labourlist--2020-12-11--Tracy Brabin selected as Labour’s West Yorkshire mayoral candidate

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin has been announced as Labour ’ s West Yorkshire mayoral candidate after being selected by local party members ahead of the election taking place on May 6th .
First preference votes received by each candidate : Tracy Brabin – 4,389 – ELECTED Hugh Goulbourne – 801 Susan Hinchcliffe – 3,475 Commenting on her selection win this afternoon , Brabin – who currently serves as Labour ’ s shadow minister for cultural industries – said : “ I ’ m Yorkshire through and through , so this is a huge honour .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mayoral candidate because it means representing the people I grew up with and the communities I grew up in to try and make a real and practical difference to their day to day lives .
“ We ’ ve seen this year , more than any other , how much it matters who we elect .
We need a mayor who is going to get West Yorkshire our fair share when it comes to funding , jobs , transport and a recovery from the pandemic.
” The new mayoral candidate , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hugh Goulbourne , added : “ There ’ s a big north/south divide in this country and we deserve better that to be treated as second-class citizens .
“ There ’ s a big job to do in rebuilding our economy in a post-Covid-19 world , my job will be to make sure that what comes next is fair and delivers the jobs , skills and opportunities people in our cities , towns , villages and former mining communities deserve.
” Brabin , seen to be the most left-wing candidate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Who star Jodie Whittaker and Labour MPs including Fabian Hamilton , Alex Sobel , Rachael Maskell and Naz Shah .
She also secured the endorsements of Unite , GMB , train drivers ’ union ASLEF , transport workers ’ union TSSA , the Communication Workers Union , the National Union of Mineworkers and the Co-operative Party .
The opposition frontbencher has said she hopes to modernise the region ’ s transport and increase economic investment into the area , from supporting green jobs and sustainable reindustrialisation to a “ creative new deal ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brabin argued : “ We need a bold and creative vision .
Campaigning as usual won ’ t win this election ; neither cuts nor the status quo will rebuild our economy.
” She pledged to be an “ ambassador for our region , fighting for investment and jobs ” and a mayor committed to “ community wealth building ” and a “ green economy ” , as well as “ better transport , social and council housing ” .
The shadow minister wrote : “ I ’ m West Yorkshire born and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flat on an estate in Batley on free school meals , I ’ ve spent over three decades as a freelancer often living hand to mouth , pay cheque to pay cheque .
“ I know I ’ m not a typical politician .
I haven ’ t spent my life in politics but I have spent my life putting our values into action – organising donations in the miners ’ strike , marching on Greenham Common , representing members as a union rep. ” Following local party nominations and interviews , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NEC ) members and regional board officials shortlisted Brabin , Hinchcliffe and Goulbourne last month .
Hinchcliffe , leader of Bradford council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority , was supported by UNISON , Usdaw and Community .
Huddersfield lawyer Goulbourne was backed by Labour peer Baroness Osamor among others .
Voting in West Yorkshire mayor selection process opened on November 23rd and closed at midday today , ahead of the inaugural race itself on May 6th next year alongside other contests across the country .
If Brabin is successful in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become the first female metro mayor , possibly along with Labour candidate Jessie Joe Jacobs in Tees Valley who is hoping to defeat the incumbent Tory .

Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin has been announced as Labour’s West Yorkshire mayoral candidate after being selected by local party members ahead of the election taking place on May 6th.
Vote results
First preference votes received by each candidate:
Tracy Brabin – 4,389 – ELECTED
Hugh Goulbourne – 801
Susan Hinchcliffe – 3,475
Valid votes – 8,665
Invalid votes – 3
Turnout – 43.5%
Commenting on her selection win this afternoon, Brabin – who currently serves as Labour’s shadow minister for cultural industries – said: “I’m Yorkshire through and through, so this is a huge honour.
“I’m incredibly proud to be Labour’s mayoral candidate because it means representing the people I grew up with and the communities I grew up in to try and make a real and practical difference to their day to day lives.
“We’ve seen this year, more than any other, how much it matters who we elect. We need a mayor who is going to get West Yorkshire our fair share when it comes to funding, jobs, transport and a recovery from the pandemic.”
The new mayoral candidate, who won the internal race against Susan Hinchcliffe and Hugh Goulbourne, added: “There’s a big north/south divide in this country and we deserve better that to be treated as second-class citizens.
“There’s a big job to do in rebuilding our economy in a post-Covid-19 world, my job will be to make sure that what comes next is fair and delivers the jobs, skills and opportunities people in our cities, towns, villages and former mining communities deserve.”
Brabin, seen to be the most left-wing candidate in the internal contest, was backed by Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker and Labour MPs including Fabian Hamilton, Alex Sobel, Rachael Maskell and Naz Shah.
She also secured the endorsements of Unite, GMB, train drivers’ union ASLEF, transport workers’ union TSSA, the Communication Workers Union, the National Union of Mineworkers and the Co-operative Party.
The opposition frontbencher has said she hopes to modernise the region’s transport and increase economic investment into the area, from supporting green jobs and sustainable reindustrialisation to a “creative new deal”.
Writing for LabourList in October, Brabin argued: “We need a bold and creative vision. Campaigning as usual won’t win this election; neither cuts nor the status quo will rebuild our economy.”
She pledged to be an “ambassador for our region, fighting for investment and jobs” and a mayor committed to “community wealth building” and a “green economy”, as well as “better transport, social and council housing”.
The shadow minister wrote: “I’m West Yorkshire born and bred. Growing up in a council flat on an estate in Batley on free school meals, I’ve spent over three decades as a freelancer often living hand to mouth, pay cheque to pay cheque.
“I know I’m not a typical politician. I haven’t spent my life in politics but I have spent my life putting our values into action – organising donations in the miners’ strike, marching on Greenham Common, representing members as a union rep.”
Following local party nominations and interviews, a panel of Labour national executive committee (NEC) members and regional board officials shortlisted Brabin, Hinchcliffe and Goulbourne last month.
Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, was supported by UNISON, Usdaw and Community. Huddersfield lawyer Goulbourne was backed by Labour peer Baroness Osamor among others.
Voting in West Yorkshire mayor selection process opened on November 23rd and closed at midday today, ahead of the inaugural race itself on May 6th next year alongside other contests across the country.
If Brabin is successful in the West Yorkshire contest, she would become the first female metro mayor, possibly along with Labour candidate Jessie Joe Jacobs in Tees Valley who is hoping to defeat the incumbent Tory.
Update, December 14th: Brabin has confirmed to The Guardian that she plans to give up her Westminster seat if she becomes mayor of West Yorkshire, believing it to be a “24/7 job”.


labourlist--2020-12-11--Dodds: Government must “act now” to help small businesses through Covid

Labour ’ s Anneliese Dodds has called on the government to “ act now ” to help small businesses facing major financial problems due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic .
Her comments follow the Bank of England ’ s latest financial stability report , which found that businesses had borrowed £80bn so far this year , compared to £20bn by this time last year , to cope with Covid .
The report published today warned that there were “ a number of risks ahead ” for businesses , such as further disruption caused by Covid-19 and problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition period on December 31st .
Commenting on the findings , Dodds said : “ Small businesses are the backbone of our economy .
They have been hit hardest by the pandemic , and now face a huge cash-flow problem .
Many have already taken on significant debt just to make it through .
“ Today ’ s report shows they face a worrying future .
Labour has repeatedly called on the government to set out a plan for rebuilding business and tackling high levels of corporate debt .
Without that , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses.
” Staying with Labour ’ s messaging on ‘ responsible government ’ , the Shadow Chancellor added : “ The government needs to do the responsible thing and act now to help our small businesses.
” Earlier this month , Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband warned that small businesses had been “ let down by shrinking government grants ” after analysis found hundreds of thousands of businesses might not survive the winter .
The Office for National Statistics analysis showed an estimated 390,000 small businesses were worried they would not survive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses reporting low cash reserves for the next three months .
The new Bank of England report found that net bank lending to UK small and medium-sized businesses in the year to October had been more than 40 times higher than the 2016-19 average .
It noted that smaller businesses tended to be more concentrated in sectors hardest hit by public health measures and could struggle to borrow money in the future as they have already borrowed heavily using government schemes this year .
But the BoE also said UK banks were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses through the pandemic , adding that it was “ in banks ’ own interest to continue to lend ” to protect the economy .
Dodds called on the government last week to “ do the right thing ” by using more than £1bn in business rates relief returned by supermarkets to support businesses and individuals facing tough coronavirus restrictions this winter .
Supermarkets , including Sainsbury ’ s , Tesco and Morrisons , announced they would give back £1.29bn gained after the UK government said all retail , hospitality and leisure businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates in England for the year 2020-21 .
The Shadow Chancellor welcomed the decision by supermarkets to return money gained from the measure but said it “ should never have been necessary ” as the government could have avoided a “ one-size-fits-all ” approach to rates relief .
“ If the UK government had done as Labour asked , and as we did in Wales , it could have targeted support to those who needed it right from the start and saved many more jobs , ” the Labour frontbencher said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and did not extend the 100 % relief to properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more – a decision that saved approximately £117m , despite affecting fewer than 200 properties .
Labour has repeatedly called for a more targeted approach to business support during the pandemic , with a focus on protecting small businesses that have been worst affect by Covid rules and continue to face restrictions over the coming months .

