Campaigning in the North West on Monday. In Manchester - unemployment still falling. In Bolton, visited brand new Children’s Centre and Oldham saw round school transformed by £30m development and results A-C gone from 28% to 65%. In Sheffield today seeing brand new Sure Start attached to local primary school and met Neighbourhood Wardens helping tackle problems of young people hanging around estate. Everyone agreed need more youth services. Childrens Minister Ed Balls programme clearly needed.
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April 16th, 2008
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the death of Gloria Taylor. My sympathy goes to her husband Richard and her children. Gloria suffered terribly after the tragic murder of her son Damilola. But she bore her grief with great dignity and worked alongside Richard Taylor to establish the Damilola Taylor Trust and to support youth activities both here in Southwark and in Nigeria, their country of origin. She was a gentle and devoted family woman. I was struck by how much better and more peaceful she seemed when I saw her and Richard at a fund-raising event for the Damilola Taylor Trust in Camberwell just befo. I told her how well she looked and she confirmed that she had found the strength at last, once again to look forward to the future. Her death is a great loss to her family, her friends and to those with whom she worked to
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April 9th, 2008
At the Women’s TUC in Eastbourne on Thursday afternoon. Looking ahead to our conference on April 1st on Trade Union Equality reps. Then on to Hastings where - with local MP Mike Foster I opened the new 6th Form at William Parker. Then on to a dinner at Hastings Town Football Club with Labour Group Leader Jeremy Birch and all the councillors and candidates. There are 12 Labour councillors. They are hoping to make progress in the elections on May 1st. Lets hope the dynamic dozen turn into the sensational seventeen! Then Saturday in Hove for the Annual Conference of the South East Region of the Labour Party. Pride in what we’ve done so far, but concern about youth services, public sector pay, getting the message accross against the Tories and affordable housing. Good to see more than 200 there mobilising for the council elections.
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March 16th, 2008
Sun shining over stunning Llandudno Bay. Very modern conference centre for the annual meeting of Labour in Wales. A sense of pride in the progress that has been made in Wales, especially on economic regeneration - but determination to do more. I had a breakfast Women’s Summit of women Members of the Welsh Assembly, MPs and councillors. Committed backing for more progress on women’s representation and a strong Equality Bill later this year. We are streets ahead of all the other parties with more than three times the number of women MPs than all the other parties put together. But no plans to rest on our laurels and still concerned too few women in local councils in Wales.
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February 16th, 2008
Spent last night in Brussels. At a meeting of the European Parliamentary Labour Party and then speaking at a Think Tank - “The Centre”. People in the UK know that our economy is affected by the global economy - no-one can be in any doubt about that after Northern Rock. I think there is much more recognition now about how beneficial it is for our economy that we are part of Europe and play our part in making Europe more dynamic and able to face the economic challenge from China and India. I think they recognise too, that the ugly companion of the globalised economy is cross-border crime - and you have to work together internationally to fight it. People care about tackling global warming and about poverty in Africa. And they know that we have to work internationally to be effective. So, at last, I am hopeful that the debate about Europe does not have to be endlessly about structures but can be about the substance. And it was, as always, great to see pioneering feminist Glenys Kinnock MEP and all her fellow Labour MEPs.
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February 13th, 2008
Great visit to Scotland last Friday 1st February. Met to discuss the future Equality Bill with women from the Scottish TUC, the Parliament’s Equality Committee and the pioneering Zero Tolerance project which has blazed a trail on tackling domestic violence. Women and men concerned to tackle inequality and discrimination have always worked together North and South of the Border. We have a great deal we can do, working together. And much we can continue to learn from each other. “In the Hight Street”….went with Sarah Boyack MSP and Gavin Strang MP to listen to what shoppers in Princess Street are saying. Very struck how there was no sense at all of concern or insecurity over the economy. People know that there is global financial turbulence but are not worried about their own prospects for 2008. I gave the immortal memory address at my first Burns Night Supper hosted by Nigel Griffith MP! I saw a side of Nigel I have never seen before when he did a brilliant rendition for 10 minutes without a single note of Tam O’shanta… what a star!
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February 3rd, 2008
Friday 25th Jan : Out and about with Tony Wright MP in his home town of Great Yarmouth. Chatting to people in the Bradwell South and Hopton ward. Concerns about the need for more activities for the young people in the area and support for the new Police Community Support Officers. Then on to Lowestoft. Supper at the home of Bob Blizzard MP - Thanks to Lyn Blizzard for a goulash laced with chilli! - and then to a packed meeting at the Seagul theatre. Wise and witty comments and questions from Labour councillors, party members and local community activists…….on Iraq, nuclear weapons, the need for a cap on election spending (including internal Labour elections) the rowdiness and shouting at Prime Minister’s Questions, protection for civil liberties, the health service and schools. A stimulating and enjoyable Friday night - thanks Bob. Good luck to the hard-working Labour Councillors standing for re-election in May.
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January 26th, 2008
Peter Hain has for decades championed progressive causes - such as anti-apartheid and the environment. As an MP and Minister he has led the fight for justice
- for those who’ve lost out on their pensions - whether it is women who’ve lost out because of caring for children and older relatives or whether its people who have lost their occupational pension when their employer has gone bust,
- to help people off benefit and into work
He’s left government to deal with the police investigation following the deputy leadership election but I am sure that he will continue to play an important role in taking forward progressive politics.
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January 25th, 2008
A very good debate in the House of Commons last night with a great deal of agreement on all sides:
*that MPs should be paid fairly for the important work they do
*that we should not this year have a rise above what others in the public sector have been awarded - ie not above 2%
*and that we should set up an independent mechanism so that in future we do not vote on our own pay.
So widespread was the agreement to this that it went through the House of Commons without even a vote!
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January 25th, 2008
This Thursday I will be leading the debate in the House of Commons before we MPs, vote on our pay increase. Just two important points
* We are paid from the public purse so we shouldn’t vote ourselves bigger increases than we are laying down for the rest of the public sector and
*we shouldn’t set our own pay increases. It should be done independently.
We will be asking MPs to vote to support both these points but it is a “free vote” and MPs of all parties will not be “whipped” to vote for it…..
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January 20th, 2008
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