The Sedgefield C.L.P. Newsletter

November 2018 ISSUE 11

From the Chair, Paul Daly Sedgefield CLP has been extremely active in the last month and I for one am immensely proud of For the hard work of our dedicated activists. Our last CLP meeting saw our Political Education Officer, the Maria Cansella, deliver an outstanding session on the tenth anniversary of the financial crash. Our special many guests, UNISON's Claire Williams, Labour member Harry Cross, Positive Money and Maria herself gave us some excellent information to use on the not doorstep in a thoroughly enjoyable session. Hot on the heels of this was our National Campaign Day in Newton the Aycliffe courtesy of the hard work of Chris Varty and Sam Forster, where we engaged with hundreds of few constituents. It was impressive to see the strength of our campaigning team and to hear the quality of the conversations from experienced and newer members. We have also been well represented at a number of events this month, solidifying bonds with local and national CLPs, Trade Unions and campaigning groups. The coming weeks look to be equally busy with a number of superb events planned. I am proud of our members' efforts to create a vibrant and engaging CLP. This community engagement is absolutely vital as we prepare for a General Election at the earliest opportunity. While the Labour Party is building a grassroots movement, the Conservative Party are falling apart. It would be comical if it were not so damaging to the country. In the sixteen months since the last general election there have been as many cabinet resignations for a variety of reasons – allegations of sleaze, Brexit and misleading Parliament to name but a few. While many in the media try to paper over the cracks by focussing on the Prime Minister's hapless dancing, this government is doing deep and lasting damage to communities all over the country with cuts to Education, Police and the Fire Brigade, and the cruel sanctions regime which disproportionately affects women and people with disabilities. I could go on. Meanwhile, so called Tory Rebels seem about as useless at rebelling as Theresa May is at achieving a good Brexit deal. While MPs like Anna Soubry claim to be against the government's appalling handling of Brexit (which she generally voted in favour of), a cursory glance at her voting record tells you all that you need to know. Voting for reductions in corporation tax, against banker's bonus taxes and reducing rights is totally incompatible with the aims of our Party. We cannot rely on politicians from other Parties to keep their word. While many like Vince Cable would love to lay the blame for the botched Brexit deal at Labour's door, the fact remains that the vote to leave the EU was heavily influenced by the ideological austerity imposed on us by the ConDem Coalition and entirely the responsibility of the Conservatives under David Cameron and Theresa May. The best way to avoid a Brexit deal that will damage our country is to call for a General Election. The current lame duck Prime Minister is willing to cause permanent damage to the country in order to retain power. Her colleagues, while realising what a mess they have helped create, look unwilling to offer any kind of alternative. The Labour Party are ready, willing and able to take power, creating a society that works for the many, not the few. Throughout the country there are CLPs, ready like ours with enthusiastic and talented activists, who have created a mass movement with a mass membership. There is only one solution and one party, existing or planned, that can address the deep societal issues that we face. I am and always will be proud to be Labour.

Phil’s Blog Spot The last few weeks in Parliament have proven how uncertain the future remains for this country. The Budget proved, if proof was even needed, that austerity is not over. Although there may be more money for Universal Credit, the on-going roll-out of the new benefit system is a nightmare for many recipients. They are still in need of the support of food banks. There are still unnecessary delays in payments. At the very least, Universal Credit needs to be paused, so the Government can get to grips with the fundamental problems with the system. The Government has lost any sense of priorities when it comes to education, with £420 million for fixing potholes and £400 million for schools so, according to the Chancellor, they can afford the ‘little extras’. Such a flippant remark did not go down well, especially when many schools have not got funding for the basics, such as equipment or teachers, let alone the ‘little extras’. The shortage of GPs in our communities is an issue I raised during the Budget debate. Since the Government started their recruitment campaign for a further 5,000 GPs in 2015, the number of GPs has actually fallen by 1400. The Government has also cut the training budget for doctors and nurses by £1 billion. At the time of the Budget, I also met the Housing and Homelessness Minister, Heather Wheeler, with Ron Hogg, Durham’s Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, to discuss private landlords. Although the Government will not implement a national register of private landlords as detailed in my Private Members’ Bill which is supported by the police, the Minister was interested in looking at the possibility of a county-wide licensing scheme for County Durham. This is something I have been pushing the County Council to look at and I am pleased to say they will be building a case for such a proposal. The County Council is showing real leadership on this issue and it has my full support.

Brexit No newsletter update would be complete without mentioning Brexit. I attended the People’s Vote Rally in London on 20th October and had the honour of addressing the 700,000 people who attended. The call for a vote on Theresa May’s deal is growing, with the majority of people in every Labour constituency supporting such a vote. The Withdrawal Agreement proposed by the Prime Minister to Parliament on 15th November pleases no one. I asked the Prime Minister whether, hand on heart, her deal was better than the one we have now as a member of the EU. The Prime Minister could not answer the question directly and only said that Britain’s “best days are ahead of us”! Deep down, the Prime Minister knows there is no deal that is better than the one we have now as a member of the EU. When you compare the agreement with the lies and fake promises made during the 2016 referendum campaign, there are no similarities. We will not be taking back control. The UK will continue to be a rule-taker, not a rule maker. Neither will we have control over our money, since we will need to pay £40 billion to the EU as part of the divorce deal. The backstop does not solve the problems with Northern Ireland and it will remain a significant issue. I doubt the agreement will get through Parliament and the disaster that would be a ‘No Deal’ Brexit will also fail. That leaves a General Election or another referendum. I cannot see the Conservative Party voting for a snap election, which will require the approval of two thirds of all MPs. That leaves a People’s Vote. For me, it is the only viable option. The people should have a say on whether they really want to go ahead with Brexit or remain and reform the EU from the inside. The Budget revealed pitiful growth figures for the UK economy over the next few years. Once the economic uncertainty of Brexit is added, the figures will be even worse. Any Labour Government will find it extremely difficult to put a real end to austerity because the money from a growing economy will simply not be there. I am afraid that if Brexit goes ahead on 29th March 2019, we will be talking about and feeling the consequences for years, if not generations, to come, from the construction of trade deals to food standards to workers’ rights. This is an historic moment for our country and we need to get it right.

Contact As always you can contact my office on 01325 321603 or by email at [email protected] Alternatively, you can write to me at Office of Phil Wilson MP, 4 Beveridge Walkway, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 4EE.

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THE GLOBAL CRASH – TEN YEARS ON

On 26 October, Sedgefield CLP hosted a Political Education session on the outfall of the Global Crash of 2008. The session was delivered by a prestigious panel comprising Clare Williams, Regional Unison Secretary; Harry Cross, NPF Northern representative; Richard Shelley , a Newcastle doctor; and Vince Richardson , a Sunderland hotelier. Richard Shelley and Vince Richardson were representing ‘Positive Money’ – a campaign for a money & banking system that enables a fair, sustainable and democratic economy: https://positivemoney.org/ The session was based around four key questions, and this is what our speakers told us:

(1) DID THE LABOUR PARTY CAUSE THE 2008 CRASH?

No, said the speakers; “it was the banks which crashed the global economy” … and then the Conservatives drilled home that it was Labour’s mess. We must, they explained, understand that 90% of new money is created by loans, which add to the money supply – “private banks create the majority of money in circulation” – and what happened in 2008 was that this got out of control, with huge loans to the sub-prime property market based, not on the ability to pay back, but on the assumption that property prices would keep on rising. When that gamble went bad there was a domino effect of failing loans causing Money-creation by the banks, 1964-2012 failing banks = the Crash.

(2) WHAT HAVE BEEN THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE CRASH?

Instead of addressing the underlying problem, the Conservatives and the media, for vested interests of their own – and helped by the LibDems – changed the narrative of what was an economic problem to suit their political ideology that Private is better than Public; so, perversely, instead of taking measures to control private debt accumulation, they said that we needed to reduce PUBLIC debt … and introduced Austerity. This has had a massive impact, particularly on the workers of the North-East, which has been hammered by unemployment, NEETs and the gig economy. Councils across the country are on the brink of collapse, with all that means for the essential services they provide – 100,000 public sector jobs have been lost in the region. The NHS and Police are in crisis. Meanwhile, we are giving the profits of public sector contracts to the private sector, but socialising the risk. The Tory government – by its policy of funding ‘economic opportunity’ not social need – is openly taking money from Labour Councils in the north and giving it to Tory Councils in the south. And the wealth of the wealthiest has increased by 20% since 2010 … whilst we have increasing poverty at the lowest levels of society – “all this supposedly to pay off this ‘debt’!” Yet the National Debt is the highest it has ever been, and the people who did not cause the debt are suffering a catastrophe. We need a new narrative. Now we are out of the economic crisis we need to distinguish between ‘illegitimate’ debt, and ‘legitimate’ debt accrued to build our economic and social infrastructure.

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THE GLOBAL CRASH – TEN YEARS ON (continued)

(3) WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MEASURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS?

Nowadays, we measure the economy by its Gross Domestic Product (GDP – the total sum of goods and services produced) … even though Simon Kuznets, the economist who invented the concept, accepted that it did not account for essential factors such as happiness, welfare and environment.

(4) WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM AND PROTECT AGAINST A FUTURE CRASH?

In the short term: (a.) We need to improve understanding – a recent survey of MPs found that 85% of the them did not understand that most money is created by the private banks. With such levels of ignorance at MP level, what chance have we of making ? (b.) Positive Money advocate money-creation by ‘quantitative easing’ rather than borrowing. Not giving it to the banks to distribute, as the Tories have done, but using it directly to build houses and transport infrastructure etc. – “QE for the people”. It would have to be done responsibly – people need to be reassured that “we can print money and spend it without the sky falling in” – so we will need to watch for hyperinflation … but atm the Bank of England is finding it hard to create any inflation, never mind control it. (c.) We need to re-create the link between the Treasury and the Bank of England, severed by , which has led to a situation where the Bank’s attempts to reflate the economy are being continuously thwarted by the government’s ongoing policies to deflate the economy. The Bank has reached the end of its strategies on this.

