Monday, May 19, 2008
Stress free
Blaenau Gwent Council is now independent led with a bit of help from People's Voice and the Lib Dems. I don't think I really need to comment too much on Labour's foray into opposition, you can guess my thoughts on it. It's good to know though that one prediction I made, came true. There was no mass takeover by the People's Voice party. The Independents sweeped up the seats.
Away from Blaenau Gwent and my failed attempt at a council seat, I've been re-elected for a second term to serve as General Secretary of the SU. So at least I have something to keep me occupied and it's a job I love doing.
Right, I'm off to do some work.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Another People's Voice Clanger dropped?
As a previous post pointed out, it's not as if we're over-run with PV candidates. So why?
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
The People's Voice? The Independents don't think so
"The People's Voice group, buoyed by the by-election successes of the constituency's new MP, Mr Davies, and new AM, Mrs Law, are now targeting the council and intend to fight all 42 seats in 2008."
"Twenty candidates will stand under the People's Voice banner at the council election on Thursday May 1. The groups MP Dai Davies believes it could win enough places on the 42-seat council to help form a coalition administration."
So after bragging that the People's Voice were the real option for voters, they've failed to field candidates for even half the seats. 'But, ahh', I hear you say there are those mischievious independents popping up all over the place. Yes there are. 27 independent candidates, not including the 3 recent departures from Labour. The trouble is, there's quite a lot of them who wouldn't touch People's Voice with a barge pole. In some cases, it's because the candidates are resolute on standing by themselves, without committing to any faction, some of them don't get along with the personalities in PV and for others it's because they've already got their own indy group to work with.
People's Voice may claim to have have opened the floodgates, they just have to be careful they don't drown.
Tell me something I didn't know
In this election, I'm officially the youngest Labour candidate in the County Borough and unless the Independents have put someone younger up, I'm the youngest, fullstop. Is that a problem? It depends how you look at it. Does the fact that there's a 40 year gap between me and the 'average' Blaenau Gwent Councillor put me off? No, I've been working with them all since I was fourteen and am confident that I am an equal to them at the negotiating table. Does the fact that there is a 40 year blackhole in represention of the electorate mean that we should be concerned?
Yes, it does. There's also an issue with the number of women standing for election. When I get a copy of the full list of candidates I will give you a breakdown of the numbers. Until then, I'll just state the obvious. We need more women and young people engaged in politics. Let's have a conversation about how to do it.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A fresh start
The nominations have gone in and been accepted by the Returning Officer so for the next few weeks it's full steam ahead with the campaign.
Firstly, I think I should say thank you to those that have nominated me to stand for council.
My proposer is Councillor Ainsley Morgan, who is currently Mayor of Blaenau Gwent and my seconder is Blaina Reverend Roger Hewett, who is chair of the Communities First partnership. Some of you may remember that Roger recently won an award for community leadership, an award well deserved too.
I've also been nominated by town councillor David Smith, who topped the poll in last summer's by-election and by longtime servants of the town Cllr John Phippen and Cllr David Britton. Thanks to these and to all the others that have also put their faith in me.
I'm pleased to say that I've already received many messages of support across the board. Many agree with the point of view that this election should not be about the battles of the past between the various factions and independent groups but should be about the future direction and success of Blaina. There are many issues that I want to tackle in the campaign and I look forward to hitting them head on with the other Labour Candidates in Blaina.
Don't forget to register to vote!
UPDATE: Here is the list of candidates for Blaina. There are 106 candidates across Blaenau Gwent but these are the ones for this ward.
Council election candidates for Blaina:
Bernard Assinder - 'Independent'
Garth Collier - 'Independent'
Jim Goode - No Description
Des Hillman - 'Independent'
Yvonne Lewis - 'Independent'
John Phippen - 'Labour Party'
Colin Wall - 'Labour Party'
Luke Young - 'Labour Party'
Enjoy reading, I did :D
Happy Anniversary
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Walking the floor
Our organisation, our campaigning and our drive is at the best it’s been for a very long time. To compliment that, we’re about to establish our own section of Young Labour, due to the fact that we are actually gaining new members, the large majority of which, are 25 and under.
