Quote on the day: Keep your jacket on, Ed

Moving on from New Labour, not going back to old Labour – Miliband sets out programme for power at NPF

Ed Miliband will make a speech to Labour’s National Policy Forum (NPF) in Milton Keynes today, setting out a “programme of Government” that would leave New Labour behind without going back to old Labour. He will say that his plan for power is “more radical and more ambitious”, by dealing with the specific challenges of the modern era. He will say: “We have moved on from New Labour. And we are not going back to old Labour. Instead, our programme for Government is more […]

Charging migrants to use the NHS is unethical – Labour should say so

By Maya Goodfellow

It’s been a busy news week in Westminster – with the furore over David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle, the extremely worrying and invasive Data Retention and Investigative Powers Act (DRIP) passing through Parliament, today’s debate in the House of Lords over the Assisted Dying Bill debate and the tragic Malaysian Airlines crash. But, whenever there’s this much going on in UK politics, we should take a moment to think about what we’ve missed. One of the pieces of news that’s received […]

Labour peer says assisted dying law is about “compassion and human dignity”

Former Labour Lord-Chancellor, Lord Falconer, today opened the debate in the House of Lords over the Assisted Dying and urging his fellow peers to support the Bill. Lord Falconer, who is leading the campaign on the Bill, explained that it was time to “for a change in the law, but only a very limited and safeguarded change.” He said that the law would mean that those who are terminally ill – and only those with less than 6 months to live – and mentally […]

Frank Dobson set to announce his retirement

Frank Dobson, the long-serving MP for Holborn & St Pancras, will next week announce his intention to stand down from Parliament, it is understood. He’ll announce his decision on Tuesday, at a meeting of his CLP. He has represented the seat in the  Commons since 1979. Dobson, who is retiring at the age of 74  began his career in politics at Camden London Borough Council, where he was elected as a councillor in 1971 before becoming leader of the council […]

National Policy Forum – Liveblog

By Mark Ferguson

10.06: As for the Trident debate, Labour CND have pushed back against the claim that there’s only small opposition to Trident now. They point to this as evidence of “overwhelming opposition” in CLPs. We shall see, if/when it goes to a vote on Sunday. 09.45: Quick clarification first – the motion I mentioned in the last update (09.00) should have said “boycott motion on goods from Israeli settlements” – which is obviously quite different. Apologies for the error – but there are […]