Long-term, we need to stop the banks lending money other than the money they have from their depositors – i.e. to stop them creating money. Regulation doesn’t work – the banks just find a loophole round it. Money creation should be wholly in the control of the government. New Labour gave the financial sector freedom because it believed that thereby we would have financial stability. A study of financial crises illustrates that the finance sector does not manage risk, it creates crises! We need to lead the world in establishing a stricter regulatory framework for the financial sector. During the Blair years it might have been possible to believe that ‘trickle-down’ worked; now “we need to imagine an alternative economy where the finance sector does not tower over the politicians”. It is not just about being angry – it is realising that the current critique of the system is correct. In particular, we need to fight an election on the economic model proposed by John McDonnell. Instead of handing over government money to private companies, WE need to start running services, building hospitals etc. That will create jobs, and pump money into the economy at local level – so we have bottom-up, not trickle-down, wealth … “an economic stimulus which is good for all of us”. People are increasingly realising that things have gone too far. The feeling that ‘this cannot be right…’ – which applies to so many things today, from foodbanks to hate crime – can be the tipping point for change. Trade Unions and Labour must work together to establish that there CAN be a different narrative, and that people CAN change things by their vote. NCC CANDIDATES The CLP of 26 October also considered nominating candidates for the upcoming elections for the three extra CLP NCC members. Three slates were considered – Left, , and . A ballot was taken, and the Left Slate were overwhelmingly supported by members. 4

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DEREK ATKINSON, DISABILITY (DEAL) MOTION

At our 26 October meeting, Disability Officer Derek Atkinson spoke to ask members to pass a motion urging the NEC to ratify the DEAL Legal Handbook as Labour Party policy at all levels – and to donate a sum towards the costs of a national print run. Disability Equality ACT Labour (DEAL) are an informal group campaigning for disability equality in the Labour Party. Their DEAL Disabilities Rights Legal handbook lists the legal requirements brought into law with the passing of the ‘Equality Act (2010). It is very highly spoken of but, as Derek said, it has no policy status in the Labour Party. He wanted DEEDS not WORDS.

THE FAILURE OF THE 2010 ACT Derek then explained some of the shocking facts about disability rights in the UK. There have been SEVEN Tory Ministers of State for Disabled People, since 2010. The Equality Act of 2010 was meant to harmonise all discrimination law and strengthen the law to support progress on equality for ‘protected groups’, demanding ‘reasonable adjustments’ from employers and providers. However, Baroness Deech, Chair of House of Lords Select Committee (after nine months of evidence taking), concluded: “The Act has failed disabled people across the whole spectrum of life… The Government is dragging its heels in bringing long- standing provisions of the Act into force.” And her Report listed significant issues with taxis; trains; sports grounds; housing and public spaces; restaurants, pubs and clubs; the design of new buildings; and communications.

RELFECTING ON THE SITUATION Reflecting on the situation, Derek comments: “One of my favourite films is Groundhog Day. It has a simple enough plot; man wakes up every morning and lives the same day, over and over again. Nothing alters, unless he makes it so. That is how I feel about where we, as disabled citizens, with a multitude of complex conditions - mental, physical, emotional and so on- find ourselves. For all of our earnest endeavours, we are stuck or trapped in a loop, our supposed legal rights, affirmed by the Equality Act (2010), either not being enforced or easily side-stepped by any organisation with a good lawyer. “Granted, it is not for the want of trying by individuals far more astute and intellectually aware than am I. But a whole range of alarm bells have rung out since 2010, with a discordant note, with one message: It Ain't Working! “The government have sought at every opportunity to water down the provisions of the 2010 Act with regard to discrimination and reasonable adjustments. Baroness Deech and her Select Committee - looking ONLY at the strand of legislation within the 2010 Act, dealing with the 'disabled - was damning in her appraisal of the government's flagrant disregard and lack of willingness to uphold the legal rights of the disabled. Yet since March 2016 and the publication of the Deech committee findings, if anything the situation has deteriorated. We also have the UN report that condemns the government for its treatment of those with disabilities. “We have an alphabet soup (too many?) of disability groups – I am a member of four – that do not always seem to be working together. The biggest blow to us was the warm, effusive words uttered by even our own Labour Party politicians in support of the DEAL legal handbook. Yet there seems to be a lack of will to ratify and enshrine it into Labour Party doctrine and policy. To be blunt, we ask them to uphold the law of the land and they dither about it. “Yes, the Party has had another Democratic Review. It has a whole section on disabilities and the rights of the disabled. But when you boil it down, it offers nothing but the same; too many words such as 'should' and 'needs', as if the review was about some other body and not itself! So we are left with a DEAL legal handbook but no NEW DEAL. “And that is what is required. We have to force change by using our very disabilities to shine a blinding light, to bring shame on both of the main political parties. Words, words, words, words - it will get us precisely nowhere.

THE CLP’s DECISION The CLP voted to accept Derek’s motion, and to donate £200 towards the production of hard copies of the DEAL handbook to raise awareness.

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NATIONAL UNITY AGAINST FASCISM & RACISM

On 17th November, Sedgefield CLP members Neil Collinson, Mick Simpson and Paul Daly joined tens of thousands who attended the National Unity Anti-Racism / Anti-Fascism Demonstration held in London.

After the march through London to Whitehall, a rally was held with speakers including Catherine West MP, Len McClusky, Mark Serwotka and many more.

Despite the seriousness of the issue, a profitable and enjoyable day was had by all so – says Neil Collinson – “let’s keep going till Racism and Fascism have been defeated”.

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ORGANISING THE LABOUR LEFT

There is a group in County Durham called ‘Labour Left’ – a loose organisation of local Labour Party members who support the Corbyn agenda. On 21 October they held a conference at the amazing Miners Hall at Redhills in Durham.

