National Executive Committee, 22 July 2014 NEC meetings always start with tributes to members who have died, and in July these included Bob Jones, the police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands, who was just 59. The by-election for the PCC was triggered, disrespectfully, even before his funeral, and would be held on 21 August. […]
Ann Black reports on Labour’s national policy forum
Jul 31st, 2014 by Ann Black.Milton Keynes, 18/20 July 2014 Like the last pre-election Forum in 2008 this was held on the hottest weekend of the year, but there the similarities ceased, and not just with the move from Warwick University to Milton Keynes. For the most part constructive dialogue and willingness to compromise outweighed arm- twisting, and all sections […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s June executive
Jun 12th, 2014 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 3 June 2014 The NEC congratulated newly-elected councillors and MEPs and thanked members, trade unions and party staff for their hard work. In July David Sparks will become Chair of the Local Government Association, as Labour is now the largest group, and he hoped to welcome Ed Miliband to their annual conference. […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s March executive
Apr 7th, 2014 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 25 March 2014 The NEC stood in silence to pay tribute to Tony Benn and other comrades, including Bob Crow whose untimely death had shocked and saddened us all. David Sparks then reported on a successful local government conference. He shared NEC concerns about the effect of continuing pay restraint on staff and the services they […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s February special executive
Feb 10th, 2014 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 4 February 2014 This meeting was called to agree the proposals for party reform which will go to the special conference on 1 March. The paper before us was labelled Draft 18, and someday I would love to follow its evolution through the previous 17 drafts. The final version, after amendment by […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s January executive
Feb 2nd, 2014 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 28 January 2014 Ed Miliband opened the meeting. He said that at conference Labour had set out important policies on energy bills, childcare, housing and the bedroom tax, and was now moving on to bigger long-term changes, including banking systems which served business, not self-interest. The cost of living crisis was not […]
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Labour at the crossroads: what the members think
Jan 23rd, 2014 by Ann Black.Consultation on Ray Collins’ interim report closed at Christmas. Since then, media stories suggest that any reforms will be negotiated between the leader and the unions, with members and their representatives sidelined – not exactly the new politics which Ed Miliband promised. Contributors were told by e-mail that the feedback which Lord Collins receives will […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s November executive
Nov 19th, 2013 by Ann Black.National Executive Committee, 4/5 November 2013 The Chair Angela Eagle welcomed members to the first meeting after conference, an opportunity to review our aims, objectives and strategies for the year ahead. Deputy leader Harriet Harman stressed that the 2014 local and European elections were important in their own right. Looking forward to 2015 she emphasised the key […]
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Ann Black’s report from Brighton
Oct 12th, 2013 by Ann Black.Conference has moved on from the days of pre-dawn NEC meetings, knife-edge votes on foundation hospitals and Iraq, lobbying by delegates and rushing through the scrum of microphones to the hall. The NEC no longer discusses resolutions, but waves them through regardless. So we met just twice during the week. On Saturday 21 September Ed […]
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Ann Black’s report from Labour’s September executive
Oct 11th, 2013 by Ann Black.Ed Miliband said that annual conference would be an opportunity to show the real differences which a Labour government would bring to people’s lives. He had started at the TUC by strongly attacking zero-hours contracts, and hoped we would be pleasantly surprised by the policies to be unveiled in Brighton. Despite the rosy Cameron / […]
