General Election Day 23 Wednesday

Went to the Workers Memorial Day rally in Manchester to commemorate all those killed at work-often because safety has been scrimped on to increase profit. I learnt that the Tories plan to allow big firms to have their own private health and safety audit and then prevent the Health and Safety executive inspecting. Supposedly cutting back on red tape-actually a recipe for more deaths and injuries at work. Workplace deaths are down 75% since the 1980's but 180 people are still killed at work every year

Then we heard about the incident in Rochdale. What can you say? everyone makes mistakes at times, if I had a pound for every mistake I'd made I could pay off all the Labour Party's debts. The response on the doorsteps wasn't too bad, most people just saying it only proves he's human.

The trick now is to forget the distractions, do well in the debate tonight and then push for every vote for the next 7 days-those votes are there to be had. Me, I am now off to Liverpool Wavertree

General Election Day 22 Tuesday

Postal votes arrive today so I have been busy in Withington, good response from voters. Major improvement in Campaign as I buy a kettle to replace the one with the top 'detached' which means it wont boil-an essential requirement of most kettles.

Evening spent canvassing in my ward-good response. bit odd as its the first local election in 10 years that I havent been the candidate but it means I can do more on the General Election.

General Election Day 21 Monday

Spent the whole day in Salford leafletting-getting fed up with the media obsession with process,hung parliaments and hypothetical situations. Its important we dont get sucked into this sideline but concentrate on the politics- ensuring the economy doesn't fall back into recession, meeting the needs of an ageing population, tackling our housing problems. Keep the debate on policy and we win.

I am also concerned that the first NEC meeting after the election is not until May 18th. If any important decisions need to be made its essential that the party is fully involved and for that reason I have asked the General Secretary if we can bring the meeting forward by a week.

After canvassing we went for a meal at the Agra Fort in Ellesmere Port. It had been specially prepared for us by Mrs Miah for the party workers and really was excellent-many,many thanks!

General Election Day 20 Sunday

Making good progress with postal vote leaflets, it certainly gets you out in the fresh air!

Incensed by the news that the civil service feel it appropriate to insult the Roman Catholic church in preparing for the Popes visit. Anyone who knows me knows its a long time since I have been a practicing catholic but I passionately believe all faiths should be treated with respect, even, and perhaps especially, if you disagree with their teachings.

When I was growing up we always knew there was a nasty strain of anti-catholicism in the british ruling circles (based largely on the fact that we were predominantly Irish and working class)-it clearly still persists!

PS apologies. I had a comment about the Lib Dem vote but being a bit clumsy(which is a little bit like saying Elvis Presley was alright at singing) I managed to delete it by accident. It is right that the Alliance got more in 1983, my point was that the Liberals came from nowhere in 1974 to get 19% then disappeared witin a couple of years.

General Election Day 20 Saturday

Spent an hour filling red baloons with Helium in Ellesmere Port- an essential part of any political campaign before dashing off to Manchester for a meeting followed by a few hours in Withington.
There's a good mood of determination amongst the members and we know we have a big job in front of us.
We know there are still plenty of undecideds both locally and nationallyand we have to work hard for every one of them. In fact-the Don't Knows will decide it!

General Election Day 19 Friday

Canvassing in Salford followed by delivering postal vote letters in Withington. I was delivering in Burnage on the estate my Aunty Mary used to live on. To be honest it's a credit to the Local Government pioneers who built decent housing to tackle the poor housing that blighted our city.We will need to be just as radical in the future!

Then I went down to Greatledge printers to pick up leaflets for Ellesmere Port.Written on Thursday and E-mailed that night,they were ready for delivery by Friday tea-time. Greatledge are brilliant!

General Election Day 18 Thursday

Decided to have a break and went down to Crewe to help my mate Dave Williams who is the candidate there. He's doing a brilliant job of trying to regain the seat we lost at the By-election 2 years ago.

I spent the morning inviting people to come down and meet Dave and Andy Burnham, who would be arriving later. We then went out canvassing with Lucy and Nan-you certainly aren't going to say no to that pair! Lots of people coming back since the By-election.

Andy's visit went well then there was a young labour event with over 100 there. The party is doing a great job in Crewe and Nantwich!

General Election Day 17 Wednesday

Most of the day in Withington and a bit in Salford.

These debates are putting a bit of a straight jacket on the campaign,turning it into a three round contest and the final one will be the most intereting.

Cameron is looking distinctly uncomfortable-obviously feeling the pressure from his people who thought it was in the bag

General Election Day 16 Tuesday

Withington and Ellesmere Port today.
Eddie Izzard came out with us today before going to an USDAW branch meeting-that ensured a big turnout! It was a boost for us having him with us, he's a really nice fella.
We are reminding people that the Lib Dems are committed to cutting back on winter fuel allowance for the 60-65's and abolishing child trust funds-issues like this matter to our supporters.

General Election Day Fifteen Monday

Good news that the Government is sending in the Navy to help stranded travellers-issues like this call for decisive action.

I would also like to see tough action from the Government to force the insurance companies to live up to their responsibilities-there are too many reports of stranded travellers being let down and forced to pay out thousands and this is yet another example of financial institutions being happy to take our money but not keeping their side of the bargain.

I spent theday in Ellesmere Port then back to Manchester for a fundraiser with Eddie Izzard-a good night was had by all.

General Election Day Fourteen Sunday

Spend all day delivering Postal vote info. in Ellesmere Port.

Wheels seem to be coming off the Tory campaign-in 1974 the Liberals came from nowhere to take 25% of the vote, wonder if that will happen again?

The airline crisis is causing real problems for people and is going to have major long term consequences.

General Election Day Thirteen Saturday

Direct mail delivery in the morning, Knock off at dinnertime to go to the match-not talking about that! then more direct mail delivery. It all begins to blend in to one.

General Election Day Twelve Friday

All the reaction to the debate seems to be that Clegg "won"-whatever that means. It does create major strategic problems for the Tories as it opens up a second front for them to fight on.

Cameron needs to be worried-the Tories have been expecting this election to be a cakewlk and if he doesnt deliver a majority Government his leadership will come under real pressure-watch out for Boris and George.

Me, I spent the dayin EllesmerePort and Withington,lots of members coming in to help-good feeling all round.

Treated Withington CLP to a £5 bet-if City win 4-1 tomorrow and Tevez scores a hat trick it will pay for the campaign.

General Election Day Eleven Thursday

Todays the day of the leaders debate-clouds of volcanic ash all over the country could be an omen!

During the day I go out in Withington, big direct mail delivery. The quality of our literature really is very good. Then its over to Ellesmere Port helping with the nomination paper. A quick couple of pints in the "White Swan,not exactly gripped with excitement about the debate. Heard some of it on the car radio, Gordon sounded good and strong. Clegg does nothing for me-seems very lightweight. Cameron is the one who seems worried.

General Election Day Ten Wednesday

Well,Well... The Libdems want to cut back on winter fuel allowance-wait till the pensioners find out about that! Add that to the abolition of child trust funds and their willingness to support a Tory Government and there are some nasty plums in their pudding of a manifesto.

They make a big thing of having costed everything in their manifesto-not much use if all your costings are fantasy!

For me its been more voter ID in Withington and direct mail in Salford-life has a degree of predictability at the moment.

General Election Day nine Tuesday

Tory manifesto launch today and I was surprised at how weak it was-basically a rehash of all that 80's stuff about "empowering" people to run their own schools, veto council tax rises and electing mad people to run the police. What they dont get is that most people dont want to "run" things. They want to have their views respected and want to see our public services delivering high standards, what they dont want to do is spend every spare moment at budget sub-committeesor performance review groups

In actual fact the Tories are really about cutting back services and hoping the voluntary sector picks up the slack. Quite simply it won't

General Election Day Eight Monday

Manifesto launch today- Could have gone down but think I am more use here in Mancester. It was a good venue,highlighting the solid achievements of a Labour Government_ we have made a real difference for people in this country and should be proud of it.

Gordon Brown came to Ellesmere Port today visiting the Vauxhall plant, stressing the importance of manufacturing.

The manifesto concentrates on protecting the recovery reminding us that on all the tough decisions the Tories called it wrong.

General Election Day Seven Sunday

Lots of Direct Mail delivery in Salford. Knock off at 4pm and go down to the club to watch City put five past Birmingham. Bit hard on Brum who have been playing well this year but from my point of view-not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

General Election Day Six Saturday

I go over to Withington with my friend Jill and team up with local member Lucy for a good canvass-getting lots of posters up.
Then we go back to Salford to deliver direct mail- I pick up a West Indian take away from Kool Runnings so thats tea taken care of!

Picked the third in the Grand National but dont think my £1.38 winnings will change my life.

In the evening we went to the adoption meeting in Salford at the Willows,home of Salford Reds. Speakers incuded Gary Titley, Arlene McCarthy and John Merry, leader of Salford city council. Hazel and the local members are fighting a real campaign for every vote.

General Election Day Five Friday

Back to Manchester and working in Withington. The mood is very upbeat with lots of young supporters getting involved. There will be a lot of ups and downs over the next three weeks or so and it really will be the case that every vote counts. I think we are all going to be up very late on election night.

Workers Memorial Day

I omitted one key detail from the article about workers memorial day-it is on Wednesday, April 28th.

Workers Memorial Day

The recent tragic deaths of James Shear and Alan Bannon, the fire fighters killed rescuing people in the tower block fire in Southampton, highlight the importance of Workers Memorial day- a day when we remember those injured or killed at work and resolve to do all we can to tighten up legislation and good practice to ensure everyone can go to work and come home safely.
There will be events to mark the day all over the country- just google for details.
If you are in Manchester there will be a march from the Mechanics Institute on Major St.( just off Princess St.) starting at 11.30amto a rally in the Peace Gardens at Noon

General election day four Thursday

Down to London for the clause Five meeting. This is where the NEC, Cabinet, National Policy Forum reps and Trade Unions come together to agree the Manifesto. Ed Miliband and the policy staff have been consulting widely to arrive at a draft and today was our first sight of it.

The meeting was held at Church House, at the back of Westminster Abbey. When you arrive party staff give you a secrecy declaration to sign swearing that you wont leak any details of the manifesto before its launch on Monday( a bit late as the papers all had details yesterday).

I was then given a numbered copy of the draft-to be handed in at the end of the meeting.

I had arrived an hour and a half early to study the document and there are some strong proposals in it which will really benefit working people-thats probably as far as I can go without breaching my oath of silence and being struck down by lightning!

Gordon Brown introduced the discussion and various cabinet ministers answered questions about their sections. The whole thing lasted 2 hours and then it was a quick couple of pints and then back home.

General election-day three-wednesday

A bit of a bitty day-direct mail delivery in Salford in the morning, Telephone Conference about the manifesto at dinnertime then went to do my monthly blood platelet donation followed by canvassing and leafletting in Withington.

During the telephone conference, which included Ellie Reeves, ann Lucas and Stephanie Peacock I made the point that we need to stress the economic competence issues-I doubt this will necessitate a major re-writing!

Tomorrow its off to London for the Clause Five meeting where we agree the manifesto. Personally I would rather stay here knocking on doors but I think this is one that the members would expect me to be at.

General Election Day Two Tuesday

Spent most of the day in Manchester Withington. Its the one non labour seat in Manchester, Won last time on the back of an untruth that Christie's hospital was under threat. Guess what... its still here-and thats because it never was under threat.

We've got a great candidate in Lucy Powell and the local party have been working really hard
and we are going to win. So,as well as doing my bit in Salford I will be helping out in Withington.
We are also going to be helped out by Eddie Izzard-should be interesting.

General Election Day One

So, its official. Gordon has gone to the palace and the country will be voting in 30 days. I have spent the day helping Lucy Powell in Withington- putting up posters, leafleting and canvassing. The response has been very good with a strong anti-tory feeling. The Tory strategy of hoping for mass collective amnesia isn't working in Manchester!

I have received notice of the Clause Five meeting in London on Thursday- this is the one where we agree the manifesto. I am looking for some real substance dealing with the major issues-jobs and the economy, the NHS, crime and housing-to name but a few.

The polls are tightening and I see Ladbrokes are offering 5 to 1 against Labour having the most seats. Very generous and well worth a tenner!

General Election 2010

So it looks like Gordon is off to the Palace tomorrow and we finally get to make a choice - a choice between a Labour Government, that made the correct economic calls when the going got tough and the Tories who have shown they are simply not up to the job.

They are a very right wing anti-trade union organisation and I firmly believe that if they get in Britain will be a much worse place for working people than it is today. It's our job to prevent that from happening - good luck to everyone working towards a Labour victory.

Stalybridge and Hyde

Been busy for the last month or so trying to get selected as the Labour candidate for Stalybridge & Hyde. It's only over the last year that I thought I would have a go at being an MP if the opportunity arose. I am convinced that issues like 10p tax and the expenses problems would be less likely to happen if we had more MP's who lived like the majority of our voters live.

