Luke's Blog

Council By-election

2012-01-27T00:38:00.000Z

Only one tonight:

Uppingham Ward, Rutland County Council. Con gain from Ind. Con 424 (50.8%, +16.3), Lab 211 (25.3%, +25.3), LD 200 (24%, -7.5). Swing of 4.5% from Con to Lab since 2011. Good result for Labour in a seat where we had not stood since 2003.

NEC Report

2012-01-25T09:39:00.003Z

My report of yesterday's NEC meeting is here: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/01/25/nec-report-%e2%80%93-january-2012/

Labourlist column

2012-01-24T20:42:00.000Z

My Labourlist column this week is about the recent dip in the opinion polls:
http://labourlist.org/2012/01/whose-votes-have-we-lost-and-why/

Ed Balls writes to George Osborne on delivering fairness on pay restraint

2012-01-20T09:43:00.001Z

Ed Balls MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, has today written to George Osborne calling on the Government to deliver fairness in pay restraint.

This follows his article at the weekend in which he said the Government should “ask the pay review bodies to deliver the 1% average settlement cap in a fair way – being tougher to those at the top in order to offer more protection to those at the bottom.”

The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear George,

FAIRNESS IN PAY RESTRAINT

I am writing to you to raise the question of fair pay in the public sector, and fairness in delivering the further pay restraint which you have been forced to announce to deal with the consequences of the failure of your deficit reduction plan.

In 2009 Labour recognised the need for restraint on pay in the public sector as part of a balanced plan to get the deficit down and secure the recovery. We announced a 1% pay cap for two years, but we sought to impose pay restraint in a fair way, including freezing pay for the highest paid workers like senior civil servants and NHS managers.

In your 2010 budget you continued Labour’s policy and went further. But in announcing a two year pay freeze, you also promised a £250 a year increase for the 1.7 million lowest paid workers. In reality you failed to guarantee that rise for, according to House of Commons Library estimates, around one million low paid workers mainly in local government. That is wrong and unfair. Can you explain whether you intend to deliver on this promise?

As we have consistently warned over the last 18 months, cutting spending and raising taxes too far and too fast has choked off the recovery and pushed up unemployment. That is why Labour is calling on the government to adopt our five point plan for jobs and growth to get the economy moving again and unemployment down.

But with your refusal to change course and the costs of rising unemployment pushing up borrowing projections so massively to pay for this government’s economic failure, Labour will not oppose your decision to extend pay restraint for a further two years with a one per cent cap. Jobs must be the priority before higher pay.

As I said on Saturday, discipline in the public and private sector needs to be accompanied by fairness.
Your failure to deliver on your promises to low paid public sector workers so far shows why public sector workers deserve a real guarantee that this settlement for the two subsequent years will be delivered fairly.

The difference between a pay settlement delivered fairly and one which is not is stark. Two years of a one per cent increase in the salary of a local government chief executive earning £190,000 a year is over £3800 a year, or more than £316 a month.

For a teaching assistant earning just £15,000 two years of a one per cent increase represents just £300 a year – or just £25 a month.

By being tougher on those at the top we believe that, going forward, rises of at least the £250 a year which you promised but failed to deliver can be achieved for the lower paid – which in this case would leave a teaching assistant £200 a year better off at the end of the two years than a settlement which does not reflect difference in salary.

That is why I am calling on you to write again to the pay review bodies and the local government employers and this time ask them to consult and report on how you and they can guarantee to deliver the 1% average settlement cap in a fairer way than you have delivered so far – being tougher to those at the top in order to offer more protection to those at the bottom.
But as I said this weekend, we will oppose any moves to undermine the pay review bodies by shifting wholesale to regional and local bargaining in the public sector. Of course, as has been the case for some time, pay needs to reflect local circumstances, for example the need to recruit teachers in London. But I believe the consequence of breaking up national pay setting through the pay review bodies will be to make pay restraint harder, and real reforms more difficult - with costs getting out of control. That is what the previous Conservative government found when they failed to deliver regional pay in the NHS in the 1990s.

Pay restraint in the public sector in this parliament would have been necessary whoever was in government. But your economic mistakes mean more difficult decisions on tax, spending and pay. It is now inevitable that public sector pay restraint will have to continue for longer, but it should be done in a fair way. I hope you will agree and act to guarantee a fairer way forward.

Yours,

Ed Balls MP

Council By-elections

2012-01-20T08:38:00.000Z

There were 2 by-elections yesterday, both gains for Labour:

Newcomen Ward, Redcar & Cleveland UA. Lab gain from LD. Lab 539 (49%, +15.6), LD 484 (44%, -15), Con 76 (6.9%, -0.7). Swing of 15.3% from LD to Lab since May 2011.

Batchwood Ward, St Albans DC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 1002 (55.1%, +14.2), LD 395 (21.7%, -2.7), Con 347 (19.1%, -7.8), Green 76 (4.2%, +2.5). Swing of 8.5% from LD to Lab since May 2011. This is a fantastic result for Labour in a part of Hertfordshire where we had seemed to be suffering a steady decline. The new councillor is Roma Mills, who previously represented the same ward and was parliamentary candidate in 2010.

Progress Column

2012-01-19T14:10:00.001Z

My Progress column this week is about the union link:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/01/19/labours-not-just-for-public-sector-workers/

Labourlist column

2012-01-17T21:52:00.000Z

My Labourlist column this week is about ... well, everything that's going on: http://labourlist.org/2012/01/three-different-labour-parties/

NEC Campaign

2012-01-13T15:54:00.002Z

Luke Akehurst for NEC

Unite and PCS

2012-01-13T15:29:00.002Z

Something in today's FT for those of us who are Labour supporters and Unite trade union members to plan our response to.

I can't quote it all as it's behind a pay wall, you'll need to buy the paper to read the whole article:

"Leftwing union leader eyes private sector

By Brian Groom and Jim Pickard

The union movement’s future lies in spreading militancy to the private sector, says the leftwing civil service leader who has rejected a pensions deal with the government.

The view of Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, matters because, if his union merges with Unite, he could within four years become leader of a super-union with nearly 1.8m members.

A merger between Unite, Britain’s largest union with 1.5m members mostly in the private sector, with 282,000-strong PCS would have serious implications. Unite is Labour’s biggest backer and Mr Serwotka, a non-member who has supported parties left of Labour, is one of the party’s biggest critics.

The unions are not yet in formal merger talks, but Mr Serwotka made clear in an interview with the Financial Times that he wanted to deepen the “ever closer developing relationship” the two have formed since signing a co-operation agreement a year ago.

In a merged union he would probably be deputy general secretary and leftwing candidate to succeed fellow militant Len McCluskey, Unite’s leader, who is 61.

“I never speculate on who might end up where,” said Mr Serwotka..."

... The PCS is considering running its own candidates in by-elections. Unite is Labour-affiliated while PCS is not, but Mr Serwotka saw that as no barrier to merger because they could maintain separate political funds. “We [the PCS] see no logic in paying millions of pounds to organisations that just don’t speak for you.” Affiliation was for members to decide but, he added: “Would I have a different view if I was somewhere else? No.”"

Council by-elections

2012-01-13T09:20:00.001Z

Only one council by-election yesterday:

Cinderford West Ward, Forest of Dean DC. Lab hold. Lab 496 (52.8%, +2.7), C 236 (25.1%, +6.2), UKIP 119 (12.7%, +12.7), LD 89 (9.5%, -3.5). Swing of 1.8% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Progress Column

2012-01-11T11:52:00.002Z

My Progress column this week is about Ed's speech yesterday:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/01/11/the-end-of-the-beginning/

Labourlist column

2012-01-09T14:26:00.001Z

My Labourlist column this week is about the #spartacusreport on DLA reform:

http://labourlist.org/2012/01/the-report-that-must-be-read/

NEC Re-election

2012-01-09T08:54:00.002Z

Today I'm launching the website for my re-election campaign for Labour's National Executive Committee: http://www.luke4nec.org.uk/

Your Constituency Labour Party is entitled to nominate up to six candidates as there are six

vacancies. This needs to be done at a General Committee or All Members' Meeting. The deadline is 30 March.

Progress Column

2012-01-04T12:28:00.003Z

Some New Year's resolutions for Labour:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/01/04/new-years-resolutions-for-labour/

Ding dong merrily on high

2011-12-24T20:00:00.003Z

Being aglass-half-full sort of person when it comes to the state of the Labour Party (http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/12/21/no-need-for-jitters/) I thought I should respond to theglass-half-empty blog post by Anthony Painter (http://labourlist.org/2011/12/a-pretty-bad-year/),backed up by Peter Watt (http://www.iaindale.com/posts/labour-is-just-speaking-to-itself).

Anthonysays the Party has “stopped pretending it’s in trouble when clearly it is”.This is clearly nonsense, everyone I know in the Labour Party spends theirentire time full of angst about why we lost and what we need to do to win again.

He says“I’m afraid by-elections and local elections are pretty meaningless in terms ofthe national picture”. How come then that by-elections and local elections werea perfect indicator of the national picture in predicting we would win in 1997and lose in 2010?

He saysLabour’s “organisation is a bad fit for the needs of the moment”. An odd timeto mention this when we just finished spending a year debating structures inthe “Refounding Labour” review, made some radical changes in terms of openingup the Party via the supporters’ network, and we have a General Secretarymaking the most radical changes in living memory at Party HQ. It’s no usemaking a statement like that without suggesting specific reforms, and the timeto do that was in the summer during the RL process.

He says“You no longer win by putting blocks of support together” but anyone who runscampaigns at a local level knows that’s exactly what you do – segment theelectorate based on socio-economic data(Mosaic codes) and previous voting behaviourfrom canvass returns, and target your message at the different groups. It iscorrect to say there are more groups, a more splintered society, and the bigblocks of Labour support are smaller because society has changed, but the ideathat economic class isn’t the primary determinant of voting behaviour isnonsense, if it wasn’t why would inner city and former industrial areas bepredominantly Labour, rich areas predominantly Tory and mixed areasmarginal? The way the two parties haveacted in government shows that they remain basically vehicles for theaggregation and advancement of class interests – Labour improves life forpeople in places like Hackney, the Tories make it worse.

Anthonysays we need a “nuanced conversation” withvoters. Yes, with a minority who follow politics very closely we do. But mostvoters have very little time to think about politics. They don’t want a“nuanced conversation” they just want to know they can trust us to run thecountry and once we pass that bar they will think about very broadly sketchedvisions of the future and what our priorities might be.