Out of everyone, I didn’t expect Den to be one to leave Labour before the elections. He points to last year’s removal of John Hopkins as leader as one of the main things that has forced him to walk the floor. My comments on that are, that I too disagreed with what happened, very publicly in fact, in a television interview. A decision of which I’m still feeling a bit of backlash for from some party members. But I did not leave then and I will not leave now.
I’ve been approached and ‘advised’ many times before now to go independent and have been subject to a whispering campaign that I was about to jump ship. Apparently, I’d have a better chance of winning. What a load of tripe. I’m not a member of a democratic socialist party such as Labour to secure a career for myself, nor am I in it to dictate to anyone. It’s about being part of a movement that can potentially change the lives of millions for the better starting with the poorest. This idea of the party being the thing that stands between us and progress is a false one. If anything it’s our job to use the collective resources and the institutional memory to help our communities.
Den’s decision to leave Labour, won’t change his politics. He says “my brand of socialism is not to carry it on my sleeve but to demonstrate it with my everyday acts.” This is where I have to differ opinion. I’ve stood under a Labour banner before and still managed to deliver real solutions to real problems. It is what I’ll be doing again for Blaina in the Local Government elections on May 1st.
I live in hope that this will be the last defection we‘ll hear of. Seriously, it makes for an interesting article in the gazette but leaves a bad taste in the mouths of voters when candidates are too afraid to show what their true colours are.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Free Parking - Getting rid of the sick tax
No doubt the debate will roll on and the focus will probably be on the relationship between Welsh and UK ministers. Regardless though, patients will see the benefits of this bold move very soon.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
BG Stories
Secondly, I have to agree to a certain point with AM Trish Law on the rejection by the Queen's Office of an invitation to officially open the new rail link. I don't entirely understand the royalist fascination with being graced with the Queen's presence, but I do agree that it would give recognition to the economic potential that the rail link has. The whole episode is given a different light when you consider that the Queen is in Swansea this Friday to open the new leisure centre. Both projects cost over £30 Million but I would argue (in a completely biased way) that the Valleys would gain far more from a visit in terms of publicity, confidence and economic regeneration.
It's a shame and a missed opportunity.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Council working for you
Keep an eye out for Ebbw Vale North's Councillor Jen Morgan.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Gone to Spring Conference
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Congratulations Roger
Roger, along with his wife Molly, have been friends since my days as Youth Mayor and are always there with their support. Roger recently gave a fantastic service at my grandfather's funeral, as he also did at the funeral of my mother. He's a hardworker and this award is well deserved.
Great stuff to hear!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A Welsh and British Party
The debate actually focused on whether we really need to spend time at Welsh conference on issues that are not devolved. Wales being part of the United Kingdom, it doesn't have it's own Foreign policy. Why should delegates at Welsh Conference be forced to sit through debates on areas that Welsh Labour has no control over? It would be a waste of time. I would rather go to Llandudno and discuss the Welsh Education system with the Assembly Minister and discuss the NHS with the Minister responsible for the area that I live in. If I wish to debate Iraq or any other UK issue, I'll go to the UK party conference and debate it where the power to change party policy actually is. Surely this is common sense?
Perhaps I'm being too optimistic to ask Peter Black to accept that a democratic vote by delegates from all over Wales, defeating the rule change 3-1, doesn't constitute silencing the grassroots.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Fighting fit
Topics like Blaenau Gwent Labour. I have to say as a member, I'm very optimistic about what the local party can achieve. Yes, towards the end of last year, I was critical of the internal goings on over the leadership issue. My views on that are well known. But I'm happy to say we have moved on far from there already in the New Year. We're listening and building a strong manifesto to take to the people in May. It has long been my argument that our target, especially in towns like Blaina, must be to reach the disaffected and the unambitious. Making sure that they don't drop off the radar if they leave school at 16 or further education at 18. Paid apprenticeships for the Hands On and Higher Education for the academics, effective and low -cost forms of public transport - all ideas and policies that should feed into the Ambition agenda.
