labourlist--2020-09-18--Angela Rayner just goes to show – our democracy needs more women

The International Day of Democracy took place earlier this week , described by the UN as “ providing an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world ” .
The UN also says : “ Democracy is as much a process as a goal , and only with the full participation of and support by the international community , national governing bodies , civil society and individuals , can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone , everywhere.
” Globally , it is undeniable that the participation of women continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all national parliamentarians were women as of February 2019. and there are 27 states in which women account for less than 10 % of parliamentarians in single or lower houses , including three chambers with no women at all .
Here in the UK , men still hold more than 66 % of the seats in parliament despite a record number of women having been elected in December .
Whilst there is cause for celebration in that the Parliamentary Labour Party has now achieved gender parity in the Commons , the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader must surely be recognised as a failure .
It was interesting to see Boris Johnson forced to face a woman at Prime Minister ’ s Questions this week , for the first time in his premiership .
In Angela Rayner , he faced a woman whose experiences and journey to parliament could not be more different to his own .
Much is made of the fact that Angela was once a teenage mum , without qualifications , from a working-class background and that this makes her somewhat of an anomaly as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our democracy if there was nothing remarkable about someone like Angela being an MP , and if all kinds of experiences were represented in the House of Commons .
Maybe we would have seen a better response to the Covid crisis if those in charge had more experience of ordinary life to full back on in decision-making .
It is worth noting that Angela is one of only seven women who have represented the Labour Party at PMQs , the others being Diane Abbott , Harriet Harman , Margaret Beckett , Angela @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whilst the excellent job Angela did at the despatch box is no doubt being discussed across the country , I want to point out that she also brought something that has been missing from the political spotlight for some time : a focus on issues that primarily impact women , and with it the wisdom of her lived experiences .
A former care worker , Angela asked a floundering Boris Johnson if he knew what a care worker earned .
When the Prime Minister could not answer her question , she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shameful fact the average wage in social care is barely more than £8 an hour.
” The deputy leader pressed Johnson on when he would present his promised plan for reforming social care , saying he needed to “ get some skates on it ” .
She then raised the fact that guidance issued this week means birth partners will not be allowed to join pregnant women until “ the moment of established labour ” , highlighting the distress this will cause mothers and , tragically , those it will leave to face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been in no doubt that this question was motivated by Angela ’ s empathy for those experiencing these circumstances and not political point-scoring .
These issues are important – and whilst of course they can be raised by men , the evidence is that often they are not .
With the Conservatives , Labour , Liberal Democrats , SNP and DUP all led at Westminster by men , there is a real risk of such issues being sidelined .
Indeed all of us are to some extent influenced by our own experiences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a diverse range of people among those who govern .
As we celebrate Angela Rayner ’ s Commons contributions , we need to focus efforts on ensuring that diverse women ’ s voices are heard and represented in parliament – for the sake of our democracy .

The International Day of Democracy took place earlier this week, described by the UN as “providing an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world”. The UN also says: “Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.”
Globally, it is undeniable that the participation of women continues to be lacking. Only 24.3% of all national parliamentarians were women as of February 2019. and there are 27 states in which women account for less than 10% of parliamentarians in single or lower houses, including three chambers with no women at all.
Here in the UK, men still hold more than 66% of the seats in parliament despite a record number of women having been elected in December. Whilst there is cause for celebration in that the Parliamentary Labour Party has now achieved gender parity in the Commons, the fact that we still have not had a female leader must surely be recognised as a failure.
It was interesting to see Boris Johnson forced to face a woman at Prime Minister’s Questions this week, for the first time in his premiership. In Angela Rayner, he faced a woman whose experiences and journey to parliament could not be more different to his own. Much is made of the fact that Angela was once a teenage mum, without qualifications, from a working-class background and that this makes her somewhat of an anomaly as an MP. But it would be better for our democracy if there was nothing remarkable about someone like Angela being an MP, and if all kinds of experiences were represented in the House of Commons. Maybe we would have seen a better response to the Covid crisis if those in charge had more experience of ordinary life to full back on in decision-making.
It is worth noting that Angela is one of only seven women who have represented the Labour Party at PMQs, the others being Harriet Harman, Margaret Beckett, Angela Eagle, Emily Thornberry, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Diane Abbott. Whilst the excellent job Angela did at the despatch box is no doubt being discussed across the country, I want to point out that she also brought something that has been missing from the political spotlight for some time: a focus on issues that primarily impact women, and with it the wisdom of her lived experiences.
A former care worker, Angela asked a floundering Boris Johnson if he knew what a care worker earned. When the Prime Minister could not answer her question, she was able to draw attention to ”the shameful fact the average wage in social care is barely more than £8 an hour.” The deputy leader pressed Johnson on when he would present his promised plan for reforming social care, saying he needed to “get some skates on it”.
She then raised the fact that guidance issued this week means birth partners will not be allowed to join pregnant women until “the moment of established labour”, highlighting the distress this will cause mothers and, tragically, those it will leave to face miscarriage alone. Those watching PMQs will have been in no doubt that this question was motivated by Angela’s empathy for those experiencing these circumstances and not political point-scoring.
These issues are important – and whilst of course they can be raised by men, the evidence is that often they are not. With the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP and DUP all led at Westminster by men, there is a real risk of such issues being sidelined. Indeed all of us are to some extent influenced by our own experiences, and that is why we need a diverse range of people among those who govern. As we celebrate Angela Rayner’s Commons contributions, we need to focus efforts on ensuring that diverse women’s voices are heard and represented in parliament – for the sake of our democracy.


labourlist--2020-09-18--Gemma Bolton: Why I’m standing to represent local parties on Labour’s NEC

When I was 18 , my local college was shut down .
My friends were forced to travel outside of the area on overpriced , underperforming trains .
Education Maintenance Allowance , which gave working-class kids financial help to support their studies , had been cut and the government had tripled tuition fees .
Why would I not end up a socialist ?
My life and the lives of people around me have been shaped first by the 2008 global financial crash and by the miserable decade of Tory austerity that followed .
For those coming of age now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other young people , I joined the Labour Party because nobody else was going to defend my generation ’ s right to a future .
I am now running to be on Labour ’ s national executive committee ( NEC ) to ensure we have a party that makes good on its promises to my generation .
And the NEC election is occurring at a critical juncture for our party .
The coronavirus crisis has shown a government – and a wider economic system – unable to value and protect life at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote human flourishing and a decent future .
And yet those who are responsible for worsening this crisis and others pose as voices of ‘ the people ’ , with the polling numbers and election results to back it up .
Our party needs to adapt to survive .
We are facing a climate emergency that threatens every aspect of our way of life .
We are seeing a rise in racism globally , and the far right are organised on an international scale not seen since the 1930s .
Hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first clapped as ‘ key workers ’ , now left to fend for themselves .
Business as usual won ’ t cut it .
But nor will radical policy alone if we fail to organise in communities who feel abandoned by Labour .
We must not roll back the achievements of the Jeremy Corbyn years in transforming the policy consensus – but we do need to build on and adapt them .
A Labour government must have the vision and the will to take on the powerful , not to accommodate them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are to secure a green new deal to tackle the climate emergency ; gain public ownership of key utilities and all public services ; achieve the repeal of anti-trade union laws ; oppose austerity ; stand for anti-racism , liberation and equality ; and promote an ethical foreign policy based on peace , not war .
We must make clear that Black Lives Matter and that policing and justice need to change .
We must oppose the idea that migrants are the cause of societies ’ ills , and make the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who drive down wages .
We must reject any rollback of LGBTQ+ rights , including trans rights .
We must say loud and clear that trans women are women , trans men are men , and trans rights are human rights .
Socialist policies are popular , not just with Labour ’ s half a million members but with the public , too .
And where reactionary views do exist , Labour must not pander to such opinions .
We must be willing to listen , but not to accept things as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a weathervane attempting to capture and measure public opinion – we must mould and shape it .
The NEC represents , as it should , the length and breadth of our party – our unions , our members and our affiliates .
Procedure can seem dull and irrelevant , especially in this time of crises .
But these elections matter because they are about building the institutions and organisations of a party capable of delivering change on the scale we need .
This includes robust , transparent disciplinary processes that defend natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes a commitment to challenge all forms of bigotry wherever they arise – not as a factional manoeuvre but out of a burning desire for justice – including the antisemitism and the Islamophobia that sadly continue to persist in our own ranks .
It includes a genuinely democratic party , where conference remains sovereign , allowing our members ’ views to shape policy .
Labour ’ s members and three million affiliated unions are rooted in communities across the country and must become more so .
That means trusting them – not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ select candidates and develop campaigns .
It also means open selections for all Labour public office holders , including the right for constituency parties to be able to select their own parliamentary candidates , not have them imposed from above .
I have championed maintaining and improving democratic procedures throughout my time as co-chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and was proud to run as a parliamentary candidate for my home constituency in the 2019 general election .
I have sat on Labour ’ s South East regional executive committee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work similar to that of an NEC member , such as running parliamentary selections , member appeal cases and regional MEP selections .
I currently sit on the women ’ s conference arrangements committee , working to ensure that our party ’ s women ’ s conference is democratic , member-led and has as much power to influence party policy as possible .
I do not sit in these meetings because I enjoy complicated discussions about process .
I do so because I am committed , above all else , to a mass-membership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One that will oppose the Tories and fight for peace , socialism and internationalism here and abroad .
And , above all – because I believe in the capacity of everyday people and their communities , organised through their unions and their party , to shape the future we all desperately need .
Socialist policies and democratic principles go hand in hand and , if elected , I will pursue both on the NEC unwaveringly .
Please vote for me and the rest of the Grassroots Voice slate in the upcoming NEC elections @

