middletonpark - @ 20six.co.uk

Northern Night Currently at Northern Night - slightly inebriated. The Animals have just finished so time to go back into the main Highcliffe bar to see who is around.
1.10.03 01:37	Permalink / Comment

A funny thing happened on the way to India

Enjoyed the Labour Friends of India reception last night. Stephen Pound was his usually jovial host and we had several good speakers including John Prescott and Robert Evans (the candidate at Brent East).
John told a story about a putput (sp?) ride on his last visit to India.
So Stephen Pound decided to spill the beans on what he described as 'two senior MPs'. One of whom turned out to be my fellow blogger Tom Watson. It turns out that Tom and Tony Clark MP used their last visit to India to stage a hair raising putput ride, I think it was, the streets of Mumbai!

1.10.03 11:58

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Computing for Labour

At the Computing for Labour fringe so feel I really should blog. Discussing e-voting and e-democracy. Very interesting subject, but sadly not the most interesting speakers (I'm sorry but Nick Rainsford is hard work).
The best was a Swedish e-democracy guru from a company called Votia AB. He had an interesting case study from a town callea Kalix in Sweden. A key finding was that where the public has lots of interaction with politicians and government then not only turnout increases but also support for those who do it.

1.10.03 14:38

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Crime and Justice Debate

Now blogging from the Conference floor. Just watched the great USDAW video from its 'Freedom from Fear' campaign to support shop workers.
My wife, Karen Marshall, is hoping to speak in this morning's debate. She wants to share the story of Leeds' success in cracking down on anti-social behaviour.
Our 66 anti-social behaviour orders issued on just one day - the most ever at any one time.
Our imaginative use of park rangers and Section 59 notices is cracking down on illegal motorbikes.
Our community and neighbourhood wardens helping to make people feel safer.
Our anti-graffiti campaign.
I could go on but you get the idea.

2.10.03 11:36

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Blogging the blogger

Well Karen got to do her speech and it seemed to go down well.
Now I'm at the Labour Academy seminar on ForeSight - the new Labour internal think tank. It's being led by my fellow blogger Paul Richards.
It's interesting to see that Paul is using a Lewis Carroll quote to illustrate the difficulty of defining socialism. I often use Carroll quotes when I'm doing PR training.
I think that this opportunity to think outside the box and help redefine progressive Labour thought is very exciting.
In Leeds some Labour members and councillors are beginning to think about how we can introduce fresh new ideas into regional and local politics. Too much new thinking comes from London based think-tanks. That's why I welcome the IPPR setting up a Newcastle office.
But I think we in Leeds need to be bolder and more courageous in developing new Labour thought.
One interesting fact from Paul's presentation. When President Clinton came to office there were 50 websites in the world. When he left there were 350 million.
I also like Paul's definition of the characteristics of the modern socialist. Hopefully he will post them on his blog.

2.10.03 13:03

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It's off to work we go with...

Well back in Leeds now after the excitement of the Labour Party Conference. Pretty exhausted but no time to rest as I'm faced with a mountain of mail and telephone messages that need dealing with.

Next weel I've got several clashing meetings on Monday night so will have to decide which one to go to (which ever I choose I suspect people at the others will complain "We never see our councillor"!). I've also got council related meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Oh good, I get Friday and Sunday off - and being a councillor is meant to be a part time job that we are trying to encourage more people to do.

I feel several 16 hour days coming on this week if I'm to attend meetings, deal with council papers and case work from residents - and still make a living in my real job!

5.10.03 11:38

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Benn's back in the cabinet!

Before the old left get too excited it's not Tony but his son Hilary who has made it in to the cabinet as International Development Secretary. Congratulations Hilary. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

Hilary is the Leed Central MP so when the new boundaries kick in next year then half of my ward will be in his constituency and half remaining in Morley and Rothwell (Colin Challen MP).

I'm very impressed by Hilary. The Leeds Central by-election was during the time I worked for the Labour Party so I worked as Hilary's campaign manager (with Andrew Sharp, the then regional director as agent).

6.10.03 18:52

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