Category Archives: Legend MPs

Speech for David Miliband event

by maxattacks

The Dear Leader has requested that his speech from David Miliband’s launch for the Living Wage Campaign at the University of Birmingham from the 28th October be published:

Hello and welcome to Birmingham University Labour Students launch of the Living Wage Campaign with David Miliband. I’m Daniel and I’m Chair of Birmingham University Labour Students.

Many of us in this room are members of National Labour Students, and I hope many others are soon to become members. I believe that National Labour Students are a really important wing of the Labour Party; in mobilising for Labour at elections, hosting national events and workshops, but most importantly National Labour Students proud history of campaigning, against the extortionate rise in tuition fees, in the liberation campaigns, fighting for the rights of women, disabled students, LGBT students and BAME students, rights that other students may take for granted. And now in the Living Wage Campaign, taking place on campuses across the country in Kent, Cambridge, Leeds and Leicester, and today starting here in Birmingham.

The Living Wage is the minimum hourly rate someone has to earn to afford everyday basics like housing, food, childcare. A wage as the name suggests, that you can live on, not merely exist.

In London the current rate is £8.30 an hour. In Birmingham the current rate is £7.20.  £7.20 is a target that is not only morally right, but financially achievable.

I am proud to be a member of a party who when in office introduced the National Minimum Wage. This was a huge step. The Tories said it was economically unsound. It wasn’t. The Tories said it would cost jobs. It didn’t. The same arguments are made against the Living Wage.

It is great to see in the room…

Now, I know David doesn’t need much of an introduction. David was elected to Parliament for South Shields in 2001, and in 2006 was Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where he oversaw the Climate Change Bill, before becoming the Foreign Secretary in 2007. But more important than that, Political Top Trumps gives him a ‘fanciability’ of 84.

Boys and Girls, David Miliband.

Old news

by maxattacks

Right this had to be cleared up. As you probably know the Telegraph recently published leaked documents on Ed Balls’ role in the Gordon Brown’s camps attempt to oust Blair. It seems from the documents that Balls was a primary agitator in the attempts to demand a leaving date from Blair and presenting Brown as a Prime Minister in waiting……..well is any of this new? Of course not! Will it effect his ability to do his job as Shadow Chancellor? Again, of course not! Will it mean Balls will follow a similar path to his former master, Brown and attempt to oust Ed Miliband? Of course not as unlike Blair and Brown, Balls and Miliband actually ran against each other in the leadership election which was conclusively resolved (if you exclude disgruntled sore-loser supporters of David Miliband). And frankly, Labour is far beyond the petty squabbles of the Blair-Brown and is a largely united force unlike after losing power in the 1950s and 1980s. So all of this is totally irrelevant, we have moved on.

There’s also accusations that Balls alongside Brown ignored warnings and continued spending increases well above inflation and so further created a deficit before the crash of 2008. Come off it! These claims were directed around the year of 2006….when Balls was merely a back-bench MP. Of course you have to remember this is coming from the Telegraph and these claims have jumped on by particularly Michael Gove. This is all very well, but Gove fails to mention that Gideon was committed rigorously to Labour’s spending plans up until the 2008 crash and that on the eve of the 2008 crash Brown had a lower deficit than he had inherited back in 1997 as Chancellor.

Max

A congratulations is in order

by maxattacks

Justine and Ed Miliband

Now sorry for the lack of blogging lately, we have all been massively pre-occupied with exams and the like. I myself will commence normal blogging levels after the 3rd June or so.

But anyway, I’m sure everyone in BULS and the wider political spectrum wishes Ed and Justine the very best in their marriage and wish that they have a long and happy life together.

Max

Labour now has the Balls

by maxattacks

Chris Riddell 23 January 2011

Now, I’m not going to focus on Alan Johnson, Suzy has already dealt with that, but I just like to say he’ll be surely missed from the front-line politics.