When I was 18, my local college was shut down. My friends were forced to travel outside of the area on overpriced, underperforming trains. Education Maintenance Allowance, which gave working-class kids financial help to support their studies, had been cut and the government had tripled tuition fees. Why would I not end up a socialist? My life and the lives of people around me have been shaped first by the 2008 global financial crash and by the miserable decade of Tory austerity that followed. For those coming of age now, it is much worse. Like thousands of other young people, I joined the Labour Party because nobody else was going to defend my generation’s right to a future.
I am now running to be on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) to ensure we have a party that makes good on its promises to my generation. And the NEC election is occurring at a critical juncture for our party. The coronavirus crisis has shown a government – and a wider economic system – unable to value and protect life at the most basic level, let alone promote human flourishing and a decent future. And yet those who are responsible for worsening this crisis and others pose as voices of ‘the people’, with the polling numbers and election results to back it up.
Our party needs to adapt to survive. We are facing a climate emergency that threatens every aspect of our way of life. We are seeing a rise in racism globally, and the far right are organised on an international scale not seen since the 1930s. Hundreds of thousands of workers are losing their jobs – first clapped as ‘key workers’, now left to fend for themselves. Business as usual won’t cut it. But nor will radical policy alone if we fail to organise in communities who feel abandoned by Labour. We must not roll back the achievements of the Jeremy Corbyn years in transforming the policy consensus – but we do need to build on and adapt them.
A Labour government must have the vision and the will to take on the powerful, not to accommodate them. This is what it will take if we are to secure a green new deal to tackle the climate emergency; gain public ownership of key utilities and all public services; achieve the repeal of anti-trade union laws; oppose austerity; stand for anti-racism, liberation and equality; and promote an ethical foreign policy based on peace, not war. We must make clear that Black Lives Matter and that policing and justice need to change.
We must oppose the idea that migrants are the cause of societies’ ills, and make the case that it is bosses and not migrants who drive down wages. We must reject any rollback of LGBTQ+ rights, including trans rights. We must say loud and clear that trans women are women, trans men are men, and trans rights are human rights. Socialist policies are popular, not just with Labour’s half a million members but with the public, too. And where reactionary views do exist, Labour must not pander to such opinions. We must be willing to listen, but not to accept things as they are. An opposition cannot simply be a weathervane attempting to capture and measure public opinion – we must mould and shape it.
The NEC represents, as it should, the length and breadth of our party – our unions, our members and our affiliates. Procedure can seem dull and irrelevant, especially in this time of crises. But these elections matter because they are about building the institutions and organisations of a party capable of delivering change on the scale we need. This includes robust, transparent disciplinary processes that defend natural justice and members’ rights. It includes a commitment to challenge all forms of bigotry wherever they arise – not as a factional manoeuvre but out of a burning desire for justice – including the antisemitism and the Islamophobia that sadly continue to persist in our own ranks.
It includes a genuinely democratic party, where conference remains sovereign, allowing our members’ views to shape policy. Labour’s members and three million affiliated unions are rooted in communities across the country and must become more so. That means trusting them – not only unelected officials – to set policy, select candidates and develop campaigns. It also means open selections for all Labour public office holders, including the right for constituency parties to be able to select their own parliamentary candidates, not have them imposed from above.
I have championed maintaining and improving democratic procedures throughout my time as co-chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and was proud to run as a parliamentary candidate for my home constituency in the 2019 general election. I have sat on Labour’s South East regional executive committee for the past four years, carrying out work similar to that of an NEC member, such as running parliamentary selections, member appeal cases and regional MEP selections. I currently sit on the women’s conference arrangements committee, working to ensure that our party’s women’s conference is democratic, member-led and has as much power to influence party policy as possible.
I do not sit in these meetings because I enjoy complicated discussions about process. I do so because I am committed, above all else, to a mass-membership, socialist, democratic Labour Party. One that will oppose the Tories and fight for peace, socialism and internationalism here and abroad. And, above all – because I believe in the capacity of everyday people and their communities, organised through their unions and their party, to shape the future we all desperately need. Socialist policies and democratic principles go hand in hand and, if elected, I will pursue both on the NEC unwaveringly. Please vote for me and the rest of the Grassroots Voice slate in the upcoming NEC elections.


labourlist--2020-09-19--Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon

Boris Johnson has said that the UK is “ now seeing a second wave coming in ” .
The Prime Minister has described a second national lockdown as “ the last thing anybody wants ” – but the scientific advisers have warned that there is no real alternative to doing just that , as they expect to see hundreds of daily coronavirus deaths here within weeks .
It seems under-acknowledged now that the whole point of the NHS Test and Trace system was to prevent another full lockdown .
Yet there is little chance of avoiding one as the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort out the system and get it working over the summer .
As Labour ’ s Angela Rayner communicated very well on BBC Radio 4 ’ s Today programme this morning , there are important measures that the government has not taken despite the levers being right there for the pulling .
Not just in relation to Test and Trace , which could see improvements by prioritising local public health teams over outsourcing firms with terrible records , including literal fraud in previous work for the government .
And they could stop awarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid jobs to their peers .
There is also the very basic move of giving people enough financial support to enable them to self-isolate .
Speaking ahead of online conference ‘ Connected ’ , Rayner has declared that the Labour Party is “ offering the country the leadership it needs ” and highlighted the need for key workers to be properly paid and respected .
As public service union UNISON ’ s new campaign says : there should be no going back to normal .
The deputy leader has written for The Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers must be paid a living wage .
It picks up on the theme adopted for her PMQs session earlier this week , which saw the Prime Minister unable to say – or unwilling to admit – that the average wage for a care worker is a little over £8 an hour .
On the subject of the care sector , which is of course dominated by women , Labour ’ s conference ‘ Women Connected ’ takes place today .
The LabourList team will be covering the whole online series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra emails over the weekend and look out for lots of new content on the site .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every weekday morning .