Labour’s Anneliese Dodds has called on the government to “act now” to help small businesses facing major financial problems due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Her comments follow the Bank of England’s latest financial stability report, which found that businesses had borrowed £80bn so far this year, compared to £20bn by this time last year, to cope with Covid.
The report published today warned that there were “a number of risks ahead” for businesses, such as further disruption caused by Covid-19 and problems arising from the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st.
Commenting on the findings, Dodds said: “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They have been hit hardest by the pandemic, and now face a huge cash-flow problem. Many have already taken on significant debt just to make it through.
“Today’s report shows they face a worrying future. Labour has repeatedly called on the government to set out a plan for rebuilding business and tackling high levels of corporate debt. Without that, we risk rising insolvencies and yet more job losses.”
Staying with Labour’s messaging on ‘responsible government’, the Shadow Chancellor added: “The government needs to do the responsible thing and act now to help our small businesses.”
Earlier this month, Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband warned that small businesses had been “let down by shrinking government grants” after analysis found hundreds of thousands of businesses might not survive the winter.
The Office for National Statistics analysis showed an estimated 390,000 small businesses were worried they would not survive to spring, with more than one million businesses reporting low cash reserves for the next three months.
The new Bank of England report found that net bank lending to UK small and medium-sized businesses in the year to October had been more than 40 times higher than the 2016-19 average.
It noted that smaller businesses tended to be more concentrated in sectors hardest hit by public health measures and could struggle to borrow money in the future as they have already borrowed heavily using government schemes this year.
But the BoE also said UK banks were in a strong position to support households and businesses through the pandemic, adding that it was “in banks’ own interest to continue to lend” to protect the economy.
Dodds called on the government last week to “do the right thing” by using more than £1bn in business rates relief returned by supermarkets to support businesses and individuals facing tough coronavirus restrictions this winter.
Supermarkets, including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons, announced they would give back £1.29bn gained after the UK government said all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses would not be required to pay business rates in England for the year 2020-21.
The Shadow Chancellor welcomed the decision by supermarkets to return money gained from the measure but said it “should never have been necessary” as the government could have avoided a “one-size-fits-all” approach to rates relief.
“If the UK government had done as Labour asked, and as we did in Wales, it could have targeted support to those who needed it right from the start and saved many more jobs,” the Labour frontbencher said.
The Welsh Labour government adjusted its relief scheme and did not extend the 100% relief to properties with a rateable value of £500,000 or more – a decision that saved approximately £117m, despite affecting fewer than 200 properties.
Labour has repeatedly called for a more targeted approach to business support during the pandemic, with a focus on protecting small businesses that have been worst affect by Covid rules and continue to face restrictions over the coming months.


labourlist--2020-12-12--Give us the tools for the job – and watch the Steel City rise

Most people will be familiar with The Full Monty , the film and musical about laid-off Sheffield steel workers , scratching around to make a living , who end up becoming male strippers .
It is obviously meant to be an upbeat and inspirational story , but it is set against the very real misery of life in England ’ s third-largest city during the ’ 80s and early ’ 90s .
Those were grim years for South Yorkshire .
The sense of hopelessness when tens of thousands of decent , secure , well-paid jobs suddenly vanished and the Thatcher-Major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The city ’ s skyline changed completely in that time .
Pits and steelworks disappeared .
Whole communities that were built around a single industry were bereft .
It took far too long for anything to replace them – and its still very much a work in progress .
Then came the Labour years after 1997 .
The Decent Homes programme renovated thousands of properties across the city – a lifeline for Sheffield , as we have twice the national average number of social houses .
The natural environment miraculously recovered .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ river ’ ( the polite way of saying it was filthy ) is now abundant with wild trout and fauna .
Despite our industrial heritage , we are the greenest city in the UK , with a quarter of Sheffield inside the Peak District National Park .
We have an admired tram system .
World-class sporting facilities .
And two large , successful universities ( with the highest staying on rate too ) .
‘ Made in Sheffield ’ still matters , with our world-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park attracting next generation manufacturers like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came austerity .
Since 2010 , around £500m has been cut from the City Council ’ s budget and we have needed to make tough and painful decisions .
I pay tribute to my predecessor , Julie Dore , for her leadership during this difficult period .
Like many big cities , Sheffield now finds itself at a crossroads .
Boris Johnson talks about ‘ levelling up ’ and Rishi Sunak promises to change funding formulas that benefit southern England at the expense of large cities like Sheffield .
The mood music from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been for years .
We still have a right to be suspicious , though .
When it comes to austerity , 38 of the 50 worst-hit councils are Labour-controlled , while only five are Conservative authorities .
There ’ s lots of talk , but nothing has changed yet .
Until we maximise the potential of the northern economy and get it firing on all cylinders , the UK economy will never reach its full potential .
We need to see movement on devolution , too .
Again , this is an unfinished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has simply seized up , while Theresa May ’ s ‘ industrial strategy ’ seems to have fallen down the back of a Downing Street sofa .
So pushing ministers for real and sustained commitments about ending austerity and continuing with devolution will remain our top priority .
It is in the whole country ’ s interests that we catalyse the potential of cities like Sheffield .
Central government needs to work with us to make this happen .
Give us the tools for the job and watch the Steel City get on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s all hands on deck as we fight our way past Covid .
Our immediate priority is to get Sheffield back to normal , protect jobs and support businesses , and to work with our colleagues in the NHS to gear up for the huge effort that will be needed to vaccinate people in the New Year .
This is especially important to me .
Many of those deemed to be ‘ clinically extremely vulnerable ’ and who have been shielding through Covid will include thousands of ex-miners and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ old age that blight their life expectancy .
Their ‘ reward ’ for a life doing hard , dangerous jobs that powered the British economy .
We will do everything we can to stand by them .

Most people will be familiar with The Full Monty, the film and musical about laid-off Sheffield steel workers, scratching around to make a living, who end up becoming male strippers. It is obviously meant to be an upbeat and inspirational story, but it is set against the very real misery of life in England’s third-largest city during the ’80s and early ’90s.
Those were grim years for South Yorkshire. The sense of hopelessness when tens of thousands of decent, secure, well-paid jobs suddenly vanished and the Thatcher-Major governments simply left us to it.
The city’s skyline changed completely in that time. Pits and steelworks disappeared. Whole communities that were built around a single industry were bereft. It took far too long for anything to replace them – and its still very much a work in progress.
Then came the Labour years after 1997. The Decent Homes programme renovated thousands of properties across the city – a lifeline for Sheffield, as we have twice the national average number of social houses.
The natural environment miraculously recovered. The River Don, once an ‘industrial river’ (the polite way of saying it was filthy) is now abundant with wild trout and fauna. Despite our industrial heritage, we are the greenest city in the UK, with a quarter of Sheffield inside the Peak District National Park.
We have an admired tram system. World-class sporting facilities. And two large, successful universities (with the highest staying on rate too). ‘Made in Sheffield’ still matters, with our world-renowned Advanced Manufacturing Park attracting next generation manufacturers like car maker, McLaren.
But then came austerity. Since 2010, around £500m has been cut from the City Council’s budget and we have needed to make tough and painful decisions. I pay tribute to my predecessor, Julie Dore, for her leadership during this difficult period.
Like many big cities, Sheffield now finds itself at a crossroads. Boris Johnson talks about ‘levelling up’ and Rishi Sunak promises to change funding formulas that benefit southern England at the expense of large cities like Sheffield. The mood music from Whitehall is more positive than it has been for years.
We still have a right to be suspicious, though. When it comes to austerity, 38 of the 50 worst-hit councils are Labour-controlled, while only five are Conservative authorities. There’s lots of talk, but nothing has changed yet. Until we maximise the potential of the northern economy and get it firing on all cylinders, the UK economy will never reach its full potential.
We need to see movement on devolution, too. Again, this is an unfinished job. The ‘Northern Powerhouse’ has simply seized up, while Theresa May’s ‘industrial strategy’ seems to have fallen down the back of a Downing Street sofa.
So pushing ministers for real and sustained commitments about ending austerity and continuing with devolution will remain our top priority. It is in the whole country’s interests that we catalyse the potential of cities like Sheffield. Central government needs to work with us to make this happen. Give us the tools for the job and watch the Steel City get on with it.
For now, though, it’s all hands on deck as we fight our way past Covid. Our immediate priority is to get Sheffield back to normal, protect jobs and support businesses, and to work with our colleagues in the NHS to gear up for the huge effort that will be needed to vaccinate people in the New Year. This is especially important to me.
Many of those deemed to be ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and who have been shielding through Covid will include thousands of ex-miners and former steel workers with illnesses in ‘young’ old age that blight their life expectancy. Their ‘reward’ for a life doing hard, dangerous jobs that powered the British economy. We will do everything we can to stand by them.


