labourlist--2020-11-12--In 50 days, the Brexit transition period ends. Where next for Labour?

In just 50 days , Britain will leave the European Union single market and customs union , fully exiting the EU .
Though the extent of it may be masked by the furlough extension and softened by whatever last-minute deal is cooked up , be in no doubt that there will be a recession with the UK particularly badly hit because of Brexit .
How should the Labour Party respond to this new reality ?
Under new management , rightly its approach to coronavirus has been to let the government make all the running , express cross-party support and back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Labour has also spoken out when the government has inevitably ( and fatally ) screwed up , and diverged when they have failed to follow the science – just as Keir Starmer did last month in calling for a two-week circuit break .
With Brexit , Labour has also watched on as the Tories blunder through – for example , the party chose not to call for a transition extension ahead of the July deadline .
But as with Covid , Labour has been quick to act when politic , for instance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will break international law , and the party won votes in the House of Lords this week on the legislation .
Labour has also been forthright over recent weeks in its opposition to a January 1st ‘ no deal ’ , though thankfully Joe Biden winning the US election has made this now highly unlikely .
Assuming there is a deal ( probable ) and that Brexit is terrible ( certain ) , we go back to our original question : what next for Labour in the New Year and beyond ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ campaign to rejoin the EU is unthinkable for the Labour Party right now ” , there is still much that pro-Europeans in the party can do , and plenty the party can campaign on , such as rights , standards and internationalism .
For the party in parliament , likewise there will be plenty to get its teeth into with a mountain of post-Brexit legislation to scrutinise – on trade , agriculture , fisheries , immigration and social security coordination , the environment , financial services , animal welfare .
Holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each and every undeliverable broken promise could end up being a laborious task , however , on a par the Washington Post ’ s tracker of Donald Trump ’ s lies ( 20,000 in mid-July and counting… ) .
Yesterday alone we learned : Brexit could hold up the import of the coronavirus vaccine , which will arrive via Belgium ; there is likely to be no equivalence deal for the City to access EU markets , putting £26bn of financial services exports at risk ; 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexit ; Bentley is considering its long-term future in Britain ; Welsh businesses and ports are not ready for the end of the transition period ; there may be sugar shortages in Northern Ireland ; and medicine supply chains will be affected .
There is also still no handbook for truck drivers to prepare for new border controls ; there is no time to test the new Great Britain-Northern Ireland customs declaration services , according to logistics bosses ; UK firms face an £80bn hit to trade because EU trade agreements with third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; uncertainty over security cooperation raises the risk of terror attacks in the UK ; and the latest Brexit talks deadline will once again be missed .
Meanwhile , the EU itself gets on with life , moving forward seemingly without a second glance and with a legal agreement yesterday on its new long-term , post-Brexit budget , which over the next seven years will see an increase in funding of €4bn for Horizon Europe ( the EU ’ s funding programme for research and innovation ) , €2.2bn for Erasmus+ ( the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and training that thousands of British students have benefited from ) , €1bn for InvestEU ( its flagship investment programme ) , and €600m for Creative Europe ( its programme for the cultural and creative sectors – industries that contribute more than £110bn to the UK economy , and will be particularly badly hit by Brexit ) .
Won ’ t all this bad-mouthing of Brexit , and praising the EU , not be electoral suicide , I hear you ask ?
No , it won ’ t – at least not according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Having asked “ in hindsight , do you think Britain was right or wrong to vote to leave the EU ?
” , three surveys in September and October indicated a ten-point lead for “ wrong ” ( 49 % ) over “ right ” ( 39 % ) .
This represents the biggest sustained rejection of Brexit since the referendum .
Brexit-scepticism and pledging a closer relationship with the EU will not be the vote loser that some in Labour fear .
Among young people especially – screwed over by Gavin Williamson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , having a miserable university experience while paying a small fortune for the privilege and now facing a future without the freedom to work , study , travel , live , love and explore throughout Europe – the more pro-European Labour is , the more popular it will be .
Their futures have been stolen .
For the next generation , rejoining will be a question of when , not if .

In just 50 days, Britain will leave the European Union single market and customs union, fully exiting the EU. Though the extent of it may be masked by the furlough extension and softened by whatever last-minute deal is cooked up, be in no doubt that there will be a recession with the UK particularly badly hit because of Brexit.
How should the Labour Party respond to this new reality? Under new management, rightly its approach to coronavirus has been to let the government make all the running, express cross-party support and back lockdown measures to protect public health. But Labour has also spoken out when the government has inevitably (and fatally) screwed up, and diverged when they have failed to follow the science – just as Keir Starmer did last month in calling for a two-week circuit break.
With Brexit, Labour has also watched on as the Tories blunder through – for example, the party chose not to call for a transition extension ahead of the July deadline. But as with Covid, Labour has been quick to act when politic, for instance by opposing the internal market bill, which will break international law, and the party won votes in the House of Lords this week on the legislation.
Labour has also been forthright over recent weeks in its opposition to a January 1st ‘no deal’, though thankfully Joe Biden winning the US election has made this now highly unlikely. Assuming there is a deal (probable) and that Brexit is terrible (certain), we go back to our original question: what next for Labour in the New Year and beyond?
As Seb Dance recently wrote, though a “campaign to rejoin the EU is unthinkable for the Labour Party right now”, there is still much that pro-Europeans in the party can do, and plenty the party can campaign on, such as rights, standards and internationalism. For the party in parliament, likewise there will be plenty to get its teeth into with a mountain of post-Brexit legislation to scrutinise – on trade, agriculture, fisheries, immigration and social security coordination, the environment, financial services, animal welfare. Holding the Vote Leave cabal to account for each and every undeliverable broken promise could end up being a laborious task, however, on a par the Washington Post’s tracker of Donald Trump’s lies (20,000 in mid-July and counting…).
Yesterday alone we learned: Brexit could hold up the import of the coronavirus vaccine, which will arrive via Belgium; there is likely to be no equivalence deal for the City to access EU markets, putting £26bn of financial services exports at risk; 300,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have had to stop trading this year due to Brexit; Bentley is considering its long-term future in Britain; Welsh businesses and ports are not ready for the end of the transition period; there may be sugar shortages in Northern Ireland; and medicine supply chains will be affected.
There is also still no handbook for truck drivers to prepare for new border controls; there is no time to test the new Great Britain-Northern Ireland customs declaration services, according to logistics bosses; UK firms face an £80bn hit to trade because EU trade agreements with third countries still have not been rolled over; uncertainty over security cooperation raises the risk of terror attacks in the UK; and the latest Brexit talks deadline will once again be missed.
Meanwhile, the EU itself gets on with life, moving forward seemingly without a second glance and with a legal agreement yesterday on its new long-term, post-Brexit budget, which over the next seven years will see an increase in funding of €4bn for Horizon Europe (the EU’s funding programme for research and innovation), €2.2bn for Erasmus+ (the EU’s programme to support education and training that thousands of British students have benefited from), €1bn for InvestEU (its flagship investment programme), and €600m for Creative Europe (its programme for the cultural and creative sectors – industries that contribute more than £110bn to the UK economy, and will be particularly badly hit by Brexit).
Won’t all this bad-mouthing of Brexit, and praising the EU, not be electoral suicide, I hear you ask? No, it won’t – at least not according to the most recent polling evidence. Having asked “in hindsight, do you think Britain was right or wrong to vote to leave the EU?”, three surveys in September and October indicated a ten-point lead for “wrong” (49%) over “right” (39%). This represents the biggest sustained rejection of Brexit since the referendum. Brexit-scepticism and pledging a closer relationship with the EU will not be the vote loser that some in Labour fear.
Among young people especially – screwed over by Gavin Williamson and the government on their school exams, having a miserable university experience while paying a small fortune for the privilege and now facing a future without the freedom to work, study, travel, live, love and explore throughout Europe – the more pro-European Labour is, the more popular it will be. Their futures have been stolen. For the next generation, rejoining will be a question of when, not if.


labourlist--2020-11-12--Youth charities “at breaking point”, warns Labour

Labour has warned that youth charities are “ at breaking point ” following the publication of a report showing that one in four of the organisations will not be able to meet their running costs in the run-up to Christmas .
Commenting today on a report from the National Youth Agency ( NYA ) , which described how charities are “ running on empty ” , Labour ’ s Cat Smith MP slammed the government for the lack of support provided to youth services .
She argued : “ Youth services are a vital lifeline , particularly at this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolated than ever .
But youth charities are at breaking point , with many not expecting to make it past Christmas.
” The shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs added : “ Youth services were already under severe pressure before the pandemic because of Tory cuts .
This government is failing a generation of young people.
” The document by the NYA highlighted that three in four youth charities in England will have run down their reserves by Christmas as the organisations have seen their incomes fall by half or more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service providers reported that they would not be able to meet operational costs in the next 12 months .
Seven in ten have lost staff capacity , with one in three expecting to make redundancies this year .
The NYA highlighted that smaller organisations are particularly at risk with the furlough scheme or redundancy not an option for much of their workforce as many of their staff are either on casual employment or working as volunteers .
The body also stressed the impact of cuts to funding for local authorities on youth organisations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from local services £1 falls on the youth work charities .
The NYA has called on the government to provide support for the winter , the current national lockdown in England and for any regional tiered Covid restrictions that will be implemented after December 2nd .
It has called for : • “ Early release of youth investment funds to training youth workers and up-skill volunteers to support vulnerable young people now and to prepare the ground for 2021 , through Covid-19 and beyond ; • “ Additional funding for youth charities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet young people ’ s needs , amplified by COVID-19 extended over time ; • “ Strengthened guidance and ring-fenced funding for local authorities , to invest in youth services – recognised as essential services which transform young people ’ s lives ; and • “ The inclusion of young people with their voices heard in the evidence , decision-making and response to Covid-19 , to be treated fairly and ambitious for their future .
”