Boris Johnson has said that the UK is “now seeing a second wave coming in”. The Prime Minister has described a second national lockdown as “the last thing anybody wants” – but the scientific advisers have warned that there is no real alternative to doing just that, as they expect to see hundreds of daily coronavirus deaths here within weeks. It seems under-acknowledged now that the whole point of the NHS Test and Trace system was to prevent another full lockdown. Yet there is little chance of avoiding one as the government has so badly squandered the opportunity to sort out the system and get it working over the summer.
As Labour’s Angela Rayner communicated very well on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, there are important measures that the government has not taken despite the levers being right there for the pulling. Not just in relation to Test and Trace, which could see improvements by prioritising local public health teams over outsourcing firms with terrible records, including literal fraud in previous work for the government. And they could stop awarding Covid contracts to their mates and top Covid jobs to their peers. There is also the very basic move of giving people enough financial support to enable them to self-isolate.
Speaking ahead of online conference ‘Connected’, Rayner has declared that the Labour Party is “offering the country the leadership it needs” and highlighted the need for key workers to be properly paid and respected. As public service union UNISON’s new campaign says: there should be no going back to normal. The deputy leader has written for The Guardian with a key message: our social care workers must be paid a living wage. It picks up on the theme adopted for her PMQs session earlier this week, which saw the Prime Minister unable to say – or unwilling to admit – that the average wage for a care worker is a little over £8 an hour.
On the subject of the care sector, which is of course dominated by women, Labour’s conference ‘Women Connected’ takes place today. The LabourList team will be covering the whole online series of events, so expect to receive these extra emails over the weekend and look out for lots of new content on the site. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-09-19--6 highlights from Labour’s ‘Women Connected’ conference

Labour ’ s online conference replacement ‘ Connected ’ kicked off today with a new slogan – ‘ A New Leadership ’ – and events for women .
Party chair Angela Rayner opened proceedings , along with Marsha de Cordova , who talked about gender inequality , racial injustice and intersectionality , and Keir Starmer , who started by saying “ I ’ m proud to be addressing you all as a feminist ” .
The speeches were followed by a series of panels , rallies and training sessions .
Here are six contributions that caught our attention… Shadow minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of Covid-19 on childcare providers during the ‘ tackling challenges in the childcare sector , maternity rights and women as carers ’ panel event .
She warned that “ a lot of nurseries are on the brink of closure ” and many of them “ won ’ t be there after coronavirus is over ” unless the government steps in .
The London MP highlighted that there is also a pre-existing “ postcode lottery when it comes to accessing quality childcare for children ” , and said we should make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an economic issue .
The Labour frontbencher also suggested that all carers should be paid , saying : “ I think there is a lot to be done , but certainly value in recognising the work that young unpaid carers do is something that I would start off with… “ If you are asking me for an ideal solution , I would say I would like to pay all carers no matter what .
If it ’ s an allowance – it may not be an hourly rate , probably too much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we had some form of allowance to cover expenses , that would be a start.
” In the panel on women and the economy , Anneliese Dodds – our first female Shadow Chancellor – highlighted that women have experienced a Covid ‘ motherlode ’ whereby women are “ more likely to be furloughed or see their jobs under pressure ” and also “ much more likely to have to pick up on the childcare issues ” .
Taking up Angela Rayner ’ s theme of improving pay in the care sector , Dodds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for us as women , within the Labour Party and across all those different advocacy organisations across the trade union movement , to be underlying like never before the value of care work .
If we didn ’ t know it was valuable before , my goodness we know it was valuable now.
” Dr Faiza Shaheen of CLASS think tank discussed how the economy is “ sexist by design ” and focused on low-paid female workers , pointing out that one in three women are just one month away from not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortgage .
Unite ’ s Jane Stewart celebrated that 200,000 women have joined trade unions over the last year and stressed the importance of “ the five Cs : carers , caterers , cleaners , chemists and cashiers ” who have “ kept this country going ” during the pandemic .
An afternoon panel on the Equality Act attracted many questions from Connected attendees on defining gender , sex and protected single-sex spaces .
The most popular submissions were around this subject before the chat seemed to be disabled .
The only panellist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MP Angela Eagle , who said : “ We have an example of the divide and rule going on with the battle of the Gender Recognition Act and what has been happening with the way trans people – a very vulnerable group – have been singled out for abuse , which is completely disgusting , in an attempt to set feminists against LGBT people.
” The Black Lives Matter rally saw Diane Abbott criticise the Labour Party for its failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters , saying : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party ’ s HQ on Victoria Street – and see hardly any Black people.
” LabourList has a full write-up of the event .
Delivering her speech on equality in international trade from a car passenger seat , Emily Thornberry joked that “ James Corden is not about to get in the car with me ” for an episode of Carpool Karaoke .
She focused on the recent appointment of former Australian Prime Minister “ Tony bloody Abbott ” as joint president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trade .
Listing some of the controversial remarks made by Abbott over the years , Thornberry said : “ We have all experienced in our own lives when men repeatedly say and do things like that .
They aren ’ t gaffes or mistakes – they go to the heart of how they see women and their place in the world , and it ’ s the mindset of a misogynist.
” The Shadow International Trade Secretary described the UK operating an independent trade policy after Brexit as “ historic and significant ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country using the change to promote values as it strikes trade deals around the world .
She said : “ It ’ s an opportunity to say to countries that we do deals with that we want you to make , ‘ we will do deals with you but we want you to make progress on equal pay for equal work , on equal access to education and healthcare , on women ’ s reproductive rights , on women and trade union rights ’ .
But Liz Truss is not interested in that.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech celebrating women who have provided impressive leadership during the coronavirus crisis .
In New Zealand , Denmark , Finland , Iceland , Germany , Taiwan , she said , women have been “ stepping up , speaking out , smashing down barriers and bringing people together ” .
Addressing the final event of the day , cheerily chaired by Jennette Arnold , the Shadow Foreign Secretary said : “ What has struck me so much about the leadership they have shown in this crisis is that they know that compromise is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need at this moment in the world is not the so-called ‘ world-beating ’ machismo that is on offer here in the UK , but a leadership that sheds light and not might , the courage to be honest with a frightened public and the self-confidence to change your mind.
” Concluding with a reference to Grunwick leader Jayaben Desai , Nandy told attendees : “ We will not wait until 2024 .
Let ’ s show Boris Johnson and his government that his is a world we do not accept and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alternative .
“ So , to all of you listening today , let ’ s channel that spirit .
We will not take no for an answer .
This is the moment and now is our time to roar .
”

