Displaying items by tag: Labour party

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to outline six pledges as part of his pre-election pitch. These commitments include establishing a border security command to tackle criminal gangs behind small boat crossings and also the recruitment of 6,500 teachers. At an event in Essex, Starmer will say these pledges mark 'a decade of national renewal’. The six steps are: 1) sticking to tough spending rules for economic stability; 2) cutting NHS waiting lists with 40,000 more weekly appointments funded by tackling tax avoidance; 3) launching a border security command; 4) establishing Great British Energy, a publicly-owned clean energy company; 5) increasing neighbourhood police officers to reduce antisocial behaviour; and 6) recruiting 6,500 teachers by ending tax breaks for private schools. These steps will form a key part of Labour's election campaign. The Conservatives criticised the plans, arguing their current policies are effectively strengthening the economy and immigration system. Labour's pledges aim to prove the party's reliability with public money and defence.

Labour has announced plans to renationalise the railways within five years if elected, aiming for the 'biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation’. According to shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh, the transition to public ownership would occur within the party's first term by incorporating expiring private passenger rail contracts into a new entity, avoiding compensation costs to taxpayers. This entity would be a public, expert-led version of the Great British Railways (GBR), differing from the Government’s plan which also involves establishing a new public sector body. Labour aims to deliver reliable, efficient, and quality services which would benefit the economy, taxpayers, passengers, and railway staff, while still allowing private sector roles.

Diane Abbott, an independent MP and former Labour member, has accused both the Conservative and Labour parties of 'shocking' racism in the recent Tory donor controversy. The row centres on businessman Frank Hester's alleged racist and sexist comments about Abbott, for which he has since apologised but insisted he's not racist or sexist. Hester donated £10 million to the Conservatives, which has sparked debate over whether the party should return the funds. Abbott criticised the Conservatives for their long-standing role in perpetuating racism, including personal attacks against her. She also expressed disappointment with the Labour party's response, which initially focused on the financial aspect rather than the racism and sexism involved. The scandal has led to widespread criticism, with political figures across the spectrum, including business secretary Kemi Badenoch and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, condemning Hester's remarks. Rishi Sunak, under increasing pressure, said that Hester's apology should be accepted. Internally, his party faces disagreements over handling the donation, with the Scottish Conservatives calling for a review.

In the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections, the Labour Party achieved significant victories, causing a setback for Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives. Labour’s Gen Kitchen and Damien Egan won in Wellingborough and Kingswood respectively, overturning substantial Conservative majorities. These results mark the ninth and tenth by-election defeats for the government in the current parliament and represent one of the largest swings from Conservatives to Labour. The defeats add pressure on Sunak amidst a recession and strong by-election performances by Reform UK. Labour leader Keir Starmer celebrated these wins as signs of change and trust in Labour. The Conservatives have now suffered the most by-election defeats for a government since the 1960s, which indicates a shift in public sentiment against them.

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to suspend any Labour member who was present at a meeting of activists where antisemitic comments were allegedly made. Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM), criticised those who were present at the meeting but failed to 'call out' comments about Israel. At the meeting, which is understood to have taken place in Hyndburn last year, Labour's original candidate for the Rochdale by-election claimed Israel deliberately allowed the Hamas atrocity of 7 October to take place in order to give it the 'green light' to invade Gaza. The Labour Party initially stood by Mr Ali, but later withdrew support for his candidacy after 'further comments' came to light. Another one of the party's election candidates, the former Labour MP Graham Jones, had also been present at the meeting, and made comments resulting in his suspension. Mr Katz said there was a real problem that nobody raised concerns. He said: 'Well, they're identifiable. They all ought to be suspended pending investigation’. A third Labour MP was spoken to about his attendance at the Hyndburn meeting. See

Labour has halved its commitment to green investments, reducing its annual pledge from £28bn to less than £15bn. This decision, a significant shift under Keir Starmer's leadership, has caused unrest among environmentalists, unions, and some in the energy sector. Only one-third of the revised budget, announced by Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, represents new funding. The reduction aims to mitigate Conservative criticism about excessive borrowing, yet it has angered environmental groups who argue it increases long-term costs and hinders achieving green objectives. The Unite union criticised Labour for aligning too closely with Conservative policies, while the energy sector expressed concern over diminished ambitions for UK energy. Starmer justified the decision by citing changed economic circumstances since the initial announcement in 2021, including high interest rates and government debt concerns. The revised plan includes £4.7bn yearly on green projects, complementing existing government commitments. Labour MPs have expressed relief at the change, despite the reduced financial commitment. Environmental campaigners, however, are disappointed, pointing out the challenge of meeting energy targets with less funding.

Shifting focus from his usual target, the Tories, Richard Tice, leader of Reform UK, has coined the term 'Starmergeddon ' to describe the potential consequences of a Labour election victory. Despite ongoing speculation, he remained noncommittal about Nigel Farage's role in Reform's campaign. Labour, preparing for a possible spring election, faces Tice's accusations of betraying working-class voters, particularly on immigration. Tice outlined Reform's policies, including raising the income tax threshold and reducing fuel duty, while advocating for stricter immigration controls. In a strategic shift from 2019, when the party, then known as the Brexit Party, stood down in several Tory seats, Tice said it would contest every seat in England, Scotland, and Wales. He dismissed the concern that Reform would split the conservative vote, focusing instead on challenging the current political landscape. Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson expressed concern over Reform's potential impact, suggesting Farage's leadership could be crucial for their success. Tice, however, remains unfazed.

In a significant upheaval within the Labour Party, high-profile MP Jess Phillips and nine other frontbenchers either resigned or were sacked following party leader Keir Starmer's refusal to support a ceasefire in Gaza. This was in response to a parliamentary vote on an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech, which proposed an immediate ceasefire in Gaza but was rejected by a majority of 168 votes. A total of 56 Labour MPs voted in favour of the amendment, marking the largest rebellion against Starmer's leadership so far. Shadow defence secretary John Healey commented on the situation within the Labour Party, expressing regret over the loss of frontbenchers and reaffirming their support for Starmer's prime ministerial bid. He emphasised the importance of collective responsibility and discipline in parliamentary decisions, defending Starmer's stance on the Gaza conflict.

The Labour Party has pledged to introduce comprehensive legislation to ban gay conversion therapy without any loopholes if it wins the upcoming general election. The Government has faced delays in announcing its own plans for a ban, partly due to concerns from various religious groups about potential impacts on their practices. Shadow equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds has denounced conversion therapy as abuse and criticised the delay in banning it. Many church leaders have expressed support for banning specific conversion therapy practices but are concerned that a full ban might hinder their ability to pray with individuals experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction. They cite an example from Australia where similar legislation led to challenges to church teachings and prayer practices.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is launching a formal investigation into the Labour party over whether they unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish. They have been carrying out preliminary investigations since March and will seek to determine whether the party and its employees have committed unlawful acts of discrimination or failed to respond to complaints of unlawful acts in an efficient and effective manner. The EHRC rarely takes action against political parties. In 2010, it ordered the British National party (BNP) to rewrite its constitution to comply with race relations laws because they banned black and minority ethnic Britons from becoming members. The inquiry transpires in the midst of a worrying rise in anti-semitism in the UK and across Europe. See https://www.prayer-alert.net/europe-pa-site/item/11821-germany-jews-told-not-to-wear-skullcaps