John's Labour blog

Santa Clause is on the dole

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Just a gentle reminder of what will happen next Crimo if the Tories get in! Poor old Santa.

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Welsh for Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hat-tip from Aussie Cousins - the Morgan Family - from the from the other side of the World.

(this post was scheduled in advance for 00.01 on Crimbo morning)

No Dis-Respect Xmas Party (2008)

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:15:00 +0000

This is so 2008 ...but I like it...

Hat-tip Comrade Mercader

SERTUC conference on Equality Bill - 6 Feb 2010

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Double click to bring up details then print to apply.

SWP Central Committee response to Left Platform

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:20:00 +0000

The SWP Central Committee's dumbvirate Lord Alex Callinicos and commoner Martin Smith launch their withering attack on the Left Platform in the SWP's Pre-Conference Video-Bulletin.

Hat-tip thingy to Icepicker100!

HR admits to discriminating over mental health?

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:03:00 +0000

This press release from the professional HR “trade body” is worth a look for all trade unionists. What I found particularly notable is that a fifth of HR respondents admit to unlawful discrimination against those who disclose a mental health condition! I wonder what the CIPD/ Commission for Equality and Human Rights (and unions) are doing about this?

Good news about importance of pensions!

CIPD press release
Top 5 CIPD Poll Results, 2009

Every week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) conduct a poll on its website asking members a topical question, attracting an average of 1,000 responses. Today the CIPD publishes the top 5 poll results of 2009:

21st September 2009
The ECJ has ruled workers taken ill on holiday can claim back sick leave. Will you:
Welcome ruling - 14%
Trust staff not to take advantage - 30%
Consider tightening sick pay policies - 56%

5th October 2009
Does your organisation hire applicants who have disclosed a mental health condition?
Yes - 79%
No - 21%

19th October 2009
Is there still a business case for offering a pension to your employees?
Yes - 88%
No - 6%
Sometimes - 6%

16th November 2009
What do you think of the Government's proposal to phase out tax relief on childcare vouchers from 2011?
Agree - 15%
Disagree - 85%

14th December 2009
How much 'absenteeism' happened/do you expect the day after workplace Christmas parties?
None, they are held on Fridays - 49%
A little - 31%
A lot - 5%
We don't have parties - 15%

Notes to Editors
• The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is Europe's largest HR and development professional body with over 135,000 members, supporting and developing those responsible for the management and development of people within organisations

"Muslims in Britain are the most patriotic in Europe"

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

This lunch time I sneaked off to Bow Idea Store in Roman Road for a quiet read and decent cup of coffee. While reading the Christmas New Statesman I came across an interesting article which I can’t find an exact link but their political editor Mehdi also refers to it here (and the Times also confirms its source).

A survey has found that “An average 78 per cent of UK Muslims identified themselves as British, compared with 49 per cent of Muslims who consider themselves French and just 23 per cent who feel German”.

The article credits the Anglo-Saxon sense of “fair play” and that Muslims in the UK appreciate the role of British institutions such as the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. The article also rightly pointed out that things for British Muslims are “not perfect”.

But I am enormously encouraged by such reports which coincides strongly with my own experiences of British Muslims.

This earlier report here found that British Muslims are far more British than average! “Perhaps the survey's most surprising finding was that more than three-quarters of British Muslims (77 per cent) said they identified "very strongly" with the UK, compared to just half (50 per cent) of the general public”.

Picture is of solicitor and Newham Labour Party member Tareq Chowdbury (third right) at his British Citizenship ceremony in July this year.

Merry Communist Christmas!

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Cdr Graham reminded me of this link which last year I posted as “Com-mew-ist-Christmas”. Headphones or Speaker’s on!

Enjoy!

Original hat-tip thingy to Stroppyblog

Winter Solstice 17:47 today – Spring is on its way!

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:13:00 +0000

The picture was taken by me tonight just minutes before 17:47. According to the Radio 4 programme “PM” this is the moment that Winter Solstice (aka the shortest day) really takes place.

From now onwards the days will start a little bit earlier and become dark a little later.

At the time I was stuck in traffic near Bow flyover trying to get home while London had as usual came to near grid-lock due to a little bit of snow. The 15 minute commute home took over 2 hours.