Stalybridge & Hyde is a lovely place situated between Manchester and the Pennines, and I met lots of good Labour Party members - however I wasn't successful in getting selected. The important thing though is that the members got to make the decision and as long as that happens, democracy in the Labour Party is in good hands.

On the Wirral

Good turnout on Saturday morning for a training session organised by the Wirral Local Government committee. With members from all four constituencies we had a good briefing from Noel Hutchinson from the regional office and then a session on how to mobilise the support of Trade Unionists. With around 80 days to an election-probably- the spirit among the members is very good.

Home Reposessions

The figures were announced last week of a 14 year high in reposessions-46,000 last year.

Thats 46,000 seperate tragedies and, contrary to what you might have heard, reposession is NEVER a good thing.

The key statistic, however,is that all the lending institutions were anticipating in excess of 70,000 reposessions. That means that Labour Government action has saved nearly 30,000 people from being reposessed.

Similarly,all the economists agree that labour policies have prevented at least half a million redundancies.

Thats the point about Labour policies. We can't stop all redundancies or reposessions but we can use the power and resources of government to limit the damage, protecting as many people as possible from the economic downside. The Tory view is that such action "distorts" the market and we need to just let events take their course. Thats easier when its not you losing your job or your house.

Labour Values

We talk a lot about Labour Values, but can often be a bit vague about exactly what they are. Yet, particularly at times like this when hard decisions are called for, it's important we are clear about what we stand for and why!

Our values provide the distinctive basis on which we seek to govern - a better way of doing things.

Perhaps our most important value is fairness. We know life isn't fair - everyone gets dealt a different hand of cards at the start - but we do believe everyone deserves a fair chance in life. That's one of the reasons Labour has put such an emphasis on education.

Fairness is also important when difficult decisions have to be made. People aren't stupid. They know hard times require tough choices, but they want to see the hardship shared out fairly, with the broadest backs shouldering the biggest burden.

Obviously we had to keep the banking system afloat last year - if we hadn't the cash machines would have stopped, pension funds would have collapsed and house repossessions would have gone though the roof. But it's NOT fair that those who caused the crisis carry on receiving massive bonuses as if nothing had happened.

Empathy is about more than being able to see the other persons point of view - it's about being able to see the world as they see it - "if you can walk a mile in the other mans' shoes...."

If we are to win the support of different groups in society we need to understand both how they see the world and why they see it that way. We don't have to agree with them, but we do have to understand them and to do that we have to listen.

Along with this goes compassion. Labour people have always been at the forefront of helping people in trouble or who are down on their luck. It's our natural instinct and it's one to encourage.

Toughness has to be an important value for Labour. If we know something is right we have to stand our ground and face up to the opposition. All our gains, from the NHS to the minimum wage have been made in the face of massive opposition from vested interests.

Solidarity is key for the Labour movement. We believe we achieve things when we work together and when sections of our movement are under attack we stand shoulder to shoulder with them. That's why we believe in Trade Unions and co-operation.

That solidarity leads us to support international co-operation whether it be at the UN or the European Union.

Freedom - from the Tolpuddle martyrs to the campaign against the blacklist and the fight against apartheid, the Labour movement has always been at the forefront of defending and advancing civil liberties. For us the rights and dignity of the individual are crucial. Too many people are only interested in"the bigger picture" without considering how decisions affects people real lives.

Security is of vital importance for all of us. Everyone has the fundamental right to live their lives and go about their business free from fear - whether it's the fear of burglars, muggers or terrorist lunatics. Too often in the past the Tories tried to paint us as soft on crime, when in fact it is working class communities and vulnerable groups who suffer the most.

People also have the right to go to work safely that's why Health & Safety legislation at work is so important.

Many other values underpin our approach to government - working for prosperity, honesty in government. Combining them in our policies can be difficult - how do we match the need for security with civil liberties, the need for fairness with rewards for hard work. There is no easy guide for Labour governance whether at local or national level. When we get it right it can make a difference to the lives of millions of people.

A real pair of comedians...

When people apply to join the Labour Party we ask them what has prompted the decision. Apparently the most commonly cited reason nowadays is George Osborne! Its easy to understand why when you see him on TV. The performance of both himself and David Cameron underlines the point that they are either not being honest about their economic intentions or that they haven't got a clue what they are doing. Whichever is the case voters are beginning to see through them and their opinion poll leads are coming down. If we can just concentrate on putting them under pressure the election is there to be won!