Labour’s online conference replacement ‘Connected’ kicked off today with a new slogan – ‘A New Leadership’ – and events for women. Party chair Angela Rayner opened proceedings, along with Marsha de Cordova, who talked about gender inequality, racial injustice and intersectionality, and Keir Starmer, who started by saying “I’m proud to be addressing you all as a feminist”. The speeches were followed by a series of panels, rallies and training sessions. Here are six contributions that caught our attention…
Childcare and unpaid carers
Shadow minister for early years Tulip Siddiq talked about the impact of Covid-19 on childcare providers during the ‘tackling challenges in the childcare sector, maternity rights and women as carers’ panel event.
She warned that “a lot of nurseries are on the brink of closure” and many of them “won’t be there after coronavirus is over” unless the government steps in. The London MP highlighted that there is also a pre-existing “postcode lottery when it comes to accessing quality childcare for children”, and said we should make the case for improved provision by framing it as an economic issue.
The Labour frontbencher also suggested that all carers should be paid, saying: “I think there is a lot to be done, but certainly value in recognising the work that young unpaid carers do is something that I would start off with…
“If you are asking me for an ideal solution, I would say I would like to pay all carers no matter what. If it’s an allowance – it may not be an hourly rate, probably too much to hope for – at least if we had some form of allowance to cover expenses, that would be a start.”
Women and the economy
In the panel on women and the economy, Anneliese Dodds – our first female Shadow Chancellor – highlighted that women have experienced a Covid ‘motherlode’ whereby women are “more likely to be furloughed or see their jobs under pressure” and also “much more likely to have to pick up on the childcare issues”.
Taking up Angela Rayner’s theme of improving pay in the care sector, Dodds concluded: “Ultimately now is the time for us as women, within the Labour Party and across all those different advocacy organisations across the trade union movement, to be underlying like never before the value of care work. If we didn’t know it was valuable before, my goodness we know it was valuable now.”
Dr Faiza Shaheen of CLASS think tank discussed how the economy is “sexist by design” and focused on low-paid female workers, pointing out that one in three women are just one month away from not being able to pay their rent or mortgage.
Unite’s Jane Stewart celebrated that 200,000 women have joined trade unions over the last year and stressed the importance of “the five Cs: carers, caterers, cleaners, chemists and cashiers” who have “kept this country going” during the pandemic.
Equality Act 2010
An afternoon panel on the Equality Act attracted many questions from Connected attendees on defining gender, sex and protected single-sex spaces. The most popular submissions were around this subject before the chat seemed to be disabled.
The only panellist to directly address this issue was backbench MP Angela Eagle, who said: “We have an example of the divide and rule going on with the battle of the Gender Recognition Act and what has been happening with the way trans people – a very vulnerable group – have been singled out for abuse, which is completely disgusting, in an attempt to set feminists against LGBT people.”
Black Lives Matter
The Black Lives Matter rally saw Diane Abbott criticise the Labour Party for its failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters, saying: “It’s astonishing to me that in 2020, you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party’s HQ on Victoria Street – and see hardly any Black people.” LabourList has a full write-up of the event.
Equality and international trade
Delivering her speech on equality in international trade from a car passenger seat, Emily Thornberry joked that “James Corden is not about to get in the car with me” for an episode of Carpool Karaoke. She focused on the recent appointment of former Australian Prime Minister “Tony bloody Abbott” as joint president of the UK’s relaunched Board of Trade.
Listing some of the controversial remarks made by Abbott over the years, Thornberry said: “We have all experienced in our own lives when men repeatedly say and do things like that. They aren’t gaffes or mistakes – they go to the heart of how they see women and their place in the world, and it’s the mindset of a misogynist.”
The Shadow International Trade Secretary described the UK operating an independent trade policy after Brexit as “historic and significant”, and made the case for the country using the change to promote values as it strikes trade deals around the world.
She said: “It’s an opportunity to say to countries that we do deals with that we want you to make, ‘we will do deals with you but we want you to make progress on equal pay for equal work, on equal access to education and healthcare, on women’s reproductive rights, on women and trade union rights’. But Liz Truss is not interested in that.”
Women’s leadership around the world
Lisa Nandy delivered a typically smart speech celebrating women who have provided impressive leadership during the coronavirus crisis. In New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Taiwan, she said, women have been “stepping up, speaking out, smashing down barriers and bringing people together”.
Addressing the final event of the day, cheerily chaired by Jennette Arnold, the Shadow Foreign Secretary said: “What has struck me so much about the leadership they have shown in this crisis is that they know that compromise is not cowardice.
“And that the leadership we need at this moment in the world is not the so-called ‘world-beating’ machismo that is on offer here in the UK, but a leadership that sheds light and not might, the courage to be honest with a frightened public and the self-confidence to change your mind.”
Concluding with a reference to Grunwick leader Jayaben Desai, Nandy told attendees: “We will not wait until 2024. Let’s show Boris Johnson and his government that his is a world we do not accept and show the country that there is an alternative.
“So, to all of you listening today, let’s channel that spirit. We will not take no for an answer. This is the moment and now is our time to roar.”


labourlist--2020-09-19--Diane Abbott: “In 2020, you can walk into Southside and see hardly any Black people”

Labour MP Diane Abbott has used an anti-racism Black Lives Matter rally at Labour ’ s online conference ‘ Connected ’ to criticise the party ’ s failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters .
Addressing the event this afternoon , the Hackney MP identified “ three strands of activity which the Black Lives Matter movement should prompt the Labour Party to do more on ” – the first being recruitment by the party .
“ It ’ s astonishing to me that in 2020 , you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party ’ s HQ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any Black people , ” Abbott told attendees .
“ Southside is recruiting in one of the most diverse cities in the country and yet somehow , it doesn ’ t manage to recruit very many Black and minority ethnic people .
“ You might say , what does it matter ?
It matters because very often the pipeline to going on to a representative role lies in working for the party , whether in Southside , through regional office , or a policy adviser .
“ Frankly , when we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re talking about how the Labour Party runs and works , you need to have Black people in the room .
The first thing we have to do is if we ’ re serious about supporting Black Lives Matter is to look at who we recruit nationally , regionally , and as individual councillors and MPs.
” The second strand Abbott talked about was representation , noting : “ It ’ s always surprising to me , once you go outside of London , even in local parties where they ’ re very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ ll find hardly any [ BAME ] people in the management committee .
“ There is more that can be done , not just to look at black and minority ethnic people as voting fodder , not just to rely on so-called community leaders , but to encourage black and minority ethnic people – including women , including young people – to be active in the party at a grassroots level.
” Abbott ’ s third strand was “ putting racial justice at the heart of our policy-making ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified as an approach that is often taken by the Labour Party .
She said : “ All too often , at the general election , at the last minute , you get some race manifesto .
At the last minute people talk about people like me , and say is there a Black church we can visit or a Gurdwara we can visit ?
Is there a mosque we can visit ?
” The former Shadow Home Secretary named policing ( stop and search ) , education ( “ we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( particularly in Covid ) as three key policy areas for racial justice .
Abbott also suggested there was value in protesters pulling down the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston in June .
Keir Starmer said at the time that it was “ completely wrong ” to pull down the statue , though it “ should have been taken down a long , long time ago ” .
Commenting on the direct action today , Abbott said : “ I ’ ve seen more debates about the role of slavery and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled down the statue in Bristol than before .
People are saying they were wrong to do it and do it in the wrong way – they achieved something.
” The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP , the first Black woman to be elected to parliament , also told the event that the biggest challenge she has faced is racism – both racist abuse in having bricks thrown through her office windows and more recent online abuse .
She also reported having to deal with “ assumptions ” from colleagues , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of their presumptions and some of their attitudes ” because “ they say ‘ we ’ re left-wing and we ’ re anti-racist ' ” .
At the Connected event , shadow minister Chi Onwurah talked about the challenge of “ understanding the racist baggage ” around her “ without internalising it ” , adding : “ It was a good job I was standing [ for parliament ] in my 40s , and I had experience of not internalising other people ’ s racism.
” Kate Osamor , who was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeremy Corbyn ’ s leadership , said the Labour Party “ doesn ’ t really recognise race and doesn ’ t understand that we come in all different shapes and sizes of Black women and men ” .
Her mother is Baroness Martha Osamor , who was nominated as a potential party candidate by branches of the local Vauxhall Labour party in 1989 but not shortlisted by the party ’ s national ruling body .
Kate Hoey was selected for the seat instead .
The Edmonton MP said : “ I got into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I didn ’ t think I was going to get into politics because of the way my mum was treated and it goes back to what Diane said about the racism Black women in senior leadership roles within the party experience .
“ And I saw that , first hand , seeing what my mum went through and seeing how unfortunately the party treated her and the movement that she was part of .
When I got into politics , I wasn ’ t really allowed to have a voice which wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Osamor said there is currently a “ burden of the party not understanding overt , covert , direct or indirect racism ” – but that if Labour talks about race more , “ it will make it easier for those of us who want to take up leadership roles at any level within the party ” .
The event was chaired by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP , and joined by Diane Abbott , Kate Osamor , Chi Onwurah , Unite the Union ’ s Susan Matthews , and councillor Jackie Taylor .
It took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online conference replacement Connected .

Labour MP Diane Abbott has used an anti-racism Black Lives Matter rally at Labour’s online conference ‘Connected’ to criticise the party’s failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters.
Addressing the event this afternoon, the Hackney MP identified “three strands of activity which the Black Lives Matter movement should prompt the Labour Party to do more on” – the first being recruitment by the party.
“It’s astonishing to me that in 2020, you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party’s HQ on Victoria Street – and see hardly any Black people,” Abbott told attendees. “Southside is recruiting in one of the most diverse cities in the country and yet somehow, it doesn’t manage to recruit very many Black and minority ethnic people.
“You might say, what does it matter? It matters because very often the pipeline to going on to a representative role lies in working for the party, whether in Southside, through regional office, or a policy adviser.
“Frankly, when we’re talking about policies, when we’re talking about how the Labour Party runs and works, you need to have Black people in the room. The first thing we have to do is if we’re serious about supporting Black Lives Matter is to look at who we recruit nationally, regionally, and as individual councillors and MPs.”
The second strand Abbott talked about was representation, noting: “It’s always surprising to me, once you go outside of London, even in local parties where they’re very dependent on black minority ethnic votes, you’ll find hardly any [BAME] people in the management committee.
“There is more that can be done, not just to look at black and minority ethnic people as voting fodder, not just to rely on so-called community leaders, but to encourage black and minority ethnic people – including women, including young people – to be active in the party at a grassroots level.”
Abbott’s third strand was “putting racial justice at the heart of our policy-making”. The former shadow cabinet member criticised what she identified as an approach that is often taken by the Labour Party.
She said: “All too often, at the general election, at the last minute, you get some race manifesto. At the last minute people talk about people like me, and say is there a Black church we can visit or a Gurdwara we can visit? Is there a mosque we can visit?”
The former Shadow Home Secretary named policing (stop and search), education (“we need to decolonise the curriculum”) and health (particularly in Covid) as three key policy areas for racial justice.
Abbott also suggested there was value in protesters pulling down the statue of 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston in June. Keir Starmer said at the time that it was “completely wrong” to pull down the statue, though it “should have been taken down a long, long time ago”.
Commenting on the direct action today, Abbott said: “I’ve seen more debates about the role of slavery and British history since the Black Lives Matter pulled down the statue in Bristol than before. People are saying they were wrong to do it and do it in the wrong way – they achieved something.”
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, the first Black woman to be elected to parliament, also told the event that the biggest challenge she has faced is racism – both racist abuse in having bricks thrown through her office windows and more recent online abuse.
She also reported having to deal with “assumptions” from colleagues, whom she described as “unwilling to challenge some of their presumptions and some of their attitudes” because “they say ‘we’re left-wing and we’re anti-racist'”.
At the Connected event, shadow minister Chi Onwurah talked about the challenge of “understanding the racist baggage” around her “without internalising it”, adding: “It was a good job I was standing [for parliament] in my 40s, and I had experience of not internalising other people’s racism.”
Kate Osamor, who was a shadow cabinet member for a period under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, said the Labour Party “doesn’t really recognise race and doesn’t understand that we come in all different shapes and sizes of Black women and men”.
Her mother is Baroness Martha Osamor, who was nominated as a potential party candidate by branches of the local Vauxhall Labour party in 1989 but not shortlisted by the party’s national ruling body. Kate Hoey was selected for the seat instead.
The Edmonton MP said: “I got into politics in a kind of unconventional way. I didn’t think I was going to get into politics because of the way my mum was treated and it goes back to what Diane said about the racism Black women in senior leadership roles within the party experience.
“And I saw that, first hand, seeing what my mum went through and seeing how unfortunately the party treated her and the movement that she was part of. When I got into politics, I wasn’t really allowed to have a voice which wasn’t associated with my mother.”
Osamor said there is currently a “burden of the party not understanding overt, covert, direct or indirect racism” – but that if Labour talks about race more, “it will make it easier for those of us who want to take up leadership roles at any level within the party”.
The event was chaired by Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, and joined by Diane Abbott, Kate Osamor, Chi Onwurah, Unite the Union’s Susan Matthews, and councillor Jackie Taylor. It took place as part of Labour’s online conference replacement Connected.


labourlist--2020-09-19--Labour slams government for handing £81m PPE contracts to Tory donor firm

Labour has accused Downing Street of “ damaging public confidence ” in the government after it was revealed that private contracts worth over £81m were awarded to a firm co-owned by a major Conservative Party donor .
Documents highlighted by Byline Times show that the government awarded two contracts , worth a total of £81.8m , to a company partly owned by David Meller , who has given tens of thousands of pounds to the Tories in the last decade .
Meller Designs Limited , co-owned by the former chair of the infamous President ’ s Club , was recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanitiser and face masks – in addition to a £65.8m contract given to the company back in May .
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said : “ It seems there ’ s not a week that goes by without millions of pounds of public contracts being awarded by the government to businesses with links to the Conservative Party .
“ It would be absolutely wrong for any business to gain an advantage over another with the government because of their party political relationship , and the lack of competitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaging public confidence.
” Meller has donated nearly £60,000 to Tory MPs and the central party since 2009 , including a £3,250 payment to Michael Gove ’ s unsuccessful 2016 leadership campaign .
The new contracts mean that Meller Designs Limited has earned more than £148m thanks to the government during the coronavirus crisis – nearly ten times the firm ’ s overall turnover in 2019 .
A loophole in EU law allows governments to tender contracts to the private sector without the normal competition or oversight if it needs to procure personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of an emergency .
The government has made regular use of the loophole during the pandemic .
According to The Times , multiple contracts for providing PPE , worth over £180m , have been awarded to companies owned or run by supporters of the Tories .
One company owned by a Conservative councillor was awarded contracts worth £120m to provide face shields .
Another firm founded by a party donor was given a £1.3m contract to distribute PPE .
David Meller has been at the centre of various controversies over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 for his role as chairman of the now dormant President ’ s Club .
A Financial Times investigation revealed the group held a men-only fundraiser where female staff were repeatedly groped , sexually harassed and propositioned , as well as forced to sign non-disclosure agreements .
Labour ’ s Jess Phillips told the Commons at the time : “ What actually happened was that women were bought as bait for men .
Rich men , not a mile from where we stand , as if that is acceptable behaviour.
” As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to resign from his position as a non-executive director on the Department for Education ’ s board – a role he was in part given for his work in managing a chain of academies .
But the multi-academy trusts ( MATs ) sponsored by Meller are now rated as the country ’ s worst-performing academy chains , according to the latest government statistics .
One of the schools he sponsored , the Hertswood Academy , was given the lowest possible grade in its 2017 Oftsed report due to serious problems with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Meller Designs spokesperson told The Times in August : “ We are extremely proud of the role we played at the height of the crisis and managed to secure more than 150 million items of PPE .
”

