We need a New Deal for Local Government Workers
The last few months have been tragic and unsettling with many families’ worlds turned upside down. Millions of workers have had to negotiate with their employers through the pandemic – matters of life and death like safe working practices and PPE as well as issues like redundancy, furlough, homeworking and childcare. These are challenging conversations … Read More
TUC – JOIN A UNION HERE – find the union that’s for you
The latest figures on employment and pay, published today by the ONS, which include new experimental data on the number of paid employees shows a sharp decrease of 450,000 between March and April 2020, and a sharp fall in pay. Commenting on the report, TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady says: “These figures are alarming – … Read More
The Workers’ Movement in film
Films on international worker movements – including on Tyneside and Northumberland.
Seán McGovern death – Hexham CLP Disability Officer, Gail Ward remembers him
Gail Ward writes: It was with great sadness and shock that I learnt last night of the passing of Seán McGovern, (TUC Co-Chair Disabled Workers Committee and Unite Executive Council for Disability), a giant in trade unionism for disabled people, a friend and activist, pushing disability into the limelight. I have, a few times, taken part … Read More
COVID-19: What went wrong? Tories health reforms have caused chaos
The Thatcherite mantra that ‘there is no money’ is finished The Lansley Re-organisation resulted in a fragmented public Health Medicine framework. Major disconnects between various units with no over-arching machinery to swing into action. A huge emphasis on “reducing waste” equating spare bed capacity and stock piling with waste, and paring to the bone … Read More
Labour List – posters to print and display
Free posters to celebrate key workers – put one in your window to show your support for key workers everywhere
Salford City UNISON win full isolation pay and more for all care workers!
People will have heard of more deaths in the private care sector in Newcastle today. For info, much of the adult care (care homes and home care) is commissioned by councils not NHS – though sometimes a combination. Most of this provision is made by private sector low waged workers, who are employed … Read More
Labour Party report April 2020
“Understandably people are shocked, dismayed, angry but let’s be determined, stay in the party and make sure this can never happen again.“ Comrades will be aware of the directive from the General Secretary’s office this week, advising members not to discuss the actualities within the so-called ‘leaked’ Labour Party Report on Antisemitism, which was commissioned … Read More
Wylam: Riverside GP surgery closure
Yesterday the Hexham Courant published an article which highlighted the campaigning our Hexham CLP activists, Vanessa Maughan, Steve Grinter, John Hampton, Chris Wharton and Tony Pierre had been involved in with the aim of saving the Wylam Riverside GP surgery from closure. The article can be read here: See previous articles about Wylam’s surgeries, here: … Read More
Comments from our activists
Don’t abandon the Labour Party We are living in very dark and worrying times. COVID-19 has descended on the country, and we are now beginning to see the horrific results of an unprepared action plan presented by the current Conservative government. Even with advice from Italy and China confirming that the restriction of movement in … Read More
Labour Party Leadership and Deputy Leadership results 4 April 2020
Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have been elected by a sizable majority to lead the Labour Party on the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. Your support means everything. I will never stop fighting for our movement. 🌹 pic.twitter.com/MIdls0n3WG — Angela Rayner MP 🌈 (@AngelaRayner) April 4, 2020
Community and business support
3 April 2020 Business and community support for each of the three North of Tyne local authorities NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL Business Northumberland Business Hub: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/coronavirus/Support-for-Businesses-coronavirus.aspx#grantfundingandloans Northumberland has set up a Business Hub with a specialist team to offer advice and help people gain government grants and loans during COVID-19. 2,500 businesses have applied so far … Read More
Corona virus – the latest regional updates
Citylife Line (updated 8 April 2020, 09:45) Citylife Line is a new service that has been launched to help harness the outpouring of goodwill from residents in Newcastle who want to help the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 outbreak. The service has been set up with partners in the voluntary and community sector for people wanting … Read More
Labour Party democracy – structure diagram
This diagram shows how the process works across the Northern Region The Northumberland Local Campaign Forum has developed an innovative training programme for potential County Council Labour candidates. We want to encourage people of all backgrounds, particularly women, minority ethnic and younger people, to explore if they could become future Labour County Councillors. For more … Read More
An observation on COVID-19 pandemic: How we should change our society after the crisis
Brian Singer, Vice-Chair (Membership), Hexham CLP The corona virus pandemic is having a damaging effect on society. Already, around the world, thousands of people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands have been infected, and healthcare systems are at breaking point. So far there is no vaccine in sight; it is still in the … Read More
Concerns raised by confusion of ‘essential industries’: government slow to react (as at 26 March 2020)
In the Hexham Courant yesterday (25 March 2020), ‘Concerns were raised by workforce at Egger’, that they’re not clear whether they are included in the government’s current list of ‘essential work’. Many other workers in the constituency are still at work, too. And there’s wide-spread confusion for workers and the trade union reps trying … Read More
Jeremy Corbyn’s final Prime Minister’s Question Time as Parliament closes 25 March 2020
Jeremy Corbyn Today Jeremy Corbyn stepped down as our Leader, and I’m so sad. How do we thank the man who put Socialism and politics back on the map? How can we thank the man who rejuvenated a whole generation of young and old alike? How can we thank the Prime Minister we … Read More