(1) THE KIND OF PEOPLE There were about 50 delegates, plus the speakers and organisers. Ages ranged from babes in arms to very old. Two of the delegates were MPs; two were County Councillors. Behaviour and politeness were impeccable throughout – nothing of the tension seen regularly in mainstream Labour Party meetings. No rabble-rousing either – the presentations were earnest and informative. At one session, members started with an ‘ice-breaker’ which involved moving around the room to say whether we ‘agree’d or ‘disagree’d with various statements such as ‘Theresa May is the worse PM ever’ and ‘Cannabis should be legalised’. No cult dogmas here – on most issues, opinion was pretty equally divided. The statement ‘War is sometimes necessary’ received an overwhelming ‘Agree’ – these people were hardly radical, never mind ‘looney Left’. Only on one issue – ‘Capitalism cannot be legislated to meet people’s needs’ – was there any visible ‘socialist’ bias.

(2) ORGANISING THE LABOUR LEFT

Members of Labour Left from Durham CLP opened the conference by describing what had led them to start Labour Left, what their aims were, how they had done it, and where they intended to go from here. The chief factors which led them to set up Labour Left were (a) outrage at the attempted Parliamentary Labour Party ‘coups’, and (b) a determination that democracy will rule in the Labour Party. The key to their success had been sharing ideas and successes with other like-minded people, mainly by social media and email. Their website had 4,200 followers, including a core of perhaps 80 people. There had been no ‘scheming’, but rather a process of making aware, jargon-busting and learning the proper procedures. The key intentions at the momnt were to be outward-facing (to build a Labour movement in the different communities, not just in Labour meetings); to lobby MPs and engage with the Unions; to oppose the rise of the far right; to include the ‘Old Left’, who were joining them in increasing numbers; and – having made their CLP meetings places where politics was practised rather than business done – to revitalise similarly the local Labour Party Branches.

(3) AREA BREAKOUT MEETING

The next thing we did was to split up into groups of CLPs – we from Sedgefield found ourselves in with Easington and the Stocktons. This session finished far too soon! So many shared issues cropped up, and the discussion in the group was so lively, that we got no more than half-a-dozen people round the group.

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ORGANISING THE LABOUR LEFT (continued)

(4) WORKING GROUPS In the afternoon, we split up into working groups, including:

(a) CONFERENCE OUTCOMES This was particularly helpful. We heard interesting accounts of the decisions made at the Women’s Conference (particularly the ‘Women in the Economy’ motion which was sent to main conference and passed) and at the Main Conference (e.g. the Windrush motion, and debates on Palestine, Council housing, Multi- Academy Trusts, restoring Union rights, government contracts and PFI). We learned very interesting facts about how motions are composited and passed, and also about some of the new rules coming out of the Party Democracy review – meetings need 5% attendance to be quorate; at least half the officers must be women; branches must have a Women’s Officer; members have to be invited to at least 8 meetings; the CLP Executive can only implement the wishes of the General Meeting; plus new regulations relating to Local Campaigns forums. All of these will significantly affect the balance of decision-making in CLPs, and how CLPs work in the future.

(b) OPPOSING WAR, RACISM AND POVERTY This was a wonderful session, linking our difficulties in mounting large-scale counter-demonstrations against the fascists and racists to our weakness within many local communities. Partly to blame was the fragmentation of the left-wing voice against racism but, it was asserted, “the main problem is complacency” against well- funded, well-organised, convicted, focussed, right-wing groups that are masters of social media. One approach, it was suggested, was to advance the community values of mutual support and common decency, and not just always being a negative, reactive voice. The role of BAME and Equalities Officers in the CLPs is also vital.

(c) ENGAGING NEW MEMBERS Lynn Gibson (Bishop Auckland CLP Fundraising Officer and Spennymoor Branch Secretary), Leeann Clarkson (Easington CLP Treasurer) and our own CLP Chair, Paul Daly ran an excellent session, full of good ideas, including a ‘Welcome Pack’ for new members, badges for all members; and meetings at times when people – especially mothers – can attend. The Branch Membership Secretary needs to keep in phone contact with the members, and to organise lifts for people who will struggle to attend. Most of all– and how many times has this been said– the content of meetings has to change from a series of dry and sometimes fractious ‘reports’, to welcoming forums for political education and exchange of views in attractive settings.

(d) STANDING AS A CANDIDATE Grahame Morris MP for Easington encouraged all those with an interest in making a change to consider standing as a candidate for CLPs, Town and Parish Councils, County Council and MP. Grahame is certainly not one to pull up the ladder behind him and is always on the lookout for great Labour members to encourage to get involved. This really must be a philosophy that we all adopt, developing and nurturing members and our ideas to help shape a Labour Party that is representative of its members at all levels of our democracy.

(5) END OF THE CONFERENCE The final conference plenary session explained how the Regional Board worked. All very detailed stuff, but vital for someone who wanted to go back home and work for the Party to campaign for a Labour victory.