Labour has warned that youth charities are “at breaking point” following the publication of a report showing that one in four of the organisations will not be able to meet their running costs in the run-up to Christmas.
Commenting today on a report from the National Youth Agency (NYA), which described how charities are “running on empty”, Labour’s Cat Smith MP slammed the government for the lack of support provided to youth services.
She argued: “Youth services are a vital lifeline, particularly at this time of crisis when young people are more isolated than ever. But youth charities are at breaking point, with many not expecting to make it past Christmas.”
The shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs added: “Youth services were already under severe pressure before the pandemic because of Tory cuts. This government is failing a generation of young people.”
The document by the NYA highlighted that three in four youth charities in England will have run down their reserves by Christmas as the organisations have seen their incomes fall by half or more in the pandemic.
Half of the service providers reported that they would not be able to meet operational costs in the next 12 months. Seven in ten have lost staff capacity, with one in three expecting to make redundancies this year.
The NYA highlighted that smaller organisations are particularly at risk with the furlough scheme or redundancy not an option for much of their workforce as many of their staff are either on casual employment or working as volunteers.
The body also stressed the impact of cuts to funding for local authorities on youth organisations, explaining that for every £16 slashed from local services £1 falls on the youth work charities.
The NYA has called on the government to provide support for the winter, the current national lockdown in England and for any regional tiered Covid restrictions that will be implemented after December 2nd. It has called for:


labourlist--2020-11-12--Labour got it wrong on a second referendum. We should say sorry

On December 13th , following a tumultuous general election campaign , our worst fears were realised and communities that had been loyal to Labour for generations had fallen to the Tories .
It gave us no pleasure whatsoever that a report we had worked on since the summer of that year was prescient in its accuracy as working-class communities woke up to see their new Tory representatives crowing .
In the months following our defeat , we published our document Northern Discomfort – not to show that we were right , but to build for the future and to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear , we want Labour to win .
Our country and our communities desperately need Labour to win .
As representatives of areas with proud industrial histories , and having seen government policies rip out their economic hearts , we have seen first hand the sense of desperation for something different .
It has come as no surprise that these communities turned their back on the status quo .
‘ No Holding Back ’ was born and we began a digital tour of the country seeking to talk with , and most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as possible .
We spoke with more than 2,000 people at 30 events .
Members of the party , the public and trade unions came to tell us what they thought .
We believe the answers to Labour ’ s problems , and indeed the country ’ s , lie with the people who make up our movement .
It is their life experience and their voices that give our party its lifeblood , and it is their words that make up the body of our report .
They certainly did not hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working-class heartlands did not start and end with the referendum on EU membership , but it is clear that the party ’ s handling of the issue poured fuel onto a fire already raging .
Brexit came up at every meeting .
For party members and trade unionists knocking doors day in and day out , it was the issue that provoked most anger in the electorate .
But it was not the only issue that people brought up .
Many mentioned the anger from residents about local Labour councils and their management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had lost touch with ordinary working people – indeed almost four in five of those we polled thought that Labour members were privileged and did not understand the day-to-day lives of those they represented .
Others mentioned the anger on the doors at the leadership , though this position was often bound together with the issue of Brexit .
They did not do so however without the stark observation that an element of people within our own party purposely sought to undermine a Labour victory for factional reasons .
These factors all combined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Labour .
Whilst it is clear that our policies were – and remain – popular , the electorate simply did not believe us when we said we would deliver them .
Trust is not something easily won and when it has been lost regaining it is extremely difficult .
To start that healing process , it is critical that when we get things wrong we acknowledge it and apologise .
By failing to do so , we do a disservice to those we aspire to represent .
Labour got it wrong on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Leave were treated with appalling contempt and those who voted to Remain were strung along for factional reasons .
That a party that describes itself as democratic on its membership cards found itself in opposition to the democratic process is something we should solemnly reflect on .
To begin the job of rebuilding the trust that has been lost and to restore people ’ s trust in politics and politicians , Labour should say sorry .
But we should not stop there .
The challenges ahead of us as a country are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the answer .
The road to an electoral majority runs through those held-back communities that have been moving away from us for a generation .
The Brexit vote showed their appetite for something different to a status quo that has failed them .
We need to be bold in our solutions to the scale of the problems we face .
The communities that gave birth to the Labour Party can never again be taken for granted .
The loss of trade union power and the bureaucratisation of the party has lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those elected to represent them and a dearth of working-class leaders in parliament .
We need to get back into working-class communities and organise from the grassroots up .
Labour must be steeped in these communities , offering and finding solutions , if we are to gain trust .
We need to develop local leaders so that the extraordinarily talented people from these communities who do not have the benefit of knowing the right people in the party bureaucracy can reach elected office and ensure their voices are heard .
Together we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divided Britain .
As the country buckles under the Covid pandemic , it is more important than ever that we give voice to the communities who feel every economic hit most vividly .
The launch of ‘ No Holding Back ’ will be streamed on Facebook from 7.30pm on November 12th .

On December 13th, following a tumultuous general election campaign, our worst fears were realised and communities that had been loyal to Labour for generations had fallen to the Tories. It gave us no pleasure whatsoever that a report we had worked on since the summer of that year was prescient in its accuracy as working-class communities woke up to see their new Tory representatives crowing. In the months following our defeat, we published our document Northern Discomfort – not to show that we were right, but to build for the future and to win once again. Because, let us be clear, we want Labour to win. Our country and our communities desperately need Labour to win.
As representatives of areas with proud industrial histories, and having seen government policies rip out their economic hearts, we have seen first hand the sense of desperation for something different. It has come as no surprise that these communities turned their back on the status quo. ‘No Holding Back’ was born and we began a digital tour of the country seeking to talk with, and most importantly listen to, as many people as possible. We spoke with more than 2,000 people at 30 events. Members of the party, the public and trade unions came to tell us what they thought.
We believe the answers to Labour’s problems, and indeed the country’s, lie with the people who make up our movement. It is their life experience and their voices that give our party its lifeblood, and it is their words that make up the body of our report. They certainly did not hold back. Labour’s problems in working-class heartlands did not start and end with the referendum on EU membership, but it is clear that the party’s handling of the issue poured fuel onto a fire already raging. Brexit came up at every meeting. For party members and trade unionists knocking doors day in and day out, it was the issue that provoked most anger in the electorate.
But it was not the only issue that people brought up. Many mentioned the anger from residents about local Labour councils and their management of Tory cuts. Others that Labour had lost touch with ordinary working people – indeed almost four in five of those we polled thought that Labour members were privileged and did not understand the day-to-day lives of those they represented. Others mentioned the anger on the doors at the leadership, though this position was often bound together with the issue of Brexit. They did not do so however without the stark observation that an element of people within our own party purposely sought to undermine a Labour victory for factional reasons.
These factors all combined to undermine the trust the electorate had in Labour. Whilst it is clear that our policies were – and remain – popular, the electorate simply did not believe us when we said we would deliver them. Trust is not something easily won and when it has been lost regaining it is extremely difficult. To start that healing process, it is critical that when we get things wrong we acknowledge it and apologise. By failing to do so, we do a disservice to those we aspire to represent.
Labour got it wrong on a second referendum. Those who voted to Leave were treated with appalling contempt and those who voted to Remain were strung along for factional reasons. That a party that describes itself as democratic on its membership cards found itself in opposition to the democratic process is something we should solemnly reflect on. To begin the job of rebuilding the trust that has been lost and to restore people’s trust in politics and politicians, Labour should say sorry. But we should not stop there. The challenges ahead of us as a country are monumental, and a return to timidity is not the answer.
The road to an electoral majority runs through those held-back communities that have been moving away from us for a generation. The Brexit vote showed their appetite for something different to a status quo that has failed them. We need to be bold in our solutions to the scale of the problems we face. The communities that gave birth to the Labour Party can never again be taken for granted. The loss of trade union power and the bureaucratisation of the party has lead to a divergence between the community and those elected to represent them and a dearth of working-class leaders in parliament.
We need to get back into working-class communities and organise from the grassroots up. Labour must be steeped in these communities, offering and finding solutions, if we are to gain trust. We need to develop local leaders so that the extraordinarily talented people from these communities who do not have the benefit of knowing the right people in the party bureaucracy can reach elected office and ensure their voices are heard. Together we can heal our party and heal a badly divided Britain. As the country buckles under the Covid pandemic, it is more important than ever that we give voice to the communities who feel every economic hit most vividly.
The launch of ‘No Holding Back’ will be streamed on Facebook from 7.30pm on November 12th.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Scottish Labour made a promise to women – and we should keep it

