Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
After a very successful meeting last night I feel compelled to report to here.I was asked to open the meeting with my report on the Youth Conference 2012. As I was describing my experiences, I noticed that community and voter engagement remained the theme. Me and my fellow comrade, Georgia Power, had decided prior to the meeting to do our best to get young people in the community active. We proposed setting up stalls cross the valley at various markets to get people involved, particularly young people-but all ages welcome to speak to us!. From here we would like to take part in any community service that is required. It could from fixing a fence to cleaning graffiti! We think this shows us as a party getting out there and caring for our community. After all these are out potential supporters for 2015.
Following this report our feedback consisted of a few questions. The main concern was the longevity of our campaign, as young people had pledged before and then either left for university or gone passed the age of 'Young Labour'. Well I think what me and Georgia have set in place will work and go beyond ourselves, even if it is not specifically marketed under the young section of our branch, we are still getting into the community to engage voters. Our guest speaker last night was Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central, he gave an excellent speech that re-iterated mine and Georgia's enthusiasm for the community.
Benn was very well informed and it really gave me an insight to the front bench. National politics is absolutely important but he stressed localism was the key to voter engagement. A member of Colne Valley expressed his concern that often in opposition Labour stress localism but in power it never amounts to anything. Benn pointed out that the funding was much greater to local councils under Labour than the current government and this branch of support was the key to localism, he further added to our councillors that the funding they are able to provide cannot be calculated at this moment in time as the economy won't be certain for another 2/3 years. I thought this commendable and pragmatic.
The Conservatives seem to have attacked us for not being pragmatic enough, including when dealing with the banking crisis. However Benn pointed out that when Northern Rock was crumbling, people queued up outside in that terribly British fashion and in the face of adversity Labour nationalised Northern Rock in order for people to keep their savings. Benn points out that this started the recession but PREVENTED depression, which is where we are headed right now under the Conservatives. We only have to looks at 1930's America to learn that this could be the case if Osborne continues.
Following this report our feedback consisted of a few questions. The main concern was the longevity of our campaign, as young people had pledged before and then either left for university or gone passed the age of 'Young Labour'. Well I think what me and Georgia have set in place will work and go beyond ourselves, even if it is not specifically marketed under the young section of our branch, we are still getting into the community to engage voters. Our guest speaker last night was Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central, he gave an excellent speech that re-iterated mine and Georgia's enthusiasm for the community.
Benn was very well informed and it really gave me an insight to the front bench. National politics is absolutely important but he stressed localism was the key to voter engagement. A member of Colne Valley expressed his concern that often in opposition Labour stress localism but in power it never amounts to anything. Benn pointed out that the funding was much greater to local councils under Labour than the current government and this branch of support was the key to localism, he further added to our councillors that the funding they are able to provide cannot be calculated at this moment in time as the economy won't be certain for another 2/3 years. I thought this commendable and pragmatic.
The Conservatives seem to have attacked us for not being pragmatic enough, including when dealing with the banking crisis. However Benn pointed out that when Northern Rock was crumbling, people queued up outside in that terribly British fashion and in the face of adversity Labour nationalised Northern Rock in order for people to keep their savings. Benn points out that this started the recession but PREVENTED depression, which is where we are headed right now under the Conservatives. We only have to looks at 1930's America to learn that this could be the case if Osborne continues.
bowerholly- Posts : 5
Join date : 2012-07-17
Houses in Colne Valley
Hilary Benn is a chip off the old block, and maintains many of his Dad's interesting opinions. However he's wide of the mark if he thinks that re-introducing Rent Control is going to help anyone find accommodation.
Prior to the introduction of Assured Shorthold agreements the only way to get a rented property was to inherit it from your parents. Any return to controls will send private landlords fleeing for the exit, and nowadays there are of course not even any Council Houses.
Prior to the introduction of Assured Shorthold agreements the only way to get a rented property was to inherit it from your parents. Any return to controls will send private landlords fleeing for the exit, and nowadays there are of course not even any Council Houses.
oftenwrong- Sage
- Posts : 12062
Join date : 2011-10-08
Re: Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
The hateful Tories, and their tame media friends who are prepatred to lie for them, have so successfully demonised 'The Left' as to make it well-nigh impossible to defeat them on a platform of that nature.
