WEST YORKSHIRE LRC

NEXT MEETING....

2008-11-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of West Yorkshire LRC is at the Irish centre, Huddersfield, at 2pm on Saturday November 29 . All comrades welcome.....

Janet 4 Calder Valley!

2008-07-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

It was a very long day. Much longer for all the candidates who faced a nerve=wracking several hours before the result was announced. Congratulations to the LRC's Janet Oosthuysen and well-done to all the candidates for making it a fair and transparent process. It was nail-bitingly close - 73 votes to 68. Democracy in action. And, I have to say, a great victory for the grassroots of Labour. Let's get to it - and campaiogn for Real Labour values in Calder Valley. We made the right decision.

NEXT WEST YORKSHIRE LRC MEETING IS...

2008-07-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

September 16 @ the Three Pigeons Pub, Halifax, 7.30pm.On agenda: Labour Party Conference, politicial discussion on policy, National LRC Committee report.
More details Susan Press 07989352406

SOUTH YORKSHIRE LRC LAUNCH

2008-07-10T02:39:00.001-07:00

I met Lenin at the launch of the South Yorkshire LRC.........Lenin Williams, proud son of a socialist and trade unionist who helped transform Wortley Hall, near Barnsley into the stately home of the Labour movement in South Yorkshire. Run as a co-operative and since 1951 owned and run by the labour movement, the Hall has offered support and solidarity to socialists from all over the world. In 1984, it served meals to striking miners and their families. Delegations from Cuba, the former Soviet Union and ANC have also visited.
Yesterday, around 50 people took a break from the beer and bouncy castles of the annual South Yorkshire Show to hear local MP Mick Clapham talk with some anger and a lot of passion about the disappointment people have felt in the 11 years since New Labour came to power. He reiterated that fact that it is only by changing policy direction that we can escape disaster at the next General Election. And that he welcomed the forming of the local LRC as a way of putting pressure on the Government and re-building Party membership .Mick reported that in his own constituency, Party membership had fallen from about 750 to about half that number. The other speaker ( apart from me) was Joe Simpson of the Prison Officer's Association, , who gave a stirring speech in support of the POA's fights on pay and the right to strike.
From my point of view, there were many encouraging things about this meeting. Firstly, apart from those who had come with me from Hebden Bridge, there was absolutely nobody there who I already knew. South Yorkshire clearly has many Labour Party members ( and ex members) still keen to engage in ideas.
Secondly, those who had no idea what the LRC was ( but came to meeting anyway) were really enthusiastic. There was another comrade there from Sheffield LRC, so we are building links now right across Yorkshire and the Humber. And as fun as thr blogosphere is nothing actually makes up for the chance to meet people face-to-face and know you are not on your own - with most political events taking place in and around London, it can be a little dispiriting on the Labour Left.
So - Yorkshire now has at least three LRC groups. Together with Nottingham, Merseyside and the North-East we are slowly building a swathe of support which goes way beyond London. I hope as many regional LRC members as possible stand for election to our National Committee at the LRC conference in November- in the meantime let's ensure as many as possible get to the Convention of the Left in Manchester

2008-05-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

There are those who remain sceptical about the LRC's ability to reach beyond the narrow confines of London. For this reason I'm glad to post picture of our local ceremony the other night when I became Mayor of the town and surrounding villages. With me are LRC members and Labour councillors Dave Young ( pictured left) and Coun Janet Oosthuysen, who is hoping to stand as PPC for Calder Valley. Our good friend and comrade John Wiseman and his dad travelled all the way from St Helens to be there. Thanks to all ........

MAY DAY IN LEEDS

2008-04-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

While the rest off the nation licks its wounds on Friday we in West Yorkshire have to head for Halifax for a belated count. As a paper candidate, my nerves are hardly on edge. But I do fear the BNP will make headway again in two particular wards. Chances are we will all head back to Hebden Bridge and the Trades Club for a lengthy post-mortem. Then on Saturday there's a rally in Leeds organised by the TUC with Jeremy Corbyn MP so an LRC contingent will be heading over . For anyone interested, the meeting-point is Leeds Art Gallery at around 11.30am.

LABOUR 4 CALDER!

2008-02-13T04:39:00.000-08:00

Modern political campaigning requires modern political tools so congratulations to the comrades who have put together the campaign website for Janet Oosthuysen who is standing as candidate for Calder in the forthcoming local elections. Janet is an LRC member fighting a community-based campaign which means lots of slog in the far from unglamorous arena of wheelie bins, dog dirt, and fighting unwanted development in the Calder valley. Janet's also fighting for fair wages and plans to take the campaign on to fight for more council and affordable housing . For IT skills alone, she deserves to win!

NEXT MEETING......

2008-02-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

The next meeting of the West Yorkshire LRC is on Saturday February 23 at 3pm at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge. Chair Linda Riordan MP will be leading off a discussion about campaigning in Calderdale and there will be a report back from the National Committee .The bar is also open.......

HELP JANET'S CAMPAIGN

2008-01-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

In May 2008, LRC member Janet Oosthuysen will be standing as candidate for the Calder ward . We ware organising a series of events including leafletting, canvassing and street stalls. If you can help Janet - and help build the LRC -contact secretary Susan Press on SsPre2@aol.com

LRC CANDIDATE FOR CALDERDALE.......

2007-12-18T06:34:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-05T08:25:00.001-08:00

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....

2007-11-28T15:27:00.001-08:00

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

2007-11-20T06:25:00.001-08:00

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

2007-10-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-10-19T03:44:00.000-07:00

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 .....

2007-10-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-11T03:59:00.001-07:00

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