I like all the seasons and would not want to miss winter but the prospect of spring and the feeling that we have turned a corner is pleasing. Especially so in the midst of winter snow, frost and darkness. Roll on spring!

Ladybird "Chiropractic Treatment & English Libel Law"

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:40:00 +0000

Check out this superb spoof by Crispian Jago of "Science, Reason and Critical Thinking" blog of the attempt by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) to bully the critic of some of their wilder and unsubstantiated claims, Simon Singh, into silence by abusing our crazy libel laws.

Personally I would have thought that the book could have been called "Chiropractic Treatment for Dummies" since it is now clear that this is the BCA target audience?

I have had friends with back problems who swear by their Chiropractic. But the wild claims by some "practitioners" that they can cure practically anythings discredits all of them. The behaviour of the British Chiropractic Association is particularly disgraceful.

Check out this post that Britain is being turned into a global laughing stock because of our draconian libel laws.

I will declare an interest.

Graham's UNISON blog

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Welcome to Graham Smith the Chair of UNISON National Young members Forum and Scottish Young members Committee and his new blog. "Thoughts and views from a young member's perceptive"

I met Graham for the first time here. I was well impressed with his enthusiasm, energy and commitment.

(Which reminds me that I must post more on that excellent course).

Check out his post here on the scourge of Youth Unemployment.

A message from the Left Platform

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:26:00 +0000

I had been meaning to link to the posts on Harry’s Place about the recent purge in the SWP of a student activist and the apparent pending expulsions of Mr & Mrs Diss-Respect John Rees and Lindsey German (3rd link).

When Comrade Mercader kindly sent me this YouTube vid above posted by Icepicker100. Who explains "Lindsay German and John Rees of the SWP's Left Platform issue their message to the SWP's Dr.Evil, Martin Smith".

I note also that the Weekly Worker has comradely set up a “Defend Rees-German” campaign.

Check out more on Left Platform

Schadenfreude

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Continuing on a German theme...

"Kaschke, complaints and kirschtorte"

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:31:00 +0000

This story was in the Village People gossip column in today’s “The Independent”.

"Alex Hilton, star of the Labour blogosphere and Labour candidate for Kensington & Chelsea, won a minor victory in the High Court this week, in a case which illustrates how easy it is to get sued for libel in the UK. He owns the website Labourhome, on which another Labour blogger, John Gray, wrote about a political activist named Johanna Kaschke, who left the Labour Party in 2007, to join George Galloway's Respect Party, then joined a communist party of some description, and since autumn 2007 has been an active Conservative.

In 1975, Kaschke was falsely suspected by the German police of links to the Baader Meinhof terrorist gang. She was arrested, but eventually released and awarded compensation.

She objected to having this old story dug up on LabourHome. Hilton removed the post and offered right of reply, but she decided to go to court. She lodged five complaints, but this week, the court struck out four. One point m'learned friends may yet have to deliberate, seriously, is whether it is actionable to describe someone as "one cherry short of a Schwarzwalderkirschtorte".

Not quite the full story but...No comment!

Rule or Ruin 4: "Avoid Infantile Disorder"

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 21:49:00 +0000

The latest from Tynesider on the fall out from the attempted Ultra left take over by paid officials of the SWP and the SP of the North East Shop Stewards Network (NESSN).

Check out “Rule or Ruin” one, two and three. It is getting even more murky!

"Morning
Sorry you have more scrowling than reading to do.
You receive e-mails from me because you are a friend, colleague, and comrade of *****, the Labour Party or wider the Labour movement.
Hopefully what I normally forward is interesting and informative in its own right.
In the case of the NESSN it is informative, but lately is equivalent to a left wing kinder garden, scrap.
I would understand if you wished not to receive NESSN material further, just let me know and I will remove you.
I see no sign of these e-mails ending...
“NESSN has managed to do is a huge victory for working class left unity”, when I read this I thought I’d missed something, then realised he was being satirical.
We are diverse and disciplined by our many various conference decisions, but we owe it to those we claim to represent to avoid Infantile Disorder.
Yours ...

…Please remove me from this list. I will check the position in a few months time.

