labourlist--2020-10-23--Starmer defends positions on Scottish independence and ‘spycops’ in Call Keir

Keir Starmer has defended the Labour Party ’ s positions on Scottish independence and the controversial ‘ spycops ’ bill in the latest ‘ Call Keir ’ that took place this afternoon with Glasgow voters .
As the UK Labour leader spoke to Scottish voters , he was asked how his party intends to win back voters who have now switch to the SNP .
Starmer replied : “ The last thing I want is more barriers , more borders.
” Making the case against Scottish independence , Starmer said that a key principle should be “ don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – but added that “ just backing the status quo isn ’ t going to work ” .
Questioned by a young SNP member called Luke who described independence as “ the way forward ” , Starmer said he did “ acknowledge the strength of feeling ” over the issue but disagreed with the voter .
“ There ’ s a very real sense of people saying I want control over what happens in my community , ” Starmer told the Zoom attendees , saying that “ some of that drove the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve seen examples in Scotland and elsewhere where people have had more control over the buildings they live in , the estate they live on , et cetera .
It ’ s a very powerful thing .
So I want to have that discussion.
” He explained : “ I would advocate not the status quo in relation to arrangements with Scotland but a proper discussion about how do you put power and influence closer to Scotland… I don ’ t think tearing up the UK is the way to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about recent polls showing strong support for independence among Scottish voters , Starmer replied that “ there ’ s no point me pretending that doesn ’ t broadly reflect where a lot of people are in Scotland ” .
But he added that “ there is a question about where people ’ s priorities are ” , referring to research conducted during the coronavirus pandemic that shows a fresh independence referendum is not a priority for Scottish voters .
Another Zoom contributor raised concerns about Labour MPs being whipped to abstain on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) bill earlier this month , which led to seven frontbench resignations .
Asked “ why is Labour not taking a hard stance against what is essentially allowing police and undercover agencies to violate people ’ s human rights ” , Starmer defended the whipping arrangement .
He said : “ As you may know , I have been a human rights advocate all my life .
I ’ ve written textbooks on it , done cases across the world , massively developed the case law under the Human Rights Act .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights… than myself.
” The Labour leader added that he had worked with security and intelligence services , and that in the last three years 27 terrorist plots had been brought down by undercover agents .
“ I know that first-hand , ” he said .
“ The argument that somehow we don ’ t need these powers is wrong , ” Starmer argued , before adding that under the legislation “ nothing can be authorised if it conflicts with or breaches the Human Rights Act ” .
Starmer continued : “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breaks the Human Rights Act , how on earth do people make the argument that you can break human rights under this bill ?
” He added : “ Under the Human Rights Act , torture is completely prohibited , murder is prohibited , rape is prohibited .
This argument that you could sign off torture , murder and rape is just wrong .
It is not possible to do it .
“ Various government and others have tried to argue for many years that ‘ surely torture under some circumstances is justified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world have always said ‘ no ’ .
” Critics of the ‘ CHIS ’ bill have argued that it goes further than putting current guidance on a “ statutory footing ” and instead creates advance immunity from prosecution for agents who may even have incited criminal activity .
Others , such as Labour MP Sarah Owen who stepped down from her frontbench post to oppose the bill , have raised concerns over the Human Rights Act defence as Tories are known to support repealing or “ updating ” the Act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken a hard line against the so-called ‘ spycops ’ bill , Starmer said : “ All the bill does is taking existing and put them on the face of legislation… Opposing this bill means , do you get rid of the powers ?
No .
“ You just put them in the shadows where there are no safeguards and no tribunal you can go to and no permission .
All my life I ’ ve believed if the state should have power , it should be on the face of legislation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of virtual public meetings , ‘ Call Keir ’ , in which a journalist host facilitates questions from voters in particular constituencies or areas of the country for the leader to answer .

Keir Starmer has defended the Labour Party’s positions on Scottish independence and the controversial ‘spycops’ bill in the latest ‘Call Keir’ that took place this afternoon with Glasgow voters.
As the UK Labour leader spoke to Scottish voters, he was asked how his party intends to win back voters who have now switch to the SNP. Starmer replied: “The last thing I want is more barriers, more borders.”
Making the case against Scottish independence, Starmer said that a key principle should be “don’t pull people apart but pull together” – but added that “just backing the status quo isn’t going to work”.
Questioned by a young SNP member called Luke who described independence as “the way forward”, Starmer said he did “acknowledge the strength of feeling” over the issue but disagreed with the voter.
“There’s a very real sense of people saying I want control over what happens in my community,” Starmer told the Zoom attendees, saying that “some of that drove the European Union referendum” in 2016.
“I’ve seen examples in Scotland and elsewhere where people have had more control over the buildings they live in, the estate they live on, et cetera. It’s a very powerful thing. So I want to have that discussion.”
He explained: “I would advocate not the status quo in relation to arrangements with Scotland but a proper discussion about how do you put power and influence closer to Scotland… I don’t think tearing up the UK is the way to achieve that.”
Asked by the SNP supporter about recent polls showing strong support for independence among Scottish voters, Starmer replied that “there’s no point me pretending that doesn’t broadly reflect where a lot of people are in Scotland”.
But he added that “there is a question about where people’s priorities are”, referring to research conducted during the coronavirus pandemic that shows a fresh independence referendum is not a priority for Scottish voters.
Another Zoom contributor raised concerns about Labour MPs being whipped to abstain on the covert human intelligence sources (criminal conduct) bill earlier this month, which led to seven frontbench resignations.
Asked “why is Labour not taking a hard stance against what is essentially allowing police and undercover agencies to violate people’s human rights”, Starmer defended the whipping arrangement.
He said: “As you may know, I have been a human rights advocate all my life. I’ve written textbooks on it, done cases across the world, massively developed the case law under the Human Rights Act. There is no more passionate advocate of human rights… than myself.”
The Labour leader added that he had worked with security and intelligence services, and that in the last three years 27 terrorist plots had been brought down by undercover agents. “I know that first-hand,” he said.
“The argument that somehow we don’t need these powers is wrong,” Starmer argued, before adding that under the legislation “nothing can be authorised if it conflicts with or breaches the Human Rights Act”.
Starmer continued: “If you can’t authorise something that breaks the Human Rights Act, how on earth do people make the argument that you can break human rights under this bill?”
He added: “Under the Human Rights Act, torture is completely prohibited, murder is prohibited, rape is prohibited. This argument that you could sign off torture, murder and rape is just wrong. It is not possible to do it.
“Various government and others have tried to argue for many years that ‘surely torture under some circumstances is justified’, and the courts everywhere in the world have always said ‘no’.”
Critics of the ‘CHIS’ bill have argued that it goes further than putting current guidance on a “statutory footing” and instead creates advance immunity from prosecution for agents who may even have incited criminal activity.
Others, such as Labour MP Sarah Owen who stepped down from her frontbench post to oppose the bill, have raised concerns over the Human Rights Act defence as Tories are known to support repealing or “updating” the Act.
Put to him that the SNP has taken a hard line against the so-called ‘spycops’ bill, Starmer said: “All the bill does is taking existing and put them on the face of legislation… Opposing this bill means, do you get rid of the powers? No.
“You just put them in the shadows where there are no safeguards and no tribunal you can go to and no permission. All my life I’ve believed if the state should have power, it should be on the face of legislation.”
Starmer earlier this year launched a series of virtual public meetings, ‘Call Keir’, in which a journalist host facilitates questions from voters in particular constituencies or areas of the country for the leader to answer.


labourlist--2020-10-24--I will not accept the Tory government’s vindictive proposals for London

The government wants to hike up transport fares in London way above inflation , increase council tax bills in the capital and force millions more Londoners to pay the Congestion Charge .
This would effectively punish Londoners for doing the right thing by following the government ’ s own advice on using public transport .
As mayor , I simply will not accept these Tory proposals , which would hit Londoners with a triple whammy of higher costs – adding up to hundreds of pounds per year for those who live and drive in London – at a time when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Prime Minister lied , plain and simple , in the House of Commons this week when he said Transport for London ( TfL ) only needed emergency national funding now due to actions I had taken prior to the pandemic .
The truth is that before the coronavirus I was fixing the financial mess at TfL that I ’ d inherited from Boris Johnson when he was mayor .
Over the course of four years , I had reduced TfL ’ s deficit by 71 % and increased cash reserves by 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s financial problems is Covid-19 – and it ’ s easy to see why .
Due to a deal struck between Boris Johnson and the then-Chancellor George Osborne in 2015 , TfL is the only major transport network in Western Europe that doesn ’ t receive any direct government funding for day-to-day services .
This means it is almost completely reliant on passenger fares to pay for the running of services .
During the national lockdown , we saw passenger numbers on public transport plummet by 95 % .
This hit revenues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we had to continue operating safe services for our key workers .
Rail companies across the country have also faced emergency funding issues due to a drop in passenger numbers during the pandemic .
In every case , the Tory government has agreed to give these failing private train rail operators an 18-month blank-cheque funding deal – with no strings attached – so that they can continue to run a profit for their shareholders .
Even though TfL provides a far better service than the private rail operators , the Tories are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , they are treating London differently – inflicting vindictive and draconian measures .
When the first round of temporary emergency funding for TfL was agreed in May , the Tories demanded an end to free travel for under 18s , an increase to the Congestion Charge and a fares hike in January .
I said at the time that this deal was just a sticking plaster as it failed to address the dramatic fall in fares income due to Covid-19 .
We then asked the government for an 18-month deal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next six months .
The offer from the government was not for 18 months , like they have given the private rail operators , but £1bn for just six months – with punitive , long-term conditions for Londoners attached .
These conditions include extending the £15 Congestion Charge Zone to the North and South circular roads , which would cover four million more Londoners .
The Tories have tried to lie brazenly about this , but the truth is spelled out in black and white in a letter from the Transport Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which stated : “ We also propose the extension of the central London congestion charging zone to cover the same area as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone ” .
The Tories also want to force TfL to increase fares by greater than RPI+1 % for the next several years , and to massively hike up council tax in the capital , just when we are in the middle of a deep recession .
Council tax is already a regressive tax .
This move would mean all Londoners paying more , but the poorest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the government is handling this TfL funding deal is just the latest in a long list of attacks on London .
For example , the government is also refusing to properly fund councils , public services and City Hall for the cost of Covid-19 , which is forcing another era of austerity on our city .
As we have seen with the way it has treated the great and proud cities of the North in recent weeks , the government seems determined to undermine regional government across the country , including London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political response to defend our vital local institutions .
I am ready to negotiate a fair funding deal for TfL .
But the Tories need to stop playing party political games and being vindictive towards Londoners , who have already endured so much during this crisis .
As mayor , I will continue to stand up for London and expose the Tories ’ lies .
Londoners won ’ t allow the government to take us for fools .

The government wants to hike up transport fares in London way above inflation, increase council tax bills in the capital and force millions more Londoners to pay the Congestion Charge. This would effectively punish Londoners for doing the right thing by following the government’s own advice on using public transport.
As mayor, I simply will not accept these Tory proposals, which would hit Londoners with a triple whammy of higher costs – adding up to hundreds of pounds per year for those who live and drive in London – at a time when so many families are already struggling.
The Prime Minister lied, plain and simple, in the House of Commons this week when he said Transport for London (TfL) only needed emergency national funding now due to actions I had taken prior to the pandemic. The truth is that before the coronavirus I was fixing the financial mess at TfL that I’d inherited from Boris Johnson when he was mayor. Over the course of four years, I had reduced TfL’s deficit by 71% and increased cash reserves by 13%.
The sole cause of TfL’s financial problems is Covid-19 – and it’s easy to see why. Due to a deal struck between Boris Johnson and the then-Chancellor George Osborne in 2015, TfL is the only major transport network in Western Europe that doesn’t receive any direct government funding for day-to-day services. This means it is almost completely reliant on passenger fares to pay for the running of services.
During the national lockdown, we saw passenger numbers on public transport plummet by 95%. This hit revenues extremely hard. At the same time, we had to continue operating safe services for our key workers.
Rail companies across the country have also faced emergency funding issues due to a drop in passenger numbers during the pandemic. In every case, the Tory government has agreed to give these failing private train rail operators an 18-month blank-cheque funding deal – with no strings attached – so that they can continue to run a profit for their shareholders. Even though TfL provides a far better service than the private rail operators, the Tories are not offering the same deal for us. Instead, they are treating London differently – inflicting vindictive and draconian measures.
When the first round of temporary emergency funding for TfL was agreed in May, the Tories demanded an end to free travel for under 18s, an increase to the Congestion Charge and a fares hike in January. I said at the time that this deal was just a sticking plaster as it failed to address the dramatic fall in fares income due to Covid-19. We then asked the government for an 18-month deal and showed that TfL needed £2bn just for the next six months. The offer from the government was not for 18 months, like they have given the private rail operators, but £1bn for just six months – with punitive, long-term conditions for Londoners attached.
These conditions include extending the £15 Congestion Charge Zone to the North and South circular roads, which would cover four million more Londoners. The Tories have tried to lie brazenly about this, but the truth is spelled out in black and white in a letter from the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, on October 1st, which stated: “We also propose the extension of the central London congestion charging zone to cover the same area as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone”.
The Tories also want to force TfL to increase fares by greater than RPI+1% for the next several years, and to massively hike up council tax in the capital, just when we are in the middle of a deep recession. Council tax is already a regressive tax. This move would mean all Londoners paying more, but the poorest being hit the hardest.
The way that the government is handling this TfL funding deal is just the latest in a long list of attacks on London. For example, the government is also refusing to properly fund councils, public services and City Hall for the cost of Covid-19, which is forcing another era of austerity on our city. As we have seen with the way it has treated the great and proud cities of the North in recent weeks, the government seems determined to undermine regional government across the country, including London, and it will require a collective political response to defend our vital local institutions.
I am ready to negotiate a fair funding deal for TfL. But the Tories need to stop playing party political games and being vindictive towards Londoners, who have already endured so much during this crisis. As mayor, I will continue to stand up for London and expose the Tories’ lies. Londoners won’t allow the government to take us for fools.


labourlist--2020-10-25--Sunday shows: Dido Harding position “untenable”, says Rosena Allin-Khan

Shadow mental health minister Rosena Allin-Khan described the position of Test and Trace head Dido Harding as “ untenable ” .
The Labour frontbencher also confirmed that Labour would force a fresh Commons vote on extending free school meals .
• On the campaign for another Commons vote on free school meals : “ The Labour Party are not going to give up on our young people , on the children who are going to bed hungry.
” • On the Conservatives who voted against the motion last week : “ The fact that 322 MPs made the morally reprehensible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week is deeply saddening.
” • On recent community campaigns to provide food to children in need : “ What has played out over the ensuing days is the very best of what it means to be British .
Our communities have stood up to this government and said : ‘ we don ’ t care what you have done – we are angry , and we are going to take matters into our own hands ’ .
” • On the work of footballer Marcus Rashford : “ It makes me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that Marcus Rashford and his campaign absolutely represents the best of our country.
” • On hopes for a government U-turn on free school meals : “ We are honestly hoping the Conservative government dig deep and look introspectively and perform a U-turn on this , but we certainly will be pushing for a vote before Christmas.
” • On Tory dissent over Test and Trace : “ I think the huge take-home message here is that the Tories are infighting because even they themselves can see just how catastrophic the handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system has been.
” • On whether Dido Harding needs to stand down : “ Her position is very difficult , it ’ s untenable really .
But fundamentally this comes down to the responsibility of the government – they have failed people.
” • On how long Labour ’ s proposed ‘ circuit breaker ’ lockdown would last : “ It would last for a certain amount of time no matter what happens and then we would go back into the tiered system.
” • On the need for a circuit breaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is needed to get on top of a shambolic test , trace and isolate system .
If we are able to get on top of that , it will protect our economy.
” • On rumoured government proposals to reduce the 14-day Covid self-isolation period : “ It is essential that we only do what is safe and , fundamentally , it all comes back down to getting on top of test , trace and isolate because if the government were able to do that then people would have some certainty.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s mental health : “ The government need to have a plan in place , a mental health and wellbeing strategy , going into this winter .
That is what Labour is calling for.
” • On her three breaches of parliamentary rules : “ The rules are important and they are there to be followed .
The first time I broke the rules was because on paper that I paid for myself I used a picture of a crown and portcullis .
I made a mistake , I didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • She added : “ I then declared my NHS payment for my shift a little bit late .
And I used paper to respond to people who had written to me about Brexit .
I did it in good faith.
” Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis also appeared on the show this morning .
Discussing the test and trace scheme , he acknowledged that the government “ want to see it improve ” , but defended the scheme as “ the biggest in Europe ” .
Asked about reports that private sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid day rates of £7,000 , he said it was “ quite right ” that the government used both the public and private sectors as it brought in “ the very best expertise ” .
He confirmed that the government was looking into reducing the 14-day Covid isolation period for those travelling from abroad or living with someone who has tested positive and said that ministers were “ moving with the science ” on the issue .
Lewis also defended the decision to vote against extending free school meals this week , arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with child poverty at the core ” and that the country was “ in a different place than we were during the summer ” .
Backbench Tory MP and liaison committee chair Bernard Jenkin called for Dido Harding to stand down from her position as head of the test and trace system , saying : “ It ’ s what leadership does , not who leadership is , that really matters ” .
He recommended that control of the test and trace system should be handed over to a “ very senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a crisis situation , under stress , at scale , with very high degrees of complexity and organisation ” .
Labour ’ s Vaughan Gething , the Welsh government health minister , defended the non-essential items ban that has attracted criticism during the national ‘ firebreak ’ lockdown in Wales .
• On whether banning the sale of non-essential products is being scrapped : “ No , we are reviewing with supermarkets the understanding and the clarity of the policy because there has been different application in different parts.
” • Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products being taped off in supermarkets , Gething pointed to the Welsh Conservatives saying it would be unfair to smaller retailers .
• Gething added : “ To have an effective firebreak , we do need to reduce opportunity for people to go out and mix .
And that ’ s we have this clarity of what ’ s essential and what ’ s not.
” • On why the firebreak is national : “ If we decided to exclude Ceredigion , we ’ d have had different issues with a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national measures taken .
It isn ’ t as simple as saying that everybody agrees one part of the country should be excluded .
We also know from the local restrictions we did have , covering three quarters of Wales , that was getting more and more difficult to explain.
” • Asked whether there will be a series of firebreaks , Gething reiterated that they do not expect “ a dramatic reduction in hospital admissions or death rates ” due to the lag .
Brandon Lewis , Secretary of State for Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition to extending free school meals during holidays and said Eat Out to Help Out “ kept more people in work ” by helping the hospitality industry .
Explaining the stance on free school meals , he said : “ We ’ re in a different position with Covid , particularly with schools being reopened , and we ’ ve put this £63m in to deliver for local authorities to help those in need.
” Lewis also criticised previous guest Vaughan Gething and the Welsh Labour government ’ s non-essential items ban by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing , socialist authority , coming out with these crazy outcomes ” .
On Brexit , which has seen UK-EU talks resume , the Northern Ireland spokesperson told Marr : “ I think there ’ s a good chance we can get a deal , but the EU need to understand it ’ s for them to move as well .
”

Sophy Ridge on Sunday
Shadow mental health minister Rosena Allin-Khan described the position of Test and Trace head Dido Harding as “untenable”. The Labour frontbencher also confirmed that Labour would force a fresh Commons vote on extending free school meals.
On the campaign for another Commons vote on free school meals: “The Labour Party are not going to give up on our young people, on the children who are going to bed hungry.”
On the Conservatives who voted against the motion last week: “The fact that 322 MPs made the morally reprehensible decision to vote against free school meals this week is deeply saddening.”
On recent community campaigns to provide food to children in need: “What has played out over the ensuing days is the very best of what it means to be British. Our communities have stood up to this government and said: ‘we don’t care what you have done – we are angry, and we are going to take matters into our own hands’.”
On the work of footballer Marcus Rashford: “It makes me so proud to be British and I know that Marcus Rashford and his campaign absolutely represents the best of our country.”
On hopes for a government U-turn on free school meals: “We are honestly hoping the Conservative government dig deep and look introspectively and perform a U-turn on this, but we certainly will be pushing for a vote before Christmas.”
On Tory dissent over Test and Trace: “I think the huge take-home message here is that the Tories are infighting because even they themselves can see just how catastrophic the handling of our test, trace and isolate system has been.”
On whether Dido Harding needs to stand down: “Her position is very difficult, it’s untenable really. But fundamentally this comes down to the responsibility of the government – they have failed people.”
On how long Labour’s proposed ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown would last: “It would last for a certain amount of time no matter what happens and then we would go back into the tiered system.”
On the need for a circuit breaker: “Fundamentally, this circuit breaker is needed to get on top of a shambolic test, trace and isolate system. If we are able to get on top of that, it will protect our economy.”
On rumoured government proposals to reduce the 14-day Covid self-isolation period: “It is essential that we only do what is safe and, fundamentally, it all comes back down to getting on top of test, trace and isolate because if the government were able to do that then people would have some certainty.”
On the impact of Covid on people’s mental health: “The government need to have a plan in place, a mental health and wellbeing strategy, going into this winter. That is what Labour is calling for.”
On her three breaches of parliamentary rules: “The rules are important and they are there to be followed. The first time I broke the rules was because on paper that I paid for myself I used a picture of a crown and portcullis. I made a mistake, I didn’t realise that that was an issue.”
She added: “I then declared my NHS payment for my shift a little bit late. And I used paper to respond to people who had written to me about Brexit. I did it in good faith.”
Dido Harding's position is "untenable", says the shadow mental health minister.@DrRosena adds test and trace should be in the hands of local public health teams.#Ridge https://t.co/0MGnsStxz1 pic.twitter.com/r17NHjQgxH — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) October 25, 2020
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis also appeared on the show this morning. Discussing the test and trace scheme, he acknowledged that the government “want to see it improve”, but defended the scheme as “the biggest in Europe”.
Asked about reports that private sector consultants in the testing system have been paid day rates of £7,000, he said it was “quite right” that the government used both the public and private sectors as it brought in “the very best expertise”.
He confirmed that the government was looking into reducing the 14-day Covid isolation period for those travelling from abroad or living with someone who has tested positive and said that ministers were “moving with the science” on the issue.
Lewis also defended the decision to vote against extending free school meals this week, arguing that Downing Street was trying to “deal with child poverty at the core” and that the country was “in a different place than we were during the summer”.
Backbench Tory MP and liaison committee chair Bernard Jenkin called for Dido Harding to stand down from her position as head of the test and trace system, saying: “It’s what leadership does, not who leadership is, that really matters”.
He recommended that control of the test and trace system should be handed over to a “very senior military person… who is used to dealing with a crisis situation, under stress, at scale, with very high degrees of complexity and organisation”.
The Andrew Marr Show
Labour’s Vaughan Gething, the Welsh government health minister, defended the non-essential items ban that has attracted criticism during the national ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales.
On whether banning the sale of non-essential products is being scrapped: “No, we are reviewing with supermarkets the understanding and the clarity of the policy because there has been different application in different parts.”
Asked about the “absurdity” of certain products being taped off in supermarkets, Gething pointed to the Welsh Conservatives saying it would be unfair to smaller retailers.
Gething added: “To have an effective firebreak, we do need to reduce opportunity for people to go out and mix. And that’s we have this clarity of what’s essential and what’s not.”
On why the firebreak is national: “If we decided to exclude Ceredigion, we’d have had different issues with a number of people who there who want to see national measures taken. It isn’t as simple as saying that everybody agrees one part of the country should be excluded. We also know from the local restrictions we did have, covering three quarters of Wales, that was getting more and more difficult to explain.”
Asked whether there will be a series of firebreaks, Gething reiterated that they do not expect “a dramatic reduction in hospital admissions or death rates” due to the lag.
Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething tells #Marr that the ban on supermarkets selling non-essential items will not be scrapped tomorrowhttps://t.co/DOIsY3Exyn pic.twitter.com/M2cqEgajcv — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 25, 2020
Brandon Lewis, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, defended the government’s opposition to extending free school meals during holidays and said Eat Out to Help Out “kept more people in work” by helping the hospitality industry.
Explaining the stance on free school meals, he said: “We’re in a different position with Covid, particularly with schools being reopened, and we’ve put this £63m in to deliver for local authorities to help those in need.”
Lewis also criticised previous guest Vaughan Gething and the Welsh Labour government’s non-essential items ban by referring to a “test bed for left-wing, socialist authority, coming out with these crazy outcomes”.
On Brexit, which has seen UK-EU talks resume, the Northern Ireland spokesperson told Marr: “I think there’s a good chance we can get a deal, but the EU need to understand it’s for them to move as well.”


labourlist--2020-10-25--Terry Paul: Why I’m standing to represent local parties on Labour’s NEC

Over the last few months , it has been my privilege to talk to hundreds of Labour members as part of my campaign to be elected to the party ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) .
Many members are still bruised from the crushing election defeat in December , but across the country and in every wing of the party I ’ ve been inspired by the dedication of members to gaining power and giving a voice to the most deprived in society – the people who really need a Labour government .
Jeremy Corbyn ’ s leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , and with them new ideas and new energy .
However , for many , it was also an uncomfortable time when they felt unwelcome .
A period when the party often spent more time fighting its internal battles in public and talking to itself , rather than looking to appeal to the voters we need to win over to gain power .
I ’ m standing for the NEC to represent all members in the party and make sure their energy is channelled into a credible , realistic plan to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be part of an NEC that takes governance seriously .
To be part of a body that safeguards its members , that stands up for the membership and that is a constructive and critical colleague to the leadership .
I was born in East London and benefitted in many ways from the policies and programmes of Labour governments , councils and individual politicians .
I was the first in my family to go to university , which transformed my life and its direction .
It ’ s also been my privilege to serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the most deprived boroughs in the country , where I ’ ve seen for myself how important it is for residents to have a Labour council in power .
My politics are from the moderate centre of the party – most of the time – and a product of growing up in a challenging part of East London .
I have a working-class background , which gives me the personal outlook not to romanticise the working-class experience but to have a political outlook that recognises it ’ s a lived experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times soul-destroying .
I ’ m also a Black man , and proud of my West Indian heritage .
I know that the Black Lives Matter movement has opened many Labour Party members ’ eyes to the challenges of being Black and served as a political wakeup call .
But for me , like many other Black people , this is my everyday lived identity and will be my lifelong experience .
Many have been shocked to learn that there has never been a Black man on the NEC .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to use my position on the NEC to put in place more inclusive policies to improve the representation of Black people across the party – as MPs , councillors , party staff and activists .
Our party talks the language of diversity , but we can do much more in how we demonstrate our commitment to our values .
We must promote real diversity across all levels of our party , not just talk about it when it is convenient and criticise other organisations .
We must be the visible symbol of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promoting the voices of marginalised people .
I ’ m standing alongside some fantastic Labour Party campaigners , who have a range of experience – Luke , Johanna , Gurinder , Michael and Shama – and we ’ re standing together to represent the membership .
To rebuild Labour into an election-winning modern campaigning machine , to be open and transparent with members and promote unity , kindness and decency across the broad church that is the Labour Party .
Importantly , I want our party to have zero tolerance for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism , antisemitism , transphobia , homophobia and sexism , and champion an independent complaints process .

