Just on the way back from Labour Link Forum in Manchester.
After Dave Prentis' speech at National Delegate Conference it was clear that Labour Link had a strong challenge ahead to shape Government policy.
The Forum looked in detailed workshops about how to take that agenda forward, particularly at a local level and the our future relationship with local Labour constituency parties.
And it would seem that we may be on to a winner, both Ministers present (Harriet Harman and Ed Milliband) got a grilling on about Transforming Community Services and in particular the 75% figure set for private sector provision. Both Ministers said that they were committed to public provision and it would seem that Andy Burnham wasn't aware of the guidance. Fingers crossed this can get sorted. Real evidence of the effectiveness our our Labour Link, which is only going to get better.
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James, a good report, thanks. A few questions - did the Ministers have any response to the recent UNISON survey which reported that 70% of public service workers did not intend to vote Labour at the next General Election? Did the forum itself agree any policies to address this collapse in Labour support? How will the General Secretary's action plan be implemented by the Labour Link? How can the rest of the union play our part in the next 9 months? Tony
As a Unison Health Branch secretary, my members are not waiting for the rest of you to keep your "fingers crossed" hoping that TCS doesn't happen. How much more are you prepared to take from this Govt?
Your ties to NuLab seem to cause you all a serious lack of independant thought and analysis of the realities facing us all.
The TCS break-ups have to be solidly planned for an implementation in April 2010.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Tony - I think the wider union has the policies to address the collapse in Labour support, and that is in our Million Voices Campaign. As for implementing the General Secretary's calls the National Committee agreed the suspension of CDP funding and to establish a working group to quickly review how we can get the most out of our local level funding and develop our approach to directing our support at candidates that support our values. It is envisaged that this will complete quickly over the summer.
On shaping the manifesto and Government Policies, Dave has meetings with Ministers across Government. Party Conference will also be a key time for our lay delegation to take our policies into the party.
Paul - No-one's suggesting that TCS isn't a massive threat, with or without the requirement to privatise 75% of services.
But we were given quite clear indication that the Government did not support that position (which is a product of the Cooperation and Competition Panel) and that it would be sorted. Obviously neither of the Ministers there were Health Ministers so were not about to make anouncements on health policy, but being told by the person responsible for putting together the manifesto that 'the last thing the Government needs is a fight over privatising primary care' is spot on and an acheivement for the hard work put in on this issue by the whole union, with our Labour Link playing no small part.
Or are you so blinded by your own political predjudice that you don't want us to get wins for our members from the Labour Party?
Tony - Just realised I didn't answer your first question about their response to the 70% of public service workers who wont vote Labour at the next election. Sorry about that, here it is.
Disappointing really, 'the tories are worse so please vote for us' (which is true but not enough) and thinking that sorting out expenses will sort it out. Not yet the recognition that it's policies that need to change. But that's our job to change that!
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