…I think what the NESSN has managed to do is a huge victory for working class
left unity. Out of the wreckage of the workers movement of the 20/21st
century Dave Harker has managed to unify the separate traditions of the SPEW
and SWP against him and meanwhile everybody else is doing a runner. It's a
huge achievement. Which one is the NESSN and which one is the real NESSN
though? It's almost like watching the unfolding of the October Revolution at
first hand

…Please remove me from this list.

Is the plan to punish the poor?

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0000

Letter published by Newham Recorder this week. There is a delay before they put the "Postbag" letters on their Internet site.

I think it is a pretty safe bet that the Tories will hammer the hard pressed working families who depend upon tax credits to keep the wolf away from the door. In favour of inheritance tax breaks for the millionaire mates of Dave and George (D&G).

I note that my fellow trade union activist and Chair of East Ham Tories - GMB Clause 4 "Brother Neil" also had a letter printed this week in the Recorder.

Like Brother Neil I am a "Housing professional" I suppose? but what on earth was he going on about? The Recorder titled his letter as "Time to co-ordinate more (sic) Intiatives". Which I think sums up the letter pretty well.

Which no doubt will cause Big Bad Mikey Law to rush in and claim this is all part of some weird and wonderful conspiracy by the poor old Recorder against his true blue but apparently currently estranged bro!

British Airways Strike Ban

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:45:00 +0000

Whatever you think about the appropriateness of the proposed Unite British Airways strike - today’s High Court "ban" is bringing the British legal process and democracy itself into disrepute (IMO). 92.5% of union members balloted voted in favour of strike action. The reason for the "ban" is that the union wrongly balloted a very small number of former members who had left recently. These handful of members would have had no impact whatsoever on the overall result in favour of strike action.

The right to withhold your Labour in an industrial dispute is a basic human Right. There has to be reasonable checks and balances but the law is making it practically impossible to exercise this Right. We rightly criticise dictatorships that ban workers from striking. I’m not comparing Britain in any way to such countries but frankly using this law in this way just demeans us all.

Just slagging off the Labour Government for not reforming the trade unions laws enough isn’t going to change things. Trade unions need to think and work out why we haven’t so far won this argument?

Firearm incident in Forest Gate

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:20:00 +0000

This is a picture of a Police “Scenes of Crime” officer recording evidence about a “shooting” that apparently occurred last night in this building in Woodgrange Road (next to Skoda Garage). Thankfully no-one was hurt but I think the use of this building needs to be checked out.

There is a food shop, male hairdresser and in the back was/is a Latin American restaurant. I think it is being used as some sort of club. I’m not sure what happened but will speak to local councillors.

The 150,000 Death Health Care Plan

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:49:00 +0000

After all the fuss and nonsense about "NHS death panels" this is a estimate of the number of Americans who have died due to the lack of medical insurance.

The figures I think speak for themselves.

Thank God for the NHS (or rather Nye Bevan)

BTW - Who really doesn't think that the Tories will dismantle the NHS and bring in medical insurance if they could? It is their key bit of unfinished business.

Check out Washington Post

Hat-tip thingy Col. Roi.

“Scrooge” protest outside Fujitsu’s HQ

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Unite members who work for IT giant Fujitsu are starting this Friday 18 December strike action to protect their Jobs, Pay and Pensions.

“The priority for Friday will be the “Scrooge” protest outside Fujitsu’s HQ ...which is 22 Baker Street, London, W1U 3BW at 12:00 on Friday 18th December. Fujitsu will be visited by the ghosts of pensions past, jobs present and pay that is yet to come. The protest should attract considerable media interest, helping our campaign. The intention is then to pop round the corner onto Oxford Street to leaflet outside one or two of Fujitsu’s High Street customers”.

Double click to bring up details. Check out updates on the Unite website here. Hat-tip thingy Ian

Justice for Bloggers

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:28:00 +0000

This is a picture from last night taken of the "famous 3" bloggers and comrades in arms Dave, John and Alex in a Chancery Lane Curry house.

We were all singing "The Internationale" at the time even though it appears as if I was just posing. As if...

We were celebrating what was on the whole - a good day for freedom of expression and justice for bloggers.