Every message that has come out from the Opposition in Blaenau Gwent has been negative; "Labour can't do it", "not listening", "Blairite careerists", the usual rubbish. Does that put me off trying to get things done? No of course not. If anything it makes me want to try harder to prove the critics wrong. Last weekend we launched a local survey of residents, asking about their concerns. (Obviously I'm not going to give too much away, as I know that members of the many independent factions also read this blog) The response and the amount of support was fantastic and I now have a clearer idea of the problems that affect that particular area. Over the next few weeks I'll be focusing on addressing some of those issues.
I'm off now, have admin to do and then off to Welsh Labour Conference. If I get a chance, I may blog live from there.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Happy Days!
Friday, February 01, 2008
Chairing a meeting with First Minister Rhodri Morgan
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Still Here
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Email update
The new email for this blog is: socialistfortress@googlemail.com
So feel free to continue to pass on your tips, news, views & comments.
Thanks,
Luke
Sunday, January 06, 2008
New Hampshire & Healthcare
I was listening to Sen. Clinton talk about universal healthcare at a rally in New Hampshire yesterday. All through it I kept thinking, thank god for Bevan & the Atlee government. In the US healthcare is dominated by money - who can afford it, who's insurance covers that specific bout of illness. I'm happy to live in a country where a young woman with bowel cancer is not forced to continue her studies at college, so as to be eligible for chemotherapy on her father's health insurance.
Long may socialised medicine continue.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Rail link update
Say one thing & do another
Peter May is the Lib Dem Councillor for Uplands & Brynmill and the Parliamentary candidate for Swansea West. He has set up a FaceBook group called Students living out in Brynmill + Uplands. Complete with a photo of SU Sabbatical Officers it's purpose is to be:
"A group to provide information and advice when needed for Swansea Uni students living in Brynmill and Uplands from your Local Councillor Peter May."
Fine. Right? well no, not really. Despite having tried to join a few times now, as someone that rents a property in Brynmill and as General Secretary of the Student Union Peter May is targeting, I've been bounced back each time. Is it something to do with the fact that I'm also Labour Student Chair or that my profile photo was advertising an upcoming Labour Event?
So I ask, why is it that some members of Mr May's ward are not accepted into his group? The group is such that you are either invited to it or have to be approved, all under Cllr May's control. Those lucky enough to meet the required standard can then expect to receive a friend request fairly quickly. However, if it really is a group for local residents to hear from their 'local councillor' then there is no reason to bar those recognised to be from a different political party. Does he not represent ALL of his ward? And if the group really isn't an exercise in reaching out to constituents, I think we can all recognise what it is.
Councillor May is using a group explicitly to target students in his ward. He should be congratulated for using a new platform on which to do it. He should be condemned for trying to do it under the guise of a student-community group. Let's be clear, this is a 'Vote Peter May' group under another name. The fact that it pretends to be something else shows a complete lack of respect to students in his ward. Given his now great interest in students, will Cllr May now be working with us to sort out the issues of safety in singleton park and look at the price students pay to park?
No doubt his face will become a regular sight on campus over the next few months. Perhaps he can explain what he has been doing for our members in the last four years and maybe clear up just exactly what he thinks about students and his position on taxing HMOs.
UPDATE: The group has mysteriously disappeared. It's either been changed to a secret group or has been deleted - hit a nerve much?
UPDATE 2: My spies within the group tell me that it's been switched to secret. They're confused as to why though.
Labels: Student Issues, Swansea
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Supporting Bevan and the NHS
Lib Dem Jenny Randerson AM said:
“I’m always in favour of acknowledging historical figures of importance, otherwise people forget their history and how things started.
“We have some very unimaginative names for existing hospitals, so there’s plenty of scope for re-naming one.”