He argues that it is “stark raving mad” to think“politics has to change society”. Maybe it is. Maybe I am mad. But you won’tget people to sacrifice their spare time to run a voluntary political party byjust accepting society as it is and making politics just about electing themost attractive candidate or most competent team. And British society needschanging – it is grossly unfair and unequal – who is going to change that if itisn’t Labour? If it can’t be changed by politics we might as well all emigrateor slit our wrists. Surely the whole point of even the most rightwing versionsof social democracy is about fundamentally changing how society works to makeit fairer?

He calls for “heavyweight statesmen and women; notformer advisers” to lead Labour. I can’t decide if that is a straightforwardattack on the current leadership, most of whom were advisers before being MPs,or just naïve – changing the way we recruit our leaders would bear fruit in 20years time not now. I’m not aware of a “heavyweightstatesman” sat in the wings waiting to lead Labour. And what’s wrong with beinga former adviser? I wasn’t one, I don’t have the patience or self-control to onlyadvise or speak for other people rather than speaking for myself so went downthe path of elected political office, but why would we have a downer on peoplewho spent Labour’s period in government working full time helping Labourministers? A) it’s a commendable thing to do and involved a lot of financialand personal sacrifice and B) it means when they become Ministers they alreadyknow how to make government deliver our policies.

He also complains that “the upper echelons of theLabour party is dominated by brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, and friends”.Errr, yes, because if you work together in the common endeavor of gettingLabour elected and then governing successfully for two decades, you will end upbeing friends with each other, and maybe even marrying each other. Does Anthonywant people dropped into Labour’s leadership who haven’t got a history of hardwork for the Party? I confess I trust people more and tend to vote for themmore if I canvassed with them in 1990s by-elections or sat with them at NUS andNOLS conferences 20 years ago. It means I know what I’m dealing with.

He says“we have a party that interprets diversity in purelygender or racial terms. You end up with even less diversity as a result.”There’s an implicit attack there on measures that do address gender and racerepresentation. There’s also a failure to show any recognition of the trainingscheme the party is currently running to help people get selected from allsorts of non-traditional backgrounds that are under-represented in the PLP, orthe high profile example of us running ex-army officer Dan Jarvis in a by-election.

If Labour is a “guild” as he says, it’s one anyone canjoin by getting a reputation for campaigning hard. That’s the basic criteria –party members will select people with very diverse political views and personalbackgrounds if they know they are grafters who have done the hard slog asvolunteers on the doorstep, ditto in terms of who gets appointed to jobs withinthe party staff.

As for Anthony’s critique of Ed’s leadership, I simplydon’t agree with it. Listing things you don’t think Ed has done well is notmassively helpful. It would be more useful to set out things you think heshould do.

Anthony says, implying this is not a good thing, “Thehighest value within Labour is now loyalty and unity.” I wish it was. It should be. We’ve tried disloyalty anddisunity throughout our history, particularly in the recent past. It neverhelps.

He calls for “more (constructive) disruption at thetop and throughout the PLP and party – including the NEC.” I’m one NEC memberwho won’t be heeding that call. If I am constructively disruptive you won’thear about it – it will be in arguments made in private at party meetings orface to face with the people I disagree with, not grandstanding.

If you want to read a more straightforward, upbeatassessment of where Labour is at, read this by Michael Dugher: http://labourlist.org/2011/12/have-confidence-2011-in-review/

It might help you have a merrier Christmas.

Council By-elections

2011-12-23T09:34:00.000Z

There were four this week, with one held on Tuesday. Turnout was relatively good in all the wards except the Walsall one, despite the timing.

Tuesday 19th

Worlingham Ward, Waveney DC. Con hold. Con 708 (45.9%, -7.1), Lab 586 (38%, +4.8), Green 137 (8.9%, -5), UKIP 64 (4.1%, +4.1), LD 48 (3.1%, +3.1). Swing of 6% from Con to Lab since May this year. A good result for Labour in a parliamentary marginal.

Thursday 22nd

Wembley Central Ward, LB Brent. Lab hold. Lab 1402 (48.3%, +4.9), LD 1022 (35.2%, +0.4), Con 349 (12%, -6.3), Green 130 (4.5%, +1.1). Swing of 2.3% from LD to Lab since 2010. This is in Brent North constituency.

Westbourne Ward, Brighton & Hove UA. Con hold. Con 1027 (39.3%, +3.8), Lab 826 (31.6%, +2.1), Green 645 (24.7%, -1.6), LD 45 (1.7%, -5.9), UKIP 36 (1.4%, +1.4), TU + Socialist 20 (0.8%, +0.8), European Citizens 13 (0.5%, -0.6). Swing of 0.9% from Lab to Con since May this year. Main point to note here is the Green bandwagon in Brighton (they run the council) stalling.

Birchills Leamore Ward, Walsall MBC. Lab hold. Lab 835 (52.8%, -2.2), Con 512 (32.4%, -1.2), Eng Dem 130 (8.2%, +8.2), UKIP 59 (3.7%, +3.7), Green 46 (2.9%, +2.9). Swing of 0.5% from Lab to Con since May this year. This ward has returned a Tory councillor as recently as 2008.

Have your say on Labour's policy review

2011-12-22T10:10:00.002Z

If you are a Labour member, please take a look at the Party's latest policy consultation documents:

http://fresh-ideas.org.uk/annual-conference-2011-documents

You can submit ideas online as an individual, or hold a discussion in your branch, CLP or affiliate, using the discussion guides on the web page.

Progress Column

2011-12-21T09:59:00.002Z

In my Progress column this week I respond to the panic over the poll blip last week:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/12/21/no-need-for-jitters/

By-elections

2011-12-16T16:21:00.000Z

Congratulationsto my friend Seema Malhotra on winning the Feltham & Heston by-electionyesterday. Seema will make a brilliant MP – she is local to the area but anational calibre politician who has worked incredibly hard for the party formany years. Congratulations also to Malcolm Powers who was CampaignCo-ordinator for an extremely well run campaign on a short timetable.

The fullresults are worth listing:

· Seema Malhotra, Labour - 12,639(54.42%, +10.79%)

· Mark Bowen, Conservative - 6,436(27.71%, -6.32%)

· Roger Crouch, Liberal Democrats -1,364 (5.87%, -7.87%)

· Andrew Charalambous, UKIP - 1,276(5.49%, +3.45%)

· David Furness, BNP -540 (2.33%,-1.21%)

· Daniel Goldsmith, Green - 426(1.83%, +0.74%)

· Roger Cooper, English Democrats -322 (1.39%)

· George Hallam, London PeopleBefore Profit - 128 (0.55%)

· David Bishop, Bus-Pass ElvisParty - 93 (0.40%)

This isin a seat which the Tories held from 1983 to 1992 and were hopeful of gainingin 2010.

Thisswing (8.6% from Con to Lab, 9.3% from LD to Lab) repeated nationally on thecurrent boundaries would see Labour gain exactly 100 seats from the Tories(down as far as the iconic Enfield Southgate) and 15 from the Lib Dems.

With thisimpressive result coming on top of four previous good by-election holds andover 800 council seats gained in May under Ed Miliband’s leadership, perhaps itis time for Dan Hodges to stop undermining our Leader and get out and do somecanvassing for the Party instead. The same goes for anyoneelse who thinks infighting, plotting or armchair criticism is helpful oracceptable as opposed to a massive boon to our enemies.

Therewere a number of council by-elections yesterday as well as the Feltham& Heston poll:

CoombeVale Ward, RB Kingston-on-Thames. 2X Con holds. Con 1340, 1308 (43.8%, +0.8),LD 908, 778 (29.7%, -7.5), Lab 526, 502 (17.2%, +7.3), Green 122, 108 (4%,-3.3), CPA 94, 76 (3.1%, +0.4), UKIP 70 (2.3%, +2.3). Swing of 4.2% from LD toCon since 2010. The substantial increase in the Labour vote share, holdingalmost exactly 100% of the raw vote we got in 2010 on a General Election dayturnout, is indicative of the massive organisational effort going on inpreviously weak areas of outer London in the run-up to the mayoral election.

Frisby onthe Wreake Ward, Melton DC. Ind gain from Con. Ind 212 (38.5%, +38.5), Con 187(34%, -37), Lab 89 (16.2%, -12.8), Ind 62 (11.3%, +11.3). Swing of 37.8% fromCon to Ind since May this year.

Clare andShuttern Ward, Mid Devon DC. Con hold. Con 385 (63.6%, +4.1), Ind 166 (27.4%,-13.1), UKIP 54 (8.9%, +8.9). Swing of 8.6% from Ind to Con since May this year.

CentralWard, Shetland UA. Ind hold. All candidates were independents, except a Torywho got 4.2%.

Council by-elections and changes of control and some personal news

2011-12-08T23:43:00.001Z

I've had a busy week as my second son, Ben, was born on Wednesday at the Homerton Hospital by emergency Cesarean. He's a healthy 9lb12 and he and my partner Linda are both doing well and should be home tomorrow.

Only one council by-election to report:

Hamilton West and Earnock Ward, South Lanarkshire Council. SNP gain from Ind. First preference votes: SNP 822 (50%, +24.9), Lab 607 (36.9%, -1.2), Con 214 (13.0%, +3.4). Turnout was only 11.8% due to the awful weather in Scotland today. Swing of 13.1% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

Some better news at the other end of the country in Thanet, Kent, where Labour has taken minority control of the District Council tonight following a Tory councillor defecting to independent.

Labourlist column

2011-12-05T17:01:00.001Z

My Labourlist column explains how the NEC works (if that kind of thing interests you):

http://labourlist.org/2011/12/a-guide-to-labour%e2%80%99s-nec/

Council by-elections

2011-12-02T09:08:00.002Z

Two yesterday, shamefully neither with a Labour candidate (I've taken this up as an issue in my NEC capacity):

Rayleigh Central Ward, Rochford DC. Con hold. Con 406 (54.8%, +0.1), Eng Dem 218 (29.4%, +15), LD 117 (15.8%, -15.1). Swing of 7.5% from Con to Eng Dem since 2010.

Brent Division, Somerset CC. Con hold. Con 1285 (58%, -11.9), LD 932 (42%, +17.3). Swing of 14.6% from Con to LD since 2009.

Progress column

2011-11-30T19:16:00.000Z

My Progress column this week looks at the Autumn Statement and the November 30 strike:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/11/30/the-big-picture-revealed/

David Cairns Tribute video

2011-11-28T15:36:00.002Z

Tribute video about David Cairns MP produced for last week's first David Cairns Foundation Charity Dinner:

More about the Foundation and how to support its work here: http://www.davidcairnsfoundation.org/

Labourlist column

2011-11-28T10:03:00.001Z

My Labourlist column this week looks at Lord Ashcroft's latest polling for the Tories on the economy: http://labourlist.org/2011/11/it%e2%80%99s-all-about-the-money-money-money/

Vintage Red by John Kotz

2011-11-25T10:36:00.004Z

On Wednesday I popped into a reception at Hackney Town Hall to mark the launch of the memoirs of John Kotz, which he has titled "Vintage Red".

