labourlist--2020-06-12--“Don’t fall into far-right trap”: Sadiq Khan tells protesters to stay home

Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned Black Lives Matter supporters not to “ fall into a trap being laid by the extreme far-right ” and told potential protesters to stay home this weekend .
“ I am asking everyone protesting in London not do so and to find other ways to make your views heard , ” Khan told LBC this morning .
As well as expressing concerns over far-right activities , he said it was “ impossible to keep your distance ” at protests .
The mayor said : “ I ’ m not someone who says these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an integral part of living in a democracy .
But actually we ’ re in the midst of a global pandemic .
And we now know that the extreme far right will be having counter-protests .
“ For those reasons , I ’ m asking people to please , please , please stay at home , ” he concluded .
Khan advised “ those who care passionately about Black Lives Matter ” to “ find other ways ” of expressing their support for the movement .
Asked by LBC host James O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far right ” , Khan said : “ We now know that some of the extreme far right are using the language of protecting the statues , but really it ’ s about getting involved in violence and disorder.
” He added : “ They ’ re talking about protecting statues , but they ’ re also talking about taking on Black Lives Matter .
I ’ m really keen to avoid either criminal damage – statues being damaged , graffiti – but also violence and disorder .
“ My other point is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard , under-resourced and overstretched .
In the past couple of weeks , more than 60 have been injured .
“ And I ’ m really keen also not to have them either take a risk with their personal safety , in terms of them being on the receiving end of violence , but also I don ’ t want them to be catching the virus either.
” Asked by a caller whether he agreed that police should “ take a firm hand ” against protesters , Khan said : “ The vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lawful and by and large safe .
“ But I think you ’ re right to remind all of us that a small minority have been involved in not just violence against our police but also criminal damage of statues in Parliament Square .
“ I don ’ t understand the justification for burning the flag on the Cenotaph or causing graffiti on the Cenotaph .
And I think it ’ s really important that the small minority aren ’ t allowed to detract from what this campaign is about.
” Khan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He noted that there was little chance of an extension to the transition period , adding : “ It ’ s important over the next few months that the government does a trade deal with the European Union.
” He criticised the Tory attitude towards UK relations with the EU , saying : “ We need them more than we need us .
I hope that the government puts aside ideology and dogma.
” Asked whether he thought the government would strike a trade deal with the EU , to the surprise of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I ’ m confident that we ’ ll do a deal .
Even this government is not that pig-headed.
” Khan talked about how relations between himself as London mayor and the government were poor during the crisis .
“ I find out what the government is doing by watching the press conferences on a daily basis , ” he said .
The mayor revealed that the last time he spoke to Boris Johnson was May 10th , and made the point “ in a courteous way ” that the Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales than the capital – despite London having a bigger population than either .

Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned Black Lives Matter supporters not to “fall into a trap being laid by the extreme far-right” and told potential protesters to stay home this weekend.
“I am asking everyone protesting in London not do so and to find other ways to make your views heard,” Khan told LBC this morning. As well as expressing concerns over far-right activities, he said it was “impossible to keep your distance” at protests.
The mayor said: “I’m not someone who says these things lightly. I think protest is an integral part of living in a democracy. But actually we’re in the midst of a global pandemic. And we now know that the extreme far right will be having counter-protests.
“For those reasons, I’m asking people to please, please, please stay at home,” he concluded. Khan advised “those who care passionately about Black Lives Matter” to “find other ways” of expressing their support for the movement.
Asked by LBC host James O’Brien how he defines the “extreme far right”, Khan said: “We now know that some of the extreme far right are using the language of protecting the statues, but really it’s about getting involved in violence and disorder.”
He added: “They’re talking about protecting statues, but they’re also talking about taking on Black Lives Matter. I’m really keen to avoid either criminal damage – statues being damaged, graffiti – but also violence and disorder.
“My other point is this. Our police officers work so hard, under-resourced and overstretched. In the past couple of weeks, more than 60 have been injured.
“And I’m really keen also not to have them either take a risk with their personal safety, in terms of them being on the receiving end of violence, but also I don’t want them to be catching the virus either.”
Asked by a caller whether he agreed that police should “take a firm hand” against protesters, Khan said: “The vast majority of the protesters have been peaceful, lawful and by and large safe.
“But I think you’re right to remind all of us that a small minority have been involved in not just violence against our police but also criminal damage of statues in Parliament Square.
“I don’t understand the justification for burning the flag on the Cenotaph or causing graffiti on the Cenotaph. And I think it’s really important that the small minority aren’t allowed to detract from what this campaign is about.”
Khan also shared his views on Brexit. He noted that there was little chance of an extension to the transition period, adding: “It’s important over the next few months that the government does a trade deal with the European Union.”
He criticised the Tory attitude towards UK relations with the EU, saying: “We need them more than we need us. I hope that the government puts aside ideology and dogma.”
Asked whether he thought the government would strike a trade deal with the EU, to the surprise of O’Brien the London mayor replied: “I’m confident that we’ll do a deal. Even this government is not that pig-headed.”
Khan talked about how relations between himself as London mayor and the government were poor during the crisis. “I find out what the government is doing by watching the press conferences on a daily basis,” he said.
The mayor revealed that the last time he spoke to Boris Johnson was May 10th, and made the point “in a courteous way” that the Prime Minister has engaged more with Scotland and Wales than the capital – despite London having a bigger population than either.


labourlist--2020-06-12--The risks of record-breaking coronavirus GDP figures

The Office for National Statistics revealed this morning that GDP fell by 20.4 % in April , which is the biggest monthly decline since records began .
The impact dwarfs that seen during the 2008 recession , when the UK economy shrunk by no more than 2.1 % in a quarter .
This is hardly surprising : the coronavirus restrictions were announced towards the end of March , and almost every area of the economy was affected with significant sectors coming to a standstill .
But the new figures will be used as evidence to support the rush to unlock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Dr Liz Hind in a series of LabourList pieces , pubs are being pressured to open as government support is pulled away and debts pile up .
The Tories feel that it is time for small business owners and employees to ‘ get on your bike ’ , however , and that Rishi Sunak has displayed enough generosity .
Boris Johnson is instead being urged to relax the two-metre rule .
But is it safe when the R rate is only just under the danger level of one ?
The fresh GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a national recovery plan that protects jobs – and creates them too , hopefully helping the UK to become greener in the process .
The TUC is rightly calling for trade unions to be involved in that effort to ‘ build back better ’ .
But reactions to the GDP data also raise questions over the value of the indicator and arguably our over-reliance on it .
During an IPPR event last night , Ed Miliband described GDP as “ an inadequate measure ” , saying : “ GDP casts a very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is way out of proportion to the attention that we should be giving it.
” Keir Starmer argued during the leadership contest that wellbeing and economic growth should be prioritised equally , and this view is more relevant now than ever .
Private wealth must not take precedence over public health .
Jonathan Ashworth has used his latest LabourList update on Labour ’ s Covid-19 response to talk about the collapse in patient care standards .
It is important to remember that the NHS has coped during the coronavirus crisis – but only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cancelling operations and delaying vital cancer treatment ” , as the Shadow Health Secretary notes .
Many are going without the treatment they need .
Government policy must be guided by these concerns above all .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

The Office for National Statistics revealed this morning that GDP fell by 20.4% in April, which is the biggest monthly decline since records began. The impact dwarfs that seen during the 2008 recession, when the UK economy shrunk by no more than 2.1% in a quarter. This is hardly surprising: the coronavirus restrictions were announced towards the end of March, and almost every area of the economy was affected with significant sectors coming to a standstill. But the new figures will be used as evidence to support the rush to unlock quickly and perhaps unsafely.
As chronicled by Dr Liz Hind in a series of LabourList pieces, pubs are being pressured to open as government support is pulled away and debts pile up. The Tories feel that it is time for small business owners and employees to ‘get on your bike’, however, and that Rishi Sunak has displayed enough generosity. Boris Johnson is instead being urged to relax the two-metre rule. But is it safe when the R rate is only just under the danger level of one?
The fresh GDP figures bring into sharp focus the need for a national recovery plan that protects jobs – and creates them too, hopefully helping the UK to become greener in the process. The TUC is rightly calling for trade unions to be involved in that effort to ‘build back better’. But reactions to the GDP data also raise questions over the value of the indicator and arguably our over-reliance on it.
During an IPPR event last night, Ed Miliband described GDP as “an inadequate measure”, saying: “GDP casts a very long shadow and has a dominance that is way out of proportion to the attention that we should be giving it.” Keir Starmer argued during the leadership contest that wellbeing and economic growth should be prioritised equally, and this view is more relevant now than ever. Private wealth must not take precedence over public health.
Jonathan Ashworth has used his latest LabourList update on Labour’s Covid-19 response to talk about the collapse in patient care standards. It is important to remember that the NHS has coped during the coronavirus crisis – but only after “discharging patients into care homes, cancelling operations and delaying vital cancer treatment”, as the Shadow Health Secretary notes. Many are going without the treatment they need. Government policy must be guided by these concerns above all. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-06-12--Patient care standards have collapsed. It’s time to end NHS austerity – Ashworth’s Covid-19 update