labourlist--2020-12-12--Compass: We need alliances to break through our outdated electoral system

This weekend marks an electoral anniversary none of us will be celebrating .
Labour – and indeed all progressives – were smashed at the last general election , as December 12th 2019 heralded a new period of Tory rule , boosted by an even bigger majority .
They were riding high , while we were down and out .
There was little comfort and even less joy .
The Tories ’ win last year was worse even than many of us imagined .
We remember where we were when the exit poll came in – that sinking feeling , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we make a promise to do everything possible not to feel like this again .
Next time , it will be different .
But will it be ?
The challenge ahead is daunting .
Labour needs to win 124 seats for a majority of just one in the Commons .
A swing better than 1945 or 1997 .
Yes , the gap in the polls has thankfully closed – but then they always do at this point in the cycle .
And as if this huge electoral challenge weren ’ t enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated to result in them gaining even more seats – and there is nothing that can be done until they are defeated and progressives take power .
The challenge ahead is enormous .
The optimists call it ‘ a mountain to climb ’ .
The pessimists call it ‘ impossible ’ .
But the truth is that a progressive-majority government is not out of reach .
Or rather , a Labour-led government is eminently possible .
Our new report indicates that a uniform swing of just 3.18 % would be enough for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in parliament .
Crucially , for this to happen , all the progressive parties need to do well .
For example , the Liberal Democrats came second in 78 Conservative seats in 2019 .
Of their target seats for 2024 , a swing of less than 3 % would see ten Tory seats switch .
In only one seat are Labour and the Lib Dems in real competition .
There are other signs of convergence , too .
The election of Keir Starmer and Ed Davey create the ground for future cooperation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of equidistance between the parties .
The Lib Dems are looking left , not right .
In a sign of their commitment to more radical ideas , the Lib Dems have just written universal basic income into their next manifesto .
Meanwhile , support for Green politics grows as climate climbs the political agenda , with younger voters especially attracted by a politics that puts the environment first .
These policies should , in turn , encourage Labour to take a bolder stance on key priorities for progressives : climate , inequality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see that progressives across the UK share these views and are committed to a vision that is more just , more equal , more democratic .
We have entered the age of alliances .
We need alliances to break through our outdated electoral system , which massively favours the incumbent .
But this is about more than just the maths .
We also need alliances to face the challenges that this century brings : the climate crisis , the challenges of a post-Covid world , rising inequality and the disruptions of the ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority for this deeper purpose ; such complexity has to be met by an equally complex political response .
Each party has its own strengths – its own rich history , its traditions of thought and action , its heroes and its principles .
We need the best of every party to have a hope of meeting these current challenges head-on .
This is about strength in diversity , pulling the best from each party , group and ideology .
It ’ s not about all merging into one party .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Compass Labour ( and Compass Lib Dems and Greens ) .
To provide somewhere for members of those parties who share this vision to find each other , organise for progressive co-operation and build bridges within and between parties .
They will follow the example of the Compass Green Group and may well be followed by other party groups – and one for the non-aligned .
Compass Labour will push the case for alliances , they will convene meetings , submit motions at conference , organise cross-party campaigns , invite speakers from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party affairs .
Each party group member will have their own priorities , principles and policy preferences .
But they will also share a recognition that this building work is bigger than any one of us , or any party .
It is a politics about co-operation , combination and commitment .
It is about the next progressive government and the future of this country .
In the United States , we have just seen what happens when progressives vow not to lose again , when they unite around a shared goal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats knew that they could no longer afford to fight one another : their fight was with someone else – and it was bigger than any one of them .
They saw that compromise does not always mean concession ; it can mean finding a winning combination , which unlocks the keys to power .
What will we do with our next four years ?
Will we continue to work in silos , putting our logos and our egos first ?
So that in 2024 we ’ ll suffer the same , inevitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through our fingers at the exit poll and bracing ourselves for another five years of Tory rule ?
Or we will see that this fight is about ‘ both/and ’ , rather than ‘ either/or ’ ?
That this is about being bigger , speaking to more people , drawing on the best progressive policies , practices and people ?
We have time to build an alliance for change ; nobody can say we weren ’ t warned .
At Compass , we know what needs to be done – and we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with everything we have , and the next four years .
For more information and to sign up for Compass Labour , click here .

This weekend marks an electoral anniversary none of us will be celebrating. Labour – and indeed all progressives – were smashed at the last general election, as December 12th 2019 heralded a new period of Tory rule, boosted by an even bigger majority. They were riding high, while we were down and out. There was little comfort and even less joy.
The Tories’ win last year was worse even than many of us imagined. We remember where we were when the exit poll came in – that sinking feeling, the gloom, the dread. Each time we make a promise to do everything possible not to feel like this again. Next time, it will be different.
But will it be? The challenge ahead is daunting. Labour needs to win 124 seats for a majority of just one in the Commons. A swing better than 1945 or 1997. Yes, the gap in the polls has thankfully closed – but then they always do at this point in the cycle.
And as if this huge electoral challenge weren’t enough, the Tories’ proposed boundary changes are estimated to result in them gaining even more seats – and there is nothing that can be done until they are defeated and progressives take power.
The challenge ahead is enormous. The optimists call it ‘a mountain to climb’. The pessimists call it ‘impossible’. But the truth is that a progressive-majority government is not out of reach. Or rather, a Labour-led government is eminently possible. Our new report indicates that a uniform swing of just 3.18% would be enough for the Tories to lose their majority of 80 in parliament.
Crucially, for this to happen, all the progressive parties need to do well. For example, the Liberal Democrats came second in 78 Conservative seats in 2019. Of their target seats for 2024, a swing of less than 3% would see ten Tory seats switch. In only one seat are Labour and the Lib Dems in real competition.
There are other signs of convergence, too. The election of Keir Starmer and Ed Davey create the ground for future cooperation. Davey has pledged to end the policy of equidistance between the parties. The Lib Dems are looking left, not right. In a sign of their commitment to more radical ideas, the Lib Dems have just written universal basic income into their next manifesto. Meanwhile, support for Green politics grows as climate climbs the political agenda, with younger voters especially attracted by a politics that puts the environment first.
These policies should, in turn, encourage Labour to take a bolder stance on key priorities for progressives: climate, inequality and democracy. It is not hard to see that progressives across the UK share these views and are committed to a vision that is more just, more equal, more democratic.
We have entered the age of alliances. We need alliances to break through our outdated electoral system, which massively favours the incumbent. But this is about more than just the maths. We also need alliances to face the challenges that this century brings: the climate crisis, the challenges of a post-Covid world, rising inequality and the disruptions of the ongoing technological revolution. We need a progressive majority for this deeper purpose; such complexity has to be met by an equally complex political response.
Each party has its own strengths – its own rich history, its traditions of thought and action, its heroes and its principles. We need the best of every party to have a hope of meeting these current challenges head-on. This is about strength in diversity, pulling the best from each party, group and ideology. It’s not about all merging into one party.
That’s why this we’re launching Compass Labour (and Compass Lib Dems and Greens). To provide somewhere for members of those parties who share this vision to find each other, organise for progressive co-operation and build bridges within and between parties. They will follow the example of the Compass Green Group and may well be followed by other party groups – and one for the non-aligned.
Compass Labour will push the case for alliances, they will convene meetings, submit motions at conference, organise cross-party campaigns, invite speakers from other parties, push for greater pluralism in party affairs. Each party group member will have their own priorities, principles and policy preferences. But they will also share a recognition that this building work is bigger than any one of us, or any party. It is a politics about co-operation, combination and commitment. It is about the next progressive government and the future of this country.
In the United States, we have just seen what happens when progressives vow not to lose again, when they unite around a shared goal and see their struggles as connected. The Democrats knew that they could no longer afford to fight one another: their fight was with someone else – and it was bigger than any one of them. They saw that compromise does not always mean concession; it can mean finding a winning combination, which unlocks the keys to power.
What will we do with our next four years? Will we continue to work in silos, putting our logos and our egos first? So that in 2024 we’ll suffer the same, inevitable fate, holding our heads and looking through our fingers at the exit poll and bracing ourselves for another five years of Tory rule?
Or we will see that this fight is about ‘both/and’, rather than ‘either/or’? That this is about being bigger, speaking to more people, drawing on the best progressive policies, practices and people? We have time to build an alliance for change; nobody can say we weren’t warned. At Compass, we know what needs to be done – and we know it’ll take all of us, with everything we have, and the next four years.
For more information and to sign up for Compass Labour, click here.


