CALDER VALLEY SELECTION CALLED OFF!!!

The procedures were all in place and ready to go. Mysteriously , the regional Labour Party has now called the whole thing off. AWS or no AWS? We were told it was DEFINITELY all-women. Now it seems not......why am I thinking shenanigans? PS:Now I really AM going to take a holiday from blogging......

BLOGGING HOLIDAY

Am braving Stansted on Monday and flying to Northern Spain for nine days of (hopefully) sunshine and chilling out Should have been via ferry but sadly company went out of business and had to resort to Easyjet. Will leave it to other half to entertain small boys with beach cricket etc while I cook up the tortillas . Shortly off to Oxfam to stock up on holiday reading. No laptop so no blogging. As silly season now officially upon us seems a good time as any to take a break and practise muy rusty A level Spanish.

BAD NEWS FOR PEACE MOVEMENT

Parliament breaks up for the summer recess this week.Are MPs so busy packing their sun-block that not a voice is raised in protest at the news that Britain has agreed to a US request for the RAF Menwith Hill monitoring station in North Yorkshire to be used as part of its missile defence system. This decision has been taken without ANY consultation with Parliament .
Defence Secretary Des Browne claims the system is "a building block to enhance our national and collective security". I'm with tireless CND chair Kate Hudson, who says she is "outraged" by the move which has gone ahead without consulting MPs or the public. .
"Where was the chance for MPs, let alone the public to discuss tying in Menwith Hill to the so-called missile defence system?It looks like the MoD and the US have deceived Parliament and deceived the British people when previously the minister dismissed suggestions that developments at Menwith Hill would form part of NMD.This totally unnecessary system will protect no-one, but threaten all - by giving the US the ability to strike with impunity without any fear of retaliation,"All in all, a depressing end to the Parliamentary year.

LINES TO TAKE

In a previous life, I worked for the Government in a freelance capacity. Briefing Ministers on regional intelligence, writing press releases and mugging up on the "lines to take" when dealing with the media. Most of the Civil Servants I worked with were not party political. Governments came and went but they stayed in post. Not so me. Shortly before the 2005 election, the purdah period started. And I never went back. Whether or not MI5 sussed out my left-wing activities (or more prosaically I suspect the budgets were cut) I have never been clear on. Anyway, the constraints were lifted and I was free to engage in as much political activity as I wanted to.
I have been in the Labour Party for 30 years. In that time, my views have ebbed and flowed and changed with the times. As many of my comrades know, I even voted for Blair in 1994 to get rid of the Tories. In 1975, as a schoolgirl, I wore anti-Common Market stickers. Today, I accept the EU as a force for good. But not, necessarily, the new Constitution ( whatever they want to call it that is what it is).In other words, whatever I think is on an issue by issue basis. So, in response to a nasty poster yesterday, no, I do not parrot any " line." I just happen to think the Labour Left has more answers than New Labour. In 2002, I seconded a Branch resolution on re-nationalisation of the railways. In 2003, I marched with hundreds of thousands of others over Iraq.I have been a trade unionist (NUJ) for 23 years.
One of the things I I fundamentally care about is that people are treated with respect and that this Government - Labour Government - does not pander to right-wing prejudice.
Gordon Brown is in many respects a vast improvement on Tony Blair. But his current pandering to the Daily Mail agenda does him no credit whatsoever. Extending the time limits on internment ( because that's what we are talking about here) should not be a catch-all answer to whichever threat the nation is facing.There are other ways of countering such threats and demonising a particular section of society will not help secure the safety of any of us. As The Guardian says today in its Leader column: "Facing a far graver threat to the nation than that posed today by militant Islamism, Winston Churchill remained clear that internment was an evil that should not be lightly indulged. He said in 1943: "The power of the executive to cast a man into prison without formulating any charge known to the law ... is in the highest degree odious, and the foundation of all totalitarian government."

NO U-TURN ON TERRORISM LEGISLATION

I hope the Labour MPs currently enjoying themselves on Gordon's honeymooon stand firm against any plans to extend the limit under which terrorist suspects can be detained. With Cameron wrongfooted, the climate may now well be easier for Brown to get this legislation thrpough. I hope not - as it will do nothing to make the UK a safer place and is a serious infringrment on civil liberties. Today, Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said that the Conservatives will maintain their opposition to a 90-day limit, insisting that such a move risked "driving young Muslim males into the arms of extremists". Brown tells his friends in The Sun today that the world is a more dangerous place. That's true. But locking people up for longer will do nothing to make it safer. Quite the opposite.Earlier this year, even John Reid concurred on that one.