Over the last few months, it has been my privilege to talk to hundreds of Labour members as part of my campaign to be elected to the party’s national executive committee (NEC). Many members are still bruised from the crushing election defeat in December, but across the country and in every wing of the party I’ve been inspired by the dedication of members to gaining power and giving a voice to the most deprived in society – the people who really need a Labour government.
Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership brought thousands of new members into the party, and with them new ideas and new energy. However, for many, it was also an uncomfortable time when they felt unwelcome. A period when the party often spent more time fighting its internal battles in public and talking to itself, rather than looking to appeal to the voters we need to win over to gain power.
I’m standing for the NEC to represent all members in the party and make sure their energy is channelled into a credible, realistic plan to make Labour electable again. I want to be part of an NEC that takes governance seriously. To be part of a body that safeguards its members, that stands up for the membership and that is a constructive and critical colleague to the leadership.
I was born in East London and benefitted in many ways from the policies and programmes of Labour governments, councils and individual politicians. I was the first in my family to go to university, which transformed my life and its direction. It’s also been my privilege to serve as a Labour councillor in Newham, one of the most deprived boroughs in the country, where I’ve seen for myself how important it is for residents to have a Labour council in power.
My politics are from the moderate centre of the party – most of the time – and a product of growing up in a challenging part of East London. I have a working-class background, which gives me the personal outlook not to romanticise the working-class experience but to have a political outlook that recognises it’s a lived experience that is real, authentic and at times soul-destroying.
I’m also a Black man, and proud of my West Indian heritage. I know that the Black Lives Matter movement has opened many Labour Party members’ eyes to the challenges of being Black and served as a political wakeup call. But for me, like many other Black people, this is my everyday lived identity and will be my lifelong experience. Many have been shocked to learn that there has never been a Black man on the NEC. It’s my ambition to break that glass ceiling and to use my position on the NEC to put in place more inclusive policies to improve the representation of Black people across the party – as MPs, councillors, party staff and activists.
Our party talks the language of diversity, but we can do much more in how we demonstrate our commitment to our values. We must promote real diversity across all levels of our party, not just talk about it when it is convenient and criticise other organisations. We must be the visible symbol of diversity and inclusiveness – developing talent pipelines and promoting the voices of marginalised people.
I’m standing alongside some fantastic Labour Party campaigners, who have a range of experience – Luke, Johanna, Gurinder, Michael and Shama – and we’re standing together to represent the membership. To rebuild Labour into an election-winning modern campaigning machine, to be open and transparent with members and promote unity, kindness and decency across the broad church that is the Labour Party. Importantly, I want our party to have zero tolerance for all forms of discriminatory behaviour, such as racism, antisemitism, transphobia, homophobia and sexism, and champion an independent complaints process.


labourlist--2020-10-26--Labour not giving up as thousands rally behind free school meals campaign

It has been a busy weekend for Marcus Rashford , whose call to action has seen thousands from across the country come together to provide children with free meals over the half term .
The rallying of charities , businesses , councils and the public generally has been truly amazing – emphasising that the Tory vote to reject free school meals last week does not reflect national feeling .
In response , Conservative MPs have spent the weekend showing just how callous a Tory can be .
One demonised working-class families by likening free school meals to a direct payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another said she “ very much ” hopes the businesses helping out “ will not be seeking any further government support ” in the pandemic .
Labour is not giving up the fight .
Kate Green slammed the “ dangerous and stigmatising rhetoric ” used by Conservative MPs in a letter to the Education Secretary , calling on him to “ do the right thing ” .
She requested the government meet with Rashford ’ s Child Food Poverty Taskforce to discuss its proposals to end child poverty , and urged it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Labour has pledged to force another vote in the Commons on the provision of free school meals over the holidays if the government does not change course ahead of the Christmas break .
But questioned this morning , the Health Secretary argued that extra funding already being given to councils during Covid was enough .
Meanwhile , Chancellor Rishi Sunak has decided that now , just in the middle of a pandemic , is the right time to reinstate VAT on personal protective equipment .
From November 1st , these items will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has pointed out , masks are currently mandatory in a range of settings and this will do nothing to encourage their widespread use .
The party has estimated that for a family of four using disposable masks , it will mean paying an extra £94 over the next six months .
A nice little Halloween gift from the Tories , dubbed a “ mask tax ” by Labour .
To watch out for this week is the ever-imminent Equality and Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism in the Labour Party .
Labour received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July and we have been expecting the report to come out at any point since then .
But the organisation has now confirmed that the report will be published “ shortly ” .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

It has been a busy weekend for Marcus Rashford, whose call to action has seen thousands from across the country come together to provide children with free meals over the half term. The rallying of charities, businesses, councils and the public generally has been truly amazing – emphasising that the Tory vote to reject free school meals last week does not reflect national feeling. In response, Conservative MPs have spent the weekend showing just how callous a Tory can be. One demonised working-class families by likening free school meals to a direct payment to crack dens and brothels, and another said she “very much” hopes the businesses helping out “will not be seeking any further government support” in the pandemic.
Labour is not giving up the fight. Kate Green slammed the “dangerous and stigmatising rhetoric” used by Conservative MPs in a letter to the Education Secretary, calling on him to “do the right thing”. She requested the government meet with Rashford’s Child Food Poverty Taskforce to discuss its proposals to end child poverty, and urged it to reverse its position on free school meals. Labour has pledged to force another vote in the Commons on the provision of free school meals over the holidays if the government does not change course ahead of the Christmas break. But questioned this morning, the Health Secretary argued that extra funding already being given to councils during Covid was enough.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has decided that now, just in the middle of a pandemic, is the right time to reinstate VAT on personal protective equipment. From November 1st, these items will cost 20% more. As Labour has pointed out, masks are currently mandatory in a range of settings and this will do nothing to encourage their widespread use. The party has estimated that for a family of four using disposable masks, it will mean paying an extra £94 over the next six months. A nice little Halloween gift from the Tories, dubbed a “mask tax” by Labour.
To watch out for this week is the ever-imminent Equality and Human Rights Commission report into antisemitism in the Labour Party. Labour received a draft of the document back in July and we have been expecting the report to come out at any point since then. But the organisation has now confirmed that the report will be published “shortly”. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-10-26--“Winning the Future”: Socialist Campaign Group launches pamphlet

The Socialist Campaign Group has launched a new pamphlet titled “ Winning the Future : socialist responses to the coronavirus crisis ” proposing “ bold , practical solutions ” to the pandemic .
The document published on Sunday includes articles written by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn , Diane Abbott , John McDonnell and Rebecca Long-Bailey among others from the left-wing grouping of Labour MPs in parliament .
In an email to supporters , SCG secretary Richard Burgon described Covid as “ the greatest crisis our communities have faced in decades ” and said the priority for the labour movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change track ” .
Commenting on its release , Burgon said : “ When the coronavirus crisis hit earlier this year , as one of the wealthiest countries on earth , we should have been well placed to limit the fallout .
Instead , the government ’ s response has been catastrophic .
“ The priority for the whole labour movement must be to force the government to change track – through proposing bold , practical solutions and building the mass movements needed to win change .
“ The solutions that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around them can make a real difference to people ’ s lives in the here and now .
It is also an essential part of preparing to win in 2024.
” The group told its supporters in the email that “ we on the left have a leading role to play in this ” and argued that the newly published compilation of articles is “ part of the process of setting out an alternative ” .
Burgon added : “ Our party now needs to go beyond criticising the government ’ s incompetence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has won the public argument over – and lay out the policies needed to defend people hit hard by this unprecedented public health and jobs crisis.
” The secretary of the group has argued that the UK should adopt a ‘ zero-Covid ’ approach to the pandemic , which has been advocated by Independent SAGE and used successfully to suppress the virus in New Zealand .
He wrote for LabourList : “ The government must admit that it ’ s got it wrong so far , change track and go for zero Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unite around zero Covid if we are to force the government to budge.
” In his pamphlet foreword , Burgon argued that last year ’ s general election defeat was not the result of people rejecting Labour ’ s 2017 and 2019 manifestos .
He stressed the need to “ build on those progressive policies – even to deepen them ” .
Contributors called for the new Labour leadership to go beyond attacking Boris Johnson over his incompetence .
Jon Trickett described Keir Starmer ’ s “ professional , credible and responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there is much farther to go ” .
Ian Lavery MP wrote : “ It is not good enough to be seen to be sitting on the sidelines critiquing on competence… It is Labour ’ s job to articulate a vision of the future that sets us apart from the failures of the past decade of austerity.
” Trickett also argued that “ alarm bells ought to be sounding ” in relation to ‘ Red Wall ’ seats that voted Conservative for the first time last year .
He warned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party in these communities is glacial ” .
Former Shadow Chancellor McDonnell used his article to call for a “ radical economics for radical times ” to prevent the jobs crisis and warned that the country is on the edge of a recession of “ unpredictable depth and longevity ” .
Abbott penned a piece on “ race , class and Black Lives Matter ” in a section on “ building a society of justice and equality ” .
This is joined by an article from Corbyn on global peace and Bell Ribeiro-Addy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the members of the socialist group of MPs featured in the publication recently defied the Labour leadership over the controversial overseas operations bill and the covert human intelligence sources ( criminal conduct ) bill .
The pamphlet also includes an article penned by Leicester East MP Claudia Webbe , who was recently accused and charged with harassment against a woman .
She has been suspended from the Labour Party pending the outcome of the case .
The SCG currently has a membership of 34 MPs .
It launched the successful campaign to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party in 2015 .
More recently , it supported Long-Bailey for leader and Burgon for deputy in the last leadership elections .