labourlist--2020-12-13--6 times Boris Johnson said a post-Brexit trade deal would be easy

Boris Johnson gave the strongest indication yet this week that the UK is heading for a no-deal Brexit after a series of last-ditch talks with European Union officials failed to find common ground on a number of key issues .
The Prime Minister on Friday described no deal as now “ very , very likely ” that negotiators would fail to strike a post-Brexit trade agreement .
He has told ministers to prepare for no deal as the most likely outcome of the talks .
Conservatives have insisted that the promise of an “ oven-ready ” deal last year was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trade deal .
But Johnson has repeatedly suggested over the years that a UK-EU trade deal would be easy to secure .
In one of his first interventions in the 2016 EU referendum , Johnson appeared at a Vote Leave event to insist that Brexit would be a “ win-win for all ” and suggested that the UK could simply copy Canada ’ s trade arrangement with the EU .
He told a crowd : “ I put it to you , all those who say that there would be barriers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a Brexit , do you seriously believe that they would put up tariffs against UK produce of any kind , when they know how much they want to sell us their cake , their champagne , their cheese from France ?
It is totally and utterly absurd.
” At a Treasury select committee meeting on the economic costs and benefits of EU membership , Johnson was questioned on how long it would take for the UK to agree a deal for leaving the bloc and a future trade agreement post-Brexit .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already have extensive trading relationships , we ’ ve been in the thing for 44 years .
Our relationship with the EU is already very well-developed .
It doesn ’ t seem to me to be very hard to do a free trade deal very rapidly indeed.
” As Foreign Secretary , Johnson told MPs that the chances of the UK failing to reach a deal with the EU were “ vanishingly unlikely ” and said there was “ no plan ” for no deal because the government would simply get a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ There is no plan for no deal , because we ’ re going to get a great deal and I would , just for the sake of example and illustration , I would remind the honourable lady that there was a time when Britain was not in what we then called the common market .
“ It is manifestly in the interests of both sides of the Channel to get a great free trade deal and a new deep and special partnership between us and the European Union , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieve.
” During the 2019 general election campaign , Johnson was asked by Sky News ’ Beth Rigby if he could “ absolutely promise ” that he would be able to get a trade deal with the EU by the end of December 2020 .
He replied : “ Well , Beth , we already have a deal and we can come out on January 31st in a state of perfect equilibrium and grace with the rest of the EU because we have a zero tariff , zero quota position now .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all that we will be able to make sure that the EU protects its own interests and has a deal with us that ensures that that continues for the future… “ It ’ s very much in [ the EU ’ s ] interest to do a trade deal with us and I have no doubt that they will .
And if you say ‘ can I absolutely guarantee that we will get a deal ?
’ I think I can.
” Days later , Johnson was questioned again by ITV ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be for the UK to secure a trade deal with the EU before the end of the Brexit transition period , in place until December 31st .
The Prime Minister said : “ What I think you ’ re forgetting is that the EU has never done a deal with an existing member as it were… 100 % of the issues that you need to address in a trade negotiation are already addressed.
” As the withdrawal agreement was approved by parliament , Johnson promised an “ all-singing , all-dancing ” post-Brexit trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On his ‘ People ’ s PMQs ’ online Q & A , the PM said : “ Parliament has passed the withdrawal agreement bill , meaning we will leave the EU on 31 January and move forwards as one United Kingdom .
At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line , but we ’ ve done it .
“ It ’ s massively in our interests – in the interests for both sides of the Channel – to have a wonderful , zero-tariff , zero-quota , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m absolutely confident that we can do that .
”

Boris Johnson gave the strongest indication yet this week that the UK is heading for a no-deal Brexit after a series of last-ditch talks with European Union officials failed to find common ground on a number of key issues.
The Prime Minister on Friday described no deal as now “very, very likely” that negotiators would fail to strike a post-Brexit trade agreement. He has told ministers to prepare for no deal as the most likely outcome of the talks.
Conservatives have insisted that the promise of an “oven-ready” deal last year was referring to the divorce deal rather than the trade deal. But Johnson has repeatedly suggested over the years that a UK-EU trade deal would be easy to secure.
11 March 2016
In one of his first interventions in the 2016 EU referendum, Johnson appeared at a Vote Leave event to insist that Brexit would be a “win-win for all” and suggested that the UK could simply copy Canada’s trade arrangement with the EU.
He told a crowd: “I put it to you, all those who say that there would be barriers to trade with Europe if we were to do a Brexit, do you seriously believe that they would put up tariffs against UK produce of any kind, when they know how much they want to sell us their cake, their champagne, their cheese from France? It is totally and utterly absurd.”
23 March 2016
At a Treasury select committee meeting on the economic costs and benefits of EU membership, Johnson was questioned on how long it would take for the UK to agree a deal for leaving the bloc and a future trade agreement post-Brexit.
He replied: “Bear in mind we already have extensive trading relationships, we’ve been in the thing for 44 years. Our relationship with the EU is already very well-developed. It doesn’t seem to me to be very hard to do a free trade deal very rapidly indeed.”
11 July 2017
As Foreign Secretary, Johnson told MPs that the chances of the UK failing to reach a deal with the EU were “vanishingly unlikely” and said there was “no plan” for no deal because the government would simply get a deal.
Responding to Emily Thornberry, he said: “There is no plan for no deal, because we’re going to get a great deal and I would, just for the sake of example and illustration, I would remind the honourable lady that there was a time when Britain was not in what we then called the common market.
“It is manifestly in the interests of both sides of the Channel to get a great free trade deal and a new deep and special partnership between us and the European Union, and that is what we are going to achieve.”
5 December 2019
During the 2019 general election campaign, Johnson was asked by Sky News’ Beth Rigby if he could “absolutely promise” that he would be able to get a trade deal with the EU by the end of December 2020.
He replied: “Well, Beth, we already have a deal and we can come out on January 31st in a state of perfect equilibrium and grace with the rest of the EU because we have a zero tariff, zero quota position now.
“And I have absolutely no doubt at all that we will be able to make sure that the EU protects its own interests and has a deal with us that ensures that that continues for the future…
“It’s very much in [the EU’s] interest to do a trade deal with us and I have no doubt that they will. And if you say ‘can I absolutely guarantee that we will get a deal?’ I think I can.”
'Can I absolutely guarantee that we will get a trade deal? I think I can.' Sky's @BethRigby pushes Boris Johnson to confirm whether or not he can get a #Brexit trade deal with the EU by the end of December 2020.#GE2019 Latest politics: https://t.co/6VDNA4JGyd pic.twitter.com/tUDKk3Vx2l — Sky News (@SkyNews) December 5, 2019
10 December 2019
Days later, Johnson was questioned again by ITV’s Gareth Owen about how easy it would be for the UK to secure a trade deal with the EU before the end of the Brexit transition period, in place until December 31st.
The Prime Minister said: “What I think you’re forgetting is that the EU has never done a deal with an existing member as it were… 100% of the issues that you need to address in a trade negotiation are already addressed.”
Tonight, Boris Johnson suggests we are heading for "No Deal" When I asked him about an EU trade deal exactly a year ago on the election trail, he told me "we have a deal" – But the TRADE deal? "100% of the issues are already addressed" More on #CentralLobby on @ITV at 10:45pm pic.twitter.com/CX4ZGMZQJy — Gareth Owen (@GarethITV) December 10, 2020
22 January 2020
As the withdrawal agreement was approved by parliament, Johnson promised an “all-singing, all-dancing” post-Brexit trade deal with the EU by December 31st.
On his ‘People’s PMQs’ online Q&A, the PM said: “Parliament has passed the withdrawal agreement bill, meaning we will leave the EU on 31 January and move forwards as one United Kingdom. At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we’ve done it.
“It’s massively in our interests – in the interests for both sides of the Channel – to have a wonderful, zero-tariff, zero-quota, all-singing, all-dancing FTA. I’m absolutely confident that we can do that.”


labourlist--2020-12-13--Sunday shows: PM must stand up to MPs with no deal fantasy, says Miliband