NATIONAL POLICY FARCE

The ever-snidey Luke Akehurst has yet another sneer at the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance on his blog. Unlike Mr A and his friends, the CLGA really is what it says on the tin. A broad spectrum of left-leaning Labour Party members. On policy, they agree to disagree sometimes and members range from Gordon Brown supporters to lefties of the LRC variety .
But all share a real commitment to Party democracy and giving ordinary members a say in the Party's future. Which is more than anyone can say for Luke and his "loyalist" chums. If they had their way, anyone who disgareed one iota with anything said by the leadership would be thrown out of the Party. They can't wait for Brown to end contemporary motions at Conference - the final nail in the coffin of Party democracy. They prefer the nodding dog farce which is the National Policy Forum. A sick joke. But one, unfortunately, which rebounds on the ordinary member who never gets near an NPF meeting. While they clap and cheer like crazed Albanians., our CLP resolutions and submissions lie unread in the in-trays. The sooner NPF reps are elected by OMOV the better. At least we might get a representative spread of Party opinion.

SEARCH FOR THE HEROES

If you believe in an honours system (which I don't) then no doubt the news that Gordon Brown is to allow people to nominate members of their local community for awards will be welcome and appropriate.
The PM , who has written a book, Britain's Everyday Heroes, says he wants to recognise "the great work that people do" in the community. A highly laudable aim and no disrespect to those who get awards. But my gripe is - is this really the best we can do?
Under Brown's proposals, advertising campaigns in newspapers will encourage nominations for awards - but only below the level of MBEs and CBEs. £515milion will be made available for community groups and voluntary organisations. Today, July 24, is also planned as a day when the government and "the country as a whole" could honour those "acting for good".
Gordon says: "It is right that we look at how our honours system can recognise those in our emergency services ." Is it not also right that ALL emergency services workers should be paid wages commensurate with their 24/7 dedication, responsibilities and sheer commitment to the greater good. Yet public sector pay within the NHS , fire and ambulance service is, frankly, an outrage As for the £515million, well it's a drop in the ocean . Across the country, NHS staff are beijng made redundant thanks to the consequences of PFI projects which now have a capital value of over £60billion.
Environment Agency staff (crucial to the current crisus around flooding) also face redundancy. I have no doubt this is a well-meant gesture by the Govt. But it must ring pretty hollow to families trying to survive on low pay and poor working conditions. I suspect they would gladly swap a pretty badge for a decent Living Wage.

COFUP LAUNCH

Best wishes for tomorrow to younger comrades down in London who tomorrow launch COFUP! (the Coalition Fighting Unjust Pay) . Speakers at their launch rally include John McDonnell MP, Cllr Miranda Grell, Rory MacQueen (GMB) Samuel Tarry from Compass Youth and Marsha-Jane Thompson (Chair of UNISON United Left)Its aims include calling on all Labour councils to include a Living Wage in all procurement contracts and to make a Living Wage without exemptions the policy of the Labour Party at annual Conference.COFUP! is being launched by the Socialist Youth Network, the youth wing of the Labour Representation Committee.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE....

Woodstock should have come to Hebden Bridge at the weekend. Well, sort of. Our home-grown music festival was going to be a sea of smiling faces replete with fun and funky tunes plus sunshine and picnics. Of course, it wasn't to be.

Stoical mums and dads wandered around in waterproofs or carried brollies while their kids and dogs wallowed in mud. The hot samosa stall did a roaring trade and we made the best of what was a very bad job. And no, I honestly cannot remember a summer as bad as this.

But the Govt knew it was coming. So why aren't they spending more money on flood defences. A National Audit Office report found last month that the Environment Agency had not properly maintained 63 per cent of the country's flood defences, including 54 per cent of "high-risk" sites. Earlier this year, the Met Office and risk planners in Whitehall told ministers that the summer would see much wetter weather than usual.
So what does the Govt do? Plan to cut jobs at the Environment Agency, which has responsibility for, er, flood defences.
Private water companies have also apparently been discouraged from building larger storm water drains and sewage systems because the government fears public anger over increased water bills (OK, take them back into public ownership and sort out a way of not unduly penalising consumers) .
Environment Agency chief executive Baroness Young said that £1 billion a year was needed for flood defence, but even that would not completely prevent flooding. Maybe not. Butof that's what is needed then the money must be made available.The cost in human misery - and danger to lives - thanks to the Govt's penny-pinching just isn't worth it either.

CAMERON FACING CALLS TO QUIT

No surprise that in the wake of by-election disaster for the Tories the gloves are off - and Cameron is in deep trouble. Today, the Sunday Telegraph reveals that at least two MPs, and possibly as many as half a dozen, have written to Sir Michael Spicer, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, to call for a vote of no confidence. Hardly a rout, but remember what happened to IDS . Frankly, Cameron is in a no-win situation. If he carries on emulating Blair , he's finished. The country has had enough of spin and showbiz and dour, puritanical Mr Brown is enjoying a full-on honeymoon with the electorate.If Cameron veers to the right, that will only please his right-wing nutter vote.
But the Tories would still be making a great mistake to get rid of him. They have no-one else as all the "big beasts" have either retired or left Westminster. Their BIG mistake was not to choose Ken Clarke as a safe pair of hands . Mistake before that NOT to elect Portillo, who had the gravitas and intelligence which Cameron, frankly, lacks. Brown is shrewdly assessing the mood of the nation ( no supercasino, attacking binge drinking, some constitutional reform) As we on the Left know, he is a formidable opponent.
The Tories other problem is they have been out of office for so lomg very few of them have experience of Govt. The more that goes on, the more difficult things become. No tears on that score. But one thing is now absolutely clear. If Tony Blair had left office when he should have gone, thousands of local councillors would still be in office....