John was Leader of Hackney Council in 1981-82, having served on it from the early '50s. He is from a Bevanite traditional left background. I'd probably agree with his municipal socialist approach to council matters but disagree with him on some other issues like his passionate support for CND. He and the generation of Hackney Council stalwarts that had come up through the 1940s Labour League of Youth were ousted from running the council in 1982, when the Hard Left purged many council leaderships, including Hackney's, and started a period of chaos. This is explained in a later chapter of the book. Slightly confusing, but for John to explain, is why he now supports the LRC when it is the successor to the mob who ousted him as Leader.

The book also covers, in fascinating detail, council and Labour Party life in Hackney over a 40 year period. We could learn a lot from some of the rigorous campaigning techniques John and Eddie Millen (still a tenant activist and member of the local ward party where I am a councillor) practiced in the 1960s - teams of 40 canvassers making 1500 contacts in a morning!

There can't be many council wards that have had two former members publish books about their local political activity. My ward Chatham is one of them, with John's book covering the period immediately after that covered by Bob Darke, whose "The Communist Technique in Britain" was an expose of the Communist Party's tactics in Hackney (he was one of their two councillors). If Charles Clarke ever writes his memoirs we will get a third book about Chatham Ward, as Charles was started on his elected career by being John and Eddie's co-councillor in Chatham Ward from 1978.

I won't write a fuller review as another former Hackney resident, ex-MEP David Hallam, has done so very eloquently: http://methodistpreacher.blogspot.com/2011/09/vintage-red-by-john-kotz-book-review.html

If you are interested in Hackney politics or in getting a flavour of Labour Party life in the East End in the post-War era, you will enjoy this short but very readable book. Buy it here: http://www.manifestopress.org.uk/

Council by-elections

2011-11-24T23:52:00.001Z

Tonight's results, with good results for Labour in Kent and Norfolk:

Beaver Ward, Ashford BC. Lab hold. Lab 336 (37.5%, -1.3), Con 249 (27.8%, -8.6), LD 173 (19.3%, +19.3), Ashford Ind 111 (12.4%, -12.4), Green 26 (2.9%, +2.9). Swing of 3.7% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Great Horton Ward, Bradford MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1993 (58.6%, -16.8), Con 705 (20.7%, +5.3), LD 337 (9.9%, +0.7), UKIP 294 (8.6%, +8.6), Green 73 (2.1%, +2.1). Swing of 11.1% from Lab to Con sonce May this year.

Wendron Division, Cornwall CC. MK gain from Ind. Mebyon Kernow 427 (36.4%, +16.5), LD 262 (22.3%, +12.3), Con 227 (19.4%, +3.9), Ind 177 (15.1%, -23.5), Lab 80 (6.8%, +3.8). Swing of 2.1% from LD to MK since 2009.

Lakenham Division, Norfolk CC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 1051 (43%, +1.4), LD 611 (25%, +3.7), Green 492 (20.1%, +1.6), Con 160 (6.5%, -5.3), UKIP 133 (5.4%, -1.3). Swing of 1.2% from Lab to LD since coterminous Norwich ward was fought in May this year.

Hazelmere South Ward, Wycombe BC. LD gain from Con. LD 412 (37.7%, +19), UKIP 365 (33.4%, +33.4), Cons 228 (20.9%, -33.8), Lab 88 (8.1%, +8.1). Swing of 7.2% from LD to UKIP since May this year.

Progress Column

2011-11-23T13:48:00.002Z

My Progress column this week is about Ed Miliband's speech last week on the economy:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/11/23/building-the-new-economy/

NEC team announced

2011-11-21T20:06:00.000Z

I’mpleased to announce I am re-standing for a second two year term as aconstituency representative on Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Theteam I am part of consists of the following six candidates for the six places:
· LukeAkehurst (sitting NEC member)
· JoanneMilligan (National Policy Forum constituency rep)
· FlorenceNosegbe (Lambeth Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport andthe 2012 Games)
· EllieReeves (sitting NEC member)
· RuthSmeeth (parliamentary candidate for Burton in 2010)
· PeterWheeler (long-serving NEC member until 2010)

All six of us are proud to be supported byLabour First and Progress.

More info here: http://labourlist.org/2011/11/nec-candidate-team-backed-by-labour-first-and-progress-announced/

By-election results

2011-11-18T15:43:00.001Z

Last night's results:

Hillhead Ward, Glasgow City Council. SNP hold. 1st round votes: SNP 1026 (32.8%, +11.9), Lab 945 (30.2%, +4.1), Green 435 (13.9%, -4.6), Con 372 (11.9%, +1.8), LD 307 (9.8%, -8.4), UKIP 36 (1.1%, +1.1), Britannica 11 (0.4%, +0.4). Swing of 3.9% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

West Wight Ward, Isle Of Wight UA. Con hold. Con 640 (76.7%, +30.2); LD 116 (13.9%, +13.9); UKIP 78 (9.4%, +9.4). Swing of 8.2% from LD to Con since 2009.

Zetland Ward, Redcar & Cleveland UA. 2 LD holds. LD 661 + 633 (45.3%, -4.7), Lab 531 + 512 (36.4%, +1), Con 217 + 102 (14.9%, +0.3), UKIP 50 (3.4%, +3.4). Swing of 1.9% from LD to Lab since this May.

Salthill Ward, Ribble Valley DC. Con gain from LD. Con 208 (34.0%, +4.6), LD 204 (33.4%, +9.2), UKIP 159 (26%, +5.7), Lab 40 (6.5%, -3.5). Swing of 1.8% from Con to LD since May this year.

Poulton North Ward, Warrington UA. LD hold. LD 776 (44.7%, -3.6), Lab 733 (42.2%, +3.1), Con 147 (8.5%, +0.2), UKIP 79 (4.6%, +0.4). Swing of 3.4% from LD to Lab since July this year.

Ruabon Ward, Wrexham CBC. Lab gain from PC. Lab 231 (34.2%, +10.3), PC 230 (34.1%, -9.6), Ind 155 (23%, -9.2), Con 59 (8.7%, +8.7). Swing of 10% from PC to Lab since 2008.

Ed on Israel

2011-11-18T15:25:00.003Z

As a lot of readers will know, I have recently started a new day job working for a pro-Israel grassroots campaign - a cause I have supported as a lay activist for 20 years.

I was therefore delighted to see what Ed Miliband said in his speech to the Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch on Tuesday. Here are some of the key quotes:

"the thing I feel overwhelmingly about the State of Israel is that out of the darkness of the war and the Holocaust it gave light to my family. And I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the State of Israel and what it has achieved, and I wanted to make that clear."

"see Israel also from the point of view of a political leader. A democracy in a region where autocracy is commonplace, and it is important to say that. A country where this summer the tent protests began as thousands of ordinary Israelis mobilised. But Israel is a country known for its thriving small business sector, renowned for its venture capital industry and from which we can learn. And it is a country also, and if I can put it this way, where we have a new Labor party with a new leader, Shelly Yachimovich, who is charting a new course for her party."

"The reason I tell this story is because I want to say very clearly I’m grateful to Israel, I respect Israel, I admire Israel and that is why I’m proud to be here to be here, to be part of Labour Friends of Israel. And I give you my word that under my leadership I will ensure that the Labour Party remains a strong and steadfast friend of Israel."

"like LFI, I remain absolutely committed to seeing progress towards a stable two state solution. That is the only way forward, it seems to me. With Israel and Palestine living side by side; and with each enjoying self-determination and mutual recognition. And I stand shoulder to shoulder with all those Israelis and Palestinians that share this vision."

"I understand and share the anger of people in this room and people in the Jewish community about the 10years of rocket and mortar attacks on Israeli civilians from Gaza. The most recent of which happened just yesterday and indeed two weeks ago in Ashkelon an innocent civilian was killed. It is wrong, it is the murder of innocent people and we all condemn it.I understand also the fear that is generated when we hear people question Israel’s very right to exist. We should condemn completely, and have no tolerance of those who question the state of Israel wherever their voices are raised. And I understand too, and reference was made to it, about the fear of what is happening in Iran. We know that Iran has supplied thousands of missiles to Hamas and Hezbollah and we must stand up to the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear programme. The international community must speak with one voice and apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime."

"And I’m proud of the work .... of .... Tony Blair, in his vital work as Quartet representative in the Middle East.(APPLAUSE)It’s good to hear applause when Tony Blair’s name is mentioned."

"as a party we will have no tolerance for anti-Semitism in Britain. That is the way it must be. I know as leader of the Labour Party,it is our role not just to keep the debate in the Middle East sensible and balanced, but to ensure the labour party challenges speakers of hate and those that seek to marginalise Jewish voices and shout down those who make the case for the State of Israel. And it is why I’m also against the current calls for boycotts which frankly would cause isolation not progress in the Middle East peace process."

"hope can overcome fear,but I learn the lesson also that political will can breed hope, which can overcome fear. And16 years ago this month we mark the death of Yitzhak Rabin, and this is what he said on the signing of the Oslo Accords. He said: “We all love the same children, weep the same tears,hate the same enmity and pray for reconciliation. Peace has no borders, here is where we were born; here is where we created a nation. But we are not alone here on this soil in this land. Our neighbours are Palestinian people. We all see you in your difficulties, we saw you for generations; we who have killed and been killed are walking beside you now toward a common future and we want to be good neighbours.” "

"To create political will though requires dialogue, debate and understanding. And that’s why I want to reiterate my support for the work that Labour Friends of Israel does. Ultimately we all know what the solution is. We know the vast majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace. Let us all pledge to do our best to make this peace a reality. And I make this pledge thinking of the deep ties that exist between Britain and Israel and Labour and Israel. Ties of cooperation, of culture, of common purpose."

Standard annual Labour Friends of Israel membership is £15. Please follow this link to join https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dGp2ZHAxVXI1VDVidXZIZXczN21ySkE6MQ#gid=0

Labourlist column

2011-11-15T10:22:00.001Z

My Labourlist column this week is about the future of the Labour/trade union link:

http://labourlist.org/2011/11/my-biggest-worry-about-labour%e2%80%99s-future/

Council by-elections

2011-11-11T10:45:00.001Z

There were four by-elections yesterday, with some excellent results for Labour, boding well for the London and Birmingham elections in May:

Sparkbrook Ward, Birmingham MBC. Lab gain from Respect. Lab 3932 (56.7%, +6.9), Respect 2301 (33.2%, -5.6), LD 395 (5.7%, -0.8), Green 179 (2.6%, +0.4), Con 133 (1.9%, -0.9). Swing of 6.3% from Respect to Lab since May this year. This was Respect Leader Salma Yaqoob's seat on the council until she resigned due to ill-health.

St Margarets Ward, Ipswich BC. LD gain from Con. LD 942 (41.8%, +6.7), Con 871 (38.7%, +1.7), Lab 439 (19.5%, -0.8). Swing of 2.5% from Con to LD since May this year.

St Marys Ward, LB Islington. Lab hold. Lab 1,120 (47%, +14.1), LD 640 (26.9%, -5.1), Green 317 (13.3%, +1.4), Con 282 (11.8%, -8.3), BNP 22 (0.9%, +0.9). Swing of 9.6% from LD to Lab since 2010. This was a split ward with 2 Lab/1 LD councillors in 2010.

Aldborough Ward, LB Redbridge. Lab hold. Lab 1436 (51.7%, +10.4), Con 1071 (38.6%, -4.9), LD 87 (3.1%, -12.1), UKIP 83 (3%, +3), Green 64 (2.3%, +2.3), BNP 34 (1.2%, +1.2). Swing of 7.7% from Con to Lab since 2010. This was a split ward with 2 Con/1 Lab councillors in 2010.

Progress Column

2011-11-09T10:30:00.001Z

My Progress column this week is about Labour's traditional right: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/11/09/the-story-of-the-labour-right/

Drop the Bill

2011-11-08T13:53:00.001Z

Sign this if you oppose the Coalition's NHS reforms: http://www.dropthebill.com/

Labourlist Column

2011-11-07T13:05:00.001Z

My Labourlist column this week is about Ed Miliband and the Occupy protests:

http://labourlist.org/2011/11/occupy-what-eds-article-was-about/

NEC Report

2011-11-04T16:17:00.001Z

My latest NEC report: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/11/01/nec-report-%e2%80%93-november-2011/

Council by-elections

2011-11-04T08:42:00.007Z

There were four by-elections yesterday:

Oban North & and Lorn Ward, Argyll & Bute UA. SNP hold. First preferences: SNP 1081 (44.1%, +21.7), Con 505 (20.6%, +12.1), Ind 438 (17.9%, -36.7), LD 260 (10.6%, -4), Ind 165 (6.7%, +6.7). Swing of 4.8% from Con to SNP since 2007.

Yoxall Ward, East Staffordshire DC. Con hold. Con 478 (84.3%, +5), Lab 89 (15.7%, -5). Swing of 5% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Inverness South Ward, Highland UA. LD gain from Lab. First preferences: SNP 885 (33.9%, +6.9), LD Carolyn Caddick 747 (28.7%, +5.7), Lab 308 (11.8%, -5.3), Con 290 (11.1%, +0.6), Green 157 (6%, +6), Christian Party 126 (4.8%, +4.8), Ind 94 (3.6%, -18.8). Swing of 0.6% from LD to SNP since 2007.

Syston Ridgeway Division, Leicestershire CC. Con hold. Con 981 (52.1%, -0.5), Lab 490 (26.0%, +15.4), BNP 279 (14.8%, -5.6), LD 132 (7.0%, -10.4). Swing of 8% from Con to Lab since 2009. Labour moved from 4th place in 2009 to 2nd place now.

Labourlist column

2011-10-31T12:30:00.001Z

My Labourlist column this week is about Labour's 636 unsung heroes: http://labourlist.org/2011/10/the-636-unsung-heroes-of-the-labour-party/

Council by-elections

2011-10-28T00:31:00.004+01:00

Six tonight, some good Labour performances:

Bude North & Stratton Division, Cornwall UA. LD hold. LD 958 (61.2%, -11.2), Con 395 (25.2%, -2.4), Lab 120 (7.7%, +7.7), Ind 93 (5.9%, +5.9). Swing of 4.4% from LD to Con since 2009.

Wyreside Division, Lancashire County Council. Con hold. Con 2178 (58%, -7.9), Lab 877 (23.4%, +10.3), UKIP 361 (9.6%, +9.6), Grn 339 (9%, -12.1). Swing 9.1% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Newchapel Ward, Newcastle-under-Lyme BC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 248 (45.6%, +12.9), Con 160 (29.5%, +2.2), UKIP 118 (21.7%, +6.3), LD 17 (3.1%, -3.4). Swing of 5.4% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Coatbridge North Ward, North Lanarkshire UA. Lab hold. Lab 1529 (52.4%, +3.6), SNP 1139 (39.0%, +9.6), Con 174 (6.0%, -4.6), LD 78 (2.7%, +2.7). Swing of 3% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

Thorndales Dales and the Wolds Division, North Yorkshire CC. Con hold. Con 1122 (66.2%, +4.7), LD 574 (33.8%, +4.1). Swing of 0.3% from LD to Con since 2009.

Bloxwich East Ward, Walsall MBC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 922 (48%, +5.2), Con 834 (43.5%, +1.3), UKIP 98 (5.1%, -3), ED 49 (2.6%, +2.6), Green 16 (0.8%, +0.8). Swing of 2% from Con to Lab since May this year,

Progress column

2011-10-26T14:37:00.000+01:00

Why I'm lamenting Tribune's demise: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/26/tribune-reborn/

Labourlist post

2011-10-24T22:16:00.000+01:00

The Tory Europhobes' speeches tonight have left me a lot more pro-EU than I was before hearing them:
http://labourlist.org/2011/10/we-need-to-recapture-the-passionate-european-voice/

Council By-elections

2011-10-21T08:34:00.005+01:00

There was one by-election on Tuesday this week, which nearly resulted in a Labour gain on a Sussex authority where we have no seats:

Cokeham Ward, Adur DC. Con hold. Con 288 (39.6%, -2.6), Lab 282 (38.8%, +18.4), UKIP 91 ( 12.5%, +2.2), Green 35 (4.8%, +4.8), LD 31 (4.3%, -22.7). Swing of 10.5% from Con to Lab since 2010.

There were a further eight on Thursday:

Shortlands Ward, LB Bromley. Con hold. Con 1480 (59.5%, +1.6), LD 490 (19.7%, +6.4), Lab 256 (10.3%, -3.9), UKIP 153 (6.1%, +6.1), Green 75 (3%, -11.5), BNP 35 (1.4%, +1.4). Swing of 2.4% from Con to LD since 2010.

Ellesmere Port Ward, Cheshire West & Chester Council. Lab hold. Lab 686 (71.6%, -8.1), Con 102 (10.6%, -2.9), Soc Lab 65 (6.8%, +6.8), UKIP 64 (6.7%, +6.7), LD 41 (4.3%, -2.5). Swing of 2.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Bradwell South & Hopton Ward, Great Yarmouth BC. Con hold. Con 557 (49.6%, +3.4), Lab 407 (36.2%, +0.3), UKIP 159 (14.2%, +1.5). Swing of 1.6% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Park Hall Ward, Mansfield BC. Lab hold. Lab 416 (53.2%, -4.6), Ind 164 (21%, -14.3), LD 157 (20.1%, +13.1), UKIP 25 (3.2%, +3.2), Con 20 (2.6%, +2.6). Swing of 4.8% from Ind to Lab since May this year.

Bookham South Ward, Mole Valley DC. LD hold. LD 1043 (47.2%, +2.6), Con 940 (42.5%, -4.4), UKIP 228 (10.3%, +1.8). Swing of 3.5% from Con to LD since May this year.

Bridge Ward, Nottingham CC. Lab hold. Lab 1152 (50.2%, -1.8), LD 892 (38.9%, +2.7), Con 172 (7.5%, -4.3), UKIP 50 (2.2%, +2.2), Bus Pass Elvis 27 (1.2%, +1.2). Swing of 2.3% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Eccles Ward, Salford MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1227 (54.5%, -0.6), Con 701 (31.1%, +3.2), BNP 147 (6.5%, +6.5), LD 125 (5.5%, -0.8), Ind 53 (2.4%, +2.4). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Walton Ward, Stafford BC. Ind gain from Con. Ind 569 (45.6%, +19.9), Con 372 (29.8%, -5.3), Lab 306 (24.5%, +1.5). Swing of 12.6% from Con to Ind since May this year.

Progress Column

2011-10-19T19:36:00.000+01:00

My Progress column this week is about Free Schools: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/19/divisive-and-anarchic/

Labourlist Column

2011-10-18T10:56:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column this week explains why the French PS' experience of primary elections doesn't translate to the UK: http://www.labourlist.org/vive-la-difference--primaries-non-merci

Council by-elections

2011-10-14T08:34:00.004+01:00

There were 4 by-elections yesterday:

St Helen's Ward, Barnsley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1257 (75.8%, -3.5), BNP 174 (10.5%, -1.6), ED 146 (8.8%, +8.8), Con 61 (3.7%, -4.9), Ind 21 (1.3%, +1.3). Swing of 1% from Lab to BNP since May this year.

Meopham North Ward, Gravesham BC. Con hold. Con 648 (47.3%, -23.8), UKIP 462 (33.7%, +33.7), LD 148 (10.8%, +10.8), Lab 112 (8.2%, -20.7). Swing of 28.9% from Con to UKIP since May this year.

Sleaford West & Leasingham Division, Lincolnshire CC. Con 614 (43.0%, -14.0), Lincs Ind 454 (31.8%, +13.5), Lab 315 (22.1%, +11.8), LD 45 (3.2%, -10.7). Swing of 13.8% from Con to Lincs Ind since 2009.

Bamber Bridge East Ward, South Ribble BC. Lab hold. Lab 481 (55%, -2.4), Con 393 (45%, +2.4). Swing of 2.4% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Progress Column

2011-10-12T15:32:00.001+01:00

My Progress column this week continues the argument I had earlier in the week with Michael Meacher:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/12/reason-to-be-cheerful/

Labourlist column

2011-10-10T09:39:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column this week is about the Shadow Cabinet reshuffle:

http://www.labourlist.org/sectarianism-is-alive-and-well-on-the-labour-hard-left

Council by-elections

2011-10-07T08:53:00.002+01:00

There were three yesterday, all solid performances for Labour:

Lower Stoke Ward, Coventry MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1366 (54.1%, -3.5), Con 563 (22.3%, -0.2), Soc 254 (10.1%, +3.7), BNP 149 (5.9%, +0.1), Green 114 (4.5%, -3.3), LD 79 (3.1%, +3.1). Swing of 1.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Norland Ward, RB Kensington & Chelsea. Con hold. Con 675 (43.8%, -11.6), Lab 438 (28.4%, +5), LD 358 (23.2%, +2), UKIP 69 (4.5%, +4.5). Swing of 8.3% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Vicarage Ward, Watford BC. Lab hold. Lab 917 (52.9%, +2.8), LD 403 (23.2%, -4.3), Ind 190 (11%, +11), Ind 129 (7.4%, +7.4), Con 95 (5.5%, -3.7). Swing of 3.6% from LD to Lab since May this year.