Labour MP Huw Irranca-Davies:
“I wholly agree with the sentiment. We often today, as the decades march past, forget to remember what a remarkable achievement setting up the NHS was, and that bringing forward this model of free healthcare for people was largely the work of a single MP.”
Everyone that is, but grumpy Welsh Conservative Health Spokesperson Jonathan Morgan who seems keen in opposition for opposition sake:
“This is a celebrity idea, like naming airports after film stars
There are better ways of celebrating the NHS, like ensuring staff are appropriately rewarded and patients have the right treatment.
People would appreciate that more than some daft idea of naming hospitals after Nye Bevan – the NHS today isn’t something he would recognise.”
Oh come on Jonathan don't be so miserable. Trust the Tories to have a Health Spokesman that refuses to recognise the good work of the founder of the National Health Service!
Feel free to join the Nye Bevan & 60 years of the NHS FaceBook group.
Some nice reading for the Cardiff North AM: Making Britain Better, BBC Special Report
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The Bevan Legacy
Although personally, I'm all for a rally outside Bedwellty house* with huge banners and screens showing pictures of Bevan, supported by Take That singing Never Forget.
But then again thats just me.
"The council chamber witnessed the first political activities of a young Aneurin Bevan - who went on to become a working class hero as the Labour Government minister who founded the National Health Service in 1948."
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
End of year report
If we are looking at the national politics, the Assembly election in May gave a shock to Welsh Labour, followed by a coalition deal with Plaid and at Westminster, the Brown Bounce has been shaken by a series of blunders and an aggressive Tory attack. No doubt about it, it's not been the easiest time to be a member of the Labour Party, but then again in Blaenau Gwent we've been under the pressure for quite a while now and that's where I'd like to start.
Blaenau Gwent
For certain I have, what at times must be an unhealthy passion for the constituency. For most commentators, the politics of Blaenau Gwent has become an almost monthly spectacle to be observed from a far, amused by and then ignored until the next 'defection' or 'plot'. I genuinely care about the area. With every ridiculous news item and farcical twist, I worry that the confidence of people in the area is being undermined. When I talk to voters, to friends, to family they tell me of their frustrations about constantly being talked down to. They voted Independent/Peoples Voice because they wanted to register their anger at what they saw as a system that ignored their concerns and seemed more worried about self-preservation. Whether they were right or wrong is not for me to decide, but it does point out something that I had an opportunity to raise with Ed Miliband - the MP in charge of forming Labour's next Manifesto - at a recent event. We all know that there is huge potential in our valleys, but the confidence is not there. We do have investment coming into the area, new schools, new hospitals, better access to learning and eventually even a new rail link, but still the confidence is not there. If we take a look at my hometown of Blaina, it's no secret that the worry is that we're slowly turning into a ghost town. The reality is that it doesn't matter how much money we pump into new pavements and lighting, unless we tackle the poverty of ambition, unless we start showing people, especially young people, that they can achieve what they want in life, all they have to do is fight for it, we will not be able to really recover and exploit our potential. This is one of the reasons, I stood to be a candidate for Blaina and was happy to be election agent in last summer's council by-elections. Not because I wanted a safe seat* and a nice title, as some might think. But because I want to stop the constant negative attacks on ordinary people - the people we should be trying to engage with.
The responsibility for cultivating confidence has to be in the hands of the elected representatives. You may remember in March I did an interview with the BBC Politics Show, following on from a blog I had written, criticising Dai Davies for his dire record in Parliament and then only a few weeks ago I went on TV again and quite bluntly had a go at members of my own party for pulling themselves apart instead of governing in the interests of the voters. Behind both calls was a fear about what each group were doing to the collective morale of Blaenau Gwent. I believed that our MP was not doing enough to 'talk up' the constituency and I felt that the november plotters were adding to the commentator's consensus that we're a 'bit of a laughing stock'. In the run-up to May, and hopefully beyond that, I want to start fighting back for Blaina and show everyone else that we have a lot to offer.
