A WEEK IS A LONG TIME IN POLITICS

A week ago I was enjoying the balmy sunshire in Manchester and sitting outdoors chewing the fat about the future of the Left. One week later I'm coming down with a filthy cold and the weather is foul . Do not expect interesting blogging for next few days......paracetamol is beckoning

VICTORY IN GARDEN STREET BATTLE

Last night I spoke on behalf of Hebden Royd Town Council to a packed meeting - 300 people - on the thorny issue of whether the Garden Street development should go ahead. After more than three hours of discussion the planning committee voted to echo the unanimous objections of HRTC. Well done to the campaigners, well dome to ward councilor Nader Frekri and Planning Committee member Peter Coles who in particular wiped the floor with the oppposition. There will of course now be an appeal - but I reckon the campaigners will be more than up for the battle - whicb isn't about NIMBYISM, but the fact that what we need in Hebden Bridge is more affordable and social housing, not more retail opportunities and exec apartments at a time when the whole economy is about to fall around our ears.....

WHY "CHOICE" ISN'T THE ANSWER

My own ineptitude is entirely to blame for the fact I travelled 25 miles today to a hospital appointment that did not exist. So tomorrow I will set out again for Bradford - a train and bus journey of around 90 minutes each way.
The reason why I have to traipse all this way is because my nearest hospital in Halifax chooses not to offer the treatment I require - at least not complete with anaesthetic and I am afraid I am a complete and utter wimp .
So having been told it was not on offer in Calderdale I had to go back to my GP and do a ring around myself as is the way with New Labour . Now you could argue this is a Good Thing. At least I have a choice. But the fact is that Calderdale Hospital, wonderfully modern though it is, was built with PFI money and clearly won't incur costs, as they see it, unnecessarily. I was told I had no choice as far as this particularl procedure was concerned and the only reason that I knew alternatives were available elsewhere was following a conversation with a friend who is a GP. Most other women round here would not. In other words, women in Calderdale are not getting the "choice" which women in Bradford do unless they plead and beg for it. And, when it comes to the Lottery of drugs treatment, things are even worse.
We should be proud of our NHS - and proud of what Labour has done to build it in the past 60 years. But the market-led approach to healthcare should be one of the fuirst things which Gordon Brown abandons if he wishes to stay in Government. Universal healthcare should be exactly that. Universal

GOODBYE,BUTCH

When I was a schoolgirl, the female world was divided into two camps. Those who idolised Paul Newman. And those who were fans of t his sparring partner Robert Redford. The two films they made together remain classics and seriously good therapy if you're in need of the feel-good factor. So I was saddened earlier today to read of the death of Paul Newman. Because he really was one of the good guys. An American liberal, he opposed war in Vietnam, was on the CIA's list of potential trouble-makers and raised millions for charity with his salad dressing, Newman's Own. As if all that weren't enough he was a brilliant actor and remained devoted to his wife, Joanne Woodward, for over 50 years. Pretty rare in Hollywood. His last film, The Road To Perdition, is a truly brilliant evocation of the 1930's in America and I recommend you seek it out.

DRESSING FOR THE OCCASION....

Today, the Observer ran a profile piece on Sarah Brown.It included the rather interesting information that her superficially unglamorous outfit for taking the stage at Labour Party Conference cost somewhere in the region of £900. More or less equivalent to a month's pay on the Minimum Wage.

Now Sarah has every right to spend her money as she pleases and she is clearly a charming woman who is devoted to her husband. However, I thought she had no place on that rostrum. It was frankly, manipulative PR mangement in the worst American traditions. And the "downhome" clothes she wore were of course far above the means of the "hard working families" we hear so much about.

Indeed, one of the key problems we now have in politics is the fact that most Cabinet Ministers, and most MPs for that matter, simply have no idea about how ordinary people live or what it is like to manage on the Minimum Wage.Or NOT to be a member of an HWF and trying to struggle on a single wage .Last night, I had dinner with a friend whose daughter has just split up with her partner. She's a low earner but just above the benefit threshold . Her disposable income after paying all the household expenses is now £10 a month. So her mother, a pensioner, is having to bail her out.

