Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
The notion of a job for life is fast receding. Not so long ago, a job at “The Ministry” in Longbenton, or maybe with the local council, meant financial security. Not in any sense of luxury, but the stability to raise a family, followed by a decent pension after you’d put in your decades of … Read More
Ponteland & Heddon Candidate – Michael Clarke
Why I am standing for Ponteland & Heddon … I have lived in Ponteland for 30 years. I worked as a doctor at the RVI before retiring last year. The events of the last 12 months have brought home the need for change both locally and nationally. Post pandemic in Northumberland, we need to create … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
I just about remember the TV show ‘When the Boat Comes In’. It was set in the fictional town of Gallowshields in the North East. If you’ve seen it even once, you’ll remember the theme tune, “Thou shalt have a fishy, on a little dishy, thou shalt have a fishy when the boat comes in.” … Read More
Haltwhistle Candidate – John Temple
Why I am standing for Haltwhistle … I was born and brought up in the North East, and for the last 16 years West Northumberland has been my home. I am now retired, having latterly worked locally in the social housing sector. I have previously served as a councillor on Tyneside. During this time, I … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
The death of Nigel Todd I have a packet of Northumberland Wildflower Seeds given to me by Nigel Todd. The mix contains flowers that will thrive in harmony with our local ecosystem. It speaks to his ecological sensitivity and profound sense of place. High on the wall of Newcastle’s Stowell Street is a stone carving … Read More
Prudhoe North Candidate – Angie Scott
“Our high street is the heart of the community” says Angie Scott, Labour Candidate for Prudhoe North It’s been a tough year for Prudhoe Front Street but the traders have tried their hardest to weather the storm and support our community. They have provided an invaluable service to many of us during lockdown, and have … Read More
Prudhoe South candidate – Jonathan Wheeler
Why I am standing for Prudhoe South … “I am proud to be doing my bit to fight the spread of the virus” says Jonathan Wheeler, Labour Candidate for Prudhoe South Jonathan is certainly doing his bit to fight Covid-19 by volunteering to administer the vaccine. He has completed specialist training and is ready to … Read More
Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria candidate, Kim McGuinness
Kim’s campaign launch on Saturday, 20 March 2021 Since you elected me as Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria in 2019, I have worked tirelessly alongside our MPs, councillors and local residents, to ensure that Northumbria Police continues to fight crime and prevent crime, on behalf of local residents. I’m standing for re-election on Thursday … Read More
Corbridge candidate – Annette McGlade
Why I am standing for Corbridge … I am so proud to stand for Corbridge in the forthcoming County Council Elections. It will be a privilege to give something back to this town and surrounding parish, where I was raised, learnt to read, write, play, fish, swim and worship. As my younger self, it was … Read More
Hexham Central & Acomb Candidate – Penny Grennan
Penny Grennan is standing in Hexham Central with Acomb, where she has lived for over 25 years. She stood as the Parliamentary Candidate for the constituency in 2019 and is active in her community. “We must get the Tories out at all levels of government. Local elections are the opportunity for local people to … Read More
Bellingham candidate – Anne Palmer
Why I am standing for Bellingham … I have lived in Kirkwhelpington, in the Bellingham Ward, for twenty six years. I have two children who grew up here and went to local schools. I am a retired solicitor, having worked for Newcastle City Council for nearly twenty years, and for CQC (Care Quality Commission, formerly … Read More
Hexham East candidate – Guy Hinton
Why I am standing for Hexham East … Both the past and future have inspired me to stand for Hexham East ward. I’m a historian and have spent (too) much of the last four years looking at the civic culture of the North East in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The extraordinary dynamism of councils, … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
In 1929 the Roaring Twenties plummeted to earth with the Wall Street Crash. Its global aftermath caused mass unemployment and eventually a collapse of democracy across Europe, the rise of the Nazis, and genocide. The response to the Wall Street crash in both the US and Britain was to cut public spending. Austerity didn’t work … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
As a political insider, not much in politics shocks me. But I was astounded to hear the Chancellor say, the “Budget is not the time to set detailed fiscal rules, with precise targets and dates to achieve them by.” WTF? That’s exactly what a budget’s for. My first priority is to deliver for the people … Read More
Hexham Labour Friends of Palestine: Upcoming events
WE ARE NOT NUMBERS We are very pleased to invite you to our next online event, featuring two young women speaking on the uneven roll out of COVID-19 vaccine among Israel, Gaza and the Occupaied Palestinian Territories. Should be really fascinating to hear about the contrast in the daily lived experiences of Salma in Haifa, … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular updates
BUILD BACK FAIRER Sunday February 28, 2021 “Build Back Better” has become the mantra. Good as far as it goes, but unless we build back fairer we’re back to the status quo. High levels of economic inequality and deprivation are damaging to health and wellbeing. The core objective must be providing good jobs. Ken Loach’s … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update – video
The climate emergency.
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
“Shall we meet online or in real life?” This increasingly common question speaks volumes. No matter how good your internet connection or webcam is, it’s still not the same. Maybe The Matrix has raised our expectations. Workers in the cultural sector have again shown their creativity and resilience. Online shows, workshops, musical performances from bedrooms. … Read More
Keir Starmer was mistaken yesterday
The North of Tyne was given the target of creating 10,000 jobs over 30 years, and commensurate funding. So 21 months into my term, I should be on target to create 583 jobs. In fact, we’re on target to create 3,194 jobs. With another 2,114 jobs safeguarded through the pandemic. So in less than two … Read More
Labour History: women’s organisations
Part 3: Women’s organisations
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
Did you know the 2nd February is Groundhog Day? At this very moment houses are being built which will need to be retrofitted. Retrofitting means installing something later which would have been easier and cheaper to include it when it was built. This will cost about £20,000 per house. Who will pay? Probably the homeowner. … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
Is 24-hour rolling news really unprecedented? Do you remember when you were a kid, and you’d ask your Mam or Dad for something, and they’d say, “We’ll see” – which is parent speak for “No chance.” Or they’d say “We’ll see what Santa brings” which is code for “Hopefully you’ll have forgotten by then”. As … Read More
Palestinian Ambassador and Louise Haigh, MP video
Dr Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom speaking with Louise Haigh, MP, Labour Friends of Palestine (& Middle East) Vice-Chair, and the current Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland.
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
January, it’s said, is named after the Roman god Janus. He’s depicted having two faces, one looking into the past and the other the future. He’s the overseer of transition and change. Then the first lockdown in March happened, and none of us knew what that would mean for the region’s economy. Or the country’s. … Read More
The ‘What Budget?’ campaign
Northumberland County Council Tory leadership recently launched a consultation on a new budget. They say they are looking to make ‘around £8m in savings’, and that they’re having to make the cuts ‘because of COVID’. Is that the extent of the cuts they want to make? No. Read on. And anyway: didn’t government ministers say … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
Real wellbeing requires abundant green and blue spaces The places where we live and the stresses we face constantly change, but the importance of our friendships remain. Living in safe, attractive communities is essential for our wellbeing. Connection to others defines our sense of belonging, our place in the world. It’s not surprising that research … Read More
Bywell Candidate – Holly Waddell
Why I am standing for Bywell Vote Labour on 6 May
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
21 December 2020 2020 has definitely been a challenge and made us all see life in a new way. There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make us realise that simply spending time with our family is the most important thing. I know many people will find it tough not seeing their families this Christmas. … Read More
Jordan Valley video (under construction)
Click here to view video The Jordan Valley is under constant and expanding annexation. This talk features Palestinian journalist Ahmad Al-Bazz and Rashid Khudairat, of Jordan Valley Solidarity
Palestinian Child Detention Part 2 video
This is part 2 of a 2-part event on the Israeli military’s detention of Palestinian children prisoners, featuring SAWSAN BASTAWY, of Defense for Children International and SAHAR FRANCIS, of Adameer Click here to view our YouTube channel video
Palestinian Child Detention Part 1 video
Click here to view our YouTube channel video This is the first part of a two-part event by GERARD HORTON and SALWA DUAIBIS of Military Court Watch speaking on children in the israeli military court system and IYAD BURNAT leader of Bil’in Resistance Movement speaking from personal experience of children under arrest
The government’s attack on the Union Learning Fund is purely political
As a former trade union education officer, I saw the real difference this fund makes by Lilian Greenwood, Labour MP, Nottingham South “We must invest in skills, we must invest in further education”. This was the prime minister’s message to the country when he launched the Lifetime Skills Guarantee on September 29. Yet less than … Read More
Palestine demolitions video
A Hexham Labour Friends of Palestine event featuring BETH REILLY, of the International Solidarity Movement and CODY O’ROURKE, of Good Shepard Collective
Palestinian rights to water video
Hexham Labour Friends of Palestine’s online event: Palestine’s right to water featuring ZAYNEB AL-SHALALFEH, on the impact water-deprivation upon the Palestinian people and CLEMENS MESSERSCHMID, on the de-facto annexation of water under the occupation.
