Maidstone Weald Labour Party

Today was an interesting day to say the least. I had wanted to speak on health to raise the issue of the patients. The ideology versus patient care is one that I feel passionately about and the debate was on two composites to which composite 7 held the more realistic view that we have advanced and funded the NHS but as Bill Clinton said we need to be agents of change to succeed. As I pointed out in my speech though we should not make changes for changes sake.



After the lively debate, and make no mistake the Party is better for an open debate, the NEC statement was passed by the CLPs. The composite 8 was passed overall.




After the debate Patricia Hewitt and I recorded a podcast the link to which is below. Please listen to it as her answers are frank and the questions were sent in by the public. I would like to thank her for her frankness and openness, especially directly after addressing Conference. Also thanks to the www.Labour.org.uk website team. Once again I look constipated and forgot to smile!!!


http://www.unique-media.tv/new_labour/podcasts/conference2006_patriciahewitt.mp3

Or you can click on the link to the right of the page.


A more detailed report will by presented to my CLP this week. It has been a rollercoaster ride and as a last thought I would like to mention how good it was to see so many ethnic minorities that addressed conference. Our Labour Party should be really proud about this.

My first view of the G-Mex


As close as I will get to cabinet the hazy view from the stage!!

Well I got in...sorry about the lack of updates. I got the pass thanks to the effort of Labour South-East especially Simon Wady, but Katie and Malcolm Powers as well, thanks for all the help.
I was on the stage for the Tony Blair's speech today. It was an excellent speech and as an orator he is unmatched.
Previous to this Gordon Brown did position himself as a Prime Ministerial successor and on the floor the speech went down really well.
The housing motion passed so congratulations to the West branch and Leslie well done. I also am interviewing Patricia Hewitt tomorrow at 1615 tomorrow for a podcast. Look out for the health debate as am keen to say a few words from 1415 onwards tomorrow. Full report coming soon!

Sorry the comments are not working at the moment, but send them in and i'll publish them on my return.

Today unfortunately has been difficult...due to my paperwork being lost I ended up at the Labour conferences centre all day from 0930. Not to feel too special though as in the same queue were MP's and somebody that had paid a substantial amount for an exhibition stand. The picture represents the queue outside at 1800 and the queue inside was twice the length.
This meant I missed the vote on the resolutions...everyone was trying their best could this have been organised in a better way?
As a GP I pride myself on accountability and openness and felt a bit like the main character from 'The Prisoner" today...i.e "i'm not a number i'm a human being."
I hope that the issue is resolved tomorrow, but I can not say I am that hopeful...frustrated and powerless...feel like a Lib Dem.
Morel kindly has tried to help and I'll be in the queue again tomorrow...I hope I haven't let anyone down as i've tried my hardest.
At least we won the Ryder Cup!

Hello all my name is Dr Rav Seeruthun and I am the delegate from Maidstone Weald CLP to conference. I will try and sporadically blog from conference events as they happen but this is unfortunately dependent on Internet connections!
Have arrived unfortunately to find that all my paperwork has been lost so do not have a pass into the "restricted zone". Have been assured though that will have one by 1200 tomorrow so will be able to vote on the resolutions.
As a member of West branch am keen to see if we can get a housing resolution into one of the four to be debated.
Arrived during the anti-war march and the atmosphere was really friendly considering I had to walk through it with my suitcase! Good to see people exercising their democratic rights.
Have got details of the fringe events and there are huge numbers of them! Am going to meet up with bloggers4labour on Tuesday evening and am keen to go to as much as I can, hopefully will get into see Gordon Brown tomorrow speaking on meeting the Millennium development goals - delivering public services:health and education for all, and it's sponsored by Oxfam and UNISON. Morel also kindly got me an invite to a climate change event with Mark Watts late on Tuesday.
Am keen also to hear Shami Chakrabati Director of Liberty speak on human rights, and Ed Milliband seems to be at virtually every speaking event and would be keen to here his opinions. Dominique Walker the sister of Anthony Walker is also speaking on a debate about anti-racist policies that I would like to attend.
So roll on the events and thanks to all at the CLP for nominating me to attend after Morel could not attend.

At our last CLP meeting on the first of September a contemporary resolution was passed and this will now be forward to Conference for their consideration.


1. Contemporary resolution.

HOUSING - DEEPENING CRISIS IN SUPPLY OF SOCIAL HOUSES -

THIS CLP DRAWS ATTENTION OF CONFERENCE TO THE FAILURE OF OUR
GOVERNMENT TO DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH THE INCREASING HOUSING
CRISIS IN PARTICULAR THE SUPPLY OF SOCIAL HOUSES TO-RENT AND
HAS NOT CHANGED POLICIES DESPITE THE CLEAR WISHES OF TWO
SUCCESSIVE CONFERENCE EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN.
PRICES OF ALL TYPES OF HOUSING CONTINUE TO ESCALATE AND
INSUFFICIENT AFFORDABLE DWELLINGS ARE BEING BUILT TO
PROVIDE FOR FIRST-TIME-BUYERS AND THOSE WHO CAN ONLY
AFFORD TO RENT.
THIS CLP AGREES WITH THE VIEW EXPRESSED BY THE PRIME MINISTER
IN A RECORDED TELEPHONE INTERVIEW AT THE END OF SEPT 2005
WHICH CONTAINED THE FOLLOWING "....BECAUSE FRANKLY I DON'T
KNOW HOW YOUNG PEOPLE AND YOUNG COUPLES STARTING OUT IN THE
SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY...CAN AFFORD TO LIVE
IT IS VERY, VERY TOUGH." SINCE THAT DATE HOUSE PRICES HAVE
CONTINUED TO RISE AND FEW HOUSES TO RENT ARE AVAILABLE TO
THOSE ON LOW INCOMES; WAITING LISTS ARE LENGTHENING AND
REMEDIAL POLICIES ARE INSUFFICIENT. WITHOUT URGENT ACTION IT
IS ESTIMATED THAT HOUSE PRICES WILL SOAR 50% WITHIN 6 YEARS
AND PUT HOUSE PURCHASE OUT OF THE REACH OF EVEN MIDDLE-
INCOME EARNERS AND SOME HIGH EARNERS ; THUS THE CRISIS WILL
INTENSIFY FOR LOW EARNERS.
CONFERENCE CALLS UPON THE GOVERNMENT AS A MATTER OF GREAT
URGENCY TO INSTITUTE A MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF BUILDING OF QUALITY
SOCIAL HOUSES-TO-RENT WHICH WOULD, AS A CONSEQUENCE, PUT A BRAKE ON THE
CONTINUING DEVASTATING PRICE RISES OF ALL AFFORDABLE HOMES
AND THUS TO ALLOW THE YOUNG PEOPLE, AS REFERRED TO BY THE
PRIME MINISTER, TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN THEIR INCOMES.