Anyway, we move onto Johnson’s successor, Ed Balls. Now to many Tories, they will regard this as a late Christmas present. The well oiled Tory party machine has already been making well-directed attacks towards Gordon Brown’s former chief economic’s adviser and playing at his past which was so intertwined with the Blair-Brown feud. Yes, Balls was a major figure during the feuds, but as a wise Baboon once said “Oh yes, de past can hurt. But the way I see it you can either run from it, or learn from it.” (the wise Baboon being Rafiki from the Lion King……..BULS draws wisdom from many walks of life). Yes, Balls’ part in the feud was far from his finest hour and many of the economic policies did contribute to the financial crisis (will come back to the latter part later). But, this is a time for Balls in particular to shape his own image and reputation. As Shadow Chancellor, with his deep knowledge of economics, he will be able to establish at least a broad thinking idea of Labour’s alternative and most likely rip Gideon to shreds in the process (I particularly like the idea of the latter).

With growth beginning to slow, inflation and unemployment rising, there has been no better time to be an “attack dog”. But the Tory-led Coalition is quick point out the failures of economic policy Labour made. We did make great progress under ‘New’ Labour, but we also made grave mistakes. But, to counter the Tory-party machine, we do need strong responses in order as well as humility about our record. When Cameron (or indeed anyone) criticises Labour failing to regulate the banks, quote back Gideon and Cameron’s years of calling for further de-regulation. And when Cameron claims Labour’s spending caused the deficit, don’t forget to remind them that Conservative spending policies before the 2008 crash would have rigidly stuck to Labour’s. The Tory-lead Coalition’s deceit cannot last forever and hopefully, Ed Balls can dispel the rhetoric as soon as.

Max

The People’s Ed

by maxattacks

I’m sat in the main auditorium at this year’s Labour Conference at Manchester Central waiting for Ed Miliband to come out and do his first question and answer session as leader of the Labour party. I look around me and it’s not the sight I expected to see. Coming to conference as a new member, I guess I didn’t know really what to expect, in truth, but I got the impression that it wasn’t the place for ordinary members to come to: everyone is in suits! And there was certainly nobody I could see below the age of 25 – quite odd considering I’d been invited by Young Labour as a new member to come along and meet Ed Miliband at some point during the day.

I ignored this feeling and shortly Ed made his way onto the stage with comedian, actor, mad man (for running 43 marathons in 50 days) Eddie Izzard! Now I’d found out were all the young members are, they were all on stage sat behind Ed and Ed. And this turned out to be the theme of the session. It was about grassroots labour for Mili E.

I’m aware that there has been some criticism of Ed in last month or so (and not just from the usual right-wing press may I say!) focused on his lack of voice and of a true alternative to the coalitions devastating cuts. At conference, however, I could tell he knew what he was doing. He understands the task in hand and has a rough idea of how to succeed in it. What he might be lacking is the specific ideas.

And this isn’t a bad thing. I’ll tell you why…

After the Q&A, Ed came along to a room to the side of the hall where 100 new young members had gathered. Also there was the general secretary, Ray Collins. After a short speech by Ed, he dug straight in and wanted to hear our opinions. That simple. He wanted us to highlight the issues young members have. A lot was discussed and as each idea was discussed it felt like real progress was happening right there.

We need a leader that listens. We need a party that listens. Because I think listening became the main factor in the election defeat. Gordon just wasn’t able to listen. If your government doesn’t listen then you aren’t going to vote for them again. Nick and Dave fooled people by saying that they were going to listen to them. People bought it. But now it appears they lied about this (shock much?).

We need members that can shape this party and determine which way it goes. If everything goes to plan, we will win the next general election. It won’t just be Ed that wins the next general election, it will be the unity of the members.

We need to join together and throw out the ‘new labour’ arguments. Every one of us has a slightly different view on past affairs and even current ones. We are never going to agree on everything but let’s agree on the values we share: the ones that protect every member of society; the ones that insure fairness! Because that’s why I joined the party in May.

I don’t think this branding of ‘Red Ed’ is going to stick. I’m personally hoping he’s going to become ‘The People’s Ed’. The leader that actually listens. And I think that’s all we need him to be. Because we can do the rest…

And if it does all start at grassroots level, then it all starts at BULS as well!