Winning in Withington

On Sunday Morning I spoke at a course for Labour councillors in Manchester after which around 20 of us went canvassing in Old Moat, Withington.It was interesting for me as we were canvassing the estate my dad grew up on in the 1930's. We had a good response and 20 extra canvassers gave everyone a big lift.

NEC Meeting-January

We had a fairly light agenda at the NEC as the Prime Minister had to be in Northern Ireland trying to resolve the problems around devolved policing.

There was some discussion about proceedings at the special selections panel-established to speed up the selection process for candidates. This has come about due to the unprecedented number of late selections we are having to do and the need to get candidates in the field as soon as possible. Whilst the NEC have to ensure we have candidates campaigning for victory, we also need to keep the trust of members that selections are being handled fairly. For that reason I made the point that constituency labour parties should be invited to have an an observer present when the short list for their constituency is drawn up. Unfortunately, despite support from other CLP reps I was in a minority.

However, we have made some real progress in protecting members rights to select their candidates. All short-lists from the special selection panel should have at least four people on them and, at the last NEC I got support for an amendment to ensure that members will always get a vote on who their candidate is unless it is physically impossible so to do e.g.a candidate falling under a bus on nomination day!

We had a report from Harriet Harman on the current political state of play and Ed Milliband outlined some of his ideas on the Manifesto.

I stressed the importance of the minimum wage-the country's biggest collective agreement-and the need to at least maintain its current level.

We received an organisational summary about the General Election and then Lord Mandelson outlined his views on the campaign-a session I had to miss due to the need to catch a train, the meeting having lasted 5 hours by this point. I'm sure someone will fill me in.

Education and skills working party

All members of the NEC are on commissions of the National Policy Forum.

I'm on the Education and Skills working party. The meetings can be difficult to get to-its hard to justify the expense of a train trip to London for a one hour meeting. However when I can get down to them they are always interesting as we get up-to date, detailed briefings from Ministers on the latest developments in their areas.

I went to the meeting last monday, prior to Tuesdays NEC. The first discussion was led by Lord Young from the business and innovation dept. about apprenticeships followed by a presentation on free school meals from Dawn Primarolo and Dianne Johnston.

Amongst the useful things I learnt * in 1997 there were 65,000 apprenticeships-only 1/4 of

of which were completed.In 2009 there were there were 250,000 apprenticeships,70% of which were completed.

* The current percentage of eligible young people going to university is 43%.

*By the time of the election there will be 3,500 childrens centres-the tories would probably close 20% of them.

* progress is being made in the provision of free school meals. As of September there will be a trial local authority in each region offering free school meals for all primary school children and half a million primary school children whose parents get working families tax credit will also get free school meals.

New Statesman

Last week I got one of those calls from out of the blue. It was from the New Statesman-never had that before!

They wanted to know who I thought should be the next Leader of the Labour Party-I thought I had missed something at first then I realised it was just another of those fishing expeditions designed to keep a non-story about the leadership going.

There is always a decision to make with these things.If you get involved you risk prolonging the story, if you dont get involved then the Labour view doesn't get put. In the end I gave them the following qoute,which hasgone down well with most members.

"The next leader of the Labour Party should be Gordon Brown-there is no vacancy. Without Gordon Brown we would be facing the same sort of economic meltdown they have seen in Iceland or Ireland. We are facing a Tory party more right-wing at every level than it was under Margaret Thatcher. This isn't the time for these dinner party debates;its time for Labour supporters to be campaigning hard for a Labour victory. I am just on my way out to deliver some leaflets-anyone is welcome to join us"

Ipswich Labour Party

In the late 1970's and early 80's I worked as the assistant agent for the Ipswich Labour Party-probably the best party in the country!We had a 3.5% swing TO Labour in 1979, held the seat in 1983, won the council in 1979 and held it for 25 years and trebled our membership over a four year period.

I'm still in touch with the members in Ipswich and they are still delivering the goods with one of the highest contact rates in the country and leading the fight against the Tory /Lib Dim plans to sell off the counil owned Bus company.

I mention this because I have just received a copy of the Party's annual report-a very professional reminder that the party on the ground is ready to take the fight to the Tories, whenever it comes!

Good luck to the Ipswich Labour Party and Chris Mole MP

Royal Mail-time to deliver

I recently received a pamphlet from the CWU about the issue of the pension fund deficit. Entitled "Time to deliver" it gives a detiled background to the issue and further copies can be o

obtained from jcolbert@cwu.org.

The pension fund has nearly half a million members and is currently in major deficit-in large part due to a 13 year pensions holiday taken by the employer. The deficit is £10 Billion and following the collapse of the plans to part privatise the post office the Government needs to tackle the issue-recognising its responsibility as the sole shareholder

Bury South

Down to Whitefield last week to give an NEC report to their General Committee. We had a good discussion about what we need to do as a party and members are well geared up for an election

Its good to get to local meetings and if you would like me to come to yours just give me a ring on 07880 790182

The Big Chill is over-we hope

I'm sure many other parts of the country are still snowbound but down here the snow has at last melted. Apart from anything else it means catching up with leaflet delivery abandoned when the little ice-age set in.

On Saturday I went to Withington and will be going over most of this week-anyone who wants to come and help is more than welcome, give me a ring on 07880 790182

Nec Sub-Committees

On Tuesday I was down in London for my Labour Party NEC Sub-Committee meetings. They were all reasonably short meetings as Routine business is drying up in the run-up to the election. At the womens,race and equality meeting I was elected Vice-chair with responsibility for disability- anyone who wants to help me in this job can give me a ring on 07880 790182.

At the Organisation Committee we had a discussion on the events of the previous week. Its fair to say that if Capital Punishment had been an option many members would have been tempted! The one thing the whole episode shows is the solid support in the wider party for Gordons leadership-in this case Solidarity really is strength.

Had to leave the meeting early to get back to Salford for my Branch AGM.Lousy weather but a good turn-out of mainly young and committed members-we are clearly doing something right.

Members deserve better

I had to put a bag on my head today when I went to Tesco's to buy a" Mail on Sunday". Its not the sort of thing I usually buy but I had heard there was an article by former Labour Party General Secretary Peter Watt.

As a former senior official of our party you would have hoped it would have been an account of how Labours policies have made Britain a better place or the importance of a Labour victory at the forthcoming election.

But no, its an attempt to denigrate Gordon Brown and help the tories in their election campaign. You can judge its veracity by the fact that Peter Watt is the man who assured me personally in September 2005 that the Labour Party's finances had never been in a better position - shortly before doubling the cost of membership.

Party members are entitled to expect better from those who have had the honour to be Cabinet Ministers, NEC members, MPs etc - instead we have been badly let down this week.

Loyalty and solidarity built this Party........lets see a bit more of it this week.

Winter Wonderland.....perhaps not!

With temperatures literally colder than the South Pole round here, it makes you appreciate the importance of local services. The people who are out gritting around the clock, the councils who open emergency services for stranded motorists and the voluntary services, police and paramedics who work their socks off to hold everything together.

I wonder how the Tory proposals for councils being run like Easy Jet would work. Would we all be being charged and extra £20 for using gritted roads?

...or would it be like Cheshire West & Chester council where the Tory deputy leader gets his private road in the middle of the country gritted and everywhere else is left untreated - rank has its privileges! See the Chester Chronicle 31/12/2009.

Manchester Withington

Manchester Withington is a key marginal and one we are going to win back from the Lib Dems. Last Monday I was out delivering New Year calenders for our candidate, Lucy Powell with Fred from Eccles. Unfortunately we were snowed-off half way through - but we'll be back!

I'll be going to Withington at least once a week up to the General Election. Anyone who wants to come and help just give me a call on 07780 790182.

ps. Congratulation to Lucy and James on the birth of Katie.

Bury South Jan 23rd

Bury South Clp are organising an interesting fund-raiser shortly. David Miliband will be in Prestwich being interviewed by Fiona Phillips. There will be a meal and the event will be at the Longfield suite at 7.30pm. Tickets £30...Phone Hazel on 0161 773 5500(daytime)

OH NO....

You really couldnt make it up... just as I finished the above bit about the need to be positive and take the fight to the Tories two MPs decide to do just the opposite and take the fight to Labour by resurrecting the leadership question.

Lets be clear-there is no support in the wider movement,amongst the members or Trade Unions for these self indulgent attempts to get rid of Gordon-we want to get on with the job of winning the election.