POTTY ABOUT POTTER

Just off to brave rain and man stall to raise cash at music festival today. Still pondering why grown men and women get dressed up in wizards' gear and frequent my local ( as they did last night) to celebrate the new Harry Potter book.I am all for celebrating the child within - but this strikes me as a step too far.....

KEEP LEFT

Political pundit John Harris was talking drivel in yesterday's Comment Is Free . He praised Jon Cruddas to the hilt (OK, faur enough) but then rubbished the hard left on the grounds we were calling for "comfort zone shibboleths" like the re-nationalisation of the railways and more trade union rights. Someone should have told him that both were supported by his man as he was made to lookm rather foolish.
Still, whichever way you spin it, the left campaigns of both Cruddas and John McDonnell have had an impact on Gordon Brown's mood music policywise as he continues to enjoy a honeymoon period.The moves towards constitutional reform and more council housing are not enough- but they are at least a start.
In the wake of yesterday's by-elections, it really does look as though the Tories are toast and that is excellent stuff. But people on the left must keep the pressure on in a positive way and continue to campaign for a more radical agenda. Cruddas has gone very quiet indeed but I'm glad to note that John McDonnell is embarking on a series of articles for the Morning Star If anyone thought the left were going to roll over and die in the wake of Gordon's accession they are going to be seriously disappointed.

SPLIFF SISTERS

Harriet Harman joins Jacqui Smith in confessing she smoked cannabis at university. Shock horror.....is there anyone in the "baby boomer" generation of the 1970s who DIDN'T toke the odd spliff? Joints were de rigeur when I was at university in the Dark Ages. I never took to the stuff as it involved sitting in darkened rooms and listening to Genesis and always struck me as vaguely anti-social. Not to mention fattening once you got the munchies. Beer and fags in the college bar was much more my thing . So, no, I'm not surprised, just vaguely amused it should be news. Blimey, next thing you know they will be telling us they used to be socialists.....

TORY BY-ELECTION BLUES

What a blow for David Cameron. Really looks as though his bid to be Blair 2 has fallen off the rails after disastrous result for him in Ealing. No-one expected Sedgefield to be anything other than a Labour hold , but Ealing was being bigged up as a potential coup for the "David Cameron Conservatives." Seems like people saw through the ridiculous spin around Tony Lit - and the Tories came a humiliating third. Ming Campbell must also be breathing a sigh of relief.....

HAIN'S BIG STICK

Silly me. In the recent deputy leadership contest, I voted for two of the candidates playing to the "left" gallery. Once back in Government, all of the nice-sounding rhetoric disappears and it''s business as usual.
Today, the Guardian reports that Peter Hain, the work and pensions secretary, is standing firmly behind moves to force nearly 300,000 lone parents into work, even though their children may still be of primary school age.
In what it calls a "tougher than expected " welfare green paper, Hain's Department proposes that by 2010 most lone parents will be required to seek work once their youngest child reaches seven . The government is also proposing that claimants out of work for more than 12 months will have to undertake community work or lose benefit. AND the private sector is to be brought in to help people find work. Yet again, this Govt is punishing the poor instead of hitting the rich and well-connected. The move has already been condemned by the Child Poverty Action group.

SO FAREWELL THEN BOB

Maverick MP Bob Marshall-Andrews has announced he is standing down. At one time, this might have saddened me slightly as I rather like eccentric characters and he was one of the most odd of the oddballs. This is the man who blamed Blair for his defeat and then went on to win (just) his Medway seat. A great moment of the 2005 election. Sadly, this "left-winger" has recently been all over the place and nominated Gordon Brown as Leader. Which hacked off plenty of his comrades.....

BROWN TO PRESS AHEAD WITH CONFERENCE FOLLY

Yesterday to London where was at meeting with NEC members of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance. Worrying news confirming suspicions that Brown is intent on pressing ahead with plans to end the chance to vote on ANY ISSUES AT ALL at Conference. It's hidden in the small print, but as part of a consultation exercise billed as "strengthening democracy" Gordon Brown actually wants to abolish the 8 contemporary motions ( the only way now to force a vote on issues) currently shared between the trade unions and constituencies .
The procedure as it stands is far from perfect. But had it not been in place, the following issues would not have been aired - and the leadership defeated - at conference. Moves to end NHS privatisation, council housing (now back on the Govt agenda after THREE votes at Conference) re-nationalisation of the railways and the extension of trade union rights. The implications of this are outlined in bleak detail by John McDonnell MP at the LRC website here
which also has news of Conference and other events. keep going back for more news from the Labour Left.

SAVING LABOUR DEMOCRACY

About to dash off yet again for trains so no real time for blogging. Off to London to attend meeting of the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance, where items on agenda will include Brown's latest bid to "democratise" the Party via a special document. This questionable enterprise ( not even discussed by the NEC before it went out to consultation) was talked over at the weekend National Policy Forum, which of course is dominated by New New Labour.

We need to fight Brown's move to ban votes at Labour Party Conference and sundry other issues which go under the name of increased "democracy"but will in practice only further remove activists from any say in the policy process - or even the chance to protest meaningfully when they don't like decisions made by the leadership .See here for more details.

BAD NEWS IT'S BORIS........

Boris Johnson may be a buffoon. But as I said a couple of weeks ago, he will present a real challenge for Labour in London. People think he's a lovable idiot, but he's a serious right-wing Tory .......how the media will love it. Still, Ken Livingstone likes a challenge and I'm sure he will rise to it Step 1 would be to stop antagonising his core supporters....

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM WALES

Utterly stressed out after five-hour journey from Llangollen ( third of three trains broke down at Rochdale) so not much coherent thought today. Saw Jose Carreras last night and he was fab....truly in a different League from all the pub singer wannabees who currently hit the headlines. A great experience. Soaked in the Welsh rain and atmosphere and spent some time finishing the second volume of Michael Foot's famous biography of Nye Bevan ( which I picked up in Oxfam the other week) .The trials and tribulations which Bevan suffered at the behest of the right of the Party (almost getting expelled at one point) make for strangely familiar reading. And bit depressing to note that Bevan, who died in 1960 when I was a baby, would I wager still be pretty unimpressed with Party policy , the right-wing bureaucrats and trade union leaders' timidity when challenging the staus quo. Bet he would have loved Carreras , though.....

WELCOME IN THE HILLSIDE

Off to Llangollen for Eistedfodd and Jose Carreras...........back Monday

SIMPSON BACKS GORDON'S GAMBLE

Good quote in today's Morning Star from left-winger Alan Simpson MP ( always good for a one-liner) , who hails the news of Brown's U-turn on the Manchester supercasino as "the first sign of any inclination on Mr Brown's part to take Britain out of the casino economy.
"What I want now is for the same logic to be extended to PFI, PPP and all the other privatisation policies for public services - then we will have some real regeneration, rather than degeneration."

BUSH MUST YIELD TO PRESSURE

George Bush looked distinctly shaky at his news conference yesterday .Today, the pressure piles on with the US House of Representatives voting in favour of pulling most combat troops out of Iraq by April next year. A Senate vote on the issue takes place next week.Our MPs must carry on putting on the pressure, too. Giving Gordon "a chance" should not mean forgetting that hundreds are dying every day on the streets of Iraq - and lobbying to , at the veryg least, have an exit strategy planned as soon as possible.

THE LEMMING TENDENCY

Interesting discussion going on over at Dave Osler on that old chestnut as to whether what's Left in Labour should jump ship and go and form the People's Socialist Coalition, or whatever, along the lines advocated by RMT leader Bob Crow. No disresepect to Bob, but he's got it utterly wrong here. Tell me, just how much electoral success have the Socialist Alliance, the Socialist Labour Party (Arthur Scargill) , Socialist Party (Peter Taaffe) or even RESPECT actually had in the past 10 years since Blair came to power. The answer, very little. Yes, the Labour Left is sidelined at the moment. It will be a damn sight more sidelined if we all join hands and jump over the cliff in a quest for a "new workers party." Can I just point out that two left MPs in my area, Linda Riordan and Mike Wood, were elected in 1997 and 2005 respectively. Now Blair is gone, we have to pull our fingers out and start REALLY re-claiming the Party. Not finally abandoning it to the right.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN

I find it utterly ghastly that Margaret Cook has cashed in on yet another opportunity to jaw on in the tabloid press about the way in which she was unceremoniously dumped by her late ex-husband. An opportunity afforded, obviously, by the Campbell diaries.This happened 10 years ago yet she seems compelled to play the victim over and over again. Bit of a contrast, really, to Cook's widow Gaynor, who as far as I know has said nothing to the media since Robin Cook's untimely death two years ago. If, as Margaret Cook says, she now "has no emotion" about what happened, why on earth does she not just maintain a dignified silence?. Frankly, if I had been treated in such a way the last thing I would do is a) endlessly rake it up and b) retain my ex-husband's name. Still, the latter option has been a nice little earner for her in various newspapers ( and the lecture circuit) for quite some time.....

STILL NOT IN MY NAME......