I know I’m ready for the fight, are you?

Oliver Cosentino, BULS Member

 

In defence of Harriet Harman

by maxattacks

Harriet Harman

“OH SHUT UP!!” are the words I shouted at my laptop screen upon seeing this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11719438. No, not at Harriet Harman, but at the ludicrously stupid Labour MPs, calling on her to resign after the events of former MP and Minister, Woolas’ expulsion from the Commons.

Harman disowned Woolas for an extremely good reason, he lied, not only that but knowingly, directly to his own constituents whose votes he was trying to win over. If we are trying to represent the true “new” politics, it’s vital that we do not tolerate the “old” and all the negativity and petty points scoring that came with it. Woolas’ decision was his own and yes the Tories may have lied and exaggerated themselves (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11614602), but as the old saying goes, two wrongs don’t make a right. We certainly do not have to stoop to their level.

Max

The first of many to come…

by maxattacks

Ed Miliband at his debut PM's questions

When David Cameron (DC) and Nick Clegg (Cleggy) first had their first press conference in the No. 10 garden last May, they urged the reporters there and the wider public that this is the new politics, “co-operation in the national interest.” which no one can deny is not a good thing. But, a new politics that breaks with the past is a politics that leaves behind the petty point scoring and squabbling of the House of Commons that has plagued most notably PMQs since the late 1960s and particularly since the 1980s.

This is something DC failed to demonstrate today in (Ed Miliband’s very first) PMQs as the Coalition’s new politics often very much looked, sounded and seemed like the old. After five years of complaining that his predecessors did NOT answer the vast majority of his questions, DC seemed very unable to answer Ed Miliband’s questions on Child Benefit. What seemed to happen in the end was DC questioning Miliband on his own policies to which quite rightly he didn’t answer to (to simple fact that this is Prime Ministers Questions) instead brilliantly replying “I may be new to this game, but if I remember rightly it’s my job to ask the questions.”.

Ed Miliband was at least trying to break this mould, let’s only hope the Coalition follows suit.

Max

Ever heard that one about the lesbian on the front bench?

by suzannahrobinson



Well now you have. Angela Eagle, one of only two out lesbians in the House of Commons (the other one being Margot James, vice-chairman of the Conservative Party),  has been appointed to the role of shadow secretary to the treasury. Being a woman, being gay, being out… these are all difficult things in the House. The Independent’s pink list this year contained about a dozen LGBT politicians. And they are gradually increasing in number and prominence, with MPs on both sides of the house getting civil partnerships.

But being openly gay is still not easy. Last month’s survey of the number of LGB people in the UK showed 1.5% of people classifying themselves as LGB, but the massive success of gay dating websites such as Gaydar suggest 6.7% is closer to the real figure. So many people are terrified to admit it to themselves or their families and friends, and this is partly down to a lack of prominent, successful role models, and partly to the fear of a hostile reaction, or simply of being misunderstood and drawing unwanted attention.

This is exactly why it is essential that public figures bite the bullet and come out – no more sham marriages or “landlord” situations, no more reluctant admissions following media scoops, no more “don’t ask don’t tell”. Successful, prominent and respected people declaring themselves to be LGBT really can broaden the public’s perception of what it means to be gay.

The most effective way of changing public opinion is to introduce everyone to a gay person. And if it’s 6.7% of us, that’s already happened to everyone already. They just don’t know it yet. This generation is growing up with equal rights, with gay cabinet ministers and peers, with gay millionaires. We’re the ones who are gonna change things. And if we don’t, we’re the ones who are gonna have to live with it.