Progress Column

2011-10-05T16:27:00.001+01:00

My Progress column this week is about the need for lots of work on implementation of the Refounding Labour changes: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/10/05/refounding-labour-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-all-about-the-implementation/

NEC Report

2011-10-03T09:46:00.000+01:00

My NEC report on conference is now online at Labourlist:
http://www.labourlist.org/annual-conference---nec-report

Council by-elections

2011-09-30T08:56:00.002+01:00

There were five yesterday:

Bicester North Ward, Cherwell DC. Con hold. Con 443 (65.9%, +7), Lab 130 (19.3%, -5.8), LD 99 (14.7% -1.3). Swing of 6.4% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Penrhynderdeuth Ward, Gwynedd CC. PC hold. PC 515 (62.5%, +4), Llais G 219 (26.6%, -14.9), Ind 90 (10.9%, +10.9). Swing of 9.5% from Llais G to PC since 2008.

Diffwys/Maenofferen Ward, Gwynedd CC. PC gain from Llais G. PC 219 (58.9%, +9.4), Llais G 153 (41.1%, -9.4). Swing of 9.4% from Llais G to PC since 2010.

Bishops Castle Division, Shropshire UA. LD hold. LD 801 (53.4%, +5.7), Con 544 (36.3%, -4.2), Lab 80 (5.3%, +5.3), Green 74 (4.9%, -6.9). Swing of 5% from Con to LD since 2009.

Nascot Ward, Watford BC.LD hold. LD 1021 (48.5%, +2.9), Con 818 (38.8%, +2.5), Lab 134 (6.4%, -5.3), Green 133 (6.3%, -0.1). Swing of 0.2% from Con to LD since Mat this year.

At Conference

2011-09-28T17:22:00.000+01:00

A proud moment for me as a Labour member - the privilege of chairing Annual Conference on Monday afternoon:

Some people on the Hard Left weren't happy to see me there though:

http://home.freeuk.net/clpd/cb2011wed.pdf

"Campaign Briefing" handed out to delegates by the left said:

"Tight elections for the six CLP seats on the NEC are due in 2012.
Surprise, surprise: the sole CLP representative whose profile is being boosted by chairing a Conference session is the very one who only just scraped onto the NEC from the right-wing slate last time. Conference has the right to expect the selection of chairs to be non-partisan. Centre-left
NEC members from the alternative slate should also be chairing Conference. They all have larger mandates from the membership than Luke Akehurst, who is well known for his strident support for the invasion of Iraq and is allegedly the joint secretary of the hard-right (and shadowy)
organisation, Labour First. The latter organisation puts together the rightwing slate."

How silly and sectarian and contrary to the comradely and collegiate way members of the NEC treat each other, right or left. It's also an insult to the seriousness with which I took my duty to chair fairly and non-partisanly. But thanks for the free publicity guys.

Council by-election

2011-09-23T08:32:00.002+01:00

Only one last night:

Staithe Ward, Fenland DC. Con 228 (42%, -13.1) Lab 166 (30.6%, +1.8) LD 90 (16.6%, +16.6) UKIP 39 (7.2%, -8.9) Ind 20 (3.7%, +3.7). Swing of 7.5% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Green Haze

2011-09-21T15:10:00.003+01:00

Thoughts from me and Linda about fighting the Greens (this is the kind of thing we chat about at home), from the new edition of Progress magazine:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/09/22/green-haze/

More League Tables

2011-09-21T12:58:00.003+01:00

More league tables from Total Politics.

I'm #2 in the list of councillor blogs:

http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/258497/top-35-councillor-blogs-2011.thtml

and #23 in the overall list of political bloggers:

http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/259042/top-100-uk-political-bloggers.thtml

though a lowly #87 in the list of blogs (as opposed to bloggers) reflecting the fact that most of my posts are now on Progress and Labourlist:

http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/259027/top-100-uk-political-blogs-2011.thtml

NEC Report

2011-09-21T10:38:00.001+01:00

My NEC report is online on the Progress website:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/09/21/nec-report-%E2%80%93-september-2011/

Labourlist column

2011-09-21T08:30:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column this week is about the Refounding Labour proposals:

http://www.labourlist.org/luke-akehurst-refounding-labour

Council by-elections

2011-09-16T13:07:00.002+01:00

There were seven by-elections last night:

Highgate Ward, LB Camden. Lab hold. Lab 1178 (41.6%, +12.6), Green 947 (33.5%, +3), Con 593 (21%, +0.8), LD 111 (3.9%, -18.3). Swing of 4.8% from Green to Lab since 2010. This is the best ward in Camden for the Greens and elected one Green and two Labour councillors last year, 2 Greens and 1 Tory in 2006.

Bramshott & Liphook Ward, East Hampshire DC. Double vacancy. 2 Con holds. Con 796, 743 (52.8%, +2.2), LD 404, 371 (26.8%, -5.5), Lab 183, 117 (12.1%, -5), Green 126 (8.3%, +8.3). Swing 3.9% from LD to Con since May this year.

Phoenix Ward, Gedling BC. LD gain from Lab. LD 556 (48.7%, +0.9), Lab 446 (39.1%, -13.1), Con 98 (8.6%, +8.6), UKIP 42 (3.7%, +3.7). Swing of 7% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Hedley Division, Hampshire CC. Con hold. Con 1588 (64.6%, +0.9), LD 290 (11.8%, -19.3), Lab 258 (10.5%, +5.3), Green 178 (7.2%, +7.2), Justice & Anti-corruption 146 (5.9%, +5.9). Swing of 10.1% from LD to Con since 2009.

Surbiton Hill Ward, RB Kingston-upon-Thames. LD hold. LD 997 (39.7%, -2.6), Con 895 (35.6%, -0.9), Lab 349 (13.9%, +2.7), CPA 171 (6.8%, +4.7), Green 81 (3.2%, -4.7), Ind 21 (0.8%, +0.8). Swing of 0.9% from LD to Con since 2010.

Graiseley Division, Wolverhampton MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1527 (64.7%, +0.2), Con 591 (25%, +8.5), LD 177 (7.5%, +2.1), UKIP 65 (2.8%, +2.8). Swing of 4.2% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Highland Ward, Perth & Kinross CC. SNP 1449 (54.4%, -4), Con 596 (22.4%, -3.2), LD 321 (12.1%, -1.4), Ind 269 (10.1%, +7.6), Ind 27 (1.0%, +1). Swing of 0.4% from SNP to Con since 2007.

Top Ten Labour Blogs

2011-09-15T12:15:00.003+01:00

I've managed to stay in the Top Ten Labour blogs according to Total Politics (
http://www.totalpolitics.com/blog/258212/top-25-labour-blogs.thtml ) .

Not bad as I didn't canvass for votes and posting has been light recently.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me, congratulations to the winners:

Full list of top 25, with last year's position in brackets (I couldn't cut and paste all the links so you need to go on the Total Politics web site to follow links to the winners):

1 (1) LabourList

2 (8) Labour Uncut

3 (4) nextleft

4 (36) Scarlet Standard

5 (22) ProgressOnline

6 (5) Alastair Campbell

7 (-) Labour Hame

8 (70) Young Fabians blog

9 (7) Luke Akehurst

10 (2) Tom Harris MP

11 (-) Touchstone blog

12 (3) Hopi Sen

13 (13) Tom Watson MP

14 (14) Honeyball Buzz

15 (-) Shibley Rahman

16 (15) Labour Home

17 (-) Diary of a Benefit Scrounger

18 (-) Danny Hackett

19 (20) From One End of Kent

20 (-) The Green Benches

21 (18) Kerry McCarthy MP

22 (50) Kezia Dugdale

23 (45) Young Labour Politico Blogger

24 (19) Bob Piper

25 (-) Her Sins were Scarlet but her blog was Red

Progress Column

2011-09-15T12:07:00.002+01:00

My Progress column this week is about the Afghanistan and Iraq wars:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/09/14/looking-back-on-iraq/

Labourlist column

2011-09-12T09:03:00.002+01:00

My labourlist column this week is about the forthcoming publication of the Purple Book:

http://www.labourlist.org/luke-akehurst-in-defence-of-ivan-lewis-and-the-purple-book

I agree with Peter Kenyon

2011-09-10T15:30:00.003+01:00

Bet that headline surprised you.

I often disagree with former NEC member Peter Kenyon (http://petergkenyon.typepad.com/peterkenyon/)

But he is pursuing something very sensible and practical just now.

He has appealed for every Labour member to go on membersnet on the Party website (you will need your membership card to register if you haven't already got a log-in) and update their contact details (http://members.labour.org.uk/).

The more of us that Labour has an up-to-date email for, the easier it is for HQ, your CLP and your Branch to contact you and inform and involve you, and it keeps the cost of communicating with you to a minimum. About 20% of Labour members have an email address but the Party doesn't know about it.

Please do this and if you encourage any other Labour members you are in contact with to do the same.

Council by-elections

2011-09-09T12:00:00.002+01:00

Three last night, including a Labour gain in a ward in a Bristol parliamentary marginal:

Southmead Ward, Bristol CC. Lab gain from LD. Labour 1109 (45.5%, +5.1), Con 765 (31.4%, +10.7), LD 365 (15%, -12.2), Green 120 (4.9%, +2.3), Eng Dem 77 (3.2%, +0.6). Swing of 2.8% from Lab to Con since 2010. This looks similar to the national polls - Lab and Con both doing well at expense of LDs.

Stock Division, Essex CC. Con hold. Con 1820 (59.2%, -6.5), UKIP 736 (24%, +24), Lab 275 (9%, +3.8), LD 160 (5.2%, -7.3), Green 80 (2.6%, -6.1). Swing of 15.3% from Con to UKIP since 2009. This was the seat of Lord Hanningfield who was jailed for expenses fraud.

Backwell Ward, North Somerset UA. Ind hold. Ind 816 (61.7%, -5.6), Con 314 (23.7%, -7), Lab 124 (9.4%, +9.4), LD 69 (5.2%, +5.2). Swing of 0.7% from Con to Ind since May this year.

Progress column

2011-09-07T12:19:00.001+01:00

My Progress column this week looks at Chris Mullin's diaries and their verdict on the Blair years:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/09/07/looking-back-on-new-labour/

Labourlist column

2011-09-05T10:44:00.001+01:00

In my Labourlist column this week I argue Gordon Brown made the right call in his argument with Alistair Darling about cuts:

http://www.labourlist.org/gordon-made-the-right-call

Council by-election

2011-09-02T08:30:00.002+01:00

Only one last night:

Keswick Ward, Allerdale DC. LD gain from Ind. LD 757 (59.7%), Lab 448 (35.3%), Green 63 (5.0%). Ward was uncontested in May 2011 so no swing comparison possible.

Labour's task

2011-08-31T10:16:00.003+01:00

This is a useful summary of the challenge facing Labour as Ed heads towards his second year as Leader:

http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/08/30/uphill-struggle/

Council by-elections

2011-08-26T00:03:00.004+01:00

Two tonight:

Shirebrook SW Ward, Bolsover DC. Lab gain from Ind. Lab 200 (47.8%, +15.6), Green 103 (24.6%, +24.6), Con 72 (17.2%, +11.1), BNP 43 (10.3%. +0.7). Swing of 4.5% from Lab to Green since May this year.

Saltcoats and Stevenson Ward, North Ayrshire UA. Lab hold. First preference votes: Lab 1914 (48.7%, +13.9), SNP 1306 (33.2%, +1.2), Con 284 (7.2%, -0.4), All Scotland Pensioners Party 211 (5.4%, +5.4), Ind 114 (2.9%, -22.5), LD 56 (1.4%, +1.4), Soc Lab 43 (1.1%, +1.1). Swing of 6.4% from SNP to Lab since 2007.

Council by-elections

2011-08-18T22:56:00.004+01:00

Just two tonight:

City Centre Ward, Edinburgh CC. SNP hold. 1st preference votes: Con 837 (24.2%, +4), SNP 797 (23.1%, +2.7), Lab 682 (19.7%, +1.7), Green 494 (14.3%, -2.7), Ind 394 (11.4%, +9.8), LD 251 (7.3%, -12.6). After transfers: SNP 1368, Con 1264. Swing of 0.7% from SNP to Con since 2007.

Page Moss Ward, Knowsley MBC. Lab hold. Lab 541 (82.5%, -10.6), LD 57 (8.7%, +1.8), Ind 22 (3.4%, +3.4), Green 21 (3.2%, +3.2), Con 15 (2.3%, +2.3). Swing of 6.2% from Lab to LD since May this year.

Refounding Labour

2011-08-18T08:57:00.003+01:00

There was a little outburst of August hysteria yesterday with accusations flying about on Labourlist (http://www.labourlist.org/what-on-earth-is-going-on-with-refounding-labour ) about the non-publication of submissions to the Refounding Labour consultation on Party structures.

This all came as news to me as a member of Labour's NEC - I hadn't known there was a timetable to publish the submissions yesterday so the first I heard about it was the allegation that it was being delayed.

My summer advice to Labourlist would be to chill out a bit.

There are a lot of political issues in the UK today worth getting excited about. The timing of the publication of reams of technical submissions to an internal review of Party structures is not one of them.

Ed Miliband made a public commitment to publishing the submissions. He is going to stick to that.

But this is actually quite a mammoth logistical exercise.

The people who sent in submissions have to be notified that these will be made public and the submissions, which run to thousands of pages in total, have to be put into a format suitable for being posted online.

Anyone who is desperate for their submission to be public in a hurry only has to post it online themselves or send it to Labourlist.

And the timing of publication relative to publication of the NEC's recommendations is highly politically sensitive.

As NEC members we are only part of the way through the process of agreeing recommendations to go before Conference (there are two more formal meetings - an Organisation Committee and a full NEC meeting where this will be discussed) and there ongoing informal discussions with stakeholders to try to reach a consensus on some of the key issues.

I would be unhappy if the politics of those discussions was jeopardised by a rushed putting of the views of some stakeholders in the public domain during these discussions.

It's the end product which is important here - getting a set of proposals that improve Labour's policy-making, internal democracy and campaigning, and that have broad buy-in across the Party. Getting there may be a messy process if previous Labour history is anything to go by and having the whole of that process conducted publicly might not be in the Party's interests - if we do manage to get a consensus hammered out that sails through conference, why would we want the media and our political opponents to have access to initial submissions from months ago that they can analyse and quote from to highlight differences of opinion which may get reconciled during the run-up to Conference?

Thus far, aside from a couple of mischievous articles the Refounding Labour process has been conducted without grandstanding or public bickering. People have strong views about the issues but are not rushing to broadcast their differences but rather trying to find a consensus way forward. I think that's rather better than the highly public infighting that accompanied every previous review of Labour's structures.

Labourlist column

2011-08-15T11:14:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column this week looks at the riots:
http://www.labourlist.org/from-optimist-to-pessimist

After the riots in Hackney

2011-08-13T23:46:00.004+01:00

A quick crosspost of some info from my council ward neighbours in Hackney Central Ward (http://hackneycentrallabour.blogspot.com/). Clarence Road where the worst violence happened in Hackney this week forms the boundary between the ward I represent (Chatham Ward) and Hackney Central Ward.

Siva Kandiah - helping him rebuild his business

Kandiah is one of the local businessmen who was most affected by the rioting and looting on Monday evening on Clarence Road.

His shop was broken into, looted and - to put it bluntly - trashed. He lost £10,000 in stock and has been left with virtually nothing.

Hackney Council is helping Mr Kandiah to rebuild and his determination to get back on his feet is a testament to the spirit of London in light of the riots.

To help Mr Kandiah rebuild his shop and life, colleagues and others such as HCVS have helped set up an online fund to help.

Please go to http://www.hcvs.org.uk/

Ways to donate:
Online - donate here: http://www.hcvs.org.uk/en/pages/rebuild_clarenceroadshop.aspx
By Mobile text : Text HCVS01 followed by the amount you want to donate to 70070 for e.g. HCVS01 £10 to 70070 to donate £10. Texts are charged at your mobile phone operator's standard rate. The charity will receive 100% of your donation. You must be 16 or over and please ask the bill payer's permission. For full terms and conditions and more information, please visit www.justgiving.com/info/terms-of-service.
By Cheque: Please complete the form and make cheques payable to 'HCVS' and their postal address.
By Cash: at HCVS offices.

IMPORTANT NOTE: there are a number of Paypal and other online appeals for Mr Kandiah. Please note that this is the official fund - http://www.hcvs.org.uk/en/pages/rebuild_clarenceroadshop.aspx - please don't risk your money going astray by providing money to another source.

Tea on Clarence Road - Monday

St John's, Hackney (the church which is both closest to the Hackney troubles as well as where some of the disturbances broke out in its graveyard) is organising an afternoon tea on Clarence Road on Monday 15 August at 5pm.

The tea party is to coincide with exactly a week after the trouble broke out and is a community response to take back the street.

The event is being sponsored by Hackney Marks & Spencer, Hackney Council and other local businesses.

The event set-up is from 4:30pm in the church - please do come along!

Council by-elections

2011-08-13T21:45:00.002+01:00

I'm going to write in the next few days about the riots.

In the meantime here's a more mundance matter - a catch-up on council by-elections in recent weeks:

26 July (an unusual Tuesday by-election)

Snatchwood Ward, Torfaen UA. Lab gain from Ind. Lab 239 (47.9%, +4.8), Ind 161 (32.3%, -24.6), Ind 41 (8.2%, +8.2), Ind 37 (7.4%, +7.4), PC 12 (2.4%, +2.4), Con 9 (1.8%, +1.8). Swing of 14.7% from Ind to Lab since 2008.

28 July

Beardwood with Lammack Ward, Blackburn with Darwen BC. Con hold. Con 1097 (63.8%, +3.5), Lab 572 (33.2%, nc), LD 51 (3.0%, -3.4). Swing of 1.8% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Bush Hill Park Ward, LB Enfield. Con hold. Con 1108 (44.5%, +6.1), Lab 668 (26.8%, +2), Ind 230 (9.2%, +9.2), LD 177 (7.1%, -12.3), Green 100 (4.0%, -6.5), UKIP 70 (2.8%, -4.1), BNP 61 (2.5%, +2.5), Christian 45 (1.8%< +1.8), ED 29 (1.2%, +1.2). Swing of 2.1% from Lab to Con since 2010.

Stanmore Park Ward, LB Harrow. Con hold. Con 1395 (58.1%, -0.4), Lab 509 (21.2%, +0.7), Ind 299 (12.4%, +12.4), LD 98 (4.1%, -9.4), Green 53 (2.2%, -5.4), UKIP 48 (2%, +2). Swing of 0.6% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Poulton North Ward, Warrington BC. LD hold. LD 1106 (48.3%, +9.1), Lab 895 (39.1%, -7.8), Con 190 (8.3%, -5.6), UKIP 97 (4.2%, +4.2). Swing of 8.5% from Lab to LD since May this year.

4 August

South Petherton Division, Somerset CC. LD gain from Con. LD 1333 (53.6%, +13.3), Con 943 (37.9%, -5.4), Green 108 (4.3%, -2.9), UKIP 104 (4.2%, +4.2). Swing of 9.4% from Con to LD since 2009.

11 August

St Peters Ward, LB Islington. Lab hold. Lab 1167 (52.5%, +14.1), LD 440 (19.8%, -7.8), Con 381 (17.1%, -8.9), Green 176 (7.9%, -0.1), Ind 59 (2.7%, +2.7). Swing of 11% from LD to Lab since 2010.

Fremington Ward, North Devon DC. Ind hold. Ind 501 (42.1%, -27), Con 398 (33.5%, +11.6), Ind 196 (16.5%, +16.5), Green 94 (7.9%, +7.9). Swing of 19.3% from Ind to Con since May this year.

Eton & Castle Ward, Windsor & Maidenhead UA. LD gain from Con. LD 208 (47.4%, +19.6) Con 182 (41.5%, -23.7) Lab 32 (7.3%, +0.3), UKIP 17 (3.9%, +3.9). Swing of 21.7% from Con to LD since May this year.

Labourlist Column

2011-07-27T09:52:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column this week is about the attacks in Norway: http://www.labourlist.org/rest-in-peace-young-comrades

Council by-elections

2011-07-22T08:44:00.007+01:00

Just two yesterday:

Glyder Ward, Gwynedd CC. PC hold. PC 207 (39.4%, -25), LD 194 (36.9%, +1.4), Lab 65 (12.4%, +12.4), Con 60 (11.4%, +11.4). Swing of 13.2% from PC to LD since 2008.

Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe Ward, Wokingham UA. Con hold. Con 850 (65.9%, +0.6), LD 272 (21.1%, -7.1), Lab 94 (7.3%, +0.8), UKIP 55 (4.3%, +4.3), Green 19 (1.5%, +1.5). Swing of 4% from LD to Con since 2010.

Labour's New General Secretary

2011-07-20T13:39:00.002+01:00

I've used my Progress column this week to say a bit about the NEC decision I was part of yesterday to appoint Iain McNicol as Labour's new General Secretary:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=723

Link of the day

2011-07-18T13:54:00.002+01:00

Every now and then you read something and think "I wish I had written that".

I feel that way about this post on Friday on Labour Uncut by Kevin Meagher:

http://labour-uncut.co.uk/2011/07/15/reforming-yes-refounding-no-thanks/

The only bit I would change is delete "CLP Chairs" and insert "CLP Chairs and Secretaries" - no offence to Chairs but in the Labour movement it's the Secretary which is the key and extremely onerous position at every level. Chairs get phoned up by the Sunday Times because in local Tory Associations Chair is the key political position, and Sunday Times journos assume the same applies to Labour, whereas in many (not all) CLPs the Chair basically chairs the meetings and it's the Secretary who "leads" the CLP (to the limited extent that any Labour Party unit is open to the idea of being led).

He will be pleased to know that Refounding Labour isn't going to involve the kind of top-down liquidation of structures he rightly fears.

Labourlist Column

2011-07-18T09:36:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column today says "I told you so":
http://www.labourlist.org/i-told-you-so-luke-akehurst

Council by-election

2011-07-15T22:04:00.002+01:00

Only one yesterday:

Old Catton Division, Norfolk CC. Con hold. Con 664 (40.6%, -8.2), LD 414 (25.3%, +11.8), Lab 377 (23%, +12.2), UKIP 107 (6.5%, -9.7), Green 75 (4.6%, -6). Swing of 10% from Con to LD since 2009. This is in the Norwich North parliamentary constituency.

GLA Candidates

2011-07-13T15:40:00.002+01:00

Hat-tip to labourlist for the full list of Labour's candidates for the GLA next May:

Labour London Assembly constituency members / candidates:
Jennette Arnold AM (North East) *
John Biggs AM (City and East)*
Len Duvall AM (Greenwich and Lewisham)*
Navin Shah AM (Brent and Harrow)*
Val Shawcross AM (Lambeth and Southwark)*
Joanne McCartney AM (Enfield and Haringey)*
Lisa Homan (South West)
Josie Channer (Bexley and Bromley)
Leonie Cooper (Merton and Wandsworth)
Louisa Woodley (Croydon and Sutton)
Mandy Richards (Havering and Redbridge)
Andrew Dismore (Barnet and Camden)
Onkar Sahota (Ealing and Hillingdon)
Todd Foreman (West Central)

Labour London Assembly list members / candidates:
1.Nicky Gavron AM *
2.Murad Qureshi AM *
3.Fiona Twycross
4.Tom Copley
5.Florence Nosegbe
6.Unmesh Desai
7.Kirsten Hearn
8.Liquat Ali
9.Mabel McKeown
10.Kevin McGrath
11.Seema Malhotra

(* = current AM)

The results last time are here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/london/08/html/assembly.stm

Progress column

2011-07-13T15:39:00.001+01:00

More musings on Friday's Blair speech (and a bit of a random metaphor about Napoleonic military history) in my Progress column:
http://www.progressives.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=718

Labour Faith Network

2011-07-11T10:28:00.002+01:00

Just a quick plug for tonight's Labour Faith Network launch - 7pm on Monday 11 July in Committee Room 7 of the House of Commons.

Labour Faith Network is a new grouping of Labour party members from the major faiths, who want to see the party reconnect with faith communities across the UK. The chair is Cllr Abdal Ullah from Tower Hamlets, and the sponsor of the event is Gavin Shuker MP. Lord Glasman is the guest speaker.

There's more info here: http://www.progressives.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=715

They are a persuassive bunch as they've got me signed up as a supporter even though I'm an atheist!

Labourlist column

2011-07-11T09:44:00.000+01:00

My Labourlist column this week look's at Tony Blair's speech on Friday and gives it 7/10:
http://www.labourlist.org/blairs-progress-speech-gets-710

Council By-elections

2011-07-07T22:08:00.005+01:00

Five tonight, some great results for Labour:

Sawley Division, Derbyshire CC. Lab gain from Ind. Lab 1351 (41.7%, +30.9), Con 1197 (36.9%, +12.8), LD 692 (21.4%, +10.7). Swing of 9.1% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Lytchett Matravers Division, Purbeck DC. Con gain from LD. Con 669 (52.7% +6.1%) Lib Dem 599 (47.3% -6.1%). Swing of 6.1% from LD to Con since 2010.

Peckham Ward, LB Southwark. Lab hold. Lab 1754 (70.1%, +7.8), LD 554 (22.1%, +3.2), Con 86 (3.4%, -5.1), TUSC 63 (2.5%, +2.5), Green 46 (1.8%, -4.3). Swing of 2.3% from LD to Lab since 2010.

Churnet Valley Division, Staffordshire CC. Con hold. Con 1063 (52%, -1.9), Lab 491 (24%, +4.4), UKIP 316 (15.5%, +15.5), LD 173 (8.5%, -18). Swing of 3.2% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Horbury & South Ossett Ward, Wakefield MBC. Lab gain from Con. Majority of 715. Lab 1776 (51.5%, +2.2), Con 1061 (30.8%, -10.5), UKIP 232 (6.7%, +6.7), LD 200 (5.8%, -3.7), Ind 93 (2.7%, +2.7), Ind 88 (2.6%, +2.6). Swing of 6.4% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Labour NEC, CAC and NCC elections

2011-07-06T20:12:00.003+01:00

For the geekier Labour watchers amongst you, the nominations have closed on a number of internal Labour elections that take place at Annual Conference:

NEC

Division I - Trade Unions

13 candidates nominated for 12 places (at least 6 must be women):

Rebecca Peterson ASLEF
Susan Lewis COMMUNITY
Andy Kerr CWU - incumbent
Mary Turner GMB - incumbent
Andy Worth GMB - incumbent
Harriet Yeo TSSA - incumbent
Jim Kennedy UCATT - incumbent
Keith Birch UNISON - incumbent
Wendy Nichols UNISON
Jennie Formby UNITE
Rachael Maskell UNITE - incumbent
Martin Mayer UNITE
Paddy Lillis USDAW - incumbent

I would expect this to boil down into a contest between ASLEF which is more leftwing but smaller and the larger but more moderate Community for the final slot of the 12.

Incumbent members Norma Stephenson (UNISON and current NEC Chair), Cath Speight (UNITE and current Chair of Organisation Committee) and Chris Weldon (UNITE) are not restanding so this represents a loss of quite a few very experienced members of the TU section of the NEC.

Division II - Socialist Societies

1 seat - uncontested

Connor McGinn - Labour Party Irish Society

Connor replaces Simon Wright of LGBT Labour.

NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL COMMITTEE

The NCC deals with disciplinary matters.

DIVISION I - TRADE UNIONS
Two elected uncontested

Richard Ascough GMB
Lee Vasey UNITE

DIVISION III - CLPS
Two seats (gender quota has already been met)

Rose Burley (incumbent) - 34 nominations
Kevin Hepworth (incumbent) - 25 nominations
Mark James (Grassroots Alliance supported) - 39 nominations
John Wiseman (Further to the left than the Grassroots Alliance) - 17 nominations

Conference Arrangements Committee – CLP Section

Two to be elected – at least one woman

Sue Anderson - 1 nomination
Presley Antoine - 1 nomination
Michael Clarke - 1 nomination
Catherine Donovan - 47 nominations (Grassroots Alliance supported)
Ann Groves - 1 nomination
Robert Gunn - 1 nomination
Gary Heather - 40 nominations (Grassroots Alliance supported)
Seema Malhotra - 82 nominations
Martin Phillips - 28 nominations
Rachel Reeves MP - 34 nominations
John Wiseman - 6 nominations

Progress Column

2011-07-06T15:02:00.001+01:00

My Progress column this week looks at the abolition of elections for the Shadow Cabinet:

http://www.progressives.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=713

Labourlist column

2011-07-05T09:29:00.001+01:00

In my Labourlist column today I tell them they've got it wrong about last week's strikes:

http://www.labourlist.org/labourlist-readers-need-to-buck-their-ideas-up

On the Telly

2011-07-01T19:21:00.002+01:00

I was on the Daily Politics on BBC2 yesterday, talking (for about 20 seconds) about Blue Labour:

Council by-elections

2011-07-01T18:50:00.002+01:00

As well as the impressive Inverclyde parliamentary by-election result, there were very good swings to Labour in the only two council by-elections yesterday, both in safe Tory wards:

Cheshunt Central Ward, Broxbourne DC. Con hold. Con 742 (53.1%, -14.8), Lab 481 (34.4%, +14), UKIP 88 (6.3%, +6.3), Ind 62 (4.4%, +4.4), LD 24 (1.7%, +1.7). Swing of 14.4% from Con to Lab since May this year.

Thamesfield Ward, LB Wandsworth. Con hold. Con 1497 (45.8%, -12.1), Lab 1022 (32.3%, +15.5), LD 545 (16.7%, +1.7); Green 202 (6.2%, -4.1). Swing of 13.8% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Progress Column

2011-06-29T11:48:00.002+01:00

My Progress Column this week is about the problems facing "Red Tory" thinktank ResPublica: http://www.progressives.org.uk/articles/article.asp?a=8409

Council by-elections

2011-06-24T09:37:00.009+01:00

Lots more changes in last night's by-elections:

Airyhall Broomhill and Garthdee Ward, Aberdeen City Council. SNP gain from LD. 1st prefs: SNP 1112 (26.6%, +9.3), Lab 783 (18.8%, +6), Con 649 (15.6%, -11.8), LD 554 (13.3%, -24.3), Green 101(2.4%, +2.4), Ind 98 (2.3%, -2.5), Ind 32 (0.8%, +0.8), NF 25 (0.6%0.6, +9). Swing of 1.7% from Lab to SNP since 2007.

Llanegwad Ward, Carmarthenshire CC. PC gain from Ind. PC 494 (52.1%, +32.7), Ind 455 (47.9%, -32.7). Swing of 32.7% from Ind to PC since 2008.

