Parliamentary selection update

The NEC looks set to announce the latest round of seats that will select their parliamentary candidates in 2012. With the exception of High Peak in Derbyshire, all the other seats are Labour marginals in the South and East of England.

The seats due to kick off their selection process in 2012 are:

• Billericay & Great Dunmow


• Bristol North West


• Bristol West


• Cambridge


• Dorset South


• Great Yarmouth


• Norwich North


• Swindon North


• Watford

Because of the lack of certainty created by the Brighton boundary review one or more of the Brighton area seats may begin their selection, but subject to the outcome of consultation with the local parties.

A decision is expected in January as to which of these seats will be All Women Shortlist and which will be open selections.

So far six PPCs have been selected in the South: Anne Snelgrove (Swindon South), Andrew Pakes (Milton Kenyes South), David Ellesmere (Ipswich), Bob Blizzard (Waveney), Sharon Taylor (Stevenage) and Clive Lewis (Norwich South). Four other selections are due to conclude befoer the end of 2011 - Thurrock, Hastings, Harlow and Stroud.

Refounding Labour – Conference 2011 and beyond

The following is a report back by DAN CHAPMAN, DEB GARDINER, SIMON BURGESS, KAREN LANDLES and MARTIN PHILLIPS – SE CLP representatives on the National Policy Forum

When he became leader of the party, Ed Miliband announced the Refounding Labour consultation to review the way the party works. The consultation received over 3,000 individual responses and over 150 from local parties. We took part in debates in local parties and regional events and many of you also contacted us with your views. A draft report was produced in August and a final report was debated at Conference. We wanted to report back on that debate and the outcome, as there are some important changes in the ways local parties work – and there are also some outstanding issues that haven’t been resolved yet, such as possible changes in the role of Conference and voting at Conference.

As we are sure you will have read in the media, the final document debated at Conference was only issued a couple of days before the debate. Together with NPF colleagues across the country, we made it very clear that this was totally unacceptable – but the whole process since the closing of the consultation has been slow because of negotiations between the leadership, PLP, NEC and unions. Despite those discussions, the most controversial issues were not agreed at all and so the report does say “further discussion will be needed” on several matters, included the policy-making process. We also passed on the views yet again that we heard from almost all CLPs ad members we talked to – that the continued debate over party structures means we are not starting the vital work in developing the policies we will take into the next election. We need to resolve the remaining structural issues quickly so that we can produce winning policies for our campaigns.


REFOUNDING LABOUR DECISIONS ON PARTY STRUCTURE

The party should be community-based and campaigning

New Clause I that mentions community campaigning
New objectives for CLPs and branches
Training for members
Let local parties organise the way that suits them
Local Government Committees to be replaced by Local Campaign Forums that meet to plan campaigns

Party to become a mass movement

Registered supporters who should be invited to some meetings and socials (at least one policy discussion a year), and asked to help in campaigns
Registers supporters to get a vote at Conference – between 3% and 9%, depending on numbers, to come equally from LP, union and PLP sections
Strengthened commitment to equal opportunities
Work with unions to have more joint activities
Use our campaigning methods to help community campaigns
Invite national organisations (charities, pressure groups and voluntary groups) who share some aims and views with us to commit to long-term dialogue with the party. How this will happen is not yet clear.

A party we can be proud of

Leader and deputy to have rights and duties set out
Leader appoints shadow cabinet
Rights and duties of MPs set out
Contracts for candidate at all levels
More engagement of councillors in party discussions

Other items

Local party AGMs not held in run up to elections, so moved to Summer
CLPs to have development plans approved by regional boards
Regional Boards to have strategic function
New distribution of subs – CLPs no longer charged for Contact Creator, Election Insurance and Euro elections. They will get a flat annual fee + amount per member. Plus new local joining rate of £15
Councillors to pay a levy from allowances (2%) instead of ALC subscription

Please let us know your views on these changes.

POLICY MAKING

The review of policy making did produce some recommendations, and we are pleased that there appears to be progress on concerns that you (and we) have raised again and again.