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CAMPAIGN DAY– 3 NOVEMBER

The Campaign Days are coming thick and fast and, following our previous efforts on the Tory rail crisis, this month saw the National Campaign Day fall on the Saturday after the Chancellor’s budget. We took this opportunity to talk to as may people as possible and set up a Street Stall in Newton Aycliffe Town Centre. We were flush with campaign materials, many outlining the failings in Phillip Hammond’s proposed budget. People we spoke to on the street were very responsive. Many agreed that this budget was simply papering over the cracks that this Tory government has created itself, and the only way for the NHS and our other public services to get the much needed financial boost is through a Labour Government. Thanks very much to all of the activists who joined us this month, and I look forward to the next one!

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PLATFORM A space for political education

The NEC is the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party… but what does it do and how does it work? That’s what we’ll be looking at in this jargon-busting instalment of Platform! If you have any suggestions for future Platform themes, get in touch with me at [email protected] In solidarity, Maria Cansella Political Education Officer

The National Executive Committee is the governing body of the Labour Party, overseeing the overall direction of the partyand the policy-making process. It sets strategic objectives on an annual basis and meets regularly to review the work of the party, including internal procedures. For instance, recently, the NEC reviewed the content of the Party Democracy Review which concluded earlier this year and agreed to implement some key changes. The NEC works in partnership with the Party’s representatives in Parliament, the European Parliament, devolved administrations and local government to secure the Party’s objectives across the country. The NEC is structured so as to represent all key stakeholders in the Party. The General Secretary () acts as Secretary of the NEC in a non-voting capacity, and the NEC is made up of representatives from each section of the Party – the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Party, the Shadow Cabinet, MPs, MEPs, councillors, affiliated trade unions, Socialist Societies, Constituency Labour Parties (CLPs), Young Labour and BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) Labour. The PLP Shadow Chief Whip (Nick Brown MP), and PLP Chair ( MP) attend ex-officio without a vote. The current Chair of the NEC is Wendy Nichols (Unison rep), the Vice Chair is Andi Fox (TSSA rep) and the Treasurer is . NEC members are elected by their respective constituencies (i.e. sections of the Party, not the usual parliamentary constituencies) and each serves a two year term. The various constituencies hold their elections at different times and the CLP division elections are due to be held in summer 2020. It’s always a good idea to keep your membership fully paid up, and your contact details up to date, so that you can fully participate in the Party’s work, including internal elections such as those for the NEC. The National Executive Committee also splits into several smaller committees, which each take care of a particular area of work. These are as follows: • The Joint Policy Committee (JPC) has strategic oversight of policy development in the party through overseeing the rolling programme of Partnership in Power. The JPC acts as the steering group for the National Policy Forum. It is therefore a joint committee made up of NEC, Government and National Policy Forum representatives. (More on the NPF in a future newsletter!) • The Equalities Committee is responsible for driving the Party’s equality agenda and the development of an inclusive organisation at all levels, including the recruitment, retention, participation and representation of women, BAME, LGBT and disabled members; working with the Organisation Committee and Young Labour Co-ordinating Committee on issues of age discrimination; and arranging the bi-annual women’s forum and ethnic minorities forum. • The Business Board, which is responsible for overseeing the business functions of the organisation including the management of the Party’s finances. • The Audit, Risk Management and Compliance Committee has responsibility for audit and compliance oversight, and is accountable for internal audit procedures providing a systematic approach to risk management in all of the Party’s activities. The Committee ensures that the Labour Party’s financial activities are within the law, and that an effective system of internal control is maintained. • The Organisation Committee is responsible for party rules and constitution; ensuring parties are operating effectively throughout the country to the highest standards, and has overall responsibility for membership, investigations, selections, Conferences, electoral law, boundaries strategy and internal elections. • The NEC Disputes Panel is a panel of the NEC Organisation Committee which hears membership appeals; re-admission applications; party disputes and conciliation; minor investigations; and local government appeals where referred to the NEC. It operates in a quasi-judicial fashion, conducting hearings and interviews around the country where necessary.

A full list of current NEC members can be found here: https://labour.org.uk/about/how-we- work/national-executive-committee/whos-on-the-nec/ More information about the NEC’s committees is here: https://labour.org.uk/about/how- we-work/national-executive-committee/nec-committees/

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LABOUR NORTH GALA DINNER

The Labour North Gala dinner was held at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead on Friday 9th November. In spite of the somewhat controversially-high cost, a number of Sedgefield CLP Officers were in attendance to ensure that the CLP was well represented on the night. The chance to connect with Labour Party members throughout the region is very valuable, and the relationships developed give us the opportunity to strengthen the bonds and contacts necessary to campaign together for a Labour Government.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Speech The main event was a speech by our Leader, . While focussing on the appalling outcomes of the Conservatives’ failed ideological austerity, he also shared ambitious plans for what is to come under a Labour Government. Our high streets are blighted by boarded-up shops. Eight years of austerity have forced people into poverty while a small minority have done very well indeed for themselves. "We need to redistribute power from the very wealthy to everyone else,” he said. “We are ready to implement a transformation of the North East economy to achieve a high-skilled and high-waged economy for the North." "Our Economy will be one of investment, education, and a pupil arts premium so that every child can have the chance to learn a musical instrument." The speech ended with praise for the Youth Parliament that had recently met in Westminster. The young politicians treated one another with respect – perhaps an example that many of our more senior politicians could learn from.

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SOUTH SHIELDS CLP DINNER Last month was the South Shields CLP Dinner, and Shadow Secretary of State for Education, MP, was in the region to support the Shadow Minister for Children and Families, Emma Lewell- Buck, MP for South Shields.