Labour has accused Downing Street of “damaging public confidence” in the government after it was revealed that private contracts worth over £81m were awarded to a firm co-owned by a major Conservative Party donor.
Documents highlighted by Byline Times show that the government awarded two contracts, worth a total of £81.8m, to a company partly owned by David Meller, who has given tens of thousands of pounds to the Tories in the last decade.
Meller Designs Limited, co-owned by the former chair of the infamous President’s Club, was recently awarded the new contracts to produce hand sanitiser and face masks – in addition to a £65.8m contract given to the company back in May.
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Rachel Reeves said: “It seems there’s not a week that goes by without millions of pounds of public contracts being awarded by the government to businesses with links to the Conservative Party.
“It would be absolutely wrong for any business to gain an advantage over another with the government because of their party political relationship, and the lack of competitive tender or transparency in these decisions is damaging public confidence.”
Meller has donated nearly £60,000 to Tory MPs and the central party since 2009, including a £3,250 payment to Michael Gove’s unsuccessful 2016 leadership campaign.
The new contracts mean that Meller Designs Limited has earned more than £148m thanks to the government during the coronavirus crisis – nearly ten times the firm’s overall turnover in 2019.
A loophole in EU law allows governments to tender contracts to the private sector without the normal competition or oversight if it needs to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of an emergency.
The government has made regular use of the loophole during the pandemic. According to The Times, multiple contracts for providing PPE, worth over £180m, have been awarded to companies owned or run by supporters of the Tories.
One company owned by a Conservative councillor was awarded contracts worth £120m to provide face shields. Another firm founded by a party donor was given a £1.3m contract to distribute PPE.
David Meller has been at the centre of various controversies over the last few years, including infamously in early 2018 for his role as chairman of the now dormant President’s Club.
A Financial Times investigation revealed the group held a men-only fundraiser where female staff were repeatedly groped, sexually harassed and propositioned, as well as forced to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Labour’s Jess Phillips told the Commons at the time: “What actually happened was that women were bought as bait for men. Rich men, not a mile from where we stand, as if that is acceptable behaviour.”
As a result of the scandal, Meller was forced to resign from his position as a non-executive director on the Department for Education’s board – a role he was in part given for his work in managing a chain of academies.
But the multi-academy trusts (MATs) sponsored by Meller are now rated as the country’s worst-performing academy chains, according to the latest government statistics.
One of the schools he sponsored, the Hertswood Academy, was given the lowest possible grade in its 2017 Oftsed report due to serious problems with “personal development, behaviour and welfare”.
A Meller Designs spokesperson told The Times in August: “We are extremely proud of the role we played at the height of the crisis and managed to secure more than 150 million items of PPE.”
LabourList has contacted Meller Designs Limited for comment.


labourlist--2020-09-19--Publish your plan to fix social care crisis, Labour tells PM

The Labour Party has today demanded that the government finally publish its plan to fix the intensifying social care crisis as Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised to do since becoming Prime Minister .
Deputy leader and party chair Angela Rayner is calling for part of the social care plan to guarantee that all social workers are paid at least the real living wage of £9.30 an hour , rising to £10.75 in London .
Highlighting that the median hourly wage for a care worker in the independent sector is just £8.10 per hour , which former care worker Rayner has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is turning up the pressure on social care .
Addressing the country on his first day in office in July 2019 , Johnson said : “ I am announcing now – on the steps of Downing Street – that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared to give every older person the dignity and security they deserve.
” But no plan was presented in the Conservative Party manifesto ahead of the 2019 general election , which only stated that there should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ cross-party consensus ” on what to do next for long-term reform .
Comments made earlier this week by Tory peer Lord Bethell , innovation minister for health and social care , has added to concerns that the government has no plan to address the overwhelming problems in the sector .
Lord Bethell told the upper chamber : “ I can not commit to a social care plan before the end of the year .
It will require a huge amount of political collaboration and I suspect it will take longer than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development , Rayner said : “ On his first day in office .
the Prime Minister promised to fix the crisis in social care with a plan he said he had already prepared .
Now it turns out that it won ’ t be published until next year .
“ He must publish his plan to fix the crisis in social care without any more delays , and that plan must guarantee all care workers are paid at least the real living wage.
” The Prime Minister clapped for carers during the early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ our wonderful NHS and carers ” and their “ incredible , selfless work ” .
Rayner has accused Johnson of offering care workers only “ warm words ” , saying that “ applause and empty gestures don ’ t pay the rent or put the food on the table ” .
Social care workers will not benefit from the public sector pay rise announced in July .
The party chair added : “ We can ’ t clap our key workers and then abandon them .
We can ’ t go back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very same people who have helped to get our country through this crisis are still underpaid and undervalued.
” Making the case that “ the very least that our care workers deserve is a pay rise ” , Rayner also highlighted that many “ do not even have the right to the derisory statutory sick pay of £94.25 per week ” .
She said : “ They are left in an appalling position , forced to choose between going to work and putting vulnerable people at risk or doing the right thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pay the bills.
” Rayner was a care worker for a number of years with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council , as well as single mother and trade union representative for UNISON during that time , before rising up the ranks and being elected to parliament in 2015 .
Jonathan Ashworth confirmed to LabourList in July this year that Labour still stands by its 2019 commitments to repealing the Health and Social Care Act , ending privatisation in the NHS and setting up a National Care Service .

The Labour Party has today demanded that the government finally publish its plan to fix the intensifying social care crisis as Boris Johnson has repeatedly promised to do since becoming Prime Minister.
Deputy leader and party chair Angela Rayner is calling for part of the social care plan to guarantee that all social workers are paid at least the real living wage of £9.30 an hour, rising to £10.75 in London.
Highlighting that the median hourly wage for a care worker in the independent sector is just £8.10 per hour, which former care worker Rayner has described as “unconscionable”, Labour is turning up the pressure on social care.
Addressing the country on his first day in office in July 2019, Johnson said: “I am announcing now – on the steps of Downing Street – that we will fix the crisis in social care once and for all with a clear plan we have prepared to give every older person the dignity and security they deserve.”
But no plan was presented in the Conservative Party manifesto ahead of the 2019 general election, which only stated that there should be “extra funding” and a “cross-party consensus” on what to do next for long-term reform.
Comments made earlier this week by Tory peer Lord Bethell, innovation minister for health and social care, has added to concerns that the government has no plan to address the overwhelming problems in the sector.
Lord Bethell told the upper chamber: “I cannot commit to a social care plan before the end of the year. It will require a huge amount of political collaboration and I suspect it will take longer than the next few months.”
Responding to the development, Rayner said: “On his first day in office, the Prime Minister promised to fix the crisis in social care with a plan he said he had already prepared. Now it turns out that it won’t be published until next year.
“He must publish his plan to fix the crisis in social care without any more delays, and that plan must guarantee all care workers are paid at least the real living wage.”
The Prime Minister clapped for carers during the early stages of the pandemic and tweeted about “our wonderful NHS and carers” and their “incredible, selfless work”.
Rayner has accused Johnson of offering care workers only “warm words”, saying that “applause and empty gestures don’t pay the rent or put the food on the table”. Social care workers will not benefit from the public sector pay rise announced in July.
The party chair added: “We can’t clap our key workers and then abandon them. We can’t go back to business as usual, where the very same people who have helped to get our country through this crisis are still underpaid and undervalued.”
Making the case that “the very least that our care workers deserve is a pay rise”, Rayner also highlighted that many “do not even have the right to the derisory statutory sick pay of £94.25 per week”.
She said: “They are left in an appalling position, forced to choose between going to work and putting vulnerable people at risk or doing the right thing, isolating at home and not being able to pay the bills.”
Rayner was a care worker for a number of years in Stockport, as well as a single mother and trade union representative for UNISON during that time, before rising up the ranks and being elected to parliament in 2015.
Jonathan Ashworth confirmed to LabourList in July this year that Labour still stands by its 2019 commitments to repealing the Health and Social Care Act, ending privatisation in the NHS and setting up a National Care Service.


labourlist--2020-09-20--Keeping it ‘Connected’. Online Labour conference enters second day

Labour is keeping connected , despite the pandemic .
The party ’ s online ‘ Connected ‘ series kicked off on Saturday morning with an updated slogan : “ A New Leadership ” .
Doing the media rounds this morning , Keir Starmer defended the branding .
“ Not very subtle , is it ?
” He was asked .
“ Corbynites might be a bit disappointed.
” But the Labour leader echoed sentiments he expressed in his campaign earlier this year .
Steering away from commenting on Corbyn , he told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that leadership under Starmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ lost not just one election , but four ” .
The party ’ s online conference launched with ‘ Women Connected ’ yesterday and LabourList remained glued to the screen to bring you all the highlights .
We heard from Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds on the Covid “ motherlode ” , Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy on women leading on the pandemic response around the world , and shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq on childcare and unpaid carers in the health crisis .
Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbbott seized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives Matter rally , criticising Labour ’ s failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters : “ It ’ s astonishing to me that in 2020 , you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party ’ s HQ on Victoria Street – and see hardly any Black people.
” And there is plenty more to come today .
We ’ ll be hearing from deputy leader Angela Rayner at 11am , and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard is expected to demand a targeted furlough scheme for Scotland .
Panels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whether the term BAME is fit for purpose and how we put health and wellbeing at the heart of society .
There are also some interesting The World Transformed events taking place alongside Connected .
Len McCluskey and Sam Tarry MP will join a panel to discuss the relationship between Labour and the unions , for example , and MP Rebecca Long-Bailey will be talking about left utopianism at 8pm .
Keep your eyes peeled for LabourList updates .
Sign up to LabourList ’ s morning email for everything Labour , every @ @ @

