Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 24 June campaigning outside BrightHouse and Oakam in Walthamstow to highlight the local credit union as an affordable alternative to high cost credit companies
• Saturday 25 June speaking on debt and high-cost lending at the Compass annual conference, popping into the E17 Designers DownTown event, visiting Shernhall Pre-School for their summer disco and then attending a reception at the Whipps Cross Army Cadets base
• Monday 27 June participating in the Public Accounts Committee’s session on cost reduction at the Department for Work and Pensions
• Tuesday 28 June speaking in the House in favour of an amendment to the Finance Bill to tackle legal loan sharking (see below)
• Wednesday 29 June participating in the Public Accounts Committee’s session on ambulance services
• Thursday 30 June speaking in a debate in parliament on the value of co-operatives and mutuals in Westminster Hall

Refounding Labour - CLP Response

In March, Ed Miliband launched the consultation document - Refounding Labour. This looks at a range of issues facing the party about how we organise everything from our policy making process to our campaigns, local party meetings and community engagement. Members and local parties have until 24 June to make their views heard and the National Executive Committee will be making recommendations to Labour Party Conference where there will be a vote on reform. 

At the General Committee meeting held on June 23^rd at 23 Orford Road London E17 9NL Walthamstow CLP approved the following points for submission:

Associate Membership ("AM") of the Labour Party for trade union levy payers who are currently not LP members should be set up and actively promoted at both CLP and national level. The general principal of AM status at a discounted rate was approved, with precise details to be worked out.

This special membership status, enabling associate members to join and participate in their local CLP, should be at a heavily discounted rate to the full adult party membership charge - one third of the price, perhaps. The heavy discount would be designed to draw in new members and to reflect the fact that trade union levy payers are already contributing to party funds.

If implemented, a new "AM" member status would boost Labour's membership numbers and income at a time of flagging party funds, and create an impetus and an energy to our local and national party activities and profile. It would also help to reconnect Labour with its trade union roots at a time when its complexion, at least nationally, is overwhelmingly white, male and middle class. It will also bolster its labour movement representation in a democratic manner, as opposed to the distorted claims of the past when we boasted of a membership of millions, regardless of their individual affiliations, simply by counting in those whose union paid the political levy.

Conference And The National Policy Forum

Members accepted that it was necessary to move policy-making from conference to a body which was smaller but more private. The problem is that the NPF has never been allowed to assume any importance in policy-making, micro-managed, invisible, sidelined and ignored.

A radical approach would be to change the very nature of conference but simultaneously to build up the NPF into a meaningful body. Conference could become a weekend event, for two days only - a powerful rally and side events, speeches from the leadership, celebration of our successes and messages to the nation. This should be a must-attend event for a huge number of party members (and supporters) and would show the country that we have a vibrant political movement. The remainder of the old conference period would be taken up with a meaningful three day meeting of the NPF.  Real discussion and decision-making about real issues. We know the NPF cannot be kept totally private so we make a virtue of tweeting decisions and debates, allowing simultaneous online messages and contributions. Decisions taken will be analysed in the media but without the risk of public embarrassment when votes go against the leadership (as they must be allowed to do sometimes). NPF membership might need to be larger and certainly much more visible to members with CLPs and affiliates fully aware of their NPF reps and influencing their positions, as well as subjecting them to annual election.

Representation On The National Policy Forum

Whereas women, BAME and young members have representation on the National Policy Forum, LGBT and disabled members do not; this needs to be rectified.

Local Policy Forums

There was general support for the idea of borough based local policy forums, though not worked out in detail.

Philip Creasy

Secretary, Walthamstow CLP

philip.creasy@ntlworld.com 

Spaghetti . . and meet Balls

Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party will be holding a Summer Social and Fundraising Dinner with special Guest the Shadow Chancellor the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP. 

