Assessing Labour Party Conference On The Issues That Matters

It has been wonderful 5 days of eye-opening experiences and endless discovery of varying political views. While most has focused on the 2 brothers who ran for the Leadership at the same time with one winning – some views has been quite inspiring and encouraging. However, as someone with the hope of seeing a fair and just world for the oppressed, I was pursuing an agenda for that throughout.

The highlight of the conference may have been the unity that the Labour party accepted the winner of the leadership contest, however, for equality, the highlight and which turned out to be a disappointment for me is the discovery that the Labour party could not assure Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered (LGBT) people complete [marriage] equality.

It turned out that most of the delegates who gets to

Ed Miliband's Speech In Full - Labour Party Conference 2010

Conference, I stand here today ready to lead: a new generation now leading Labour.

Be in no doubt.

The new generation of Labour is different. Different attitudes, different ideas, different ways of doing politics.

Today I want to tell you who I am, what I believe and how we are going to do the most important thing we have to do - win back the trust of the country.

We all of us share a deep conviction which brought us into this party and into this hall.

The Liberty Fringe 2010: A New Direction for Labour and Liberty

Liberty was one of the issues that stood high in the expectations of the people of Britain as ‘new’ Labour took power in 1997. Unfortunately, the events of September 11 2001 smeared the direction of Labour.

Diane Abbott MP

While Labour was achieving great feats in the Human Rights sphere, it was also at the same time, fighting a huge war on the other side trampling on the liberty of the people. And this was no less evidenced than in the case of accused terrorists. It was this particular same issue that was to stain the reputation of ‘new’ Labour.

That was not the hole in the wall, the other spilt milk was the way young black men were treated by the police; the suspicions, the unreasonable harassment and endless  series of search and near pro-rogueing. These aspects planted a very rigid and elusive relationship between communities, individuals and for the first time since modern civil liberties, ethnic minority people of Great Britain felt like being denied renting homes jobs, services again due to their colour. But this time, it was a different sort of fight. It was worse than the signage of the 1960s  ‘Room for rent – Not for blacks or Coloured people’ because it was subtle and

New Labour Leader, Ed Miliband Reaches Out

Sitting here listening to Ed Miliband, it is obvious that he is speaking to the people in this country whom the government should stand up for which is the reason Labour was thrown out. His speech is just the accurate proposal to winning vote again. It is impressive; the sound of it so far. But the issue isn’t just what we say but we will do.

In 1997, Tony Blair spoke in the same manner promising everything that made sense. Ten years into the promise, what worried the ordinary person on the streets or London and in the villages of rural England was not just war in Iraq, it was more about that sacred gap between the rich and the poor.

By 2007, the lowest paid persons in full time paid employment was barely able to survive let alone afford basic needs. Was it any surprise that Labour lost? The answer is a pure No. 

Yet, Labour stand the chance based on its record of fighting the for the poor and representing the ordinary man at the lofty place. But all these rhetoric need action. 

Looking at the current scenario, it is very obvious that Labour

As Labour Expects A New Hope, What Lies In Wait For it?

This time last year at the Labour party conference, the hall was pregnant with optimism; joy was in the air. The music rammed, the people cheered, the show of unity had never been any weaker. It was the day before that the Sun decided to declare its war against Labour. Conference was no more in it argue but to show how much they cherish the then leader, Gordon Brown. The rapturous applause that over took each minute throughout was just ear-splitting. 

Fast forward one year to now, and the mood has not changed a lot. We are here all seated waiting… but there’s a different. A difference that is only understandable when you compare the mood and context that surround the two different times; last year conference and this year. 

In 2009, it was all about a leader we know, a leader that have seen in his different ability, a leader that we know his weakness as well as his strength. Hence when the attack was happening, the party was more focused on defending their home-front than anything else.

In 2010, it is entirely different. It is about a leader we are yet to know in full. It is about a leader to invest hope in. It is about a leader with no established national enemies yet. Ed Miliband is a new leader for a new chapter. 

Considering the above, it is clear why the joys and cheers are completely different in this conference. The cheer now is about a new hope, a new fight, a preparedness to stand up for the poor. That is what it is now.

Will that joy be spread out. Would it be shared? 

This noon, Ed Miliband will set out a structure to achieving all that.

Marriage Equality In Britain – Is The Labour Party Going to Betray Itself?

Is Labour running away from its responsibility?

It was with hope that I opened the conference brief this morning. But the shock that greeted me was heart rending. Like putting a knife through your own heart, I read with amazing and utter disgust how delegates and the powerful Trade Unions has completely ignored the one thing that could be very useful in repositioning the party – Marriage Equality.

In 2005, Labour made a landmark when it brought in the Civil Partnership for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered (LGBT) people. It was a turning point, not just for its uniqueness, but for the mere and simple fact that it acknowledged some rights of a sect of people to have their own lives and live it like their equal members of the society. However, that unique act was one step short of completion.

Britain In The World - What Are Challenges?

This morning the discussion at Labour conference plenary is focusing on the place of Britain in the world. This is a delicate issue as it bothers foreign policy which includes important issues as defence, important development and aid.

During the 13 years of Labour government, it did not just make these issues important, it set them as priority sending a message to the world that Britain does not just care, it bears the burden of the world with it. Looking back at the record, it is disappointing that the one mistake of Iraq overshadowed all that was done and achieved. The issues are numerous and invaluable.

Iraq was a mistake and it is great that Labour has acknowledged that and ready to move on. Now is the time for the impression to be even up-stepped. From denouncing the sham rule in Burma to fighting for the cure of HIV across the world. From reaching for peace in the middle east, to debt relief for a lot of poor countries across the world. Labour must continue to show and take the lead. In opposition, this responsibility becomes even more expected than ever.

But there are still disappointments...

New Leader Of The Labour Party; Opposing The Cuts Isn’t The Toughest Task

Ed Miliband's first speech as Labour leader

And finally came the time; day, hour, minute and here’s the exact second… the winner is Ed Miliband

Well, it’s been 4 busy months and what could be described as harrowing for the 5 contestants of the Labour party leadership. They contestants have gone up and down the country speaking to the people, not just party members but also ordinary citizens. It has indeed been a great contest.

Unlike the last time in 2007, it was more competitive this time; from the indication of interest to this last day, the floor was open for any confident member to throw their hat in. The surprise however started when the hopefuls like Alan Johnson decided against running. But while the media was trying to create any propaganda they could invent, another surprise occurred when Diane Abbott announced her intentions to contest. 

Diane’s announcement was the turning point. It meant that for

The Coalition, The Cuts & The Reactions

cutting without fallback will result in welfare reliance

Since the 2008 recession, the discussion on the political platform in UK has gone into a monotony: public spending cuts. It’s trumpeted to such a level, it simply portrays a recession in the brains of politicians.

And of course, without doubt, the political arena is in recession of ideas. The intensity of it left voters too confused and unconvinced that no single party was trusted hard enough to be given a mandate to lead. What that has left us with is a harangue of inconsistent decisions and I suppose more expenses in hiring advisers, setting up select committees in the Commons, etc.

However, the impact of this brain recession is the obvious: with the proposed cuts, nothing is said about avoiding it leaving a lasting legacy of a wasted generation of talents.