Suzy

I can’t say I’m not quite surprised

by maxattacks

Well the results are in for the Shadow Cabinet and to be fair, the appointments have had their surprises. Former Home, Health and Education Secretary Alan Johnson is to take the role as Shadow Chancellor. Now I doubt many were expecting this move from Ed, but if you think about it logically, it is rather a good move. Johnson regards himself as a loyalist by nature (so wont cause much in the way of infighting the Blair-Brown era saw) and given he was a strong supporter of Miliband the Elder during the Leadership campaign this appointment by Ed keeps to his word that he wishes to use all areas of Labour whoever they supported. This also has the added bonus of “balancing” the Shadow Cabinet out as there’s certainly no way anyone is going to call Johnson “Red”, despite being a former Trade Union leader. And to anyone who says Johnson can’t possibly apart of Ed’s “new generation”, think again and remember the “new generation” is not defined by age, but rather your mindset.

Here’s the full Shadow Cabinet results:

Leader of the Opposition: Ed Miliband

Deputy Leader and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development: Harriet Harman

Shadow Chancellor: Alan Johnson

Shadow Foreign Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities: Yvette Cooper

Shadow Home Secretary: Ed Balls

Chief Whip: Rosie Winterton

Shadow Education Secretary: Andy Burnham

Shadow Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform): Sadiq Khan

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary: Douglas Alexander

Shadow Business Secretary: John Denham

Shadow Health Secretary: John Healey

Shadow Secretary Communities and Local Government Secretary: Caroline Flint

Shadow Defence Secretary: Jim Murphy

Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary: Meg Hillier

Shadow Commons Leader: Hilary Benn

Shadow Transport Secretary: Maria Eagle

Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary: Mary Creagh

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury: Angela Eagle

Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary: Shaun Woodward

Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland: Ann McKechin

Shadow Welsh Secretary: Peter Hain

Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary: Ivan Lewis

Shadow Lords Leader: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

Shadow Olympics Minister: Tessa Jowell

Shadow Cabinet Office Minister: Liam Byrne

Lords Chief Whip: Lord Bassam of Brighton

Shadow Attorney-General: Baroness Scotland

(Note the red to point out that we are all “Reds” as I know I certainly wouldn’t whant a “Blue” or “Yellow” Shadow Member of the Cabinet……and the simple fact that “Red” Ed isn’t insulting at all but rather, quite funny that many in the likes of BUC”F” think it is)

Max

That was it and now this will be it…

by maxattacks

010267563-1

Ed Miliband, former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and MP for Doncaster North has been elected leader of the Labour Party and is now also leader of the Official (and truly only) Opposition. I’d be lying if I didn’t say the media mobbing Ed and also seeing him make his victory speech was rather surreal and even a bit odd (though not in any bad way). His victory was won by the narrowest of margins, 1.3%(!) over his brother, but whatever the system and whatever the margin, a victory is still a victory and is now vital that despite whoever you wanted leader, we all  back him.

Special commiserations for his brother, for being tipped for the last three years as the obvious successor to Brown and then to come so close must be almost heart breaking, but he was mature (and loving) enough to claim that “this is Ed’s day”, so I do hope he can keep his role as Shadow Foreign Secretary.

One thing I did notice, was the apparent glee from the Tory ranks. Apparently, Ed is somehow a return to the 1980s, a “Red Ed” and handing the Coalition electoral success on a platter. Really? For one Ed served Gordon Brown for 13 years as a policy adviser, he’s certainly a far flung from the militancy from that era. And also, they underestimate him at their own peril, hell; 3 years ago barely anyone had even heard of Ed, to turn everything around against all expectations (and his own brother) are something to be taken seriously.

It’s safe to say “New” Labour is truly at end, it is time for Labour to move on from the Blair-Brown era and let the new progressive era dawn very soon. Now bring on the real change and 2015!

Max

The future is in your hands

by maxattacks

Yesterday saw the sending out ballot papers to all Labour MPs, MEPs, Party Members and affiliated Society Members. Who will it be as Labour’s next leader, Abbott, Balls, Burnham, Miliband the Elder or Miliband the Younger? This blog is not here to suggest who you should vote for *cough* Ed Miliband *cough*, but rather to think long and hard, as we are now the sole progressive party with any chance of power in Britain (the Lib Dems are now a bigger sell out than “New” Labour with the coalition agreement and the Tories….well, just ask the IFS) and your vote will count to shaping the future of true British progressiveness (if that’s even a word).