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
It’s said that the distance between the Government and Opposition benches in the House of Commons is two swords lengths, to stop them stabbing each other. If you watch some of the debates, it’s probably just as well. Prime Minister’s Question time is meant to be the opportunity for MPs to question the Prime Minister, … Read More
TUC’s important new report on THE RISE OF THE FAR RIGHT – what we do about it
Released: 03 Dec 2020 Building solidarity and workers’ power 1. Throughout history trade unions have been at the forefront of the struggle against the far right and its attempts to divide working people using narratives of hate and blame. Drawing on our core values of unity, equality and solidarity, we will strengthen existing links and build … Read More
For every £1 spent on union-led training the economy gets nearly £13 back, new report reveals
Issue date: 24 Nov 2020 TUC calls on government to urgently rethink proposal to axe Union Learning Fund Scrapping the scheme will undermine the government’s “levelling up” agenda, warns new report The funding should be reinstated at the Spending Review, says TUC The TUC has today (Tuesday) called on the government to urgently rethink its decision to axe the Union Learning Fund (ULF). … Read More
Intrusive technology at work on the rise during coronavirus
Issue date: 30 Nov 2020 1 in 7 say that monitoring and surveillance at work has increased since Covid-19 crisis began Tech must be used to improve working lives not to “rob workers of their dignity”, says union body TUC launches taskforce of unions and legal experts to look at protections for workers The TUC … Read More
Prudhoe News – Community Voice
Local news from around Prudhoe – Christmas has come early this year, thanks to Angie Scott.
Also:
Carry on Conservatives – caper in County Council Hall
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
latest 1-minute update video
Jamie Driscoll’s weekly update
The new series of The Crown has started on Netflix, covering the 1980s – the Thatcher Years. Gillian Anderson’s performance is superb, portraying Mrs Thatcher’s views on Life, the Universe and Everything. People should help themselves, women are too emotional to be trusted, and people should stop waiting for the Nanny State (or anyone else) … Read More
TUC report: more young workers lost their jobs summer 2020 than in all of 2019
Issue date 20 Nov 2020 Young people have been the hardest hit by Covid-19 economic crisis, TUC analysis shows Number of 16 to 24-year-olds in work lower than at any point during 2008 financial crisis Union body calls for government to invest in creating good new jobs to prevent a generation from being scarred by mass unemployment More young workers were made redundant during summer 2020 than in all of 2019, according to new TUC … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
The North East’s rail network has an unusual geography. We’re almost an island – the only routes in or out are the East Coast Mainline, or the track to Carlisle. With all the talk of high speed rail, the biggest problem we face is capacity. There’s no advantage to a train capable of 255mph if … Read More
Hexham CLP supports justice for Palestine
Hexham CLP’s General Committee meeting on 22 October 2020, unanimously passed a historic motion in support of the rights of Palestinians. The motion seeks to require the fund-managers at Northumberland Council Local Government Pension Scheme to divest from companies which profit from the continued illegal settlements in Palestinian territories. Companies such as HSBC aid the … Read More
Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor’s regular update
Sunday November 1, 2020 On September 18th, the North East’s council leaders and I asked government for the powers to impose additional restrictions. We knew that cases were rising. We knew that government’s insistence on keeping universities open, with face-to-face teaching was a mistake. Government did nothing, so we did what we could. And it … Read More