Boris Johnson boasts that the NHS is coping through the coronavirus crisis .
But it is only coping on the back of discharging patients into care homes , cancelling operations and delaying vital cancer treatment .
The NHS entered this crisis after years of Tory austerity , bed cuts , privatisation and chronic understaffing .
Before lockdown , NHS waiting lists stood at an unacceptable 4.4 million .
In March , our health services shifted as government asked the NHS to rebalance services towards treating Covid-19 patients .
Thankfully , our health services weren ’ t immediately overwhelmed in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places like Italy .
But the price paid is that thousands of operations have been cancelled , and thousands of patients with long-term conditions , such as cancer , cardiovascular disease and diabetes , are now going without the treatment they need .
These aren ’ t issues that will go away : delayed care will create aftershocks across the health service in the long term .
We can ’ t ignore the fact that there are undoubtedly patients not getting help who may desperately need it because they are finding it difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared of the virus .
All signals are pointing towards a growing and alarming backlog of clinical need with patients waiting longer for operations or diagnostic tests .
On the frontline , A & E attendances have hit record lows , and calls to NHS 111 have not increased month-on-month either .
We can ’ t ignore the fact that there are undoubtedly patients not getting help who may desperately need it .
The NHS Confederation this week warned that the waiting list for hospital treatment could soar to almost ten million people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in .
Ten million on the waiting list by Christmas .
That ’ s an astounding collapse in patient care standards .
The British Heart Foundation has estimated that the number of people attending emergency departments in England with symptoms of a possible heart attack halved from an average of around 200 per day at the beginning of March to around 100 per day by the end of March .
A recent survey from the British Lung Foundation of over 9,500 people with lung conditions revealed that one in ten had had routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arthritis has found that at the end of January 2020 , there were 521,408 people waiting for trauma and orthopaedic surgery ( including hip and knee replacements ) in England .
In addition , during this period an estimated 35,000-42,000 people were being added to the trauma and orthopaedics waiting list every week .
Cancer care has also taken a huge hit during the pandemic .
Cancer Research UK has warned that Covid-19 has caused enormous disruption to cancer services across the UK , with over two million people waiting for breast , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by NHS England showed that the number of people being assessed by a cancer doctor after referral fell to 79,500 in April – a drop of 60 % compared to the same month last year .
Meanwhile , patients starting treatment dropped to 10,800 – 20 % below 2019 .
This is particularly worrying because we know that early diagnosis is key to survival and better outcomes , so the effects of patients not being seen early could be devastating .
A resourced plan for our NHS and social care is now urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients can be cared for .
This would include making sure all staff have the right protective equipment at the right levels to keep themselves and patients safe .
It would mean regular , routine testing of staff in health settings to help minimise transmission .
It would mean putting in place infection control measures , including testing patients before they receive treatment and providing Covid-free wards and treatment centres to ensure that people can receive the care they need safely .
Nightingale Hospitals were built around the country to provide a buffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ICU patients .
I ’ m glad that we didn ’ t have to use them as much as it was originally thought .
But I would propose that we instead use them now to help clear the upcoming influx of non-Covid patients requiring treatment .
We supported the lockdown to suppress this horrific virus but the far-reaching consequences for wider health outcomes must not be ignored .
We ’ ll be campaigning to defend our NHS and ensure it has the levels of investment needed to give every patient the care @ @ @

Boris Johnson boasts that the NHS is coping through the coronavirus crisis. But it is only coping on the back of discharging patients into care homes, cancelling operations and delaying vital cancer treatment.
The NHS entered this crisis after years of Tory austerity, bed cuts, privatisation and chronic understaffing. Before lockdown, NHS waiting lists stood at an unacceptable 4.4 million. In March, our health services shifted as government asked the NHS to rebalance services towards treating Covid-19 patients.
Thankfully, our health services weren’t immediately overwhelmed in the same way that we saw happen in places like Italy. But the price paid is that thousands of operations have been cancelled, and thousands of patients with long-term conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are now going without the treatment they need.
These aren’t issues that will go away: delayed care will create aftershocks across the health service in the long term. We can’t ignore the fact that there are undoubtedly patients not getting help who may desperately need it because they are finding it difficult to access services or because they are scared of the virus.
All signals are pointing towards a growing and alarming backlog of clinical need with patients waiting longer for operations or diagnostic tests. On the frontline, A&E attendances have hit record lows, and calls to NHS 111 have not increased month-on-month either. We can’t ignore the fact that there are undoubtedly patients not getting help who may desperately need it.
The NHS Confederation this week warned that the waiting list for hospital treatment could soar to almost ten million people by Christmas. Just let that sink in. Ten million on the waiting list by Christmas. That’s an astounding collapse in patient care standards.
The British Heart Foundation has estimated that the number of people attending emergency departments in England with symptoms of a possible heart attack halved from an average of around 200 per day at the beginning of March to around 100 per day by the end of March. A recent survey from the British Lung Foundation of over 9,500 people with lung conditions revealed that one in ten had had routine care cancelled by their GP.
Versus Arthritis has found that at the end of January 2020, there were 521,408 people waiting for trauma and orthopaedic surgery (including hip and knee replacements) in England. In addition, during this period an estimated 35,000-42,000 people were being added to the trauma and orthopaedics waiting list every week.
Cancer care has also taken a huge hit during the pandemic. Cancer Research UK has warned that Covid-19 has caused enormous disruption to cancer services across the UK, with over two million people waiting for breast, bowel or cervical screening. Figures published by NHS England showed that the number of people being assessed by a cancer doctor after referral fell to 79,500 in April – a drop of 60% compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, patients starting treatment dropped to 10,800 – 20% below 2019.
This is particularly worrying because we know that early diagnosis is key to survival and better outcomes, so the effects of patients not being seen early could be devastating. A resourced plan for our NHS and social care is now urgent to ensure that both Covid and non-Covid patients can be cared for.
This would include making sure all staff have the right protective equipment at the right levels to keep themselves and patients safe. It would mean regular, routine testing of staff in health settings to help minimise transmission. It would mean putting in place infection control measures, including testing patients before they receive treatment and providing Covid-free wards and treatment centres to ensure that people can receive the care they need safely.
Nightingale Hospitals were built around the country to provide a buffer for the NHS for the predicted influx of ICU patients. I’m glad that we didn’t have to use them as much as it was originally thought. But I would propose that we instead use them now to help clear the upcoming influx of non-Covid patients requiring treatment.
We supported the lockdown to suppress this horrific virus but the far-reaching consequences for wider health outcomes must not be ignored. We’ll be campaigning to defend our NHS and ensure it has the levels of investment needed to give every patient the care they need.


labourlist--2020-06-12--Momentum Renewal: The Labour left needs to get serious about trade unions

As a lifelong trade unionist , I ’ ve been heartened to see recent headlines announcing huge increases in trade union membership over the past year – up by 100,000 !
The coronavirus pandemic and weak government response in particular has given unions a new lease of life in our national discourse as schools , care home and hospital staff seek protection from poor employer practice and safeguarding .
Despite positive headlines on union membership now , we can not ignore the chronic decline seen since the 1970s .
Including the latest increases in members , there are 6.2m trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of the workforce .
This is still above the EU average of 23 % , but less than half the strength of our movement at its height .
Trade unions were once bastions of the labour movement ’ s power , boasting 13 million members at the end of the ’ 70s .
Political education for many working-class people began in the workplace ; the trade unions themselves gave powerful , practical lessons in solidarity , and their political education programs embedded knowledge of the history and theory behind the labour movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creating new organisers , producing new orators and leaders , and training people for struggle .
Regular victories from industrial action were direct examples for working people of their collective power , and trade unions – themselves developed alongside working class communities through over a hundred years of industrialisation – were deeply embedded into the cultural consciousness of millions .
It is no surprise that Margaret Thatcher saw trade unions as the most potent threat to the unrestrained power of capitalism in Britain , and that she devoted so much of her life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she also destroyed a rich history of community , self-sacrifice , discipline and knowledge which had existed in those communities .
Trade unions that once ran working men ’ s clubs , held annual galas and provided their own welfare networks for those out of work were woven into people ’ s lives .
The loss not only for the left , but for our society , is incalculable .
It is difficult to overstate how much knowledge and tradition was embedded into the lives of the millions who participated in trade unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past were handed down to new generations , equipping them for the struggles of the present and future .
But sadly much of that has died out .
What remains in many former strongholds is little more than a general sense of the importance of the collective , and a residual habit of voting for Labour .
Existential questions remain for the future of trade unions in Britain , now facing some of the most oppressive anti-union laws anywhere in the developed world .
Unionised workforces are still safer and better paid than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to win the victories for working people that gained us our loyalty and commitment from them in days past ?
There is evidence that parts of the trade union movement are rising to the challenge , using a mix of the old and the new .
Campaigns that organised precarious workers in McDonalds , TGI Friday ’ s and Wetherspoons have been great examples of trade unions responding to the new world for workers .
And the CWU ’ s “ Rise Like Lions ” campaign to defend postal workers combined an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fashioned workplace power .
In amongst the general decline in TU membership over the last 40 years , the public sector is still leading the way in organised workplaces .
My own union , PCS , has came through some of the most aggressive attacks on a single trade union since Thatcher ’ s assault on the National Union of Mineworkers , as the Tories targeted its socialist leadership with assaults on their finances and facility time .
PCS has not only survived but has emerged stronger and more focused on workplace organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need to do will , I feel , come down to the commitment that the broader Labour left gives to helping rebuild that movement .
It has not gone unnoticed by many of us old-timers that the Labour membership surge of the past few years has not translated into a corresponding surge in union membership .
The Labour-union link often feels as much a tick-box exercise for would-be candidates , or a bureaucratic exercise in winning delegates on committees , than it does an organic connection between organised working class people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have blossomed – and a whole new generation has been exposed to the general political framework of the left – we have yet to turn that enthusiasm into workplace organising , tackling capitalism at the source of its power .
This is one of the main reasons I am standing for election to Momentum ’ s national coordinating group on the Momentum Renewal slate – to make sure our movement is connecting up the dots between mobilising new people and creating organised , knowledgeable and long-term working class socialists out of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 years of my life working as a PCS union rep , running one of the best-organised workplaces in the union and serving as a member of the national executive committee .
For me , it ’ s a huge priority to ensure that trade unions retain an intimate connection to organisations of the left such as Momentum , and that the alliance between unions and the left – which allowed the Corbyn era to take place – are able to continue .
This is a task that will take more than words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously mapping our trade union members and providing them support in organising through their branches .
We need to share our skills in campaigning and organising with activists , roll out education on unions and their role in Labour history , and make sure that the principle of organised workers power stays close to the heart of our activity .
I want to see trade unions given a proper institutional stake in Momentum – a permanent seat at the table and close connection to the way we organise .
I believe that unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cohere the left now Corbyn is gone – and such a partnership is essential if the left is to continue to thrive .
And I want to see the fantastic mobilisation work performed by Momentum – the enthusiasm , new organising methods and new activists – put to the task of organising working people in their workplaces .
We can play our part in getting young people active in their unions and can contribute to the excellent work which has been done in getting more socialist women in leadership roles .
We live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trade union movement , opportunity that can not be allowed to dissipate .
Only swift , dedicated and determined action will ensure that the potential of this moment is not lost .

