LRC CANDIDATE FOR CALDERDALE.......

Congratulations.....to my fellow town councillor and friend Janet Oosthuysen who last night was selected as our candidate for the Metropolitan Calderdale council next year. The Calder ward has not been a Labour seat for some years but last year we were within a whisker of winning and , with a political, community-based campaign the our chances are better than ever. We will be knocking on doors, going out to local radical groups and aiming to engage with people on an issue by issue basis. Janet, who is one of three LRC members on the Hebden Royd Town Council, has set up a campaign Committee and we will need HELP in the New Year.

LRC MERSEYSIDE LAUNCH

This Saturday December 8 will see the launch of Merseyside LRC and I have been invited to go along and join in the discussion on the way forward for the left. The mood within the Party has darkened once again in the wake of the dodgy donations scandal - and even more importantly for me - the threat to the trade union link . However, I look forward to a constructive afternoon.LRC Chair John McDonnell MP and Liverpool West Derby MP Bob Wareing are both speaking and I'm sure there will be plenty of time for people to contribute. People from Greater Manchester ( who are in the process of organising their own LRC events in the New Year) are also going and anyone else is welcome. If you're interested the venue is the People's Community Centre near the RC cathedral at 12noon. Merseyside was once the epicentre of the UK left so let's hope this will herald a revival of radical socialist ideas.

CHRISTMAS DRINKS....

Just to prove we're not a bunch of saddoes who can't enjoy ourselves, date for Diary is december 18 @ Victoria pub , Leeds. 7.30pm. A gang of us from Calderdale will hopefully be trekking over to chat and debate witrh Leeds comrades who have been keeping flag flying for years as members of Leeds Campaign Group. All welcome.........

LRC National Committee

Thanks to West Yorkshire LRC for nominating me for National Committee. Next meeting is in London on december 15 and will endeavour to put regional issues on the agenda. We need also to be thinking about local events for the new Year and would be particularly pleased to hear from anyone who would be willing to join a list of speakers willing to speak to local Branches /GCs about the LRC . Also ideas on recruitment....... Please contact me 07989352406 or e-mail me.......The full list of committee members can be found at http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/ Thanks again

LAUNCH MEETING REPORT

West Yorkshire LRC held its launch meeting on Wednesday October 24 in Halifax
Thanks to Linda Riordan Mp (pictured) and Alice mahon for agreeing to be co-chairs.

There was a general discussion on ways of raising awareness of LRC policy and profile in West Yorkshire following our Hebden Bridge conference September 29.

We identified several key issues to campaign on locally in coming months. These included Living Wage, privatisation, affordable and social housing, green issues, trade union rights, university fees, and Party democracy. We agreed to set up links with trade union branches, Trades Councils and organisations locally like Palestinian Solidarity, CND, UNITE, and other relevant organisations. E-mail networks were to be expanded to facilitate solidarity with strikers, and have a presence on picket lines etc. But we also need to reach out to youth and try and build links with schools and colleges.

We need also to mobilise to help LRC supporting candidates at local elections in May 2008. Also street stalls in key locations. Meetings to be held in locations across West Yorkshire in the coming months, especially Leeds and Bradford and Kirklees. There will be fund-raising via social events and possibly a speaker meeting in New Year in Leeds or Bradford.
Election of officers: The following were voted on and agreed unanimously: Co-chairs Alice Mahon and Linda Riordan MP. Secretary Susan Press, Treasurer Janet Oosthuysen. We also voted on a Campaign Committee comprising Nigel Pearce, Bob Wood, Ed Doveton.
Affiliation to National LRC. This was agreed in line with current LRC constitution.
Resolutions to AGM: Agreed to table supportive motion for Calder Valley rule change motion on PLP leadership threshold to be voted on at Labour Conference 2008
Nomination to National Committee. Judah Smith proposed Susan Press. This was seconded by Dave Young and unanimously agreed.
AOB: Several members going to AGM on November 17. Will report back to informal meeting in December in Leeds. Date to be agreed.

HELP US BUILD OUR NETWORK!

One of our major aims in the weeks and months ahead is building links in the dozens of CLPs across West Yorkshire. We would like to hear from Labour Party members who would be willing to act as a point of contact in their constituency for people interested in joining or re-joining the Party and helping us organise meetings and campaigns. If your constituency isn't featured in the list on the right-hand side, please get in touch @ SsPre2@aol.com

THE WAY FORWARD IN WEST YORKSHIRE .....

Next Wednesday October 24 West Yorkshire LRC holds its first formal planning meeting to discuss future campaigns and strategies. We hope to elect officers and will be formally affiliating to the national LRC. The meeting is at 2 West Parade Halifax , Linda Riordan MP's office (next to the irish centre) Even if you can't make the meeting, get in touch and we will add you to our e-mail list about future events. If you can make the meeting, it shouldn't last more than 90 minutes or so and we will be going for a drink afterwards!

LAUNCH EVENT SEPTEMBER 29

On Saturday September 29, West Yorkshire LRC held its launch event with a raft of speakers including LRC Chair John McDonnell MP, Halifax MP Linda Riordan, former Halifax MP Alice Mahon and brian caton, general Secretary of the Prison officers' Association .The following report alos appears on the official LRC

website