In an energetic appearance , Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband stressed the importance of securing a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU , confirmed Labour would be “ minded to support ” a deal and called on Boris Johnson to “ stand up to a small bunch of people in his party whose fantasy it has always been to have no deal ” .
• Asked whether any deal is better than no deal : “ We need a deal… Our request of the Prime Minister is very simple : stand up for the national interest , don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ ve always wanted no deal , wrongly in my view.
” • On giving way on fishing : “ Both sides have to give way .
There ’ s got to be give and take on both sides .
We ’ ve got to be tough in relation to fish , we ’ ve got to get the best deal we possibly can for our fishing fleets.
” • On being ‘ tied to the single market in perpetuity ’ for a deal : “ I don ’ t accept that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future.
” • On whether the PM can rely on Labour support for a deal : “ We ’ ll look at the detail .
We ’ ve said we ’ re minded to support it.
” • On Johnson ’ s promises : “ The one thing I think we can say about Boris Johnson is he talks out of both sides of his mouth .
This is a man who said at the general election… he had a deal ready to go to protect supply chains.
” • He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is cavalier with our national interest .
He is playing Russian roulette with jobs and livelihoods… I think this is ideological .
I say we don ’ t deregulate our way to economic success.
” • Put to him that Labour wants to ‘ have its cake and eat it ’ : “ No , I ’ d say negotiate a tough deal in relation to fish , make sure the level playing field provisions are fair , but for goodness ’ sake… don ’ t cause terrible damage to the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ No deal is not an end point .
We ’ ll go through all the pain , all the economic anguish .
It ’ s not a long-term sustainable position to have tariffs with our biggest market .
We ’ re going to have to go back into negotiations , and then where will we be ?
We ’ ll be in a weaker position .
It makes no sense.
” • On getting a deal : “ The rational side of me says there will be a deal .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , he must see that ’ s in our national interest .
He ’ s just got to stand up to a small bunch of people in his party whose fantasy it has always been to have no deal.
” On the chances of EU-UK talks continuing , Dominic Raab said : “ The bar is quite high for us to be able to keep talking.
” He said it would required “ political level commitment ” to movement on the key issues of the “ level playing field , control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same question , Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin replied : “ I don ’ t know but I hope so .
I fervently hope so.
” He said agreement on the Northern Ireland protocol suggested there is “ capacity ” for a deal .
Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed described the current Brexit situation as “ surreal ” and “ just crazy ” and highlighted that Boris Johnson said a year ago he had an ‘ oven-ready ’ deal .
• On Brexit talks : “ The last thing we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one year and one day exactly since Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons promising to ‘ get Brexit done ’ with an oven-ready Brexit deal.
” • On remaining disagreements : “ The situation we ’ re facing now is Boris Johnson claiming to have 98 % of this deal done now , just 2 % of it left to go .
It must be possible to find a way to bridge that remaining 2 % .
” • On the UK position : “ One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanting the powers to do something he claims he doesn ’ t want to do… the powers to water down employment rights and environmental standards.
” • On Labour ’ s position : “ Labour doesn ’ t want to see that happen .
The country doesn ’ t want to see that happen so there is a deal to be done here.
” • On the level playing field : “ Economies are interdependent so we have to take shared decisions if we ’ re going to trade with each other and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breach of sovereignty… We have to get this deal over the line.
” • He added : “ These are things he claims he doesn ’ t want to do anyway so it shouldn ’ t really be a sticking point .
There is a deal to be done.
” • On the prospect of no deal : “ This is a surreal position we ’ ve got ourselves in… He is preparing to sacrifice the British economy over something he doesn ’ t even want to do .
It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would find acceptable leaving with a deal meaning that the UK has “ to stick to their [ the EU ] definition of what standards are ” in perpetuity : “ It would be a shared decision.
” • On talks today : “ There ’ s a deal to be done .
It needs to be done today .
We could just be hours away from it .
Let ’ s just end the uncertainty of the last four and a half years and move forward.
” • Asked what Labour would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was Boris Johnson who said he had an oven-ready deal .
It wasn ’ t the Labour Party that said we had an oven-ready deal.
” • Asked whether it is wrong to relax Covid restrictions over Christmas : “ We ’ ll get an assessment based on the data on the 16th of this month and we ’ ll need to see where we are then but the key thing is we need to follow the science.
” Asked whether Brexit talks could extend beyond the deadline today , Dominic Raab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door ” on that possibility but admitted that “ there is still a long way to go ” to reach an agreement .
The Foreign Secretary told those watching this morning : “ If we ’ re 99 % there on the outstanding issues , you wouldn ’ t want to leave any stone unturned , but I think it ’ s quite a high bar.
” He dismissed a compromise over fishing , arguing : “ What you ’ re not going to do is allow a decade to go by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our fisheries… Some of the proposals and suggestions put to us are pretty outlandish frankly.
” Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said she is having “ difficulty understanding ” why the UK is refusing to accept EU demands on fishing and warned that a no-deal exit would be “ extremely negative for our economies ” .

The Andrew Marr Show
In an energetic appearance, Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband stressed the importance of securing a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, confirmed Labour would be “minded to support” a deal and called on Boris Johnson to “stand up to a small bunch of people in his party whose fantasy it has always been to have no deal”.
Asked whether any deal is better than no deal: “We need a deal… Our request of the Prime Minister is very simple: stand up for the national interest, don’t stand up for people in your party who’ve always wanted no deal, wrongly in my view.”
On giving way on fishing: “Both sides have to give way. There’s got to be give and take on both sides. We’ve got to be tough in relation to fish, we’ve got to get the best deal we possibly can for our fishing fleets.”
On being ‘tied to the single market in perpetuity’ for a deal: “I don’t accept that portrayal… We should maintain high standards into the future.”
On whether the PM can rely on Labour support for a deal: “We’ll look at the detail. We’ve said we’re minded to support it.”
On Johnson’s promises: “The one thing I think we can say about Boris Johnson is he talks out of both sides of his mouth. This is a man who said at the general election… he had a deal ready to go to protect supply chains.”
He added: “This is a man who is cavalier with our national interest. He is playing Russian roulette with jobs and livelihoods… I think this is ideological. I say we don’t deregulate our way to economic success.”
Put to him that Labour wants to ‘have its cake and eat it’: “No, I’d say negotiate a tough deal in relation to fish, make sure the level playing field provisions are fair, but for goodness’ sake… don’t cause terrible damage to the fight against crime and terrorism.”
He added: “No deal is not an end point. We’ll go through all the pain, all the economic anguish. It’s not a long-term sustainable position to have tariffs with our biggest market. We’re going to have to go back into negotiations, and then where will we be? We’ll be in a weaker position. It makes no sense.”
On getting a deal: “The rational side of me says there will be a deal. Because the PM is not a wholly irrational man, he must see that’s in our national interest. He’s just got to stand up to a small bunch of people in his party whose fantasy it has always been to have no deal.”
"No deal is a disastrous outcome for the country. It’s not a wonderful outcome. It’s a disgrace, frankly, that Boris Johnson said it," says Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband#Brexit https://t.co/qvhGW845Bt pic.twitter.com/PQoAww4Bnk — BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) December 13, 2020
On the chances of EU-UK talks continuing, Dominic Raab said: “The bar is quite high for us to be able to keep talking.” He said it would required “political level commitment” to movement on the key issues of the “level playing field, control of our laws and fisheries”.
On the same question, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin replied: “I don’t know but I hope so. I fervently hope so.” He said agreement on the Northern Ireland protocol suggested there is “capacity” for a deal.
Sophy Ridge on Sunday
Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed described the current Brexit situation as “surreal” and “just crazy” and highlighted that Boris Johnson said a year ago he had an ‘oven-ready’ deal.
On Brexit talks: “The last thing we need is no deal… It’s one year and one day exactly since Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons promising to ‘get Brexit done’ with an oven-ready Brexit deal.”
On remaining disagreements: “The situation we’re facing now is Boris Johnson claiming to have 98% of this deal done now, just 2% of it left to go. It must be possible to find a way to bridge that remaining 2%.”
On the UK position: “One of the sticking points seems to be Boris Johnson wanting the powers to do something he claims he doesn’t want to do… the powers to water down employment rights and environmental standards.”
On Labour’s position: “Labour doesn’t want to see that happen. The country doesn’t want to see that happen so there is a deal to be done here.”
On the level playing field: “Economies are interdependent so we have to take shared decisions if we’re going to trade with each other and taking a shared decision is not a breach of sovereignty… We have to get this deal over the line.”
He added: “These are things he claims he doesn’t want to do anyway so it shouldn’t really be a sticking point. There is a deal to be done.”
On the prospect of no deal: “This is a surreal position we’ve got ourselves in… He is preparing to sacrifice the British economy over something he doesn’t even want to do. It’s just crazy.”
Asked whether Leave voters would find acceptable leaving with a deal meaning that the UK has “to stick to their [the EU] definition of what standards are” in perpetuity: “It would be a shared decision.”
On talks today: “There’s a deal to be done. It needs to be done today. We could just be hours away from it. Let’s just end the uncertainty of the last four and a half years and move forward.”
Asked what Labour would do to get a deal: “It was Boris Johnson who said he had an oven-ready deal. It wasn’t the Labour Party that said we had an oven-ready deal.”
Asked whether it is wrong to relax Covid restrictions over Christmas: “We’ll get an assessment based on the data on the 16th of this month and we’ll need to see where we are then but the key thing is we need to follow the science.”
"Economies are interdependent – it's not a breach of sovereignty, it's an exercise in sovereignty." Shadow communities secretary Steve Reed says the prime minister promised that a deal would be done and he needs to get on with it.#Ridge https://t.co/TehEyLy2gd pic.twitter.com/I0WZvcYzLz — Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) December 13, 2020
Asked whether Brexit talks could extend beyond the deadline today, Dominic Raab said he “can’t close the door” on that possibility but admitted that “there is still a long way to go” to reach an agreement.
The Foreign Secretary told those watching this morning: “If we’re 99% there on the outstanding issues, you wouldn’t want to leave any stone unturned, but I think it’s quite a high bar.”
He dismissed a compromise over fishing, arguing: “What you’re not going to do is allow a decade to go by with us only controlling a fraction of our fisheries… Some of the proposals and suggestions put to us are pretty outlandish frankly.”
Spanish foreign minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said she is having “difficulty understanding” why the UK is refusing to accept EU demands on fishing and warned that a no-deal exit would be “extremely negative for our economies”.