Thanks to Owen for an excellent analysis of the situation in Iraq, and the implications of today's report to the White House.
One of the most chilling items of news I read this week was the thoughts of the Head of US Army operations in Iraq General David Petraeus.He said it was too soon to tell if the surge was working and told the BBC that fighting the insurgency was a "long term endeavour" which could take "decades." How many more lives will have to be lost before this tragic folly comes to an end? Sadly, daily bombings and maimings in Iraq don't seem to be "news" any more and I read many other commentators suggesting Iraq is not "an issue." for the Prime Minister.What mendacious, disgraceful nonsense.
Just because Blair has gone, and daily killings are now taken for granted by the news media, let's not pretend we don't need an exit strategy. Fast. If Brown really wants to make his mark in a positive manner we can all applaud, he should get to work on it now.

GORDON'S GAMBLE

Well done, Gordon ! Brown has seemingly decided that plans for the Manchester supercasino are to be shelved - forever. Instead, he says the Govt will look at alternative ways of regeneration. I'm very glad to hear this as the very notion of gambling as a way forward for socially disadvantaged communities was, frankly, totally out of line with Labour values. No doubt he will get lots of ire heaped on his head for this but in my view he's made absolutely the right decision. Manchester MPs who backed the plan ( with the best of intentions) should now turn their minds to more positive ways of boosting urban areas. Let's hope Brown does the same.
UPDATE: It has been suggested there ios something "ironic" and "right-wing" about not backing the supercasino idea. In my view, it represented much that was reprehensible and amoral about Blairism. "Investing" in the futures of working people by lining up with fat cats, crooks, and those who prey on the hardships of the financially vulnerable was never a move to be applauded. When was the last time you met a socially responsible casino owner? Presumably one of the reasons why left-wingers like John McDonnell opposed this idea in the first place. Yes, it would have brought jobs to the area. Now let's find some real ones, not sops which do lip service to the idea of regeneration but which really line the pockets of the money men.

GET WELL SOON!

Would just like it recorded that I hope Rhodri Morgan has a speedy recovery .Frankly, I envy my friends and comrades living in Wales who have in Rhodri and (most of) Welsh Labour a decent, centre-left administration which has no truck with many of the New Labour disaster policy areas we are forced to put up with. Rhodri, as he put it to a journalist pal of mine who works on the Western Mail, was "shafted" by Blair, who imposed Alun Michael instead as First Minister. It didn't last long......Get better soon, mate.....

MORE COUNCIL HOUSING NEEDED!

Have just been reading the PM's speech text from today which, on the surface, sounds fair enough with some welcome pronouncements on housing . But does anyone actually know what this will mean in terms of SOCIAL, not "affordable", housing. One of my first tasks as a local councillor was attending a workshop on the difference between the two. "Affordable" basically , means diddly squat per se.If you're a millionaire, what's "affordable" is a a tad more flexible than if you're on the minimum wage. And the fact is most people starting out on the property ladder are facing the tightest cash squeeze since the early 1990's. Back in 1988, I was able to buy a modest flat for £23, 000 as i was earning £9,000 a year - just 2.5 times my salary. On my current wage as a self-employed journalist, I would be unable to buy half of the house I now live in .We need more details from Brown about HOW the Government is going to help the low-paid who at the moment, can't even get onto the first rung of the ladder, Many thousands who mortgaged themselves to the limit are also in deep trouble. We need solutions, not soundbites. And that includes the right of local authorities to build more social housing for those for whome "affordable" is not an option .As Dave Osler points out, In 1981, local authorities in England and Wales owned nearly 4.8m homes. By 2005, that had shrunk to 2.8m, with some councils having sold their entire housing stock. And there are currently 1.6milion people on council house waiitng lists.
Tomorrow, Defend Council Housing's National Conference to ‘Stand Up for Council Housing’ takes place from 9:30am-4:30pm at TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London. Labour Party conference has voted to endorse the 4th option of direct investment in council housing for three years running. A REAL commitment from Gordon Brown on this issue is therefore long overdue. See here

BROWN HUMILIATED BY CAMPBELL

Much has been made of the fact that Alasdair Campbell excised nasty references to Gordon Brown in his Diaries. So it's interesting he chose to include the ( to say the least of it) embarrassing tale of Gordon Brown locking himself in the lavatory in 1994 as the two were battling it out as to who should stand for Labour leader. Frankly, this seems to be the level of most of the "revelations" so far. Self-serving, stupid tittle-tattle.My last word on the subject......

KINNOCK WAS RIGHT.......

Glancing through the egotistical nightmares of Campbell's diaries , which continue to be splashed all, over the papers, a telling quote from Neil Kinnock in relaton to Blair. To put it in context, he was apoplectic with rage that TB was about to cosy up to Rupert Murdoch, whose Sun newspaper famously rubbished him on the day of the 1992 General Election ( see left)

I quote: "He's sold out before he's even got there. Tax, health, education, unions, full employment, race, immigration, everything. He's totally sold out. And for what? What are we FOR? It won't matter if we win, the bankers and the stockbrokers have got us already, by the f****** balls, laughing their heads off." Wonder what erstwhile left-winger Neil REALLY thinks about New Labour? As one of its architects, he must now have considerable regrets.