Scottish Labour is committed to having at least 50 % women in its Scottish parliamentary group and contributing to a minimum of 50 % women in the Scottish parliament .
The party voted to accomplish this by having a woman at the top of every list , and our leader Richard Leonard has a strong commitment to delivering just that .
But it has been suggested that , while a desire for at least 50-50 is all well and good , the practical mechanism to deliver a woman at the top of every list may run afoul of the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of equality law may be deployed to ensure the representation of that notoriously powerless neglected and underrepresented grouping – men .
The papers for Saturday ’ s Scottish executive committee meeting have been leaked to the Daily Record to undermine Richard Leonard .
These leaks are a continuation of the shambolic coup attempts that he has seen off time and time again .
Wider than this , though , it is a blatant power grab from those based in Keir Starmer ’ s London office against the Scottish Party .
The quote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s view is that having the top place on a majority of lists reserved for a woman would be unlikely to meet the test of proportionality and would therefore be unlawful ” .
Yet we have not been given sight of this QC ’ s opinion , only the outcomes of their interpretation , and it is just that – an interpretation .
Why is UK Labour withholding legal advice from the Scottish Party ?
The UK party does not stop at withholding legal advice and blocking the promotion of women within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Legal Unit quote states that promoting women would “ invite almost certain legal challenge and will not be something the national party could sanction in terms of supporting or paying to defend ” .
What is being suggested by the GLU is that democratically decided policy be overturned due to the possibility of a threat of legal action .
It is a decision for the Scottish Party to make – and we are confident that the party will be on the side of women and fairness in the face of threats from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the excuse for putting women to the back of the bus , that will need to be made public .
No attempt should be made to gloss over this move by arguing that it will help candidates with other protected characteristics such as race or disability .
Saying ‘ we are all for advancing women except where there is a “ more diverse ” man ’ isn ’ t a message about women ’ s equality – it ’ s the opposite .
Women exhibit all the varieties of human experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexism , obviously .
That ’ s what men , regardless of race , sexual orientation , disability , are immune to , and it ’ s one of the defining power gaps our society .
Don ’ t take my word for it : take a brief glimpse at Glasgow City Council pay policy ( and spare us the pleas for equality from those who kept silent during that monumental robbery of low-paid women ) , or our domestic abuse epidemic , or who gets murdered and who kills them .
Structural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-tier strand that can be ignored because of something that impacts on men .
Those discriminations that have an impact on men – all of them – impact on women , too .
Arguments that a woman can ’ t be at the top of every list because we also need to combat , say , racism or homophobia would only have validity in a world without women of colour , or lesbians , or where only men are living with disability .
Labour made a promise to women .
It was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from women from equal representation in parliament .
We should keep that promise .

Scottish Labour is committed to having at least 50% women in its Scottish parliamentary group and contributing to a minimum of 50% women in the Scottish parliament. The party voted to accomplish this by having a woman at the top of every list, and our leader Richard Leonard has a strong commitment to delivering just that.
But it has been suggested that, while a desire for at least 50-50 is all well and good, the practical mechanism to deliver a woman at the top of every list may run afoul of the law. It seems that a certain interpretation of equality law may be deployed to ensure the representation of that notoriously powerless neglected and underrepresented grouping – men.
The papers for Saturday’s Scottish executive committee meeting have been leaked to the Daily Record to undermine Richard Leonard. These leaks are a continuation of the shambolic coup attempts that he has seen off time and time again. Wider than this, though, it is a blatant power grab from those based in Keir Starmer’s London office against the Scottish Party.
The quote in the Record states that “our QC’s view is that having the top place on a majority of lists reserved for a woman would be unlikely to meet the test of proportionality and would therefore be unlawful”. Yet we have not been given sight of this QC’s opinion, only the outcomes of their interpretation, and it is just that – an interpretation. Why is UK Labour withholding legal advice from the Scottish Party?
The UK party does not stop at withholding legal advice and blocking the promotion of women within the Scottish Labour Party. The Governance and Legal Unit quote states that promoting women would “invite almost certain legal challenge and will not be something the national party could sanction in terms of supporting or paying to defend”.
What is being suggested by the GLU is that democratically decided policy be overturned due to the possibility of a threat of legal action. It is a decision for the Scottish Party to make – and we are confident that the party will be on the side of women and fairness in the face of threats from lawfare.
If this legal advice is to be the excuse for putting women to the back of the bus, that will need to be made public. No attempt should be made to gloss over this move by arguing that it will help candidates with other protected characteristics such as race or disability. Saying ‘we are all for advancing women except where there is a “more diverse” man’ isn’t a message about women’s equality – it’s the opposite.
Women exhibit all the varieties of human experience and disadvantage that men do – except sexism, obviously. That’s what men, regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, are immune to, and it’s one of the defining power gaps our society. Don’t take my word for it: take a brief glimpse at Glasgow City Council pay policy (and spare us the pleas for equality from those who kept silent during that monumental robbery of low-paid women), or our domestic abuse epidemic, or who gets murdered and who kills them. Structural misogyny isn’t some sort of second-tier strand that can be ignored because of something that impacts on men.
Those discriminations that have an impact on men – all of them – impact on women, too. Arguments that a woman can’t be at the top of every list because we also need to combat, say, racism or homophobia would only have validity in a world without women of colour, or lesbians, or where only men are living with disability.
Labour made a promise to women. It was a promise that we end a historic exclusion from women from equal representation in parliament. We should keep that promise.


labourlist--2020-11-13--We need a green new deal – not Johnson’s climate change tokenism

It has been only days since the US election results were declared , but already Boris Johnson looks like a lonelier figure on the world stage .
How he is Britain ’ s version of Donald Trump does not need repeating , but now Joe Biden has taken the reins , Johnson is left scrambling to prove that he and Biden do , in fact , share values .
While toning down its no-deal Brexit rhetoric , the government is trying to pose as an administration dedicated to tackling climate change – though it was not long ago that Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ crusties ” .
The Prime Minister sees action on the environment through the lens of wooing Biden and increasing Britain ’ s global influence , as well as keeping up with public opinion and ensuring that Labour does not have authority over the issue .
Yet actions speak louder than words , and the UK is falling behind on all measures to meet its 2050 net zero target .
According to research by think tank IPPR , the government has committed to investing just 12 % of what is needed over this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions target .
So far only £4bn a year has been pledged from a needed £33bn , compared to £36bn for Germany and £27bn in France .
For context , the UK government has dedicated £27bn to go on roads .
Sunak stated that the government ’ s green package would reduce 0.5 million tonnes of CO2 , but even if correct , this would account for just 0.14 % of the UK ’ s carbon emissions .
The record of Conservative ministers is steeped in climate change denial .
Appointing Tony Abbott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key role for next year ’ s COP26 conference to a pro-fracking Tory MP , and hosting 150 meetings with fossil fuel companies over just a few months does not fill one with confidence .
The government have recently announced green proposals , including expanding offshore wind power , funding for home insulation , and Sunak ’ s recent statement on sovereign green bonds to help fund the transition to net zero emissions .
But these fall way short of what is needed .
James Meadway has set out how , unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Tory approach to addressing the climate crisis will be capitalism with a green tinge .
Market opportunities beckon : green enterprise free zones , e-cars , e-scooters , wind turbine production and emissions trading .
The benefits of renewable energy will go to major corporations , as before , and meaningful policies will not be brought forward to tackle the crisis in a way that does not leave people behind .
As illustrated by the pandemic , we should not underestimate the ability of neoliberal forces ( and their gatekeepers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a crisis of its own making .
In contrast , Labour has unveiled a green recovery plan , which involves bringing forward £30bn of spending over the next 18 months to create 400,000 new green jobs in response to the pandemic and climate emergency .
This is very welcome and poses a genuine alternative , but it can still go further .
According to Labour for a Green New Deal , neglected policies from the 2019 manifesto include the £60bn ‘ Warm Homes for All ’ scheme , and with it 250,000 jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadband .
They also note that there is no mention of public ownership or a just transition for workers , which ought to be crucial aspects of a green recovery .
Labour ’ s green recovery plan may well be swept aside by media coverage of the government ’ s ten-point plan on climate change , which is expected shortly .
It is up to Labour to call this out for the tokenism that it is , while showing that the opposition party has solutions with the potential to benefit both the climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
A green new deal offers a way forward to protect the planet , deepen democracy and redistribute wealth .
According to the theory of historical institutionalism , there is an increased number of options available to political actors during critical junctures – and this is when choices have a more enduring impact .
These moments offer a window of chance for extraordinary change to arise .
Covid-19 is a critical juncture .
And with the climate clock ticking , the time is now for leaders to be bold .
Following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conservatives to shape the narrative .
This can not happen again .

