News from Labour North

• TORY PLANS TO SCRAP FUND COULD COST 3000 NORTH EAST JOBS

  Labour today attacked Tory plans to scrap a fund which would cost more than 3000 existing or planned jobs in the region. The Future Jobs Fund was announced in Budget 2009 aims to create 170,000 additional jobs nationally. The jobs are aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for nearly a year. The Future Jobs Fund is a part of the Young Person's Guarantee. From early 2010, everyone in between the ages of 18 and 24 who has been looking for work for a year will get an offer of a job, work experience,...

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• Five questions for William Hague - The Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP's speech to Labour North Regional Conference 2010

  

  Speaking to Labour's Northern Regional Conference, in Sunderland, Labour's Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon David Miliband MP said: “The great myth being peddled in politics is that today is that the Tories have changed. The proof that they haven’t is the Ashcroft saga. The Tories talk about change but they haven’t changed their party – or who controls it. Last month David Cameron attacked “money buying influence” – yet we now know that at the time he said those words his Deputy Chairman had not fulfilled a promise to pay ‘tens of a millions a year in tax’ and his...

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• Tories policy on One North East is "economic vandalism" - Blackman-Woods

  

  Responding to the latest Conservative clarification on their policy towards Regional Development Agencies and their proposals to establish Local Enterprise Partnerships, Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Labour's Deputy Regional Minister for the North East said; "These proposals are economic vandalism from the Tories which would have an impact on this region's ability to generate the jobs and the new enterprise we need. They seem determined to dismantle a successful agency in the North East whilst leaving the one in London in operation. All they seem to be offering in its place are powerless bodies which will set different areas of the region...

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• IAN MEARNS SELECTED AS PROSPECTIVE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE FOR GATESHEAD

  

  The Labour Party has tonight announced that Ian Mearns has been selected as the party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Gateshead. Mr Mearns was chosen after a postal ballot of members from across Gateshead constituency. Mr Mearns, aged 52, will succeed Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland as the party's candidate at the next General Election. Mr Mearns is currently Deputy Leader of Gateshead Council and a Councillor for Saltwell ward. After his selection, Ian Mearns said; "I really felt it was important that the Constituency Labour Party had the chance to select a local person who cared...

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• WANSBECK LABOUR PARTY SELECT IAN LAVERY AS THEIR PROSPECTIVE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE

  

  Labour Party Members in Wansbeck have tonight chosen Ian Lavery as their candidate for the next General Election. Mr Lavery, aged 47 from Ashington, is married with two children. He is a former miner, starting out as a mining apprentice at Lynemouth Colliery before moving on to work at Ellington Colliery. Since 2002, he has served as President of the National Union of Mineworkers. He is also currently the Chairman of Ashington Community Football Club and Chairman of Hirst Welfare Centre. Mr Lavery will be looking to succeed Labour Member of Parliament, Denis Murphy in Parliament. After his selection, Ian...

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• LABOUR SELECT MARY GLINDON FOR NORTH TYNESIDE

  

  The Labour Party tonight announced that Mary Glindon has been selected by members in North Tyneside to be their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate at the next General Election. Mrs Glindon, aged 53, will succeed current Labour MP, Stephen Byers as the party's candidate. Mr Byers announced in November 2009 his intention to retire from Parliament after 18 years. Mary Glindon, from Wallsend, is currently a Councillor on North Tyneside Council representing the ward of Battlehill. She was selected by a postal vote of all eligible Labour Party members in the North Tyneside Constituency. After the announcement, Mary Glindon, said “I’m truly...

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• CALAMITY CLEGG STRIKES AGAIN!

  LIB DEM LEADER TRAVELS TO DURHAM...AND CALLS FOR A POLICY WHICH COULD THROW HUNDREDS OF LOCAL PEOPLE OUT OF WORK Lib Dems were left red-faced at the choice of City of Durham for their Crime Policy launch when it turned out one of their policies could throw hundreds of local people out of work. Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg and his Home Affairs Spokesperson, Chris Huhne visited City of Durham today and pledged to scrap the ID Card scheme to fund their spending. City of Durham is home to the Identity and Passport Agency which employs over 500 staff at...

