David Cameron should make Howard Flight apologise - Alexander
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57
Douglas Alexander MP, Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, speaking today on Howard Flight's comments, said:
The government has ducked the big decisions - Maria Eagle
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57Maria Eagle MP, Labour’ Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to today’ announcement on rail investment, said:IDS forced to correct the record on Housing Benefit again
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57Douglas Alexander MP, Labour’ Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, correcting Iain Duncan Smith for the second time in a week, said:This Government has no plan for growth - Denham
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57John Denham MP, Labour’ Shadow Business Innovation and Skills Secretary, commenting on the Government's failure to publish a growth White PaperThe OBR's forecast reminds us of the government's risks with the economy - Johnson
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57Alan Johnson MP, Labour’ Shadow Chancellor, commenting on the Office of Budget Responsibility's forecast, said: "The OBR's forecast for a weak recovery reminds us all of the risks this government has chosen to take with the economy.Ed Miliband and Iain Gray's St Andrew's Day Message
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57
Ed Miliband’ St Andrew’ Day Message:"Today, we celebrate St Andrew’ Day, proud of Scotland’ rich heritage and the contributions made by Scots all over the world.Government's proposed Higher Education market huge gamble - Denham
Updated: 2010-11-30 22:30:57John Denham MP, Labour’ Shadow Business Secretary, in a speech today to Universities UK, said:ToUChstone blog: Web links for 30th November 2010
Updated: 2010-11-30 19:30:00
False Economy: why cuts are the wrong cure Launched today! Check out the new crowdsourced campaign site, which aims to bring together everyone concerned about the cuts. You can find out about cuts, personal stories and campaign actions in your area, and add in your own information. There's...Solidarity Magazine: Shock closure threat to suffolk 999 centre – fbu urges public to speak out
Updated: 2010-11-30 18:40:4827 November 2010 Emergency fire calls in Suffolk could soon be answered outside the county under plans to close the county’s emergency fire control centre, putting public safety at risk, the Fire Brigades Union is warning. Staff working in Suffolk Fire Control in Ipswich learned yesterday (Friday...John's Labour blog: Filler for Red Stockings
Updated: 2010-11-30 18:13:00
"Looking for the perfect gift for the ideologue in your life? Fed up with counting off how many shopping days there are to Christmas while the Con-Dems slash and burn all that you once held dear?
Convinced that the season of peace and goodwill is a tool to instil false consciousness but at...Solidarity Magazine: Human rights committee sides with PCS against cuts
Updated: 2010-11-30 17:43:3430 November 2010 An influential parliamentary committee has criticised the government’s plans to cut civil service redundancy pay as being in breach of human rights legislation, after evidence submitted by PCS. The human rights joint committee said the government had not made the case for...ToUChstone blog: Cuts Watch #326: Jobs at NCVO
Updated: 2010-11-30 17:26:13
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations has announced a ?restructuring? that will lead to a net loss of about 30 jobs. Many of the jobs to be lost will be at Capacitybuilders, the agency that provides advice and support for charities, whose closure was announced last month by the Cabinet...Martin Wicks: Swindon students demonstrate outside civic offices
Updated: 2010-11-30 17:23:56
Here are some pictures of students calling on the Council to oppose the increase in tuition fees. They managed 140 outside the New College last week, but obviously the bitter weather deterred most of them. Some of those present are in receipt of the Education Maintenance Allowance, which the...Swindon Trades Council: Swindon students demonstrate at Council
Updated: 2010-11-30 17:03:17
A group of students demonstrating outside the Council offices today. There were a few more present than appear in this picture, but the bitter weather obviously deterred more. There were students present from New College, Swindon College and one brave soul who travelled from Cirencester.They are...ToUChstone blog: Great news from American progressives
Updated: 2010-11-30 15:47:11In the UK, False Economy is up and running, offering an intelligent and organised contribution to the grass-roots campaign against the cuts. In the USA, there?s a brilliant new website, Our Fiscal Security that, like False Economy, takes apart the arguments that are used to justify spending cuts....Unison Active: The wholesale slaughter of public sector jobs
Updated: 2010-11-30 14:56:00‘The Labour Party must sharpen up its act to effectively and collectively speak out now as the voice for the majority who are taking the hit. It must build a strong opposition and use the policy...American cities in Europe
Updated: 2010-11-30 14:29:38As I’ve mentioned before, Europeans tend to think that most American cities are located much further north than they actually are (because we don’t take into account the effects of the Gulf Stream). To illustrate this, I’ve tried to place a few cities of the US and Canada on a map of Europe: In general, [...]RESULTS grassroots activists at Warwick International Development Summit
Updated: 2010-11-30 13:28:03
RESULTS grassroots activists and interim coordinator for the Leamington Spa group, Katherine Hughes, participated in the annual Warwich International Development Summit (WIDS) on Sunday November 21st 2010. Continue reading →Global warming means colder winters here
Updated: 2010-11-30 06:28:57Igloo fun Originally uploaded by PhylB I’ve noticed that many people seem to take the severity of recent winters as an indication that global warming might not be happening. However, meteorology isn’t a simple science, and today I found an article that claims to have found a reason why global warming would lead to colder [...]A 2010 Christmas Carol
Updated: 2010-11-29 23:07:00
In an east London state nursery, taff noticed that a three year old new starter, a little girl, was still wearing nappies. They were concerned and when the mother came to pick the toddler up, they poke to the Mum.