As a teacher, I was there to represent NASUWT, the Teacher's Union, but at every Labour Party event I always try hard to make sure that Sedgefield CLP is well represented and to strengthen links with members in other constituencies. I was ably supported in this by Laura Daly.

Angela spoke passionately about her very challenging upbringing and the fact that the policies of the Labour Party, through Sure Start, helped her develop from a teenage mother who left school with no GCSEs into a respected and formidable member of the Shadow Cabinet.

She spoke of her passion to help every child to get the best in life and her plans for the National Education Service, a cradle-to-the-grave institution with parity of esteem for academic and vocational qualifications. She also spoke about how she, who was "no Corbinista", took the opportunity to "make a change" by stepping up to support the Leader of the Labour Party whilst he was under attack from within his own party. Her dedication to the Labour Party was admirable and she is convinced that she will be Secretary of State for Education under Prime Minister, Jeremy Corbyn.

As a teacher, I look forward to somebody, who understands the difficulties that young people face, being in charge of setting the agenda for Education in the UK. It was heartening to hear her support the action of NASUWT members in South Shields School, who have been striking to try to save this rapidly improving school from closure. As a Labour Party member and CLP Chair, I can only thank Angela and other MPs like her who stood by the Labour Party and helped to deliver a superb manifesto that saw the biggest swing in Labour Party vote share since 1945.

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GUEST ARTICLE – KELLY McGHIN

Kelly McGhin is the NASUWT Negotiating Secretary for South Tyneside, and a teacher at South Shields School. Here, she writes about the battle to save her school from closure:

Early August in 2018, staff, pupils and parents were shocked to find out that South Shields School was being earmarked for closure by South Tyneside Council. This devastating news was delivered via a ‘leak’ to the Shields Gazette; most people affected by this found out by reading social media pages run by the publication. This was, unfortunately, brought about by an Ofsted inspection in October 2017 which graded the school as ‘inadequate’. Under current government rules, a school in that category can no longer be maintained by the local authority, and an academy sponsor must be found by the Regional School’s Commissioner (RSC). Sadly, no sponsor has yet been found for the school. This is despite the school achieving a 22% rise in GCSE results in the summer of 2018. What has followed has been a tremendous show of strength and unity from the staff, pupils, parents and concerned members of the local community in South Shields. Early in September, staff and parents formed the ‘Save South Shields School’ group which met to organise strategies to persuade the powers that be that the school should remain open. They have been shown wonderful support by Emma Lewell-Buck, MP for South Shields, and her team. Ms Lewell-Buck said, "What an insult to those staff and the headteacher and all those pupils who have pride in their school and have worked hard to get their school to that improvement level to now be told, 'the only option for you is your school's gonna close'." Despite a very cold and rainy start to the day, Emma joined dozens of staff, pupils and parents in a ‘Day of Action’ on November 1st. This was organised by the South Tyneside branch of the NASUWT teachers’ union. The group gathered at the gates of South Shields School from 7am and were joined by many local media groups interested in telling the story. They then travelled to Darlington, the home of the RSC office, where their voices were heard by hundreds of people in the town centre. The day ended with a final protest at South Shields Town Hall. Coverage by the media was very positive, and shone a light on the rash decisions being made by South Tyneside Council regarding the closure of the school. Ex-pupil, and Young Labour member, James Harkus (18) has been an integral part of the campaign. He has helped to organise meetings, created social media pages and rallied many local councillors in an effort to save the school. He said “When I heard about the proposed closure of the school, I knew I had to take action. With the support of my comrades in the Labour Party, and staff at the school, I have had the confidence to take a leading role in the campaign. We won’t give up without a fight”. For more information on the campaign to save South Shields School, visit their Facebook page or on Twitter @SaveSouthShieldsSchool

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WHAT IS DCC UP TO?

ACTIVITY UPDATE

As DCC Council leader Cllr Simon Henig promised in you our last edition, DCC has produced another Activity Update for its Cabinet meeting of 14 November. You can read the full report online at http://bit.ly/DCCAU1118

This month’s report features reports on the following aspects of the Council’s work: (a) First World War Armistice commemorations (b) Looking after children in care (c) Encouraging reading (d) Mental health (e) Winter preparations (f) Keeping the county clean and green

(g) Budget (h) Chairman’s medal for water safety campaigner (i) Crackdown on empty homes (j) Electric vehicle roadshow (k) Do It Online reaches 100,000 customers (l) Aycliffe Business Park road improvements (m) Dying to work charter

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Also, if you are interested in what your County Council is up to, local Cllr John D Clare keeps a record of the meetings he attends. Meetings he has recorded this month include (click the links to read online):

• DCC Full Council meeting, Wednesday 31 October– DCC achievements, AAP questions, Modern Slavery Charter, Save BAGH Ward 6 and more: https://t.co/d52Hq3UG4b • DCC Economy Scrutiny meeting, Tuesday 6 November – EU funding, Local Growth Fund: https://t.co/pO8V2jc6ku • Homelessness Reduction Act Seminar, Wednesday 7 November: https://t.co/t4x1kevsld • DCC Environment Scrutiny meeting, Monday 12 November– Single Use Plastics: https://t.co/7Pyg6JXdKk • DCC Environment Scrutiny meeting, Friday 16 November– fuel poverty, woodlands management: https://t.co/O6V7wMwDnx

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OFFICERS’ REPORTS

Barbara A Clare – Secretary’s Report Slow progress on all fronts, I’m afraid. No progress on any of the complaints sent to Labour North. No reply from Darlington Council Labour Group to our request to send an Observer. Still two Branches to send details of their Executive delegates. Organise continues chaotic. Despite all, however, the CLP continues busy and upbeat – keep up with what is happening on the Sedgefield Constituency Labour Party Facebook page.

