Labour Representation Committee

We will be posting regular blogs on this page. Please feel free to comment.

11 June 2008

42 Days Detention is Another Line in the Sand

Finding time to blog regularly has been a real problem recently simply because of too many commitments and not enough time. Casework and community campaigns in my constituency are just overwhelming at present particularly as the housing crisis worsens and deportations are mounting. We are dealing with many people in some pretty desperate situations.

At the same time trying to cover all the bases on the legislation the Government is forcing through is stretching all of us.

Tonight, sorry, last night the Government guillotined the debate on the Counter Terrorism Bill so that we could only debate less than a third of the issues contained in the section of the Bill timetabled for discussion. The areas we were allowed to discuss included the continuance and tightening of control orders and the power of the Government to scrap juries in coroners' inquests when dealing with cases where the Government itself decides there is an issue of public security.

This means that where a person has died when in the hands of the state or is killed by the state the Government now has the power to have the inquest held in secret and the verdict decided not by a jury but by a special coroner appointed by the Government. The campaigning organisation INQUEST rightfully argued that this proposal undermines the independence of the coroners' system and will deny families access to a fair hearing to discover how their loved one has died. Can you imagine what the outcome of the Menezes case or any death in custody case would be if this provision was in place?

Tomorrow, sorry, today we move on to the Government's proposal for detention without charge for 42 days. I will vote against this further attack on civil liberties because there has been not a single piece of evidence produced to justify such a fundamental attack on the right of habeas corpus secured eight centuries ago in this country. I hope that we will be able to convince enough Labour MPs to reject this assault on human rights. I have been working with Liberty and Frank Dobson as chair of the Liberty group in Parliament.

Throughout the last few days Gordon Brown has contacted Labour MPs and offered all sorts of blandishments and political bribes in return for their votes for 42 days. I am pleased that so many have stood firm on principle and have rejected this combination of threats, grovelling pleas for support and outright political bribery. However we heard today reported in the media that those MPs representing the Compass group are supporting the Government on 42 days. This will undermine the vote opposing 42 days. Ominously they voted for the Government throughout last night on the proposals to to scrap coroners' juries and on toughening control orders.

If this does happen it destroys in my view any vestige of credibility those associated with Compass may claim to have to be part of the Left or part of any project to reclaim the Labour party as a progressive force. Compass may publish policy statements decrying the Government's policies but these are not worth the paper they are expensively published on when Compass MPs go on to vote through policies like this which fly in the face of all socialists should stand for.

I was scheduled to speak at the Compass conference on Saturday at the LRC/Briefing break out session. I will not do so now. I do not want to be associated with those that are willing to support undermining the basic human rights that socialists have fought and sacrificed themselves to secure and protect over generations. There are some lines in the sand you just do not cross. Undermining basic civil liberties by locking people up for long periods without charge is one of them.

posted by John at 07:31 0 Comments

06 May 2008

2008 May Manifesto Petition

I put out this statement today - to sign up please email info@l-r-c.org.uk with 'petition' in the title and your name and CLP or trade union.

In the light of Labour's election defeat last week, John McDonnell MP is circulating a manifesto petition to Labour Party members, trade unons and MPs to gain large scale rank and file support for a new policy programme for Labour to bring about a radical change in political direction for the Laboour Government.

John McDonnell MP said:

"After the serious rejection of New Labour at the polls last week assurances that the Government is listening are simply not going to be enough to restore any sense of belief in the Labour Party. What is needed is a radical change of political direction.

"We have to demonstrate that change by introducing a new policy programme that specifically and very concretely addreses peoples' concerns raised on the doorstep. This May manifesto petition is launched so that all our supporters can have a say in pressing for the changes we need."