Most members support the retention of the NPF model, which allows debate of an enormous range of subjects in depth. However, this review must also be the last chance to get the NPF process right. The leadership have acknowledged that members feel disengaged from and suspicious of the NPF. What happens to submissions is opaque; there are no reports back to the party between annual conferences; shadow cabinet teams discuss policy ideas in isolation; and, as the leadership now recognise, party members have sometimes been right on issues such as council housing and PFI when those in Westminster have been wrong.

The report on policy making at Conference was an interim report – there will be further consultation until the end of January, although as NPF reps we believe that final decisions could have been made by now. Peter Hain recently sent an email to party members about this consultation. We would like as many members and local parties to contribute as possible, as it will help us make the case for your views to be heard. The link to the party website page for the consultation is here.

Some changes that we have put forward after consultation with local parties have been agreed:

More involvement for party members:
We need to explain the process and how people can get involved
There should be more local debates (many parties do not have any at all)
It should be easier for people to send in submissions

Make it transparent:
Give feedback
Have an online tracking system for submissions, so that those sending submissions can see what is happening
NPF commission members must give more detailed feedback on submissions, including the results of discussions
Use technology to hold debates

Reach out to the public:
Engage outside organisations and speakers at debates
Invite registered supporters to discussions
Topical issues – relevant policy commissions will deal with these

NPF meetings:
Too few of them and discussions are not always meaningful
Allow socialist societies to attend, to add their expertise to debates
NPF reps to have a job description and contract
New intranet to allow NPF members to communicate with each other

Policy Commissions
Need to report back
Take evidence from experts, not just party and union members
Better documents
All reps to be able to attend meetings

Conference:
Votes as now
Minority positions from NPF can be discussed at Conference if they achieve sufficient NPF support
Debates need to be linked to documents, not just free-for-all

As reps our greatest frustration is that our biggest complaint has still not been resolved. We are elected by party members to be representatives and yet we still have no official access to mailing lists of those we are supposed to represent. You are reading this report because we have your email address, but many SE members never see our reports. This must change.

We also agree with the vast majority of members we speak to – it is time that we should be debating policy, not how we have our discussions. It is 18 months since the general election and although the next general election could be 3 ½ years away, elections are not won in 6 weeks. We have elections for councils and in London next year, county elections in 2013 and euro elections in 2014. The public want to know what we stand for and what we would do if elected. So as NPF reps, we are constantly pushing the shadow cabinet to start looking at the biggest issues in detail. Already we have sent our own consultations to SE parties and members about some issues, and we will do more of these – we hope that you will be able to use our surveys to hold your own debates in your local parties. As we know from council housing, PFI and other issues, party members often recognise problems before those in Westminster, and we can use the NPF process to highlight problems where we need policies.

So we urge you to hold policy discussions locally, and please ask us along to take part, so we know our views.

You can always contact us through our website www.npf-se.org.uk and there is also more information on party policy-making and the policies of our opponents on the site too.

Home ownership slipping out of each for millions

Yesterday's Times (£) reported a study by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) that shows, according to the Times, "home ownership slipping further out of reach for millions". According to the study it will take on average over 15 years to save for a 20% deposit. Outside London, the wait is longest in South East (18yr 8mths), East of England (16yr 5mths) and South West (16yr 2mths). Millions face the prospect of decades in rented accommodation with little prospect of becoming home owners until they are in their forties.

The report highlights the plight of the Cheshire family from Stevenage. Mr & Mrs Cheshire live in rented accommodation with their 2 young children. The couple - who both work full time - have been forced to move homes twice since their four year old daughter was born. They aspire to home ownership and the security it provides, but cannot afford to buy and do not qualify for social housing.

As the Prime Minister prepares to launch the Government's housing strategy on Monday, Labour's frontbench needs to ensure that we have something to offer couples like the Cheshires. Voters in marginal seats like Stevenage need to know that not only does Labour understands their hopes and aspirations, but that we have policies that will help them realise them. Helping create a new generation of home owners is one way to do that.