Her mother was a single parent who was originally from East...Victorian Results Updating Live
Updated: 2010-11-29 04:04:48The ABC Election Results Website at http://www.abc.net.au/elections/vic/2010/ is again being updated live. The VEC are releasing results three times a day, at approximately 10am, 2pm and 5pm. The site will be updated as soon as each update is received. The...Fun in the snow
Updated: 2010-11-28 21:30:41This weekend is André’s, so the three biggies were supposed to be with him from Friday at 5.30pm to Sunday at 8pm. However, yesterday morning I was just chatting to HSBC on the phone while making American blueberry pancakes when Charlotte and Léon came running into the kitchen. Apparently André had broken his glasses, so [...]Counting in Bentleigh to Determine Victorian Government
Updated: 2010-11-28 04:18:16At the close of counting on election night, the Victorian Coalition was on the cusp of forming government, having secured a definite 44 seats in the 88 member Legislative Assembly. There are 34 Liberals and 10 Nationals, while Labor can...New Politics. New Ideas.
Updated: 2010-11-28 00:13:00
I've just signed up to "Fresh Ideas". This is one of the ways that Ed Miliband wants us all to contribute to Labour's policy review. This is a great start. The Centre Left have been losing the Battle of Ideas to the Right. We need rebirth. Bottom up as well as top down.
"Labour’s next...Brit Street Protest: School kids protect police van during riots?
Updated: 2010-11-27 22:45:00
This is an amazing hotograph on a number of levels. Taken in he midst of the noisy nd elf ndulgent disorder during the otherwise eaceful Student demonstration on Wednesday against the massive rises in tuition fees.
A group of London year 11 High..."Ruffled" - Catwalk to High Street in 6 weeks: Who cares about ethics...?
Updated: 2010-11-27 21:29:00
Invitation to a play..."30 November-5 December 2010 - Ruffled, a new play by Ellen Gylen
Etcetera theatre, above the Oxford Arms pub, 265 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BU
War on Want will soon take the stage for a new play that uses both comedy and drama to put fashion ethics on the...Nick Clegg: The Porkie King
Updated: 2010-11-26 22:01:00
Note that our Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party is holding a placard saying "I pledge to vote against any increase in in fees" (for UK Students).
On the way home tonight BBC radio 4 News suggested that there will be a deal for the Lib Dem Government Ministers and...Netroots UK: Building the Progressive Grassroots On-Line
Updated: 2010-11-26 21:09:00This is a must (IMO) for anyone who thinks there is a role for rogressive online activism. Saturday 8 January 2011 in Central London. Only a £5!
Check out "A one day event to help network and inspire progressive activists working on the web.
Saturday 8 January – Central LondonNetroots...The World Bank’s IFC Provides Grants for Agricultural Microinsurance
Updated: 2010-11-26 16:00:38The World Bank's IFC announces $4.1m in grants for weather indexed insurance programmes in Africa. Continue reading →Capital Stewardship: UNISON London Pension Network
Updated: 2010-11-25 23:59:00
Next Tuesday lunchtime is the latest UNISON Capital Stewardship: London Pension network meeting.
This is a meeting for Greater London UNISON ension trustees or member nominated representatives on the London Local Government Pension Schemes.
