledge to legislate for tougher penalties for terrorists so they spend longer in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tougher asylum system.
” Describing the bill as “ an attempt to paint the Labour Party into a particular corner ” , Healey said : “ I was not going to have that.
” He said he worked to “ forge a consensus ” to improve the “ dishonest ” bill , but ministers would not change it .
Labour was “ confronted with ministers who are simply interested in a political fight and not the policy ” , the Shadow Defence Secretary said , before adding : “ I and Keir Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we have.
” The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Asked about the treaty by a reader , Healey said : “ I think it ’ s an important milestone.
” He described de-escalation talks as “ impossible when you had Donald Trump in the White House… but something that potentially may be possible now.
” Healey , who was previously Shadow Housing Secretary before taking on the defence role , said : “ We went into the election with a plan to end homelessness , and do that within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that .
“ It was something [ on which ] I had the most unfailing support from Jeremy Corbyn as leader – we shared that passion .
We had many meetings with homeless charities and people together.
” On the renewal of the UK ’ s Trident nuclear programme , Healey said : “ We went into the last election , 2017 , 2015 , 2010 election with a commitment to maintain Trident .
It ’ s part of our duty , as I see it , as a P5 [ UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued that Britain ’ s support ships “ must be built in Britain ” , which would “ protect jobs , help keep the shipyards going and help maintain skills ” , yet the government has “ still not given ” this commitment .
The impact of Brexit on UK defence Asked what would be the effect of Brexit on UK defence policy , Healey replied : “ I don ’ t know .
It ’ s not clear .
There ’ s been virtually no attention given to the security and defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I think it ’ s a big loss , not being part of that Galileo system .
We were one of the countries that led the way in setting it up .
We ’ ve led on some of the technology that has been central to its development so far .
“ The lesson I take from this is that we need to redouble our commitment to working with allies through NATO… We downgrade , or cool on , our commitment to NATO in my view at our peril .
”

Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey set out his approach to the policy brief and plan to win back the trust of the armed forces in an exclusive interview with LabourList broadcast live on Tuesday evening.
The online event saw the long-serving shadow cabinet member cover coronavirus, the election of Joe Biden in the US, the changing nature of warfare, the recent overseas operations bill and the impact of Brexit on defence.
Healey told LabourList that he had not suggested a move to defence before being appointed by Keir Starmer, but that the new Labour leader had asked him to “develop an authoritative Labour voice on defence again”.
The shadow cabinet member said he wanted people to know that “Labour could speak for the squaddie” while also maintaining its “adherence to international law, human rights and those sort of values”.
Asked about the scale of Labour’s challenge in the policy area for which he is responsible, Healey said: “Quite simply, defence and security may not win Labour an election, but it can be a big factor in us losing another election.
“On defence and security, we had an even greater deficit than we do on the economy… These are deep deficits, damage our standing in the public mind, which aren’t attached to particular policies but are something we must tackle.”
On the 2019 election campaign, he added: “Anyone who reads LabourList that knocked on doors in that December election will know that the toughest doors to knock were those with Help for Heroes or British Legion stickers in the windows.
“It was in most cases not even possible to ask the question, let alone get a hearing. Labour was so far ruled out in people’s minds… Despite the change of leadership, we are still 21 points behind the Tories on defence and security.”
The Shadow Defence Secretary said armed forces and their families should be “part of the natural base” for Labour, yet the voter group had slipped away over the “last couple of decades – and decisively so in 2019”.
Emphasising that winning back trust is a “four-year project”, Healey said this was needed after “fundamental shifts” took place, starting under the last Labour government – the ‘squeezed middle’ and a “cultural and social sense of alienation”.
Labour “failed to pick up” on these changes, Healey told LabourList, and the sense of alienation experienced by former supporters was used by Nigel Farage and “found its full expression” in the Brexit referendum.
Plans for Labour policy
Asked about Starmer’s campaign pledges on a “Prevention of Military Intervention Act”, Healey said the leader “quite rightly” wants to establish the principle that government must refer to parliament and the public before taking military action.
Healey mentioned the relaunch of Labour Friends of the Forces, saying “over 400 people” had already joined since June, and revealed: “We are set to launch a call for evidence about the way this country fails its veterans.”
He added: “The first duty of any government, including any Labour government, has got to be to safeguard the country – that’s surely not a point of contention – and to be a force for good in the world.”
The role of the armed forces during coronavirus
“Our troops have been building hospitals, distributing PPE [personal protective equipment], helping run testing and behind-the-scenes planning,” he said. “They’re part and parcel of our resilience as a country.”
Healey said he was supportive of the armed forces contributing to the UK’s Covid efforts, but highlighted that the public “deserve to know how the forces are being used” and regular reports from ministers.
He described Labour’s 2019 commitment on creating a representative body for the armed forces as a “good policy”, and criticised Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for failing to improve public understanding of the forces during Covid.
Holding the Treasury responsible for the delay to the integrated review, Healey said it was needed “now more than ever” as the UK faces “an unprecedented escalation of technology, greater complexity, fresh threats and adversaries”.
The election of Joe Biden
“I think the upsides are very significant,” Healey said of the US Presidential election result. Listing the Paris climate change agreement among other positives, he concluded: “Joe Biden is an internationalist.”
He said of the new President-Elect: “I also believe that he is likely to be more interested in some of the really critical multilateral treaties that help to govern some of the proliferation of some of our worst nuclear weapons.”
The changing nature of warfare
Healey struck an optimistic note when he told LabourList that the level of training of British troops operating remote weaponry is “very high indeed” and “likely to lead to fewer casualties and better targeting”.
He said the developments, however, add “a new lethal level in the hands of other countries”, as: “We simply don’t yet have an architecture of international law or proper military convention to deal with some of the new domains of warfare.”
“I can certainly see over the next decade a much greater use of artificial intelligence, of robotics,” the frontbencher said. But he stressed that personnel would remain “indispensable”, as shown by their contribution during Covid.
Asked about General Sir Patrick Sanders noting that there is no longer the same binary distinction between war and peace, Healey replied: “I do agree with that. It’s why the integrated review is so essential…
“For most of us, we don’t see the conflict, the aggression, the threats in practice that our defence and security systems are repelling and protecting us from on a continuous basis in the same way as we did with the very obvious, more traditional forms of conflict.”
The overseas operations bill
Labour whipped MPs to abstain on the second reading of the government’s controversial overseas operations bill, which led to the party losing three frontbenchers, but at third reading instructed MPs to vote against it.
Healey commented: “I’m really sad we lost Beth Winter, Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake. They’re all newly-elected, really talented, good, centre-left Labour MPs for the future, but I recognise people have strongly-held views on this.”
He explained that “simply voting against the bill” at second reading “risked denying the problem” of vexatious claims against military personnel and veterans who have been repeatedly investigated for alleged war crimes.
“I did not want us to walk into what is totally a Tory trap, which is a very crude attempt to continue the divisive culture war conflict, to re-stoke the sentiments that were there in the Brexit debate and vote.
“It is no coincidence that the [Tory manifesto pledge on this issue] was squeezed between the pledge to legislate for tougher penalties for terrorists so they spend longer in jail and the pledge to legislate for a tougher asylum system.”
Describing the bill as “an attempt to paint the Labour Party into a particular corner”, Healey said: “I was not going to have that.” He said he worked to “forge a consensus” to improve the “dishonest” bill, but ministers would not change it.
Labour was “confronted with ministers who are simply interested in a political fight and not the policy”, the Shadow Defence Secretary said, before adding: “I and Keir Starmer wanted to hold the party together, which we have.”
The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Asked about the treaty by a reader, Healey said: “I think it’s an important milestone.” He described de-escalation talks as “impossible when you had Donald Trump in the White House… but something that potentially may be possible now.”
Homelessness affecting veterans
Healey, who was previously Shadow Housing Secretary before taking on the defence role, said: “We went into the election with a plan to end homelessness, and do that within five years. I was very proud of that.
“It was something [on which] I had the most unfailing support from Jeremy Corbyn as leader – we shared that passion. We had many meetings with homeless charities and people together.”
Trident and shipbuilding
On the renewal of the UK’s Trident nuclear programme, Healey said: “We went into the last election, 2017, 2015, 2010 election with a commitment to maintain Trident. It’s part of our duty, as I see it, as a P5 [UN Security Council] member.”
He also argued that Britain’s support ships “must be built in Britain”, which would “protect jobs, help keep the shipyards going and help maintain skills”, yet the government has “still not given” this commitment.
The impact of Brexit on UK defence
Asked what would be the effect of Brexit on UK defence policy, Healey replied: “I don’t know. It’s not clear. There’s been virtually no attention given to the security and defence arrangements that should continue on exit.
“I think it’s a big loss, not being part of that Galileo system. We were one of the countries that led the way in setting it up. We’ve led on some of the technology that has been central to its development so far.
“The lesson I take from this is that we need to redouble our commitment to working with allies through NATO… We downgrade, or cool on, our commitment to NATO in my view at our peril.”