labourlist--2020-12-11--Nandy says abstaining on 2015 EU referendum vote is “biggest regret”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy has said one of her “ biggest regrets ” as an MP is her 2015 abstention on whether to hold an EU referendum as she should have voted against the bill that paved the way for Brexit .
Along with almost all Labour MPs , Nandy chose not to vote five years ago on the European Union Referendum Act , which she said put the British public in “ an impossible position ” for the subsequent vote .
Appearing on ITV ’ s Acting Prime Minister podcast , the Labour MP also said she felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for which Boris Johnson could not reach an agreement with the EU before the end of this year .
On the 2015 vote on a referendum , the MP for Wigan said : “ The big mistake I think I made , to be honest , was voting for that referendum without any kind of safeguard or guarantees in the first place .
“ I didn ’ t actually vote for it because I didn ’ t agree with it , but I should have voted against it.
” She added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regrets .
I abstained in the end out of deference for the party , and I argued against it , but I just think we put the British public into an impossible position .
“ And when we got the result , it was obvious that all we ’ d done was manage to bring to the surface huge divisions that were not going to be easily resolved.
” On the current state of Brexit , the Shadow Foreign Secretary said the negotiations had become “ ideological ” and the government had got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” on sticking points such as state aid .
Nandy noted that she felt the EU ’ s opening position on some issues , such as fishing rights and state aid , had been “ unreasonable ” but said there was now an opportunity to find common ground for a trade deal .
“ If we ’ d been in government , I would have been pushing very hard for us to push back on that and say to the EU , come on , you need to move closer to us and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour frontbencher said .
“ There is absolutely no reason at this stage why the government shouldn ’ t be able to find an agreement around those things.
” Nandy added that she could not say how she would vote on a Brexit trade deal without seeing it first but said it was looking like there would be “ nothing to vote for at all ” – an outcome that she described as a “ disaster ” .
The former Labour leadership candidate was also asked about the current divisions in the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keir Starmer ’ s decision to not reinstate the party whip to his predecessor .
When asked whether Labour could overcome its divides , Nandy said : “ I think what happens next is largely up to us , and obviously being in the shadow cabinet again and working very closely with Keir and the team , I feel that we have a particular responsibility to behave right .
“ So when Keir said ‘ this is not a political decision and we ’ ve got to have an independent process for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I really support him.
” However , the shadow cabinet minister admitted that it was sometimes “ very difficult ” when political journalists ask about her personal views on the disciplinary process and the suspension of Corbyn .
“ I ’ m the sort of politician who wants to come and level with people about what I really think but actually in this instance what I think is not relevant , ” she said .
“ What ’ s important is that we have an independent process that considers facts in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit of the doubt , that they ’ re able to make their own case and then a judgement is formed .
”

Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy has said one of her “biggest regrets” as an MP is her 2015 abstention on whether to hold an EU referendum as she should have voted against the bill that paved the way for Brexit.
Along with almost all Labour MPs, Nandy chose not to vote five years ago on the European Union Referendum Act, which she said put the British public in “an impossible position” for the subsequent vote.
Appearing on ITV’s Acting Prime Minister podcast, the Labour MP also said she felt there was “absolutely no reason” for which Boris Johnson could not reach an agreement with the EU before the end of this year.
On the 2015 vote on a referendum, the MP for Wigan said: “The big mistake I think I made, to be honest, was voting for that referendum without any kind of safeguard or guarantees in the first place.
“I didn’t actually vote for it because I didn’t agree with it, but I should have voted against it.”
She added: “That’s one of my biggest regrets. I abstained in the end out of deference for the party, and I argued against it, but I just think we put the British public into an impossible position.
“And when we got the result, it was obvious that all we’d done was manage to bring to the surface huge divisions that were not going to be easily resolved.”
On the current state of Brexit, the Shadow Foreign Secretary said the negotiations had become “ideological” and the government had got itself into a “really bizarre position” on sticking points such as state aid.
Nandy noted that she felt the EU’s opening position on some issues, such as fishing rights and state aid, had been “unreasonable” but said there was now an opportunity to find common ground for a trade deal.
“If we’d been in government, I would have been pushing very hard for us to push back on that and say to the EU, come on, you need to move closer to us and you need to compromise,” the Labour frontbencher said.
“There is absolutely no reason at this stage why the government shouldn’t be able to find an agreement around those things.”
Nandy added that she could not say how she would vote on a Brexit trade deal without seeing it first but said it was looking like there would be “nothing to vote for at all” – an outcome that she described as a “disaster”.
The former Labour leadership candidate was also asked about the current divisions in the party over the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer’s decision to not reinstate the party whip to his predecessor.
When asked whether Labour could overcome its divides, Nandy said: “I think what happens next is largely up to us, and obviously being in the shadow cabinet again and working very closely with Keir and the team, I feel that we have a particular responsibility to behave right.
“So when Keir said ‘this is not a political decision and we’ve got to have an independent process for how we deal with things like that’, I really support him.”
However, the shadow cabinet minister admitted that it was sometimes “very difficult” when political journalists ask about her personal views on the disciplinary process and the suspension of Corbyn.
“I’m the sort of politician who wants to come and level with people about what I really think but actually in this instance what I think is not relevant,” she said.
“What’s important is that we have an independent process that considers facts in the round, that people are given the benefit of the doubt, that they’re able to make their own case and then a judgement is formed.”


labourlist--2020-12-13--End the internal fights. Let’s focus on best practice

In May 2021 , Labour will fight its first campaign since ‘ that ’ election one year ago .
For most of us that means gearing up for elections to local authorities , metro mayors , the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament .
Covid-19 means that we are forced to rethink our approach to campaigning , but after experiencing a fourth consecutive general election defeat last year , a complete overhaul is long overdue .
In 2019 , Leeds North West was one of the few constituencies to achieve a swing to Labour .
Against the backdrop of one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s history , we achieved the largest ever Labour majority in a seat that hadn ’ t been tagged a ‘ Labour Hold ’ since 2001 .
We know that there are many factors that contribute to any electoral outcome .
National policy , leadership , demographics and luck are all , of course , major contributors .
We also know that last year there were many places that the ground was simply too infertile for any shoots of success to be planted , and that otherwise good campaigns were mercilessly punished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at where we did make ground , and how the techniques and strategies put in place might be replicable on a much wider scale .
In Labour , we are often very uncomfortable in talking about success .
After election defeats , we indulge ourselves in endless debate about failure and who is responsible for it , often boiling it down to one single national issue .
When we do talk about local campaigning , it is usually only referenced in terms of ‘ hard-working activists delivering leaflets and knocking on doors ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down ’ by whatever narrative we really think contributed to the outcome .
But this reduces the craft of campaigning and underestimates the power activists have to influence results in our own localities .
What is even more dangerous is that the techniques we are told to employ never really change .
Old assumptions go unchallenged .
Is it right , for example , that the aim of door knocking should be to have quick transactional conversations where we come away with a single piece of information – their voter ID ?
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we gather up all the promises in order to knock them up on election day ?
Is that all there is ?
In Leeds North West we have been on a journey .
Over a number of General Election cycles and in our local campaigns we have quietly revolutionised our approach and have seen tangible results .
This did not mean rolling out any new fad or indulging ourselves in crazy experimentation .
Instead we looked at all aspects of campaigning , and improved the way we organised , moving from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doorstep , for example , campaigners were encouraged not only to obtain voter ID but to find out the reasons for any equivocation or hesitation that a voter had about voting Labour .
This information was collated and direct mails were sent back to those homes relevant to those issues .
We saw data , not just as numbers on a screen , but as part of gaining an intimate understanding of each of our road groups , the demographics , the local issues and which issues were key in motivating those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not as automatrons who had to merely get round the constituency but as messengers with agency to make decisions and contribute to the decision-making process .
None of the individual techniques we talk about in our pamphlet ‘ Marginal Holds ’ are silver bullets in and of themselves .
Those looking for new ideas for their campaigns will find them , though they may not be applicable to every situation .
We are not trying to replace a one size fits all approach with another one size fits all approach .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the craft of campaigning and the importance of well thought through and well-organised local campaigns that are centred around human interaction and understanding .
The Labour Society of Campaigners are bringing activists from across the country together to do just that and we are proud to be presenting our pamphlet at their first event .
Let ’ s draw a line under last year ’ s result and instead focus on sharing our experiences and good practice .
Let ’ s end the endless internal fights and instead build a grassroots approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Marginal Holds is to be launched at 7pm on Sunday 13th December 2020 by the Labour Society of Campaigners .

In May 2021, Labour will fight its first campaign since ‘that’ election one year ago. For most of us that means gearing up for elections to local authorities, metro mayors, the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament. Covid-19 means that we are forced to rethink our approach to campaigning, but after experiencing a fourth consecutive general election defeat last year, a complete overhaul is long overdue.
In 2019, Leeds North West was one of the few constituencies to achieve a swing to Labour. Against the backdrop of one of the most disappointing nights in the party’s history, we achieved the largest ever Labour majority in a seat that hadn’t been tagged a ‘Labour Hold’ since 2001.
We know that there are many factors that contribute to any electoral outcome. National policy, leadership, demographics and luck are all, of course, major contributors. We also know that last year there were many places that the ground was simply too infertile for any shoots of success to be planted, and that otherwise good campaigns were mercilessly punished. But we do need to look at where we did make ground, and how the techniques and strategies put in place might be replicable on a much wider scale.
In Labour, we are often very uncomfortable in talking about success. After election defeats, we indulge ourselves in endless debate about failure and who is responsible for it, often boiling it down to one single national issue. When we do talk about local campaigning, it is usually only referenced in terms of ‘hard-working activists delivering leaflets and knocking on doors’ and how they have been ‘let down’ by whatever narrative we really think contributed to the outcome. But this reduces the craft of campaigning and underestimates the power activists have to influence results in our own localities.
What is even more dangerous is that the techniques we are told to employ never really change. Old assumptions go unchallenged. Is it right, for example, that the aim of door knocking should be to have quick transactional conversations where we come away with a single piece of information – their voter ID? Is the best way of using that data that we gather up all the promises in order to knock them up on election day? Is that all there is?
In Leeds North West we have been on a journey. Over a number of General Election cycles and in our local campaigns we have quietly revolutionised our approach and have seen tangible results. This did not mean rolling out any new fad or indulging ourselves in crazy experimentation. Instead we looked at all aspects of campaigning, and improved the way we organised, moving from a transactional into a relational approach.
On the doorstep, for example, campaigners were encouraged not only to obtain voter ID but to find out the reasons for any equivocation or hesitation that a voter had about voting Labour. This information was collated and direct mails were sent back to those homes relevant to those issues.
We saw data, not just as numbers on a screen, but as part of gaining an intimate understanding of each of our road groups, the demographics, the local issues and which issues were key in motivating those people to vote. We saw activists not as automatrons who had to merely get round the constituency but as messengers with agency to make decisions and contribute to the decision-making process.
None of the individual techniques we talk about in our pamphlet ‘Marginal Holds’ are silver bullets in and of themselves. Those looking for new ideas for their campaigns will find them, though they may not be applicable to every situation. We are not trying to replace a one size fits all approach with another one size fits all approach. We are instead trying to start a national conversation about the craft of campaigning and the importance of well thought through and well-organised local campaigns that are centred around human interaction and understanding.
The Labour Society of Campaigners are bringing activists from across the country together to do just that and we are proud to be presenting our pamphlet at their first event. Let’s draw a line under last year’s result and instead focus on sharing our experiences and good practice. Let’s end the endless internal fights and instead build a grassroots approach which is ready for the challenges ahead.
Marginal Holds is to be launched at 7pm on Sunday 13th December 2020 by the Labour Society of Campaigners.


labourlist--2020-12-14--Petition for furlough national minimum wage floor reaches 11,000 signatures

A petition launched to stop workers from being paid less than the national minimum wage through the government ’ s furlough scheme during the coronavirus pandemic has gathered more than 11,000 signatures .
The appeal , launched by Labour MP Richard Burgon and signed by 11,347 people , warns that the 80 % furlough subsidy provided by the government in the Covid crisis has left more than two million people earning less than the legal minimum .
Commenting on the petition , Burgon said : “ Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are being pushed further into poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no worker on furlough gets less than the minimum wage .
“ I ’ m pleased that over ten thousand people have backed my campaign to fix this problem – but I ’ m frustrated that it has come to this .
People don ’ t believe that the lowest paid workers should be the ones bearing the cost of our response to this terrible virus .
“ It ’ s called the minimum wage for a reason – the government needs to do the right thing and act to ensure nobody is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the the Office for National Statistics recently revealed that the number of people earning below the legal minimum had risen more than fivefold to 2,043,000 in April 2020 , up from 409,000 during the same period in 2019 .
The data from the independent statistics authority also showed that the lowest-paying jobs were more than five times more likely to be furloughed with reduced pay , with employers more likely to top-up pay for the highest earners .
Burgon and 30 other Labour MPs wrote to Rishi Sunak in October calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the furlough programme , highlighting that workers over the age of 25 are now on the 2009 minimum wage rate .
And the news today on the petition also follows an early day motion tabled by the East Leeds MP last month on the introduction of a minimum wage floor in the job retention scheme .
It received the backing of 30 MPs from six political parties .
The ‘ national living wage ’ for those aged 25 and over is supposed to be £8.72 an hour .
The national minimum wage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is £8.20 and for those aged 18 to 20 is £6.45 an hour .
The independent Low Pay Commission estimated recently that nearly half of all jobs , 48 % , paying at or below the national minimum wage were found in retail , hospitality and cleaning and maintenance occupations .
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called on the government to provide more support for families struggling over the winter this year following the publication of research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last week .
The analysis by the charity found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 and 2019 and that 2.4 million people – including over half a million children – were experiencing “ extreme hardship ” before coronavirus even hit the country .
The Trussell Trust , the UK ’ s biggest food bank network , reported a 47 % rise in food parcels given out by its volunteers between April and September , which it says reflects the dramatic increase in demand for food aid during Covid .
The trust revealed that during the first six months it distributed 1.2m food parcels , of which 470,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was its busiest month on record with the volume of food it handed out up by 59 % on 2019 .
The demand in the petition for a minimum wage floor echoes calls from the unions .
The TUC recently warned that living on 80 % of your wage is a struggle , but more so if it “ pushes you below the already insufficient legal minimum wage ” .
Below is the full text of the petition .
No one should ever be paid less than the national minimum wage .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaving millions of low-paid workers on less than this basic minimum pay .
New official figures show that over two million workers have been paid less than the national minimum wage this year .
That ’ s nearly five times as many as in 2019 .
This crisis shouldn ’ t be paid for on the backs of low paid workers .
So we are calling on the government to introduce a wage floor in the furlough scheme to make sure that no worker gets paid less than the national minimum wage .

A petition launched to stop workers from being paid less than the national minimum wage through the government’s furlough scheme during the coronavirus pandemic has gathered more than 11,000 signatures.
The appeal, launched by Labour MP Richard Burgon and signed by 11,347 people, warns that the 80% furlough subsidy provided by the government in the Covid crisis has left more than two million people earning less than the legal minimum.
Commenting on the petition, Burgon said: “Hundreds of thousands of people across the country are being pushed further into poverty because the government refuses to make sure no worker on furlough gets less than the minimum wage.
“I’m pleased that over ten thousand people have backed my campaign to fix this problem – but I’m frustrated that it has come to this. People don’t believe that the lowest paid workers should be the ones bearing the cost of our response to this terrible virus.
“It’s called the minimum wage for a reason – the government needs to do the right thing and act to ensure nobody is paid less than it.”
Figures published by the the Office for National Statistics recently revealed that the number of people earning below the legal minimum had risen more than fivefold to 2,043,000 in April 2020, up from 409,000 during the same period in 2019.
The data from the independent statistics authority also showed that the lowest-paying jobs were more than five times more likely to be furloughed with reduced pay, with employers more likely to top-up pay for the highest earners.
Burgon and 30 other Labour MPs wrote to Rishi Sunak in October calling for the implementation of a minimum wage floor in the furlough programme, highlighting that workers over the age of 25 are now on the 2009 minimum wage rate.
And the news today on the petition also follows an early day motion tabled by the East Leeds MP last month on the introduction of a minimum wage floor in the job retention scheme. It received the backing of 30 MPs from six political parties.
The ‘national living wage’ for those aged 25 and over is supposed to be £8.72 an hour. The national minimum wage for those aged between 21 and 25 is £8.20 and for those aged 18 to 20 is £6.45 an hour.
The independent Low Pay Commission estimated recently that nearly half of all jobs, 48%, paying at or below the national minimum wage were found in retail, hospitality and cleaning and maintenance occupations.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called on the government to provide more support for families struggling over the winter this year following the publication of research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last week.
The analysis by the charity found that destitution rose by 54% between 2017 and 2019 and that 2.4 million people – including over half a million children – were experiencing “extreme hardship” before coronavirus even hit the country.
The Trussell Trust, the UK’s biggest food bank network, reported a 47% rise in food parcels given out by its volunteers between April and September, which it says reflects the dramatic increase in demand for food aid during Covid.
The trust revealed that during the first six months it distributed 1.2m food parcels, of which 470,000 went to families with children. April was its busiest month on record with the volume of food it handed out up by 59% on 2019.
The demand in the petition for a minimum wage floor echoes calls from the unions. The TUC recently warned that living on 80% of your wage is a struggle, but more so if it “pushes you below the already insufficient legal minimum wage”.
Below is the full text of the petition.
No one should ever be paid less than the national minimum wage. But the government’s furlough scheme is leaving millions of low-paid workers on less than this basic minimum pay.
New official figures show that over two million workers have been paid less than the national minimum wage this year. That’s nearly five times as many as in 2019.
This crisis shouldn’t be paid for on the backs of low paid workers. So we are calling on the government to introduce a wage floor in the furlough scheme to make sure that no worker gets paid less than the national minimum wage.