Max

In Praise of Gordon Brown

by maxattacks

Sorry these two blogs were not up sooner, the committee email accounts password has been changed, Max.

The Shakespearean tragedy that was the premiership of Gordon Brown was both frustrating and depressing for many a Labour member. The return of the Prince of Darkness; the eerily coincidental timing of Gordon’s entry into number ten, almost exactly at the moment the Western economy went tumbling off a cliff; the cringe-worthy youtube attempt at reaching out to ordinary voters; the desperate Hoon-Hewitt plot and, of course, Bigotgate. All of these made me want to hug our leader and offer him warm words of encouragement, but also simultaneously slap him on the back and say “Hey, Gordon, do you think maybe this just isn’t your day?”
 
So I was uplifted and proud when I came across an interview with Gordon by Christina Patterson in The Independent on Monday which showed him to be a dignified, modest man who can see his own faults but is also proud of his roots and his values, and has the neediest and poorest in society in mind - both home and abroad - now that he is a full time constituency MP.
 
He seemed to be on a non-stop tour of Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath, leaving the reporter breathless as he dashed between an industrial estate, a youth project and the home of his beloved Raith Rovers football club. He seemed disappointed but resolute when discussing both his future and the shameful termination of the Future Jobs Fund by the Coalition government (apparently all of these people will magically gain new jobs in the resurgent and dynamic voluntary and private sectors, which the government hopes will bounce back within five years at a similar rate to China or India). Although he would not be drawn on his intimate feelings on no longer being in charge, was evasive on domestic issues, and seemed to want to give a history lecture (which betrayed his forensic knowledge of Fife), he proved that he is determined to stand up for both those from the declining industries of this working class constituency in the face of savage Thatcherite cuts and the ‘Big Society’, and those in far away lands who have probably never even heard of him. The recent announcement that the proceeds from his next book will go to charities bears a stark contrast with the arrogant and self-indulgent memoirs of Mandelson and Blair.
 
Gordon Brown re-enforces the belief in me that you need to know what it is like to live in these forgotten but resolute communities with high unemployment and derelict industry in order to deliver the best policies for them. He re-enforces the belief in me that although we are all far from perfect we can make small but significant improvements to ordinary people’s lives by intervening, even in the depths of recession. He re-enforces in me the belief that years from now he may not be regarded by historians as one of the best PMs but that his greatest achievement amongst many was saving the economy both in Britain and globally from a 1930s-style catastrophe.
 
It is no wonder that in some cases the disregarded communities of Britain feel compelled to apathy, extremist politics or even in extreme circumstances sympathy for those who have ‘defied the authorities’ like the murderer Raoul Moat. Let us not be too hasty in rejecting the previous leader of the Labour party and everything about his style and policies as we elect the next one.
 
By Luke Jones, BULS member

London Calling

by suzannahrobinson

Soundbites from BULS members on leadership:

Ken Livingstone wants to push through money-making and environmental reforms that local councils across the country could benefit from.

I don`t live in London, so I don`t care as long as the mayor is Labour. (thanks Ben)

Oona King is a faux labour, über Blairite, war supporting opportunist. And being a Blairite IS a bad thing because he`s a war criminal and didn`t stay true to Labour`s values.

King is the Labour of the future, Ken is the past. Blair never lost an election, and you can`t get anywhere on ideology alone (see: the 1980s). Also let`s wait for the report to conclude on whether or not he`s a criminal.

Blair had a time and place, but now the public want a fresh, more ideological Labour. Go Ed Miliband!

Suzy

How to lose a PM in 30 days

by Nash

Observing recent political events in West Island from across the ditch, I have been struck by both the swiftness and the apparent brutality of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s removal by his own party in favour of his second-in-command Julia Gillard. The justification for his removal apparently a decline in Labor support in the polls during an election year; for which he as leader was deemed responsible. To a UK political observer the initial comparison is inevitable (and Martin Kettle at the Guardian milks it for all its worth).

