Northern England Labour Left

With special guest, Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor.

This Friday, the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), alongside the Campaign for Trade Union Freedom (CTUF) will be holding our annual Eve of Gala rally.

It’s always an important & lively meeting & the perfect curtain-raiser to the Big Meeting. Details on our event page here:

https://facebook.com/events/s/fighting-the-anti-trade-union-/6382883315142363/

Don’t miss it.

One of our North East Labour MPs told me, “The best thing about London is getting the train out of Kings Cross on a Thursday night!” I don’t know about you, but I love that view of the Tyne Bridges when you arrive back in the region. I always look - it never gets old.

Luckily as North of Tyne Mayor, most of my work is done here – with partners and the people of our region, delivering jobs and a brighter future.

Sometimes, though, the road to prosperity passes through Whitehall, so every few weeks I jump on a train and head south. Not because I want to eat pie & mash or take pictures of Tower Bridge, but to whisper in the ear of investors, businesses, and particularly government ministers. It pays off. Last year we were the number one region in the country for job creation from inward investment. We beat London, and Manchester. Not that you’d know that from the national news.

In my 2019 manifesto, I promised to bring the region together and get more power and money devolved here. When decisions are left in Whitehall, we slip down the priority list. Working with our local council leaders, I’ve delivered on that promise and secured a £48 million a year deal, way better than the £38 million that places like West Midlands, Manchester, or in fact any region gets.

The real prize, though, is transport.

Back in February 2020 I was down in London, at the Treasury, talking to the Chancellor and junior ministers. Shy bairns get nowt, I thought, and so pushed for the North East to get a huge transport settlement. “But you’re not united as a region” was the response, “so you can’t.”

I called their bluff. “If we can unite as a region, can we have it then?” It’s taken a lot of work. A lot of ministers – and Prime Ministers – have come and gone. But starting in May next year we get £4.27 billion, building on the track record we’ve delivered at the North of Tyne over the past 4 years.

If elected as North East Mayor, I will build a Total Transport Network to connect the entire region – with integrated bus, metro and rail routes that will be so cheap, so fast, so safe and so reliable that people will start leaving their cars at home. If London can do it, why can’t we?

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you'll find, you get what you need.” So sang the Rolling Stones. I’d like a proper pay rise for public sector workers. I’d like power and water, and mail and rail back in public ownership. I’d like to see free university education, and funding restored to schools and the NHS. I’m not going to get those powers – that will take a change of policy in Westminster, and let’s be honest, a change in government. I think long-term investment pays for itself, though – it certainly does in Germany and Denmark and other advanced economies. Austerity was always a false economy.

But this devolution deal will make a real difference. Already in the North of Tyne literally thousands of people have a job as a result of our investment. That changes their lives, their families, and boosts our regional economy. It’s the start of closing our health and education gaps – people in well-paid jobs is the basis of any progressive country.

Since devolution we’ve increased the numbers of people getting training from 22,000 a year to 33,000 a year. That’s 11,000 people extra people getting qualified as goods drivers, chefs, welders or computer administrators. Earning more money. And we’ve got specialist programmes supporting those who need the most help.

This Monday is May Day, or International Workers’ Day. I’ll be out door knocking to get Labour councillors elected, to deliver on those Labour values of fairness, creating good, well-paid jobs. Then I’ll jump on a train and be off to talk to ministers and investors in London. Already this year we’ve secured an extra £9m to provide free, flexible training so people can work around existing shifts, or caring responsibilities. These trips to London pay off.

*Originally printed in the Journal and Evening Chronicle 1 May 2023

💥 This is huge 💥

The numbers speak for themselves.

🗳️ After more than a decade of falling pay, firefighters have voted by an overwhelming margin for strike action. 🗳️

We stand firm. ✊

32,000 new members have joined the NEU since we announced our strike action. We are the voice of education.

We are striking on 1 Feb– find your local demo and leave a message of support for educators at your local school payupsos.com/map

It's time to

Feb 1st rally, Carlisle

11.00 Market Cross, Carlisle

Organised jointly through TUC, speakers include Beth Wagg (PCS Defra Group President) and Louise Atkinson (NEU President) along with our striking colleagues in UCU, RMT, ASLEF

Protect the right to strike! Solidarity to all workers striking for better pay and conditions!

The branch nominations process for the NEC elections is underway & it will run until February 13th.
Here are fantastic candidates standing to continue the change we need - for a fighting, organising union ✊✊✊

Find our nominations guide for branches here:
https://timeforrealchange.uk/latest/a-branch-guide-to-nominating-in-unisons-nec-elections

“All I need is the air that I breathe…” sang the Hollies nearly 50 years ago. It’s not literally all you need, but clean air is a UN-backed fundamental human right.

If you’re very young or very old, or have a condition like asthma, microscopic particles of burnt fuel or brake dust can put you in hospital. Hundreds of Tynesiders die prematurely every year from air pollution.

Yet the Government ignored this for a decade. In 2011, environment charity Client Earth took them to court for breaking their own laws, and won. But rather than take action, the Government dragged it out in the courts. Client Earth won again, twice. So in 2018 the Government decided to impose clean air zones across some of Britain’s pollution hotspots, in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Greater Manchester, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside.

The Clean Air Zone comes into effect on Monday, 30th January. It covers much of Newcastle city centre, and parts of Gateshead approaching the Tyne bridges. It won’t affect private cars, but will affect older taxis, buses, and lorries, and from July, vans. Most newer vehicles are already exempt because they’re less polluting. There’s full information online at the council websites, and breathe-cleanair.com.

