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Conference news in brief – Tuesday

October 2, 2012 9:42 am

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Morning all – it’s leader’s speech today of course, but Mark will be covering that in a separate post later this morning. Here’s a round up of the other news that’s getting attention at conference today:

Poll blow for Miliband – Ahead of his speech, ComRes has the Labour lead down to three. However YouGov have Labour’s lead expanding. Only one of them can be right of course. Crucially though, the ComRes poll also found that “only two out of 10 people believe that Ed Miliband has what it takes to be a good Prime Minister”.

Alastair Campbell MP? – It could happen. He says “I do think about it and I am thinking about it”. Burnley would be one option – it’s a seat Labour lost to the Lib Dems in 2010 but should win back. And of course there should be selections for the two seats in Camden, North London, where Campbell lives.

Unions hit back at Balls – Although his speech was well received in the hall yesterday – it was notable that he didn’t explicitly refer to backing a public sector pay freeze. There has been plenty of briefing though, which has received a backlash from the unions – with Unison’s Dave Prentis saying Balls is “wrong morally and wrong economically”.

Labour 4 Big Society? – Jon Cruddas embraced the idea of a Labour version of the Big Society yesterday an an IPPR fringe. Of course, those of you here in Manchester will have a chance to ask Jon for his views on this tomorrow, when we do our Q&A.

And finally, some Olympic stardust – Lord Coe is here today. The Tory peer and Olympic supremo will take the opportunity to thank Labour figures – notably, Blair, Jowell, Livingstone and Caborn – for bringing the Olympics to London. That’s the Olympic spirit.

rekrab

I’m somewhat confused as to what John Cruddas has in mind with his references to post war Britain and the big society.Inflation has been all over the place since 2008, yet wage freezes have been consistent, the inclement weather conditions have ruined crops and basic food prices are soaring. We’ve seen a mark rise in food banks where families are queuing for a daily feed.Are we really advocating a containment of poor demand and is John Cruddas suggesting a return of a Britain that rations food? a big society that works in return for food vouchers?Will the well paid politicians that advocate these condition be seen queuing for food at a food bank?It seems to me that the political class has entrenched itself in the dirt of yesterdays living.
PaulHalsall

Leon Byrne in the Guardian today made me think of resigning party membership. I utterly detest that man as much as James Purnell and his Tory successors. Why does Miliband keep them around?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/oct/02/labour-cuts-welfare-liam-byrne

“Labour’s Liam Byrne has outlined the need to “reinvent social security for modern times” as he signalled the party intends to make savings in the welfare budget if it returns to power in 2015.”

Frankly, at this stage RESPECT looks better, and certainly the SNP if you are leftwing in Scotland.
Once again, Labour’s oxbridge boys seem determined to stick it to the poor.
- AlanGiles
  
  What makes matters worse Paul, is that careerists like Byrne and Purnell are not actually interested in their jobs anyway. They cause enormous distress and damage, and within months Purnell left Parliament (possibly in part due to his expenses fiddling) and we know Byrne was ready to resign and buggar off early this year if he could have stood as candidate for Birmingham Mayor. What committment both men shows.
  
  Why does Miliband keep him around?- because I don’t think he has the will or the guts to get rid of him. Had I been leader and he had told me that he was prepared to give up Westminster to become the Mayor of the second city – but only IF the voters in Birmingahm said yes in the referendum, I would have told him that he would have had to go back to the back benches (where he belongs) or resign as Sion Simon did, to prove his sincerity. I didn’t like Simon, but at least he had the courage of his convictions.
rekrab

They’ve done it now and I’ve witnessed every thing.Lord Tory Coe and Tessa share a labour conference platform.When will these self congratulating spinners stop? they spent a kings ransom, so of course it had to be a success.

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