Happy New year-and dont eat the yellow snow

Well there we go, as soon as 2010 starts it grinds to a halt! Hopefully it will have cleared up by May 6th because thats when we will be having a General Election which means that those of us in the Labour Party(and anyone who wants to keep on building a better,fairer Britain) has got just 18 weeks to turn things round.
It can be done, there is no love for the Tories out there and no-one talks about the Lib-Dems at all. It can only be done by going on the front foot, exposing the extreme right wing nature of the current Tory party and the threat they pose both to our economic recovery and the public services which rely on that recovery.
That job is going to be done in the marginal constituencies up and down the country-on the doorsteps and on the phone-canvassing,delivering leaflets,fund-raising and making members. I will be doing my best to get that job done, if you want to help give me a ring on 07880 790182-and all the best for the New Year.

8 Months for Labour

After conference I will have a lot more time on my hands, so I'm determined to put it to good use - working hard for a Labour victory. As well as my own CLP - Salford & Eccles - I'm going to concentrate on doing what I can to help in 3 marginals

Crewe & Nantwich - a seat lost at the by-election which we need to gain back and where my mate Dave Williams from USDAW is working his socks off as the candidate. www.davidwilliams.org.uk

Manchester Withington - The LibDems stole this seat last time by lying about the future of our major cancer hospital. Our candidate Lucy Powell and the members throughout Manchester are determined to right this wrong. www.lucypowell.net

South Ribble - One of the most marginal seats in the country and the member of Parliament Dave Borrow is leading from the front. Given the Tories disarray over the defence industry which is crucial, Dave is going very strongly and deserves our support. davidborrowmp.co.uk

They'll want Blood Next

I remember someone saying to me when I was a kid that the Blood Transfusion Service is the closest thing we have to Socialism in practice.

People who can give it to the NHS for free and then it is there for anyone who needs it for free.

Giving a pint of blood doesn't take long - about 3/4 of an hour - and you soon make it up. You can give a pint every three months and they are always on the lookout for new donors.

I've now discovered a new way of donating - it's by giving platelets. They take the blood out of you - remove the platelets, which are the important bit and then put it back into you. It takes about an hour but as they put the blood back into you, you can go monthly.

I said earlier that you do it for free but in fact you get loads of tea, Chocolate biscuits and they even have Tuc Biscuits - which I never see anywhere else nowadays.

For more information go online or ring 0845 7711711. Anyone in Manchester who wants to know more about giving blood in Manchester just ring me on 07880 790182.

Please click on the picture to enlarge

Conference 2009

Delegates will be gathering next weekend in Brighton for the final conference before the General Election.

For me, this conference has one job and one job only - to lift our party off it's knees and get the fight back going.

We need to deliver a very clear message - Labour's done a lot for working people both here and internationally and if the Tories got their hands on the levers of power they would trash the gains we've made.

We've got 8 months to turn those opinion polls round and we are the only ones who can do it. So enjoy the conference and then get stuck into the Tories!

Back On Line

Sorry I've been away for a long time. Frankly the last 12 months at work have been murder as manufacturing has felt the full force of the global downturn. Redundancies and/or short time working have hit every workplace I represent and it means massive work for all the officers and staff of our union. At the end of last year things looked very grim for manufacturers in this country as nearly every firms order book looked like a ski slope!

Things are looking better than they did - altogether they are a long way from perfect. Its been a difficult 12 months but the one consolation we can take from it is that without our government's initiative there would have been another 500,000 on the dole. If the Tories had had their way over Northern Rock we'd have seen the collapse of the British banking system and god knows how many on the dole!

Anyway I'm back now and will do my best to keep you informed of developments in the run up to the General Election. Here's to a busy 7 or 8 months.

Alistair Campbell Dinner

Date: Friday January 30th 2009
Venue: Isis Restaurant, Bolton Road Pendlebury
Guest Speaker: Alistair Campbell
Ticket Price: £25 - 3 course meal

Menu

Starters: Leek & potato soup - Italian meatballs - Buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad - Chicken liver pate

Main Course: Chicken Boscialo - Herb crusted salmon - Lamb san giovale - Risotto tricalore ?

Dessert: Tiramisu - Strawberry cheesecake - White Chocolate profiteroles - Cheese and biscuits ?

All meat options are available with Halal meat. Vegan alternatives are available. Hotel rooms are available (£65 - £80 for a double room). For tickets or more info please contact Peter Wheeler on – 07880790182.

Situation Vacanct

Noticed in this Wednesdays “Guardian” that there is a vacancy for “Black Rod” in the House Of Lords. Had to chuckle at the logo that said “The House Of Lords is committed to equal opportunities”