labourlist--2020-11-10--2021 elections, conferences and party complaints – Alice Perry’s NEC report

Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) equalities committee took place on November 5th , while the disputes committee and organisational committee meetings were on November 10th .
The NEC heard a presentation about the 2021 elections covering the context of the election , organisation , messaging and strategy .
Next year , there will be elections for 5,000 councillors , 40 police and crime commissioners , the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections , seven metro mayors , the Mayor of London and London Assembly and five local authority mayors .
There will also be over 100 ward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in locations where Labour lost parliamentary seats to the Tories in the 2019 general election .
The seats are likely to be highly contested .
There are a number of council elections and metro mayor elections in key 2024 target seats .
Labour was very close to winning the Tees Valley , West of England and West Midlands mayoral elections and have a great chance of taking these from the Conservatives .
The new West Yorkshire mayoral election is also going to be competitive .
The NEC considered how campaigning will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will encourage our supporters to sign-up for postal votes and take part in early voting .
Labour Party conference is planned to go ahead as usual .
Different options are being considered .
The NEC agreed the timetable for conference delegate elections and motions .
More information about conference delegate elections will be shared soon .
If conference goes ahead in person as usual , staff are looking about how online elements can be incorporated to make events accessible to a wider audience .
The 2021 Labour women ’ s conference will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This policy conference will give people the opportunities to vote for motions .
Staff are currently looking into different options for delivering the conference and will send a paper with proposals to the NEC meeting on November 24th .
Constituency Labour Party ( CLP ) and branch meetings are taking place online .
Some CLPs are in the process of holding their annual general meetings online .
Some areas are piloting proxy voting in CLP meetings .
The NEC will be updated on progress .
Various stakeholder groups give reports to the equalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about efforts to promote trans rights and combat transphobia within the party and public life .
They discussed issues of online trolling and harassment .
Disability Labour gave an update on the election of the new NEC disabled rep , their recent training event for members and offered feedback on Labour Connected and how to make online meetings and conference accessible to all .
The disability rep highlighted the benefits of online meetings and encouraged people to be mindful of the length of the meetings they hold and to include regular breaks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I definitely second this ! )
Labour Women ’ s Network talked about their work on the campaign to “ keep the good stuff ” and give members some access to online meetings post-pandemic .
These online meetings have had real benefits to parents wanting to join meetings and participate in democracy .
They talked about recent events to encourage more women to stand .
They also responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission report and talked about the need for an independent process for complaints , including sexual harassment complaints @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their recent events and efforts to ensure they are inclusive to all members , including BAME members .
They talked about work to build links between Black Christians , churches and the labour movement .
Jewish Labour Movement responded to the EHRC report .
As an NEC member , it was moving and humbling to listen to their report .
NEC members and stakeholders expressed solidarity with JLM and thanked them for all their work and welcomed Keir and Angela ’ s response to the EHRC response .
Labour Muslim Network spoke about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They have been consulting with Muslim members about their experiences of racism within the party and will be launching a report shortly .
I gave the Local Government Stakeholder Report , updating on the work to encourage a diverse range of candidates to stand to be councillors .
Angela Rayner has led a series of online “ Be a Councillor ” events .
I talked about the campaign to encourage councils and Labour groups to adopt parental leave policies for councillors .
You can view the model motion and other resources on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be expanding on plans to introduce a new , more independent complaints process in December .
The NEC disputes committee discussed transitional arrangements .
NEC disciplinary sub-panels have been meeting throughout October and November and are processing a large number of cases .
So far there have been 25 sub-panels since May 21st .
20 focused on cases involving protected characteristics , two were membership appeals and three involved complaints not relating to protected characteristics .
I have sat on a number of panels , and in my experience they are balanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave a presentation on the recent Labour Party organisational review .
The aim is to make Labour a voter and election centric organisation .
The review will address culture , staff wellbeing , international communications , leadership , electronic data interchange and strategy .
The NEC had an update about Labour ’ s national policy forum and policy-making process .
The joint policy commission ( JPC ) is due to meet in November for the first time this year .
Information about this year ’ s policy consultations is available at policyforum.labour.org.uk .

Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) equalities committee took place on November 5th, while the disputes committee and organisational committee meetings were on November 10th.
2021 elections
The NEC heard a presentation about the 2021 elections covering the context of the election, organisation, messaging and strategy. Next year, there will be elections for 5,000 councillors, 40 police and crime commissioners, the Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections, seven metro mayors, the Mayor of London and London Assembly and five local authority mayors. There will also be over 100 ward by-elections.
Almost 40 Labour councils are in locations where Labour lost parliamentary seats to the Tories in the 2019 general election. The seats are likely to be highly contested. There are a number of council elections and metro mayor elections in key 2024 target seats. Labour was very close to winning the Tees Valley, West of England and West Midlands mayoral elections and have a great chance of taking these from the Conservatives. The new West Yorkshire mayoral election is also going to be competitive.
The NEC considered how campaigning will need to be adapted during the pandemic. Labour will encourage our supporters to sign-up for postal votes and take part in early voting.
Labour conference 2021
Labour Party conference is planned to go ahead as usual. Different options are being considered. The NEC agreed the timetable for conference delegate elections and motions. More information about conference delegate elections will be shared soon. If conference goes ahead in person as usual, staff are looking about how online elements can be incorporated to make events accessible to a wider audience.
Women’s conference 2021
The 2021 Labour women’s conference will be a democratic, online summer conference. This policy conference will give people the opportunities to vote for motions. Staff are currently looking into different options for delivering the conference and will send a paper with proposals to the NEC meeting on November 24th.
Online democracy
Constituency Labour Party (CLP) and branch meetings are taking place online. Some CLPs are in the process of holding their annual general meetings online. Some areas are piloting proxy voting in CLP meetings. The NEC will be updated on progress.
Equalities reports
Various stakeholder groups give reports to the equalities committees. LGBT Labour updated the meeting about efforts to promote trans rights and combat transphobia within the party and public life. They discussed issues of online trolling and harassment.
Disability Labour gave an update on the election of the new NEC disabled rep, their recent training event for members and offered feedback on Labour Connected and how to make online meetings and conference accessible to all. The disability rep highlighted the benefits of online meetings and encouraged people to be mindful of the length of the meetings they hold and to include regular breaks. (After a seven-and-a-half-hour Zoom NEC meeting, I definitely second this!)
Labour Women’s Network talked about their work on the campaign to “keep the good stuff” and give members some access to online meetings post-pandemic. These online meetings have had real benefits to parents wanting to join meetings and participate in democracy. They talked about recent events to encourage more women to stand. They also responded to the Equality and Human Rights Commission report and talked about the need for an independent process for complaints, including sexual harassment complaints.
Christians on the Left spoke about their recent events and efforts to ensure they are inclusive to all members, including BAME members. They talked about work to build links between Black Christians, churches and the labour movement.
Jewish Labour Movement responded to the EHRC report. As an NEC member, it was moving and humbling to listen to their report. NEC members and stakeholders expressed solidarity with JLM and thanked them for all their work and welcomed Keir and Angela’s response to the EHRC response.
Labour Muslim Network spoke about their work around Islamophobia awareness month. They have been consulting with Muslim members about their experiences of racism within the party and will be launching a report shortly.
I gave the Local Government Stakeholder Report, updating on the work to encourage a diverse range of candidates to stand to be councillors. Angela Rayner has led a series of online “Be a Councillor” events. I talked about the campaign to encourage councils and Labour groups to adopt parental leave policies for councillors. You can view the model motion and other resources on the LGA Labour Group website.
New complaints process
Keir Starmer will be expanding on plans to introduce a new, more independent complaints process in December. The NEC disputes committee discussed transitional arrangements. NEC disciplinary sub-panels have been meeting throughout October and November and are processing a large number of cases. So far there have been 25 sub-panels since May 21st. 20 focused on cases involving protected characteristics, two were membership appeals and three involved complaints not relating to protected characteristics. I have sat on a number of panels, and in my experience they are balanced and fair.
Party organisation
General secretary David Evans gave a presentation on the recent Labour Party organisational review. The aim is to make Labour a voter- and election-centric organisation. The review will address culture, staff wellbeing, international communications, leadership, electronic data interchange and strategy.
Policy making
The NEC had an update about Labour’s national policy forum (NPF) and policy-making process. The joint policy commission (JPC) is due to meet in November for the first time this year. Information about this year’s policy consultations is available at policyforum.labour.org.uk.


labourlist--2020-11-10--Tories block move to bring in ‘missing millions’ excluded from electoral roll