We believe that Labour can win back the support of our people by adopting a new 2008 May Manifesto, which should include:

Nailing the 10p tax mistake by the introduction of a fair tax system removing the low paid from taxation and ensuring the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share
An increase in the basic state pension, immediately restoring the link with earnings, lifting people off means tested benefits and providing free care for the elderly
An immediate start on a large scale council house building programme and assistance for those facing repossession
Immediate end to programme of local Post Office closures and liberalisation of postal services
An end to the privatisation of our public services
A new pay deal for public sector workers to protect their living standards and tackle low pay
Abolishing tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants for all students
Scrapping ID cards and abandoning 42 days detention
Introduction of a trade union freedom bill and measures to protect temporary and agency workers
Rejecting the proposals to renew Trident

posted by John at 15:23 3 Comments

02 May 2008

London decides

The 'Every Evening sub-Standard Tory Propaganda' may have called it for Boris, but we're still waiting for the official results . . .

21:00 - We start with a shock! Labour has gained the Brent & Harrow GLA seat, with Navin Shah narrowly defeating Tory incumbent Bob Blackman.

Is this is a sign that things aren't so bad in London or is this a false dawn?

21:25 - First preference votes in for three GLA constituencies. In Bexley & Bromley, Boris won 122,000 to Ken's 40,000. In City & East Ken beat Boris 94,000 to 49,000, and by a similar margin (96,000 to 57,000) in North East.

21:30 - another win for Boris as he takes Havering & Redbridge by 87,302 to Ken's 45905. Overall, after 4/14 results I make Boris about 40,000 first preference votes ahead. BNP polls over 5% too.

21:40 - Not good. Ken scrapes home in his old stomping ground of Brent & Harrow: 65,862 to 61,825. Last time, in 2004, Ken was 12,000 clear of Norris here. On a more positive note, BNP candidate gets a paltry 1.65%.

21:55 - Another win for Ken, so it's 4-2 in constituencies, but Ken has only won by 12,000 votes in Greenwich and Lewisham (he won by double that margin in 2004). Boris remains ahead on 1st prefs - and he still has several Tory strongholds to come. Start hoping those 2nd prefs favour Ken heavily. BNP polls around 3% in G&L.

At the mo it's Boris on 45% and Ken on 42%.

22:15 - In the constituency seats, Labour has held City & East, and North East under John Biggs and Jennette Arnold respectively. Meanwhile Tories have held Havering & Redbridge and Bexley & Bromley.

Worrying votes for fascists: The NF came 4th in B&B, with nearly 6% of the vote; and in C&E the BNP came 4th with just under 10%.

22:30 - Sky says Boris has won West Central first pref votes, but no breakdown yet. In at 23:15, Boris storms it by 91,000 to 47,000. BNP a paltry 1% if that's any consolation.

22:40 - BNP Mayoral candidate polled only just over 5% in City & East. This is probably a good sign - as it is slightly less than the 5.6% the BNP mayoral candidate polled in C&E in 2004. Need to keep them below 5% to stop them getting representation, but C&E is one of their better areas, and they've only just got above. Then again their GLA candidate was only just shy of 10%, ahead of the Lib Dems (5th) but behind Respect (3rd).

22:45 - Ken has apparently won in Enfield & Haringey and in Lambeth & Southwark - details to come . . . L&S in at 23:20 - big win for Ken 80,000 to 47,000. Another of Ken's old stomping grounds. Any results for Henley? No? Oh that's because Boris has never represented London . . . until now . . . probably.

22:55 - 10 out of 14 and its 43% Boris, 40% Ken. Still awaiting Merton & Wandsworth though (prob Tory). Ken around 60,000 votes behind on 1st prefs with 4 to go. Enfield & Haringey saw Ken win by 6,000, compared with 17,000 margin in 2004. Boris won in SW by 32,000 margin - Ken won by 7,000 last time. It's not good, not good at all.

23:05 - bit of a lull. so time to stop and analyse. Sky says Boris is ahead in 4 remaining constituencies to declare: Barnet & Camden, Croydon & Sutton, Ealing & Hillingdon, Merton & Wandsworth. The really worrying thing is that Ken beat Norris in 3 out of 4 of these (not C&S) in 2004.

