Hexham Labour Friends of Palestine – latest event: Children in detention – in two parts, here’s part 1
HEXHAM LABOUR FRIENDS OF PALESTINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN INVITE YOU TO A MULTI-MEDIA EVENT on PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN ISRAELI DETENTION Download a flyer here and email/FB your contacts! WITH IYAD BURNAT Leader of the non-violent resistance movement in Bil’in, in the West Bank of Palestine AND SALWA DUAIBIS AND GERARD HORTON Military … Read More
The Mayor’s latest weekly update w/c 4 October 2020
Our socialist mayor’s latest update on the week. Jamie has been busy – speaking up for the north of the Tyne businesses and workers, making the case for equality in the treatment between north and south during the government’s uneven pandemic response. The latest restrictions will severely disadvantage the lower-paid and smaller businesses. See Jamie’s … Read More
North of Tyne Mayor: Boilers on prescription? makes sense
Boilers on prescription might not sound like an obvious link to radical devolution. But it’s a strategy that GPs working with housing provider Gentoo implemented in Sunderland in 2016. And it worked. The scheme allowed GPs to “prescribe” new, efficient boilers and home insulation to patients suffering respiratory conditions and living in damp, cold homes. … Read More
The Mayor launches one-minute weekly highlights
My highlights from last week, in under a minute: pic.twitter.com/NOuH5iOH7g — Mayor Jamie Driscoll (@MayorJD) September 28, 2020
Now is the perfect time for a Green New Deal
Unemployment is the worst of the economic scourges. Pundits obsess about debt-to-GDP ratio, interest rates, inflation targets, and trade imbalances. But it’s unemployment that fuels anxiety, crushes mental health and lays waste to communities. Having citizens unable to earn a living is a blight on prosperity. So Rishi Sunak was right to take action. But … Read More
Hexham Labour Party in partnership with Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign present
HEXHAM LABOUR PARTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN INVITE YOU TO A MULTI-MEDIA EVENT on HOUSE DEMOLITIONS WITH BETH RIELLY of INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT AND CODY O’ROURKE of GOOD SHEPARD COLLECTIVE INTRODUCED BY ANN SCHOFIELD, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCILLOR AND PSC MEMBER THE SESSION RUNS FOR 90 MINS – 30 MINS PER SPEAKER, WITH A 5-MINUTE BREAK … Read More
Labour Coast and Country – and the Tories’ ‘rule of six’
At an online ‘Labour Coast and Country‘ online conference (5 September 2020), Labour List correspondent, Sienna Rodgers reported that Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Luke Pollard had said that: “There is no path to power that doesn’t see us winning seats in rural, semi-rural and coastal communities” But, following the government’s … Read More
HEXHAM LABOUR PARTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
Click here to view the recorded online talk from Palestine, 18 August 2020 organised by Hexham CLP, and featuring AHMAD AL-BAZZ, PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST SPEAKING ON — the geopolitical, geographical and historically changing shape of the Palestinian homeland and RASHED KHUDAIRAT, JORDAN VALLEY SOLIDARITY SPEAKING ON — the Israeli occupation’s ongoing annexation of the Jordan Valley. INTRODUCED BY ANN … Read More
This just in! Pope a Catholic!
It was announced last week that we’re officially in a recession. In other news, the Pope is a Catholic. More than a million and a half people have signed-on in the past few months. Many more don’t claim. I spoke to one lad, perhaps in his late thirties. “I didn’t bother signing on,” he told … Read More
HEXHAM LABOUR PARTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN
Click here to view the recorded online talk from Palestine, 18 August 2020 organised by Hexham CLP, and featuring AHMAD AL-BAZZ, PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST and KHUDAIRAT, JORDAN VALLEY SOLIDARITY SPEAKING ON — The geopolitical, geographical and historical changing shape of the Palestinian homelands, and the Israeli occupation’s ongoing annexation of the Jordan Valley. INTRODUCED BY ANN SCHOFIELD, NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCILLOR … Read More
Palestine online event – 16 July 2020, Ben Jamal and Louise Regan guests of Hexham CLP and Newcastle PSC
Ben Jamal, Director of PSC speaks to Hexham and the wider public, on the proposed (further) annexation of Palestinian land in the the occupied West Bank. Click above to see a video taken of the online event Hexham CLP held on 16 July 2020, in conjunction with Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign. We were … Read More
PALESTINE EVENT – THURSDAY 16 JULY 2020
HEXHAM LABOUR PARTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN INVITE YOU TO A TALK featuring BEN JAMAL DIRECTOR, PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN and LOUISE REGAN VICE CHAIR OF PSC, EX-PRESIDENT OF NEU speaking on: ANNEXATION, AND BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS) INTRODUCED BY ANN SCHOFIELD, Newcastle City Councillor and PSC member. The session runs for … Read More
PALESTINE EVENT – THURSDAY 16 JULY 2020
HEXHAM LABOUR PARTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN INVITE YOU TO A TALK featuring BEN JAMAL DIRECTOR, PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN and LOUISE REGAN VICE CHAIR OF PSC, EX-PRESIDENT OF NEU speaking on: ANNEXATION, AND BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS (BDS) INTRODUCED BY ANN SCHOFIELD, Newcastle City Councillor and PSC member. … Read More
ex-Tory Deputy PM, Michael Heseltine — bigging-up Metro Mayors?
