Labour announced, not sure how it decided, that it would call for a confirmatory vote on any Tory deal and campaign for Remain. There are some who still argue that preparing for a no-deal is the only way to get a better one. This is wrong but reminds me of this scene from Blazing Saddles.
It seems that the worst that Brexit will bring is 10p on a jar of Marmite, that wouldn’t be so bad except the evidence is that it’s already been priced in; there was fear of a UK Marmite Shortage shortly after the vote. Tesco’s seem to have mitigated the risk now, but it’s obviously very serious problem. It looks like 10p might a bit optimistic. …
Another two speeches on day four, Cathy Pindar on access to Arts and Culture, and Victoria Ugwoeme on Saying no to Honour Violence. …
I spoke on the use of biometric data for entry control and effort monitoring. The branch’s motion was carried. We all agree this should not be done. …
I seconded a motion on knife crime, I made a plea for hope, an end to austerity, a life time access to education and respect for the work of the Parliamentary Youth Violence commission and its integrated early years approach. …. …
I have been at GMB Congress 19 since Saturday lunchtime and shall produce some blog articles, which I shall syndicate on our branch website . The proceedings of Congress have been posted on the internet via YouTube; they can therefore be discussed by me, without “disclosing the business of the Union”. I have used the tag, gmb19 for these articles. …
I saw this a couple of days ago, and let it past, but today I am reminded what a good idea, letting people choose their greeting is and so decided to share it here.
This teacher in Palestine lets the children choose their greeting at the start of the school day. These children live in such dire, oppressive conditions which most of us will thankfully never experience, but their smiling little faces are heart warming. pic.twitter.com/RakPruc9oO
— Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) April 26, 2019
Last night was election night for much of the country, although on the whole not in London and it seems, not in Northhamptonshire. It’s been a confusing set of results and I’ll need to think about what it means; I don’t plan to be as quick as either the Leader of Sunderland council nor his remainer opposites, when I find out who that is. But in Lewisham London, Labour held the two seats up for election.
Congratulations Lionel & Kim
Huge congratulations to our newest Councillor @LionelOpenshaw! Lionel will represent Evelyn Ward.
— Lewisham Deptford CLP (@LewDeptLabour) May 2, 2019
Also a big well done to @kimpowell_ elected in Whitefoot tonight.
Thanks to all the activists who worked so hard on the campaign! pic.twitter.com/nbcyU3nHjN
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Meaningful Votes is a role-playing game, written by Richard Barbrook, where player’s (or teams) represent parliamentary factions and replay the last 3 months in Parliament to see if a different outcome might have been possible. The factions have different power (ie. votes in Parliament) and the different goals i.e. different Parliamentary goals which are enforced by the scoring system. You can also win points through your rhetoric. At least some factions score higher if they are on the losing side of some votes. Heckling is encouraged.
We played this with Lewisham West and Penge CLP.
Richard suggested that people play a faction with whose views you disagree because the learning experience is better. I played the “Lexiter” faction and certainly clarified my ideas about who they are and what they represent, an alliance of rump Bennites and Blue Labour and that’s before we just consider the careerists & triangulators, who are frightened for their seats or for a majority. …
Last night there was a riot in Derry in Northern Ireland, cars were set on fire, petrol bombs were used and guns fired at the Police. A journalist, Lyra McKee was shot dead. My condolences to her family. I thought this had ended twenty years ago. …