Community help during the COVID-19 crisis is here:
We’ll keep this up-to-date as we hear of new links Momentum volunteer/assistance map: TUC Advice 30 March 2020 – Trade unionists might want to sign up for updates here, too: UK-wide Covid Mutual Aid website: Northumberland county council: Ponteland community assistance: This is a ‘hub‘ for those wishing to volunteer to help during … Read More
Labour and Socialist history
4. The Socialist Organisations (Derek Gunby’s occasional Labour history series, continued.) updated: 11 May 2020 Click on links below, and download the files. Derek Gunby – The socialist organisations Part 2 The Social Democratic Federation Part 3 The Fabian Society Part 4 The Independent Labour Party By Hexham activist, Bill Haylock, 8 May 2020 John Clare … Read More
Posts from our activists
Hexham Labour Party activists – a personal blog Date: 23 March 2020 Robbie Milor, Ponteland Labour group Hi, I’m a facility supervisor for Newcastle City Council, and I work in a special-needs school in the Hexham CLP area. As far as our experience of the COVID-19 virus situation: it’s been horrible to tell the truth. … Read More
COVID-19: Community help for the vulnerable and isolated in Northumberland and elsewhere
Find your local group
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor says ‘Government must support micro businesses and the self-employed’
Last Monday a work experience student started shadowing me. He’d shown initiative and arranged the placement himself – it’s great to see kids engaging in civic life. It would have been interesting to see a fifteen-year-old’s view of the Combined Authority and the unfolding Covid-19 crisis. Unfortunately, within hours of him starting, he, like the … Read More
North of Tyne Mayor’s statement on Covid-19
A message from Jamie Driscoll Posted by Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor on Friday, 20 March 2020
Hexham CLP Nominations Announced
After close contests conducted on a ‘preferential vote’ system members voted to nominate Keir Starmer for Leader and Dawn Butler for Deputy Leader.
Community Wealth Building Event
Would you like to come to a training day that showcases some real-life community wealth building projects happening in the North East? Join the North of Tyne Mayor, Jamie Driscoll and guest speakers who have CWB specialist areas of expertise. Building on the success of our People, Pits and Politics Festival held in Durham in … Read More
Campaigning for a Labour government – Canvass in Carlisle Sat Nov 16th – update
Campaigning for a Labour government – Saturday Nov 16th Canvass in Carlisle – key Tory marginal majority 2599 Cars from Newcastle Contact: Punita Goodfellow – tel. 078761 31208 2 car spaces available from Kirkwhelpington or nearby. Contact Chris Easton Train from Newcastle 9-23, calling at Prudhoe 9-41, Hexham 9-54, Haltwhistle 10-13 arrive Carlisle 10-44 Contact: … Read More
Campaigning for a Labour victory in 2019
With the election of Jeremy Corbyn as party leader, Hexham CLP has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted new members, and built a body of campaigners and activists that any constituency party would be proud of. In the general election of 2017 a well organised local Labour campaign came closer to catching Opperman … Read More
Our General Election Campaign Launch
A great turnout in Hexham to the launch of our General Election campaign: a public vote with the option to remain, a #GreenNewDeal, rights for gig economy workers & investment in our public services & communities. Lots to get excited about … Real change is coming … Thanks to Jude Kirton-Darling MEP and all who … Read More
Ponteland Street Stall and Phone Canvassing
PONTELAND AND HEDDON LABOUR GROUP – GETTING GOING The new group met on 7th November and welcomed even more members. Working as a team we successfully completed the ring round of all party members in the area, increasing the numbers who want to be actively involved in campaigning. We are launching our first stall in … Read More
‘Best for Britain’ Tactical Voting Website is a Local Lib Dem Sham
A number of local Labour Party members and supporters and Facebook users have contacted the Vote Penny Grennan Facebook page about the ‘Best for Britain’ Tactical Voting Website. The election in the Hexham Constituency is a straight ‘2 horse race’ between the Tories and the Labour Party. However, the local Lib Dems have started … Read More
Ponteland & Heddon Labour Group – helping to deliver real change
Less than 24 hours after getting set up the group met again to make progress on contacting all the members in the immediate area to confirm their support and invite them to the next meeting on Thursday 6th November. The WhatsApp group for the Ponteland and Heddon Labour Group was set up and went live. … Read More
Ponteland and Heddon Labour Group up and running
The first meeting of a reinvigorated Labour Group for Ponteland and Heddon met on 29th October – the night we were given the opportunity to deliver a Labour government and a new MP for Hexham! Our top priority is to do everything we can to support a Labour victory both locally and wider. At the … Read More
The Future of Farming and the Environment – Public Meeting
The Future of Farming and the Environment – Public Meeting Bellingham Town Hall Wednesday 23rd October Thanks to Paul Brannen (former MEP and member of the European Agriculture and Environment Committees) for speaking at the meeting and Penny (our prospective parliamentary candidate) for chairing. A wide ranging and informed discussion followed Paul Brannen’s presentation on … Read More
Plastic Free Target for Allen Valleys
MEMBERS of the community will work together to rid the Allen Valleys of single use plastic. Aiming for plastic free status was just one of the targets of a newly formed climate action committee dedicated to tackling climate change on a local level. Spearheaded by our very own John Hill, the committee will be made … Read More
Labour 2019 conference in Brighton – Holly Waddell reports
Report from Labour Party Conference 2019 Hexham Constituency sent their full delegation of four to Brighton for conference this year. The delegates were Joseph White, Brian Singer, Penny Grennan and Holly Waddell. Several other members self-funded to go as visitors and to attend the World Transformed, so was definitely a strong Hexham presences on the … Read More
Climate Change Public Meeting
Climate Change Local Solutions to Global Issues Tuesday 15th October 7.30pm Hexham Community Centre, Gilsgate NE46 3NP Come along and get involved!
