Reports of cuts to capital funding are emerging from all over the country as local authorities were told by the Department for Education in July to put on hold any funding not already ‘fully committed’. For example, Nursery World reports that a community nursery in the London Borough of...
(Ok, I admit it, the headline is dreadful but….)
Yesterday more than 100,000 trade unionists from across Europe answered the ETUC’s call to march in Brussels to say ‘No’ to...
Bad news about household consumption in the monthly consumer confidence poll and house price data released today. The GfK/NOP Consumer Confidence Index fell slightly, to minus 20, from minus 18 in August (and minus 16 in September 2009). The index for how people felt their personal financial...
Vince Cable has reinforced his reputation for economic liberalism and for continuity with the Blair-Brown government with a speech to the European Parliament today. And in at least three areas where he outlined his determination to maintain the policies of the previous Government, he has also...The cuts will be hardest for people aged over 75, according to independent research released today by Age U.K. The charity reveals that, by 2014/5, the poorest people in this age group face service cuts worth £2,030 – equal to one-third of their incomes. People in the 65 – 74 age group will...
Labour Party deputy leader, Harriet Harman, gave a witty and unifying closing speech to this year’s conference.
I liked the self depreciating joke that she was only elected the "most fanciable MP" in a Sky News poll because her husband, Jack Dromey - had used "the Unite block vote". We then...
This week's Best of Britain photos involve reflections of the literal as well as the metaphorical. From an artist's work consisting of giant upside down mirrors, mourners lining Wootton Bassett, a portrait of pensioners hit by the recent "death bonds" scandal, to Gordon Brown speaking at the Labour Party's annual conference.
Also included is an image of Lehman Brothers artwork being auctioned, a costumed Ryder Cup spectator, as well as a man tending to the greens of Celtic Manor.
Today is European Trade Union's Council "Day of Action" against spending cuts.
Across Europe there was lobbies and protests against cuts. I missed a Lobby this lunchtime outside Manchester City hall, since I got the timings wrong.
Local UNISON member Grant Higgerson (carrying...
If your wondering, this cartoon is about the Frantic Clean up of the ‘appalling’ conditions of the athlete’s village. It has been a bitter-sweet affair with collapsing foot-bridges and a ceiling. I’ve depicted Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as joining in with the clean-up effort with the time-less phrase of “Every Little Helps”. Enjoy :D [...]
I was late leaving a pension fringe and as I hurried out of the hotel toward the conference centre I got shouted at by camera crew to "get out of the way". Ed appeared a minute later to go and give his leadership speech.
I went into the wrong queue and when I eventually found the...
: : SEARCH Blog Journalism Books Film Radio Toby's School Tuesday 28th September 2010 David Miliband : Will he stay or will he go The papers are full of speculation this morning about whether David Miliband will bow out of British politics for good . We will find out at 5pm today when the deadline expires for the Shadow Cabinet . election This is tough one to call . On the face of it , his departure looks more likely . After all , if he's going to stick around , why not announce that as soon as his brother was elected leader on Saturday By prevaricating he has allowed speculation about his future to overshadow the media's coverage of the Party conference . If he intends to quit , on the other hand , delaying the announcement makes sense because he doesn't want it to look as though he's
Live ost from the fringe.
This is the audience fom the panel's point of view.
I'll post later in more detail.: SEARCH Blog Journalism Books Film Radio Toby's School Monday 27th September 2010 The IMF has just made life more difficult for a deficit denier like Ed Miliband I made a short film for This Week last Wednesday in anticipation of Ed Miliband's victory , pointing out that Labour's new leader won't be taken seriously unless he comes up with a sensible plan to tackle the deficit . My argument was fairly simple : Proposing to eliminate the deficit entirely by 2015-16 is the best way to reassure the international money markets , maintain the UK's AAA credit rating and encourage private investment in the British economy . Ed Miliband's tax-and-spend approach to the economy , by contrast , would plunge Britain into a far more dire fiscal crisis which would eventually mean more swingeing cutsI am listening to the debate on the General Election in the conference hall. nbsp; Andy Kerr (Labour NEC and CWU) has just spoken about the role of the unions in the election. He thanked the unions and in particular TULO for their work. In the election the unions fought for a...
First day of the 2010 Labour conference. I am enjoying being a "Ex-officia" visitor and not being a delegate this year.
Since I am not representing either my union or my local party can pick and choose what debates I will attend in the main conference hall.
I will hopefully be...: SEARCH Blog Journalism Books Film Radio Toby's School Sunday 26th September 2010 Did Ed Balls play the kingmaker The Labour Party has published a detailed breakdown of who voted for whom in the leadership election . If you examine the second preferences of those MPs MEPs who placed Ed Balls first , Ed Miliband picked up 22 and David Miliband 15. The question is : Did this just happen naturally or did Balls try and exert some influence over his original backers in this section in return for a job offer from Miliband Jr Everything I know about Balls tells me that he would have tried to do a second preference deal with one or other of the Miliband brothers . And why not By my calculations , if just six more of the MPs MEPs who voted for Balls in the first round put David's name second
This is a great result for the Labour Party and the nation. Ed narrowly beat his brother David in an incredibly close contest 50.65% to 49.35%)
David was in the lead until the very last stage. The vote by trade union affiliates and the socialist society made the difference. ..
We're waiting patiently in our seats in the Manchester Central conference centre for it to begin (15:55). 'm with UNISON olleagues sitting next to the Sky News room.