By the way, please don’t email me – the North of Tyne is not involved. Our local councils administer it, and deserve full credit for the huge amount of work to minimise the financial impact to our residents and businesses. Owners of older vehicles can apply for grants to upgrade their vehicles. And if you hear someone say it’s just a money maker for the councils, it’s not true. They’re legally required to use all the money for running the scheme or transport improvements.

No one wants to be stuck in a traffic jam, breathing toxic air. But clean air is only part of the challenge. CO2 still accelerates climate change. Cars are expensive to own and run. Even electric vehicles use huge amounts of resources to build, and the electricity has to come from somewhere.

Add in the cost of owning and running a car, and it’s in everyone’s interest to get more cars off the road, including motorists. But we’ll get better results by using a carrot than a stick.

But where is the carrot today?

Government has persistently failed to invest in high quality public transport outside of London. Transport spending per person in London was £882 in 2020 – more than double the North East’s funding. It’s hardly surprising London’s public transport system is better used. In 2021 76% of workers in the North East travelled to work by car. In London, it’s 27%.

It’s not just about money, it’s also about who decides how it’s spent.

We don’t currently have transport powers in the North of Tyne, because 40% of the Metro stations are in the South of Tyne area. But when the new North East devolution deal comes into effect in May 2024, on an expanded geographical footprint, it will be a game-changer. It includes £732 million in devolved transport funding over the next five years.

We’ll get powers to introduce bus franchising and decide routes, timetables and fares. Introduce integrated ticketing so passengers can switch easily between bus, Metro and the new Northumberland Line we’re opening between Ashington and Newcastle. We’ll be able to build new Metro routes, connecting places like Washington to the rail system. Imagine a public transport system that’s safe, reliable and affordable. That runs in the evening. That turns up on time. Where women and older people feel safe travelling at night.

We’ll be able to make cycling and walking more attractive and help us to get to net zero. And invest in secure bike parking – crime is a major reason people don’t cycle. Fewer than 10% of adults here cycle once a week. The number of children who walk to school in the North East has dropped by a quarter since 2009 – it’s now just 2 in 5 kids. Both of those numbers are far too low, with long term health consequences.

So yes – we need clean air to breathe. But we’ll do it best by redesigning our transport system around people, not cars.

*Originally printed in the Journal and Evening Chronicle 23 Jan 2023

Photo courtesy of Sustrans. ©2019, Sustrans, Chris Foster, all rights reserved.

Standing in solidarity with UCU members. Full statement below.

NELL Stands In Solidarity With UCU Members Organising and developing the Labour Left

For “loose canon” read “socialist”.
Starmer takes aim at loose cannons with his tight control of Labour selections

Starmer takes aim at loose cannons with his tight control of Labour selections Party sources unrepentant as critics say strategy is creating identikit candidates with few from working-class jobs

📣📣COMING BACK THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!📣📣

Tuesday at 9pm

This should be interesting, as the MP for the most northern and one of the most rural constituencies in England takes on Transport.

RMT writes to new Transport Secretary urging fresh approach

Rail union RMT has written to the new Transport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP urging her to take a new approach to the rail dispute.

Ms Trevelyan was appointed yesterday and is on record as opposing ticket office closures in her constituency.

In November last year, the Berwick MP held talks with rail operator LNER in a bid to reverse its proposals to cut hours at Berwick Railway Station's Travel Centre.

In the letter, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "We are encouraged that you are on the record as wanting to save rail ticket offices, staffing and services in your own constituency and I would urge you to continue this approach as Secretary of State.

"There is clearly now the opportunity for a new approach from the Government to facilitate discussions between the RMT and the employers where the train companies and Network Rail are given more flexibility to secure a deal that is in the interests of workers, passengers and the country as a whole."

The RMT is due to take strike action on 15 and 17 September in a bid to secure a negotiated settlement to the ongoing national rail dispute.

Mass resignations by Penrith and the Border Constituency Labour Party officers in solidarity with expulsion of respected local councillor. This follows similar action earlier this year in both Berwick upon Tweed and Hexham constituencies. Does the Party really understand, or care, about the long term effects of targeting a few individuals? Give us your views.

Mass resignations at constituency Labour Party over left-winger's expulsion A NORTH Cumbrian constituency Labour Party is the first in the north to suffer “mass resignations” from its ruling committee as members…

Who’s out on Saturday to support? ✊🏼

Good to see ✊🏼

Yet another councillor forced to sit as an Independent.

'Witch-hunt' claims after veteran Labour councillor kicked out of party LABOUR Party chiefs have been accused of conducting a “witch-hunt” after a lifelong member and respected former union official was expelled…

Missing ballot emails 👇🏼 Reissue request link.

“Rather than peddling Tory economic narratives, this is the moment for Labour to make the case for a different type of economic system”

One example of what you get with a socialist Mayor.

Far too many people are priced out of living in a decent home. We need more affordable, high-quality housing for rent, shared ownership and to buy, especially in rural areas.

That’s why the North of Tyne has used our Brownfield Housing Fund to enable social housing provider Karbon Homes, to build these 63 new homes in Bellingham, Northumberland. And there’s lots more in the pipeline!

See the link in the comments for more info.

Backing the Follow the link 👇🏼

Jess Barnard and are supporting socialist policies within the Labour Party.
When your ballot arrives for use the postcode checker to find your regional preferences.
https://www.clpd.org.uk/resource/how-should-i-vote/