Stanton Ward, Derbyshire Dales DC. Con hold. Con 246 (48.9; -10.6), Lab 173 (34.4; +34.4), LD 84 (16.7; -23.7). Swing of 22.5% from Con to Lab since 2007.

St Andrews Ward, Great Yarmouth BC. Lab gain from Con. Lab 424 (51.4%, -0.9), Con 401 (48.6%, +0.9). Swing of 0.9% from Lab to Con since May this year.

Binstead & Fishbourne Ward, Isle of Wight UA. Ind gain from Con. Ind 428 (37.2%, -4.9), Con 424 (36.9%, -5.6), LD 139 (12.1%, -3.3), UKIP 93 (8.1%, +8.1), Lab 66 (5.7%, +5.7). Swing of 0.4% from Con to Ind since 2009.

Seabridge Ward, Newcastle Under Lyme BC. Con hold. Con 557 (45.7%, +2.3), Lab 497 (40.8%, +11.9), UKIP 112 (9.2%, +0.8), LD 52 (4.3%, -14.9). Swing of 4.8% from Con to Lab since 2010.

Deeping St James, South Kesteven DC. 3 vacancies. 1 Con hold, No Desc and Ind gains from Con and LD. No Desc 792 (29.8%, +4.4 from previous Lab share), Ind 647 (24.3%, +24.3), Con 631, 483, 318 (23.7%, -14), Green 350, 289 (13.1%, +13.1), LD 242, 70, 67 (9.1%, -21.2). The No Description winner is the Labour Party's Phil Dilks - there was a glitch with his nomination papers - so effectively there is a Lab gain here in rural Lincolnshire.

Cockington Ward, Torbay UA. LD gain from Con. LD 1048 (46.3%, +19.7), Con 614 (27.1%, -8.9), Lab 357 (15.8%, +1), Ind 129 (5.7%, -4.9), Ind 61 (2.7%, +2.7), Green 55 (2.4%, -9.7). Swing of 14.3% from Con to LD since May this year.

Elmley Castle, Wychavon DC. Con hold. Con 435 (68.8%, -3.6), LD 197 (31.2%, +3.6). Swing of 3.6% from Con to LD since 2007.

Progress Column

2011-06-22T14:40:00.001+01:00

My Progress column today looks at the tactical choices facing the trade unions:
http://www.progressives.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=705

Ken in Hackney

2011-06-21T16:19:00.000+01:00

On Monday 27th June Ken Livingstone will be hosting a Tell Ken public meeting in Hackney. The event is being held from 7.00pm until 8.30pm at Abney Public Hall, 73a Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0AS.

You can register to attend here: http://www.kenlivingstone.com/hackney

Labourlist Column

2011-06-21T15:06:00.002+01:00

My Labourlist column this week looks at John Denham's speech on winning in the South: http://www.labourlist.org/how-we-can-win-again-in-the-south

Council by-elections

2011-06-16T23:39:00.008+01:00

A bumper crop tonight:

Crewe South Ward, Cheshire East UA. 2 seats: 1 Lab hold, 1 Lab gain from LD. Lab 970 & 899 (59.7%), Con 507 & 489 (31.2%), LD 147 & 146 (9.1%). No swing calculation possible due to boundary changes.

Uwchaled Ward, Conwy CBC. Ind gain from PC. Ind 477 (94.1%), Con 30 (5.9%). No swing calculation possible as PC uncontested in 2008.

Eckington Division, Derbyshire CC. Lab hold. Lab 1142 (73.8%, +38.3), Con 406 (26.2%, +2.5). Swing of 17.9% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Abbey Ward, Dumfries & Galloway CC. Lab gain from Con. 1st prefs: Con 1236 (39.7%, -1), Lab 1196 (38.5%, +3.8), SNP 678 (21.8%, +4.9). 2nd Round: Lab 1448, Con 1391. Swing of 2.4% from Con to Lab since 2008 by-election.

Arlechwedd Ward, Gwynedd CC. PC gain from LD. PC 255 (56%, +8.8), LD 93 (20.4%, -32.4), Lab 72 (15.8%, +15.8), Con 35 (7.7%, +7.7). Swing of 20.6% from LD to PC since 2008.

Byker Ward, Newcastle-upon-Tyne MBC. Lab hold. Lab 1206 (72.6%, +14.9), BNP 144 (8.7%, +8.7), LD 102 (6.1%, -18.2), Ind 78 (4.7%, -4.1), Con 76 (4.6%, -4.6), Newc 1st 55 (3.3%, +3.3). Swing of 3.1% from BNP to Lab since 2010.

Westerhope Ward, Newcastle-upon-Tyne MBC. Lab gain from LD. Lab 1106 (33.2%, -3.3), Ind 883 (26.5%, +26.5), Newc 1st 532 (16.0%, +16), LD 492 (14.8%, -18.2), Con 240 (7.2%, -17.1), BNP 81 (2.4%, -3.8). Swing of 14.9% from Lab to Ind since 2010.

Hullbridge Ward, Rochford BC. Green gain from Con. Green 757 (48.2%, +30), Con 555 (35.4%, -6.1), Lab 182 (11.6%, -6), UKIP 76 (4.8%, +4.8). Swing of 18.1% from Con to Green since May this year.

Manvers Ward, Rushcliffe BC. Con hold. 2 seats: Con 730 & 692 (69.3%, -5.1), Lab 323 & 290 (30.7%, +5.1). Swing of 5.1% from Con to Lab since 2007.

Burton Town Division, Staffordshire CC. Lab hold. Lab 1233 (43.7%, +9.3), Con 884 (31.3%, +8.5), LD 525 (18.6%, -9.1), UKIP 182 (6.4%, +6.4). Swing of 0.4% from Con to Lab since 2009.

Marchwiel Division, Wrexham CBC. Ind 302 (63.7%, -17.1), Con 172 (36.3%, +23.2). Swing of 20.2% from Ind to Con since 2008.

Usually I don't report town and parish council results but this one in Cornwall is interesting:

Camborne South Ward, Camborne TC. Lab gain from Lab 334 (34.5%, +18.7), Con 324 (33.5%, +3.6), Mebyon Kernow 197 (20.4%, -8), Green 112 (11.6%, +11.6). Swing of 7.6% from Con to Lab since 2010 by-election. This was a Labour gain from 4th place last year.

Progress Column

2011-06-15T15:02:00.002+01:00

My latest Progress column looks at the events within the Labour Party over the last week:
http://www.progressonline.org.uk/columns/column.asp?c=699

Labour's Policy Review

2011-06-15T14:58:00.001+01:00

The deadline for submissions to this stage of Labour's Policy review is 24 June 2011.

1. Members can find out about the policy review and send their ideas via our website: http://fresh-ideas.org.uk

2. Consultation events for Labour members on the Policy Review and Refounding Labour are underway nationwide - see here for events in your area: http://fresh-ideas.org.uk/yourevents

3. The latest consultation document which can be used in debates locally can be found here: http://fresh-ideas.org.uk/document-submission

4. And for those members who want to host their own ‘New Politics, Fresh Ideas' event there is a consultation toolkit available from the Stronger With You section of Campaign Resources at www.members.labour.org.uk

Labourlist column

2011-06-13T09:58:00.001+01:00

My Labourlist column today unsurprisingly looks at this weekend's press coverage of Labour leadership issues:

http://www.labourlist.org/a-period-of-silence-on-your-part-would-be-welcome

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, But to be young was very heaven!

2011-06-10T21:26:00.005+01:00

The title comes from Wordsworth's "French Revolution" but I've used it to sum up how I felt and how I asumed every Labour activist and voter felt on the May morning in 1997 when Tony Blair entered 10 Downing Street as Labour PM after a landslide victory.

I feel sorry for the younger generation of activists (gosh, never thought I'd write that!) who didn't get to experience that moment. Obviously older comrades had a similar experience in 1945 or 1964.

For me it was the culmination of 9 years hard slog as a Labour activist and by the end local organiser, and the symbolic ending of 18 years of torment from the Tories. It was particularly sweet because the defeat in 1992 had been so particularly bitter and for ordinary footsoldiers like me, so unexpected.

Unlike some, I was never disappointed by our beautiful Labour government or the 13 subsequent years it spent turning round the damage of Thatcherism and making Britain a better place to live in. The worst day and the worst decisions of the Blair and Brown years would be better to live through again than the best day of the mob running Britain now. I feel nothing but pride to have had the privilege to be a Labour Party member during the 1997-2010 period. Nothing but pride.

Every time I walk through the ward where I am a councillor, one of the most deprived wards in England, I see what Labour did for the poorest people in society: refurbished social housing, a brand new city academy where a failing school stood, a primary school rebuilt with BSF money, another new secondary school being built under a contract Ed Balls signed off, safer neighbourhood coppers and PCSOs put there by Ken Livingstone. Lives of my constituents which are still tough and sometimes desperate but lived a little safer, a little warmer, a little more prosperous and a little more full of hope and opportunity because of Labour.

But why am I feeling inspired to waffle on nostalgically about 1997 today?

Because of something I read today that made me realise that on that day in 1997 when my heart was bursting with the joy that we finally had a Labour Government there were people pretending to be part of our movement who did not share that joy. Neal Lawson of Compass has a piece on Comment is Free today where he whinges on about the betrayals of both Blair and Brown: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/10/tony-blair-brownites-blairites

It's worth reading all the comments because my good comrade Hopi Sen is on magnificent form dissecting Neal's position. But the one that inspired me to write this evening is the one by an anonymous commenter that quotes Neal's previous statement:

"I was a Blairite. Back in 1994, I believed he was serious about new politics, communities and Europe. More fool me. My first doubts crept in as early as election day in May 1997. I was crunching up long gravel drives in Enfield Southgate, where rumours abounded that no-hoper Stephen Twigg might oust Michael Portillo. After passing BMWs and Mercs I was met by enthusiastic upper-middle-class families who were "all for Tony Blair here". We were going to win, but what did we have to sacrifice to have these people in our tent?"

And correctly responds:

"The truth is you don't want a Labour Government. Not only are you saved from having to coax "these people" (i.e. perfectly ordinary middle class people) into the tent, it's just so much easier to snipe and whine from the sidelines. In fact you're so much happier being in opposition, you just couldn't stop. Even when Labour were in government."

Here I am raging against the dying of the light, and even at its most blinding, you could not see it. You could not see it and you did not believe in and support and strive to protect the best, most noble government this country has had in half a century. We were keeping the faith and trying to change our country and the world, and you were already hating it before the last Labour vote had even been counted. We saw Stephen Twigg beating Portillo and wanted to sing ourselves hoarse, you wanted to cry betrayal. Shame on you.