The Socialist Campaign Group has launched a new pamphlet titled “Winning the Future: socialist responses to the coronavirus crisis” proposing “bold, practical solutions” to the pandemic.
The document published on Sunday includes articles written by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell and Rebecca Long-Bailey among others from the left-wing grouping of Labour MPs in parliament.
In an email to supporters, SCG secretary Richard Burgon described Covid as “the greatest crisis our communities have faced in decades” and said the priority for the labour movement must be to “force the government to change track”.
Commenting on its release, Burgon said: “When the coronavirus crisis hit earlier this year, as one of the wealthiest countries on earth, we should have been well placed to limit the fallout. Instead, the government’s response has been catastrophic.
“The priority for the whole labour movement must be to force the government to change track – through proposing bold, practical solutions and building the mass movements needed to win change.
“The solutions that the Labour movement puts forward and our organising around them can make a real difference to people’s lives in the here and now. It is also an essential part of preparing to win in 2024.”
The group told its supporters in the email that “we on the left have a leading role to play in this” and argued that the newly published compilation of articles is “part of the process of setting out an alternative”.
Burgon added: “Our party now needs to go beyond criticising the government’s incompetence – which it has done well and has won the public argument over – and lay out the policies needed to defend people hit hard by this unprecedented public health and jobs crisis.”
The secretary of the group has argued that the UK should adopt a ‘zero-Covid’ approach to the pandemic, which has been advocated by Independent SAGE and used successfully to suppress the virus in New Zealand.
He wrote for LabourList: “The government must admit that it’s got it wrong so far, change track and go for zero Covid. The entire labour movement will need to unite around zero Covid if we are to force the government to budge.”
In his pamphlet foreword, Burgon argued that last year’s general election defeat was not the result of people rejecting Labour’s 2017 and 2019 manifestos. He stressed the need to “build on those progressive policies – even to deepen them”.
Contributors called for the new Labour leadership to go beyond attacking Boris Johnson over his incompetence. Jon Trickett described Keir Starmer’s “professional, credible and responsible” approach as a “good start, but there is much farther to go”.
Ian Lavery MP wrote: “It is not good enough to be seen to be sitting on the sidelines critiquing on competence… It is Labour’s job to articulate a vision of the future that sets us apart from the failures of the past decade of austerity.”
Trickett also argued that “alarm bells ought to be sounding” in relation to ‘Red Wall’ seats that voted Conservative for the first time last year. He warned that the “change in attitudes towards our party in these communities is glacial”.
Former Shadow Chancellor McDonnell used his article to call for a “radical economics for radical times” to prevent the jobs crisis and warned that the country is on the edge of a recession of “unpredictable depth and longevity”.
Abbott penned a piece on “race, class and Black Lives Matter” in a section on “building a society of justice and equality”. This is joined by an article from Corbyn on global peace and Bell Ribeiro-Addy on defending migrants’ rights.
A contribution from MP Claudia Webbe, reflecting on the unprecedented economic impact of Covid on labour protections and calling for “workers’ rights fit for the 21st century”, was included despite her current suspension from the party.
Many of the members of the socialist group of MPs featured in the publication recently defied the Labour leadership over the controversial overseas operations bill and the covert human intelligence sources (criminal conduct) bill.
The SCG currently has a membership of 34 MPs. It launched the successful campaign to get Corbyn elected the leader of the party in 2015. More recently, it supported Long-Bailey for leader and Burgon for deputy in the last leadership elections.


labourlist--2020-10-26--The brave men of the Jarrow Crusade will always provide inspiration

There are towns and cities in this country that carry a particular weight of meaning .
The Battle of Orgreave , one of the most violent confrontations of the 1984/85 miners ’ strike .
The Shrewsbury building workers ’ strikes of 1972 , which saw 24 working men , including TV legend Ricky Tomlinson , convicted for crimes they maintain they did not commit .
The Battle of Cable Street in 1936 , when thousands of Londoners successfully defeated a march by members of the British Union of Fascists led by Oswald Mosley .
These are just three of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant event in history .
The wonderful town of Jarrow , part of the constituency I represent , is another .
84 years ago , this proud , working-class town in the North East of England became , in the words of its MP , the great “ Red ” Ellen Wilkinson , “ the most famous town in England ” .
Banners proudly held aloft and beaming with pride , 200 dignified men from the historic North Eastern town of Jarrow set off from this wonderful town on October 5th , 1936 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books , and those iconic images of the Crusade went on to powerfully define a region and an era .
Economic recession with rising unemployment , poverty and deprivation – these are just some of the issues currently facing people across the Jarrow constituency and the wider North East region .
These problems were also faced in Jarrow in the 1930s .
The people of Jarrow had witnessed their precious town being murdered by a cartel of businessmen who , backed up by the Conservative government of the time , had closed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 % of the town out of work .
These were men who took great pride in going to work to provide for their families and overnight were left with nothing .
No work .
No pay .
Nothing .
The Jarrow Crusade was led by a local man called David Riley , chair of Jarrow Council , and the town ’ s MP , Ellen Wilkinson .
They wanted parliament , and the country as a whole , to understand that they were orderly , responsible people , who wanted the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was composed of all the political parties and people from various backgrounds , resolved unanimously to support the Crusade and give it the backing of its people , so that it could be a success .
The march caught the imagination of the people of Jarrow straight away , as it did with the rest of the public as it travelled south to London .
200 men were selected to march on the 300-mile crusade , and a petition was signed by 12,000 townspeople .
It ’ s no secret that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conservative government , with then Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin refusing to meet with the marchers .
But the Crusade certainly had the backing of the people at home and right across the country , as the marchers lifted the spirits of everyone , offering hope , to those they met during those dark days of the depression .
Sadly , it has been well-documented that when the men reached the capital , the Prime Minister refused to meet with marchers and their pleas for work were ignored .
What ’ s even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they got back home to Jarrow , they found their dole money had been stopped and the dreaded means-test men were waiting for them at their front doors .
Although they seemed to have failed in their brave efforts to help the people of Jarrow , to this very day , the 1936 Jarrow Crusade is remembered worldwide .
I have spoken to many people in the constituency who talk about the Jarrow Crusade with pride .
Visitors to Jarrow will also see permanent reminders of this famous event in the form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and even beers named after the march and the marchers .
Of course , comparisons may be drawn between those bleak times in the 1930s and today .
Currently , the North East has the highest unemployment rate in the whole country , with joblessness rising by 18,000 to 86,000 over the past quarter .
And in the Jarrow constituency , there were 4,090 actual claimants of unemployment related benefits in September 2020 , a rate of 7.9 % compared to the national rate of 6.5 % .
This grim outlook is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , as the national furlough scheme expires at the end of this month and social restrictions continue to be enforced .
So many people are desperate .
Those left without a job face the immensely difficult task of trying to find work .
There are many others in work who are worried sick about losing it .
With more than 1.5 million people currently unemployed across the UK , the highest number for three years , this is turning into the unemployment crisis we feared .
Over the past decade , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again how far out of touch it is with the real world .
They don ’ t have a clue what it ’ s like to worry about paying the bills .
They have no idea what it ’ s like to struggle to gather enough money together to put food on the table and pay the rent or the mortgage .
And of course , they ’ ve never had a bailiff turning up at the door demanding money .
Over the past decade , this Conservative government have taken us back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding for our NHS , our schools , our welfare state , and our public services .
This government ’ s shambolic decisions during the pandemic are also having a devastating impact on people ’ s lives , with workers and businesses under local restrictions in complete limbo , often confused by this government ’ s muddled messages .
Boris Johnson and his millionaires in the cabinet don ’ t represent , nor care , for working people .
It isn ’ t in his , nor his party ’ s , DNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve destroyed the spirit of a community less resilient than ours .
Instead , we fought back – and 84 years on we will do it again as the Jarrow Crusade continues to provide inspiration to people across the world .
That makes me proud , and we owe it to the memory of the inspirational Jarrow marchers who went all the way to Westminster to build a better Britain , a much fairer country .
What those brave men did more than eight decades ago was to deliver a message of hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may be .
And we must take strength from the Jarrow Crusade today when fighting for higher wages , jobs and giving people a better quality of living .
Although much has changed over the past 84 years , we still live in a world of great inequalities and injustices .
That ’ s why the Jarrow Crusade is such an inspiration to the desperate struggles people face every day , and always will be .
Boris Johnson , Dominic Cummings and co should take note of the history of working-class people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what they strongly believed was right : as the Jarrow Crusade shows , people will never give up the fight and will always make their voices heard .