23:15 - Boris has taken Croydon & Sutton. It's now 42% to 37% - and a 95,000 vote lead to Boris, as Boris wins by a massive 35,000 margin.

23:25 - Looks like Boris has also now taken Merton & Wandsworth and Barnet & Camden. B&C confirmed - an 18,000 margin to Boris, Ken won by 7,000 last time . . . and now M&W with over 45% to Ken's 35.6%.

23:35 - With 13 of 14 results in, Boris has a 130,000 lead on 1st prefs - 43% to 37%. Similar win for Boris in Ealing & Hillingdon with 45% to 34%, and that's 14. Still 43% to 37%, but a 150,000 lead on 1st prefs. It will need a miracle on 2nd prefs

23:40 - Taking stock - Ken's vote has held up on last time (a little up in numbers), but the Tories have mobilised their vote massively. Boris polled 43%, Ken 37%. In the country last night, the Tories had 44% to Labour's 24%. That reflects Ken's personal vote - 14 points. Reducing a 20 point gap to six.

23:50 - Final vote, with 2nd prefs, done. Boris has been inflicted upon London (124977 2nd prefs to Boris, 135089 2nd prefs to Ken - not enough).

00:00 - John McDonnell, LRC Chair, said: "This is desperately worrying for London. It is also a personal tragedy for Ken who has devoted his life to the capital city and its residents"

"Ken has been the victim of the backlash against New Labour".

posted by Andrew at 20:55 13 Comments

. . . and the carnage continues

10:30 - Labour has now breached 150 council seats lost (net) with still more than a third of seats to declare. Losses in Wales, where there have been all-out elections, are looking just as bad as those in England.

A new rush of results is expected between 11:30-12:30pm.

11:00 - A bit of analysis, since we're in a results lull: Labour has been hit hardest in its supposed heartlands, showing that we have alienated our core vote. Turnout at 35% is roughly the same as in recent years - and so it is likely that Labour support has, in even higher numbers this time, stayed at home.

Meanwhile Tory voters, smelling blood, have been motivated to come out. We've had several reports emailed in to the LRC of Tory canvassers out in force and more motivated than in recent years. Labour has a fight on its hands, but with average constituency membership now under 300 (and in dozens of areas down to two figures) have we got the activists on the ground anymore to turn it around?

13:00 - Labour has now lost more than 200 councillors, and has lost control of Reading and Wolverhampton councils in the last hour.

Reports are that turnout in London has hit 45%. The interesting thing will be how that breaks down between inner and outer London.

14:00 - Labour has now lost more than 250 council seats. The loss of Reading (noted above) means that Labour has no councils in the whole of the South East region.

Labour has also lost Caerphilly, and Sheffield has gone from NOC to the Lib Dems.

15:30 - The exception of the night: Labour takes Slough, gaining 4 seats. Slough replaces Reading as Labour's only council in the South East region.

However, Labour was nearly pushed into third in Northumberland, demonstrating Labour's collapse in its heartlands; and despite losing eight seats, Labour has hung on to Wakefield by a whisker.

The London result looks to be coming later than expected due to the higher turnout.

17:00 - With only a couple of council results left to declare, Labour has now lost more than 300 council seats.