Conservative plans for an estuary Airport

Although the Coalition insist they do not support plans for a new airport in the Thames estuary, that has not stopped high profile supporters – most notably London Mayor Boris Johnson, from promoting the case. Earlier this month saw the publication of the ‘Thames Hub’ report by Foster & Partners/Halcrow/Volterra Consulting recommending the construction of a new airport on the Isle of Grain.

Labour in Kent have already taken up the campaign cudgels on this issue, pressing the county’s Conservative MPs to mount a campaign within their own party, which seems to be the only political party to support the plans.

These plans aren’t new, with the first attempt to develop a Thames estuary airport emerging after the second world war. Those interested in learning more about the history of plans to develop a Thames estuary airport will find a comprehensive research paper here, courtesy of the House of Commons library.

Making a comeback

When I first took my seat in parliament, I noticed that some new MPs were referred to as ‘retreads’ – those who had previously lost, but who had just been elected again at the following election. Having recently been selected for Waveney, where I lost by just 769 votes last year, I guess I’m seeking to be a ‘retread’ – and I’ve heard that a few other former colleagues are too!

When you miss out by a narrow margin, it makes a lot of sense to contest the same seat again. I decided to do so as I believe I have more chance than anyone else of winning back Waveney for Labour next time, when such a key seat will be vital to form that majority we need to become the next government. I’m conscious I was only the second Labour MP ever to represent the area.

I’m very well known locally and I built up a personal vote over my 13 years as a locally focused MP. Lots of people want me to stand again. They still say, “When are you coming back? You did a great job as our MP.” Unfortunately when I received that praise last year on the doorstep, it was often followed by, “...but I’m fed up with Labour.” Or, “...but I don’t like Gordon Brown.” Hopefully now they’ve got those feelings out of their system, people will reconsider, especially as the full horror of the government they did elect becomes ever more apparent.

But it would be a mistake to just stand on a past record, even though I’m proud of what I achieved. One has to look forwards and set new priorities for the future. The main issues in Waveney are not very different to elsewhere – jobs; falling living standards; the need to regenerate derelict land; pensions; and the need to save the NHS from privatisation, cuts and loss of local control. However, it will be vital to concentrate on how these issues impact locally. It was the local focus that built up a favourable reputation over the years. Such a reputation is a priceless asset.

People like an MP who stands up for the area and has its interests at heart; who is visible and independent minded; who is hard working, responds quickly and listens to concerns. Campaigning is better when lots of people know you personally and even more feel that they do.

So, since losing my seat, I’ve continued to serve the local community as a governor of the local FE college and a board member of a new charitable trust set up to run the council’s leisure facilities. And I still watch Lowestoft Town every week, home and away! (I was asked at the selection interview whether I’d ever put anything embarrassing on twitter or facebook. I think they forgave me for regularly posting ‘Come on you Blues’!)

Trying to make a comeback is also an opportunity to learn from the past. In being locally focused, it’s important not to be insular. As that little card in our pocket says, “by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone.” So I want to play more of a regional role than I did for many of the years of my previous term, even though I was eastern region whip for the last three years of office. That’s one reason that last year I co-wrote a booklet looking at why Labour did so badly in the East of England. We cannot form a future Labour government unless we can win back a substantial number of seats in the east and the south of England. I welcome the appointment of Shadow Cabinet ‘champions’ for these regions and I’m keen to work with Ed Balls in the East.

But the most important task to enable us to win back Waveney and other similar seats is to build a much stronger and larger campaign team. After 13 years in government, we were depleted in numbers as we faced the 2010 election. Those who did come out door knocking and delivering leaflets worked harder than in all the other elections I fought, but there weren’t enough of us to match the money the Tories poured in.

Now there is new enthusiasm and new interest. The selection process provided a great opportunity for me to spend time talking to all our members. New members and old are keen to take on the Tories. We made 8 gains in May’s council elections. With our new ‘Refounding Labour’ welcome to supporters and the new focus on community involvement and, as the ConDem policies bite even harder, more people will want to join the campaign. There is a real belief that we can win in Waveney again.

It will be a long hard three years until the next election, but it would be a pleasure to be welcomed back as a ‘retread’!