There are towns and cities in this country that carry a particular weight of meaning. The Battle of Orgreave, one of the most violent confrontations of the 1984/85 miners’ strike. The Shrewsbury building workers’ strikes of 1972, which saw 24 working men, including TV legend Ricky Tomlinson, convicted for crimes they maintain they did not commit. The Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when thousands of Londoners successfully defeated a march by members of the British Union of Fascists led by Oswald Mosley. These are just three of many places that have become synonymous with a significant event in history.
The wonderful town of Jarrow, part of the constituency I represent, is another. 84 years ago, this proud, working-class town in the North East of England became, in the words of its MP, the great “Red” Ellen Wilkinson, “the most famous town in England”. Banners proudly held aloft and beaming with pride, 200 dignified men from the historic North Eastern town of Jarrow set off from this wonderful town on October 5th, 1936, all the way into the history books, and those iconic images of the Crusade went on to powerfully define a region and an era.
Economic recession with rising unemployment, poverty and deprivation – these are just some of the issues currently facing people across the Jarrow constituency and the wider North East region. These problems were also faced in Jarrow in the 1930s. The people of Jarrow had witnessed their precious town being murdered by a cartel of businessmen who, backed up by the Conservative government of the time, had closed the prestigious Palmer’s shipyard and left 70% of the town out of work. These were men who took great pride in going to work to provide for their families and overnight were left with nothing. No work. No pay. Nothing.
The Jarrow Crusade was led by a local man called David Riley, chair of Jarrow Council, and the town’s MP, Ellen Wilkinson. They wanted parliament, and the country as a whole, to understand that they were orderly, responsible people, who wanted the right to work. The town council, which was composed of all the political parties and people from various backgrounds, resolved unanimously to support the Crusade and give it the backing of its people, so that it could be a success.
The march caught the imagination of the people of Jarrow straight away, as it did with the rest of the public as it travelled south to London. 200 men were selected to march on the 300-mile crusade, and a petition was signed by 12,000 townspeople. It’s no secret that the Crusade did not have the backing of the Conservative government, with then Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin refusing to meet with the marchers. But the Crusade certainly had the backing of the people at home and right across the country, as the marchers lifted the spirits of everyone, offering hope, to those they met during those dark days of the depression.
Sadly, it has been well-documented that when the men reached the capital, the Prime Minister refused to meet with marchers and their pleas for work were ignored. What’s even more heartbreaking is the fact that when they got back home to Jarrow, they found their dole money had been stopped and the dreaded means-test men were waiting for them at their front doors. Although they seemed to have failed in their brave efforts to help the people of Jarrow, to this very day, the 1936 Jarrow Crusade is remembered worldwide. I have spoken to many people in the constituency who talk about the Jarrow Crusade with pride. Visitors to Jarrow will also see permanent reminders of this famous event in the form of displays, statues and murals, streets, and even beers named after the march and the marchers.
Of course, comparisons may be drawn between those bleak times in the 1930s and today. Currently, the North East has the highest unemployment rate in the whole country, with joblessness rising by 18,000 to 86,000 over the past quarter. And in the Jarrow constituency, there were 4,090 actual claimants of unemployment related benefits in September 2020, a rate of 7.9% compared to the national rate of 6.5%. This grim outlook is expected to worsen during this difficult Covid-19 pandemic, as the national furlough scheme expires at the end of this month and social restrictions continue to be enforced.
So many people are desperate. Those left without a job face the immensely difficult task of trying to find work. There are many others in work who are worried sick about losing it. With more than 1.5 million people currently unemployed across the UK, the highest number for three years, this is turning into the unemployment crisis we feared. Over the past decade, this Tory government has proved time and time again how far out of touch it is with the real world. They don’t have a clue what it’s like to worry about paying the bills. They have no idea what it’s like to struggle to gather enough money together to put food on the table and pay the rent or the mortgage. And of course, they’ve never had a bailiff turning up at the door demanding money.
Over the past decade, this Conservative government have taken us back, not forward, in terms of funding for our NHS, our schools, our welfare state, and our public services. This government’s shambolic decisions during the pandemic are also having a devastating impact on people’s lives, with workers and businesses under local restrictions in complete limbo, often confused by this government’s muddled messages. Boris Johnson and his millionaires in the cabinet don’t represent, nor care, for working people. It isn’t in his, nor his party’s, DNA.
Jarrow’s plight would’ve destroyed the spirit of a community less resilient than ours. Instead, we fought back – and 84 years on we will do it again as the Jarrow Crusade continues to provide inspiration to people across the world. That makes me proud, and we owe it to the memory of the inspirational Jarrow marchers who went all the way to Westminster to build a better Britain, a much fairer country. What those brave men did more than eight decades ago was to deliver a message of hope for people who need hope, wherever they may be. And we must take strength from the Jarrow Crusade today when fighting for higher wages, jobs and giving people a better quality of living.
Although much has changed over the past 84 years, we still live in a world of great inequalities and injustices. That’s why the Jarrow Crusade is such an inspiration to the desperate struggles people face every day, and always will be. Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings and co should take note of the history of working-class people standing up for their dignity and for what they strongly believed was right: as the Jarrow Crusade shows, people will never give up the fight and will always make their voices heard.


labourlist--2020-10-26--Interview with Roger McKenzie: “Racism is the other pandemic taking place”

“ My mum always used to tell us she was walking home through Walsall one night as a pregnant woman and was attacked in the middle of the street .
Other people could see what was going on as these men attacked this pregnant woman and called her all sorts of racist names .
They nearly killed her and they nearly killed her child , which was me.
” It becomes evident as we chat over Zoom that racism has affected every part of Roger McKenzie ’ s life .
The candidate to be UNISON ’ s next general secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Being anti-racist wasn ’ t some badge you could take off , ” he tells me .
“ For me and my family , it was literally a matter of life and death.
” “ As a child , I was having to fight my way to school every morning , ” McKenzie says .
“ We didn ’ t have far to go , as it was only a ten-minute walk to school , but I was having to fight , not just name-calling but physically.
” At the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his way home again – “ sometimes to find racist slogans daubed on our wall , sometimes having to deal with dog mess and sometimes petrol bombs thrown through our letterbox ” .
McKenzie was born in 1960s Walsall on the outskirts of Birmingham , in a region that has a long and painful history with racism .
Walsall is just a few miles from the town of Smethwick , which became infamous after a Tory candidate won the constituency in the 1964 general election using the slogan “ if you want a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Traditionally a Labour-supporting area , ‘ Red Wall ’ cities in the West Midlands such as Stoke were some of the first to elect councillors from the fascist British National Party .
On returning to the region later in his life , McKenzie describes how walking through the town of Tipton , near Dudley , he saw BNP posters brazenly displayed in people ’ s window , something he ’ d “ never seen before ” .
His first day at primary school was mere months after Enoch Powell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and national events such as that “ shaped a lot of the attitudes and behaviours ” of those around him .
Even the launch of TV show Roots , which depicted Black people resisting slavery in the US , had terrible effects .
“ We got a lot of pride from that show as there weren ’ t too many stories around about our history , ” he explains .
“ But what it also did was ignite a load of racism against us , that we had to deal with in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he recalls asking a careers officer whether he could become a journalist in future , only to be told that “ Black people didn ’ t do those jobs ” .
He was asked about joining the Army instead , or the airforce – “ not to fly aeroplanes mind , but to fix them , ” McKenzie adds .
Fighting constant racism in school with other Black pupils , he learned it was much easier when they stood together .
“ That ’ s where my beliefs about how you challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McKenzie explains .
“ That you can try and fight your way individually against these things , but we ’ re far more able to succeed if we are able to fight collectively.
” After leaving school at 16 , his dad took him into the front room , the “ posh room ” of their cramped terraced house , and told him to join a trade union the moment he started work .
His father was a railway worker for 30 years and consistently a member of the National Union of Railwaymen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s where some of my values start from .
From family members who were all staunch trade unionists and Labour supporters to the core.
” McKenzie left school on a Friday , started work as a painter-decorator the next Monday , and by Tuesday was already the subs collector for the union .
“ My job was to go around on a Friday afternoon when people had just got their pay packets and persuade them to give me some money for the union , ” he recalls .
“ That was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve ever done , but I learned new forms of abuse in that time , and also how to duck and dive out of the way of bricks being thrown at me.
” That job disappeared after Margaret Thatcher took power , McKenzie tells me .
He then became a housing officer at Walsall Council , and immediately joined the Labour Party and the National Union of Public Employees ( NUPE ) that would later merge to form UNISON .
This period at Walsall Council was defined by political radicalism , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services .
The council leader was “ eventually expelled from the Labour Party , frankly for being too left-wing , ” as McKenzie puts it , but he had served as a “ great mentor ” .
From then , McKenzie was set on being a lifelong trade unionist .
His first foray into union education , a field he would later specialise in , came after he was asked to do shop steward training for NUPE .
After leaving school with two O-Levels , returning to the classroom was not something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to this training place in Walsall and I remember turning to walk away , thinking ‘ I ’ ll give this a wide berth ’ , ” he recalls .
“ Then I bumped into this guy who it turned out was the tutor and he persuaded me to come back in.
” The first course opened his eyes : “ I felt for the very first time really that what I thought about something had some value .
I had spent most of my life being told that stuff I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he became a union educator himself after getting “ tricked into teaching on courses ” , as he puts it .
He moved to Manchester to teach at the then Central Manchester College , before later taking another teaching position in London .
It was in London that the current assistant general secretary first became actively involved in the Labour Party as a constituency secretary and local councillor in Islington .
“ I ’ ve been a member of the Labour Party since 1981 , and there ’ s been only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve been a member that I could absolutely say I was a big supporter of , and that ’ s Jeremy Corbyn.
” How does he feel about the new Labour leadership ?
“ We will always give support to the party , as far as I ’ m concerned , but we want to see some evidence of a continuation of direction , ” McKenzie tells me .
“ It ’ s about demonstrating that Labour is going to continue to stand up for public service workers.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the recent abstentions by Labour and “ they should have opposed the government and made things really clear ” .
McKenzie speaks endearingly about deputy leader Angela Rayner – “ a really , really good friend of mine ” – who spent years as a UNISON organiser before standing as an MP .
He thinks more members should follow in her footsteps .
“ My basic attitude is that we have to take the union into the Labour Party , rather than the other way round , ” he explains .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking an active role in the Labour Party and I think we ’ re losing an opportunity to take our policies and our values into the party.
” Asked about his view of Unite recently choosing to reduce its Labour donation , McKenzie says : “ What I would like to see is more UNISON members taking our message into Constituency Labour Parties ( CLPs ) and influencing the direction that the leadership is going… I don ’ t think you do that by withdrawing , I think you do that with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national education officer of a UK trade union when he left his teaching role to join the National Union of Civil and Public Servants ( NUCPS ) .
After the death of Stephen Lawrence , he moved on to become the TUC ’ s race equality officer and helped draft new rule changes for the trade union federation .
“ Frankly I was amazed it wasn ’ t already a requirement of affiliation to the TUC that you had to demonstrate a commitment to equality , ” he says .
McKenzie later served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Midlands , both at the TUC and subsequently UNISON , before being made assistant general secretary of the public service union a decade ago .
The trade union movement still has a lot more to do to root out racism , McKenzie makes clear .
“ If you ’ re Black , you know what ’ s going on , ” he says .
“ Racism is the other pandemic that ’ s taking place , it ’ s the second pandemic and it needs to be treated with the same seriousness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too much evidence that it ’ s not at the top of people ’ s agenda.
” As a member of the TUC general council , McKenzie has helped set up a new task force on racism .
“ But it ’ s a bit sad that we actually have to set up another task group to look at stuff that should just be an ongoing part of a trade union ’ s work , ” he says .
His key pledge , to increase the number of UNISON activists and increase engagement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You tackle racism with solidarity , with collectivism .
And that ’ s what I want to see .
All of our members making it clear that they will not be divided in the workplace against each other.
” What does McKenzie have to say to those who argue that his leadership role makes him part of the UNISON establishment ?
“ I think it shows absolutely a complete disregard for what it takes for a Black person to get anywhere within the trade union movement .
I find it quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ From people who refuse to stand up for Black workers or just discovered racism so they can stick on a Black Lives Matter badge as if it ’ s the latest fashion .
Never marched against the fascists .
Never had letter bombs thrown through their letterbox .
Never been spat at in the street .
Never had eggs thrown at them .
As I have , all of those things.
” “ All of a sudden , I ’ m establishment .
I mean , when does establishment begin and end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what point do you stop being working-class , do you stop being an activist ?
Because I ’ ve never stopped being an activist of any kind .
”