Thanks to Alex's top brief MH and best wishes to Master R on his retirement. There are still troubles ahead (Dave is still facing the full monty) but today was good news and a victory for common sense.

So lets face the music and dance

Canning Town North Canvass

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:00:00 +0000

You may have not realised it but yesterday was a Newham Super Sunday campaign day! I was sent out with two teams of 4 Labour party activists to “door knock” parts of Canning Town North ward (see picture of both teams taken by Cllr Shama Ahmad). The ward is solid Labour.

It was one of those bright but cold canvassing days that you wished that you had remembered to bring your fingerless gloves with you. Especially if you were filling out the voter ID sheets on a clipboard! It was chilly enough for one pensioner we called at to say she didn't fancy going out and would I post a letter for her!

Most of the people we called at knew at least one of the local councillors personally and were pleased with their representation. People were quite happy to talk to us and raise issues which we will feed back to their Councillors. There were reassuring signs that our traditional core vote were waking up to the threat of a Tory government and indicating not only that they identify with Labour (to whatever degree) but they will go out and vote against the prospect of a Tory government.

I think that this is because working people are beginning to remember and accept that now is the time to stop just moaning about Labour and remember what the Tories actually do to working class families and communities in a recession when they are in government.

In the afternoon other teams went out to different parts of Newham.

Britain is being turned into a “global laughing stock” because of its draconian libel laws

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:36:00 +0000

This is from today's Sunday Times. I couldn't possibly comment.

Top comedians and wits, including Alexei Sayle, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Fry, say Britain is being turned into a “global laughing stock” because of its draconian libel laws. They are the latest critics to call for reform of the legislation which is stifling free speech.

Sayle says he endured a “horrible experience” after he was sued for libel. He eventually won the case, but said he risked financial ruin because of the high costs of defending himself in the London courts.

The comedian said yesterday the case racked up thousands of pounds in costs, which he never recovered even after successfully defending the action. “It would have been cheaper if I’d just stabbed the f*****,” he said. “The most I would have got was an Asbo barring me from certain parts of Croydon.”

Sayle said the libel writ was issued after he wrote a graphic novel called Geoffrey the Tube Train. Someone who worked with Sayle in the comedy business claimed one of the characters resembled him and his reputation had been sullied.

Related Links
Scientists urge reform of ‘lethal’ libel law
Doctor to argue freedom of speech defence
“I was determined to fight the case,” said Sayle. “But everything you own hangs on a philosophical discussion about the meaning of words. I risked losing everything.

“The penalties of a libel case — both in terms of awards and legal costs — are completely distorted and out of proportion to any offence.”

Sayle and other comedians are supporting a campaign for an overhaul of the libel laws. They say the threat of a ruinous writ means comedians, as well as scientists and other individuals and bodies, are having to sanitise their output.

Robin Ince, a stand-up comedian and television panellist, said lawyers hired by TV channels were routinely censoring comic material because of libel fears. He said: “England is the envy of the world for anyone who wants to crush dissent.

“It means you now have this hideous mire of lawyers and there is a constant fear [of a possible action]. They err on the side of over-caution.”

The Sunday Times has highlighted how British libel laws are being used to threaten scientists publishing critical research and to prevent scrutiny of rich and powerful figures based overseas.

Last week Dara O’Briain, the presenter of BBC2’s satirical show Mock the Week, launched a Libel Reform Campaign petition. He said the libel laws were a “dangerous joke” being used to silence or censor writers. O’Briain said he was most concerned by the threat to scientific research and comment but had also feared for his own performances.

“I think in a couple of cases the people in question thought, ‘We will just look stupid if we take action’,” he said. “But this is essentially a poker game because even if you are right you will lose a six-figure sum. It’s ludicrous.”

Dave Gorman, the comedian and author, said: “The costs of a libel action silence people because you cannot afford to fight. We should have a legal system that gives redress to people whose reputations have been damaged, but this isn’t it.”

Other comedians supporting the campaign include Ricky Gervais and Stephen Fry, the presenter and wit, who said Britons should “cringe with embarrassment” at existing legislation that made the UK a “global laughing stock”. “Our laws can be manipulated to protect the corrupt and to hide the truth,” he said.