Labour is keeping connected, despite the pandemic. The party’s online ‘Connected‘ series kicked off on Saturday morning with an updated slogan: “A New Leadership”. Doing the media rounds this morning, Keir Starmer defended the branding. “Not very subtle, is it?” He was asked. “Corbynites might be a bit disappointed.” But the Labour leader echoed sentiments he expressed in his campaign earlier this year. Steering away from commenting on Corbyn, he told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that leadership under Starmer is about recognising that the party has “lost not just one election, but four”.
The party’s online conference launched with ‘Women Connected’ yesterday and LabourList remained glued to the screen to bring you all the highlights. We heard from Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds on the Covid “motherlode”, Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy on women leading on the pandemic response around the world, and shadow early years minister Tulip Siddiq on childcare and unpaid carers in the health crisis. Former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbbott seized the chance to speak out at an anti-racism Black Lives Matter rally, criticising Labour’s failure to recruit Black staffers in its London headquarters: “It’s astonishing to me that in 2020, you can walk into Southside – the Labour Party’s HQ on Victoria Street – and see hardly any Black people.”
And there is plenty more to come today. We’ll be hearing from deputy leader Angela Rayner at 11am, and Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard is expected to demand a targeted furlough scheme for Scotland. Panels will discuss the future of social care, whether the term BAME is fit for purpose and how we put health and wellbeing at the heart of society. There are also some interesting The World Transformed events taking place alongside Connected. Len McCluskey and Sam Tarry MP will join a panel to discuss the relationship between Labour and the unions, for example, and MP Rebecca Long-Bailey will be talking about left utopianism at 8pm. Keep your eyes peeled for LabourList updates. Sign up to LabourList’s morning email for everything Labour, every weekday morning.


labourlist--2020-09-20--Sunday shows: Labour will back “whatever measures the government takes” on Covid restrictions

Keir Starmer appeared on the show this morning .
He said Labour will support “ whatever measure the government takes ” on the pandemic and told viewers that he does not want another “ divisive ” Scottish independence referendum .
• Asked if it is time for another lockdown : “ I don ’ t think a lockdown is inevitable but I think it is now more likely because of the near-collapse of testing.
” • On restrictions and lockdown measures : “ Whatever measure the government takes , we will support it.
” • He added : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priority and I would reinstate the daily press conferences so we all know what ’ s going on.
” • Asked whether he would introduce a lockdown : “ I ’ m not giving you my view on that for this reason… One of the very important things in a pandemic is that there ’ s clarity of communication.
” • On supporting the government : “ They make a decision , we will follow that and we will reinforce their communications because in the end this is not about party politics.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve reiterated the government message because I think that is the right thing to do in the national interest .
It doesn ’ t prevent us challenging the government where they ’ ve got it wrong.
” • Pressed on whether he wants a lockdown : “ I want him [ the Prime Minister ] to set out in certain terms what he wants to do .
I do not want to second guess what he ’ s doing .
I want him to get this right.
” • On the fine introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is necessary to take measures against the very few people who are frequently and repeatedly breaking the rules.
” • Asked which sectors he would like to see furlough for : “ There are very obvious sectors that need some support : retail , hospitality , tourism .
We can identify them.
” • Asked about the cost : “ There ’ s a cost to not doing it .
And the cost is that if otherwise good businesses go under , and jobs are lost , we will have mass unemployment… That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a societal cost.
” • On national debt : “ I accept that because of furlough , I accept that because of the support that we say should continue , that debt will go up .
And obviously we ’ ll have to look at what the state of the finances are at the next election.
” • On whether Labour could back a universal basic income : “ I think we should look at all options .
We ’ re not committed to it.
” • Asked whether the government should cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid : “ I don ’ t think we should raise taxes at the moment… When we know the size of the debt , when we get to 2024 , we will be setting out our proposals.
” • He added : “ The idea of saying now , four years out , what the tax regime will be just doesn ’ t make sense.
” • Asked whether the Brexit deadline should be extended : “ No .
The two outstanding issues can be resolved .
The Prime Minister said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to get on and deliver it.
” • Asked , if voters back the SNP at the Holyrood elections next year , if the Scottish government will have a mandate for a second independence referendum : “ I don ’ t think that a further divisive referendum is right.
” • On the government ’ s arguments on state aid and the EU : “ I ’ m sceptical about this government ’ s arguments about state aid .
If they ’ re so keen on state aid , get on and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour leader Keir Starmer agreed with the government ’ s new fines for those who break Covid restrictions , discussed Scottish independence and called on the government to prioritise schoolchildren for tests .
• None On whether he supports new Covid regulations from the government : “ I support that .
There are a few people that are breaking the rules and something needs to be done about that .
But I have to say that is not going to be the silver bullet.
” • None On the likelihood of another lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national lockdown is inevitable but I think it is more likely because testing is all over the place.
” • None He added : “ The testing regime is all over the place and one of the concerns I have , and a lot of people have , is because the government now effectively lost control of testing they don ’ t know where the virus is.
” • None On what he would do if he were Prime Minister : “ I would apologise , I would make fixing testing my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister needs to reinstate the daily briefing , the press briefing , so everybody knows whats going on.
” • None On testing of children returning to schools : “ Prioritise children put them in the same portion as key workers and allow them a test within 24 hours , and results within 24 hours of that.
” • None On the government ’ s failure to predict the current demand for tests : “ It should have been planned for , schools closed down in March .
The idea we are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t expect children to get colds , I didn ’ t expect them to have bugs ’ – everybody knew that would happen and I can ’ t believe we didn ’ t scenario plan for this.
” • None On a Scottish independence referendum : “ I think another independence referendum will be divisive… the Labour Party will be campaigning into the May elections on the economy , on rebuilding the economy , on ensuring our public services are in the right place , on defeating coronavirus ” • None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a previous promise to consider a referendum if the SNP won a majority in Holyrood in 2021 : “ I ’ m frustrated that in the middle of a pandemic we ’ ve got the SNP talking about independence , we ’ ve got a Tory party talking about Brexit.
” • None On whether he valued winning power over principles : “ Do I want to win ?
Of course , I want to win .
We ’ ve lost four elections in a row .
I didn ’ t come into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • None On being a vegetarian : “ Well I gave up meat as a matter of principle years ago on the basis that eating meat wasn ’ t the right thing for the body or planet .
But I have to say I miss meat tremendously.
” Unite general secretary Len McCluskey discussed the need to extend the furlough scheme , arguing the Chancellor was treating UK workers like “ second class citizens ” .
He also shared his thoughts on Starmer ’ s progress as leader .
• None On extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ticking .
The fact of the matter is that there are millions and millions of workers currently on the job protection scheme and they will be worried , them and their families deeply worried about the future.
” • None On action taken by other countries : “ They won ’ t be having sleepless nights in Germany and France and Spain and Belgium and Holland and Scandinavia because their governments have stepped up to the plate to protect their workers.
” • None He added : “ My question to the Chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as second class citizens in Europe.
” • None Asked about the costs of an extension and how long it should last : “ As long as it takes .
Would we sooner see those workers costing the taxpayer £35bn by drawing benefits on the doll ?
” • None On unemployment if the furlough scheme isn ’ t extended : “ Germany and France won ’ t be looking at wastelands in their economy but we ’ re in danger of becoming a wasteland UK.
” • None Asked about whether he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back Keir now he ’ s our leader .
He ’ s been competent.
” • None On the party ’ s “ A New Leadership ” slogan : “ It ’ s certainly not got my pulses running… it ’ s a bit meaningless.
” • None He added : “ It ’ s a statement of fact , there is a new leader and that new leader was elected quite overwhelmingly by our membership , including our members , on a ten-point platform that was a radical progressive platform.
” • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Jeremy Corbyn and Starmer : “ If you look at the left of the party and how they ’ ve behaved towards Keir , it ’ s in stark contrast to the way the right-wing of the party behaved towards Corbyn.
” Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the programme that “ the nation was facing a tipping point ” in its response to coronavirus , saying that “ more restrictive measures ” may be needed if people do not follow the rules .
He also said “ everybody should report ” people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more stringent punishments today .
He added that “ nobody could have predicted ” the surge of people without symptoms that have come forward for tests , leading to the current demand for tests outstripping capacity .