As a lifelong trade unionist, I’ve been heartened to see recent headlines announcing huge increases in trade union membership over the past year – up by 100,000! The coronavirus pandemic and weak government response in particular has given unions a new lease of life in our national discourse as schools, care home and hospital staff seek protection from poor employer practice and safeguarding.
Despite positive headlines on union membership now, we cannot ignore the chronic decline seen since the 1970s. Including the latest increases in members, there are 6.2m trade union members in Britain today – 26% of the workforce. This is still above the EU average of 23%, but less than half the strength of our movement at its height.
Trade unions were once bastions of the labour movement’s power, boasting 13 million members at the end of the ’70s. Political education for many working-class people began in the workplace; the trade unions themselves gave powerful, practical lessons in solidarity, and their political education programs embedded knowledge of the history and theory behind the labour movement. They were living, workplace academies creating new organisers, producing new orators and leaders, and training people for struggle.
Regular victories from industrial action were direct examples for working people of their collective power, and trade unions – themselves developed alongside working class communities through over a hundred years of industrialisation – were deeply embedded into the cultural consciousness of millions.
It is no surprise that Margaret Thatcher saw trade unions as the most potent threat to the unrestrained power of capitalism in Britain, and that she devoted so much of her life to destroying them. With them, she also destroyed a rich history of community, self-sacrifice, discipline and knowledge which had existed in those communities. Trade unions that once ran working men’s clubs, held annual galas and provided their own welfare networks for those out of work were woven into people’s lives.
The loss not only for the left, but for our society, is incalculable. It is difficult to overstate how much knowledge and tradition was embedded into the lives of the millions who participated in trade unions; how much the struggles of the past were handed down to new generations, equipping them for the struggles of the present and future. But sadly much of that has died out. What remains in many former strongholds is little more than a general sense of the importance of the collective, and a residual habit of voting for Labour.
Existential questions remain for the future of trade unions in Britain, now facing some of the most oppressive anti-union laws anywhere in the developed world. Unionised workforces are still safer and better paid than non-unionised workplaces, but can unions be used to win the victories for working people that gained us our loyalty and commitment from them in days past?
There is evidence that parts of the trade union movement are rising to the challenge, using a mix of the old and the new. Campaigns that organised precarious workers in McDonalds, TGI Friday’s and Wetherspoons have been great examples of trade unions responding to the new world for workers. And the CWU’s “Rise Like Lions” campaign to defend postal workers combined an excellent social media campaign with good old fashioned workplace power.
In amongst the general decline in TU membership over the last 40 years, the public sector is still leading the way in organised workplaces. My own union, PCS, has came through some of the most aggressive attacks on a single trade union since Thatcher’s assault on the National Union of Mineworkers, as the Tories targeted its socialist leadership with assaults on their finances and facility time. PCS has not only survived but has emerged stronger and more focused on workplace organisation.
A great part of the work we need to do will, I feel, come down to the commitment that the broader Labour left gives to helping rebuild that movement. It has not gone unnoticed by many of us old-timers that the Labour membership surge of the past few years has not translated into a corresponding surge in union membership. The Labour-union link often feels as much a tick-box exercise for would-be candidates, or a bureaucratic exercise in winning delegates on committees, than it does an organic connection between organised working class people and the party.
Whilst many other movements have blossomed – and a whole new generation has been exposed to the general political framework of the left – we have yet to turn that enthusiasm into workplace organising, tackling capitalism at the source of its power. This is one of the main reasons I am standing for election to Momentum’s national coordinating group on the Momentum Renewal slate – to make sure our movement is connecting up the dots between mobilising new people and creating organised, knowledgeable and long-term working class socialists out of them.
I have spent most of the last 15 years of my life working as a PCS union rep, running one of the best-organised workplaces in the union and serving as a member of the national executive committee. For me, it’s a huge priority to ensure that trade unions retain an intimate connection to organisations of the left such as Momentum, and that the alliance between unions and the left – which allowed the Corbyn era to take place – are able to continue. This is a task that will take more than words to complete.
Momentum needs to start seriously mapping our trade union members and providing them support in organising through their branches. We need to share our skills in campaigning and organising with activists, roll out education on unions and their role in Labour history, and make sure that the principle of organised workers power stays close to the heart of our activity.
I want to see trade unions given a proper institutional stake in Momentum – a permanent seat at the table and close connection to the way we organise. I believe that unions carry the moral and political weight to cohere the left now Corbyn is gone – and such a partnership is essential if the left is to continue to thrive.
And I want to see the fantastic mobilisation work performed by Momentum – the enthusiasm, new organising methods and new activists – put to the task of organising working people in their workplaces. We can play our part in getting young people active in their unions and can contribute to the excellent work which has been done in getting more socialist women in leadership roles.
We live in an era of great opportunity for the trade union movement, opportunity that cannot be allowed to dissipate. Only swift, dedicated and determined action will ensure that the potential of this moment is not lost.


labourlist--2020-06-12--The bold policies we need from Welsh Labour’s next manifesto

I represent Alyn and Deeside in the Senedd – for those who aren ’ t up to speed on devolution , that ’ s the body that was called the Welsh Assembly until recently .
My constituency last year became the only seat in north Wales to elect a Labour MP .
It is largely a manufacturing community that has living memory of what unmanaged economic change can do to an area .
My town is Connah ’ s Quay and its moto is ‘ success through industry ’ .
Coronavirus has affected us all , but I am deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 crisis on communities like mine .
I am determined , however , that people will not have to rethink their dreams and abandon their hopes because we didn ’ t adequately plan our way forward .
We can not repeat the costly mistakes of the past .
40 years ago , we saw large scale de-industrialisation and the government chose to pursue an economic policy that transferred much of the country ’ s wealth to the south east of England .
My constituency lost 6,500 jobs – the biggest mass redundancy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The wounds inflicted by these policy decisions have never really healed .
12 years ago , we experienced a financial crash .
While there was an initial attempt to stimulate growth and protect communities , since 2010 the main policy solutions have been to cut budgets and print money to pump into large financial institutions .
Even by the limited criteria for success at the time , this solution has failed many in my community .
It has rewarded those who already had significant capital assets , mainly living in already prosperous parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems of inequality , increasing numbers in poverty , whilst doing nothing about the precarious nature of many people ’ s lives .
Despite the Welsh government using its economic levers aggressively to promote growth in Wales , the overall UK picture is a difficult one .
Working people have seen stagnating wages for ten years .
In-work poverty is rising , and the sad fact is that working is no longer a guarantee of being able to afford enough food to eat .
Against this backdrop , it was always going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a pandemic-induced downturn .
But we have had ample warning of the two other major economic challenges that face us : climate change and the rapid roll-out of artificial intelligence and robotics .
Jobs will be lost as a result of the coronavirus and due to the rapid growth of automation , while climate change endangers far more than employment .
The task for those of us who want to meet these challenges by tackling poverty and increasing opportunity is to bring about change that communities feel they have “ control ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we don ’ t recognise why “ take back control ” was such a powerful message .
The problems we face require bold solutions that directly address the issues faced by communities .
How do we put money in people ’ s pockets and avoid the catastrophic consequences of poverty in a nation whose economy is changing rapidly ?
How do we grow an economy for us all , when jobs would have disappeared without the coronavirus crisis and simultaneously give people more control of their own lives ?
How do we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taught us ?
I want these three policies to be a part of the solution : • A green new deal trusting communities to build infrastructure and create support growth by handing them significant budgets to do this ; • A Welsh government push towards a four-day week with no loss of income or rights .
A universal basic income ( UBI ) not only guarantees that people can live rather than exist .
It helps to address broader problems – precarious housing or indeed homeless , a growing mental health pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poverty and growing levels of unsecured debt .
These are issues that will be amplified by the coming global downturn .
UBI is not just about tackling poverty and its related ills – it is about creating opportunity .
It is not a ceiling but a firm base from which to achieve our ambitions .
If Wales is to compete , we can not afford for the challenges of a global downturn , climate change and automation to significantly further suppress social mobility .
The UK is already a country that gifts opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of allowing this to worsen , let ’ s introduce a base level income that gives everyone the chance to fulfil their ambitions .
It is important to be realistic when making such policy proposals .
A UBI could not be afforded by the Welsh government : the Barnett formula simply does not allow for such large financial investments to be made from Cardiff Bay .
Only the UK government has the fiscal strength to introduce a Universal Basic Income .
However , the coronavirus job retention scheme shows a willingness from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way economically .
I am proposing that we trial a UBI in Wales and we do so in a community like mine that could have the most to lose from the challenges we face .
I know many in Welsh civic society are attracted to the idea of trailing it in Cardiff , but I am yet to understand why .
This Cardiff-centric approach could have the problem of angering much of the rest of the nation , who would see an attempt to protect the most economically secure part of Wales .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ proof that devolution stops at the M4 .
Far better for those already campaigning to join me in trying to bring together a far more geographically and socially diverse campaign .
Before Covid-19 , much had already been said about the benefits of a green new deal aiming to address both climate change and economic inequality .
I am a big supporter of the concept , though I have concerns about how we bring communities with us .
While nearly all of us accept the existence and severe consequences of human made climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board with the rapid pace of change that is needed .
That is why I want green infrastructure decisions like transport and renewables to be taken by the communities they affect .
This calls for regional budgets .
The alternative is to once again allow the opponents of progress to wield the argument that decisions are not made by those who bear the consequences .
We have already seen the benefits of transferring to communities and have a north Wales minister in the cabinet – let ’ s make that role meaningful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardiff than it is to London , and that reality must be reflected .
As we build the new greener infrastructure to serve our community , budgets must be given to them to shape what this looks like .
One argument that this crisis has put to bed is that employees can ’ t be trusted to shape their own work-life balance .
People have coped well with very different working arrangements and the stresses of having their lives turned upside down .
Delivering for their employer in an unusual environment with significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the norm for many .
A four-day working week recognises this reality and brings benefits for the individual , our communities and the economy .
The economic advantages are obvious in an economy that has such a large service sector : freeing people up to pursue their own interests could be of huge benefit to tourism , events , hospitality and the creative sector to name a few .
There are also significant costs savings to employers , as well as the environmental benefits of less travel .
A basic income gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the accompanying positive effects on mental health , which would help to address the pandemic of poor mental health that already exists .
If we fail to act , our increasingly poor work-life balance and precarious employment will cost our communities and the economy dearly .
There is an additional benefit .
A four-day week gives us time to work for our community , and one of the positives to emerge from the coronavirus crisis has been the way people have supported each other .
Across Wales , we have seen mutual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just with shopping but also loneliness .
A four-day week would give us the breathing space to continue and expand this work with much more robust and perhaps formal structures .
If we are serious about building kinder communities , I am conscious that people need the time and space to play their part .
In an ever-changing economy , we also need to give people the time and opportunity to retrain and up-skill .
Alyn and Deeside is a better place than most to embrace the changes I have suggested , few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the skills to deliver a green new deal .
Get it right and we can build much of the infrastructure needed , but this must be managed in a way that protects people .
Coupling a green new deal with a UBI gives us the space to do this and to manage the impact on people ’ s lives .
As we build this new infrastructure in Alyn and Deeside , we should be shaping how it is deployed , literally on our streets .
Regional budgets controlled by communities will strengthen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London- and Cardiff-based control never could .
Along with a four-day week , these proposals could have a positive impact on government budgets as well , by addressing problems that if allowed to go unchecked will be hugely expensive to deal with .
Whilst I hope Welsh Labour will lead the way in pushing for innovative policy solutions for our post-pandemic world in the lead up to next year ’ s Senedd elections , the party in Wales can not achieve these changes alone .
Collaboration within and between parties right across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money is delivered to the devolved administrations .
Labour has met the challenges of unprecedented crisis before .
Following the war , we embarked on a bold programme to deal with problems that seemed too great to overcome .
Imagine the mess we would be in now if we had thought those reforms were unaffordable and had resisted change .
A basic income , green new deal and four-day week are not ideas of my invention and there is already growing support for them , but it is my intention to help lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Together , we can deliver a fairer , greener future for all .

I represent Alyn and Deeside in the Senedd – for those who aren’t up to speed on devolution, that’s the body that was called the Welsh Assembly until recently. My constituency last year became the only seat in north Wales to elect a Labour MP. It is largely a manufacturing community that has living memory of what unmanaged economic change can do to an area. My town is Connah’s Quay and its moto is ‘success through industry’.
Coronavirus has affected us all, but I am deeply concerned about the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis on communities like mine. I am determined, however, that people will not have to rethink their dreams and abandon their hopes because we didn’t adequately plan our way forward.
We cannot repeat the costly mistakes of the past. 40 years ago, we saw large scale de-industrialisation and the government chose to pursue an economic policy that transferred much of the country’s wealth to the south east of England. My constituency lost 6,500 jobs – the biggest mass redundancy in a single day in western Europe. The wounds inflicted by these policy decisions have never really healed.
12 years ago, we experienced a financial crash. While there was an initial attempt to stimulate growth and protect communities, since 2010 the main policy solutions have been to cut budgets and print money to pump into large financial institutions. Even by the limited criteria for success at the time, this solution has failed many in my community. It has rewarded those who already had significant capital assets, mainly living in already prosperous parts of the UK, and created larger problems of inequality, increasing numbers in poverty, whilst doing nothing about the precarious nature of many people’s lives.
Despite the Welsh government using its economic levers aggressively to promote growth in Wales, the overall UK picture is a difficult one. Working people have seen stagnating wages for ten years. In-work poverty is rising, and the sad fact is that working is no longer a guarantee of being able to afford enough food to eat.
Against this backdrop, it was always going to be hard to cope with the consequences of a pandemic-induced downturn. But we have had ample warning of the two other major economic challenges that face us: climate change and the rapid roll-out of artificial intelligence and robotics. Jobs will be lost as a result of the coronavirus and due to the rapid growth of automation, while climate change endangers far more than employment.
The task for those of us who want to meet these challenges by tackling poverty and increasing opportunity is to bring about change that communities feel they have “control” over. We will never be successful if we don’t recognise why “take back control” was such a powerful message. The problems we face require bold solutions that directly address the issues faced by communities.
How do we put money in people’s pockets and avoid the catastrophic consequences of poverty in a nation whose economy is changing rapidly? How do we grow an economy for us all, when jobs would have disappeared without the coronavirus crisis and simultaneously give people more control of their own lives? How do we learn the lessons the last few months have taught us?
I want these three policies to be a part of the solution:
Trialling a universal basic income ;
; A green new deal trusting communities to build infrastructure and create support growth by handing them significant budgets to do this;
trusting communities to build infrastructure and create support growth by handing them significant budgets to do this; A Welsh government push towards a four-day week with no loss of income or rights.
A universal basic income (UBI) not only guarantees that people can live rather than exist. It helps to address broader problems – precarious housing or indeed homeless, a growing mental health pandemic, huge increases in poverty, food poverty and growing levels of unsecured debt. These are issues that will be amplified by the coming global downturn.
UBI is not just about tackling poverty and its related ills – it is about creating opportunity. It is not a ceiling but a firm base from which to achieve our ambitions. If Wales is to compete, we cannot afford for the challenges of a global downturn, climate change and automation to significantly further suppress social mobility. The UK is already a country that gifts opportunities to the children of elites. Instead of allowing this to worsen, let’s introduce a base level income that gives everyone the chance to fulfil their ambitions.
It is important to be realistic when making such policy proposals. A UBI could not be afforded by the Welsh government: the Barnett formula simply does not allow for such large financial investments to be made from Cardiff Bay. Only the UK government has the fiscal strength to introduce a Universal Basic Income. However, the coronavirus job retention scheme shows a willingness from the UK government to intervene in a major way economically.
I am proposing that we trial a UBI in Wales and we do so in a community like mine that could have the most to lose from the challenges we face. I know many in Welsh civic society are attracted to the idea of trailing it in Cardiff, but I am yet to understand why. This Cardiff-centric approach could have the problem of angering much of the rest of the nation, who would see an attempt to protect the most economically secure part of Wales. It may be held up as further proof that devolution stops at the M4. Far better for those already campaigning to join me in trying to bring together a far more geographically and socially diverse campaign.
Before Covid-19, much had already been said about the benefits of a green new deal aiming to address both climate change and economic inequality. I am a big supporter of the concept, though I have concerns about how we bring communities with us. While nearly all of us accept the existence and severe consequences of human made climate change, people are not necessarily on board with the rapid pace of change that is needed. That is why I want green infrastructure decisions like transport and renewables to be taken by the communities they affect. This calls for regional budgets. The alternative is to once again allow the opponents of progress to wield the argument that decisions are not made by those who bear the consequences. We have already seen the benefits of transferring to communities and have a north Wales minister in the cabinet – let’s make that role meaningful.
Alyn and Deeside is no closer to Cardiff than it is to London, and that reality must be reflected. As we build the new greener infrastructure to serve our community, budgets must be given to them to shape what this looks like.
One argument that this crisis has put to bed is that employees can’t be trusted to shape their own work-life balance. People have coped well with very different working arrangements and the stresses of having their lives turned upside down. Delivering for their employer in an unusual environment with significantly increased care responsibilities and limited resources has become the norm for many.
A four-day working week recognises this reality and brings benefits for the individual, our communities and the economy. The economic advantages are obvious in an economy that has such a large service sector: freeing people up to pursue their own interests could be of huge benefit to tourism, events, hospitality and the creative sector to name a few. There are also significant costs savings to employers, as well as the environmental benefits of less travel.
A basic income gives people more control over their lives, with the accompanying positive effects on mental health, which would help to address the pandemic of poor mental health that already exists. If we fail to act, our increasingly poor work-life balance and precarious employment will cost our communities and the economy dearly.
There is an additional benefit. A four-day week gives us time to work for our community, and one of the positives to emerge from the coronavirus crisis has been the way people have supported each other. Across Wales, we have seen mutual aid groups develop, helping people not just with shopping but also loneliness. A four-day week would give us the breathing space to continue and expand this work with much more robust and perhaps formal structures. If we are serious about building kinder communities, I am conscious that people need the time and space to play their part. In an ever-changing economy, we also need to give people the time and opportunity to retrain and up-skill.
Alyn and Deeside is a better place than most to embrace the changes I have suggested, few localities have a workforce so well trained with the skills to deliver a green new deal. Get it right and we can build much of the infrastructure needed, but this must be managed in a way that protects people. Coupling a green new deal with a UBI gives us the space to do this and to manage the impact on people’s lives.
As we build this new infrastructure in Alyn and Deeside, we should be shaping how it is deployed, literally on our streets. Regional budgets controlled by communities will strengthen support for change in a way that London- and Cardiff-based control never could. Along with a four-day week, these proposals could have a positive impact on government budgets as well, by addressing problems that if allowed to go unchecked will be hugely expensive to deal with.
Whilst I hope Welsh Labour will lead the way in pushing for innovative policy solutions for our post-pandemic world in the lead up to next year’s Senedd elections, the party in Wales cannot achieve these changes alone. Collaboration within and between parties right across the UK will be required to ensure stimulus money is delivered to the devolved administrations.
Labour has met the challenges of unprecedented crisis before. Following the war, we embarked on a bold programme to deal with problems that seemed too great to overcome. Imagine the mess we would be in now if we had thought those reforms were unaffordable and had resisted change. A basic income, green new deal and four-day week are not ideas of my invention and there is already growing support for them, but it is my intention to help lead the campaign to make them a reality. Together, we can deliver a fairer, greener future for all.


labourlist--2020-06-14--Sunday shows: David Lammy and Nick Thomas-Symonds condemn “ugly” far-right protests

David Lammy , the Shadow Justice Secretary , said protesters who “ attacked ” Winston Churchill ’ s statue were “ idiots ” but questioned whether anyone was seriously suggesting it should be removed .
He did not reveal Labour ’ s position on scrapping the Gender Recognition Act reforms or relaxing the two-metre distancing rule .
• On the far-right demonstrations in London yesterday : “ The scenes were ugly and very , very threatening , and the scene involving urinating at PC Palmer ’ s memorial utterly , utterly despicable and must have hurt his family greatly.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protestors : “ Fast-track , yes absolutely , of course we want speedy justice , but I would say we have a massive backlog currently in our justice system because of coronavirus and of course the viruses in prisons so how the government will do that we ’ ll certainly scrutinise.
” • On prison sentences for people who desecrate war memorials : “ Whether we need a specific piece of legislation for memorials , of course we ’ ll look at , but you can already get ten years in prison for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s statue : “ His statue should never have been attacked and the idiots that did it deflect from the central message of Black Lives Matter .
But is anyone seriously calling for Winston Churchill ’ s statue to come down ?
I mean , I hope not.
” • On Churchill , he added : “ I wouldn ’ t support his statue coming down but I recognise , of course there ’ s a debate about what he did in Bengal with the famine , what he did in the Tonypandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Channel 4 just a few months ago where I looked at his attitude to Africans that had contributed to the First World War and he was found wanting .
Many great figures in history are also flawed and we ought to be able to have that debate as well.
” • On the Prime Minister ’ s response : “ Boris Johnson sent out eight tweets , I think it was , on Friday on Winston Churchill and statues .
He ’ s never tweeted eight times in a day on coronavirus ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a day on the Windrush review and what he ’ s going to do about it ; on the review that David Cameron asked me to do on the disproportionality in the criminal justice system and what he ’ s going to do about it .
So this feels to me like a bit of a deflection .
Let ’ s do something about these historic injustices that still exist in our country .
Let ’ s respond to Black Lives Matter properly.
” • On the row between Labour MPs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commons at the time and I thought Florence Eshalomi , the MP for Vauxhall , gave a very , very emotional question where she evoked her three-year-old son and wanting to see injustice solved and Priti Patel ’ s response was insensitive .
But I ’ m not into a facile debate about who ’ s experienced more racism .
Let ’ s deal with the substance.
” • On why he didn ’ t sign the letter from Labour MPs to Priti Patel : “ Frontbenchers don ’ t sign round-robin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked.
” • On the leaked section of the report on the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities : “ It ’ s a scandal if , one week , Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock say “ Black Lives Matter ” , and then we find out today that they ’ ve buried part of the review that had the recommendations in it to do something about it.
” • On the Sunday Times story about the government scrapping reform plans for the Gender Recognition Act : “ The legislation was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was part of that legislation .
There ’ s now a change of view that people ought to self-identify and not over-medicalise .
We would have to look at the legislation when it comes forward in detail , obviously .
It looks like we ’ re some way off that.
” • On relaxing the two-metre distancing rule : “ They ’ ve said they ’ re having a review .
I don ’ t know the science , I think we will want to see the science .
We would support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , as long as it ’ s the right time to do it.
” Chancellor Rishi Sunak reiterated to Marr that “ there is no way I can protect every single job and every single business ” , saying : “ There is going to be hardship ahead.
” He said a second spike would be “ very damaging ” to the economy and acknowledged there was “ some degree of risk ” to reopening it .
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the violence in London as “ completely unacceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show leadership and set out “ concrete steps ” that the government will take on racism and inequality .
• On violence in the capital over the weekend : “ I was extremely disturbed by the scenes yesterday , which were completely and utterly unacceptable.
” • On specific behaviour during the protests : “ I want to say a particular word about that awful scene of someone urinating next to PC Keith Palmer ’ s memorial , absolutely despicable behaviour.
” • On legislation to protect memorials : “ I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offence of protecting war memorials and I would be willing to work with the government on that .
• He also said : “ But let ’ s not be moved away either from what we ’ ve seen since the awful killing of George Floyd in America , because the government needs to show leadership on the inequality and racism that still sadly exists.
” • On what Johnson should do : “ The Prime Minister needs to come forward , show that he understands the hurt and the anguish… and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government now intends to take to address that.
” • On those steps : “ The government could act on the recommendations of the Lammy Review , which looked at disproportionality in our criminal justice system… Those recommendations , 35 of them , have been there since September 2017.
” • On the Windrush review : “ The government could act on the Wendy Williams lessons learned review into Windrush , which was published in March .
Again , 30 recommendations there to be acted upon.
” • Asked if there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ The outcomes of our whole criminal justice system do suggest there are issues.
” • Asked if he supports the Black Lives Matter call to defund the police : “ No , I don ’ t want them to defund the police but what I do say Sophy is that there is a very deep anger out there , and it ’ s not for me to start lecturing people as to how to express that anger.
” • Asked if the two-metre rule should be reduced : “ It should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should be.
” • On Covid decision-making : “ It ’ s a political decision that should be based on a range of scientific advice , but if that scientific advice was published it would restore confidence in the decisions that the government is making.
” • On government scrapping plans to make changing gender easier : “ I ’ m not sure government just scrapping plans and then leaking it out in a newspaper is the way to deal with this… We need a much better way going forward that seeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” • On recent polling polls and asked if Jeremy Corbyn was “ the problem ” : “ It makes me think about the present Sophy , not the past .
And I think what we ’ re seeing is a vindication of the approach that Keir Starmer is taking as leader.
” Rishi Sunak also appeared on the show this morning .
He said that “ the scenes we saw yesterday were both shocking and disgusting ” but that the “ country was united in condemning ” the scenes in London .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not been helped by government support schemes in “ the way that they would have wanted through this crisis ” , but said that there was a “ premium on doing things that could help as many people as possible ” .
The Chancellor also argued that the steps that the government has taken in sending children back to school has been “ measured and responsible ” .

The Andrew Marr Show
David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, said protesters who “attacked” Winston Churchill’s statue were “idiots” but questioned whether anyone was seriously suggesting it should be removed. He did not reveal Labour’s position on scrapping the Gender Recognition Act reforms or relaxing the two-metre distancing rule.
On the far-right demonstrations in London yesterday: “The scenes were ugly and very, very threatening, and the scene involving urinating at PC Palmer’s memorial utterly, utterly despicable and must have hurt his family greatly.”
On supporting fast-track prosecutions for violent protestors: “Fast-track, yes absolutely, of course we want speedy justice, but I would say we have a massive backlog currently in our justice system because of coronavirus and of course the viruses in prisons so how the government will do that we’ll certainly scrutinise.”
On prison sentences for people who desecrate war memorials: “Whether we need a specific piece of legislation for memorials, of course we’ll look at, but you can already get ten years in prison for criminal damage.”
On Churchill’s statue: “His statue should never have been attacked and the idiots that did it deflect from the central message of Black Lives Matter. But is anyone seriously calling for Winston Churchill’s statue to come down? I mean, I hope not.”
On Churchill, he added: “I wouldn’t support his statue coming down but I recognise, of course there’s a debate about what he did in Bengal with the famine, what he did in the Tonypandy riots. I did a documentary for Channel 4 just a few months ago where I looked at his attitude to Africans that had contributed to the First World War and he was found wanting. Many great figures in history are also flawed and we ought to be able to have that debate as well.”
On the Prime Minister’s response: “Boris Johnson sent out eight tweets, I think it was, on Friday on Winston Churchill and statues. He’s never tweeted eight times in a day on coronavirus; he’s never tweeted eight times in a day on the Windrush review and what he’s going to do about it; on the review that David Cameron asked me to do on the disproportionality in the criminal justice system and what he’s going to do about it. So this feels to me like a bit of a deflection. Let’s do something about these historic injustices that still exist in our country. Let’s respond to Black Lives Matter properly.”
On the row between Labour MPs and Priti Patel: “I was in the Commons at the time and I thought Florence Eshalomi, the MP for Vauxhall, gave a very, very emotional question where she evoked her three-year-old son and wanting to see injustice solved and Priti Patel’s response was insensitive. But I’m not into a facile debate about who’s experienced more racism. Let’s deal with the substance.”
On why he didn’t sign the letter from Labour MPs to Priti Patel: “Frontbenchers don’t sign round-robin letters so I would never have been asked.”
On the leaked section of the report on the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities: “It’s a scandal if, one week, Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock say “Black Lives Matter”, and then we find out today that they’ve buried part of the review that had the recommendations in it to do something about it.”
On the Sunday Times story about the government scrapping reform plans for the Gender Recognition Act: “The legislation was passed a few years ago, and actually I was part of that legislation. There’s now a change of view that people ought to self-identify and not over-medicalise. We would have to look at the legislation when it comes forward in detail, obviously. It looks like we’re some way off that.”
On relaxing the two-metre distancing rule: “They’ve said they’re having a review. I don’t know the science, I think we will want to see the science. We would support the government on relaxing the rules, of course, as long as it’s the right time to do it.”
Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy says “it’s a scandal” that the government says that black lives matter but “they’ve buried” part of the BAME #Covid_19 report, which is due to be released next week #Marr https://t.co/PiSfR61Jj6 pic.twitter.com/AEsKnERZmz — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) June 14, 2020
Chancellor Rishi Sunak reiterated to Marr that “there is no way I can protect every single job and every single business”, saying: “There is going to be hardship ahead.” He said a second spike would be “very damaging” to the economy and acknowledged there was “some degree of risk” to reopening it.
Ridge on Sunday
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the violence in London as “completely unacceptable” and said he would support the introduction of a specific offence to protect war memorials.
On violence in the capital over the weekend: “I was extremely disturbed by the scenes yesterday, which were completely and utterly unacceptable.”
On specific behaviour during the protests: “I want to say a particular word about that awful scene of someone urinating next to PC Keith Palmer’s memorial, absolutely despicable behaviour.”
On reports that “the government is considering a ten-year jail sentence for people who desecrate war memorials”: “I would support the government in creating a specific offence of protecting war memorials and I would be willing to work with the government on that.”
He added: “But let’s not be moved away either from what we’ve seen since the awful killing of George Floyd in America, because the government needs to show leadership on the inequality and racism that still sadly exists.”
On what Johnson should do: “The Prime Minister needs to come forward, show that he understands the hurt and the anguish… and also set out the concrete steps that his government now intends to take to address that.”
On those steps: “The government could act on the recommendations of the Lammy Review, which looked at disproportionality in our criminal justice system… Those recommendations, 35 of them, have been there since September 2017.”
On the Windrush review: “The government could act on the Wendy Williams lessons learned review into Windrush, which was published in March. Again, 30 recommendations there to be acted upon.”
Asked if there is a “racism issue” in the police: “The outcomes of our whole criminal justice system do suggest there are issues.”
Asked if he supports the Black Lives Matter call to defund the police: “No, I don’t want them to defund the police but what I do say Sophy is that there is a very deep anger out there, and it’s not for me to start lecturing people as to how to express that anger.”
Asked if the two-metre rule should be reduced: “It should be reduced if the evidence indicates that it should be.”
On Covid decision-making: “It’s a political decision that should be based on a range of scientific advice, but if that scientific advice was published it would restore confidence in the decisions that the government is making.”
On government scrapping plans to make changing gender easier: “I’m not sure government just scrapping plans and then leaking it out in a newspaper is the way to deal with this… We need a much better way going forward that seeks consensus and respects everybody’s rights.”
On recent polling polls and asked if Jeremy Corbyn was “the problem”: “It makes me think about the present Sophy, not the past. And I think what we’re seeing is a vindication of the approach that Keir Starmer is taking as leader.”
"The government needs to show leadership on the inequality and racism that still sadly exists in our country." Shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas Symonds calls on the PM to understand the “anguish” of racial inequality.#Ridge
Follow live analysis: https://t.co/s0vjwhnxAT pic.twitter.com/i3D5Ez370i — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) June 14, 2020
Rishi Sunak also appeared on the show this morning. He said that “the scenes we saw yesterday were both shocking and disgusting” but that the “country was united in condemning” the scenes in London.
He said he was sorry that some have not been helped by government support schemes in “the way that they would have wanted through this crisis”, but said that there was a “premium on doing things that could help as many people as possible”.
The Chancellor also argued that the steps that the government has taken in sending children back to school has been “measured and responsible”.


labourlist--2020-06-14--Save our high streets as UK economy reopens, Labour urges government

Labour has published a series of demands as the party urges the government to save British high streets on the day that non-essential shops in England are being allowed to reopen .
Although allowed to open from today in a further easing of coronavirus lockdown , shops have been told that they must meet Covid-19 guidelines for the safety of customers and workers .
But Labour has expressed concern that guidance has not been specific or clear enough on sanitising , protective equipment and other areas , and it has sounded the alarm over confusing briefings to the press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality sector in particular faces collapse with many closures and redundancies unless government ministers put in place sector-specific support measures .
Lucy Powell , shadow minister for business and consumers , is also calling on people to “ back small British business ” , “ shop local ” and “ support high streets to give them a boost ” .
The demands made to ministers by Labour are as follows : • None Social distancing guidelines are vital information for venues to prepare to reopen safely in respect of layout of venue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on revenue and financial decision making .
Businesses will require clarity and transparency .
As with other aspects of Ministers ’ response to the Covid-19 crisis anonymous speculative briefings to the press are deeply unhelpful , confusing business and the public with mixed messages .
Any changes to the guidelines should be led by the science and come about through a transparent and clear process .
• None use of toilets , the use of phone apps for ordering , vertical drinking and table service .
Without this information , many business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and short-term business model .
• None Set out what help will be available for operators who them from being able to open safely and/or it not financially viable for them to do so .
• None Business wants clarity around the part-time furlough scheme and whether this can be brought forward .
If outdoor areas are open from 22 June , this will not require a for which social distancing makes opening not viable , the furlough top up will be impossible because they have no cash coming in .
• None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to other operators .
For many businesses that do reopen it will be at significantly reduced capacity with higher costs such as more staff , security and PPE .
They too need more flexible support .
• • None rapid license variations , on issues such as opening hours • None temporary event notices so they are not subject to time limits .
Reduce five working day time limit for late temporary event notices to three working days .
• None the sale of alcohol as part of any outdoor licensed seating area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that there is /temporary event notice , to allow outdoor bars , or allow • None ability to operate licensed spaces without going through full • “ Build public confidence in going to pubs and restaurants , and the high street by ensuring the track and trace and other measures are fully in place.
” Powell commented : “ It ’ s vital that ministers turn their attention to the hospitality sector , providing clarity and guidance so that businesses can plan to reopen in the coming weeks .
“ That means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and more public advice and guidance to companies about how they can safely reopen .
“ Alongside this , we urge the government to publish an action plan which maximises economic viability , whilst minimising the risk to the health of customers and staff .
“ If they fail to act , our communities will lose much-loved pubs , bars and restaurants , and we ’ ll see a wave of closures and unemployment which will damage villages , towns and cities across the country.
” Labour has highlighted that around one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified for government grants , in particular larger employers , according to trade association UKHospitality .
The sector employs more than 3.2 million people , adding up to 10 % of UK employment , and represents 6 % of business and 5 % of GDP .
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has repeatedly said that he “ can ’ t protect every single job and every single business ” .
Pubs , clubs , restaurants , hairdressers , nail bars and beauty salons will have to stay closed until at least July as close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Labour has published a series of demands as the party urges the government to save British high streets on the day that non-essential shops in England are being allowed to reopen.
Although allowed to open from today in a further easing of coronavirus lockdown, shops have been told that they must meet Covid-19 guidelines for the safety of customers and workers.
But Labour has expressed concern that guidance has not been specific or clear enough on sanitising, protective equipment and other areas, and it has sounded the alarm over confusing briefings to the press.
The opposition party has warned that the hospitality sector in particular faces collapse with many closures and redundancies unless government ministers put in place sector-specific support measures.
Lucy Powell, shadow minister for business and consumers, is also calling on people to “back small British business”, “shop local” and “support high streets to give them a boost”.
The demands made to ministers by Labour are as follows:
“Stop anonymous speculative briefings on social distancing guidelines. Social distancing guidelines are vital information for venues to prepare to reopen safely in respect of layout of venue and capacity of venue, both of which impact on revenue and financial decision making. Businesses will require clarity and transparency. As with other aspects of Ministers’ response to the Covid-19 crisis anonymous speculative briefings to the press are deeply unhelpful, confusing business and the public with mixed messages. Any changes to the guidelines should be led by the science and come about through a transparent and clear process.
“Give guidance on business-critical issues such as sanitising , PPE for staff, security provision, use of toilets, the use of phone apps for ordering, vertical drinking and table service. Without this information, many business operators are struggling to plan their opening and short-term business model.
“ Set out what help will be available for operators who have to remain closed because the two-metre rule prohibits them from being able to open safely and/or it is not financially viable for them to do so.
“ Ensure furlough flexibility . Business wants clarity around the part-time furlough scheme and whether this can be brought forward. If outdoor areas are open from 22 June, this will not require a full-time complement of staff. For other businesses such as theatres, nightclubs, small indoor pubs and summer festival businesses for which social distancing makes opening not viable, the furlough top up will be impossible because they have no cash coming in.
“ Consider what flexible support can be given to other operators. For many businesses that do reopen it will be at significantly reduced capacity with higher costs such as more staff, security and PPE. They too need more flexible support.
“ Work with local authorities, take innovative action to help businesses expand operations and boost trade by reducing bureaucracy including : Ensuring rapid license variations, on issues such as opening hours or setting up licensed spaces, which curr ently require long notice peri ods. Reforming the operation of temporary event notices so they are not subject to time limits. Reduce five working day time limit for late temporary event notices to three working days. Deregulating the sale of alcohol as part of any outdoor licensed seating area for the duration of the crisis, so that there is no requirement for separate premises licence /temporary event notice, to allow outdoor bars, or allow a fast track licensing scheme for this. Enabling local authoritie s the ability to operate licensed spaces without going through full licence process or needing temporary event notices
“ Investigate the conversion of parking spaces and other areas into outdoor seating uses.
“Build public confidence in going to pubs and restaurants, and the high street by ensuring the track and trace and other measures are fully in place.”
Powell commented: “It’s vital that ministers turn their attention to the hospitality sector, providing clarity and guidance so that businesses can plan to reopen in the coming weeks.
“That means no more backroom briefings to Tory MPs, and more public advice and guidance to companies about how they can safely reopen.
“Alongside this, we urge the government to publish an action plan which maximises economic viability, whilst minimising the risk to the health of customers and staff.
“If they fail to act, our communities will lose much-loved pubs, bars and restaurants, and we’ll see a wave of closures and unemployment which will damage villages, towns and cities across the country.”
Labour has highlighted that around one third of all hospitality businesses have not qualified for government grants, in particular larger employers, according to trade association UKHospitality.
The sector employs more than 3.2 million people, adding up to 10% of UK employment, and represents 6% of business and 5% of GDP. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has repeatedly said that he “can’t protect every single job and every single business”.
Pubs, clubs, restaurants, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons will have to stay closed until at least July as close contact involves a higher risk of coronavirus transmission.


labourlist--2020-06-14--Sunday shows: Lammy and Thomas-Symonds condemn “ugly” far-right protests

David Lammy , the Shadow Justice Secretary , said protesters who “ attacked ” Winston Churchill ’ s statue were “ idiots ” but questioned whether anyone was seriously suggesting it should be removed .
He did not reveal Labour ’ s position on scrapping the Gender Recognition Act reforms or relaxing the two-metre distancing rule .
• On the far-right demonstrations in London yesterday : “ The scenes were ugly and very , very threatening , and the scene involving urinating at PC Palmer ’ s memorial utterly , utterly despicable and must have hurt his family greatly.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protestors : “ Fast-track , yes absolutely , of course we want speedy justice , but I would say we have a massive backlog currently in our justice system because of coronavirus and of course the viruses in prisons so how the government will do that we ’ ll certainly scrutinise.
” • On prison sentences for people who desecrate war memorials : “ Whether we need a specific piece of legislation for memorials , of course we ’ ll look at , but you can already get ten years in prison for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s statue : “ His statue should never have been attacked and the idiots that did it deflect from the central message of Black Lives Matter .
But is anyone seriously calling for Winston Churchill ’ s statue to come down ?
I mean , I hope not.
” • On Churchill , he added : “ I wouldn ’ t support his statue coming down but I recognise , of course there ’ s a debate about what he did in Bengal with the famine , what he did in the Tonypandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Channel 4 just a few months ago where I looked at his attitude to Africans that had contributed to the First World War and he was found wanting .
Many great figures in history are also flawed and we ought to be able to have that debate as well.
” • On the Prime Minister ’ s response : “ Boris Johnson sent out eight tweets , I think it was , on Friday on Winston Churchill and statues .
He ’ s never tweeted eight times in a day on coronavirus ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a day on the Windrush review and what he ’ s going to do about it ; on the review that David Cameron asked me to do on the disproportionality in the criminal justice system and what he ’ s going to do about it .
So this feels to me like a bit of a deflection .
Let ’ s do something about these historic injustices that still exist in our country .
Let ’ s respond to Black Lives Matter properly.
” • On the row between Labour MPs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commons at the time and I thought Florence Eshalomi , the MP for Vauxhall , gave a very , very emotional question where she evoked her three-year-old son and wanting to see injustice solved and Priti Patel ’ s response was insensitive .
But I ’ m not into a facile debate about who ’ s experienced more racism .
Let ’ s deal with the substance.
” • On why he didn ’ t sign the letter from Labour MPs to Priti Patel : “ Frontbenchers don ’ t sign round-robin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked.
” • On the leaked section of the report on the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities : “ It ’ s a scandal if , one week , Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock say “ Black Lives Matter ” , and then we find out today that they ’ ve buried part of the review that had the recommendations in it to do something about it.
” • On the Sunday Times story about the government scrapping reform plans for the Gender Recognition Act : “ The legislation was passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was part of that legislation .
There ’ s now a change of view that people ought to self-identify and not over-medicalise .
We would have to look at the legislation when it comes forward in detail , obviously .
It looks like we ’ re some way off that.
” • On relaxing the two-metre distancing rule : “ They ’ ve said they ’ re having a review .
I don ’ t know the science , I think we will want to see the science .
We would support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of course , as long as it ’ s the right time to do it.
” Chancellor Rishi Sunak reiterated to Marr that “ there is no way I can protect every single job and every single business ” , saying : “ There is going to be hardship ahead.
” He said a second spike would be “ very damaging ” to the economy and acknowledged there was “ some degree of risk ” to reopening it .
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds described the violence in London as “ completely unacceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ introduction of a specific offence to protect war memorials .
• On violence in the capital over the weekend : “ I was extremely disturbed by the scenes yesterday , which were completely and utterly unacceptable.
” • On specific behaviour during the protests : “ I want to say a particular word about that awful scene of someone urinating next to PC Keith Palmer ’ s memorial , absolutely despicable behaviour.
” • On reports that “ the government is considering a ten-year jail sentence for people who desecrate war memorials ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in creating a specific offence of protecting war memorials and I would be willing to work with the government on that.
” • He added : “ But let ’ s not be moved away either from what we ’ ve seen since the awful killing of George Floyd in America , because the government needs to show leadership on the inequality and racism that still sadly exists.
” • On what Johnson should do : “ The Prime Minister needs to come forward , show that he understands the hurt and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps that his government now intends to take to address that.
” • On those steps : “ The government could act on the recommendations of the Lammy Review , which looked at disproportionality in our criminal justice system… Those recommendations , 35 of them , have been there since September 2017.
” • On the Windrush review : “ The government could act on the Wendy Williams lessons learned review into Windrush , which was published in March .
Again , 30 recommendations there to be acted upon.
” • Asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the police : “ The outcomes of our whole criminal justice system do suggest there are issues.
” • Asked if he supports the Black Lives Matter call to defund the police : “ No , I don ’ t want them to defund the police but what I do say Sophy is that there is a very deep anger out there , and it ’ s not for me to start lecturing people as to how to express that anger.
” • Asked if the two-metre rule should be reduced : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence indicates that it should be.
” • On Covid decision-making : “ It ’ s a political decision that should be based on a range of scientific advice , but if that scientific advice was published it would restore confidence in the decisions that the government is making.
” • On government scrapping plans to make changing gender easier : “ I ’ m not sure government just scrapping plans and then leaking it out in a newspaper is the way to deal with this… We need a much better way going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s rights.
” • On recent polling polls and asked if Jeremy Corbyn was “ the problem ” : “ It makes me think about the present Sophy , not the past .
And I think what we ’ re seeing is a vindication of the approach that Keir Starmer is taking as leader.
” Rishi Sunak also appeared on the show this morning .
He said that “ the scenes we saw yesterday were both shocking and disgusting ” but that the “ country was united in condemning ” the scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorry that some have not been helped by government support schemes in “ the way that they would have wanted through this crisis ” , but said that there was a “ premium on doing things that could help as many people as possible ” .
The Chancellor also argued that the steps that the government has taken in sending children back to school has been “ measured and responsible ” .