Chris Varty – Vice Chair’s Report This month has been spent on finalising our first quiz night 23/11/2018 to be held in Ferryhill and looking for suitable locations for the next one in February to be held in Newton Aycliffe. On the 10th November l attended a meeting in Middlesbrough with other CLP members from around the region with our Leader where he reiterated our stance on Brexit followed by a question and answer session. On the 13th November I was honoured to host a meeting of the Women’s Forum, helping put forward some exciting ideas for joined up working in the future. I have been working with other Women’s Forum members and the Women’s Officer to locate venues for The Red Box programme (period poverty) and have been successful with community buildings and schools. Venues are also being booked for the Baby Save a Life courses with dates being programmed for the new year. I am looking forward to all these starting and would thank all those who have worked together on these projects.

Kathy Beetham – Membership Report Over the last few weeks I have finished creating a CLP welcome pack for members, as well as promoting the 700 members campaign on social media, delivering leaflets, attending the campaign event in Aycliffe and forging links and exchanging ideas with membership officers from neighbouring constituencies. This month I will be attending a Labour North training course for membership officers. Membership numbers remain around the same level, currently at a slightly unnerving 666, so please help us encourage others to join and reach our 700 goal.

Mike Dixon – DCC Observer’s Report The core discussions of the DCC Labour Group on 29/10/2018 were around the present (and continuing) challenge of Austerity being implemented by this Tory Government. This failed policy continues to impact on all areas of the Council work, and it is a deliberate attempt to target Local Authorities so they bear the brunt of public opprobrium. There was a presentation around the difficulties and choices facing the Council in the light of cuts to the Education and the funding of schools. Durham CC has always sought to resist academisation and, where it is being imposed, to maintain Local Authority links. Labour’s policy of abolishing Academies cannot be implemented unilaterally whilst the Tories are in power. The other major financial concern was the threat of a significant reduction in Public Health Funding – there was a great threat to that funding as NEED is no longer regarded as a criteria for the allocation of this finance – another attempt by the government to give funding to rich Tory Councils at the expense of those in the areas of greatest need; areas which as a result of our Industrial past produced the wealth which the country now enjoys. The issue of Ward 6 of Bishop Auckland Hospital was discussed and how this was being used by the opposition. Members supported Helen Goodman’s campaign; and it was pointed out that the proper and best way to address this issue was the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This has now taken place and as a result the closure has been suspended pending proper consultation- a success but the fight continues.

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Laura Daly – Women’s Officer’s Report November 2018 marks 100 years since women were allowed to stand for Parliamentary positions. The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act was passed on 21 November 1918, enabling women over the age 21 to become MPs. Since then the female numbers of MPs within The Labour Party have continued to grow and we now have the largest percentage within the parties in Westminster. There have been a number of events celebrating this fact, not least a day in Parliament in which women were invited to attend training sessions in Westminster by their MPs. We look forward to hearing about it from our neighbours in Bishop Auckland who had a large selection of members travel down. It is important to have female representation within the Government and I look forward to working closer with our female activists.

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Our Women’s Forum has gained some incredibly enthusiastic, active members this month and our get together last week has produced some incredible results.

Firstly, we have now implemented our Red Box Project in local colleges. This project is an initiative that quietly ensures that no young woman misses out on her education because of her period. 100% community-driven, we will rely on your kind donations of sanitary towels, underwear and feminine hygiene products at our CLP meetings, to give girls access to these essential items. The women willing to get involved thus far have been contacting schools and education facilities near them, and we will continue to try to get into as many schools to help as many girls as possible.

Our Red Boxes will now be available in the following venues: • Aycliffe Youth Centre (contact Councillor Kathryn Beetham) • Trimdon Community College (contact Chris Varty) • Sedgefield Community College (contact Chris Varty)

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The enforced cruel austerity of this Government has seen a massive reduction in important services, especially across our region. I remember after my first child was born we received a home visit from a lady who taught my husband and I life- saving methods including CPR for babies. As terrifying as this was it is utterly essential knowledge for parents, grandparents and carers of young children. I have friends who have had to use this training to save the lives of their own babies and children. This is genuinely a case of life and death and Sedgefield Women’s Forum are taking our skills and knowledge and putting them to great use for the benefit of all of the people within our constituency. We will be putting together a series of FREE “Baby Save a Life” sessions as taught by the Royal Life-Saving Society. Our very own Chris Varty (Vice Chair) will be delivering these all-important sessions having delivered them to hundreds of mothers, grandparents and carers as a fully-trained representative.