It has been only days since the US election results were declared, but already Boris Johnson looks like a lonelier figure on the world stage. How he is Britain’s version of Donald Trump does not need repeating, but now Joe Biden has taken the reins, Johnson is left scrambling to prove that he and Biden do, in fact, share values.
While toning down its no-deal Brexit rhetoric, the government is trying to pose as an administration dedicated to tackling climate change – though it was not long ago that Johnson was referring to Extinction Rebellion activists as “crusties”. The Prime Minister sees action on the environment through the lens of wooing Biden and increasing Britain’s global influence, as well as keeping up with public opinion and ensuring that Labour does not have authority over the issue. Yet actions speak louder than words, and the UK is falling behind on all measures to meet its 2050 net zero target.
According to research by think tank IPPR, the government has committed to investing just 12% of what is needed over this parliament to meet its 2050 net zero emissions target. So far only £4bn a year has been pledged from a needed £33bn, compared to £36bn for Germany and £27bn in France. For context, the UK government has dedicated £27bn to go on roads. Sunak stated that the government’s green package would reduce 0.5 million tonnes of CO2, but even if correct, this would account for just 0.14% of the UK’s carbon emissions.
The record of Conservative ministers is steeped in climate change denial. Appointing Tony Abbott as a key trade advisor, handing a key role for next year’s COP26 conference to a pro-fracking Tory MP, and hosting 150 meetings with fossil fuel companies over just a few months does not fill one with confidence. The government have recently announced green proposals, including expanding offshore wind power, funding for home insulation, and Sunak’s recent statement on sovereign green bonds to help fund the transition to net zero emissions. But these fall way short of what is needed.
James Meadway has set out how, unlike a state-led response to the climate crisis, a Tory approach to addressing the climate crisis will be capitalism with a green tinge. Market opportunities beckon: green enterprise free zones, e-cars, e-scooters, wind turbine production and emissions trading. The benefits of renewable energy will go to major corporations, as before, and meaningful policies will not be brought forward to tackle the crisis in a way that does not leave people behind. As illustrated by the pandemic, we should not underestimate the ability of neoliberal forces (and their gatekeepers in the Tory party) to profit from a crisis of its own making.
In contrast, Labour has unveiled a green recovery plan, which involves bringing forward £30bn of spending over the next 18 months to create 400,000 new green jobs in response to the pandemic and climate emergency. This is very welcome and poses a genuine alternative, but it can still go further. According to Labour for a Green New Deal, neglected policies from the 2019 manifesto include the £60bn ‘Warm Homes for All’ scheme, and with it 250,000 jobs, a National Care Service and universal broadband. They also note that there is no mention of public ownership or a just transition for workers, which ought to be crucial aspects of a green recovery.
Labour’s green recovery plan may well be swept aside by media coverage of the government’s ten-point plan on climate change, which is expected shortly. It is up to Labour to call this out for the tokenism that it is, while showing that the opposition party has solutions with the potential to benefit both the climate and the lives of working people across the country. A green new deal offers a way forward to protect the planet, deepen democracy and redistribute wealth.
According to the theory of historical institutionalism, there is an increased number of options available to political actors during critical junctures – and this is when choices have a more enduring impact. These moments offer a window of chance for extraordinary change to arise. Covid-19 is a critical juncture. And with the climate clock ticking, the time is now for leaders to be bold. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Labour allowed the Conservatives to shape the narrative. This cannot happen again.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Cummings is going, party members are suspended and we await NEC results

The news is once again dominated by No 10 drama as Dominic Cummings has confirmed on the record that he will leave Downing Street by Christmas .
It is regarded as a welcome gift by many Tory MPs .
While he was clearly an effective campaigner for Leave and the Conservatives in December , Cummings wreaked havoc in government .
He is credited with the new lateral flow tests that offer much hope in the Covid crisis , but the new Sonia Khan pay out resulting from his sacking of the adviser is just one example of the acrimonious operation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course we will not quickly forget how Cummings undermined public trust and health by breaking the rules during a pandemic and subsequently telling ridiculous lies in an entirely inappropriate press conference .
But our focus is on Labour , and we have plenty to cover .
We reported yesterday on members being threatened by the party with investigation as a result of considering motions on Jeremy Corbyn ’ s suspension .
Bristol West Labour did hold that meeting , but believes that it was carried out in accordance with the rules because the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no debate was permitted ( it was simply voted on and passed ) .
Yet general secretary David Evans had warned that the party would “ not hesitate to take appropriate action – including against individual members ” , and this has been followed through .
LabourList understands that the local chair and co-secretary have now been suspended , as well as several other members for tweeting that the regional director should be sacked .
The former leader ’ s suspension was just one of the many topics discussed in my interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full – and it ’ s an interesting read , if I do say so myself .
The co-founder and ex-chair of Momentum expressed regret about factionalism both past and continuing on Labour ’ s ruling body , which he is leaving this week , and regret about the bid to scrap Tom Watson ’ s post , though not the successful Labour Students one .
He also shares thoughts on Labour antisemitism , expressing frustration at “ the level of denial ” in the party , and disagrees with both Corbyn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspension .
You can read all this , plus his reflections on Rebecca Long-Bailey ’ s campaign , the future of the left and more , here .
Lansman is worried about the outcome of the Labour NEC elections .
Will his assessment of the left ’ s strategy be proved right ?
The voting system change implemented under Keir Starmer will make it difficult to compare the results being released today to previous ‘ winner-takes-all ’ years in the members ’ section , but interesting to analyse .
The reform guarantees a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reps , which ensures there will be no ‘ [ Labour to Win or Momentum ] sweeps the board ’ headline .
Yet there are things to look out for : whether the trade union picks for youth and disabled reps will be overturned by members , and how many candidates each slate gets in the members ’ section .
Can the soft left win more than Ann Black ?
Will the left-right balance be equal or tilted in one side ’ s favour ?
Read my explainer , and keep an eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results later .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

The news is once again dominated by No 10 drama as Dominic Cummings has confirmed on the record that he will leave Downing Street by Christmas. It is regarded as a welcome gift by many Tory MPs. While he was clearly an effective campaigner for Leave and the Conservatives in December, Cummings wreaked havoc in government. He is credited with the new lateral flow tests that offer much hope in the Covid crisis, but the new Sonia Khan pay out resulting from his sacking of the adviser is just one example of the acrimonious operation run under his watch. And of course we will not quickly forget how Cummings undermined public trust and health by breaking the rules during a pandemic and subsequently telling ridiculous lies in an entirely inappropriate press conference.
But our focus is on Labour, and we have plenty to cover. We reported yesterday on members being threatened by the party with investigation as a result of considering motions on Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension. Bristol West Labour did hold that meeting, but believes that it was carried out in accordance with the rules because the motion made no reference to confidential information and no debate was permitted (it was simply voted on and passed). Yet general secretary David Evans had warned that the party would “not hesitate to take appropriate action – including against individual members”, and this has been followed through. LabourList understands that the local chair and co-secretary have now been suspended, as well as several other members for tweeting that the regional director should be sacked.
The former leader’s suspension was just one of the many topics discussed in my interview with Jon Lansman, now published in full – and it’s an interesting read, if I do say so myself. The co-founder and ex-chair of Momentum expressed regret about factionalism both past and continuing on Labour’s ruling body, which he is leaving this week, and regret about the bid to scrap Tom Watson’s post, though not the successful Labour Students one. He also shares thoughts on Labour antisemitism, expressing frustration at “the level of denial” in the party, and disagrees with both Corbyn’s reaction to the report and his suspension. You can read all this, plus his reflections on Rebecca Long-Bailey’s campaign, the future of the left and more, here.
Lansman is worried about the outcome of the Labour NEC elections. Will his assessment of the left’s strategy be proved right? The voting system change implemented under Keir Starmer will make it difficult to compare the results being released today to previous ‘winner-takes-all’ years in the members’ section, but interesting to analyse. The reform guarantees a factional mix among the nine local party reps, which ensures there will be no ‘[Labour to Win or Momentum] sweeps the board’ headline. Yet there are things to look out for: whether the trade union picks for youth and disabled reps will be overturned by members, and how many candidates each slate gets in the members’ section. Can the soft left win more than Ann Black? Will the left-right balance be equal or tilted in one side’s favour? Read my explainer, and keep an eye on LabourList for news of the final results later. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Labour is rebuilding trust with our veterans and armed forces personnel

Despite the ongoing challenges of a global pandemic , this week the Labour Party has remembered those who faced an even greater threat .
Keir Starmer represented our party at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday and , across the country , Labour MPs were in their constituencies undertaking social distanced ceremonies to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice .
Yet , whilst we remember the fallen , Labour must also begin to build an agenda to support our armed forces today .
For all the poppies purchased and tweets of support , the way our armed personnel are treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving our country in the military to returning to civilian life too often leads to immense hardship .
Figures show that unemployment amongst ex-service personnel is twice the national average .
A member of the armed forces is more likely to be homeless or in prison .
Alcoholism disproportionately impacts veterans and their families .
The psychological harm that can be caused from action is real : male soldiers under 30 are three times more likely to be convicted of violent offences than their civilian counterparts .
There are particularly shocking examples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – such as Taitusi Raticaucau , a Commonwealth veteran who fought for our country with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan but faces a £30,000 bill for an NHS operation due to our arcane and ridiculous immigration laws .
Labour is not trusted by many of our veterans , however .
As John Healey , Shadow Defence Secretary , told LabourList this week , the “ toughest doors to knock at the last election were those with Help for Heroes or British Legion stickers in the windows ” .
This is a remarkably troubling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service that seeks to offer protection for the most vulnerable .
Whilst Labour has been prominent over the last decade in calling for better conditions for frontline workers in schools and hospitals , there has sometimes been a reluctance to talk about the problems facing our armed forces – when in service or as civilians .
As Stephen Morgan MP and Sarah Church have pointed out in a LabourList piece , our armed forces have been at the frontline of our response to Covid-19 , such as in the construction of Nightingale Hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clapped for them , too , each Thursday night during the first lockdown – and that should be recognised in our agenda .
Under Keir Starmer and John Healey , our approach has been different .
Healey has relaunched Labour Friends of the Forces to reach out and listen to those men and women who are or have served their country .
He told LabourList that there is to be a call for evidence over the coming months to analyse and better understand how to ensure veterans are supported .
Listening is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s relationship with our armed forces and defence is of profound political importance .
Polls show that on defence and security , Labour was simply not trusted under the last leadership .
Even some of Jeremy Corbyn ’ s most senior acolytes accept that his response to the Salisbury attack was a critical moment in losing the election .
And the Tories understand this .
It is why they will attempt to find means to paint Labour as a party weak on security and defence .
A perfect example is the overseas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill .
The bill ’ s aim , to prevent vexatious litigation against our armed personnel , appears welcome : there is a problem with cases dragging veterans through the courts for years with scant evidence of any wrongdoing , and this must be prevented .
Yet the bill uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut , and ends up harming our forces ’ rights and our country ’ s global reputation .
The bill has two central aspects .
Firstly , it heightens the threshold by which a prosecution of a current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offences committed on duty , essentially providing immunity in many circumstances .
Secondly , it bars any claim for personal injury or death after six years .
As ex-British Army major Dan Jarvis MP has argued , the statutory presumption and time bar will be “ harmful to Britain ’ s standing in the world and to the reputation of our armed forces ” .
It may also be unlawful , in breach of our international obligations ( the UN Convention against Torture , the Geneva Conventions and the Rome statute ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is difficult to see how the bill aligns with the right to freedom from torture , or inhumane treatment , for example , as it would make it far harder – and in some circumstances impossible – to prosecute the use of torture in our courts .
Further , in the words of Charles Byrne , the director general of the Royal British Legion , this is a bill that is “ protecting the Ministry of Defence , rather than the service personnel ” .
The second aspect of the bill – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans bringing claims against the Ministry of Defence for compensation if they have suffered injuries or worse as a result of negligent treatment in combat or in training .
For example , those who have been hurt due to ‘ friendly fire ’ due to the inadequacies of technology may be prevented from accessing justice .
In fact , vexatious litigation can be stifled by more thorough investigations , better information processing , further training , as well as modest procedural reforms .
One can not help but think that the government decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their excitable veterans ’ minister Johnny Mercer – for political reasons , as an attempt to divide and portray Labour as weak .
Actually , by mature opposition , offering serious scrutiny , opposing for good reason and not point-scoring , Labour has emerged as the voice for our armed forces , on this particular issue at least .
There is a test for the Labour Party .
At the next election , when we see a Help for Heroes logo on a front door , or a poppy sticker in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or dread the reaction we might receive ?
There is a long way to go , but Keir Starmer and John Healey have begun the process of regaining trust with our veterans and armed services personnel .