Apparently all 5 candidates attended a briefing at 3pm. They were only allowed to take one aide in with them...
The spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams, backed gay people becoming bishops on Saturday as long as they remain celibate.: SEARCH Blog Journalism Books Film Radio Toby's School Saturday 25th September 2010 Did Ed Miliband steal this election It now seems almost certain that Ed Miliband has won the Labour leadership election . The question is : By how much That's important because it looks as though the GMB broke the rules when it sent out ballot papers to its members . According to a report in yesterday's Guardian : The GMB sent its 700,000 members ballot papers within a larger envelope featuring Ed Miliband's picture . Party rules say you cannot include in the ballot envelope any literature backing a candidate . If brother Ed wins by a large majority , this breach of the rules will be a minor footnote in the leadership campaign . But suppose Ed's margin of victory is so small that if the votes of GMBLive post from Crew while n my way to Manchester for this year's Labour Party conference.
Ken Livingston was declared the London Labour Party candidate this morning. He did well with 58% of the vote but Oona King came a respectable second.
I'm not a delegate this year to...On Tuesday I had the great joy of attending the UNISON London Regional Committee. Before I bored everyone to tears with my Finance Convener report, the Regional Council Officers (RCO) had tabled a statement to the Committee on “Responding to the Coalition Government”.
This one and a...
"Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!" Despite the inevitable fuss and bother the local Party are pulling together round its Council leader, Helal Uddin Abbas (centre with file), as the Labour Party candidate to be Tower Hamlets Mayor.
No one person is bigger than the arty. ..Hat-tip thingy SERTUC "Many thanks to everyone for their interest shown in SERTUC Theatre Club and extra special thanks to Mikron Theatre Company for performance at TUC Congress House on Wednesday 1 September 2010.
If you missed Striking the Balance at SERTUC Theatre Club, you can catch up...
Hope those of you who are going to this years Labour Party conference will come to this fringe on the Monday evening.
"Blogging for Labour: How social media can drive a wedge into the Coalition".
I think that anyone going to conference and reading this blog - will be somewhat...
A week on Wednesday there is an European wide day of Protest against Austerity, There will be an international demo in Brussels and protests in all member countries. 
Another Tower Hamlets saga. Self proclaimed “Party Shopper” Johanna Kaschke failed to get permission at the Royal Court of Justice (RCJ) today to appeal against her libel case being thrown out as an abuse of process.
Kaschke was trying to sue Dave for libel over a web post he did about her on...
I once got myself into a little bit of bother over a post that included the words "However, this being Tower Hamlets the story developed"...
Well, my "inbox" this afternoon has been flooded with emails referring to this statement from the Labour Party NEC.
"Having received a number of...
"Listening to Nick Clegg’s speech I am struck by the fact that I could imagine David Cameron giving more or less exactly the same speech, almost word for word.”
Iain Dale: Leading Tory blogger.
Nuf said?
Hat-tip Tom Harris MP
Sunday's community event in Stratford Park was I thought a great success. Local residents from all parts of Stratford and West Ham ward came together to enjoy the festival. ots of great music, dancing, exhibitions, workshops and stalls for young and old.
It was...
The proposed Tory/Lib Dems reforms of housing benefit (HB) “will lead to two things - firstly a dramatic increase in homelessness which will result in a shift in London’s population -equal in size to a typical post war new town and secondly - deepening and abject poverty”. So said the host,...As a trade union branch secretary I get these sort of questions quite often so I’m thinking of sending this check list out to all branch stewards and safety reps on how to respond to union members who asks for representation on work related ill-health matter. ave I missed anything out?
This:...
Hat-tip thingy Steven Frear. 
I'm not particularly exercised in any way by the Pope's visit.
In my perhaps, wishy, washy British way, I think that it is some sort of a "good thing".
I was brought up in a largely secular environment but many of my boyhood friends were Roman Catholic (mostly second generation...
I received this quarterly newsletter form the Labour Housing Group yesterday. he ringe at Party conference will take place at the Friends Meeting House on Sunday evening. It is just outside the secure zone (so you will not need any conference pass to attend).
By coincidence...
This is a good news story for a change, tempered by a tinge of sadness. This morning was listening o the "Today" radio programme nterview "live on air" a new group of female singers. The singers re aptly called The Harmonies" and they are all embers...
Last unday I went for a lovely walk (no. 23) in Bromley and on the way there and back drove past Biggins Hill airport.
There re original attle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire fighterplanes on fixed display as you drive past.
Next time you pass park up and have a look...
Threw together a quick political cartoon about Pastor Terry Jones’ “International Burn-a-Koran Day” and the lunacy about it. Artist/Author: Caleb Law age: 13
On Friday John Denham visited the University of Southampton to talk to a group of students, academics and local business people about the need to find innovative solutions to tackle climate change. More than 100 people attended the session, which was tirelessly organised by SIFE Southampton, a student group on...
Thursday afternoon saw the return of Southampton Itchen MP John Denham to his alma mater, the University of Southampton. Appointed to the cabinet as Secretary of State for Innovations, Universities and Skills, John took questions from a healthy turnout of 40 or so students from right across the political spectrum...
Yesterday (18th Feb 09) Alan Whitehead MP held his first of many, I hope, workshops to promote and help those who want to make their homes more environmentally friendly and to cut their fuel bills. Alan said "I want Southampton to be the most energy efficient city in the UK,...