But UK Labour is not Australian Labor, and we should be glad of this. Firstly Australian Labor is institutionally factionalised in a way which makes Blairite-Brownite “rifts” look like trivial squabbles over soccer team affiliation. Rudd had no core faction behind him, hence when the challenge came they swung behind Gillard. In addition, Rudd had probably alienated the powerful union factors with miner membership though his proposals for a new supertax on mining profits. The plan to reinvest these profits to the benefit of all Australians is in principle a sound idea, but one which threatened the interests of mine workers. Consequent hostile advertising from this sector likely cost a few points in the opinion polls and encouraged Rudd’s colleagues (with union backing) to act. Some of us in English circles may smile wryly at the thought that there is somewhere in the west where miners can still bring down a PM.

It is also much easier to stage a coup when only MPs have a say in their party’s choice of leader. Much of the action happened overnight in this time zone – talk of speculation coming around midnight followed by the news of Rudd’s resignation when I woke up on the floor the next morning. By teatime Gillard was meeting the Governor-General. Had Milliband, D. ever followed through on his many threats to stick the knife in we’d have gone through the whole nominations, campaigning, and membership ballots palaver. Arguably this grants the incumbent a significant advantage, but if it saves us the undignified spectacle of a brutal internal coup whilst being notionally more democratic then I for one am grateful.

Rudd had been in office for just under two and a half years, after a landslide victory in ’07. He had brought the Labor party back into power after 13 years of opposition. He’d initially taken a bold stand on global warming in a country with a deeply sceptical (and Murdoch-tainted) media, and at least attempted to redress historical grievances with the indigenous peoples. Until a matter of months ago he had polled as the 2nd most popular Australian PM in history – now he becomes the only to be ousted from office in a single term. 3-year term limits mean that an election was likely before the end of this year; with a change at the top it will likely come about even sooner (as Gillard herself has stated). We shall see if the Labor party’s gamble pays off. If it does, there may well be many a forlorn “what-if?” in the Milliband camp (though Labor’s defeat is not as likely, let alone as certain, as ours appeared in ‘09). I’m not sure which reflects worse on a party – regicide against a successful election winner, or the prospect of changing leaders twice in one term. “Unelected Prime Minister” rhetoric is disingenuous yet potent amongst the electorate, especially when there is very little to hide the naked ambition of those who make it to the top. I’ve seen identity politics used already to justify the outcome; a seemingly desperate spin. On this note it may be worth considering the success of other welsh redheaded Labo(u)r leaders.

I’m glad this undignified spectacle never befell Gordon. Rudd gave a gracious albeit tearful resignation speech, worth watching if only for his parting joke of “I’m still Prime Minister for another 30 minutes… I’m no longer leader of the Labor Party but I am Prime Minister… anything could happen folks”. To an outsider he seems a decent, honourable and principled man – I only hope his party don’t wind up regretting what they’ve done.

Comrade Nash

- BULS Southern Hemisphere correspondent

Jim Garner

by suzannahrobinson

Recently elected to the new constituency of South Luxton and Wetfield,  Jim Garner is the latest candidate to join the Labour leadership race.

He’s running a hi-tech grass-roots campaign, with a website, twitter and facebook groups already up and running.

Jim brushes aside those who question his maturity and experience, saying that he is “Secretary of State for Understanding Normal People in the Cabinet of Life”.

Without criticising the others who are running he declares himself to be the “choice candidate”, on friendly terms with Ed Balls but disagreeing with David Miliband over favourite snacks.

Thanks to Jim the contest should be getting a whole lot more interesting.

Suzy

Lest we forget

by maxattacks

David Miliband said the ‘New’ Labour era is over. This may well be true and I know a few BULS members are glad of it, but we shall never forget ‘New’ Labour’s achievements and should never fail to build upon them, so I’ll leave you with a section from Gordon Brown’s final conference speech.