This special event will be held in Mondragone Restaurant at 25-27 Orford Road in Walthamstow Village [see map] on Thursday 14 July 2011 starting at 7pm. If the offer of a lively debate isn't enough, ticket prices also include a fantastic three course italian meal with a range of options for attendees to choose from and their legendary homemade tiramisu for dessert! There is a licensed bar at the venue and tickets are £28 each (£20 unwaged) or four for £100. You can book using the link below by donating these amounts using the online donation form and someone will contact you to confirm your reservations. Please ensure you imput a contact number in the contact name box. If you have any questions about this event please contact our campaigns team on 07957 228 019 or email: campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk.

https://secure2.labour.org.uk/membersnet/donate/spaghetti-and-meet-balls

We hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be a great night of political discussion as well as food and drink. All proceeds raised will go towards the vital campaigning work that Walthamstow Labour Party does and all are welcome whether party members or not. If you can't attend but would like to donate to support our activities you can also use this form below to do so.

We look forward to seeing you there and thanks for your support - we really appreciate it!

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Sunday 19 June attending the Salaam Peace Girls’ and Women’s Sports Day at Kelmscott Leisure Centre and later going to an event at the Town Hall organised by the Tamil Youth Organisation
• Monday 20 June participating in the Public Accounts Committee’s session on the Efficiency and Reform Group
• Tuesday 21 June hosting an event in Parliament, called “Together We’re Stronger”, to bring together Walthamstow community groups and leaders (see below)
• Wednesday 22 June attending the Public Accounts Committee’s session on cost reduction at the Foreign Office
• Friday 24 June visiting Barn Croft Primary School, speaking to a National Union of Teachers conference and hoping to get back in time to pop into the “Downtown” event in the Old Glass Factory on Hoe Street (see below).

Fighting for Walthamstow's Heritage: Debate in parliament

Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow secured a debate today in parliament about Walthamstow's heritage and the fate of our local dog track and the former EMD cinema.

During the debate she questioned the status quo which appears to give few opportunities to intervene to protect and secure our heritage assets. She says "With the EMD Cinema its current owners have twice been refused planning permission to convert it into a church. In the meantime a viable alternative exists which would restore this listed building to the use for which it was designed.

"Similarly, the Dog Track's current owners appear not to show concern for the listing of the building as a site of historical interest because of the role of greyhound racing in shaping Walthamstow. Whilst there exists a clear and credible plan to return the track into use, they press ahead with plans to convert the land into housing against the wishes of local residents. With both sites there is the prospect of the deterioration of their condition and so the detriment of their heritage value. 

"Whilst both English Heritage and the Secretary of State have powers to intervene in the fate of listed buildings, these powers are only used rarely for a number of reasons. I have arranged this debate to encourage the Ministers responsible to review this, and consider policies that could overcome these problems. I will also continue to work with our local respresentatives and local campaigners to try to make progress in restoring both buildings back to their intended use for the benefit of the regeneration of Walthamstow."

You can read an article on how to help the campaign to save the dogtrack here and you can find out about the Waltham Forest Cinema Trust here.

Refounding Labour consultation events

There is currently a consultation in progress on the Refounding Labour document and ‘New Politics Fresh Ideas’ for all interested Labour Party members. You can find out more online at www.fresh-ideas.org.uk/events.

There are three events in the London area in June, on Monday 13^th, Tuesday 14^th, and Tuesday 21^st. The venues are all listed in the calendar [see calendar tab at top of this page]. The closing date for responses to this consultation is 24^th June.

In addition there are special BAME, Women and Youth events, for which members need to register at equalities@new.labour.or.uk

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Sunday 5 June attending the Wood Street Fun Day at Walthamstow Cricket Club
• Tuesday 7 June leading a debate on heritage in Westminster Hall (see below) and also continuing to scrutinise the Finance Bill on the Public Bill Committee
• Wednesday 8 June attending a rally in support of the campaign for a fairer deal for interns, meeting the Minister responsible for the Education Bill to discuss my concerns about its impact on children with Special Educational Needs (see below) and also participating in the Public Accounts Committee’s session on reducing the cost of 16-18 education
• Thursday 9 June participating in the next two sessions of the Finance Bill Committee
• Friday 10 June speaking at a conference on “The Informed Society” organised by Polis at the London School of Economics

Problems in the UCU

Interesting piece in this week's Times Ed on factionalism in the UCU!

'Consumers need protection against high-cost moneylenders' The Guardian

Stella Creasy MP in today's Guardian: "Consumers need protection against high-cost moneylenders online". If you're not in Walthamstow tell your MP. If you are in Walthamstow let Stella know of your support!

Click here for the full article - Response: Consumers need protection against high-cost moneylenders online | Comment is free | The Guardian: