Well, I’ve been huge busy, honest, and hopefully normal service will now resume (though I’m not the most prolific blogger). Being a busy boy with the union, finding some time to be a nurse, and completing a module at Uni (including a horrendous essay) didn’t leave much time for blogging.
And I’ve had lots to blog about; TUC Congress was great this year partly because it was a little reunion with some of my fellow Cuba brigadista’s. I was also immensely proud to second the FBU’s motion on Cuba, in what was an excellent debate. A highlight though was controversy on the first day when the Unite delegation lost it’s marbles and voted for all out public sector strike over public sector pay (not only illegal but fairly unachievable calling out members who are not actually in dispute). Thankfully their delegation literally lost their card vote, so the motion fell.
Then we had Labour Party Conference, a very different one from last year. Right from the moment our delegation met the emphasis was on the importance of showing unity and how the public wouldn’t forgive the party for turning in on itself at a time like this. This message came loud and clear from the delegates throughout the week, despite what the press tried to spin. I was asked to speak (surprise, surprise) and spoke in the Citizenship and Equalities debate in support of the National Policy Forum position in favour of Votes at 16. After some great speeches I’m glad to say that this is now officially party policy, and should be in the next manifesto. I did however use the end of my speech to point out that there is plenty of time left in this Parliament to deliver Votes at 16.
As always these conferences are as much about the fringes and the receptions as anything else. At TUC there was an interesting fringe organised by Unions 21 on recruiting new members which focussed on young members. It was interesting to hear what other unions were doing, and particularly how we are seen as a model! Again on the Cuba issue, a highlight of Labour Conference was a fringe were we were addressed by two of the wives of the Miami 5 who are wrongfully detained in the US and whose families have been treated appallingly.
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