Remember, Remember the 4th of November (and the 7th!)

You probably noticed that there’s a certain anniversary coming up next week. It’s almost a year since the Young Fabian and Labour Staff Network delegation flew 4000 miles into the heart of Ohio to help Barack Obama become the 44^th US President.

Fittingly, a party has been organised to celebrate. We’re returning to the scene of the launch of our From Ohio to Oxford East e-publications, The Abbey pub in Westminster, on Wednesday 4^th November, from 7pm. Click here for a map and drop me a line to confirm your attendance or to find out more: aprandle@youngfabians.or.uk. It’s a great chance to forget about the doom and gloom of British winter and to chat informally with some of the people who were over in the US twelve months ago.

The senior Fabian Society are also marking the occasion. Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP is giving the keynote address to their Global Change We Need Conference on Saturday 7th November. The conference will discuss how Europe can influence major global issues and advocate for progressive campaigns on climate change, human rights, the economy and Middle East engagement.

Other speakers include Ben Brandzel, Organizing for America; Jennifer Palmieri, Centre for American Progress; Charlie Kronick, Greenpeace UK; Anthony Painter, Author of Barack Obama: Movement for Change; Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of PES & former Danish Prime Minister; and Sunder Katwala, Fabian Society. For this one, to purchase tickets and for a full conference agenda please visit: http://fabians.org.uk/events/events/globalchangeconference.

“No unification, no independence, no war”

 

Ambassador Chang addresses Young Fabians at Taipei Representative Office

What was clear from the discussion was the range of views that exist in Taiwan today, but also that cross-strait relations with China were both as economically strong and politically stable as they’d ever been since Chang Kai-shek left the mainland to set up government of the Republic of China in Taiwan.

Ambassador Katharine S.Y. Chang opened the evening with a speech which outlined bilateral relations between Taiwan and the UK and gave an overview of the work of the TRO. The panel discussion saw Deputy Representative Ray Mou attempt 400 years of Taiwanese history in the first two minutes of his comments. He swiftly moved on to discuss cross-strait relations, particularly emphasising that political issues emanating from the history of the region have been put to one side for now in order to continue developing the good economic relations being enjoyed with the People’s Republic of China today.

President Ma Ying-jeou was elected last year on a platform of no unification, no independence, no war - and seemingly this status quo appeals to the nation. That’s not to say, however, that all is good. The tragedy of Typhoon Morakot placed the government under considerable pressure and forced a number of resignationsfrom the ruling KMT party. The ensuing visit by the Dalai Lama to support victims has, Dr Dafydd Fell (SOAS’ senior lecturer in Taiwanese politics, and our second panellist) told us, caused tourists from the Chinese mainland to avoid going to the areas the Dalai Lama went to.

The Q&A brought out contrasting takes on public opinion – with Dr Fell suggesting that in appropriate circumstances, Taiwanese people would favour independence – and a discussion on migration. We learnt too of the excitement of Taiwanese election campaigns.

Conversation continued informally over food and drinks and the TRO staff were very interested to hear that Young Fabians had visited the Chinese Embassy earlier in the year given that – despite a willingness to talk to the mainland Chinese in London – they can’t engage themselves on an official level.

An interesting and enjoyable evening; thanks go to the TRO (particularly Assistant Director, Yi Chih-Chen) for hosting Young Fabian members. And I’m sure plenty will be taking up Dr Fell’s offer to attend his own events on Taiwan in 2010.

Embassy Event – Tendencies toward peace across the Taiwan Strait

After a few late cancellations, we have a small number of places available for tonight’s Young Fabian event at the Taipei Representative Office. Speeches, discussion, and a food and drink reception.

The event starts at 6.30pm and the venue is very close to Victoria Station in central London. If you want to know more, or would like to reserve a place, please email Adrian Prandle, YF International Officer: aprandle@youngfabians.org.uk.

Fighting to win

Last Thursday evening saw a passionate, proud, optimistic and determined debate at the Young Fabian seminar ‘Why Labour can win – and why the country need a centre-left government’. The Independent’s chief political commentator, Steve Richards,  chaired a panel of four Labour PPCs – Stella Creasy, Rachel Reeves, Stephen Twigg, and Chris Ostrowski – and some excellent contributions from Young Fabians in the audience.

