Tag: Labour Party

Scottish support for Starmer’s leadership bid

Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird backs Keir Starmer’s bid for the Labour leadership

  • Laird praises Keir’s leadership skills and “socialist credentials”

  • Former MP served as Shadow Scottish Secretary in Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench team

Keir Starmer’s campaign for leadership of the Labour Party was today boosted by the endorsement of former Shadow Scottish Secretary Lesley Laird. 

Ms Laird served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet alongside Keir Starmer, until she lost her Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat in the December general election.

Praising Keir’s “socialist credentials”, Lesley Laird said: “I’m supporting Keir Starmer in this leadership election because I believe throughout this campaign already Keir has really shown his socialist credentials, which are going to be so important in taking forward the party and our policies to the electorate”. 

Praising Keir’s leadership abilities, she added:  “I’ve known Keir through our shadow cabinet roles, where he’s shown leadership – leadership at the despatch box and leadership in terms of the PLP – taking on difficult times and difficult territory for our Party through the Brexit process.

“I believe he has built up the trust and confidence of our PLP, of our wider membership and I believe he has the skills and the ability to build up the trust and confidence in the country – that will return a Labour Government.”

Mr Starmer is the overwhelming favourite to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, with the other candidates Rebecca Long Bailey and Lia Nandy trailing.

Angela Rayner heads the race to become Deputy Leader.

Ballots will be dispatched to eligible Labour Party members from Monday 24 February.

They came from the East … and took away the trophy!

Congratulations to Edinburgh Eastern Labour Party’s ‘East Meets West’ quiz team, who fought off all challengers to win the Gavin Strang Edinburgh Quaich at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre earlier this month. Continue reading They came from the East … and took away the trophy!

Side by Side? Labour councillors to host community event

sidebyside

Housing and care services are in crisis. Can local community co-operatives help to meet local needs?

These are questions for a ‘radical’ new community project in Edinburgh Northern and Leith. Side by Side aims to explore how we can learn from each other and work together to create positive practical change in our local neighbourhood.

Housing, environment and care of the young and elderly were the top concerns to emerge from two community Open Space events in the last 12 months.  The first event identified the needs; the second came up with bold ideas to fill gaps in local services – including housing and childcare co-operatives

Now Side by Side aims to take the next step with The Gathering, at Norton Park Conference Centre on Saturday 3 December.  And this time the event will start by celebrating the successes and achievements of local groups who are already changing lives.     

‘Through our events we discovered fantastic creative enterprises in Edinburgh Northern and Leith,’ says Fay Young, one of the organisers, ‘But not everyone knows about them. We hope to learn from each other to build on what is here already and generate new ideas to enhance quality of life in our area.’  

Keynote speaker Josh Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, will set the tone of an event which seeks to ‘share best practice and build on local achievements’. A panel of experts from Pilton Community Health Project, Port of Leith Housing Association, Shrub Swap and Reuse Hub and North Edinburgh Childcare will also provide first hand accounts of successful community enterprises and projects.

Workshop discussions and outcomes will be led and decided by the audience and facilitated by Judith Chivers. Proposals put forward by The Gathering will contribute to a community manifesto for our neighbourhood in time for the local authority elections in May 2017. 

Side by Side has grown from two Open Space community discussion events hosted by Councillor Lesley Hinds, in December 2015 and April 2016.  Local organisations and residents were invited to explore how we might make use of new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to improve life in our part of Edinburgh. 

Councillor Hinds who is standing down after 33 years on City of Edinburgh Council said:  ‘I promised to turn words into action and that is what The Gathering aims to do. My colleagues will ensure this is taken forward”.

Side by Side is a community project open to all. The Gathering will be introduced and hosted by Labour Councillors for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and is supported by Leith Open Space, an intercultural community discussion group formed in 2005.

Edinburgh based Selah Corbin, a cinematic songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work has been likened to “paintings that come alive”   will provide the music and a light lunch of delicious food from Punjabi Junction will be served.

To take part, book now on   Eventbrite   https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/side-by-side-edinburgh-northern-and-leith-gathering-tickets-28336222404?aff=es2

and follow Facebook.com/SBSGathering   and   http://www.edinburghlabournorthernandleith.org.uk/ for updates.

For further information please contact Marion Donaldson councillormariondonaldson@gmail.com

Community groups welcome at Anti-Cuts event

Still time to register for Saturday’s conference
edinburgh-castle

Edinburgh Labour Anti Cuts Conference

Saturday 1 October, 9.15 am – 4.00 pm, St Thomas of Aquin’s High School, 2- 20 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh

Hi, a reminder that if you haven’t already done so you can still register here for Saturday’s event:
Full details of the event can be found here:
We’d really welcome your attendance and involvement.

Letter: Political Assassination

letter (2)
Dear Editor
The anti-Jeremy Corby campaign is relentless. It is to the shame of those labour members of parliament who have not only joined in but have and are actively taking part.
Jeremy Corbyn was elected as the leader of the labour party on policies supported and expounded by him.So what has happened ?, Jeremy Corbyn still supports and campaigns for those policies he was elected on, it is his opponents who have changed their minds and claiming that he, Corbyn, is splitting the party
.
This allegation is denying reality in that far from splitting the labour party it has grown to over 500,000 since he was elected the leader, This number being larger than all other party memberships put together!
The conclusion must be it is the policies the anti-Corbyn campaigners disagree with but have not the honesty to say so,Further,, their course of action should have been to debate policies in the democratic structures of the party instead of choosing to act as they have.
A. Delahoy (by email)

Don’t make Scotrail decision before new powers devolved: Lararowicz

trains at newcastle station

Loal MP Mark Lazarowicz has backed a call by Scottish Labour MPs, MSPs and the RMT rail union for the retendering of the ScotRail and Caledonian sleeper franchises to be postponed in the light of the timetable for the devolution of new powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed that the new devolved powers should include further devolution of powers over rail transport.

The Government is to publish the proposals of each of the three main Westminster parties by 30 October and the Scottish people, civil society in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament will then be consulted on them, but a decision on the company to operate the Scotrail franchise is due to be announced this month with the franchise to start in April 2015 and to run for the next 10 years.

The North and Leith MP said: “The proposals for further devolution include new powers covering rail transport and in the light of that I am calling on the Scottish Government to postpone the retendering of the ScotRail and Caledonian sleeper franchises.

“That would mean that once the powers are devolved the Scottish Government will be free to decide whether it wishes to run rail services in the public sector rather than continuing with privatisation.

“The new powers should enable the Scottish people to make a real choice about the kind of society we are and, on rail as on other issues, the Scottish Government should not make that decision for us before we are able to.”

The timetable for the transfer of further powers to the Scottish Parliament can be found in the text of a Parliamentary Motion at

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmagenda/fb141013.htm

[Section B, no. 28]

Labour talking transport in Stockbridge

What’s the way forward for transport in Edinburgh?  Edinburgh Labour is holding a consultation event in Stockbridge House next week to let local people have their say on transport priorities for the city.

Labour Councilor Lesley Hinds wants hear locals views on transport. (Picture: Thomas Brown)

Inverleith councillor Lesley Hinds, who is also Labour’s Transport spokesperson, explained:  ” I want to listen to a range of views and ideas from a variety of groups and individuals.  I want to feed them into our manifesto promises and Edinburgh Labour wants you to be part of our vision for moving Edinburgh forward after the elections in May.  Here are some of the key issues I believe are facing Edinburgh’s transport system today:

  • How are we going to keep Edinburgh moving in the 21st Century in a way that meets the needs of residents, commuters and businesses, whilst looking after our planet?
  • How do we meet the challenge of an increasing population and car ownership?
  • How do we enable more people to make a positive choice for public transport, walking and cycling?”

The consultation event will take place at Stockbridge House in Cheyne Street on Monday evening from 7pm.  If you are unable to attend but would like to put forward any ideas or comments please contact Lesley Hinds by email at lhinds@blueyonder.co.uk