Bob Blizzard is Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Waveney and was MP for the constituency between 1997-2010.

Winning back the South East

This article was originally published on Progress Online

For those of us who are Labour activists in Kent, this has been the year we began to pull ourselves out of the political sea of blue that we found ourselves in at the end of our 13 years in government. We began to make progress in the local elections, taking control of the council in Gravesham and winning several seats in areas such as Thanet and Dover. Yet if Ed Miliband is to be standing on the doorstep of No 10 come 2015, we have to acknowledge that we need to do more to reconnect with voters in the South East.

It may not have been a traditional Labour heartland throughout our history as a party, but we did win much of Kent and many other seats in the south-east in 1997. The lesson for us to learn is why, by 2010, so many voters in the south-east saw Labour as simply not being on their side, not understanding the issues that were affecting them and not appreciating their aspirations for them or for their children. The task for us as activists in places like Kent is to reconnect with those voters we lost.

For a start, we need to stop ourselves from falling into the trap of thinking that we need to mirror the Tories to win here again. That would be cheating ourselves, it would be cheating the electorate, and, most crucially, it simply wouldn’t work. So instead of being ‘Tory-lite’ we need to put forward a radical agenda to show that we understand the concerns and the aspirations of those in the South East. The idea that southerners aren’t bothered about social justice, are relaxed with rising inequality and ambivalent towards public service investment is nonsense. When campaigning on the doorstep in Maidstone during the local elections voters regularly flagged up concerns and opinions that match Labour values and Labour thinking: concerns about their local hospital closing, fears over whether their children will be able to afford university fees, and anger over the VAT rise. But many here have simply got into the habit of voting Tory, and it’s our duty in the Labour party to say to these people that it doesn’t have to be like this, and present a credible alternative.

Fears for the prospects of the next generation are as strong here as anywhere in the country. Parents are seeing tuition fees treble to £9,000 as youth unemployment soars. Labour needs to show that it’s on their side, that it understands their fears and most importantly that it will do something about them. It’s a good first step to say that we will reduce tuition fees to £6,000, but we need to be looking into a fairer way of funding higher education, such as a graduate tax. Ed Miliband has rightly talked of the ‘British Promise’, that the next generation should always do better than the last and how this government’s measures are putting it at threat. This theme now needs to be echoed in clear policies and a graduate tax would be an excellent demonstration of this.

Many have cited immigration as a key factor in determining voting habits in the south-east. But to fall into the trap of immigrant-bashing would play straight into the Tories’ hands. Anger at immigration is superficial and acts as a scapegoat for where the real issue lies: housing. The current situation is deeply concerning and is set to escalate. The IPPR has predicted that by 2025 the south-east will have a housing shortfall of 77,000. It’s an issue regularly brought up on the doorstep, and is something that we as a party need to be tackling, with radical proposals for a substantial house building programme.

Of course having a clear policy agenda will count for nothing if we fail to communicate it to the electorate. For our message to punch through we need to organise. As part of Refounding Labour, the importance of ‘community organising’ was enshrined in the party’s new Clause I. This needs to be acted on and local parties need to engage and reach out to community groups. We need to take full advantage of the new ‘registered supporters scheme’, and in the process open ourselves up to the public. Many in the south-east say they don’t know what Labour stands for, so the best way to communicate that is on the ground, engaging with the electorate. Here in Kent I have worked with other young people to set up a Kent Young Labour group as a means to engage young people and aide the community fightback in the south-east. In a similar way, the excellent ‘Movement for Change’ has the potential to play a serious and substantial role in this fightback.

Labour needs to show it is on the side of voters in the south-east and that it understands their fears and their aspirations. It is easy for those from outside of the region to lecture on how to win here, but from first-hand experience I know that the two pronged method to achieve this is to demonstrate that we ‘get it’ on the issues facing families and, just as importantly, to build a grassroots mass movement to get our message out there. If we achieve this, then we can win back the south-east, and we can win the next general election.

Rory Weal is chair of Kent Young Labour and tweets @RoryWeal