The Daily Telegraph supporting Boris Johnson? Surely not! For many, Andrew Gilligan’s promotion to the paper came as a relief. No longer would his hysterical opinions be broadcast to the capital’s retreating commuters as a point of course. But when self-proclaimed Labour supporters take to its pages to shaft their own party less than a [...]
Posts under ‘Activism’
Some by-elections really do change politics
Apr 9th, 2012 by David Osler.It is not every day that Westminster witnesses a sensational by-election victory, driven by an unshakeably anti-imperialist appeal to a minority religious community, but combined with an unfashionably leftwing socialist subtext. No wonder most of the pundits were nonplussed. But when Fermanagh and South Tyrone chose Irish Republican Army hunger striker Bobby Sands as its [...]
Unite conference agenda: motions threaten cut in Labour funding
Apr 4th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.The preliminary agenda for Unite’s biennial policy conference to be held in late June reveals grassroots pressure for a 20% cut in Labour funding because of the party leadership’s stance on trade union freedoms and strikes against austerity and cuts in public services. A number of similar motions propose that, until the party changes its [...]
Centre-Left finish 18% ahead of Right in nominations race for Labour’s executive
Apr 3rd, 2012 by Jon Lansman.The final list of nominations for the constituency party section of Labour’s national executive have now been published. There were a total of 2,104 valid nominations, 9% up on nominations at the previous election, with twenty valid nominations as before. Nominations for centre-left candidates (53% of the total) are up by 45 whilst those for [...]
Swansea Shenanigans: never mind fascists and incompetents, stop the socialists
Apr 2nd, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Regaining control of Swansea City Council after 8 years in opposition is Labour’s prime target in Wales, and one of its key targets across the UK. In a ward with a history of far right political activity (including entrism within the Labour Party), and less than a week before close of nominations, Wales General Secretary, David [...]
Learning from Europe: the future of the British Left
Apr 2nd, 2012 by Michael Meacher.The most important outcome of the Bradford West by-election is undoubtedly the rejection of the 3 main political parties who secured the support of only 40% of the electors. This increasing disaffection with conventional politics, with the Labour-Tory share of the votes down from 97% in the 1951 election to just 65% in 2010, was [...]
On Bradford, anti-imperialist Labourism, social democracy and real Labour values
Apr 1st, 2012 by Andy Newman.George Galloway’s victory in Bradford West for the Respect party is enormously significant. It is important for Labour not to fall for idea of George as a manipulative maverick, because that betrays a patronising contempt for the electorate who chose to vote for George Galloway. So Ed Miliband and Iain McNichol are absolutely right when they say: Bookmarks [...]
The ‘Bradford Spring’ – a lesson on austerity and war
Mar 30th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.You have to congratulate George Galloway. He may be an opportunist but he has had to bear the losses that inevitably accompany opportunism as well as the joys of victory. Bradford West is an even more spectacular victory than Bethnal Green in 2005 by 823 votes over Oona King, when British troops (not to mention [...]
Manchester Central shortlist announced
Mar 28th, 2012 by Jon Lansman.Eight potential candidates were interviewed today for the Manchester Central by-election following the selection of Tony Lloyd (unopposed) as Labour candidate for Manchester’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Not an all-woman shortlist, it turns out, and not as numerous as it could have been – just two women and two men. Bookmarks Hide Sites
Report of Labour’s March national executive
Mar 26th, 2012 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 19/20 March 2012 On Monday evening NEC members attended the parliamentary Labour party meeting. Many tributes were paid to the Chair Tony Lloyd, leaving after six years to stand as the police and crime commissioner for Manchester. In that time he has steered the PLP through electoral triumph and disaster, the expenses scandal and two leadership contests; [...]