The government has voted down an amendment to the parliamentary constituencies bill that youth organisations and campaigners have said would “ help bring in the missing millions ” not currently on the electoral register .
After considering House of Lords amendments to the legislation this afternoon , MPs voted by a majority of 80 to reject the proposal that Labour said would “ radically improve the number of young people registering to vote ” .
The change to the bill would have allowed the government to add 16-year-olds to the register , or provide them with information on how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they receive their National Insurance number .
Commenting today in support of the proposal put forward by the upper chamber , Labour ’ s youth affairs spokesperson Cat Smith MP said : “ It would mean our constituency boundaries are representative of younger voters.
” The shadow minister for voter engagement added : “ Indeed , the 16- and 17-year-olds that are considered when it comes to drawing constituency boundaries are likely to be the electors at the subsequent general election.
” Voter registration among eligible 16- and 17-year-olds was estimated to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant fall from 45 % in 2015 .
In contrast , 94 % of those over the age of 65 were estimated to be registered .
When the transition from individual voter registration took place in 2014 , voters whose details could not be matched to the Department for Work and Pensions database of National Insurance numbers had to provide additional identification .
An estimated one million voters fell off the register with the change , and the burden was placed on cash-strapped councils to find individual voters not registered .
Young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Following the introduction of individual electoral registration , the number of attainers ( 16- and 17-year-olds who will reach electoral age within the life of the electoral register ) fell from 471,000 in 2013 to 306,000 by 2019 .
Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg argued against the amendment this afternoon , telling parliament : “ Recent elections have been run on the largest ever electoral registers .
“ This is despite the removal of one million ghost entries from the register when the transition to household @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government believes that every eligible elector who wants to be included should be on the electoral register but that it should be up to each individual to decide whether to engage in the democratic process or not.
” Electoral Commission figures revealed last year that 25 % of eligible Black voters are not registered to vote , along with 24 % of Asian voters and 31 % of people with mixed ethnicity .
The nationwide average for those not registered to vote is 17 % .
John Spellar MP said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tooth and claw… Talking about ghost voters on the register yet at the same time they reject any attempt to make it a more rational registration process.
” The Labour backbencher accused the Conservative government of attempting to make it more difficult to vote despite a lack of evidence of voter fraud “ in the same way that Donald Trump has been trying to discredit the American election ” .
Spellar declared to the the chamber during the debate : “ The reality is that in neither country has there been a shred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or indeed particularly on impersonation at the ballot box.
” He added : “ We urge councils to spend large sums of money to try and track them down and get them to register .
Why not take a course of action that is very straightforward , cost effective , cheap in order to ensure that they are registered ?
“ Please don ’ t wrap it up in some great constitutional issue about the divine right to register .
Whether people choose to vote is another matter , but on registration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the same in the US.
” Commenting ahead of the vote , director of the Electoral Reform Society Dr Jess Garland said : “ Simple changes like adding people to the private electoral register when they receive their national insurance details would go a long way over time to closing Britain ’ s shocking registration gap .
“ Without simple but vital reforms , parliamentary constituencies will exclude swathes of young people when they ’ re drawn up .
There are many things that can be done to address political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be a good start.
” The government also voted down , by a margin of 89 votes , an amendment designed to ensure the impartiality of the review process through deputy chairs of the commission being appointed by the Lord Chief Justice rather than the Lord Chancellor .
The current Lord Chief Justice is cross-bench peer Lord Burnett of Maldon .
The Lord Chancellor is sitting Conservative MP Robert Buckland , appointed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2019 .
On the amendment , Smith said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence over their [ deputy chairs ] appointment .
The government ’ s track record on appointing their close friends to positions of public authority speaks for itself .
“ And I simply don ’ t trust a government that has shamelessly appointed its mates to run the BBC , Ofcom , NHS test and trace and other major bodies.
” Tory peer Dido Harding was appointed by the government to run the NHS Test and Trace at the start of the Covid crisis earlier this year and has continued to oversee its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MP John Penrose .
The government also voted down amendment seven from the Lords this afternoon by a majority of 79 .
This change sought to widen the variance allowed between the size of constituencies from the original 5 % proposed in the bill to 7.5 % .
MPs highlighted guidance from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ( OSCE ) and the Venice Commission standards , which state that the electorates of single-member districts should be limited at a variance of 10 % .
The OSCE advised that up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for geographic considerations , such as those related to transport and communication or to facilitate the representation of indigenous populations or national minorities .
Commenting on the minimal variance allowed for in the bill , Smith said : “ International best practice recommends that flexibility should be baked into the system in order to allow for consideration of geography and community ties… “ UK experts who gave evidence to the bill committee recognised that the tight 5 % quote will force constituency boundaries to cut across communities , ward boundaries , rivers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to engineer the right mathematical numbers.
” The government recently abandoned plans to slim down the size of the Commons from 650 MPs to 600 .
Proposals published in 2018 had recommended scrapping 32 seats in England , six in Scotland , 11 in Wales and one in Northern Ireland .
Cat Smith argued that by failing to increase the variance while having U-turned on the decision to cut the number of seats , the commission will have fewer electors to work with – around 3,000 .
The average urban ward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by saying : “ The Labour Party fundamentally rejects the government ’ s attempt to end the parliamentary approval of the new constituency boundaries and we ask that members think hard about the impact of this restrictive 5 % quota.
” The parliamentary constituencies bill dictates that recommendations put forward by the boundary commission no longer need approval from , nor allow change by , either parliament or government ministers .
Both Labour and the SNP objected to the removal of parliamentary oversight over the process , with Smith telling MPs at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented “ yet another attempt to diminish scrutiny over executive power ” .
An amendment was tabled to retain parliamentary approval on the outcome of a review .
The issue had been considered at committee stage and was rejected .
It was rejected on report by 339 votes to 237 .