Despite the ongoing challenges of a global pandemic, this week the Labour Party has remembered those who faced an even greater threat. Keir Starmer represented our party at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday and, across the country, Labour MPs were in their constituencies undertaking social distanced ceremonies to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Yet, whilst we remember the fallen, Labour must also begin to build an agenda to support our armed forces today.
For all the poppies purchased and tweets of support, the way our armed personnel are treated remains a disgrace. The transition from serving our country in the military to returning to civilian life too often leads to immense hardship. Figures show that unemployment amongst ex-service personnel is twice the national average. A member of the armed forces is more likely to be homeless or in prison. Alcoholism disproportionately impacts veterans and their families.
The psychological harm that can be caused from action is real: male soldiers under 30 are three times more likely to be convicted of violent offences than their civilian counterparts. There are particularly shocking examples of ex-service men and women who are forgotten – such as Taitusi Raticaucau, a Commonwealth veteran who fought for our country with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan but faces a £30,000 bill for an NHS operation due to our arcane and ridiculous immigration laws.
Labour is not trusted by many of our veterans, however. As John Healey, Shadow Defence Secretary, told LabourList this week, the “toughest doors to knock at the last election were those with Help for Heroes or British Legion stickers in the windows”. This is a remarkably troubling position for a patriotic party of public service that seeks to offer protection for the most vulnerable.
Whilst Labour has been prominent over the last decade in calling for better conditions for frontline workers in schools and hospitals, there has sometimes been a reluctance to talk about the problems facing our armed forces – when in service or as civilians. As Stephen Morgan MP and Sarah Church have pointed out in a LabourList piece, our armed forces have been at the frontline of our response to Covid-19, such as in the construction of Nightingale Hospitals or the distribution of tests. We clapped for them, too, each Thursday night during the first lockdown – and that should be recognised in our agenda.
Under Keir Starmer and John Healey, our approach has been different. Healey has relaunched Labour Friends of the Forces to reach out and listen to those men and women who are or have served their country. He told LabourList that there is to be a call for evidence over the coming months to analyse and better understand how to ensure veterans are supported. Listening is the starting point to regain trust.
Labour’s relationship with our armed forces and defence is of profound political importance. Polls show that on defence and security, Labour was simply not trusted under the last leadership. Even some of Jeremy Corbyn’s most senior acolytes accept that his response to the Salisbury attack was a critical moment in losing the election.
And the Tories understand this. It is why they will attempt to find means to paint Labour as a party weak on security and defence. A perfect example is the overseas operation (services personnel and veterans) bill. The bill’s aim, to prevent vexatious litigation against our armed personnel, appears welcome: there is a problem with cases dragging veterans through the courts for years with scant evidence of any wrongdoing, and this must be prevented.
Yet the bill uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and ends up harming our forces’ rights and our country’s global reputation. The bill has two central aspects. Firstly, it heightens the threshold by which a prosecution of a current or former armed forces personnel for alleged offences committed on duty, essentially providing immunity in many circumstances. Secondly, it bars any claim for personal injury or death after six years.
As ex-British Army major Dan Jarvis MP has argued, the statutory presumption and time bar will be “harmful to Britain’s standing in the world and to the reputation of our armed forces”. It may also be unlawful, in breach of our international obligations (the UN Convention against Torture, the Geneva Conventions and the Rome statute) and the European Convention of Human Rights. It is difficult to see how the bill aligns with the right to freedom from torture, or inhumane treatment, for example, as it would make it far harder – and in some circumstances impossible – to prosecute the use of torture in our courts.
Further, in the words of Charles Byrne, the director general of the Royal British Legion, this is a bill that is “protecting the Ministry of Defence, rather than the service personnel”. The second aspect of the bill – the extension of limitation – will prevent veterans bringing claims against the Ministry of Defence for compensation if they have suffered injuries or worse as a result of negligent treatment in combat or in training. For example, those who have been hurt due to ‘friendly fire’ due to the inadequacies of technology may be prevented from accessing justice.
In fact, vexatious litigation can be stifled by more thorough investigations, better information processing, further training, as well as modest procedural reforms. One cannot help but think that the government decided upon an unhelpfully radical proposal – driven by their excitable veterans’ minister Johnny Mercer – for political reasons, as an attempt to divide and portray Labour as weak. Actually, by mature opposition, offering serious scrutiny, opposing for good reason and not point-scoring, Labour has emerged as the voice for our armed forces, on this particular issue at least.
There is a test for the Labour Party. At the next election, when we see a Help for Heroes logo on a front door, or a poppy sticker in a window, will we knock with hope or dread the reaction we might receive? There is a long way to go, but Keir Starmer and John Healey have begun the process of regaining trust with our veterans and armed services personnel.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Labour national executive committee election results released

The results of Labour ’ s internal elections for the national executive committee and Young Labour national committee have been released , with the Labour left losing two member reps but performing better than expected .
Labour leader Keir Starmer now has a stronger majority on the NEC , as he is expected to benefit from the election of three candidates who stood on the pro-leadership ‘ Labour to Win ’ platform in the members ’ section .
The UK leadership can also be pleased that former Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones won the Welsh rep post .
While incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not vote for the leader ’ s general secretary pick .
But the Labour left ’ s ‘ Grassroots Voice ’ slate managed to secure five local party representative seats , plus both the youth representative and disabled representative posts , with Lara McNeill and Ellen Morrison winning .
Full breakdown of results available here , here and here The elections have seen Johanna Baxter , Gurinder Singh Josan , Yasmine Dar return to the NEC , while also adding ex-MP Laura Pidcock , former NEC members Luke Akehurst and Ann Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Results in the local party representative section of Labour ’ s NEC were shaped by the adoption of a new electoral system , after the body chose earlier this year to switch from first-past-the-post to single transferable vote .
The internal reform saw members rank candidates in order of preference , which organisations such as Open Labour advocated on the basis that it would prevent “ hyper-factionalism ” and “ one-slate-takes-all ” results .
The final set of Labour NEC results for the local party section have delivered a mixed factional outcome as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely expected to be on course to win three or four seats rather than five .
The left faction has also surprised some by winning the new disabled rep post , which is chosen via an electoral college .
Morrison had received less trade union support going into the final membership vote than her rival .
With neither Open Labour-backed Jermain Jackman nor Labour to Win ’ s Terry Paul elected this year , Labour ’ s ruling body has still never had a Black male representation – as revealed by The 1987 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy in recent days over eligibility in the elections , after Labour ’ s ballots team told candidates that the votes of resigned members would only count if they cast their ballots before quitting the party .
Some on the party ’ s left argued that the bid to discount votes – without clarifying that the process would work in this way before balloting – was an effort to suppress Starmersceptic voices , though this was rejected by sources close to the leadership .
Commenting on the results , Momentum ’ s Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the left demonstrates that a significant majority of members want Labour to back a transformative , socialist programme – and it is this majority that will shape the future direction of the party.
” Labour First secretary and Labour to Win co-founder Luke Akehurst , who served on the NEC between 2010 and 2012 for a two-year term , tweeted simply : “ As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted in 2012… ” Below are the NEC and Young Labour results in full .