Years ago, Michael Portillo spent a week with a working-class Liverpool family for a TV documentary and was genuinely shocked at the fact their income was roughly what he spent on a good dinner out in London. So I suggest that John Hutton, James Purnell, Hazel Blears and all the others who tell us how grateful we should be for the Minimum Wage and how only those who are "pulling their weight" should get benefits swap salaries with the low-paid or jobless- it might give them a reality check. And it might also stop them being so smug and self-satisfied

THE BATTLE OF GARDEN STREET......

It's not very often that Hebden Bridge is in the national papers - and when it is it is usually some twee little piece about house prices . But today's Independent outlines the massive opposition to the Garden Street development. Along with hundreds of others I will be at tomorrow's planning meeting in Calderdale to make the case against this development.

Given the economic climate, what's actually needed in this town is new social housing - NOT more executive apartments

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!

The happiest of bithdays to my friend and comrade Alice Mahon, who celebrates her 71st birthday today. I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with Alice over Labour Party Conference and she is truly an inspirational role-model when it comes to standing firm and sticking to principles. Alice is also co-chair of the West Yorkshire LRC and will be at our AGM on Saturday October 11 at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge

CONVENTION OF LEFT

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/25/labourconference.labour

The above link takes you to John Nicholson's thoughts on the Convention Of Left. Predictably.lots of right-wing trolling follows. But I think that is a great insult to all those who put their hearts and souls into the occasion. Hundreds turned up - and enjoyed serious debates. Well done to all and look forward to COL 2009................

INTO THE REAL WORLD...

I'm far too tired and drained of adrenalin to write much today but just to note Brown's speech has been undermined completely by the leak of Ruth Kelly's resignation. The left often gets accused of treachery but the Blairites and right-wing are positively Machiavellian in their intrigue. How deeply dispiriting it all is.
By way of contrast, last night's Convention Of The Left meeting got around 250 people, enjoyed a sparky debate, and the mood in the pub afterwards where I stopped off briefly before getting train home was positively euphoric. Thanks to all the organisers, particularly John Nicholson, for inviting the LRC to take part. I know when we started out in January some people were sceptical the Labour Party still had socialists. Or that Labour Party lefties could work with others without falling out. Just one small point. Miles, stop asking when we're all going to up and leave the Labour Party. As Bob Griffiths said so pertinently, that route has already been tried quite a few times recently and it hasn't, er. worked.......

OUT OF THE BUBBLE....

I have just got home from Labour Party Conference. I will be heading back to Manchester tonight for the final session of the Convention Of The Left Rupa Huq wrote a predictably sneering piece in Comment Is Free but the Guardian have just rung me and hopefully there wil be a counter to that from John Nicholson. John Nicholson was once Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council. He is now a member of RESPECT. One of the thousandsof socialists the Labour Party has lost in the last 20 years.
The reason I did not get round to blogging from Manchester was because I was busy sorting out media interviews and other events for the alternative event in the Friends Meeting House. I didn't miss much by not being in the Conference sessions for most of the time. The unions saw to it , in their usual turkeys voting for Christmas fashion, that the Calder Valley resolution was defeated. Thanks to the CWU for suppoting us, though. 22 per cent of the CLPs backed it - despite us being denied a proper debate ( three speakers onb 10 rule changes- pitiful) and despite some serious spinning that it was an anti-Brown resolution. As our delegate said clearly, we wanted to ensure that next time there was a contest all wings of the Party could be represented. People like Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, who have splendid rhetoricsal skills, obviously can't cope with that, because they vetoed UNITE support.
I was asked at the last minute by the CLPD to withdraw the resolution but refused. Why? Because rule changes can only be proposed every two years - in 2010 the reality is that we will have many fewer MPs . And New Labour will alays find some excuse to try and stifle Party democracy. Frankly, we had nothing to lose. Until the trade unions start getting real and stop kidding themselves about where we are then we will carry on , not sleepwalking, but as someone said to me last night, being frogmarched to disaster.
I watched Brown's speech. The American Convention-style schmaltz was embarrassing and
deeply cynical. There was much talk mof fairness in Gordon Brown's speech. Don't be fooled.
We are now the pro-business , pro-market, Party which only helps people who" pull their weight" and restricts immigration to those who are expedient to the economy. We continue to employ troops in Iraq and Afghhanistan.
There is much to be proud of in the NHS. But what the choice agenda really means is a drugs Lottery and billions wasted on PFI. Hpowever glowing Gordon's rhetoric, however faux socialist it may sound, that is the reality. At the Convention Of The Left, these issues were debated for hours. Labour delegates are lucky to get five minutes. One positive is that many people involved in the Convention Of The Left were delighted to meet what's left of the Left in the Labour Party. I hope some of them will consider joining us. This year 200 constituencies didn't even bother to send delegates. It is hardly surprising...