In truth, I was quite impressed the other day with how interested and engaging Ed Miliband was on the difficulties we face in Blaina and Blaenau Gwent. He acknowledged that we all must do more to stop people falling out of sight and losing all ambition. I'm determined to keep this issue on the agenda, I'm happy that a key government minister is keen to do the same.
* It was put to me the other day that the only reason I'm in the Labour party is to get a safe seat. This was followed by another person telling me to leave BG Labour because I was 'definately going to lose as labour'. It's nice to have so many interested in my welfare.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Western Mail - NUS Wales Women's Officer article
A university view
ALTHOUGH the stereotypical view of students usually evokes images of drinking and partying, huge numbers of students are active in a variety of areas, from volunteering to student politics.
It is the latter that I will focus on, as it has been a controversial few months for student officers within the National Union of Students in Wales.
NUS Wales represents more than a quarter of a million students from the higher and further education sectors.
Policy is submitted and debated by constituent members at NUS Wales Winter Council, an annual democratic event. Issues debated this year included a Scottish-style parliament for Wales, local council elections and working with Unite Against Fascism to stop the BNP.
However, the most contentious motion called for the removal of the full-time NUS Wales Women’s Officer to establish a full-time Welsh Language Officer.
At the moment, the NUS Wales Women’s Officer is a full-time position, alongside the NUS Wales president and deputy president. The position of Welsh language officer exists in a part-time capacity, alongside the black students’ officer, LGBT officer and students with disabilities officer.
As NUS Wales cannot afford eight full-time positions, it has been the case that the Women’s Officer exists as a full-time position and supports the other part-time liberation officers.
As a passionate member of the women’s campaign, and an advocate of liberation groups in general, I have always supported the Welsh language campaign. However, I was appalled to see one liberation campaign attempting to reduce the capability of another.
Liberation campaigns within NUS should continue to stand together, united in the fight for equality.
However, when one position rivals another, members must take a long hard look at which campaign makes the most difference to their students’ lives.
When one in four women suffer from domestic abuse and two women are killed every week by a current or former partner, it is clear that the women’s campaign really does deal with life and death issues.
When Students’ Unions across the country deal with serious cases of domestic abuse (the biggest killer of women between the ages of 15 and 44), it is near on impossible to discount the work that the NUS Wales women’s campaign does, by raising awareness and providing domestic abuse training for officers.
Therefore, when the issues are examined, it is fundamentally absurd to consider the removal of the full-time NUS Wales women’s officer. Women may be in the majority, but they are still oppressed both inside and outside of education. When female graduates earn an average of £1,000 less than their male counterparts just three years after graduation, it is clear that equality remains a distant dream.
Throughout the lead-up to council, the women’s campaign received letters of support from students’ unions across the UK, the Labour group in the Welsh Assembly, Unison Cymru Higher Education Group, Amnesty International Wales and Welsh Women’s Aid, to name but a few. All recognised the importance of the women’s campaign within the student population and in wider society, and were appalled that there had been an attack on such an important position.
The good news is that we successfully defended the position of NUS Wales Women’s Officer and ensured continued full-time representation for female students across Wales. Thanks must go to the people and organisations that supported the women’s campaign over the past few months, and special credit must be given to the delegates who stood up for their female students and voted to save the full-time NUS Wales women’s officer position.
Katie Dalton is president of the students’ union at Swansea Institute of Higher Education
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Xmas Delayed
Friday, December 07, 2007
Loose ends
Meetings have taken over my life, which is mostly my fault for running in so many elections. I love it all really and I'm pleased that it's all starting to deliver some real results. I blogged the other week about the campaign to keep the NUS Wales Womens Officer as a fulltime sabbatical position and have to say that if I can achieve nothing else through SU politics, then I'm proud that I played a small part in that fight. On the topic of NUS, this week I was a delegate at the extraordinary conference for the Governance Review in Leicester. My opinions on the NUS as it is, well, to be honest I've not been impressed. The people are great on a personal level but, everything descends into a vicious battle. I hold out hope that the new governing structures, as voted for at conference will help change this culture. I admit it, I like a good slanging match across the conference floor as much as the next person but I always leave and wonder 'was it really worth it?'. You can probably guess that I voted for the proposals in the review. I was concerned going into conference about the 'independent specialist advisors' and the influence they may have in the political leadership of NUS. After an amendment to increase student members of the board was passed, my fears were eased. Despite that, I fully expect the hard left to continue calling me a 'right-winger' and other such things. I've come to realise that in their world everyone is equal as long as you accept that their Socialism is better than yours.