A public backlash against the libel laws began after the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) sued the science writer Simon Singh for describing chiropractic remedies for some childhood ailments, including asthma, as “bogus” since there was insufficient clinical evidence. He has appealed against a preliminary judgment against him but has already racked up legal costs of £100,000.

Mr Justice Eady, who presides over many libel cases, is a popular judge with many claimants. In a preliminary hearing in Singh’s case, he ruled the word “bogus” in an article meant the science writer was accusing the BCA of dishonesty, which Singh disputes and certainly never intended.

Eady has also allowed foreign claimants to pursue cases against overseas publications, bolstering London’s reputation as a centre for libel tourism. Lawmakers in several American states have passed laws to protect their citizens from UK courts.

Eady defended the libel courts at a legal conference earlier this month, saying there were very few cases involving foreign claimants. Campaigners point out that the mere threat of a London libel action by a rich individual or powerful corporation is often enough to quash criticism, so most cases are unlikely even to reach Eady’s court.

It has also emerged that respected American newspapers are considering pulling their London editions because of the risk of a costly libel action. An Oxford University report published last year found libel court costs were 140 times higher in Britain than in the rest of Europe.

The Libel Reform Campaign — backed by English PEN, the Index on Censorship, Sense about Science and Reporters without Borders — wants capped damages, strict controls on costs and a stronger defence of public interest.

The petition, launched last week, states: “Journalists, authors, academics, performers and blog-writers cannot risk extortionate costs, which means they are forced to back down.”

Jonathan Heawood, director of English PEN, which promotes literature and human rights, said: “There is growing public anger. It’s wrong that writers are being intimidated into silence.”

Laugh — if you dare

• What do you get when you cross a libel lawyer with a demon from hell?

Another libel lawyer.

• A man walked into a bar with an alligator and said: “Do you serve libel lawyers here?”

“Yes, indeed,” said the barman.

“Good,” said the man. “I’ll have a beer for myself and a libel lawyer for the alligator.”

• Two libel lawyers go hunting and one suddenly falls ill and drops to the ground.

The other pulls out his mobile and dials 999. He tells the operator: “My friend is dead. What shall I do?”

“First, let’s make sure he’s dead.”

There is a short pause and a shot is heard. The libel lawyer’s voice comes back on the line: “OK, what now?”

• My libel lawyer says he didn’t want to marry his wife for her money. But there was no other way to get it.

Lyn Brown MP Parliamentary Report 2009

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours with other West Ham Labour Party activists on the floor of our MP’s living room stuffing, sealing and labelling copies of her Annual Parliamentary Report to her constituents. Her husband John and her parents were roped in as well and had taken over the kitchen!

This huge mailing (34,000) to every household in West Ham CLP had suffered from some technical “gremlins” and since due to Parliamentary rules the reports had to be sent out before Christmas a SOS message was sent out to all activists in West Ham to see if they could help out.

It was actually "quite a laugh" and there was some pretty interesting political debates while we waded through the boxes and boxes of paper. Lyn had to step in on occasions since when we were arguing and ranting too much the work rate dropped!

The response was pretty magnificent and Party members had been helping out Lyn’s office all week while this weekend various shifts of helpers took turns to get the report out in time.

And we went out canvassing in Canning Town today! Great effort by everyone!

The Great Nuclear Debate

john.m.gray@ntlworld.com (John Gray) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:13:00 +0000

This should be interesting (double click picture to bring up details).

11/01/2010

Chair of the CND Dr. Kate Hudson will be debating against a professional from the Nuclear Industry Association on the pros and cons for nuclear power.

Joining Kate Hudson will be Chris Baugh, assistant general secretary for the PCS union and active in the Campaign Against Climate Change Trade Union Group.

Alongside the Nuclear Industry Association expert will be the GMB union convenor from Selafield - the worlds first commercial nuclear power station.

How do trade unionists and green campaigners work together to agree on policy for nuclear power? Where is there common ground? When issues become contentious how do we move forward?

The Vestas dispute solidified the issue of climate change as a trade union issue, but how do we now move forward when faced with issues surrounding clean coal or nuclear power.

This debate hopes to raise these issues and work out strategy for moving forward.

Check out Battersea and Wandsworth TUC site.