The government has voted down an amendment to the parliamentary constituencies bill that youth organisations and campaigners have said would “help bring in the missing millions” not currently on the electoral register.
After considering House of Lords amendments to the legislation this afternoon, MPs voted by a majority of 80 to reject the proposal that Labour said would “radically improve the number of young people registering to vote”.
The change to the bill would have allowed the government to add 16-year-olds to the register, or provide them with information on how to apply to join the register, when they receive their National Insurance number.
Commenting today in support of the proposal put forward by the upper chamber, Labour’s youth affairs spokesperson Cat Smith MP said: “It would mean our constituency boundaries are representative of younger voters.”
The shadow minister for voter engagement added: “Indeed, the 16- and 17-year-olds that are considered when it comes to drawing constituency boundaries are likely to be the electors at the subsequent general election.”
Voter registration among eligible 16- and 17-year-olds was estimated to stand at 25% in 2018, representing a significant fall from 45% in 2015. In contrast, 94% of those over the age of 65 were estimated to be registered.
When the transition from individual voter registration took place in 2014, voters whose details could not be matched to the Department for Work and Pensions database of National Insurance numbers had to provide additional identification.
An estimated one million voters fell off the register with the change, and the burden was placed on cash-strapped councils to find individual voters not registered. Young people and renters were particularly badly affected.
Following the introduction of individual electoral registration, the number of attainers (16- and 17-year-olds who will reach electoral age within the life of the electoral register) fell from 471,000 in 2013 to 306,000 by 2019.
Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg argued against the amendment this afternoon, telling parliament: “Recent elections have been run on the largest ever electoral registers.
“This is despite the removal of one million ghost entries from the register when the transition to household registration to individual registration was completed…
“The government believes that every eligible elector who wants to be included should be on the electoral register but that it should be up to each individual to decide whether to engage in the democratic process or not.”
Electoral Commission figures revealed last year that 25% of eligible Black voters are not registered to vote, along with 24% of Asian voters and 31% of people with mixed ethnicity. The nationwide average for those not registered to vote is 17%.
John Spellar MP said: “We had the Conservative-Trumpist philosophy read in tooth and claw… Talking about ghost voters on the register yet at the same time they reject any attempt to make it a more rational registration process.”
The Labour backbencher accused the Conservative government of attempting to make it more difficult to vote despite a lack of evidence of voter fraud “in the same way that Donald Trump has been trying to discredit the American election”.
Spellar declared to the the chamber during the debate: “The reality is that in neither country has there been a shred of evidence of fraud in postal voting, or indeed particularly on impersonation at the ballot box.”
He added: “We urge councils to spend large sums of money to try and track them down and get them to register. Why not take a course of action that is very straightforward, cost effective, cheap in order to ensure that they are registered?
“Please don’t wrap it up in some great constitutional issue about the divine right to register. Whether people choose to vote is another matter, but on registration this is naked party political advantage and it’s the same in the US.”
Commenting ahead of the vote, director of the Electoral Reform Society Dr Jess Garland said: “Simple changes like adding people to the private electoral register when they receive their national insurance details would go a long way over time to closing Britain’s shocking registration gap.
“Without simple but vital reforms, parliamentary constituencies will exclude swathes of young people when they’re drawn up. There are many things that can be done to address political inequality in the UK, but this would be a good start.”
The government also voted down, by a margin of 89 votes, an amendment designed to ensure the impartiality of the review process through deputy chairs of the commission being appointed by the Lord Chief Justice rather than the Lord Chancellor.
The current Lord Chief Justice is cross-bench peer Lord Burnett of Maldon. The Lord Chancellor is sitting Conservative MP Robert Buckland, appointed on the recommendation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July 2019.
On the amendment, Smith said: “This bill allows ministers to have undue influence over their [deputy chairs] appointment. The government’s track record on appointing their close friends to positions of public authority speaks for itself.
“And I simply don’t trust a government that has shamelessly appointed its mates to run the BBC, Ofcom, NHS test and trace and other major bodies.”
Tory peer Dido Harding was appointed by the government to run the NHS Test and Trace at the start of the Covid crisis earlier this year and has continued to oversee its underperformance. She is married to Conservative MP John Penrose.
The government also voted down amendment seven from the Lords this afternoon by a majority of 79. This change sought to widen the variance allowed between the size of constituencies from the original 5% proposed in the bill to 7.5%.
MPs highlighted guidance from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Venice Commission standards, which state that the electorates of single-member districts should be limited at a variance of 10%.
The OSCE advised that up to a 10% tolerance can be applied for geographic considerations, such as those related to transport and communication or to facilitate the representation of indigenous populations or national minorities.
Commenting on the minimal variance allowed for in the bill, Smith said: “International best practice recommends that flexibility should be baked into the system in order to allow for consideration of geography and community ties…
“UK experts who gave evidence to the bill committee recognised that the tight 5% quote will force constituency boundaries to cut across communities, ward boundaries, rivers, lakes, mountains and of course motorways in order to engineer the right mathematical numbers.”
The government recently abandoned plans to slim down the size of the Commons from 650 MPs to 600. Proposals published in 2018 had recommended scrapping 32 seats in England, six in Scotland, 11 in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
Cat Smith argued that by failing to increase the variance while having U-turned on the decision to cut the number of seats, the commission will have fewer electors to work with – around 3,000. The average urban ward is around 8,000 electors.
She finished by saying: “The Labour Party fundamentally rejects the government’s attempt to end the parliamentary approval of the new constituency boundaries and we ask that members think hard about the impact of this restrictive 5% quota.”
The parliamentary constituencies bill dictates that recommendations put forward by the boundary commission no longer need approval from, nor allow change by, either parliament or government ministers.
Both Labour and the SNP objected to the removal of parliamentary oversight over the process, with Smith telling MPs at the second reading of the legislation that this represented “yet another attempt to diminish scrutiny over executive power”.
An amendment was tabled to retain parliamentary approval on the outcome of a review. The issue had been considered at committee stage and was rejected. It was rejected on report by 339 votes to 237.


labourlist--2020-11-10--Labour’s ‘Build it in Britain’ plan offers our steel industry a bright future