The Andrew Marr Show
Keir Starmer appeared on the show this morning. He said Labour will support “whatever measure the government takes” on the pandemic and told viewers that he does not want another “divisive” Scottish independence referendum.
Asked if it is time for another lockdown: “I don’t think a lockdown is inevitable but I think it is now more likely because of the near-collapse of testing.”
On restrictions and lockdown measures: “Whatever measure the government takes, we will support it.”
He added: “I would make daily testing the number one priority and I would reinstate the daily press conferences so we all know what’s going on.”
Asked whether he would introduce a lockdown: “I’m not giving you my view on that for this reason… One of the very important things in a pandemic is that there’s clarity of communication.”
On supporting the government: “They make a decision, we will follow that and we will reinforce their communications because in the end this is not about party politics.”
He added: “I’ve reiterated the government message because I think that is the right thing to do in the national interest. It doesn’t prevent us challenging the government where they’ve got it wrong.”
Pressed on whether he wants a lockdown: “I want him [the Prime Minister] to set out in certain terms what he wants to do. I do not want to second guess what he’s doing. I want him to get this right.”
On the fine introduced for breaking Covid restrictions: “It is necessary to take measures against the very few people who are frequently and repeatedly breaking the rules.”
Asked which sectors he would like to see furlough for: “There are very obvious sectors that need some support: retail, hospitality, tourism. We can identify them.”
Asked about the cost: “There’s a cost to not doing it. And the cost is that if otherwise good businesses go under, and jobs are lost, we will have mass unemployment… That is a monetary cost. That is a societal cost.”
On national debt: “I accept that because of furlough, I accept that because of the support that we say should continue, that debt will go up. And obviously we’ll have to look at what the state of the finances are at the next election.”
On whether Labour could back a universal basic income: “I think we should look at all options. We’re not committed to it.”
Asked whether the government should cut spending or raise taxes to pay for Covid: “I don’t think we should raise taxes at the moment… When we know the size of the debt, when we get to 2024, we will be setting out our proposals.”
He added: “The idea of saying now, four years out, what the tax regime will be just doesn’t make sense.”
Asked whether the Brexit deadline should be extended: “No. The two outstanding issues can be resolved. The Prime Minister said he had an ‘oven-ready deal’. He needs to get on and deliver it.”
Asked, if voters back the SNP at the Holyrood elections next year, if the Scottish government will have a mandate for a second independence referendum: “I don’t think that a further divisive referendum is right.”
On the government’s arguments on state aid and the EU: “I’m sceptical about this government’s arguments about state aid. If they’re so keen on state aid, get on and use it to support British industries.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tells #Marr he will support the Government if it decides to implement new national restrictions#Covid_19 https://t.co/DhwF19ofUV pic.twitter.com/P0hTPXJGJn — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) September 20, 2020
Sophy Ridge on Sunday
Labour leader Keir Starmer agreed with the government’s new fines for those who break Covid restrictions, discussed Scottish independence and called on the government to prioritise schoolchildren for tests.
On whether he supports new Covid regulations from the government: “I support that. There are a few people that are breaking the rules and something needs to be done about that. But I have to say that is not going to be the silver bullet.”
On the likelihood of another lockdown: “I don’t think a national lockdown is inevitable but I think it is more likely because testing is all over the place.”
He added: “The testing regime is all over the place and one of the concerns I have, and a lot of people have, is because the government now effectively lost control of testing they don’t know where the virus is.”
On what he would do if he were Prime Minister: “I would apologise, I would make fixing testing my first priority and I think the Prime Minister needs to reinstate the daily briefing, the press briefing, so everybody knows what’s going on.”
On testing of children returning to schools: “Prioritise children put them in the same portion as key workers and allow them a test within 24 hours, and results within 24 hours of that.”
On the government’s failure to predict the current demand for tests: “It should have been planned for, schools closed down in March. The idea we are in September scratching our heads going ‘I didn’t expect children to get colds, I didn’t expect them to have bugs’ – everybody knew that would happen and I can’t believe we didn’t plan for this.”
On a Scottish independence referendum: “I think another independence referendum will be divisive… the Labour Party will be campaigning into the May elections on the economy, on rebuilding the economy, on ensuring our public services are in the right place, on defeating coronavirus.”
Asked directly if he was backtracking on a previous promise to consider a referendum if the SNP won a majority in Holyrood in 2021: “I’m frustrated that in the middle of a pandemic we’ve got the SNP talking about independence, we’ve got a Tory Party talking about Brexit.”
On whether he valued winning power over principles: “Do I want to win? Of course I want to win. We’ve lost four elections in a row. I didn’t come into politics just to be in opposition.”
On being a vegetarian: “I gave up meat as a matter of principle years ago on the basis that eating meat wasn’t the right thing for the body or planet. But I have to say, I miss meat tremendously.”
'If the SNP win a majority in next year’s Scottish elections, should there be another independence referendum?'@Keir_Starmer says another independence referendum will be "divisive", but discussions should not take place during the pandemic.#Ridge https://t.co/GvaT6GJIXE pic.twitter.com/0stqiNMFgH — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) September 20, 2020
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey discussed the need to extend the furlough scheme, arguing the Chancellor was treating UK workers like “second class citizens”. He also shared his thoughts on Starmer’s progress as leader.
On extending the furlough: “The clock is ticking. The fact of the matter is that there are millions and millions of workers currently on the job protection scheme and they will be worried, them and their families deeply worried about the future.”
On action taken by other countries: “They won’t be having sleepless nights in Germany and France and Spain and Belgium and Holland and Scandinavia because their governments have stepped up to the plate to protect their workers.”
He added: “My question to the Chancellor is why should British workers be treated as second class citizens in Europe.”
Asked about the costs of an extension and how long it should last: “As long as it takes. Would we sooner see those workers costing the taxpayer £35bn by drawing benefits on the doll?”
On unemployment if the furlough scheme isn’t extended: “Germany and France won’t be looking at wastelands in their economy but we’re in danger of becoming a wasteland UK.”
Asked about whether he backed Keir Starmer: “I do back Keir now he’s our leader. He’s been competent.”
On the party’s “A New Leadership” slogan: “It’s certainly not got my pulses running… it’s a bit meaningless.”
He added: “It’s a statement of fact, there is a new leader and that new leader was elected quite overwhelmingly by our membership, including our members, on a ten-point platform that was a radical progressive platform.”
On the differences between the party under Jeremy Corbyn and Starmer: “If you look at the left of the party and how they’ve behaved towards Keir, it’s in stark contrast to the way the right-wing of the party behaved towards Corbyn.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the programme that “the nation was facing a tipping point” on coronavirus and “more restrictive measures” may be needed if people do not follow the rules.
He said “everybody should report” people breaking Covid regulations after the government introduced more stringent punishments today and claimed that “nobody could have predicted” the the current level of demand for tests.
Times Radio
Keir Starmer joined Gloria de Piero and Tom Newton Dunn.