Stephen Twigg summed up the context well in pointing out that it is “a bit depressing when you’re celebrating being back at 30%” (in the recent Populus poll) – but the panel set out the reasons to be cheerful and what is needed to take Labour to victory and the next stage of delivering better lives for everyone in the country. We heard about what was good – the visibility and effectiveness of Police Community Support Officers in Leeds West and how there, the commitment to investment in apprenticeships was resonating. And we heard what was worth fighting for: work-life balance, diplomas, social care, the cancer pledge amongst much more. Stella Creasy told us why she believed social mobility would come only with a Labour government, “I’m hungry, I’m impatient. I don’t want to tell kids, hang around; things’ll probably get better at some point and you’ll be able to go to uni. I want to get stuck in.”

The expenses issue framed much of the debate, and Stephen Twigg talked separately and connectedly about the need for honesty – in a balanced assessment of the last twelve years, and in an honest contrast with the Tories. (You can read here what I said earlier in the year about our politics being honest, moral and consistent.) Stella Creasy suggested that London had got off lightly with Boris Johnson in comparison to David Cameron and his ‘inert political philosophy’ whilst the audience debated whether Labour should be talking in terms of itself or in terms of the Conservative opposition.

But three things stood out; a challenge, a debateable premise, and a way of engaging. In reverse order:

1 – Stella Creasy set out the case that it was issues and not party labelling that will win Labour the election. She suggested that it was not about ‘Are you Labour?’ but about progressive politics and the things people care about, be it climate change, the local cinema or Walthamstow Dog’s Track. Rather than being about finding the Labour people who are out there and turning them out come polling day, she advocated building relationships over time. Those who are familiar with the work myself and the Young Fabians have done since our delegation to the Obama campaign in Ohio, will know that I am very supportive of such an approach and am clear that this is a step change from how much of the Labour Party currently interacts with people.

2 – Stephen Twigg argued that one among many reasons for politicians to ‘get it’ on political reform and change, was that young people now are less partisan than in the past. Is this true, and if so, how do we change the way we organise campaigns and engage with the young public?

3 – Steve Richards set the challenge of compressing succinctly in a short phrase what Labour stands for now. He contrasted the difficulty of doing this with Tony Blair’s formation in 1996: trust us now, we’ve changed. I’m torn on the utility of this. Necessary for the national media and core message. But on a local level, I think that what can be most effective is empowering campaigners to come up with their own formations that they can be passionate about, rather than relying on a ‘party line’, to build those relationships with the people they meet.

On the latter, the suggestions that came from the panel were: ‘courage in the face of challenges’; ‘building a stronger, fairer economy’; and ‘for the many, not the few’ (as it captures both fairness and empowerment).

Where do you stand on these three issues? We can be optimistic about going into the general election and we should be passionate about why a Labour government is essential. But resolving such issues as these will help us get there.

Adrian Prandle, International Officer

New Pamphlet from the Candidates Network: Join the Debate

The new pamphlet from the Young Fabians Candidates Network continues to gain momentum around the Labour blogosphere. On Progress online today Emma Reynolds, PPC for Wolverhampton North East, writes about her views on gender equality and makes the case that to live in a more equal society, mothers and fathers should have the choice of equally sharing parental leave. It’s a position that I strongly support. As Emma rightly says, the dramatic difference between maternity and paternity leave entitlement has resulted in far too many employers viewing women of child bearing age as a risk to their business. By sharing parental leave, we could challenge that view and break through the glass ceiling that continues to hamper the potential of half our country’s work force.

Young Fabians PPC Week: Join the Debate

James Green is Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham and the Young Fabians Candidates Network Officer. Check out the new Young Fabians Candidates Network pamphlet here.

Why Labour can win and why the country need a centre-left government

The Sun’s decision to withdraw its support for Labour was designed to cause maximum damage. Timed to coincide with the Leaders Speech, it’s fair to say that the headline was written long before Brown took to the podium. However, what was most interesting about the Sun’s coverage was what it didn’t say rather than what it did. “Labour’s Lost It” was far from the ringing endorsement that Cameron might have hoped for – a far cry from the beaming smile and “The Sun Backs Blair” headline of 1997.

There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a tough time for Labour. However, what the Sun’s headline reflects is that the political sands haven’t shifted to the Tories quite yet. People are leaving Labour not because the Tories offer a better option, but because they feel disempowered by a political system that feels out of breath and out of touch. As the governing Party Labour will get the brunt of that disaffection. However, as the governing party we are best placed to do something about it.

That’s why we need a centre-left government. Labour can still win the next election because the big challenges we face can only be tackled through progressive means. Reengaging the public, giving people greater power over the issues that affect their lives, cannot be achieved simply by rolling back the frontiers of the state. What’s required is a new type of politics in which the state plays an empowering role – a point that was made by a number of Young Fabian members at last night’s PPC debate. David Chaplin and Adrian Prandle from the Young Fabian Exec, are right that Young PPCs have an important role to play in that process.

Throughout this week young PPCs have been sharing their ideas for the future. We’ve published a pamphlet, held an important debate and hosted a number of guest contributions from young PPCs on the Young Fabians blog. The Young Fabians first ‘PPC Week’ has confirmed that, despite what the Sun may say, progressive politics is alive and well and ready to take the fight to the Tories.

New Pamphlet from the Candidates Network: Join the Debate

The new pamphlet from the Young Fabians Candidates Network is gaining momentum around the Labour blogosphere. Rachel Reeves from Leeds West has written about it on Labour List today and I have posted an article about it on Open Left.

With more articles to come in the coming weeks, we want to hear your views.

New Pamphlet from the Young Fabians Candidates Network

After twelve years of Labour government, at a critical moment for progressive politics, we have invited twelve of Labour’s young Prospective Parliamentary Candidates to share their vision for the future.

It will be the next generation of Labour politicians that will need to develop new solutions to meet the challenges of changed times. Our new pamphlet aims to spark debate about the future direction of progressive politics.

Download your copy of The New Progressives: Voices of Labour’s Future here

Contributions from Prospective Parliamentary Candidates from across the country cover a wide range of issues, reflecting the wealth of ideas within progressive politics. For some like Rachel Reeves, PPC for Leeds West, an international outlook is key, whilst Emma Reynolds, PPC for Wolverhampton North East, focuses on gender equality, an issue much closer to home. Chris Ostrowski, who fought the Norwich North by-election, argues that people demand a greater sense of ‘fair play’, whilst Alan Strickland, PPC for Berwick-upon-Tweed, makes the case that the public want a more liberal state.

We want to hear your views. Have your say on the Young Fabians blog.

Since being set up earlier this year the Young Fabians Candidates Network has gone from strength to strength and is now supported by PPCs from across the country. If you are a young PPC and would like to join the network please contact James Green

Young Fabians PPC Week: Join the Debate

Rebecca Rennison is Labour PPC for South West Wiltshire and Secretary of the Young Fabians.

Why Labour can win and why the country needs a centre-left government

I recently heard a Conservative describe the Labour Party as “ideologically bankrupt”. The reality is far from this. Our challenge lies not in the generation of ideas but in the expression of them. Of all the leaders speeches this Conference season David Cameron’s stood out the most. Not for the content, nor for the oratory, but for the clear message that went with it. Cameron’s speech made it clear that his was the party of small government, keen to “roll back the state” and place the emphasis on the individual rather than the collective. It was a clear rallying cry for the party faithful whilst tempered with messaging that would have wide appeal.

Labour is still the party of ideas but we need to do more to explain why our policies are Labour, to draw a clear dividing line between us and the Conservatives. We’ll win by talking about who we are why for us it’s not good enough to leave the education you get or the healthcare you receive up to chance, that the state has a role to play in ensuring that wherever you are in the country, whatever your income, you have real opportunities to fulfil your potential. Let’s not get caught up in talk of “cuts now” v “cuts later”, let’s be brave enough to talk about why we think that Government has an important role to play, why taxes matter and what public spending has achieved so far and would continue to achieve under Labour.

In short, to win the next election Labour needs to step out of the shadows and explain that whilst the Conservatives may claim to share the same goals as us, their way leaves much to chance and has few guaranteed outcomes, it is our way that will make a real difference.

Young Fabians PPC Week: Join the Debate

David Boot is Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Sussex.

Why Labour can win and why the country needs a centre-left government

We’ve all heard the hype regarding the next general election:  ‘this will be the most important election since 1979’, we’re told. For once, believe the hype. This election offers the starkest choice to the electorate in a generation; between a Conservative Party licking its lips at the thought of spending cuts and a Labour Party that strives, despite the odds, to invest in the country’s future; between a party suspicious of the role of the state and one that wants to use it to build a progressive and fairer country; and between a party that baulks at the concept of greater equality to one that has it at its heart.

It is clear why Labour must win, but can we? The answer, unsurprisingly from a Labour PPC, is yes. The electorate has not yet fallen for David Cameron and his followers; the volatility of polls show that their lead is fragile and not yet ingrained. Indeed, it could be said that we are in an anti-Labour rather than a pro-Tory period after twelve years of the same party in power. The economic crisis has cracked the Cameronian veneer, revealing the Thatcherite beneath. Nice becomes nasty as the party takes on a darker shade of blue. The chasm between the two parties is Labour’s opportunity to press its progressive cause, wearing the badge of equality firmly on its sleeve.

On the door-step, Labour must argue for progressive, positive politics. We have a proud past but an even prouder future.