labourlist--2020-06-15--It’s time for Labour to stand with trans people for dignity and equality

Labour should be proud to have introduced gender recognition in 2004 and harmonised equality laws in 2010 .
The case for building on these foundations has strengthened , despite moves from anti-trans groups to undermine our rights .
The Tories now propose to further marginalise the trans community , but we will fight back to secure our human rights .
The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that the government is set to ditch reforms to gender recognition laws , even though 70 % of those who responded to the consultation supported the proposed changes .
This follows recent indications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to single-sex facilities and treatment for young people .
The government plans to announce a ban on “ gay cure ” therapies in a duplicitous ploy to “ placate ” LGBT+ people , according to the write-up .
This is a well-won victory for the LGBT+ community , but it shouldn ’ t be used to mask Tory broken promises on gender identity reform .
Sources suggest new protections will be brought forward to safeguard female-only spaces , including refuges and public lavatories , although they are already provided for in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local councils are expected to limit gender-neutral lavatories .
Equality law covers gender reassignment as a protected characteristic .
As a result , trans men are entitled to access the same facilities and services as other men and trans women are entitled to access the same facilities and services as other women .
Gender Recognition Certificates issued under the 2004 GRA affirms the person ’ s acquired gender for all purposes and enables the issuing of a new birth certificate and other legal documentation .
The Tories ’ intention is to close efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including allowing for non-binary people .
Over 5,000 GRCs have been issued over the last 16 years , whilst around half a million fall foul of the restrictive law – being denied a statutory routes to live their lives by using a retail changing room or pop into the loo .
These are mundane activities that can only get the anti-trans lobby into a lava of prejudice .
With the Tories in retreat over plans to replace the demeaning medical process for recognition in favour of a legal approach , the marginalisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Often referred to “ self-identity ” for mischief ’ s sake , what has been proposed is a robust legal process to replace and outdated and dehumanising bureaucracy .
In a well-timed move , the Tories are pitching into another culture divide , picking up a populist media driven narrative , failing again to be led by the evidence .
In bolstering anti-trans views , they seek to fracture our communities and bring about discord in the labour and trade union movement .
Following contradictions between key Labour spokespeople on gender identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the subject in recent months from our frontbench and a growing sense that a hierarchy of inequality exists , it is time for Labour to stand with trans people for dignity and equality .
Trans people are invisible and voiceless in public life .
There has never been a trans parliamentarian and of 6,204 Labour councillors only two are known to be trans people .
Consequently , as political outsiders , trans activists are seeking to encourage our cisgender allies to speak up for legal protections and rights .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a holder of a Gender Recognition Certificate , I know how empowering that legal validation brings .
It was made possible by a Labour government and we must build on this by liberating more people in our community .
Setting out a fair and robust legal process can accomplish this meaningful objective .
It means not flinching away from trans equality and holding the Tories to account on their broken promises .
Coronavirus has put aside this year ’ s season of Pride events around the country .
They would have offered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Invisible and voiceless because politics isn ’ t trans-inclusive , we provide a cheap shot for the nasty party that brought in the infamous Section 28 and have of late failed to implement many aspects of equalities legislation .
Labour and the trade union movement need to stop obfuscating and stand with us , making it clear that trans women are women , trans men are men , and trans people deserve unconditional solidarity and support for the right to exist in the gender with which we identify .
LGBT+ Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to set out its position and key actions in response .
The resulting online petition encourages our frontbench to challenge and scrutinise the government ’ s plans .

Labour should be proud to have introduced gender recognition in 2004 and harmonised equality laws in 2010. The case for building on these foundations has strengthened, despite moves from anti-trans groups to undermine our rights. The Tories now propose to further marginalise the trans community, but we will fight back to secure our human rights.
The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that the government is set to ditch reforms to gender recognition laws, even though 70% of those who responded to the consultation supported the proposed changes. This follows recent indications from equalities minister Liz Truss on restricting access to single-sex facilities and treatment for young people.
The government plans to announce a ban on “gay cure” therapies in a duplicitous ploy to “placate” LGBT+ people, according to the write-up. This is a well-won victory for the LGBT+ community, but it shouldn’t be used to mask Tory broken promises on gender identity reform.
Sources suggest new protections will be brought forward to safeguard female-only spaces, including refuges and public lavatories, although they are already provided for in the Equality Act 2010. Tighter controls on local councils are expected to limit gender-neutral lavatories.
Equality law covers gender reassignment as a protected characteristic. As a result, trans men are entitled to access the same facilities and services as other men and trans women are entitled to access the same facilities and services as other women. Gender Recognition Certificates issued under the 2004 GRA affirms the person’s acquired gender for all purposes and enables the issuing of a new birth certificate and other legal documentation. The Tories’ intention is to close efforts to widen the definition to gender identity, including allowing for non-binary people.
Over 5,000 GRCs have been issued over the last 16 years, whilst around half a million fall foul of the restrictive law – being denied a statutory routes to live their lives by using a retail changing room or pop into the loo. These are mundane activities that can only get the anti-trans lobby into a lava of prejudice.
With the Tories in retreat over plans to replace the demeaning medical process for recognition in favour of a legal approach, the marginalisation of trans people is set to worsen. Often referred to “self-identity” for mischief’s sake, what has been proposed is a robust legal process to replace and outdated and dehumanising bureaucracy.
In a well-timed move, the Tories are pitching into another culture divide, picking up a populist media driven narrative, failing again to be led by the evidence. In bolstering anti-trans views, they seek to fracture our communities and bring about discord in the labour and trade union movement.
Following contradictions between key Labour spokespeople on gender identity during the 2019 general election, silence on the subject in recent months from our frontbench and a growing sense that a hierarchy of inequality exists, it is time for Labour to stand with trans people for dignity and equality.
Trans people are invisible and voiceless in public life. There has never been a trans parliamentarian and of 6,204 Labour councillors only two are known to be trans people. Consequently, as political outsiders, trans activists are seeking to encourage our cisgender allies to speak up for legal protections and rights.
It is not just a piece of paper. As a holder of a Gender Recognition Certificate, I know how empowering that legal validation brings. It was made possible by a Labour government and we must build on this by liberating more people in our community. Setting out a fair and robust legal process can accomplish this meaningful objective. It means not flinching away from trans equality and holding the Tories to account on their broken promises.
Coronavirus has put aside this year’s season of Pride events around the country. They would have offered an opportunity for self-affirmation and advocacy for trans people. Invisible and voiceless because politics isn’t trans-inclusive, we provide a cheap shot for the nasty party that brought in the infamous Section 28 and have of late failed to implement many aspects of equalities legislation.
Labour and the trade union movement need to stop obfuscating and stand with us, making it clear that trans women are women, trans men are men, and trans people deserve unconditional solidarity and support for the right to exist in the gender with which we identify. LGBT+ Labour held an emergency executive committee meeting yesterday to set out its position and key actions in response. The resulting online petition encourages our frontbench to challenge and scrutinise the government’s plans.