I was listening to radio last week, and on came Michael Heseltine, bigging-up Metro Mayors. He name-checked our work in Newcastle. It’s a funny feeling for a Labour politician, getting praised by a Tory grandee. It’s heartening to have your good work recognised. It’s good in electoral terms. An opposition politician saying you’re doing a … Read More
After the return to ‘normal’: What next for the Labour Party?
1 July 2020, Brian Singer, Hexham CLP Vice-Chair, Membership This debate over the future of our movement has been a vitally important one – but now, as an organisation, we’ve got to turn that vision into a reality. We’re facing an oncoming wave of crises: from a pandemic to unemployment, police racism and climate change. … Read More
Support Palestine and Gaza online event, 23 June 2020
Some of you may know that on the 23rd of June, members of the CLP, in partnership with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Newcastle Labour Friends of Palestine hosted an online session on the topic of Gaza and Palestine. We hope this event will be the first of many, and to those who attended, thank … Read More
Zoom Meeting with Vicky Foxcroft MP – Shadow Minister for Disabled People
Please join Berwick CLP in a Zoom session with Vicky Foxcroft MP for Lewisham Deptford and recently appointed Shadow Minister for Disabled People. This is an informal discusson in which Vicky will speak for 20 mins about her role and how she hopes to challenge the Government on the impact of Covid-19 on people with disabilities … Read More
Culture
Culture is the sum total of how we express ourselves as humans. Culture is our collective soul. For some it’s theatre, museums, art galleries, opera. For others, a live music gig, a beer festival or a home game. I don’t see culture as a “sector”, an opportunity for economic growth. We can live in concrete … Read More
Clapping for carers is not enough, a letter to the Hexham Courant by Steve Grinter, Hexham CLP
The dedicated and skilled staff who risk their lives every day to care for the elderly and infirm both in care homes and in their local communities are at last getting the recognition and respect that they deserve. But these heroes of the Covid19 pandemic remain at the bottom of the pile when it comes … Read More
Disabled Officer, Gail Ward’s, comments on Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
When I saw the new Opposition Shadow Minister for DWP Jonathan Reynolds MP piece in the ‘House ‘ Magazine I was livid like many others, so I immediately hit the PC and typed a letter to get him to acknowledge how disabled people were offended by the article. Basically a future Labour Government will scrap Universal … Read More
Are we blind to British structural racism? by Hexham CLP delegate, Bill Haylock
It is very encouraging to see the overwhelming response to the brutal murder of George Floyd. Quite rightly, people demand such killings by agents of the state must stop. However, I am concerned that the righteous indignation about a racist murder in another country can also serve as a kind of displacement activity to avoid … Read More
Wansbeck CLP spring conference
10:30am – 12:30pm, Saturday, 13 June 2. Getting the Best Deal In this session, the conference speakers and questions from participants focus on examples of economic engagement, leveraging the financial and industrial power of the local state and its workforce to secure gains for local people. We want to assess their strengths and limitations. Chair … Read More
Allendale Fire Brigade: serious fires; working together gets applause
Our Hexham CLP delegate, David Habberjam is a part-time firefighter. Allendale Fire Brigade, for whom he is temporary crew manager (as well as Allendale RFS Fire Brigades Union Rep) had six call outs from last Friday (29 May) to Monday (1 June), including a serious house fire and a large wildfire. On Tuesday night, the people … Read More
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
5. The Years of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) 1900-1906 (Derek Gunby’s occasional Labour history series, continued.) updated: 30 May 2020 Before describing the years of the Labour Representation Committee (LRC) it is necessary to back track and explain the way in which the TUC and its Parliamentary Committee were persuaded to ditch their decades-long … 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