GRIMMER FOR GORDON IN MANCHESTER....

The political situation could not be worse for Gordon Brown. Capitalism is in crisis, there is a global credit crunch. And thousands of people look set to lose their jobs in the wake of the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB. So it's nice to know that Andy Hornby, the man who brought HBOS to the brink of collapse as chief executive is to keep his £2million-a-year job.
Amid this chaos - and the worst ever polls in Labour's history - leading figures in the Labour Party like John Prescott are sticking to the "steady as she goes" script and even launched a campaign this week for a fourth term. What planet are they on, exactly?

Gordon will survive the Labour Conference. The cheerleaders will see to it he gets a standing ovation. Voting has been abolished so there will be no embarrassing defeats. The trade union leaders will rally round him. But outside the parallel universe of Manchester Central the real world is waiting. Personally, I will be to-ing and fro-ing between the Conference and the Convention Of The Left , which is already attracting national attention from papers like the Guardian which normally eschew any left events. I urge others to do the same.

Once Conference is over , and our hangovers have been thoroughly nursed, the real world will still be waiting. In the shape of the Glenrothes by-election. If Labour loses, there is no way that Brown will survive. Many on the centre-left are running scared and say he is better than any alternative. That is only true if he gets up in Manchester and ditches his New Labour ideology. I don't expect that to happen. Another by-election loss and Gordon is out. If that happens, I hope he goes with some dignity. We will then be able to have a leadership contest which under current rules will need 45 names to get on the ballot paper. Let us ensure that if that happens this time round we have a truly representative contest - and put John McDonnell on the ballot paper. Now I'm off to Manchester......

DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT

Today a story appeared in the Halifax Courier quoting me as "spokeswoman" for the Calder Valley CLP. The Courier has basically lifted a piece I wrote some months ago about our rule change motion for the LRC website and quoted me as "spokeswoman" for the CLP. I know many people from the constituency read this blog so I just want to set the record straight. The first I knew of this story was when a comrade from Halifax rang me to tell me it was in tbe papers. I will be ringing the Courier tomorrow (today) to lambast them because my personal views do NOT represent anyone other than myself and if they had had the grace to ring me I would have made it clear I was speaking in a personal capacity.
But let me be clear. Our constituency passed this motion - now on the agenda at Labour Party Conference - 17 months ago. Long before the Blairites started plotting against Gordon Brown. It's not an atack on anyone. It was designed as an attempt to ensure that in future - when there is a vacancy - there would not be another "coronation."The good news is that many constituencies are going to support it .The bad news is that some are confusing a principled stance with the dirty tricks and manoevring of the New Labour Right.

TORIES AT 52 PER CENT ...........

Apparently, the latest MORI poll that's going to be the headline story in tomorrow's papers. Roughly translated - 121 Labour MPs left. What a great legacy for New Labour. Just how long can Brown stay in office? My guess - as long as the next by-election defeat. And that will be it......

LABOUR LEFT FIGHT'S BACK

Can I point my readers in the direction of a new blog from Owen Jones who is back in the blogosphere .Owen, along with felow LRC blogger Marsha Jane Thompson was one of the driving forces behind the John4Leader campaign. Welcome back, comrade!

BAD CALL BY THE NEC

As a mere ordinary Party member, I'm witnessing the current shenanigans over the leadership with a growing sense of disbelief. Because it seems the NEC is living in a parallel universe from the rest of us. They seriously think they can get away with not issuing nomination papers - on the basis they have got away with it for 11 years. In the short-term, they have won. In the long-term, a seriously bad call.