All uch trustees and eps...TB and UK Ethnic Minority Communities
Updated: 2010-11-25 18:14:14Rates of tuberculosis have been steadily rising in the UK for the last 20 years to the point where there are now over 9000 new cases every year. Anyone can catch TB – an airborne disease – but in the UK the TB burden falls especially hard on certain groups of people who often suffer from health inequalities. These include some ethnic minority groups Continue reading →Conservative bishops deliver blow to Anglican Covenant
Updated: 2010-11-25 11:20:45
Conservative Anglicans rejected a proposed landmark agreement designed to prevent splits in the worldwide Anglican Communion, just as the Church of England moved closer to adopting it.DFID Oral Parliamentary Questions on Tuberculosis
Updated: 2010-11-25 10:37:58MPs today put several questions about TB in the developing world to Ministers during International Development questions Continue reading →FBU rep attacks SWP "Wrecker of the Week" Minitrue
Updated: 2010-11-23 23:59:00
The journal of (un)Democratic Centralism (my latest Wrecker of the Week) has been forced to publish the following attacks by very angry FBU rep over their coverage of the recent strikes.
The ocialist (minitrue) Worker is accused by this rep as follows your coverage of the...RESULTS UK Welcomes Felix Jakens
Updated: 2010-11-23 16:25:07
Please join us in welcoming Felix Jakens to the RESULTS UK family! Continue reading →The Death of Social Housing
Updated: 2010-11-22 23:59:00
It seems that not everyone is as dismayed as I am at today's announcement by Tory Housing Minister, Grant Shapps, that the statutory homeless and vulnerable will be forced into high cost, insecure, unregulated private rental accommodation.
Rachman may be dead but his spirit lives on amongst those...RESULTS says farewell to Louise Holly
Updated: 2010-11-22 14:48:45
Friday 19th November marked Louise's last day with RESULTS. Continue reading →How the first NSW Labor Government survived the 1911 Crisis
Updated: 2010-11-22 11:03:39A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog post on the formation of the first Labor government in NSW in 1910. In 1911 the government, led by Acting Premier William Holman, survived an extended constitutional crisis that demonstrated what...Newham salutes its 7 Rifles local heros
Updated: 2010-11-21 09:56:00
Picture of Newham Council ayor Sir Robin Wales and West Ham MP Lyn Brown t this Civic reception for our local TA Company last month. From Mayors iew - Page 7 of this months thenewhammag"If you desire a coloured for your neighbour Vote Labour": Lambeth Tory leaflet 1964
Updated: 2010-11-20 21:59:00
Hat tip to Hayes People History. It is hard to imagine that such leaflets were handed out by a "mainstream" political party to the public within my life time (just).
There was of course even worse literature handed out during the same election in Birmingham 1964. This Tory, Peter Griffiths, won...Pariah Parties and Preferences
Updated: 2010-11-20 10:40:02After the Liberal Party announced last weekend that it would put the Greens last on its how-to-vote material, I was asked what the Liberal Party used to do with the Communist Party. Using how-to-vote material from three NSW elections in......the streets, targeted protest and the ballot box
Updated: 2010-11-19 21:57:00
Last week there was UNISON London Regional Committee in Kings Cross. Regional Convenor Gloria Hanson was Chair.
This was the usual business meeting – minutes, recruitment, motions, training, updates, Regional Council, future meetings, reports, (I gave the London finance report) etc.
There was...One Society Many Cultures
Updated: 2010-11-18 23:59:00
This is a widely upported event well worth attending I think.
Saturday 11 December 2010. 10am-5.30pm.
Mary Ward House, 5/7 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SN
- Celebrate diversity
- Challenging racism and Islamophobia
Check out website here
(even the Daily Torygraph chief Political...Lord Tredegar Pub: ITV filming "Injustice"
Updated: 2010-11-17 23:33:00
This is a bit late and off message but while scurrying from Mile End Station to Roman Road a couple of weeks ago I came across this filming t the Lord Tredegar Pub in Bow.
The film series by ITV is called "Injustice".
I use to work around the corner from this pub (Malmesbury...Auto-enrolled into funding the Tories?
Updated: 2010-11-17 22:17:00
There is a welcome "revolution" in pensions about to hit Britain retty soon. In 2012 there will be at long last be a national trust based low cost pension scheme aimed at low to moderate earners and their employers (NEST).
This is a massive advance that could eventually even...Legislative Council Calculators Now Live!
Updated: 2010-11-16 23:50:35Try my Legislative Council Calculators now live at the ABC Elections http://www2b.abc.net.au/Elections/View/SenateCalculator.aspx?e=18&ca=emetLondon Labour Party Biennial Conference 2010 (Morning speeches)
Updated: 2010-11-16 07:55:00
On Saturday at the Old Town Hall in Stratford there was the 2010 London Labour Party iennial conference.