At Community , we welcome the Labour Party ’ s ‘ Build it in Britain ’ plan to support 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery .
If enacted , the policy could have real benefits for Community members including those in the steel industry .
Labour has pledged that sector deals , including the deal for the steel sector , will protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero .
This plan for a strategic transition is key to ensuring that British jobs and the steel industry are here for years to come .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting unemployment crisis , and environmentally as we struggle to meet our targets under the Paris Climate Change agreement and the pledge to reach net zero by 2050 .
A green recovery is an opportunity to provide solutions to both problems at once , with new green jobs accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and giving us a fighting chance against climate change .
When we talk about a green recovery , however , it ’ s important that we treat key industries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like steel , in the right way .
We know that our steel industry must evolve over time .
But we must recognise that the steel industry is also vital to our economy and national security and that maintaining primary steelmaking capacity is essential .
Commitments to reaching net zero must include ways to support existing industries to decarbonise in a just way .
That ’ s why it ’ s so important for the sector that the UK deliver a strategic plan to help it become greener and ensure a long-term future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry to move from blast furnaces to greener alternatives such as hydrogen and carbon capture .
Doing so in a planned way , working closely with employers and trade unions will offer a long-term greener future that safeguards jobs and keeps steel in Britain .
This Conservative government has let thousands of jobs go overseas in a frenzy of outsourcing – and steel jobs can not be next .
We know that the environmental cost of imported steel is greater than that of domestically produced steel .
Any transition that doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false economy : net pollution goes up , and livelihoods are destroyed .
We need to build in Britain to support our economy and our future .
If we don ’ t keep just transition at the front and centre of our thinking , we risk outsourcing our carbon emissions without truly reducing them .
And we risk leaving thousands of people across Britain out of work and without hope .
In addition to the commitments on sector deals , we welcome Labour ’ s call for a green public procurement strategy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and the environment , there must be an overhaul in the way that government contracts are awarded to ensure that UK workers and supply chains benefit from any new investment .
The government must make environmental and social considerations central to the procurement tendering process .
Ministers should think about the issues just discussed : the benefits to our country of having good jobs here , and the environmental risks of importing steel from overseas .
Setting out a framework that forces public procurement decisions to make explicit consideration of environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuring that government uses its considerable spending power to drive positive change .
Tens of thousands of jobs and the future of many communities depend on us making the right choices .
So , too , does the future of our planet .

At Community, we welcome the Labour Party’s ‘Build it in Britain’ plan to support 400,000 new jobs as part of a green economic recovery. If enacted, the policy could have real benefits for Community members including those in the steel industry. Labour has pledged that sector deals, including the deal for the steel sector, will protect jobs and promote the shift to net zero. This plan for a strategic transition is key to ensuring that British jobs and the steel industry are here for years to come.
The UK faces enormous challenges, both socially as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting unemployment crisis, and environmentally as we struggle to meet our targets under the Paris Climate Change agreement and the pledge to reach net zero by 2050. A green recovery is an opportunity to provide solutions to both problems at once, with new green jobs accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy and giving us a fighting chance against climate change.
When we talk about a green recovery, however, it’s important that we treat key industries that already exist in the UK, like steel, in the right way. We know that our steel industry must evolve over time. But we must recognise that the steel industry is also vital to our economy and national security and that maintaining primary steelmaking capacity is essential. Commitments to reaching net zero must include ways to support existing industries to decarbonise in a just way. That’s why it’s so important for the sector that the UK deliver a strategic plan to help it become greener and ensure a long-term future.
The government must support the steel industry to move from blast furnaces to greener alternatives such as hydrogen and carbon capture. Doing so in a planned way, working closely with employers and trade unions will offer a long-term greener future that safeguards jobs and keeps steel in Britain.
This Conservative government has let thousands of jobs go overseas in a frenzy of outsourcing – and steel jobs cannot be next. We know that the environmental cost of imported steel is greater than that of domestically produced steel. Any transition that doesn’t keep steel in the UK is a false economy: net pollution goes up, and livelihoods are destroyed.
We need to build in Britain to support our economy and our future. If we don’t keep just transition at the front and centre of our thinking, we risk outsourcing our carbon emissions without truly reducing them. And we risk leaving thousands of people across Britain out of work and without hope.
In addition to the commitments on sector deals, we welcome Labour’s call for a green public procurement strategy. To truly help the steel industry, the economy and the environment, there must be an overhaul in the way that government contracts are awarded to ensure that UK workers and supply chains benefit from any new investment.
The government must make environmental and social considerations central to the procurement tendering process. Ministers should think about the issues just discussed: the benefits to our country of having good jobs here, and the environmental risks of importing steel from overseas.
Setting out a framework that forces public procurement decisions to make explicit consideration of environmental and social concerns is so important in ensuring that government uses its considerable spending power to drive positive change. Tens of thousands of jobs and the future of many communities depend on us making the right choices. So, too, does the future of our planet.


labourlist--2020-11-10--Labour should learn from Biden’s refusal to condemn opponents

“ We must stop treating our opponents as our enemy.
” So said Joe Biden , in an acceptance speech that sought to bridge divides .
Throughout his campaign , the Democratic presidential nominee shunned partisanship and sought to represent “ all Americans ” .
The fact that this platform won the Presidency demonstrates something that everyone on the progressive side of politics must grasp – namely , that it is not necessary to become a populist to beat a populist .
Even with the US as polarised as it is , this was true .
In Britain , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for years , culminating in the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the electoral catastrophe last December .
Central to Corbyn ’ s brand of left populism was the idea that the political spectrum is a moral spectrum .
The left , this idea says , is always at the virtuous end of the scale – a valiant White Knight , battling a self-serving and callous Dark Knight .
“ Any convincing political narrative requires a hero and a villain , ” as prominent Corbyn supporter Grace Blakeley puts it .
Under Corbyn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So-called ‘ centrists ’ were rendered unprincipled charlatans , unwilling to choose between good and evil .
And Labour descended into countless skirmishes in narrow culture war debates .
In policy terms , this ‘ no enemies to the left ’ mentality caused Labour to defend the indefensible .
An obvious example was Corbyn ’ s reluctance to criticise Russia or Venezuela .
He saw Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro as White Knight forces , whose back the left should ultimately have against the US .
While Corbyn ’ s leadership allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corbyn himself did not create it .
Parts of the labour movement have long embraced a romantic and partisan spirit , eulogising struggle and loss .
In 1948 , for example , just before the NHS ’ s creation , Nye Bevan sparked controversy by claiming that Tories were “ lower than vermin ” .
An exemplar of the Dark Knight mentality , Bevan ’ s words were alleged by some to have alienated millions of voters at the next election .
Clement Attlee wrote to Bevan afterwards , describing his intervention as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it jeopardised Bevan ’ s excellent work on the health bill .
Bevan ’ s words had made Labour policies look tribal rather than objective – as though those who opposed the NHS ’ s creation “ had a point ” .
Nevertheless , the ‘ lower than vermin ’ slogan adorns many a mug and fridge magnet in the homes of contemporary Labour members .
Ultimately , the Dark Knight myth leads Labour into the wilderness , fulfilling two self-defeating functions .
First , it leads to the out-grouping of certain identities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of colour , the Mail-reading immigrant , the Tory-voting benefit claimant , the finance worker who supports higher taxes .
These and millions of other category-defying voters are asked to pick a side – and are effectively excluded from the Labour tent if they refuse .
We need only to look at footage from 2019 election night – of Corbynites denouncing Red Wall voters ’ lack of ‘ empathy ’ – to see this .
Second , the Dark Knight idea destroys Labour credibility .
When we invest policies with innate moral worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many voters back rail nationalisation , for example , but worry that our opposition to the private sector is so automatic that we would nationalise everything else too , on principle .
A 2017 psychology study helps to show why ultra-partisanship is counter-productive .
It tested ways of framing ‘ fairness ’ , and found : “ A policy that exhibits impartial even-handedness in a caring way… may ‘ be most effectively understood as ‘ fair ’ … by the broadest audience.
” This is the approach that Labour and the left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idolise a society run as if by a staunch partisan , who is unquestioningly in ‘ the red corner ’ on every big question and in every petty squabble ; who sees it as their role to reverse a cosmic grudge against their ‘ side ’ .
Rather , it involves a society organised as if by a neutral and incorruptible arbiter , who settles dilemmas in the direction of the most egalitarian and fair outcome .
These two socialisms align on many a policy point – like the windows of adjacent trains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are different and so , like our two trains , are their ultimate destinations .
The former , Dark Knight conception of socialism has the capacity to go off track – to judge , divide and seek out extremes .
I believe the British public are progressives at heart , and want Labour to embody the latter socialism .
Yet repeatedly we drive an engine resembling the ultra-partisan former up to the platform , and are astonished when nobody gets on .
As we turn the page on ten years of populism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the US Election and strive to make the 2020s a pluralist decade .
Rather than being wishy-washy ‘ centrism ’ , Biden ’ s refusal to demonise Republicans is the best route to progressive change .
Chris Clarke is author of ‘ The Dark Knight and the Puppet Master ’ , published by Penguin Books .

“We must stop treating our opponents as our enemy.” So said Joe Biden, in an acceptance speech that sought to bridge divides. Throughout his campaign, the Democratic presidential nominee shunned partisanship and sought to represent “all Americans”.
The fact that this platform won the Presidency demonstrates something that everyone on the progressive side of politics must grasp – namely, that it is not necessary to become a populist to beat a populist. Even with the US as polarised as it is, this was true. In Britain, a failure to see this has hampered Labour for years, culminating in the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the electoral catastrophe last December.
Central to Corbyn’s brand of left populism was the idea that the political spectrum is a moral spectrum. The left, this idea says, is always at the virtuous end of the scale – a valiant White Knight, battling a self-serving and callous Dark Knight. “Any convincing political narrative requires a hero and a villain,” as prominent Corbyn supporter Grace Blakeley puts it.
Under Corbyn, this mentality led to a toxic approach. So-called ‘centrists’ were rendered unprincipled charlatans, unwilling to choose between good and evil. And Labour descended into countless skirmishes in narrow culture war debates. In policy terms, this ‘no enemies to the left’ mentality caused Labour to defend the indefensible. An obvious example was Corbyn’s reluctance to criticise Russia or Venezuela. He saw Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro as White Knight forces, whose back the left should ultimately have against the US.
While Corbyn’s leadership allowed this way of thinking free rein, Corbyn himself did not create it. Parts of the labour movement have long embraced a romantic and partisan spirit, eulogising struggle and loss. In 1948, for example, just before the NHS’s creation, Nye Bevan sparked controversy by claiming that Tories were “lower than vermin”. An exemplar of the Dark Knight mentality, Bevan’s words were alleged by some to have alienated millions of voters at the next election.
Clement Attlee wrote to Bevan afterwards, describing his intervention as “singularly ill-timed” and stating that it jeopardised Bevan’s excellent work on the health bill. Bevan’s words had made Labour policies look tribal rather than objective – as though those who opposed the NHS’s creation “had a point”. Nevertheless, the ‘lower than vermin’ slogan adorns many a mug and fridge magnet in the homes of contemporary Labour members.
Ultimately, the Dark Knight myth leads Labour into the wilderness, fulfilling two self-defeating functions. First, it leads to the out-grouping of certain identities and characteristics. The privately educated person of colour, the Mail-reading immigrant, the Tory-voting benefit claimant, the finance worker who supports higher taxes. These and millions of other category-defying voters are asked to pick a side – and are effectively excluded from the Labour tent if they refuse. We need only to look at footage from 2019 election night – of Corbynites denouncing Red Wall voters’ lack of ‘empathy’ – to see this.
Second, the Dark Knight idea destroys Labour credibility. When we invest policies with innate moral worth, we become the party of dogma. Many voters back rail nationalisation, for example, but worry that our opposition to the private sector is so automatic that we would nationalise everything else too, on principle.
A 2017 psychology study helps to show why ultra-partisanship is counter-productive. It tested ways of framing ‘fairness’, and found: “A policy that exhibits impartial even-handedness in a caring way… may ‘be most effectively understood as ‘fair’… by the broadest audience.”
This is the approach that Labour and the left must take. True socialism should not idolise a society run as if by a staunch partisan, who is unquestioningly in ‘the red corner’ on every big question and in every petty squabble; who sees it as their role to reverse a cosmic grudge against their ‘side’. Rather, it involves a society organised as if by a neutral and incorruptible arbiter, who settles dilemmas in the direction of the most egalitarian and fair outcome.
These two socialisms align on many a policy point – like the windows of adjacent trains, drawing level. But their essences are different and so, like our two trains, are their ultimate destinations. The former, Dark Knight conception of socialism has the capacity to go off track – to judge, divide and seek out extremes.
I believe the British public are progressives at heart, and want Labour to embody the latter socialism. Yet repeatedly we drive an engine resembling the ultra-partisan former up to the platform, and are astonished when nobody gets on.
As we turn the page on ten years of populism and electoral failure, we must take note of the US Election and strive to make the 2020s a pluralist decade. Rather than being wishy-washy ‘centrism’, Biden’s refusal to demonise Republicans is the best route to progressive change.
Chris Clarke is author of ‘The Dark Knight and the Puppet Master’, published by Penguin Books.