That is why Tony Blair had to adopt the stances which he developed to create an alternative which didn't unduly scare the horses. Miliband also has to design an approach which updates a relevant, sensible and pragmatic left-of-centre agenda to which those who reluctantly voted for Cameron in 2010 can comfortably rally round by 2015.
Those who truly prefer a further left position would be wise to keep their heads down and hope that some of what they want can get through on the coat-tails of the Miliband patient bid for power. The British public don't really like the Bob Crow 'brand' any more than they subscribe to, say, the Bernard Jenkin or John Redwood 'mad and wide-eyed' version of politics...
That is why Tony Blair had to adopt the stances which he developed to create an alternative which didn't unduly scare the horses. Miliband also has to design an approach which updates a relevant, sensible and pragmatic left-of-centre agenda to which those who reluctantly voted for Cameron in 2010 can comfortably rally round by 2015.
Those who truly prefer a further left position would be wise to keep their heads down and hope that some of what they want can get through on the coat-tails of the Miliband patient bid for power. The British public don't really like the Bob Crow 'brand' any more than they subscribe to, say, the Bernard Jenkin or John Redwood 'mad and wide-eyed' version of politics...
Phil Hornby- Blogger
- Posts : 4002
Join date : 2011-10-07
Location : Drifting on Easy Street
Re: Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
Bob Crow, is the reason I departed RMT and went to ASLEF of which, though retired, I am still a member.
Bob Crow, still in his council house, with extensions payed for by members, and Scargill with his "Grace and Favour" flat in the Barbican, neither wishing to move, no matter the persuasion of their respective union's legal teams, are the WORST that the Union Movement can disgorge from their collective bowels!
But, like persistant tape worms, we are stuck with them!
Bob Crow, still in his council house, with extensions payed for by members, and Scargill with his "Grace and Favour" flat in the Barbican, neither wishing to move, no matter the persuasion of their respective union's legal teams, are the WORST that the Union Movement can disgorge from their collective bowels!
But, like persistant tape worms, we are stuck with them!
astra- Deceased
- Posts : 1864
Join date : 2011-10-07
Location : North East England.
Re: Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
"Caesar's wife must be above suspicion!"
In that way the Public have always demanded from elected representatives a far higher standard than they might impose on themselves. Conservatives are obliged to pretend that roaring unfettered Capitalism is the only sensible way forward. Unions are expected to abandon their only weapon - withdrawal of labour - in the National Interest , and the Labour Leader of the day is required to have all the answers to everything before being taken seriously.
When we get real, perhaps they will too.
In that way the Public have always demanded from elected representatives a far higher standard than they might impose on themselves. Conservatives are obliged to pretend that roaring unfettered Capitalism is the only sensible way forward. Unions are expected to abandon their only weapon - withdrawal of labour - in the National Interest , and the Labour Leader of the day is required to have all the answers to everything before being taken seriously.
When we get real, perhaps they will too.
oftenwrong- Sage
- Posts : 12062
Join date : 2011-10-08
New to this!
Hi I did not realise this part existed! thank you all for your feedback I will just read through them all now
bowerholly- Posts : 5
Join date : 2012-07-17
Re: Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
Wow I agree with lack of council housing. Ending the right to buy and investing in building these would be a starting point which we fought for at the youth conference. Whether or not it goes through to Miliband and the shadow cabinet is another issue completely of course. I seek to represent the views and reflect my constituents whether I am being left or catering to the horses is something I won't let get in the way of real voices of this community. I do understand what you mean, the media completely demonise the left as always has been done in history! like the red scare bot on twitter.
bowerholly- Posts : 5
Join date : 2012-07-17
Re: Community and youth in the Colne Valley CLP
What happened to this promising beginning? The forthcoming by-election at Corby promises to bring lots of such topics out into the open.
oftenwrong- Sage
- Posts : 12062
Join date : 2011-10-08
Similar topics
» Welcome and introductions
» Why are British youth so politically apathetic compared to European youth?
» Employment statistics
» "Elderly should do community work or lose their pensions" (Lord Bichard)
» Isn’t the 83% increase in youth unemployment since January proof enough that this government’s policies are a failure?
» Why are British youth so politically apathetic compared to European youth?
» Employment statistics
» "Elderly should do community work or lose their pensions" (Lord Bichard)
» Isn’t the 83% increase in youth unemployment since January proof enough that this government’s policies are a failure?
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum