Happy Christmas!

Wishing a Happy Christmas to all members and readers, from Lutterworth Branch.

We had 2 festive Branch/Constituency events:

The annual Gala dinner of the South Leicestershire Constituency was well-attended, and included a lovely meal; music; an informative speech from Liz Kendall, (Leicester West), and was held at our usual comfortable venue of Braunstone Town. A raffle, and a most professionally executed auction of items including Houses of Commons and Lords goods, raised funds for the Constituency. We hope the Boundary Commission does not decide to break up our Constituency! Our views have been expressed to the Commission, and we await their decision.

Our Christmas Quiz was on - guess what!! - politics! It was a very successful and enjoyable event, held in Brauton-Astley, with quite stunning displays of knowledge from some participants! A very pleasant evening was passed, with festive drinks and nibbles, and the raffle raised a nice contribution for our funds! Many thanks to David for organising it again!

Happy Christmas to all, from the Branch

One law for the corporate...

Further to Peter's post about tax evasion, the Commons Public Accounts Committee yesterday published its damning report on the sweetheart deals done between HM Revenue & Customs and hugely profitable international corporations, specifically Goldman Sachs and Vodaphone. Looks like up to £25bn in tax is cheerfully being waived by no more than four unaccountable commissioners.

The full report is here. A summary, including withering criticism from committee chair Margaret Hodge (left), is here.

Movement for Change

Members might be interested in this group which is all about developing localism and community links within the Party. Click on the post title to visit their homepage.

Are some fiddles more acceptable than others?

Congratulations to the BBC for their second in-depth investigation into benefit cheats in the space of a fortnight. When can we expect the same amount of impartial unbiased BBC scrutiny into the somewhat more costly scandal of corporate tax evasion? Would it be millions or trillions? Or are some fiddles more acceptable than others?

Status Zero Generation

Our speaker at Tuesday's branch meeting was Professor Sue Maguire, an expert in the field of youth unemployment. Sue's professional profile, research projects and publications can be found here. Sue kindly left her notes with me so that I could add them to the blog. You will find them under the new 'pages' sidebar on the righthand side of the page.

Sue's talk was brilliant, the discussion it sparked fascinating - but is there a more chilling phrase in the lexicon of Government-speak than Status Zero Generation?

Great win for Sally

I don't know how many saw the great news about Sally Gimson's thumping win in the Highgate ward of Camden Council back at the end of September. For those who didn't, click on the title of this post. Sounds to me like it was a deeply unpleasant campaign - but then it would be, wouldn't it, when the main opposition was a LibDem defector.

On the subject of former parliamentary candidates who became great friends of our branch, I have added David Morgan's fascinating Washminster blog to the links.

Unison's Vision Principles for the NHS

Last night's public meeting on the Tory's so-called NHS reforms, organised by Market Harborough Labour Party, was a real eye-opener. I hope to gather material from all three speakers over the next week or so and post it here on our blog, but I'd like to start with Unison's ten vision principles for the future of the NHS which were quoted by Unison's (and Lutterworth's own) Gerry Looker at the end of the evening.

1. The NHS remains a free, comprehensive, public service, funded by taxation rather than health insurance or 'top-ups'.
2. Access to the NHS continues to depend on need, not the ability to pay.
3. Improvements in the quality and responsiveness of services are achieved through a continuing process of engagement in partnership with service users, staff and trade unions.
4. NHS staff are valued and supported in their work.
5. Determining pay, terms and conditions for NHS staff continues to be a UK-wide activity.
6. The NHS is accountable, both locally and to Parliament.
7. Equality is fully and effectively embedded in the delivery of healthcare provision.
8. NHS organisations will work collaboratively across geographical areas to help deliver specialist services and with social care, to ensure services are shaped around the needs of users and carers.
9. Patients will receive high quality care which conforms to national standards.
10. Quality and efficiency is delivered through public health care provision rather than competition between private providers.

These seem like statements of the obvious - but every one of them is under threat from Lansley's sledgehammer bill of which there was no mention in the Tory manifesto only 17 months ago. Indeed, Cameron made specific electoral pledges not to destroy our NHS.

We are allowed a referendum on self-serving voting systems and lots of Tories were happy to defy their own government whips to demand a referendum on the terms of our EU membership - but the NHS, by far Britain's greatest and most enduring achievement of the last hundred years, is being systematically dismantled even before the bill has passed through Parliament.

Clicking on the post title will take you to the Unison campaign material and there's loads of other useful stuff on their website, www.unison.org.uk.

Finally, congratulations to Sonia and Annie and the rest of Market Harborough Branch for organising this important event.

Legal Aid Cuts

For anyone who missed it, the title of this post links to Willy Bach's article in yesterday's Guardian - "The quiet scandal of legal aid cuts". The motion Willy moved in the Lords on Wednesday can be read here. No doubt we will get an update when Willy speaks to the Fabians in Rugby on November 18.

October Branch meeting

At the October Branch meeting, we discussed the extraordinary Boundary Commission plans to put Lutterworth with Daventry. This would create a strange Constituency covering an area crossing county and service delivery boundaries. We have taken steps to support an alternative plan of keeping S Leicestershire much as it is, as proposed by the Democratic Audit Group of Liverpool University, (see www.democraticaudit.com for further details)
Our speaker was Tristan Koriya on Social Housing. He explained how it is currently in crisis with a severe shortage of suitable homes, and how this adversely effects employment, health and education. The reckless Government proposal of having Council Housing for only a limited tenancy would further increase these highly undesirable effect, and would be likely to lead to break down and destabilisation of communities. Suggestions inclded raising stamp duty on second homes to contribute towards social housing; better regulation of private renting of property; and tax breaks for good private landlords.
We are looking forward to our speaker at the November meeting: Professor Sue Maguire of Warwick University on Youth Unemployment.

JABBER JABBER

A poem for literary readers.

...with apologies to Lewis Caroll....

`Twas Ofsted and the slithy Gove
Did whine and bluster in the House.
The Tories all feigned love
For him, but thought he was a louse.

"Beware the Milliband", said Dave.
"That nasal twang, those stary eyes!
The Coalition is unsafe;
Lib Dems seek your demise."

Gove took his Parker pen in hand
(A present from his Aunty Maud.)
Long time his policies he planned,
Though he was really bored.

He came up with a scheme so vague
That no one could make sense of it.
He ran it past his mate, Will Hague,
Who thought it total sh.. rubbish.

"The system`s simple" he averred:
"Grammar, Comprehensive, Free...."
His colleagues thought it quite absurd -
"State and Academy..."

"Voluntary Aided or Controlled
Sponsored and Foundation."
His master plan he did unfold
To a bewildered nation.

So, Govey waffled on and on
(He suffered from delusion.)
He thought his arguement was won,
But all was mere confusion.

He said the Independent Schools
Could help those who has less,
But even a half-witted fool
Foresaw an Eton mess!

`Twas Ofsted and the slithy Gove
Did whine and bluster in the House.
For him the Commons have no love;
All think he is a louse.

Ken Kaylor, Arnesby

We're all off to Daventry!

Only 7 days ago we sat at the branch meeting and wondered, what's the most bizarre outcome for us in the Boundary Review? Joining Harborough, Hinckley - even Rugby? No - we're all off to Daventry in 2015. The good news, the branch has no need to change - Misterton and that well-known suburb of Daventry, Broughton Astley, are in the new constituency. And there is still a Braunston, it's just not that Braunstone.

Full jaw-dropping details are best enjoyed in the preliminary report itself. Clicking on the post title should take you there.

Fabians Autumn Events

In response to the interest shown at last night's branch meeting, David F has kindly circulated details of the upcoming events from Warwickshire Fabians.

September 22 is their AGM followed by a discussion group. Thursday October 20 is 'Blue Labour' theorist, Lord Maurice Glasman, and Friday November 18 is our own Willy Bach on Access to Justice. All meetings start at 7.30.

The Fabians are always very welcoming to guests and have a splendid, easily accessible venue at the Friends Meeting House, 28 Regent Place, Rugby.

Confusing service with profit

Late last week the County Council went public with news that it can't turn a profit from its parking enforcement service.  Worse, it forecasts a loss for the current year of £280,000. 

That's a very expensive unloved service of which we see precious little sign out here in the sticks. 

How did this catastrophe come about?  Well, it started with consultants who, to be fair, predicted the service would make a loss during the bedding-in period but assured elected members it would be turning a useful surplus by now.  The recession has obviously been a factor.  But how can parking enforcement in a county with as few car parks as we have, none of which charge a huge amount, possibly cost anything remotely like a quarter-of-a-million?

And why is the County looking to make a profit from the misbehaviour of a small number of residents and visitors?  Break-even should be the target, a small surplus an unlooked-for bonus.

It's all very well bringing the disciplines of private sector business to bear on the activities of public sector organisations.  But the 'business' of councils is service, not profit.  Confuse the two and you're not going to satisfy either your auditors or your electors.

Labour at Lutterworth Feast Day

The Branch enjoyed running our annual stall at the Feast Day. On this occasion, we did a picture quiz and a plant sale. The money we raised was donated to the Lord Mayors Appeal, as we do each year, and Mrs M Smith won the prize of a box of chocolates. Having struggled with hurricane-style winds and torrential rain in previous years to man our stall, it was a pleasant surprise to have good weather, and everyone enjoyed the day!