Apart from NUS related activity, I've been feeling the heat a bit after my interview with the BBC about the goings-on at Blaenau Gwent Council. Well I say feeling the heat, but apart from a few obvious characters, I've received quite a lot of support for what I said. There are some who are worried about what I was getting myself into but no doubt if I'm in over my head the voters of Blaina will tell me next May. The only negative comments I've had have stemmed from close to the council group itself. Not that I mind, they have their opinion, I have mine. I do find it interesting though that no one has questioned what I said, just the fact that I said it out aloud. I think it's time to look forward now. The past has happened and we need to move forward. Personally, I'm going to be spending far less time dealing with the inner workings of the CLP and more time focusing on Blaina. There are many issues that I intend to raise over the next few months, that hopefully we can have some consensus politics on.
We need to start rebuilding the confidence of the town, not just in the Labour party, but in itself as well. There's huge talent and potential in Blaina, and I intend to try and unlock it.
If you have any suggestions, get in touch using the email link in the sidebar!
Friday, November 30, 2007
More like it
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wounds to heal
SIR – I write with regard to the resignation of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s leader, Cllr John Hopkins.
We, as members of the Abertillery ward Labour Party, would like to express our appreciation for the way Cllr Hopkins has served the people of Blaenau Gwent as leader during the past decade.
As a councillor for Brynmawr and the council’s representative on the Welsh Local Government Association, his honesty and integrity in the way he champions the people of Blaenau Gwent have earned him an unprecedented level of respect from local government, the National Assembly and Westminster.
Cllr Hopkins epitomises Labour values in Blaenau Gwent and we believe the tremendous progress the local authority has made in recent years has been due largely to his leadership quantities, which should have carried the council through to at least the next local elections.
It is therefore no surprise that we wish to express our anger and disappointment at the way Cllr Hopkins has been hounded out of office.
We condemn the actions of all “the group of like-minded Labour councillors” who took it upon themselves to serve Cllr Hopkins with this ultimatum, including an Abertillery ward councillor, Cllr Royston Welch, and in doing so, Abertillery ward Labour Party wishes to disassociate itself totally from Cllr Welch’s actions.
ROBERT PHILLIPS
Secretary, Abertillery Labour Party
As you may know, I made my feelings on the matter very clear in an interview last week on the BBC's Politics Show. According to sources, my comments did what I thought they'd do and rattled a few people. Of the grassroot members that I have spoke to, I've yet to come across one that is happy about the situation. Councillor McCarthy and his deputy now have to show that they really have what it takes to lead. If they can do so effectively, they'll have my support.
Friday, November 23, 2007
New Leader
Time to show us what you can do better.
More here. It'll be interesting to see who gets what job on the Executive.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Things....
It's probably best to comment on my interview with the BBC Wales Politics Show. I've just watched it online (for reason see above) and I think I managed to get my point across. Admittedly, perhaps more bluntly than I'd intended, but I meant what I said. Will it annoy some? definately. Do I regret it? not at this moment, no. I was intrigued by the statement released by members about the leadership being an 'internal party issue'. That is not a good enough answer when we are dealing with the Leadership and Deputy Leadership of the Council. They are doing themselves no favours.
Right on to the rest of business. On Saturday at NUS Wales Winter Council we passed an amendment to the motion calling for a Welsh Language Officer instead of a Women's Officer. Our amendment called for a 'no-holds barred' Governance Review. My arguement was that if you want serious changes in the NUS Wales constitution, let's take a step back and have a long overdue review of structures and cultures. That way we can move forward without risking splitting the Union along the lines of Gender and Language. Well done to a fantastic campaign team, Jo, Kat, Katie, Estelle and many more from the Women's campaign. They now have an opportunity to set out their stall, hopefully free from vicious attacks by those of a differing opinion. In my mind it was a damn good result.
From Bangor it was straight to a Labour Students event in Lincolnshire. Well I say straight to, but due to my inability to understand some of the gibberish that AA Route Planner throws out about unnamed roads, we ended up taking a tour Manchester and other places. Never fear though, we made it to Grantham just in time for the party. We were greeted by a hearty round of applause for our success in Bangor. Slightly embarrased, but proud that common sense had prevailed, we celebrated. While up there, I had the chance to listen to Phil Dilks or Fair Deal Phil as others know him. Great stuff. Later on, there were presentations from Oxfam and a Q&A session with Schools Secretary Ed Balls. On a personal note, I'm glad I travelled up there. In the last few days I've been asked time and time again what on earth I'm still doing in the BG Labour party. I've seen yet again that there is far more to the party than the current narrative in Blaenau Gwent.
Loads more happened besides, but right now I'm off to deal with the mass of emails in my inbox. If your wondering about the 'nearly a bit of London'- without naming names, I'll just say that I'm glad I'm not the only one to get confused by road directions, although even I know that South Wales is not anywhere near the UK capital.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Get your act together
Today though, that task is looking much harder to do. John Hopkins has been forced out as leader of Blaenau Gwent Council by members of the Executive. This comes weeks after our Deputy Leader was suspended from the party after claims that have yet to be proven. What on earth is going on?!!
I write in full knowledge that as a candidate for council, this may not make easy reading for certain members of our party. But, it seems the gun has already been fired by some members of the council group, six months before an election where we are facing the most organised opposition in Blaenau Gwent Labour's existence and I would rather go down in flames fighting for something I believe in, than sit silent. I cannot believe that at a time we should be pushing the success stories, members of the group are willing to undercut that message and seriously risk party unity. The arguement I have heard put forward is that things were not moving at the rate they wanted. So I ask, do they feel that the Regeneration of the Steel Works, a new hospital, new schools, £20m investment in Festival Park, Integrated childrens centre, more jobs, shops and outlets on the old Semtex site, delivering the train service this December and many many more, are not things that we can be proud of?
I would argue that if they really wanted a new leader, then they should have asked John to step aside after the double by-election after he lost to Trish Law - his political low point. But, no they didn't then because we all knew that he was a safe pair of hands to guide the council. Even the auditors recognised that. They could have completely taken over the authority but recognised the leadership John and Nigel were giving to bring it out of the doldrums. I've spoken to many within the CLP - we're all at a loss for words.
This move by some members is a mistake. It's sad to have to say it in public, but it's the same scrutiny I would give to others and I'd be a hypocrite not to hold my own party to the same standards. This is not what we should be doing. We are doing the work of the independents for them. I know that these views will clash directly with some of our councillors, but at this point, as a member that has put a lot into our party, I believe I have earned a right to have my say.
Today and over the next few weeks, I was going to introduce myself to people, hopefully as a sensible, forward thinking, modern candidate. However, now I and others like me are going to have to attempt to do it against a background of anger and confusion. The fault for this cannot be laid at any door but that of the pro-putsch councillors. So no blaming London, Cardiff or the NEC - this one is down to you.
So my message? Stop navel gazing and get on with representing your constituents, before they decide to look somewhere else.
UPDATE:
Well I hope they are proud of themselves:
Former Blaenau Gwent leader claims plot to force him out,
Labour could now lose majority on council,
“I can say, absolutely, that I was involved in these discussions but I was surprised that things happened as quickly as they did."
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Actually speechless....... will blog soon