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• Lord Adonis tells the Tories you can't con the North on transport

  A year on from the launch of the Tories ‘Commission on Transport in the North' Labour are highlighting the Tory transport con. Lord Adonis, Labour's Secretary of State for Transport said: “The Tories are trying to con the North with their plans on transport. “They were happy to get the headlines for launching their Transport Commission but there have been no results over the past year. The Commission was nothing more than a press release. In the meantime Labour has been investing in transport in the North. “People deserve to know what the Tories are really promising. They should not...

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• LABOUR INVESTS OVER HALF A BILLION TO TRANSFORM METRO

  

  A landmark funding package of around £580 million will breathe new life into the Tyne and Wear Metro, Labour’s Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced today. This package will pave the way for a reinvigoration of the service, with the renewal of ageing tracks and stations. The investment will deliver the following benefits to passengers: • greater accessibility with new lifts and escalators at stations • more comfort thanks to a complete refurbishment of the train carriages and renewal of ageing tracks and power lines • improved travel information at stations due to upgrades of public information systems Work in the...

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• Tyne Bridge MP David Clelland to step down at next General Election

  

  Tyne Bridge Labour MP, Dave Clelland has today announced his intention to retire from Parliament at the next General Election. Mr Clelland will not be seeking election in the new Gateshead constituency which comes in to force after boundary changes. Mr Clelland was first elected to Parliament at a by-election in 1985. Since 2005, he has served on the Select Committee for Transport championing investment in the region's transport infrastructure. Announcing his retirement, Mr Clelland said; " I am now coming up to 67 years old, and a 4 or 5 year Parliament will take me beyond the age of...

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• LABOUR PICK PAT GLASS FOR NORTH WEST DURHAM

  

  Labour Party members in North West Durham have today (23rd January 2010) selected Pat Glass to be their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate at the next General Election. They made their choice at a hustings meeting held in the Civic Hall, Consett. Mrs Glass, from Lanchester, County Durham, aged 52, hopes to succeed long-serving Labour MP, Hilary Armstrong as the area’s Member of Parliament. After the result, Pat Glass said; “I am truly honoured to have been chosen by Labour Party members to be their candidate for North West Durham. Throughout this contest it has been clear that many people wanted a...

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• “Tories are going soft on crime” says Home Secretary as crime in North East falls by 11%

  Figures released today (Thursday Jan 21st) show that crime across the North East has fallen by 11%. Across the country, crime has fallen by 8%, with burglary, robbery and violence all down this quarter. This drop in crime, which will be welcomed by people across the region, is the latest indication that Labour’s tough line and investment in frontline services is making our communities safer. Home Office minister and Labour MP for Tynemouth Alan Campbell said: “Today's figures show that the crimes the public care most about are falling across the country with burglary, robbery and violence all down this...

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• London-style “Oyster” cards come a step closer for the Metro

  

  Catherine McKinnell, Labour’s Candidate for Newcastle North, has welcomed the news that smart ticketing for the Tyne and Wear Metro has come a step closer following the announcement of £20m of Government funding. The fund will allow Local Transport Operators such as Nexus, the body that runs the Tyne and Wear Metro and co-ordinates local bus travel, to introduce paperless ticketing such as the popular “Oyster” scheme which already in use in London. Labour’s Transport Secretary, Lord Andrew Adonis announced that Tyne and Wear together with eight other of the largest urban areas will receive £20m to bring smart...

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• LABOUR SELECTS JENNY CHAPMAN TO CONTEST DARLINGTON

  

  Saturday 5 December 2009 Labour Party members in Darlington have today (Saturday) chosen Jenny Chapman to be their prospective parliamentary candidate at the next General Election. Mrs Chapman hopes to succeed Alan Milburn as the town’s Member of Parliament following his decision to step down after 18 years at Westminster. Jenny, aged 36, from Darlington is currently a Councillor on Darlington Borough Council representing Cockerton West ward and is the Council's Cabinet Member for Children and Young People. Mum of two, Jenny is also founder and Chair of Newblood Live, a young people’s music charity. After the hustings meeting...

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• CATHERINE IS LABOUR’S CHOICE FOR NEWCASTLE NORTH

  

  A mum of two young children is to be Labour’s candidate for Newcastle North at the next General Election. Catherine McKinnell, aged 33, a solicitor from Newcastle has been selected by Labour Party members in the constituency to be their candidate to take over from Doug Henderson MP. Mr Henderson announced in July that he was stepping down from Parliament after 22 years in Westminster. Catherine was born in Denton and grew up in the West End of Newcastle attending Comprehensive school in Fenham before graduating from Edinburgh University. She currently works for a large Newcastle Law Firm specialising in...

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• Cumbrian Floods: We will do everything possible to help people rebuild their lives - Hilary Benn MP

  

  23 November 2009 Labour's Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has made a Statement to the House of Commons on the flooding in Cumbria. With permission Mr Speaker, I would like to report to the House on the serious flooding in Cumbria and other areas of the country in the last few days. I have to report that PC Bill Barker lost his life in the floods in Workington while protecting the public. I know the House will wish to echo the tribute paid to PC Barker by the Prime Minister on Friday. He was a very brave man. I also have...

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• LABOUR SELECT MICHAEL BOADEN TO CONTEST CARLISLE

  

  Labour members from across Carlisle have today selected Michael Boaden to be their Parliamentary Candidate at the next General Election. Members made their choice at a hustings meeting held in the city’s Tullie House. Michael Boaden, aged 46, is currently a Councillor for Botcherby ward and Leader of the Labour Group on Carlisle City Council. Mr Boaden said; “I am very pleased to have won the nomination today. It was a closely fought campaign but I am now looking forward to the campaign ahead to retain the seat. I’m positive that if we fight on the record of the Labour...

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• NORTH COUNCILS GET CASH TO COMBAT ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

  

  COUNCILS ACROSS THE NORTH ARE TO GET FUNDING TO TACKLE ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR FOLLOWING A LABOUR GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY. Communities Secretary John Denham and Housing Minister John Healey unveiled a package of measures designed to tackle anti-social behaviour in local communities. Over £0.5m will be given to 12 councils across the North East, where Anti Social Behaviour is a significant issue, supporting a number of measures including: • Training and supporting an estimated 10,000 community champions and front line staff to equip them to tackle anti social behaviour; • Publicity to make sure millions of residents know how to report...

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• STEPHEN BYERS TO STAND DOWN AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION

  

  Stephen Byers MP, Labour's Member of Parliament for North Tyneside has announced his intention to step down from Parliament at the next General Election. At the monthly meeting of the North Tyneside Labour Party held on Saturday, the former Cabinet Minister said “I have decided to stand down as the Member of Parliament for North Tyneside at the next General Election. By 2010 I will have held elected positions as an M.P. and councillor for 30 years. That’s over half my life and is a long time – especially in modern politics. For me this is the right...

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• North East and Cumbria to benefit from over £6m to help long-term unemployed into work

  Today the Labour Government announced funding of over £6million for North East and Cumbria to tackle long-term worklessness, and ensure that no-one is left behind during the recession and everyone can benefit as the upturn happens. While the number of long-term jobless families across the country has been reduced by 13 per cent over the last ten years, this funding demonstrates Labour’s commitment to tackling entrenched worklessness and steps up action to support the remaining 73,000 back into work. The funding from the Working Neighbourhood Fund has been welcomed by Members of Parliament and Council Leaders from across the North...

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