In various guises over the years, I have tried and campaigned for Party democracy to be restored. Groups like CLPD and Save The Labour Party have tried unsuccessfully to get this rule over nomination papers implemented. Now the Blairites are discovering just how undemocratic and unjust the Great Clunking Fist of the Brownite machine can be. Last year, they were a party to us not having a leadership election. Now they realise they were wrong - but are discovering just how determined Gordon Brown is to stamp out any opposition. To say it doesn't look good is an understatement. Stalinism at its best.

The faction-fighting between the two New Labour camps ( because that is what it is) does not interest me. It makes no difference whether Brown, Miliband or any other neo-liberal is Leader.

The tragedy is that while they scrap the Labour Party is almost certainly going to hell in a handcart. Had the NEC done as it should, at least we could have used that opportunity for an honest and open debate.Instead, it will be backstabbbing and off-record briefing on a grand scale around the Manchester conference centre.

ORWELLIAN WORLD.....

The NEC has just issued the following missive on the leadership issue. Quelle surprise. Those MPs requesting nomination papers are being blocked .Much as I think little of any of the plotters, surely this is against all notion of democracy ? Nothing new there, then as far as Labour Conference goes......



16 September 2008
Internal procedural debates will not divert the Labour Party from building a fairer Britain -
Dianne Hayter, Chair of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) and speaking on their behalf, said:"The Labour Party National Executive Committee is in agreement that internal procedural debates will not divert the Labour Party from our mission of building a fairer Britain and helping people through these challenging times."The NEC fully endorses the view of the Labour Party's General Secretary and the party's independent legal advisors. A Leadership election when in Government can only be held if requested by a majority of party conference on a card vote, only Labour MPs can trigger the process and the NEC is confident that most MPs know their responsibilities under the rules."The Labour Party has followed this procedure for 11 years, as long as we have been in government under these present rules, and it has not required the issue of nomination forms at any time."The NEC has a responsibility to ensure the party follows these long-standing procedures and we will do so. The Labour Party will not waver from its historic responsibilities to our country and to those in greatest need."

ONLY THE LEFT CAN SAVE LABOUR.....

John McDonnell, who will launch the Convention Of The Left with Tony Benn on Saturday , makes the case for Labour's left in today's Comment Is Free. Here's the link.http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/16/labour.gordonbrown?commentpage=1&commentposted=1

INFAMY, INFAMY......

Former Tribune editor and Conference rabble-rouser Mark Seddon has an interesting piece in today's Guardian. I don't concur with his view that one must always be loyal to the Leader. Sometimes, Leaders don't deserve our loyalty ie Blair and Iraq. But as he says the attempted putsch by the Blairite cabal smacks of nothing else but self-preservation. It will also do nothing to improve Labour's chances at the next election. For that reason, I do not support the essence of what they are doing. Which is - to ensure another Blairite replaces Brown . There are muddy waters here because as I understand Party rules they have every right to demand those nomination papers. But the only reason they want them is to get rid of Brown - and stop the Left taking part in a future contest. If by some chance they get the 70 MP names needed for a contest then frankly we are stuffed. Because no left challenger be it John McDonnell or Jon Cruddas or anyone else can get those numbers. Step forward Miliband or Purnell in a bogus "no contest" v Gordon Brown. In those circumstances, who would you vote for ? Preferably, none. In reality, even Brown is better than either Miliband or the oleaginous Purnell. Policy? No difference.The only way forward is this. To continue to press for policy change. To campaign for and defend "real" labour MPs and trade unionists now facing annihilation because of New Labour's mistakes . And, if Brown goes after the Glenrothes by-election ( still my prediction) to try and ensure a left canddiate on the ballot paper, a proper debate and the final nail in the coffin of Blairism. Janet Anderson and co are like dying wasps at the fag-end of summer. But, frankly, not as appealing.

I TOLD YOU SO 2

Well, the gloves are off. Re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic is going to be a spectator sport at Labour Party Conference. Some of us have more constructive moves up our sleeves. Watch this space.......

