14 year old cast ballot against Tories

Selections roundup – including the No.1 seat on Labour’s target seat list, and a double-header in Brighton

There were a number of Labour PPCs selected over the weekend as the selection process for 2015 continues to heat up. There were two selections on the same day in Brighton, one in Warrington – and the candidate for Labour’s No.1 target seat was selected. North Warwickshire and Bedworth – the party’s No.1 target seat chose their PPC on Saturday, and former MP Mike O’Brien was (re)selected on Saturday to try and reclaim the seat for Labour. He lost out in [...]

Say No to the recall of MPs!

By Brian Barder

I have been surprised by the extent of media and other support, including editorially by the Guardian, for the proposal now espoused by the government for a given percentage of an MP’s constituents to be allowed to ‘recall’ him or her between elections, either ending his political career or forcing him to vacate his seat and stand for re-election in a by-election. This whole idea seems to me misconceived.  Fear of de-selection already makes too many MPs slaves of their [...]

There’s much to welcome from Stephen Twigg’s speech – but many questions too. What do you want to ask him?

By Mark Ferguson

There’s much to welcome from Stephen Twigg’s major speech on schools today. Some will doubtless dwell on the news that Labour has no plans to close pre-existing free schools, but this isn’t a new policy – it’s one Twigg made clear was Labour’s policy when I interviewed him last year and one he reiterated a few months later. I’d rather focus on his announcement that there will be no more Free Schools under a Labour government (which some have hilariously try [...]

“It’s not over until it’s over” – Waheed Alli and the fight for Equal Marriage

By Mark Ferguson

Waheed Alli doesn’t strike me as someone who leaves things to chance. Being successful in politics, finance and the media doesn’t come by chance. And neither does winning a vote in the Lords on Equal Marriage. Over the past fifteen years (since he became a peer aged just 34 – making him the then youngest peer in parliament – in 1998) Alli has been closely involved with many important pieces of Equality legislation. In particular, he is credited with spearheading [...]

We are the party of work. Labour – the clue is in the name

By Stephen Timms

Last week the facts were laid out for all to see.  Across the piece this Conservative led-Government has failed to address unemployment, tackle child poverty or improve the living standards of hard working Britons. Just over three years into this jaded Government, it is not a record to be proud of. Here are the facts. Child poverty is on the rise.  Government policies have pushed an extra 300,000 children into absolute poverty.  Progress in tackling relative child poverty has completely [...]