This is now the nd London iennial conference that I have posted upon. Check out 2008 here. I was again a member of the UNISON affiliate trade union delegation. .."activists who are elected not just to enact revolution but to also support those in need"
Updated: 2010-11-15 21:04:00
Former London UNISON Branch Secretary Nick Venedi (left) makes a valuable contribution on his blog here o an ge old dichotomy about rade unions. Which is - are unions all about providing top class services and representation to its members or is it just a platform for self...UK Premiere of Pins and Needles
Updated: 2010-11-15 19:26:00
I must admit that I was previously unaware that a trade union had ever roduced a Broadway smash hit!
"The smash hit Broadway musical PINS and NEEDLES is making its UK premiere at the Cock Tavern Theatre.
The longest running musical until Oklahoma and the only smash hit produced by a trade...West Ham Church of All Saints Remembrance Sunday Service
Updated: 2010-11-14 23:15:00
This morning I attended the Remembrance Service in the 12th Century Church of All Saints in my ward, West Ham.
The Deputy Lieutenant of Newham, Colonel Mike Dudding, our Mayor Sir Robin Wales and West Ham MP Lyn Brown was present. As well as eterans, parishioners, esidents, 7...When the law really is an Ass
Updated: 2010-11-14 09:57:00
Michael Harris at Left Foot Forward is spot on here with his analysis about the recent twittergate debacles. Paul Chambers and Tory Cllr Gareth Compton are stupid, arrogant nd thoughtless - but not criminals.
"Even free speech fundamentalists agree with US Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’s...Legislative Council Preference Tickets
Updated: 2010-11-14 07:01:27At noon on Sunday 14 November, the passed for parties to lodge their group ticket preferences for the Legislative Council. These are the preferences that will be used for any votes that are cast for a party using the 'above...BBC Question Time: Behind the scenes
Updated: 2010-11-13 23:01:00
Picture is of me making a point on Thursday’s edition of “Question Time” about the media not being interested in reporting peaceful protests and demonstrations only “punch-ups”. The actual panel was Theresa May MP, Home Secretary; Caroline Flint MP, Labour; Sherard Cowper-Coles - formerly...Das autoritäre Dänemark
Updated: 2010-11-12 22:38:59ZDF hat einen interessanten Bericht, “Das Leben der Anderen“, über den dänischen Spitzelstaat produziert. “Zeigen Sie Betrüger an”, heißt es neuerdings auf den Internetseiten dänischer Kommunen. So werden Bürger angestiftet, sich gegenseitig zu kontrollieren und den Behörden vermeintliche Steuersünder und Sozialbetrüger zu melden – und das völlig anonym. Ich glaube nicht, dass viele Dänen verstehen, [...]Save London's Housing!
Updated: 2010-11-12 21:00:00
Nationally, we are facing an unprecedented ousing disaster thanks to this Government. nbsp;Ordinary Londoner's ill suffer the most.
The Labour Housing Group is national ffiliated organisation within the Labour Party "dedicated to developing and promoting effective...Five questions for Fiona Millar
Updated: 2010-11-12 17:02:14
: SEARCH Blog Journalism Books Film Radio Toby's School Friday 12th November 2010 Five questions for Fiona Millar What a nasty piece of work Fiona Millar is . Scarcely a day passes without her launching a vicious personal attack on someone a style of politics she no doubt learned from her partner , Alastair . Campbell On Tuesday she wrote a piece in The Guardian falsely claiming that Katharine Birbalsingh , the courageous deputy head who lost her job as a result of criticising comprehensive education at the Conservative Party Conference , was in the pay of Michael Gove . Miss Birbalsingh vigorously defended herself from this charge on this website yesterday and , embarrassingly for Fiona , The Guardian has now published a correction . To read more , click here COMMENT COMMENTS SO FAR : 0Father’s or mother’s surname?
Updated: 2010-11-06 11:56:48Edmond and Louisa deMedicis Originally uploaded by moultriecreek In most western countries, it used to be the case that children got their father’s surname. These days, things are more fluid (as seen for instance by the fact that my daughters’ surname is Buchanan-Widmann), but nobody seems to have come up with a really good solution, [...]US Politics : Democrats Hold The Senate, Republicans Win the House
Updated: 2010-11-03 04:38:56I don’t understand US politics particularly well, though we do watch The Daily Show by Jon Stewart religiously (if that’s representative of US politics, Americans are nuts!). Watching BBC News and the Democrats have held the Senate and the Republicans have gained control of The House of Representatives. Guess that means President Obama will find [...]