Keir Starmer has increased the strength of support for his leadership on the Labour Party’s core ruling body following the release of fresh internal election results giving rise to a new national executive committee.
The UK Labour leader now has a more solid majority on the NEC, as he is expected to benefit from the election of three candidates who stood on the pro-leadership ‘Labour to Win’ platform in the members’ section.
The pro-Starmer wing can also be pleased that former Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones won the Welsh rep post. While incumbent Mick Antoniw was not anti-Starmer, he did not vote for the leader’s general secretary pick earlier this year.
But the Labour left’s ‘Grassroots Voice’ slate did better than expected by securing five local party representative seats, plus both the youth and disabled representative posts, with Lara McNeill and Ellen Morrison winning.
Full breakdown of results available here, here and here
The elections have seen Johanna Baxter, Gurinder Singh Josan, Yasmine Dar return to the NEC, while also adding ex-MP Laura Pidcock, former NEC members Luke Akehurst and Ann Black, and three new left representatives.
Results in the local party representative section of Labour’s NEC were shaped by the adoption of a new electoral system, after the body chose earlier this year to switch from first-past-the-post to single transferable vote.
The internal reform saw members rank candidates in order of preference, which organisations such as Open Labour advocated on the basis that it would prevent “hyper-factionalism” and “one-slate-takes-all” results.
The final set of Labour NEC results for the local party section have delivered a mixed factional outcome as predicted – though the Labour left was widely expected to be on course to win three or four seats rather than five.
The left faction has also surprised some by winning the new disabled rep post, which is chosen via an electoral college. Morrison had received less trade union support going into the final membership vote than her rival.
With neither Open Labour-backed Jermain Jackman nor Labour to Win’s Terry Paul elected this year, Labour’s ruling body has still never had a Black male representation – as revealed by The 1987 Caucus in July.
There has been controversy in recent days over eligibility in the elections, after Labour’s ballots team told candidates that the votes of resigned members would only count if they cast their ballots before quitting the party.
Some on the party’s left argued that the bid to discount votes – without clarifying that the process would work this way before balloting – was an effort to suppress Starmersceptic voices, though this was rejected by sources close to the leadership.
Commenting on the results, Momentum’s Andrew Scattergood said: “This major victory for the left demonstrates that a significant majority of members want Labour to back a transformative, socialist programme – and it is this majority that will shape the future direction of the party.”
Labour First secretary and Labour to Win co-founder Luke Akehurst, who served on the NEC between 2010 and 2012 for a two-year term, tweeted simply: “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted in 2012…”
Below are the NEC and Young Labour results in full.
National Executive Committee
NEC CLP Section (in order of election)
AKEHURST, Luke
PIDCOCK, Laura
BAXTER, Johanna
BOLTON, Gemma
JOSAN, Gurinder Singh
BLACK, Ann
DAR, Yasmine
JAMA, Nadia
RAHMAN, Mish
NEC Disabled Members Representative
MORRISON, Ellen
NEC Youth Member Representative
MCNEILL, Lara
NEC Local Governance Section
PERRY, Alice
FORBES, Nick
Treasurer
HOLLAND, Diana
NEC Welsh Labour Representative
JONES, Carwyn
Young Labour National Committee
Chair of Young Labour
BARNARD, Jessica
East of England Representative
JEZZARD, Shannon
London Representative
SHAH, Henna
North Representative
SLOMSKI, Connor
North West Representative
SUHAIL, Mohammad
South East Representative
GHOLAMI-BABAAHADY, Nekisa
South West Representative
CARTER, Daisy
Wales Representative
DUNNE, Jack
West Midlands Representative
ZAMAN, Nazifa
Yorkshire & Humber Representative
MALONEY, Annie
Scotland Representative
GREENWOOD, Elsie
Student Representatives
MOWLANA, Nabeela
TRACEY-RAMOS, Micaela
AMOS, Fraser
Under 18s Representative
PATEL, Hasan
International Representative
CAMPBELL, Lamar


labourlist--2020-11-13--WATCH: Live analysis of Labour NEC election results

At 7pm on Friday , November 13th , we hold our latest online event featuring LabourList editor Sienna Rodgers , @ @ @ @ @ former party adviser Ayesha Hazarika and internal elections expert Charlie Mansell .
Our panel analyses @ @ @ @ @ ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) elections being released by the party this @ @ @ @ @ might mean for Keir Starmer and various factional groups .
Send your questions about the @ @ @ @ @ ] or LabourList on Twitter , either in advance or during the broadcast .
This @ @ @ @ @ show the livestream below when the event starts .

At 7pm on Friday, November 13th, we hold our latest online event featuring LabourList editor Sienna Rodgers, Labour activist James McAsh, former party adviser Ayesha Hazarika and internal elections expert Charlie Mansell.
Our panel analyses the fresh results of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) elections being released by the party this afternoon and discusses what they might mean for Keir Starmer and various factional groups.
Send your questions about the results to [email protected] or LabourList on Twitter, either in advance or during the broadcast. This page will refresh automatically to show the livestream below when the event starts.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Labour concerned by “very alarming” data on Covid rise among prisoners

Labour ’ s David Lammy has expressed concern over “ very alarming ” figures showing that the number of prisoners in England and Wales who have tested positive for coronavirus more than doubled in the month of October .
Official statistics published by the Ministry of Justice today show that 1,529 prisoners or children across 99 establishments have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic , including in 45 settings last month .
The document reveals that the number of new monthly confirmed cases increased by 883 from October to September – and five deaths of prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first deaths since June earlier this year .
A total of 55 prisoners , children in custody and probation service users have died during the pandemic having tested positive for Covid-19 or where there was a clinical assessment that it was a contributory factor in their deaths .
Reacting to the data , Labour ’ s Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy said : “ These figures are very alarming .
Rapidly rising coronavirus infections in prisons reflect the government ’ s wider failure to get control of the virus.
” Warning of potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a grip of the crisis , he added : “ The lives of staff and inmates are at risk if these outbreaks are not controlled , and there is also a risk of transmission to the wider community .
“ The Ministry of Justice should prioritise meeting its own targets to increase headroom across the prison estate .
In addition , the government must urgently use the national lockdown to introduce an effective test , track and trace system across the country.
” Measures were introduced early in the pandemic to ease pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-risk offenders near the end of their custodial sentence and some risk-assessed vulnerable prisoners such as pregnant women .
But the scheme was paused in August , according to the Ministry of Justice , and such data is therefore no longer reported .
The total number of prisoners released in this way was 316 , including 54 ‘ compassionate releases ’ .
Labour warned last week of a “ damaging ” and “ dangerous ” situation in English prisons as the government has continued to implement Covid restrictions that leave many prisoners stuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
Restrictions include a ban on social visits for adult prisoners in England as well as a continuation of previous measures introduced in March , which saw many inmates confined to their cells for almost the entire day .
Commenting on the rules , Lammy said : “ Locking prisoners in their cells for 23 hours per day for many months , without access to rehabilitation or family visits , is not only damaging for mental health , it is dangerous .
“ The less opportunity prisoners get to turn their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will re-offend when they are let out .
The government must learn from its mistakes by using the extra time the second lockdown buys to finally get control of the pandemic.
” The strict regime of restrictions enforced in prisons from March reduced the time that prisoners could spend outside their cells to around 30 minutes a day , suspended prison transfers and required new arrivals to quarantine for 14 days .
The chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales warned last month , before the announcement of the new lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to solitary confinement was causing “ irreparable damage ” to their mental health .

Labour’s David Lammy has expressed concern over “very alarming” figures showing that the number of prisoners in England and Wales who have tested positive for coronavirus more than doubled in the month of October.
Official statistics published by the Ministry of Justice today show that 1,529 prisoners or children across 99 establishments have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, including in 45 settings last month.
The document reveals that the number of new monthly confirmed cases increased by 883 from October to September – and five deaths of prisoners occurred last month, which constitute the first deaths since June earlier this year.
A total of 55 prisoners, children in custody and probation service users have died during the pandemic having tested positive for Covid-19 or where there was a clinical assessment that it was a contributory factor in their deaths.
Reacting to the data, Labour’s Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy said: “These figures are very alarming. Rapidly rising coronavirus infections in prisons reflect the government’s wider failure to get control of the virus.”
Warning of potential consequences if the government does not get a grip of the crisis, he added: “The lives of staff and inmates are at risk if these outbreaks are not controlled, and there is also a risk of transmission to the wider community.
“The Ministry of Justice should prioritise meeting its own targets to increase headroom across the prison estate. In addition, the government must urgently use the national lockdown to introduce an effective test, track and trace system across the country.”
Measures were introduced early in the pandemic to ease pressure on prisons by releasing a number of low-risk offenders near the end of their custodial sentence and some risk-assessed vulnerable prisoners such as pregnant women.
But the scheme was paused in August, according to the Ministry of Justice, and such data is therefore no longer reported. The total number of prisoners released in this way was 316, including 54 ‘compassionate releases’.
Labour warned last week of a “damaging” and “dangerous” situation in English prisons as the government has continued to implement Covid restrictions that leave many prisoners stuck in their cells for 23 hours a day.
Restrictions include a ban on social visits for adult prisoners in England as well as a continuation of previous measures introduced in March, which saw many inmates confined to their cells for almost the entire day.
Commenting on the rules, Lammy said: “Locking prisoners in their cells for 23 hours per day for many months, without access to rehabilitation or family visits, is not only damaging for mental health, it is dangerous.
“The less opportunity prisoners get to turn their lives around inside, the more likely they will re-offend when they are let out. The government must learn from its mistakes by using the extra time the second lockdown buys to finally get control of the pandemic.”
The strict regime of restrictions enforced in prisons from March reduced the time that prisoners could spend outside their cells to around 30 minutes a day, suspended prison transfers and required new arrivals to quarantine for 14 days.
The chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales warned last month, before the announcement of the new lockdown, that locking up prisoners in what amounts to solitary confinement was causing “irreparable damage” to their mental health.