BAD NEWS FROM SCOTLAND

Well, neither Cathy Jamieson ( soft left) nor Bil Butler (left) won. Rubbish. Have spent all day running round like blue-arsed fly raising money for local charity and can't be bothered to comment. Sometimes, you just think why do we bother..............however I know next week will bring more challenges which I will not duck....

WE MUST STOP THE BLAIRITE COUP!

Just before Gordon Brown became Leader , there were reports that Tony Blair had chaired a "war council" of his supporters in a bid to stop Brown taking over. Reluctantly, they came to the conclusion that a challenge wasn't possible. The word was they would give Brown a year and then they would go for the jugular. It's now clear that is precisely what is happening. And we now face the very serious danger of a leadership contest utterly unrepresentative of grassroots' opinion.
Several Blairites are among a cabal which has apparently requested nomination papers ahead of next week's Conference in Manchester. An article in Progress is calling for Brown's head. It's absolutely clear what they are up to. 70 names are needed for a leadership contest - there is no way that the left or the soft left could muster those kinds of numbers. The Blairites possibly could. What then? Miliband v Brown ? Choice between a rock and a hard place. In fact, no choice at all. I think the right are desperate to oust Brown before events force him out and force a contest which might take the party in a left direction. The trouble is, as we are hamstrung by the rules , we can do very little to stop them. Any suggestions?

TOLD YOU SO.....

Just watched the BBC News - with Siobhan McDonagh calling for a leadership contest. It's just the start..... One week before Labour Party Conference and the knives are clearly out for Gordon Brown. No coincidence either that the London MP used to work for John Reid.
Reid's own hopes of a leadership bid, you might recall, were well and truly shafted by a dirty tricks device which saw age-old "revelations" being published in the Mail On Sunday shortly before he announced he was throwing in the towel. That particular tale of a drunken lunge on Dawn Primarolo was timed to do maximum damage and stop Reid even thinking of challenging Brown. It did.
Now I didn't have much time for John Reid. Nevertheless, I thought that dredging up some ancient instance of inappropriate drunken behaviour was an outrageous tactic. Well, now the chickens are coming home to roost. As things stand, it's unlikely anyone will get the 70 names they need to challenge an incumbent Prime Minister. However, the bars and reception rooms of the Midland Hotel will still be awash with intrigue.
But let me make it plain to anyone who thinks otherwise. The Calder valley resolution to be debated in 10 days' time is not about attacking Gordon Brown. It is about ensuring there is a fair and honest contest IN THE EVENT OF A VACANCY.
However, this is my prediction. If Labour loses the Glenrothes by-election in October, the pressure on Brown will become unsustainable. He will have to go. All the more reason to have a new rule in place which does not leave any contest as the preserve of New Labour ferrets fighting for their political lives. An open honest debate about principles - not nasty backstabbing .

UPDATE: Daily Telegraph on-line 8.43pm

The Daily Telegraph understands that about a dozen Labour MPs, including several former senior ministers, have asked officials to provide nomination papers for a leadership contest at the party’s conference later this month.
They include Janet Anderson, Kate Hoey, Frank Field, George Howarth, Joan Ryan and Graham Stringer, all former ministers. Jim Dowd, a former whip, has also been involved in the operation, as has Lord Alli, the Labour peer. Former Cabinet ministers close to Tony Blair are also preparing to add to the pressure on Mr Brown with public interventions over the weekend.

IN THE REAL WORLD...

There is plenty going on I could blog about - or not. But at the moment the real world is intervening and I don't have much time. Am currently juggling various lobbying and publicity for Labour Party Conference/Convention Of Left with raising money for charity, cleaning house for house guest Sunday night, feeding friend's cat and other even more mundane aspects of life.
I'm going to be fair and say that the Government means well in its piecemeal policy on energy. But the extra lagging and double-glazing they are suggesting does remind me of one of those wartime missives (not that I was around!) they used to issue about making do and mending.
What happened to the extra payments that were promised? Why does the Chancellor doggedly ignore the obvious clamoys for a windfall tax? And why don't actually take the bull by the horns and say the New Labour unsayable - which is that the private utilities shoul be taken out of the hands of the profiteers and back into public ownership. People need a reason to vote Labour. Taking on the energy companies properly - instead of ducking the issue - would be a bloody good start.

DON'T EXPECT THE UNIONS TO SAVE US

The Guardian's Helene Mulholland is at TUC Congress- today her blog suggests that some MPs reckon the only way that Brown will go is if the unions step in. She quotes an anonymous MP ( and I have no idea who it is) suggesting that is in fact the PLP's only hope of avoiding disaster. The plain fact is, they won't do it. Earlier today the Independent reported how Woodley, Simpson et al sat down for a cosy dinner with Brown (chicken tarragon and chocolate tart, sounds great... ) and were impressed with his conciliatory tone. Why won't they do it? Well, they loathe Milband (Simpson apparently called him a smug a******* at a Morning Star fringe meeting and they will not, either, swing behind a left candidate for the leadership. Sio what's the point because another new labour leader won't help us one jot.
They are, as Mrs Thatcher used to say, "frit." At Warwick, the unions had a REAL opportunity to make Brown and the NPF change policy direction. They blew it. So no matter how much they huster and bluster, I won't believe a word of it. The last time I believed Derek Simpson was at the Conference in 2006 when he publicly said " we don't do coronations in the Labour Party." Six months down the road he helped Gordon Brown step quite effortlessly to the throne. The trade union leaders are the architects of our misfortune - and they are even more cowardly than the PLP. At least some of the MPs occasionally rebel on principle. If Gordon is going to go, it really is down to the people in Westminster.

LAGGING THE LOFT.....

Over the weekend I was discusing the windfall tax issue with some comrades who are close to COMPASS. Now I have signed the Compass petition and I fully support it ( though what we really need is re-nationalisation of the utility companies) however I wonder what will happen to the laudable aims if , as sems likely, the Govt ignores the loud pleas for a windfall tax.

Today's Guardian reports that Ministers and the country's leading electricity companies are expected today to finalise a £1bn plan to " improve energy efficiency" and help cut soaring fuel bills.
Gordon Brown is also expected to announce improvements to the cold-weather payment scheme and the restoration of up to £100m of cuts in the government's own warm-front programmes but all this just doesn't go far enough. It is also a seriously missed opportunity to restore faith in Labour
I was rather taken with the typically acerbic wirds from Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of Unite, who rightly pointed out "This can't be addressed by lagging the loft, as some crackpots around the prime minister have suggested. Without help with fuel bills now, we'll be lagging the coffins of the elderly if we have a cold winter."

But what I want to know is what will the trade union leaders and MPs actually DO if their campaign falls on stony ground. As happened last year on the REMPLOY issue - despite Woodley's fighting talk at a Conference rally.

THE LEADER'S SPEECH......

If I were into conspiracy theories, I would find it highly dodgy that our delegate's Conference pack did not arrive unscathed. Sans fringe guide, sans invites, but thankfully with those all-important credentials intact .Sans, however, that all-important invite to the Leader's speech which in a spirit of altruism I have handed over.

Actually, it's interesting that tickets are now being doled out as a matter of course. In Blair's day, this was the Holy Grail of the Conference for many. And a seat was not guaranteed.

Two years ago, the queue in Manchester stretched from one end of G-Mex to the other. As it was Blair's last speech, I actually did try to get in but ended up watching the show on a screen outside the main hall. The politics were rubbish but it was a tour de force of showmanship as you would expect from a consummate actor.

One year one from his debut as Leader, Gordon Brown will not be facing a wave of anticipation as he mounts the rostrum. The audience will be anxious, and probably underwhelmed if reports if the recent NPF are true. Worst of all, it's utterly unlikely he will be announcing the change of direction which is needed to turn round Labour's fortunes. The change which really would deserve a standing ovation.......

THE GANG OF FOUR......