NHS is one of the most efficient health systems

Our NHS is one of the most cost effective health systems in the developed world, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
It shows the NHS saved more lives pound for pound than any other developed country over the past 25 years, with the exception of Ireland. Our NHS is both cheaper, and saves more lives. Of the 17 countries considered, the USA had one of the least effective health systems.
So why do we need costly changes to the NHS? It is working very well now. The Governments "reasoning" for the changes are the "inefficiency" of the NHS, but these results prove him wrong. Choice and competition, as recommended by the Tories, causes dismal results, if the USA is anything to go by.
As a worker of over 30 years in the NHS, it is good to see a positive piece of news on the subject. What a pity Mr Lansley doesnt act on the facts.

Government plan badger cull against scientific evidence

The fact that both cattle and badgers carry TB is well-known. Everyone is concerned about the loss of cattle that TB causes, and the effects this has on the farming community, and if anything could be done to reduce this awful disease, we would all be pleased. But before an action like badger culling takes place, there needs to be proper scientific evidence that it would be effective. The Randomised Controlled Badger Cull cost £50m, took 10 years and killed 11000 animals; it concluded that culling may reduce TB in cattle by 15%. So 85% of the problem would remain, and huge numbers of badgers killed. The scientists who did the trial conclude that a cull would be a mistake. Surely we should abide by the scientific evidence? Culling could even make the situation worse, as animals that are shot at and escape are likely to move to other areas, thereby spreading the disease further. Farmers randomly shooting at free-running badgers is clearly less organised and methodical than the scientifically controlled cull, making results likely to be even more poor.
Why is the government going against scientific advice? How will the Government ensure the safety of the public and their animals taking an evening stroll? Why has the results of the Government Poll of the public not been published?
We need to look at more effective and scientific methods of controlling TB such as vaccination of both cattle and badgers.

Branch Speakers and Discussions

The Branch has had a number of excellent speakers at our monthly meetings so far this year.

In February we had a discussion on the merits and de-merits of AV voting, led by Branch member Roger Wood; in March, a lively talk entitled "The Watergate Babies" on American politics was given by David Morgan of Milton Keynes. In April, a sombre discussion on the recent Tory cuts was led by Willy Bach. In June there was a thought provoking session on Climate Change, introduced by David Gair.

Branch members also attended a Constituency meeting in June to discuss the document "Refounding Labour" and send our Branch and Constituency views to the National Executive of the Party.

The Branch has further speakers lined up for Autumn meetings, on aspects of Housing and Education.

Party in the rain!

Members of Lutterworth Branch Labour party defied the downpour on Sunday17th July, to enjoy their annual fund-raising and social, "Tea and cakes", in a member`s garden. Along with lovely herbacious borders, the group enjoyed delicious home made cakes, quizes and music; and over £250 was raised. On a more serious note, the event was addressed by the Leicester South MP, and Lord Willy Bach, who discussed aspects of the economy and the recent successes for Labour in Leicester with the new Mayor and the by-election in Leicester South.

Lutterworth Branch will once again be having a stall at Lutterworth Feast day on August 20th. At this event, we will be raising money for the Mayors Appeal, as is our usual policy.

Supporting independent shops

Last Friday Leicester's elected city mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, announced a new initiative to support independent shops, particularly those on major routes outside the city centre. Partnership funding is available for:

• making shop fronts more attactive
• better street signage
• making the general environment more welcoming to shoppers.

For more details, click on the post title.

What are the chances of our Tory councils in Harborough and Glenfield doing anything similar (or, indeed, anything at all) to help our struggling independents in Lutterworth and Broughton?

Residential care - lessons to be learnt

Southern Cross Healthcare, the largest private sector provider of care homes in the UK, is being put out of business by the people it sold its 700+ properties to in an equity release deal.

There are no Southern Cross homes in our immediate area - the nearest are in Rugby, Wigston and Hinckley - but of course people who live here have relatives who live in Southern Cross properties. Whilst the operating company is finished, it doesn't necessarily follow that all the homes will close and that all residents will have to go elsewhere. Some homes will be transferred to other operators and some may be sold, although it is hard to see how they can be marketed as going concerns.

Leicestershire County Council pays for the care of about 140 people currently resident in Southern Cross homes and should be able to minimise any adverse impact for such a comparatively small number. What they won't find so easy to deal with are people who are considering going into care and who will now panic, and the residents of any home that does close, who will all have to be rehomed in one go.

On the day on which David Cameron, with the toe-curling timing for which he has recently become notorious, vowed to end the state's monopoly on services (http://www.guardian.co.uk), it was instructive to note the Southern Cross chairman's comment on his company's failure.

Did he apologise to residents who may lose their homes or staff, many of whom will certainly lose their jobs? Not a bit of it. Chairman Fisher's sole regret was for "the loss of value which shareholders have experienced." (http://www.bbc.co.uk)

That, in my view, pretty much demonstrates why the state needs a monopoly in personal care services.