SUPPORT THE POSTAL WORKERS

The postal workers are out on strike again July 12/13 . Solidarity!

THE GANG OF FIVE

Iain Dale 's blog today reveals that five Labour councillors have defected to the Tories in Ealing Southall , saying the Conservative Party is their "natural home" and that they want to support the Tory candidate. Tony Lit .Firstly, good riddance. But secondly, this illustrates just how far to the right our Party has travelled. One defection is a one-off. Five surely indicative of a more endemic problem. Until the Government starts putting clear red water between us and the Conservatives, expect more of the same. It might also have helped matters if the choice of Labour candidate in Ealing wasn't such a blatant stitch-up.

PS:Update Tuesday:It's now 6

CAMPBELL'S CASH COW

Monday starts with a quick look at the Guardian assessment of the Campbell diaries and what they reveal. First thoughts. Whatever shortcomings Gordon Brown may have, thank God Blair is no longer Prime Minister. Secondly, HOW can Campbell still stand by Blair's decision to go to war .

Interesting to note his observation that members of the cabinet looked "physically sick" the day before the Commons vote. What a shame they didn't follow things through logically and resign, thus tipping the balance in the crucial debate in which 139 Labour MPs rebelled.

Blair, we're also told, thought he "had the edge" on his colleagues as he thought elements of Thatcherism were right. Unfortunately for the Labour Party, many of his erstwhile comrades now seem to share the same philosophy. Just in case you're wondering, no I won't be boosting the coffers of this bullying, deeply unpleasant man.

PFI MADNESS

Make absolutely no claims to be an expert in economics but there's a good article in today's Morning Star by someone who is. Kelvin Hopkins points out that recent academic analysis by Manchester University suggests that PFI schemes committed so far will cost the taxpayer £93 BILLION POUNDS more than the equivalent public investment. Kelvin is also a member of the LRC's LEAP - Left Economocs Advisory Panel - more info here

THE OLDEST SOCIALIST I KNOW

..... is my dad, who is 87 today. He's voted Labour in every General Election since 1945 and hopes to be around for the next one.
Born in Manchester, he was brought up for the first ten years or so of his life by his grandparents in Portaferry, a small village in Northern Ireland, as his parents couldn't afford to feed five kids. Which meant a childhood diet of herrings, buttermilk and fruit and veg straight off the land, probably explaining why he's achieved such amazing longevity. There is no other explanation as he has always enjoyed a pint and smoked till he was 50.
A recent story about my dad involves the recent ( temporary) closure of his local pub. He was forced, instead, to walk a few more hundred yards to another he had not frequented for some years. On ordering his pint, he asked the landlord where all his erstwhile mates were. "They're all dead, John" was the sobering reply.

FLAGGING ALREADY.......

Gordon Brown's obsession with Britishness ( word "British " mentioned six times in one minute on lunchtime news) now extends to flying union flags from key Govt buildings all year round? Sorry. I find this inane, inept and embarrassing. And utterly inappropriate for a multi-cultural Britain.

SCRAP TUITION FEES!

Way back in the Dark Ages I was a university student. In those days, young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds got full maintenance grants. Which meant more than enough to pay for accommodation and food and also to buy books, clothes, beers and all the other nuts and bolts of student life. As I recollect, my final year grant was something like £400 a term.
Almost 30 years on, the Govt is trumpeting the news that maintenance grants are to be made available to more students. Fine. But it's the "princely sum" of £2800 a year which is about £900 a term. I have a niece at uni ( who doesn't qualify for the grant as her parents are just over the threshold) and her accommodation alone is something like £700.00 a term. So how can that be enough?
I don't mean to be churlish. An extra £400million is being made available and the bar raised from £18,000 to £25,000 to qualify for grants Welcome news, yes. But Minister John Denham concedes this will affect only FOUR per cent of the nation's students. Tuition fees won't be affected either though students starting in 2008 will be "entitled" to a holiday from their repayments of up to five years once they graduate. It's just not enough.
Let's have equity on this and scrap tuition fees completely. As they already have been scrapped for students in Scotland. And then let's have a look at the huge albatross of student loans and how we stop more generations being saddled with debt.

SAVE THE LABOUR CONFERENCE!

The next Labour NEC is on July 17. Time to get those resolutions going on Brown's bid to curtail conference powers by ending contemporary and emergency motions. The following resolution was passed last night in Walthamstow.The preposterous uber-Brownite Luke Akehurst has of course denounced this as "ultra-left because it was proposed by a supporter of Labour Left Briefing." In fact, Brown's proposals represent exactly the kind of control freakery which has been opposed for years by the moderate pressure group Save The Labour Partyof which I am a member.

"This CLP welcomes the aim outlined in the consultation document 'Extending and Renewing Party Democracy' of broadening participation in policy making process, however we believe that many of the proposals will have the precise opposite effect. We oppose the proposal that Conference ceases to be the decision making body of the party, having its role reduced to proposing 'issues' for the National Policy Forum to consider. We further oppose attempts to restrict the right of CLPs and affiliates to submit contemporary resolutions to conference, again reducing their role to outlining issues rather than specific resolutions. We believe that much of the disillusion amongst party members is precisely because of the lack of ability of local parties to influence conference agenda, and the refusal of the Labour Government to take notice when
conference does adopt policy contrary to Government policy. We believe that Partnership into Power and National Policy Forums have immensely weakened the feeling of ownership of party
policy amongst party members and affiliates. Rather than giving more power to this obscure process, we should look at ways of better involving the remaining party members, 7 million trade union members and members of affiliated organisations in policy making through party conferences, and mandating delegates to carry out the wishes of those who elect them. "

DIGBY WATCH

Fair play to Sir Digby Jones. he makes absolutely no bones about the fact he is a pro-business Tory. The only problem is he is in a Labour - a LABOUR - Government.In today's Telegraph, he spells out his unashamedly Thatcherite agenda. It's about time Labour MPs and union leaders started speaking out on this scandalous appointment. The only voices of dissent so far have been stalwarts of the Left like John McDonnell MP and UNITE General Sec Tony Woodley. What is the matter with the rest of the Labour Party?????
Digby Dastardly says: ""If I'm overseas, banging the drum for Britain, and they tell me they are worried about our rate of tax, I can promise you as soon as the wheels hit the tarmac in the UK I will be over to Number 11 to tell [chancellor] Alistair Darling. "I'd like to see more competitive corporate taxation. I don't mind if it's used to stimulate economy and business profitability, to encourage R&D and small businesses." PS: Competitive means "less tax."

TORIES IN SHAMBOLIC CLOTHING

I have never met Boris Johnson. Nor am I likely to. But my guess is that if he stands for Mayor in London then Ken will need all our support. Not because of Boris's politics but because there is nothing the British love more than an eccentric. And Boris is certainly that. In appearance, he is pretty much akin to Margaret Rutherford, dresses shambolically and comes across as a posh but amiable, harmless cove.The kind of person who would be OK for a pint or two and a natter. In practice, he is of course a right-wing Tory Oxonian with appalling views on almost everything. That may not matter to voters who love a "character" ( which is also of course a major part of Ken's appeal). My guess is Cameron and the Tories will go for it. And Labour will have a fight on its hands.
PS: I once met ex Mayoral candidate Steven "Shagger" Norris at a Manchester Literary Society lunch. I was interviewing him for the Evening News And, yes, I did decline his offer of a "quiet corner" for a chat. With ease.....

TORIES IN LABOUR CLOTHING

For a brief time last year, John Hutton was being flagged up as a possible contender for the Labour leadership. It was never going to happen. Trust me, you have never been bored until you have heard this man speak. Hutton speaks in a monotone which numbs the senses and has had a charisma by-pass operation. Uber-Blairite Hutton ( who once said Brown would make a "f****** awful PM and nevertheless gets into the Govt) is an appalling right-winger who wants Labour to be the "natural Party for business." Excuse me, I thought they had one already but, no, New Labour wants to put on more Tory togs in a determined bid to kill off any notion that Brown is a residual socialist.
Then today Chancellor Alisdair Darling has put the mockers on any notion that private equity companies should start paying proper taxes and stop creaming off millions of pounds in profit. At one time, such a policy would have been basic ABC to a moderate Labour Govt and a Chancellor like, say, Denis Healey. Sadly, we've travelled a long way to the right since then .
PS: Loved Simon Hoggart's remark about Brown's Cabinet being a "government of all the bores." Hutton and Darling are certainly two key contenders on that score

CONSTITUTIONAL CREDIT

Credit where credit is due and it seems Gordon Brown's proposals to discuss constitutional issues are being broadly welcomed - as they should be. No longer will Prime Ministers be able to take us to war at whim and, in fairness, Brown seems determined to give Parliament - and our people - back some autonomy. As Tony Benn says in today's Guardian

"Gordon Brown's statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday was by far the most comprehensive analysis of constitutional relations that I have heard in my
lifetime and could have a profound influence on our political future. I welcome
his readiness to encourage a debate and hope that opportunity will be taken up
by all those who have been campaigning for such reforms for so long."

THANK GOD!

I am so pleased about Alan Johnston being released .That's probably all I want to say today. So much bad stuff in the world. Sometimes good things happen, too.....