“My mum always used to tell us she was walking home through Walsall one night as a pregnant woman and was attacked in the middle of the street. Other people could see what was going on as these men attacked this pregnant woman and called her all sorts of racist names. They nearly killed her and they nearly killed her child, which was me.”
It becomes evident as we chat over Zoom that racism has affected every part of Roger McKenzie’s life. The candidate to be UNISON’s next general secretary was always aware of its lethal consequences. “Being anti-racist wasn’t some badge you could take off,” he tells me. “For me and my family, it was literally a matter of life and death.”
“As a child, I was having to fight my way to school every morning,” McKenzie says. “We didn’t have far to go, as it was only a ten-minute walk to school, but I was having to fight, not just name-calling but physically.” At the end of the day, he would fight his way home again – “sometimes to find racist slogans daubed on our wall, sometimes having to deal with dog mess and sometimes petrol bombs thrown through our letterbox”.
McKenzie was born in 1960s Walsall on the outskirts of Birmingham, in a region that has a long and painful history with racism. Walsall is just a few miles from the town of Smethwick, which became infamous after a Tory candidate won the constituency in the 1964 general election using the slogan “if you want a n****r for a neighbour, vote Labour”.
Traditionally a Labour-supporting area, ‘Red Wall’ cities in the West Midlands such as Stoke were some of the first to elect councillors from the fascist British National Party. On returning to the region later in his life, McKenzie describes how walking through the town of Tipton, near Dudley, he saw BNP posters brazenly displayed in people’s window, something he’d “never seen before”.
His first day at primary school was mere months after Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, and national events such as that “shaped a lot of the attitudes and behaviours” of those around him. Even the launch of TV show Roots, which depicted Black people resisting slavery in the US, had terrible effects. “We got a lot of pride from that show as there weren’t too many stories around about our history,” he explains. “But what it also did was ignite a load of racism against us, that we had to deal with in school.”
Later on in his schooling, he recalls asking a careers officer whether he could become a journalist in future, only to be told that “Black people didn’t do those jobs”. He was asked about joining the Army instead, or the airforce – “not to fly aeroplanes mind, but to fix them,” McKenzie adds. Fighting constant racism in school with other Black pupils, he learned it was much easier when they stood together. “That’s where my beliefs about how you challenge inequality and injustice come from,” McKenzie explains. “That you can try and fight your way individually against these things, but we’re far more able to succeed if we are able to fight collectively.”
After leaving school at 16, his dad took him into the front room, the “posh room” of their cramped terraced house, and told him to join a trade union the moment he started work. His father was a railway worker for 30 years and consistently a member of the National Union of Railwaymen, now the RMT. “That’s where some of my values start from. From family members who were all staunch trade unionists and Labour supporters to the core.”
McKenzie left school on a Friday, started work as a painter-decorator the next Monday, and by Tuesday was already the subs collector for the union. “My job was to go around on a Friday afternoon when people had just got their pay packets and persuade them to give me some money for the union,” he recalls. “That was not one of the most successful jobs I’ve ever done, but I learned new forms of abuse in that time, and also how to duck and dive out of the way of bricks being thrown at me.”
That job disappeared after Margaret Thatcher took power, McKenzie tells me. He then became a housing officer at Walsall Council, and immediately joined the Labour Party and the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) that would later merge to form UNISON. This period at Walsall Council was defined by political radicalism, as the local authority worked to decentralise council services. The council leader was “eventually expelled from the Labour Party, frankly for being too left-wing,” as McKenzie puts it, but he had served as a “great mentor”. From then, McKenzie was set on being a lifelong trade unionist.
His first foray into union education, a field he would later specialise in, came after he was asked to do shop steward training for NUPE. After leaving school with two O-Levels, returning to the classroom was not something that appealed to McKenzie. “I remember going to this training place in Walsall and I remember turning to walk away, thinking ‘I’ll give this a wide berth’,” he recalls. “Then I bumped into this guy who it turned out was the tutor and he persuaded me to come back in.”
The first course opened his eyes: “I felt for the very first time really that what I thought about something had some value. I had spent most of my life being told that stuff I thought was important wasn’t.” Eventually, he became a union educator himself after getting “tricked into teaching on courses”, as he puts it. He moved to Manchester to teach at the then Central Manchester College, before later taking another teaching position in London.
It was in London that the current assistant general secretary first became actively involved in the Labour Party as a constituency secretary and local councillor in Islington. “I’ve been a member of the Labour Party since 1981, and there’s been only one of the leaders during the whole time that I’ve been a member that I could absolutely say I was a big supporter of, and that’s Jeremy Corbyn.”
How does he feel about the new Labour leadership? “We will always give support to the party, as far as I’m concerned, but we want to see some evidence of a continuation of direction,” McKenzie tells me. “It’s about demonstrating that Labour is going to continue to stand up for public service workers.” He does admit that he has been worried about the recent abstentions by Labour and “they should have opposed the government and made things really clear”.
McKenzie speaks endearingly about deputy leader Angela Rayner – “a really, really good friend of mine” – who spent years as a UNISON organiser before standing as an MP. He thinks more members should follow in her footsteps. “My basic attitude is that we have to take the union into the Labour Party, rather than the other way round,” he explains. “There are far too few UNISON members taking an active role in the Labour Party and I think we’re losing an opportunity to take our policies and our values into the party.”
Asked about his view of Unite recently choosing to reduce its Labour donation, McKenzie says: “What I would like to see is more UNISON members taking our message into Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) and influencing the direction that the leadership is going… I don’t think you do that by withdrawing, I think you do that with more engagement.”
McKenzie became the first Black national education officer of a UK trade union when he left his teaching role to join the National Union of Civil and Public Servants (NUCPS). After the death of Stephen Lawrence, he moved on to become the TUC’s race equality officer and helped draft new rule changes for the trade union federation. “Frankly I was amazed it wasn’t already a requirement of affiliation to the TUC that you had to demonstrate a commitment to equality,” he says. McKenzie later served as a regional officer for his native West Midlands, both at the TUC and subsequently UNISON, before being made assistant general secretary of the public service union a decade ago.
The trade union movement still has a lot more to do to root out racism, McKenzie makes clear. “If you’re Black, you know what’s going on,” he says. “Racism is the other pandemic that’s taking place, it’s the second pandemic and it needs to be treated with the same seriousness as coronavirus. And we have far too much evidence that it’s not at the top of people’s agenda.”
As a member of the TUC general council, McKenzie has helped set up a new task force on racism. “But it’s a bit sad that we actually have to set up another task group to look at stuff that should just be an ongoing part of a trade union’s work,” he says. His key pledge, to increase the number of UNISON activists and increase engagement, is key to tackling that racism. “You tackle racism with solidarity, with collectivism. And that’s what I want to see. All of our members making it clear that they will not be divided in the workplace against each other.”
What does McKenzie have to say to those who argue that his leadership role makes him part of the UNISON establishment? “I think it shows absolutely a complete disregard for what it takes for a Black person to get anywhere within the trade union movement. I find it quite disgusting actually,” he replies. “From people who refuse to stand up for Black workers or just discovered racism so they can stick on a Black Lives Matter badge as if it’s the latest fashion. Never marched against the fascists. Never had letter bombs thrown through their letterbox. Never been spat at in the street. Never had eggs thrown at them. As I have, all of those things.”
“All of a sudden, I’m establishment. I mean, when does establishment begin and end?” He ponders. “At what point do you stop being working-class, do you stop being an activist? Because I’ve never stopped being an activist of any kind.”