Max

Goodbye Brown

by suzannahrobinson

Bowing to the judgement of the electorate, and in a dignified and timely manner, Gordon Brown has resigned as PM. As he refused to back a candidate for the Party leadership, so he refused to mention Clegg or Cameron, instead telling the waiting cameras how much he has enjoyed the opportunity to do good that his job has offered, and how much he’s looking forward to focussing on being a husband and father.

BULS pays tribute to his many years of devoted service, his economic prowess and his honest and heartfelt efforts to improve the lot of the British people and the world’s poorest.

As for the new coalition government, my feelings are summed up in this pithy poem:

Roses are red,

Labour are too

We were right when we warned them

Vote yellow get blue

But here’s to making the most of opposition. Here’s to laughing in the face of compromise and putting our Labour values first. Here’s to spending more time and effort in constituencies and local government. Here’s to doing everything we can to make this time count. And here’s to getting back in as soon as the electorate deems us worthy.

Suzy

Something else to be proud of…

by suzannahrobinson

Labour had 191 women PPCs prior to this election, which has translated into 81 women MPs – 31% of Labour MPs.

For comparison:

Labour had 101 women MPs in 1997, 24% of the total.

And the tories in 2010?

48 women MPs. 15% of the total.

Labour have also provided parliament with its first 3 muslim women MPs – Rushanara Ali of Bethnal Green and Bow, Yasmin Qureshi of Bolton South East and Shabana Mahmood of our very own Birmingham Ladywood!

And 12 other black or ethnic minority MPs – Diane Abbott kept Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Keith Vaz kept Leicester East, Marsha Singh of Bradford West, Sharma Virendra of Ealing Southall, Gavin Shuker of Luton South, Khalid Mahmood of our own Birmingham Perry Barr, the great David Lammy of Tottenham, Sadiq Khan of “yes we Khan” fame and Tooting, Mark Hendrick of Preston, Anas Sarwar of Glasgow Central, Chuka Umunna of Streatham and Dr Chinyelu Susan Onwurah of Newcastle Central.

That’s 5.8% of Labour MPs. We’re almost there on representation, at least as regards sex and ethnicity!

So proud to be Labour. Our party prioritises equality. You can’t say fairer than that.

Suzy

Ashok Kumar

by maxattacks

Labour MP Ashok Kumar

It was revealed today that Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Ashok Kumar, 53, has suffered a “sudden accidental” death at his home. This is a man that won his seat in 1991 through a by-election but then went onto to narrowly lose it in the 1992 election, but then to stay on and then win back his seat in 1997 and the subsequent elections after is quite an achievement. He was regarded as “a fine politician who served his constituency and his constituents with diligence and unswerving commitment.” Our thoughts are with his family, friends and constituents.

Max

Alan Johnson

by maxattacks

Yesterday 5 BULS members were privileged enough to go and see the Home Secretary speak and take questions. Now I myself until then had been unsure what to make of the man since he took office, but after that afternoon I was thoroughly reassured. Admittedly, he was presented with quite a friendly audience but he was very easily able to answer everyone’s question (bar my own as Dan Harrison, who was sitting next to me, asked a question near the start so he kind of ignored that area every time) rather than just diverting or rambling on about something else (like Dave). Unfortunately, we were only able to get the one photo as evidence we were there and that is currently on Dan’s phone which will take about 3 years to download, but we’ll have proof soon enough.

Max

Michael Foot

by maxattacks

 Michael Foot, former MP for Plymouth Devonport (1945-55) and Blaenau Gwent (1960-92), Secretary of State for Employment (1974-76), Deputy PM and Leader of the Commons (1976-79) and most famously Leader of the Opposition (1980-83), has died today. Whatever your personal opinion on his values and ideas, it undeniable he was one of the giants of the Labour party in the post-war period. Being born in 1913 meant he witnessed a lot through the changing and often turbulent 20th Century, the First World War, the Great Depression, the Second World War, Labour’s first true ascension to power, the 1950s, the “swinging” 60s, the turbulent 70s, the Thatcher years and despite retiring in 1992, beyond that as well.

Unfortunately for Foot, he is most remembered for the disastrous election defeat Labour suffered in 1983, but, the circumstances of events can often be over looked. Though Foot is considered by many a failure as Labour leader, his biographer Mervyn Jones strongly makes the case that no one else could have held Labour together at the time, particularly in the face of the strength of Militant tendency and the splinter SDP movement. He was indeed a man of strong principles (a staunch Republican, he had always rejected honours from the Queen and the government, including a knighthood and a peerage, on more than one occasion) and often unafraid to support his political opponents when he believed the cause was just, as seen with the Falkland’s war.

I myself would have disagreed with him on a number of issues, but when it comes to a man with such strong beliefs, right or wrong, it does command a high degree of respect.

Max

RIP David Taylor, MP

by maxattacks

David Taylor MP

David Taylor, the 63 year old Labour MP for North West Leicestershire died at Queen’s Hospital, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. He served on three select committees, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and he was chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health. I believe everyone here could wish their deepest condolonces to his family and friends and the constituents of North West Leicestershire.

Pizza with Jaqui Smith

by chrisblewitt

My first experience of being involved in a political experience was on Saturday 3rd October. I had never been politically active before and was not actually that well informed about politics. I decided to join the Labour Society at the Society Fair as it was the party I related to the most but mainly because I wanted to understand more about the World of Politics.
 
We took the train into Redditch where we were greeted by Richard Smith – Jacqui’s husband. I didn’t really understand what it was we were actually going to do but I was soon to find out. We split off into groups and each went into a different part of Redditch where we door knocked and filled in a Voter ID form. It was a good experience to talk with people on their doorsteps about what they felt about local politics – that is when they opened their doors and didn’t pretend not to hear me, or when their dogs didn’t try to bite my ankles.
 
This was followed by leafleting in another area of Redditch. Although easier than having to face people on their doorsteps I preferred making contact with people and hearing their opinions.
 
We were then taken in Richards car back to the Smith’s home where we were invited to pizza, dips and beer. It was fascinating to listen to the Labour society, Jacqui Smith and local Redditch Councillors talking about what I still feel is the foreign world of politics. It did however make me want to learn and understand more about it, which was probably the best thing I took away from the experience.

by Amira Mullaney

Recent blog success!

by chrisblewitt

In the past week and a half we have had over 3,500 hits on our buls.org website! This has been fantastic work from all of you guys getting involved and making some brilliant contributions. The tories have definately helped our cause here, and a special thankyou must be made to a certain Tory MP for taking time out of his busy schedule to enlighten us all with his thoughtful and intuitive contributions.

Keep it up guys!

Legend MP: Pat McFadden

by Tom Guise

Pat McFadden MP gloriously put Mad-Nadine Dorries in her rightful place, rejecting outright her wish to debate abortion and not the important matter of minimum wage enforcement.  Here is the exchange:

Mrs. Nadine Dorries (Mid-Bedfordshire) (Con): I hope to be called to speak later as my interests are wide and varied, but for now I ask the Minister to inform me why he feels that this Bill is more important than the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which we should have been debating today?

Mr. McFadden: The House discusses many important issues, and I disagree with the hon. Lady if she feels that it is not important that the House debates minimum wage enforcement and the other subjects the Employment Bill addresses. I am glad we have this opportunity to debate them today.

Mr. McFadden will recieve a BULS salute when we return from our summer hols in September.

Legend: David Clelland MP

by Tom Guise

Following on from our recent series on legendary MPs, in which we exposed Nick Palmer to be the comic genius he truly is, I wanted to turn BULS’ attention to Mr. David Clelland.  The Labour MP for Tyne Bridge will recieve a full BULS salute when we return to Uni in the Autumn.  You may have heard that Mr. Clelland recieved a rather rude letter from a constituent, informing him that he was actually a fascist and was always voting the wrong way, for his party.  Mr. Clelland sent back this wonderfully crafted letter to his constituent.  I for one know similar people I would like this letter to be sent to and I hope Mr. Clelland won’t mind if I do a little copy and paste job.