labourlist--2020-11-10--Kira Lewis: Why I’m standing to be Labour’s NEC youth representative

My name is Kira Lewis .
I ’ m 20 and running to be our party ’ s next national executive committee youth representative to build an open and more welcoming Young Labour .
My life is rooted in our labour movement .
Trade unions stick up for millions of working people like my parents – a van driver and a shop worker – and defended me in my warehouse job in a sick pay dispute during Covid .
I know just how important a Labour Party built in the interests of working people can be .
Our party must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities front and centre , and actively work to involve those of us , like me , who grew up in our rural regions and on free school meals .
The Tory plan to draw out continued suffering and hardship for families like mine is beyond disgusting , and their refusal to feed hungry and vulnerable children was a disgrace .
They wasted £150m on unusable personal protective equipment earlier in the pandemic , and yet they refused to cough up the £157m it would cost to fund free school meals for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Happy to throw money around when it will benefit a private company , but tight fisted when it comes to helping families in the worst health crisis for a century .
Seeing this Tory government in action makes my blood boil , which is why I would do everything I can to build a Young Labour that helps boot them out of office and get Keir into No 10 .
But this lack of justice for working families is unfortunately nothing new .
For the workers who have borne the brunt of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unforgivably ordinary .
Where I am from , in rural Somerset , young people face so many barriers to opportunity and success – barriers worsened by years of Tory austerity .
That is why I want to build a Young Labour that is vocal on holding the Conservatives to account , and tireless in amplifying the voices of young people who their misrule affects .
I want to build a Young Labour that is strong on the issues that matter to us .
A Young Labour that says loud and proud that trans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour that stands firmly with the Black Lives Matter movement .
And a Young Labour that campaigns for climate justice and against exploitative landlords .
I know we can build a Young Labour that has members front and centre , with all eyes on the future .
We know that Labour in power works , and we will fight to give the next generation of Young Labour members the best possible start in life – that comes with a Labour government .
I want to say thank you to the young activists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour groups who have supported my campaign so far .
I was blown away by the strength and enthusiasm of their support during the nominations period and I am so proud of the positive campaign we are running .
I am so proud to be backed by my trade union , Usdaw , as well as UNISON – the UK ’ s largest trade union – and more .
And I was so grateful to secure the backing of the Jewish Labour Movement ’ s young members with 100 % of their voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have to listen to the voices of Jewish members if we want to build a party that is a truly safe space for all .
Throughout the campaign , I have been working hard to listen to young members and build a collaborative manifesto for us all .
By speaking to Young Labour groups across all of our regions and nations , and through open submissions on my website , I have built a comprehensive plan for the next two years and beyond for Young Labour , which is available at kira4nec.co.uk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better Young Labour , that is active in spaces beyond Twitter .
One that defends the rights of minority members and can build a campaigning force for our party .
I will be vocal on our NEC , regularly reporting on what is going on , creating policies and processes for a trans-inclusive party and making myself as accountable as possible to finally bring our membership to the table .
I was just ten when the last Labour government left office .
The next one is just over the horizon – and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .

My name is Kira Lewis. I’m 20 and running to be our party’s next national executive committee youth representative to build an open and more welcoming Young Labour. My life is rooted in our labour movement. Trade unions stick up for millions of working people like my parents – a van driver and a shop worker – and defended me in my warehouse job in a sick pay dispute during Covid. I know just how important a Labour Party built in the interests of working people can be.
Our party must put the young voices of our marginalised communities front and centre, and actively work to involve those of us, like me, who grew up in our rural regions and on free school meals. The Tory plan to draw out continued suffering and hardship for families like mine is beyond disgusting, and their refusal to feed hungry and vulnerable children was a disgrace.
They wasted £150m on unusable personal protective equipment earlier in the pandemic, and yet they refused to cough up the £157m it would cost to fund free school meals for the neediest children over Christmas and Easter. Happy to throw money around when it will benefit a private company, but tight fisted when it comes to helping families in the worst health crisis for a century. Seeing this Tory government in action makes my blood boil, which is why I would do everything I can to build a Young Labour that helps boot them out of office and get Keir into No 10.
But this lack of justice for working families is unfortunately nothing new. For the workers who have borne the brunt of this crisis, feeling unsupported and undervalued is unforgivably ordinary. Where I am from, in rural Somerset, young people face so many barriers to opportunity and success – barriers worsened by years of Tory austerity. That is why I want to build a Young Labour that is vocal on holding the Conservatives to account, and tireless in amplifying the voices of young people who their misrule affects.
I want to build a Young Labour that is strong on the issues that matter to us. A Young Labour that says loud and proud that trans rights are human rights. A Young Labour that stands firmly with the Black Lives Matter movement. And a Young Labour that campaigns for climate justice and against exploitative landlords. I know we can build a Young Labour that has members front and centre, with all eyes on the future. We know that Labour in power works, and we will fight to give the next generation of Young Labour members the best possible start in life – that comes with a Labour government.
I want to say thank you to the young activists, trade unions, socialist societies and Young Labour groups who have supported my campaign so far. I was blown away by the strength and enthusiasm of their support during the nominations period and I am so proud of the positive campaign we are running. I am so proud to be backed by my trade union, Usdaw, as well as UNISON – the UK’s largest trade union – and more. And I was so grateful to secure the backing of the Jewish Labour Movement’s young members with 100% of their voters backing my campaign for the NEC. We have to listen to the voices of Jewish members if we want to build a party that is a truly safe space for all.
Throughout the campaign, I have been working hard to listen to young members and build a collaborative manifesto for us all. By speaking to Young Labour groups across all of our regions and nations, and through open submissions on my website, I have built a comprehensive plan for the next two years and beyond for Young Labour, which is available at kira4nec.co.uk.
I know we can have a better Young Labour, that is active in spaces beyond Twitter. One that defends the rights of minority members and can build a campaigning force for our party. I will be vocal on our NEC, regularly reporting on what is going on, creating policies and processes for a trans-inclusive party and making myself as accountable as possible to finally bring our membership to the table. I was just ten when the last Labour government left office. The next one is just over the horizon – and I’ll fight like hell to get it.