Tory MPs five times as likely to vote against climate action
Conservative MPs are almost five times as likely to vote against climate action than legislators from other parties, a Guardian analysis of 16 indicative parliamentary divisions over the past decade has revealed. The Tories also registered many more donations, shares, salaries, gifts and tickets to sporting events from fossil fuel companies, petrostates, aviation companies … Read More
Tory Police pledge will leave force short
The police force in Northumbria has lost over 1,100 officers since 2010 because of the Conservative Government’s budget cuts. It was one of the forces to be hit worst by funding reductions across the country. Nationally, the Tories have cut billions in funding the police, leading to the loss of tens of thousands of … Read More
Campaigning in Haydon Bridge
A great evening campaigning in Haydon Bridge with local members and those from across the constituency. Penny Grennan – prospective parliamentary candidate
Only Young Once
The Tories have slashed £1 billion from youth services. Our young people deserve better than this. Our young people deserve a Labour Government that will invest in them and their future. Youth services – like youth clubs, youth centres and counselling for young people – are absolutely vital in our communities. The benefits of youth work … Read More
Jeremy Corbyn meets Newcastle United supporters
Jeremy Corbyn meets Newcastle United supporters and criticises “bad owners” such as billionaire businessman, Mike Ashley. Football clubs are part of the social fabric that binds us together. They are too important to be left in the hands of bad owners. Under Labour, fans will have a say in how their clubs are run.
Labour confirm they’ll scrap Universal Credit
As Johnson and the CONservatives offer more tax cuts to the rich and multinational corporations … Labour confirm they’ll scrap Universal Credit This is what putting people before privilege looks like. Putting the humanity back into British society, where the Tories and Lib Dems have stripped it away. We can end the hunger and the … Read More
The Fight Continues for WASPI Women
Nearly 4m women born in 1950s not entitled to restitution over pension age rise, judges rule The substantial and far-reaching pension injustice for all of us WASPI women, born in the 1950’s remains (An injustice supported by both the Conservatives And Lib Democrats when in coalition). The fight continues … Penny Grennan – prospective … Read More
National Day of Action
Street stalls in Hexham, Ovingham and Haltwhistle … Lots of help offered, support given and conversations had.
Join us!
Campaigning in Hexham East with Penny, our prospective parliamentary candidate and members and supporters from all over the constituency. We are powered by ordinary people coming together to bring about a seismic change and a new way of doing politics. Get involved by signing up to become a member or supporter today. https://join.labour.org.uk https://support.labour.org.uk
Unlawful, Void and of No Effect
“Any remaining credibility in the government has now been totally undermined. This is also the case for Hexham MP Guy Opperman, who gave his strong backing for prorogation in the Courant on September 2.” Penny Grennan Prospective parliamentary candidate Hexham Courant 25/09/2019
A Green New Deal
It’s OFFICIAL – The Labour Party has backed a socialist, transformative Green New Deal with decarbonisation by 2030. The Hexham Constituency Labour Party voted and agreed to send the Green New Deal motion to the Labour Conference and I’m so proud this was passed at Conference today. More here … https://www.labourgnd.uk Penny Grennan – The … Read More
The tide is turning …
‘The tide is turning. The years of retreat and defeat are coming to an end. Together, we’ll take on the privileged, and put the people in power. Thank you. Go forward to win an election for the people of this country.’ Jeremy Corbyn – Labour Party Conference Our delegates from the Hexham Constituency Labour Party … Read More
Opperman backs illegal prorogation of parliament
HEXHAM’S MP Guy Opperman has backed the prime minister’s controversial move to prorogue parliament. More here … www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/17875842.hexham-mp-guy-opperman-backs-prorogation-parliament
Environment, food and all things rural …
Great to see the National Farmers’ Union at the Labour Conference and lovely to meet Minette Batters (President of the NFU), Sue Hayman (Shadow Sec of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Luke Pollard (Shadow Fisheries Minister) and Hugo Fearnley (prospective parliamentary candidate for Whitby).