labourlist--2020-10-27--Labour pledges ‘Race Equality Act’ as party releases Lawrence Review

Keir Starmer has committed to implementing a ‘ Race Equality Act ’ as the Labour Party launches a new report on the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus crisis on minority ethnic communities .
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was tasked by Labour in April with investigating how Black , Asian and minority ethnic communities have been affected by Covid-19 and government policies during the pandemic .
The Labour leader has taken the opportunity as the review is unveiled to announce that if he leads the party into government it will introduce a Race Equality Act to “ tackle structural racial inequality at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report to put forward both immediate and long-term recommendations , with the overriding objectives being to protect those most at risk from Covid-19 and to address inequalities .
Noting that the UK government “ has not done enough to protect people ahead of the second wave ” of the virus , the paper urges ministers to set out an urgent plan that will benefit BAME communities during Covid .
The report issues the following 20 recommendations : • None Set out an urgent plan for tackling the disproportionate impact of Covid on ethnic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of NRPF on public health and health inequalities • None Ensure Covid-19 cases from the workplace are properly recorded • None Improve access to PPE in all high-risk workplaces • None Give targeted support to people who are struggling to self-isolate • None Ensure protection and an end to discrimination for renters • None Raise the local housing allowance and address the root causes of homelessness • None Plan to prevent the stigmatisation of communities during Covid-19 • None Ensure all policies and programmes help tackle structural inequality • None Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lawrence said : “ We are in the middle of an avoidable crisis and the government can not ignore the facts .
If no immediate action is taken to protect those most at risk as we enter the second wave more people will unnecessarily die .
“ If no long-term action is taken to tackle structural inequalities we will keep seeing this pattern of injustice occur beyond the pandemic .
We have heard enough talk from the government .
It is now time to act.
” For the first time , Labour has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public funds ’ to be scrapped during the crisis – which Jonathan Reynolds had already done – but also for the policy to be reviewed overall .
The ‘ NRPF ’ immigration condition applies to almost all migrants granted limited leave to remain in the UK , especially those on student or spousal visas and those with limited leave granted under family or private life rules .
It means not being eligible to access to benefits such as income support , housing benefit , council tax benefit or personal independence payments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of destitution in the UK .
The Lawrence Review also encourages the government to press on with its renters ’ reform bill , which would have scrapped Section 21 no-fault evictions but appears to have been kicked into the long grass .
The report also observes that minority ethnic workers are over-represented in sectors that have been hit hard by the pandemic , such as hospitality , while Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers are more likely to be self-employed .
Lawrence puts pressure on Chancellor Rishi Sunak by recommending that the government conducts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schemes being provided to workers during the crisis .
Although Sunak has revised his winter economic plan twice to make it more generous , calls for 80 % wage support have been refused and the self-employed will only be able to get 40 % of their average monthly trading profits .
Due to the overexposure of ethnic minority workers to the virus , the review backs the TUC ’ s demand that employers should publish their coronavirus risk assessments and specifies that this should be on a central government portal .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report Covid cases from workplaces and that they are recorded .
This is in line with health and safety law , but bosses have been told not to register occupational cases .
Commenting on the launch of the report and Labour ’ s new Race Equality Act pledge , Starmer said : “ I welcome this report and thank Doreen for her tireless work , as well as those who have responded to the review .
“ Government ministers should absorb this report and act immediately .
Failure to do so will leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the winter .
“ This must be a turning point .
That ’ s why the next Labour government will introduce a new Race Equality Act to tackle the structural inequalities that led to the disproportionate impact of this crisis.
” Lawrence has been appointed as Labour ’ s race relations adviser .
She worked with Starmer before he entered politics as he helped bring the prosecution against the killers of her son Stephen Lawrence .

Keir Starmer has committed to implementing a ‘Race Equality Act’ as the Labour Party launches a new report on the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus crisis on minority ethnic communities.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence was tasked by Labour in April with investigating how Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have been affected by Covid-19 and government policies during the pandemic.
The Labour leader has taken the opportunity as the review is unveiled to announce that if he leads the party into government it will introduce a Race Equality Act to “tackle structural racial inequality at source”.
Lawrence has used her report to put forward both immediate and long-term recommendations, with the overriding objectives being to protect those most at risk from Covid-19 and to address inequalities.
Noting that the UK government “has not done enough to protect people ahead of the second wave” of the virus, the paper urges ministers to set out an urgent plan that will benefit BAME communities during Covid.
The Labour peer has identified that coronavirus has “exposed the devastating impact of structural racism” and also has itself “fuelled racism”, which has been “feeding into the enforcement of restrictions”.
The report, which is based on submissions and conversations over Zoom featuring “heart-wrenching stories” as well as quantitative data, issues the following 20 recommendations:
Set out an urgent plan for tackling the disproportionate impact of Covid on ethnic minorities
Implement a national strategy to tackle health inequalities
Suspend ‘no recourse to public funds’ during Covid
Conduct a review of the impact of NRPF on public health and health inequalities
Ensure Covid-19 cases from the workplace are properly recorded
Strengthen Covid-19 risk assessments
Improve access to PPE in all high-risk workplaces
Give targeted support to people who are struggling to self-isolate
Ensure protection and an end to discrimination for renters
Raise the local housing allowance and address the root causes of homelessness
Urgently conduct equality impact assessments on the government’s Covid support schemes
Plan to prevent the stigmatisation of communities during Covid-19
Urgently legislate to tackle online harms
Collect and publish better ethnicity data
Implement a race equality strategy
Ensure all policies and programmes help tackle structural inequality
Introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting
End the ‘hostile environment’
Reform the curriculum
Take action to close the attainment gap
Baroness Lawrence said: “We are in the middle of an avoidable crisis and the government cannot ignore the facts. If no immediate action is taken to protect those most at risk as we enter the second wave more people will unnecessarily die.
“If no long-term action is taken to tackle structural inequalities we will keep seeing this pattern of injustice occur beyond the pandemic. We have heard enough talk from the government. It is now time to act.”
For the first time, Labour has not only called for ‘no recourse to public funds’ to be scrapped during the crisis – which Jonathan Reynolds had already done – but also for the policy to be reviewed overall.
The ‘NRPF’ immigration condition applies to almost all migrants granted limited leave to remain in the UK, especially those on student or spousal visas and those with limited leave granted under family or private life rules.
It means not being eligible to access to benefits such as income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit or personal independence payments, and it can leave migrants at risk of destitution in the UK.
The Lawrence Review also encourages the government to press on with its renters’ reform bill, which would have scrapped Section 21 no-fault evictions but appears to have been kicked into the long grass.
The report also observes that minority ethnic workers are over-represented in sectors that have been hit hard by the pandemic, such as hospitality, while Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers are more likely to be self-employed.
Lawrence puts pressure on Chancellor Rishi Sunak by recommending that the government conducts and publishes equality impact assessments on the support schemes being provided to workers during the crisis.
Although Sunak has revised his winter economic plan twice to make it more generous, calls for 80% wage support have been refused and the self-employed will only be able to get 40% of their average monthly trading profits.
Due to the overexposure of ethnic minority workers to the virus, the review backs the TUC’s demand that employers should publish their coronavirus risk assessments and specifies that this should be on a central government portal.
The report urges the government to ensure that employers report Covid cases from workplaces and that they are recorded. This is in line with health and safety law, but bosses have been told not to register occupational cases.
Commenting on the launch of the report and Labour’s new Race Equality Act pledge, Starmer said: “I welcome this report and thank Doreen for her tireless work, as well as those who have responded to the review.
“Government ministers should absorb this report and act immediately. Failure to do so will leave many of our fellow citizens badly exposed over the winter.
“This must be a turning point. That’s why the next Labour government will introduce a new Race Equality Act to tackle the structural inequalities that led to the disproportionate impact of this crisis.”
Lawrence has been appointed as Labour’s race relations adviser. She worked with Starmer before he entered politics as he helped bring the prosecution against the killers of her son Stephen Lawrence.