Blogging sparse of late due to family stuff but hopefully now more time back to keep up to speed on the political world . Am glad to read on Union Futures that my union the NUJ has won another battle . In a postal ballot at the Northcliffe-owned South West Wales Media, journalists at the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star voted by 45 to 34 in favour of formal recognition of the NUJ. Well done Lawrence, (the full-time organiser in that part of the world) Today, also, the NUJ will formally launch a new coalition with the RMT, FBU and the PCS at a fringe meeting at the TUC Congress. None of these four are affiliated to Labour.In my union's case that would be an impossibility as we're supposed to be politically neutral ( yes, I know) .The others, sadly, do not want to be part of the Labour Party. But they do have groups in Parliament and one of their most active champions is John McDonnell MP who will be at tonight's meeting. I wish the venture well and look forward to finding out how it goes in the weeks and months ahead. Am sure it will be on the agenda at our next ADM in 12 months' time.

THE VIEW FROM THE TUC FLOOR.......

Depressing reading from the BBC website. Yes I know it's a lazy way of blogging but I'm playing catch-up woith six different things at the moment. No comment needed, really.



ROB MACKIE, NATIONAL UNION OF MINEWORKERS

The government is going downhill fast. It is just becoming less and less popular with people. It's sinking. The problem is that Gordon Brown and his colleagues are going away from what Labour is meant to be all about. They are not doing anything to help our members. They've got to do something soon or they will pay a heavy price at the election.
ROSA DAVIES, UNISON

Things are getting worse and they don't look like getting better soon. Financially we are no better off under Gordon Brown. I think he has been an abominable prime minister. I didn't mind Tony Blair so much. He didn't do anything that really annoyed me. The feeling is that Brown is being a bit stupid. We don't have to have such a big tax on fuel, for instance. He's not doing anything to help that's really relevant. I would rather not vote at all than vote for the Tories or the Liberal Democrats, but traditional Labour values seem to have gone out of the window.
ADRIAN JONES, UNITE

Brown isn't listening to the people. He has maybe about 18 months to start doing so, or we will end up with a Tory government. I don't think replacing Brown will solve anything, but all the normal working man sees is unfair taxation, while massive companies, especially fuel companies, are getting away with paying very little. Last year I thought we were ready for a change of Labour leadership. I was optimistic that Brown, who had been a strong chancellor, would be the same as prime minister, but he lacks the same strength as Blair. Blair was more vocal and could think on his feet. I actually preferred Blair to Brown. We are feeling exposed to the global economic problems and it's the government's job to protect us from that.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR, NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS

I just can't believe how lost Gordon Brown is. He's missing the point at every turn. We thought he would be more competent than that. PR is so important in this age and Brown is sending out the wrong messages. Of course, it's clear Blair got out at the right stage and there are big problems, but I think Brown should resign. He can't go back and sort things out now.
ALAN CARR, UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE UNION

Brown hasn't done terribly well. He's failed to communicate and to take the concerns of union members seriously. The problem with talking about replacing Brown is that there's no heir apparent. I think the door is close to being completely closed for Brown. There was a chance to do something new when he took over from Blair, in areas like the policy over Iraq. But the opportunity was lost. Brown should implement some radical policies like the SNP have in Scotland. There was feeling when Brown came in that he was substantially to the left of Blair. There isn't that feeling now.

MESSAGE TO NEWS OF WORLD - CHECK YOUR FACTS

I have come to this late because I got home very late last night from London and have spent most of today to-ing and fro-ing from Manchester but it seems my journalistic colleagues on the News Of The World have picked up - inaccurately - a story about my constituency's resolution to annual Conference
Yesterday, the NoW reported that "rebels are plotting to hijack the Labour Party conference with a spectacular protest against Gordon Brown." It also stated a resolution backed by CLPs would aim to unseat Gordon Brown. Wrong on both counts. The resolution from Calder Valley states quite clearly that the proposition to lower the threshold is when THERE IS A VACANCY. It's been tabled in the interests of democracy and the interests of a proper, transpsarent debate. This, of course, is not exciting enough for the News Of The World so they have been economical with the truth - and told a fib. Let me be absolutely, 100 per cent clear.
This resolution aims to rectify the mistake made last year when there was not a contest - it is about giving all wings of the Party a say. It is NOT about" hijacking" anyone. But it might of course annoy New Labour.......

A MATTER OF HONOUR?

Charles Clarke is now a political "heavyweight" in one sense only. He weighs too much. In typically bruising and bullying style, he's just had another go at Gordon Brown and says he should consider standing down "with honour". Of course, Clarke is still pissed off that he never got the chance to stand against Brown in a leadership contest. Ever since he has doggedly pursued an agenda of personal, not political , criticism of the man.
The irony of all this is of course that if Brown were to be replaced by one of Clarke's mates ( or heaven forfend Clarke himself) it would make not one iota of difference to Labour's poll ratings. In fact things would probably get worse as the Government would lurch even further to the right. It was Clarke, remember, who suggested people should start paying for NHS treatment, Clarke who with Alan Milburn launched the 20/20 Vision thing......( what happened to that by the way) . So Clarke is no friend of those of us who want to see a return to Labour values. Quite the opposite.However in two weeks' time we the ordinary members have the chance to ensure that next time there's a leadership contest - and it could be sooner than we think - we really do have a choice. The Calder Valley resolution changing the PLP quota for nominations from 12.5 to 7.5 per cent of the PLP will be debated on the Tuesday of Conference .My take on it is here.

HOME IS WHERE THE CASH IS

Yesterday I was in Warrington and while sheltering from the interminable rain I found myself inside an estate agent's shop window. If you live in that part of the north-west, the Government's quick-fix suspension of stamp duty is good news. There was very little for sale over £150,000 - I even saw a house for £75,000 but unfortunately I have not the slightest inclination to up sticks fior an even grimmer part of the north. And therein lies the rub as far as Gordon's latest populist ploy goes. 1. It's only for a year and 2. It only affects a tiny proportion of the housing market.
Last week I happened to be staying in Chiswick - it was a sunny day and i was idly glancing in the estate agent's window. Basically, my ( considerable) capital from selling this house would not buy me a garden shed in any desirable part of London. Which is why the hard-pressed British public is likely to be underwhelmed . If you live in the south-east, it's meaningless.
Also, the basic problem we have is nowehere near enough social housing for RENT.
OK, Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, yesterday unveiled a £200m "rescue" package, aimed at helping 6,000 people with mortgage repayment problems enter shared ownership schemes. Plus, 10,000 first-time buyers earning less than £60,000 will benefit from loans of up to 30% of the price of a new home, while £400m already committed for new council homes is to be released early. Fair enough. But frankly it's just not enough - we need a wholesale commitment to building thousands of new council homes, we need local authorities to have the power back to do so. We also need brave steps like local authorities being able to buy back reposssessed homes and take them back for good into the public sector.

TOP 100 LEFT BLOGGERS

Tired out after long day taking pics in Warrington, getting bus from there to hospital where my dad is still in dock but hopefully on tbe mend, and on to planning meeting for Convention Of The Left. Just two weeks to bo...... and just time to note before I crash out that made number 58 in Iain Dale's Top 100 Left Bloggers. Congrats to Stroppyblog , Harpymarx and Labour Left Forum - LRC supporters all - for also making the list. No , it doesn't mean a thing but I would have been slightly gutted not to have made the list.....which is below


http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2008/09/top-100-left-of-centre-blogs.html

AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE TO QUEUE.....

Well, I never. My Labour Paty Conference credentials have just arrived a whole three weeks before it starts which means thankfully I won't have to queue ( as per usual) for late accreditation. But I must warn fellow delegates and visitors that the process for putting your pass together is a little technical and I have already managed to mess it up.
This year may also be the first for some time in which there are not "lanyard wars" as the official tag has been paid for by UNITE - not as in previous years dodgy outfits like Sky TV. A reflection, perhaps, of how the Party is now dependent on the unions for money.
On another note, I was slightly lambasted over the weekend for being pleasant to Alisdair Darling. I was only pointing out at least he was telling the truth about the economy.....the point is of course that without a change in policy in favour of the low-paid and the many (not the few fat cats) people will continue to be, as he put it, "pissed off" with the Government. Hope everyone else gets their credentials in good time - could be a sign of course that there are fewer of us going this year.......