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I intend to hold a full Women’s Forum meeting immediately following a CLP meeting in the new year, please watch out for more details on this. In the meantime; if you would like to be more active in the Forum, attend any planning sessions or have any ideas and suggestions I am always available and look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me at: [email protected]

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Ijjou Derrache-Thompson – Ethnic Minorities Officer’s Report A first for County Durham– A meeting on Monday, 19 November was attended by the four CLP Ethnic Minorities Officers in County Durham. It was a very productive meeting with an agreement to set up a Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Forum in the county to engage with BAME Labour Party members and create a platform to discuss issues, share information and work collaboratively across constituencies and invite greater participation of BAME members and supporters of the Labour Party. BAME Labour National Conference: will be held on Saturday 1 December in Brent, London with Dawn Butler, Diane Abbott, Kate Osamor, Naz Shah, Clive Lewis and many more ... Conference in Newcastle: ‘25 Years on: Racism and (in)Equality since McPherson’ to be held on Thursday 29 November at Northumbria University Sutherland Building. It is an afternoon event 11.45am – 4.30pm with lunch. For more information email: [email protected] County Durham Anti-Racist Coalition had a meeting to address the activities of the Far Right in County Durham and the ‘normalisation’ of hate speech, proposing proactive and positive approaches to bring people together and spread a message of respect and unity, celebrating diversity and solidarity.

Sam Forster – Campaigns Co-ordinator Report Another productive month for CLP Campaigns. November saw another National Campaign Day, when we hit Newton Aycliffe Town Centre with a street stall– you can read more about this Campaign Day on page 10 of the newsletter! I was also invited this month to be a guest on John D Clare’s POLITICAL radio show, where we discussed young people getting into politics; if you’d like to relisten, there is an on-demand version available on John’s website here. As always, any questions or ideas for campaigns, please drop me an email at [email protected]

Neil Collinson – TULO The main TULO report this month is my report on the National Unity Anti-Racism / Anti-Fascism Demonstration held in London on 17 November (see page 6). However, in other news: • Organised by GMB and Unison Union members in Glasgow, more than 8,000 low paid women took 2 day strike action demanding of equal pay. • The PCS Union have won a landmark victory against the Conservative government when it won a decision in the high court, which ruled that ministers acted illegally by withdrawing ‘check-off’ deductions from pay packets. The high court awarded £3 million pounds in compensation.

Derek Atkinson – Disability Officer’s Report I begin by asking any disabled member who has previously self-identified as such, to contact Sedgefield CLP Secretary, Barbara Clare, with a brief outline of their disabilities. Your contact details will be passed to me and if necessary, assistance given to enable you to play a full part in CLP activities. This is called 'reasonable adjustments'. We have had two self-identifiers thus far. I am exploring the possibility of asking the CLP to affiliate to . The more that I read up on the general and specific treatment afforded to the disabled in the United Kingdom – over the past fifty years– the more certain I am that since the passing of the Equality Act 2010, there has been a diminution of our rights and a deterioration in our treatment. This is not only from government actions and inactions, but also from planning authorities and others. Shamefully, we became the first country to be investigated by the United Nations, 'for grave and systematic violations of the Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities'. The government have tried to bury this damning report. In other news, I have been active on the 'Disability Equality ACT Labour (DEAL) forum and am formulating a plan so we – the disabled – might be more proactive in carrying the fight for our rights out into the public arena. I am in the early stages of planning a relay march from Deal, in Kent, to London. Deal is 59 miles from London. It would be called 'The DEAL March'. It would be designed to put pressure on both the government and to some extent our own Party to accept the provisions of the DEAL Legal Handbook, that are actually what we were legally granted in the 2010 Equality Act. There is a chance that some written work that I produced in support of a more proactive approach will be included in the introduction to the DEAL Handbook.

Owen Dickinson – Youth Officer Our second Christmas toy drive will be happening at our November meeting so please don’t forget to bring an unused or new toy to the next meeting.

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POLITICAL!

Are you sick of shouty politics? Are you bored with the biased reporting on the MSM? Are you fed up of point -scoring and soundbite politics?

Local councillor John D Clare hosts a polite political discussion show, with the emphasis on understanding and sharing of ideas, every Sunday night on Aycliffe Radio at 7pm.

Aycliffe Radio is only available online so, to listen to it, you must either go online at http://bit.ly/ARLIVE or, if you have Amazon Echo, simply say: “Alexa Play Aycliffe Radio”.

Listeners have the chance to vote for the topics they want discussing, and to comment and ask questions during the Show, on the POLITICAL / Aycliffe Radio Group facebook page: http://bit.ly/POLITICAL

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to our Campaigns Co-ordinator Sam Forster, who this week was appointed Local Organiser for Redcar and Cleveland Labour Group . This is a tremendous achievement, and we wish him all success in his new job!

In other news, Sam has also this month been appointed Secretary of Wingate BLP.

RAFFLES, FOODBANK DONATIONS and WOMEN’S SANITARY Are you connected to your local Labour PRODUCTS Party online? The need at out CLP meetings for a raffle towards CLP funds, • Sedgefield Constituency Labour Party and of donations to the foodbanks, remains as great as ever. • Sedgefield Labour Women PLEASE: BRING SOMETHING ALONG! • County Durham Labour

SEDGEFIELD CLP MEETINGS

• Friday 30 November, 7pm at Bishop Middleham Village Hall, Front Street, DL17 9AJ • Friday 25 January, 7pm at West Cornforth Community Centre, Station Road, DL17 9LA. • Friday 22 February, 7pm at Trimdon Community College, Elwick View, TS29 6JU

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