labourlist--2020-11-14--Labour urged to tackle Islamophobia within party by new report

The Labour Party has been urged to tackle Islamophobia within its own ranks following a new report put together and released by the Labour Muslim Network to mark Islamophobia Awareness Month in November .
The largest ever consultation of Muslim members and supporters of Labour has found that more than one in four – 29 % – have directly experienced Islamophobia in the party , while over one in three have directly witnessed it .
44 % of those consulted reported that they did not believe the party takes the issue of Islamophobia seriously , and 48 % said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with Islamophobia effectively via its complaints process .
The results also show that 46 % of Muslim members and supporters surveyed disagreed with the statement “ I believe the Labour Party represents the Muslim community effectively ” , compared to 29 % who agreed with the view .
A majority of 59 % of Muslim members and supporters consulted said they did not feel “ well represented by the leadership of the Labour Party ” , while 55 % revealed that they did not trust the leadership to tackle Islamophobia effectively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ who participated in the survey – 56 % – told the Labour Muslim Network they did not feel that “ the shadow cabinet team ” put together by Keir Starmer “ represents the Muslim community effectively ” .
Commenting on the publication of the “ deeply concerning ” report , the Labour Muslim Network said the results were “ a stark reminder ” that the party “ must tackle the issue of Islamophobia in our midst , and in wider society with serious commitment and action ” .
The group added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the right time for comprehensive action on the issue of racism experienced by Muslim members and supporters of the Labour Party , including by taking immediate steps to begin implementing the recommendations of the report .
“ We are confident that we can work with the Labour Party and all key stakeholders to move forward in rooting out Islamophobia from our party and society as a whole.
” Afzal Khan , who became the LMN ’ s new parliamentary chair this year , said : “ Whilst the Labour Party has enjoyed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades , we can not take their support for granted.
” The Labour MP for Manchester Gorton and shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons has since noted that he is “ pleased ” Starmer has committed to implement all recommendations made in the report , which include the following : • A “ public commitment ” from the leadership to equality for Muslims • Developing “ comprehensive ” Islamophobia training with LMN , the Muslim Council of Britain and other Muslim organisations • Conducting an equality impact assessment on all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the all-party parliamentary group definition of Islamophobia by all Labour-run councils , groups and local parties • Establishing a code of conduct around Islamophobia setting out specific “ behaviours , policies and cultures ” that can be Islamophobic • Publishing a handbook to educate members on Islamophobia including a list of commonly used tropes In response to the report , a spokesperson for the Labour Party said : “ We thank Labour Muslim Network for this important report , as well as their work to ensure our Muslim members are represented , included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in our party or society and we are committed to rooting it out .
We look forward to working with LMN to implement their recommendations and will be meeting with them to discuss the next steps in tackling the scourge of Islamophobia .
”

The Labour Party has been urged to tackle Islamophobia within its own ranks following a new report put together and released by the Labour Muslim Network to mark Islamophobia Awareness Month in November.
The largest ever consultation of Muslim members and supporters of Labour has found that more than one in four – 29% – have directly experienced Islamophobia in the party, while over one in three have directly witnessed it.
44% of those consulted reported that they did not believe the party takes the issue of Islamophobia seriously, and 48% said they did not have confidence in Labour to deal with Islamophobia effectively via its complaints process.
The results also show that 46% of Muslim members and supporters surveyed disagreed with the statement “I believe the Labour Party represents the Muslim community effectively”, compared to 29% who agreed with the view.
A majority of 59% of Muslim members and supporters consulted said they did not feel “well represented by the leadership of the Labour Party”, while 55% revealed that they did not trust the leadership to tackle Islamophobia effectively.
Similarly, more than half of those who participated in the survey – 56% – told the Labour Muslim Network they did not feel that “the shadow cabinet team” put together by Keir Starmer “represents the Muslim community effectively”.
Commenting on the “deeply concerning” report, the Labour Muslim Network said the results were “a stark reminder” that the party “must tackle the issue of Islamophobia in our midst and in wider society with serious commitment and action”.
The group added: “There can be no doubt that now is the right time for comprehensive action on the issue of racism experienced by Muslim members and supporters of the Labour Party, including by taking immediate steps to begin implementing the recommendations of the report.
“We are confident that we can work with the Labour Party and all key stakeholders to move forward in rooting out Islamophobia from our party and society as a whole.”
Afzal Khan, who became the LMN’s new parliamentary chair this year, said: “Whilst the Labour Party has enjoyed the overwhelming support of the Muslim community for decades, we cannot take their support for granted.”
The Labour MP for Manchester Gorton and shadow deputy leader of the House of Commons has since noted that he is “pleased” Starmer has committed to implement all recommendations made in the report, which include the following:
A “public commitment” from the leadership to equality for Muslims
Developing “comprehensive” Islamophobia training with LMN, the Muslim Council of Britain and other Muslim organisations
Conducting an equality impact assessment on all policies adopted by the party
Adopting the all-party parliamentary group definition of Islamophobia by all Labour-run councils, groups and local parties
Establishing a code of conduct around Islamophobia setting out specific “behaviours, policies and cultures” that can be Islamophobic
Publishing a handbook to educate members on Islamophobia including a list of commonly used tropes
Implementing a new “transparent and impartial” complaints process
In response to the report, a spokesperson for the Labour Party said: “We thank Labour Muslim Network for this important report, as well as their work to ensure our Muslim members are represented, included and heard.
“Islamophobia has no place in our party or society and we are committed to rooting it out. We look forward to working with LMN to implement their recommendations and will be meeting with them to discuss the next steps in tackling the scourge of Islamophobia.”


labourlist--2020-11-14--What we can learn from Labour’s 2020 NEC results

Everyone claimed victory following the release of Labour ’ s national executive committee results – and with good reason .
The Labour left ’ s ‘ Grassroots Voice ’ slate did better than expected by winning five of nine local party representatives and both the youth and disabled posts .
But the bottom line is that this was a triumph for Keir Starmer , who now has a more solid majority on the ruling body .
The ability to reliably win votes on the NEC is key to getting the leadership ’ s business through , particularly with tasks ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Commission report recommendations , responding to the Forde Inquiry – and the controversial matter of Jeremy Corbyn ’ s suspension , which could go to an NEC panel unless the investigation is dropped earlier in the process .
After the April by-elections and before the 2020 NEC elections , Starmer had 18 solid NEC votes ( then of 38 members , though effectively 37 due to Pete Willsman ’ s suspension ) .
He can sometimes rely on GMB backing , such as in the general secretary appointment , but these reps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader now has a net total of two more definitely supportive NEC members , with 20 out of 39 NEC members .
This might appear slim , and it is , but he can also forge various winning paths by working with Ann Black in particular , the two GMB seat holders , and to some extent Richard Leonard .
STV was a clear win for the new leadership The leadership earlier this year backed a change to move from first-past-the-post to single transferable vote on the NEC .
This was applied only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those concerning trade union representation , which meant it was opposed by some on the Labour left .
These results show why they were right to be concerned : the more proportional system ensured that the Starmersceptic wing was watered down among local party representatives .
With Labour First secretary Luke Akehurst topping the ballot , and Laura Pidcock coming second , it is fair to conclude that ‘ Marmite ’ characters do well under STV .
These two candidates were respectively the most ‘ Labour to Win ’ and ‘ Grassroots Voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of name recognition in the party also helped .
STV also worked well for the soft left , led by group Open Labour , which got its foot in the door thanks to the return of revered NEC veteran Ann Black .
But it could have worked a lot better : Jermain Jackman dropped out of the race in its final 37th stage .
There is still no Black male representation on the NEC The 1987 Caucus highlighted back in July , after looking into the archives , that the NEC has never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And despite Terry Paul running on the Labour right slate and Jermain Jackman running on the Open Labour slate with a stronger pitch to members on the left , this has not changed .
Ayesha Hazarika said in our live analysis of the results : “ We have a problem in our party about this , and I think we have to address it.
” Abena Oppong-Asare tweeted : “ Not a single black man on the NEC .
I think it ’ s about time we start to have that conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Membership of the all-important NEC officers ’ group will change The Labour left included Ann Henderson on their slate once again partly because she chaired the NEC equalities committee , which also made her a member of the crucial NEC officers ’ group .
But Henderson was not re-elected , perhaps due to a combination of her being a Scottish member ( a disadvantage as this is a small region in party terms ) and concerns over her views on trans inclusion ( though similar concerns were expressed in relation to Laura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The officers ’ group is a small core decision-making committee on the NEC , currently with a left majority .
This balance of factional power is not set to change following these contests , but the left ’ s control will likely reduce slightly when the NEC picks a different member to head the equalities sub-committee .
The Labour left will be pleased to see Yasmine Dar re-elected , as she chairs the disputes panel and strengthens the left ’ s voice on the officers ’ group .
But it also worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again a member of the core group , as she is still chair of Labour ’ s national policy forum .
Turnout has dropped – though not as dramatically as you might think The NEC by-elections earlier this year secured a turnout of 46 % , while 27 % of Labour members participated in the latest full set of elections .
But it should be taken into account that the last contests were run concurrently with leadership elections , which always boosts turnout significantly .
Overall , nonetheless , both turnout is down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour left approach to STV was largely successful , as Momentum adopted a regional preference strategy .
By email and via an online tool , members of the left group were advised to preference local party rep candidates in a particular order , which helped to minimise the risk of Grassroots Voice candidates being knocked out early .
Labour to Win benefited from running big names , particularly Akehurst who secured an impressive 21,355 first preference votes ( the next biggest was Pidcock with 15,668 ) , but the slate did not succeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left securing a more even spread .
Young Labour elections also offer cause for Labour left optimism In the Young Labour elections , Momentum-backed Socialist Future candidates won all but three seats on the 16-member committee , and Miriam Mirwitch has been replaced by left-winger Jess Barnard as chair .
Pro-Starmer candidates succeeded in the London representative race , won by Henna Shah , and the Welsh contest , won by Jack Dunne , while Elsie Greenwood endorsed by Open Labour won in Scotland .
But the general direction of the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corbynites lost three seats ( local party and BAME ) in the April by-elections , and have now lost a further two in the members ’ section .
There has been a swing of 10 % from Momentum to Labour to Win since the last full NEC elections in 2018 , with Momentum securing 37 % ( -19 ) this time , Labour to Win 31 % ( +1 ) and Open Labour 9 % ( +5 ) .
The left vote was also down by nine percentage points compared to earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the overall trajectory of the party .

Everyone claimed victory following the release of Labour’s national executive committee results – and with good reason. The Labour left’s ‘Grassroots Voice’ slate did better than expected by winning five of nine local party representatives and both the youth and disabled posts. But the bottom line is that this was a triumph for Keir Starmer, who now has a more solid majority on the ruling body.
The ability to reliably win votes on the NEC is key to getting the leadership’s business through, particularly with tasks ahead such as implementing the Equality and Human Rights Commission report recommendations, responding to the Forde Inquiry – and the controversial matter of Jeremy Corbyn’s suspension, which could go to an NEC panel unless the investigation is dropped earlier in the process.
After the April by-elections and before the 2020 NEC elections, Starmer had 18 solid NEC votes (then of 38 members, though effectively 37 due to Pete Willsman’s suspension). He can sometimes rely on GMB backing, such as in the general secretary appointment, but these reps are considered swing voters.
The Labour leader now has a net total of two more definitely supportive NEC members, with 20 out of 39 NEC members. This might appear slim, and it is, but he can also forge various winning paths by working with Ann Black in particular, the two GMB seat holders, and to some extent Richard Leonard.
STV was a clear win for the new leadership
The leadership earlier this year backed a change to move from first-past-the-post to single transferable vote on the NEC. This was applied only in the members’ section, not those concerning trade union representation, which meant it was opposed by some on the Labour left. These results show why they were right to be concerned: the more proportional system ensured that the Starmersceptic wing was watered down among local party representatives.
With Labour First secretary Luke Akehurst topping the ballot, and Laura Pidcock coming second, it is fair to conclude that ‘Marmite’ characters do well under STV. These two candidates were respectively the most ‘Labour to Win’ and ‘Grassroots Voice’ candidates, and their high level of name recognition in the party also helped.
STV also worked well for the soft left, led by group Open Labour, which got its foot in the door thanks to the return of revered NEC veteran Ann Black. But it could have worked a lot better: Jermain Jackman dropped out of the race in its final 37th stage.
There is still no Black male representation on the NEC
The 1987 Caucus highlighted back in July, after looking into the archives, that the NEC has never had a Black man as a member. And despite Terry Paul running on the Labour right slate and Jermain Jackman running on the Open Labour slate with a stronger pitch to members on the left, this has not changed.
Ayesha Hazarika said in our live analysis of the results: “We have a problem in our party about this, and I think we have to address it.” Abena Oppong-Asare tweeted: “Not a single black man on the NEC. I think it’s about time we start to have that conversation about the elephant in the room”.
Membership of the all-important NEC officers’ group will change
The Labour left included Ann Henderson on their slate once again partly because she chaired the NEC equalities committee, which also made her a member of the crucial NEC officers’ group. But Henderson was not re-elected, perhaps due to a combination of her being a Scottish member (a disadvantage as this is a small region in party terms) and concerns over her views on trans inclusion (though similar concerns were expressed in relation to Laura Pidcock, who did very well).
The officers’ group is a small core decision-making committee on the NEC, currently with a left majority. This balance of factional power is not set to change directly as a result of these contests, but the left’s control will likely reduce slightly when the NEC picks a different member to head the equalities sub-committee.
The Labour left will be pleased to see Yasmine Dar re-elected, as she chairs the disputes panel and strengthens the left’s voice on the officers’ group. But it also worth noting that Ann Black is set to be automatically once again a member of the core group, as she is still chair of Labour’s national policy forum. (This may be disputed by some as there should have been NPF elections already but they were postponed.)
Turnout has dropped – though not as dramatically as you might think
The NEC by-elections earlier this year secured a turnout of 46%, while 27% of Labour members participated in the latest full set of elections. But it should be taken into account that the last contests were run concurrently with leadership elections, which always boosts turnout significantly.
Overall, nonetheless, turnout is down (h/t Charlie Mansell):
2004 22.0%
2006 20.2%
2008 19.8%
2010 56.0% (run alongside leadership election)
2012 30.2%
2014 33.1%
2016 48.7% (run alongside leadership election)
2017 30.2% (Conference Arrangements Committee election)
2017 20.7%
2018 32.5%
2019 35.0% (Conference Arrangements Committee election)
2020 45.6% (by-elections run alongside leadership election)
2020 27.4%
Labour left strategy was stronger for local party representatives
The Labour left approach to STV was largely successful, as Momentum adopted a regional preference strategy. By email and via an online tool, members of the left group were advised to preference local party rep candidates in a particular order, which helped to minimise the risk of Grassroots Voice candidates being knocked out early.
Labour to Win benefited from running big names, particularly Akehurst who secured an impressive 21,355 first preference votes (the next biggest was Pidcock with 15,668), but the slate did not succeed in terms of vote distribution, with the left securing a more even spread.
Young Labour elections also offer cause for Labour left optimism
In the Young Labour elections, Momentum-backed Socialist Future candidates won all but three seats on the 16-member committee, and Miriam Mirwitch has been replaced by left-winger Jess Barnard as chair. Pro-Starmer candidates succeeded in the London representative race, won by Henna Shah, and the Welsh contest, won by Jack Dunne, while Elsie Greenwood endorsed by Open Labour won in Scotland.
But the general direction of the party is going in Starmer’s favour
Corbynites lost three seats (local party and BAME) in the April by-elections, and have now lost a further two in the members’ section. There has been a swing of 10% from Momentum to Labour to Win since the last full NEC elections in 2018, with Momentum securing 37% (-19) this time, Labour to Win 31% (+1) and Open Labour 9% (+5). The left vote was also down by nine percentage points compared to earlier this year. Keir Starmer can be encouraged by the overall trajectory of the party.


labourlist--2020-11-13--Labour NEC election results boost support for Starmer on ruling body

Keir Starmer has increased the strength of support for his leadership on the Labour Party ’ s core ruling body following the release of fresh internal election results giving rise to a new national executive committee .
The UK Labour leader now has a more solid majority on the NEC , as he is expected to benefit from the election of three candidates who stood on the pro-leadership ‘ Labour to Win ’ platform in the members ’ section .
The pro-Starmer wing can also be pleased that former Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones won the Welsh rep post .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he did not vote for the leader ’ s general secretary pick .
But the Labour left ’ s ‘ Grassroots Voice ’ slate did better than expected by securing five local party representative seats , plus both the youth and disabled representative posts , with Lara McNeill and Ellen Morrison winning .
Full breakdown of results available here , here and here The elections have seen Johanna Baxter , Gurinder Singh Josan , Yasmine Dar return to the NEC , while also adding ex-MP Laura Pidcock , former NEC members Luke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new left representatives .
Results in the local party representative section of Labour ’ s NEC were shaped by the adoption of a new electoral system , after the body chose earlier this year to switch from first-past-the-post to single transferable vote .
The internal reform saw members rank candidates in order of preference , which organisations such as Open Labour advocated on the basis that it would prevent “ hyper-factionalism ” and “ one-slate-takes-all ” results .
The final set of Labour NEC results for the local party section have delivered a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Labour left was widely expected to be on course to win three or four seats rather than five .
The left faction has also surprised some by winning the new disabled rep post , which is chosen via an electoral college .
Morrison had received less trade union support going into the final membership vote than her rival .
With neither Open Labour-backed Jermain Jackman nor Labour to Win ’ s Terry Paul elected this year , Labour ’ s ruling body has still never had a Black male representation – as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There has been controversy in recent days over eligibility in the elections , after Labour ’ s ballots team told candidates that the votes of resigned members would only count if they cast their ballots before quitting the party .
Some on the party ’ s left argued that the bid to discount votes – without clarifying that the process would work this way before balloting – was an effort to suppress Starmersceptic voices , though this was rejected by sources close to the leadership .
Commenting on the results , Momentum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This major victory for the left demonstrates that a significant majority of members want Labour to back a transformative , socialist programme – and it is this majority that will shape the future direction of the party.
” Labour First secretary and Labour to Win co-founder Luke Akehurst , who served on the NEC between 2010 and 2012 for a two-year term , tweeted simply : “ As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted in 2012… ” Below are the NEC and Young Labour results in full .