labourlist--2020-12-14--Labour demands action as data shows record homeless deaths

Labour has demanded that the government take urgent action to protect rough sleepers as the Office for National Statistics revealed the highest number of estimated deaths of homeless people since the time series began in 2013 .
The party has highlighted the alarming data released by the independent statistics authority this morning , which showed that 778 people died homeless in 2019 and that suicide rates among rough sleepers increased by 30 % in just one year .
Labour has warned that the pandemic will increase the risks associated with sleeping rough this winter and said homelessness services have told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tools they would usually to help people off the streets .
Commenting on the figures , Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire said : “ The rapid increase in these deaths over the last six years is a shameful sign of government failure and should raise alarm at the top of government .
“ Before the Covid crisis , a record number of people were dying while homeless .
This winter will be even more dangerous .
The government must commit that nobody will spend Christmas on the streets – this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention from Debbonaire follow a letter from Keir Starmer sent to Boris Johnson earlier today , in which the Labour leader warned that rough sleeping is “ just the tip of an iceberg ” of poverty and destitution this winter .
Starmer urged Johnson to work with councils and mayors to ensure access to Covid-secure shelter ahead of a visit to the West Midlands to meet with homelessness projects in Worcester and food poverty campaigners in Birmingham today .
The Labour leader also warned that Tory policies had “ pushed so many more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research recently found that destitution increased by 54 % between 2017-19 , with 2.4 million adults and 500,000 children affected .
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called on the government to provide more support for families struggling over the winter this year following the publication of the figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last week .
The party called early last month for an urgent restart of the ‘ Everyone In ’ scheme , implemented during the first wave of the pandemic , to protect rough sleepers as the country prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of coronavirus .
The policy introduced in March allocated £3.2m for local authorities and charities to expand the provision of emergency hotel and hostel accommodation for rough sleepers , saving an estimated 266 people from death .
Below is the full text of the letter sent by the Labour leader today .
At this time of year , the sight of vulnerable people sleeping rough becomes more visceral than ever .
It should shock and shame us all that in the UK in 2020 , anyone should be spending Christmas alone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , rough sleeping was a shameful sign of government failure .
We went into this pandemic with twice as many people sleeping rough than in 2010 , affecting towns and cities across the country .
This winter , the situation facing rough sleepers is more desperate than ever .
Temperatures dropped below 0C across parts of the country last week , but Covid restrictions have caused a drastic reduction in emergency night shelter accommodation .
Thousands of rough sleepers risk missing out on life-saving shelter this winter unless the government supports councils @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rough sleeping is a crisis which you pledged to end for good .
But it is just the tip of an iceberg – the sharp end of a broken housing system and a society with gaping holes in its safety net .
Many more people , many of them families with children , will experience homelessness , poverty and destitution this winter .
The community action we have seen during this pandemic , and the huge support for Marcus Rashford ’ s campaign on free school meals , has shown the empathy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to ask why so many people are in such need in the first place .
Even before the pandemic hit , poverty , hunger and homelessness were widespread .
2.4 million people and 500,000 children experienced destitution in 2019 , an increase of more than 50 % in only two years .
This rise in poverty and destitution is no accident .
It is a direct result of government policy which has pushed so many more into hardship .
That ’ s why I am writing today to urge you to act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe , Covid-secure accommodation for those that need it .
And to tackle the root causes of homelessness and destitution – such as unaffordable housing , low pay , and insecure work – so that next winter , fewer children will go to bed hungry at Christmas .
I implore you to act .
Poverty fell under the last Labour government as a result of its determination and delivery .
It can be done , if there is the political will to do it .

Labour has demanded that the government take urgent action to protect rough sleepers as the Office for National Statistics revealed the highest number of estimated deaths of homeless people since the time series began in 2013.
The party has highlighted the alarming data released by the independent statistics authority this morning, which showed that 778 people died homeless in 2019 and that suicide rates among rough sleepers increased by 30% in just one year.
Labour has warned that the pandemic will increase the risks associated with sleeping rough this winter and said homelessness services have told the party that they will not have the tools they would usually to help people off the streets.
Commenting on the figures, Shadow Housing Secretary Thangam Debbonaire said: “The rapid increase in these deaths over the last six years is a shameful sign of government failure and should raise alarm at the top of government.
“Before the Covid crisis, a record number of people were dying while homeless. This winter will be even more dangerous. The government must commit that nobody will spend Christmas on the streets – this is a matter of life or death.
The intervention from Debbonaire follow a letter from Keir Starmer sent to Boris Johnson earlier today, in which the Labour leader warned that rough sleeping is “just the tip of an iceberg” of poverty and destitution this winter.
Starmer urged Johnson to work with councils and mayors to ensure access to Covid-secure shelter ahead of a visit to the West Midlands to meet with homelessness projects in Worcester and food poverty campaigners in Birmingham today.
The Labour leader also warned that Tory policies had “pushed so many more into hardship” even before Covid. Research recently found that destitution increased by 54% between 2017-19, with 2.4 million adults and 500,000 children affected.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called on the government to provide more support for families struggling over the winter this year following the publication of the figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation last week.
The party called early last month for an urgent restart of the ‘Everyone In’ scheme, implemented during the first wave of the pandemic, to protect rough sleepers as the country prepared for its second lockdown to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The policy introduced in March allocated £3.2m for local authorities and charities to expand the provision of emergency hotel and hostel accommodation for rough sleepers, saving an estimated 266 people from death.
Below is the full text of the letter sent by the Labour leader today.
Dear Prime Minister,
At this time of year, the sight of vulnerable people sleeping rough becomes more visceral than ever. It should shock and shame us all that in the UK in 2020, anyone should be spending Christmas alone and on the streets.
Before the Covid crisis, rough sleeping was a shameful sign of government failure. We went into this pandemic with twice as many people sleeping rough than in 2010, affecting towns and cities across the country.
This winter, the situation facing rough sleepers is more desperate than ever. Temperatures dropped below 0C across parts of the country last week, but Covid restrictions have caused a drastic reduction in emergency night shelter accommodation. Thousands of rough sleepers risk missing out on life-saving shelter this winter unless the government supports councils and charities to provide Covid-secure shelter.
Rough sleeping is a crisis which you pledged to end for good. But it is just the tip of an iceberg – the sharp end of a broken housing system and a society with gaping holes in its safety net. Many more people, many of them families with children, will experience homelessness, poverty and destitution this winter.
The community action we have seen during this pandemic, and the huge support for Marcus Rashford’s campaign on free school meals, has shown the empathy of the British public. However, we have to ask why so many people are in such need in the first place.
Even before the pandemic hit, poverty, hunger and homelessness were widespread. 2.4 million people and 500,000 children experienced destitution in 2019, an increase of more than 50% in only two years. This rise in poverty and destitution is no accident. It is a direct result of government policy which has pushed so many more into hardship.
That’s why I am writing today to urge you to act on these injustices by ensuring access to safe, Covid-secure accommodation for those that need it. And to tackle the root causes of homelessness and destitution – such as unaffordable housing, low pay, and insecure work – so that next winter, fewer children will go to bed hungry at Christmas.
I implore you to act. Poverty fell under the last Labour government as a result of its determination and delivery. It can be done, if there is the political will to do it.
Yours sincerely,
Keir Starmer MP