Chair's Annual Report 2013

Chair’s Annual Report, 2013, Lutterworth Branch Labour Party

 

Meetings.

Regular meetings were held throughout the year. About 10 members attended each meeting.

 

Speakers and discussions included:

March – Professor Sue Maguire on Education Maintenance Allowance

April – Darren Jones – effects of privatisation on the Post Office

May – Willy Bach – Resume of current Government and parliamentary activity, regarding the economy, legal aid, the health bill, and more.

October – The new NHS bill – David Fish 

 

Political activities

1. Local elections:

We helped out with canvassing and leafleting in various elections this year, including Corby by-election, new elected Police commissioner and Braunstone Town Council.

2. County Elections, May 2013

We have selected 3 candidates: David Gair for Lutterworth, Peter Ranson for Broughton and Elaine Carter for Bruntingthorpe.

3. NEWSLETTER. Newsletter written with articles by a variety of members, and distributed through Lutterworth, Broughton Astley and villages during December.
4. GC: New Speaker meetings: Topics included housing and policing.
5. Willy Bach completed 13 years giving service on the Front Bench – Congratulations to him.
6. Warwickshire Fabians: Members have attended and spoken at these meetings.
7. Lutterworth Blog: This new initiative continues to progress. Many contributions have been made, regarding local and national politics, and our political and social activities. It has received many hits. Regular bloggers are Roger and Elaine. We hope more people will join in in 2013!
8. Boundary review: Our Branch will not be joining with Daventry, after all, but will be staying much the same as it is. Despite this, we had a pleasant Branch meeting when the Daventry Branch was invited to join us.

                                               

Social activities

1.      The fourth Lutterworth Branch Tea in the garden was held at Willy and Carolines in July. An enjoyable occasion, and it raised about £300 for the Branch. Attended by Leicester West MP, Liz Kendall

2.      Constituency Gala dinner, November – an excellent occasion. Held at Lutterworth Cricket Club. Speakers were Andy Burnham, who gave a moving and amusing account of the NHS and Willy Bach who also gave a rousing speech; music by Elaine and Peter.

3.      December – Christmas quiz at Red Admiral, Broughton-Astley, organised by Sandra, and written by David, was very successful, and raised about £30. Quiz topic – politics and current affairs!!

4.      Leaving parties for Martin and Anne, and Paul and Sue

 

Correspondence and media

Excellent article with photo by Willy Bach in Lutterworth Mail on Legal Aid campaign.

Correspondence by Elaine with Department of Education and Nick Clegg on private education, and with Andrew Robathan on forcing energy companies to give lowest prices to customers.

 

Members

1. Sadly we said farewell to Martin and Anne Willey, who have moved to Buxton, and Paul and Sue Gray who have moved to Market Harborough. They will be greatly missed, and we gave enormous thanks for the huge amount of work they have done both in the Branch, and as Councillors, (and Mayor, in Paul’s case).
2. Sadly some members have passes away this year, including Phil Fox, Bob Sykes and Rob Lacey. Bob Sykes was previously a Town Councillor for Lutterworth. Phil Fox has been a Braunstone Councillor for many years, starting work there 30 years ago, along with his wife, Jo, and later his daughter, Sam, and built up a real Labour strong hold in Braunstone Town.