DISENFRANCHISED NOT DISGRUNTLED

Good news. A former Party member in my patch has come back to the Labour fold following Blair's departure.And, yes, it IS good news. In the past couple of days various bloggers (Chris Paul and Luke Akehurst) have been having a go at left-wingers like Owen ( and eminently centre-left people like my good friend Peter Kenyon) for not bowing down in supplication to Gordon Brown. But just because we retain a critical distance is not to say there are no positives.
Yesterday's speech by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was strikingly lacking in hyperbole about the "war on terror." Brown is brnging back Cabinet-style Govt ( it's just that no-one from the Left of the Party is anywhere near a senior Ministerial role) .His sober style is a welcome change.The no smoking policy (hurrah!) is another step forward which i absolutely agree with. But the underlying tone of thids Govt remains exactly the same as Blair's.
Look at the bunch selected to draw up policy on the manifesto. The list includes Patricia Hewitt, who will cover Europe; David Blunkett will focus on the voluntary sector; while "Rotweiler" Hilary Armstrong, formerly Chief Whip and Cabinet Office minister, will look at policy on children. Chris Bryant, who will lead discussions on constitutional reform, is most famed for advertising his sexual "allure" on the internet and signing the botched coup letter against Blair. A new dawn? Don't think so.....

ROY'S FALSE DAWN

Roy Hattersley is a decent old cove for a right-wing Labourite. Anyone who Tony Blair allegedly called a c*** can't be all bad. In recent years, he has earned a reputation as a paid-up member of the awkward squad but now he is reverting to type. Today in the Guardian, Roy was positively embarrassing in his praise for Brown. This was, he said, a "new dawn." He felt more optimistic than for 13 years about the state of the Labour Party. So what if there were Tories in the cabinet, Labour leaders have a habit of annoying the members. Etc, etc,etc. Right, let's be clear about this.
This is not a new dawn in any way, shape or form. Brown is the co-architect of New Labour (that bloody logo is back) and carrying on as such.To suggest that John Smith, Wilson or Callaghan would have welcomed anti trade union Tories ( and non card-carrying ones at that) into the Cabinet is, frankly, bollocks. Wilson was a former Bevanite and even Sunny Jim had his limits.Even Denis Healey wanted to tax the rich.......
OK, this is Brown's honeymoon period. And good to see the Tories all over the place. Thank God we didn't have Blair emoting all over the TV last weekend in Glasgow ( and I bet he would have been at the Diana concert, too) . But Brown talks the same talk - it's just more dour and miserable. People often ascribe these personality traits to lefties so I can only asssume some have mistaken Brown's earnest demeanour for socialist values. Yes, he talks of the "many,not the few" then appoints the only Minister with a butler to the Cabinet, honours Sir Digby Dastardly and welcomes him into the Cabinet of "all the talents."
Forgive me if I'm not falling over myself with joy. Frankly, Roy, I'm spitting feathers.....

DEGSY OR DIGBY?

Thanks to Comrade Yozzer for reporting that Derek Hatton ( aka Degsy) has re-joined the Labour Party and is looking for a Parliamentary seat.In the light of current events, I wish him all the best....... though I would not at all be surprised to learn he is now New Labour.

FIGHTING FOR OUR PARTY

Gordon Brown plans to destroy the last pitiful shreds of meaningful debate at Labour Party Conference. Under proposals now out for consultation ( which completely by-passed the NEC by the way) members are being asked to consider plans to end our ability to move contemporary and emergency resolutions at annual Conference. Instead, Brown is calling for generalised debates on contemporary ISSUES - with no vote. The ability of trade unions and CLPs to have their say and take policy positions will be history if these proposals become a reality. Let me put this in contex.
The last few years have seen contemporary motions on all the following issues: Iraq, Council housing, the right to secondary picketing, Gate Gourmet workers, NHS privatisation, re-nationalisation of the railways. On all these issues, the leadership was defeated. And Gordon doesn't want any more dissent. I have e-mailed NEC rep Ann Black on this and her advice is to flood the Labour Party website with your views. We have to make it clear the grassroots are strongly opposed to this blindingly obvious bid to put the last nail in the coffin of Party democracy.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR HARRY

The other night attended my local LGC meeting which was a pretty packed affair. Someone wagered this was the "Brown bounce." Hardly.

Today, I bow to the greater experience and wisdom of Harry Barnes, a former Labour MP whose blog is a fount of commonsense. Harry's from the centre-left tradition of democratic socialism and his analysis of Brown's first few days is chillingly bleak. But he's absolutely right.

We face a long hard haul and, if anyone out there thought Gordon was to the left of Blair, well it's been made horribly clear that he is not. Inviting Tories like Sir Digby Jones into the Cabinet, setting up a pro-capitalist Business Council, offering Paddy Ashdown a job as Minister.You really couldn't have made it up. As Harry says:" If Thatcher had gone as far as this we would all have screamed blue murder." The only answer I'm afraid is the serious slog of recruiting, attending meetings and getting into positions where we can start to stem the right-wing tide which effectively means we now have a National Government comprised of "all the talents" - as long as they are not on the centre-left.