20:00 - In the downtime before the London results start coming in, let's look at how MPs have responded to the results. Derek Wyatt MP, loyalist MP for Sittingborne and Sheppey, said: "Look at the situation with fuel prices, the non-doms and the 10p tax band. Gordon has committed spectacular own-goals and the public is punishing him for it". John McDonnell said "Without a radical change of direction, we are witnessing a Labour Government slipping away". Ian Gibson has urged the Prime Minister to offer railway renationalisation, union rights for agency workers and a more generous minimum wage to restore the confidence of traditional Labour voters. Tamworth Labour MP Brian Jenkins said: "I understand people want to give the Government a kicking. But it is unfortunate this reflects on a lot of good people who stood [in Tamworth]. It is all about national issues and had they voted on who they want to run the town, the result would have been different". Blairite Birmingham MP Sion Simon said: "As a Government we have to listen to ordinary working class voters in Labour heartlands like Erdington more clearly if we want to be successful in the future". Linda Gilroy said: "People expect us to be fair in a consistent way and we haven't been"

posted by Andrew at 10:28 7 Comments

After Labour's electoral disaster - we demand action on policies

PRESS NOTICE

John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said:

"After the worse results in 40 years, it is intellectually unsustainable for ministers to simply tell the electorate that the government is listening. Prevarication will only lead to a Tory government - what people want is decisive action to change the policies immediately.

If Ken does hang on, it will be as a result of his perceived independence from New Labour and should not be interpreted by Gordon Brown as any vote of confidence in New Labour in London."

posted by John at 08:31 0 Comments

01 May 2008

Results start coming in

23:20 - No surprise perhaps, but Tories hold Tamworth. Gaining one council seat. Given Labour's low base from 2004, this doesn't bode well for Brian Jenkins, local Labour who would need less than a 3% swing against him to lose at the next General Election.

23:40 - BBC reports turnout in London may be higher in some constituencies than in the last general election.

00:25 - a few interesting results: Labour lose five councillors, but hold Sunderland; Lib Dems gain Kingston-upon-Hull; Tories gain Harlow

All three of these boroughs have Labour MPs. Overall as at 00:25, Labour has lost 14 councillors. Early indications also seem to show that the Tories are squeezing the Lib Dems in the south of England.

00:30 - BNP gains 2 seats in Nuneaton and Bedworth, which has also turned Tory from Labour

01:30 - Labour has now lost a total of over 50 councillors - and has lost seats (net) in every English region. The BBC is projecting 24% share of the vote for Labour.

1:40 - BBC's projected national share of the vote, based on over 1.5m votes in key seats shows Labour on 24%, Tories on 44%, with Lib Dems on 25%. Showing Labour in third and Lib Dems also squeezed by Tories. Almost a reverse of 1995 when Labour polled 47% to 25% to Tories - and that led to Labour landslide in 1997

2:00 - Commenting to the media, John McDonnell MP (LRC Chair) said: "Despite all the warnings from Labour MPs and Labour Party activists on the ground, New Labour's policies have brought us close to a potentially irretrievable tipping point.
"Without a radical change of direction, we are witnessing a Labour Government slipping away."

2:40 - Over 100 Labour councillors have now lost their seats. BNP has gained 2 seats in Amber Valley and 1 in Thurrock.

John McDonnell has just been interviewed on Radio 4 - I'm sure you can listen again online.

3:45 - FINAL UPDATE - Being interviewed on BBC and Sky, LRC Chair John McDonnell MP said that "Labour is in danger of sleepwalking into a Tory Government . . . which would be a disaster for this country".
Labour has now lost 130 council seats with over one-third of councils yet to declare
With Labour's share of the vote reduced to 24%, and Labour pushed into third place, John added: "If Ken wins in London, which looks increasingly tough, it will be because of his personal vote and the policies he's introduced."

posted by Andrew at 23:19 9 Comments

Polls close

10:05 - first results are expected at around 11:30pm. Early results are expected from Broxbourne (where BNP is standing), Plymouth, Tamworth, and Salford.

A reminder that London results are not due in until tomorrow. Evening Standard seemed confident that their man had won. Ken thinks he's got it 52%-48%. Tomorrow tea time we'll know.

Still awaiting first exit polls.

11pm update - Still no exit polls one hour after polls close. However, a BBC poll shows poor personal ratings for Gordon Brown as leader.

Just half an hour to go until the first results expected.

posted by Andrew at 21:57 0 Comments