Save the date: LGA Labour/ALC ‘Effective Opposition’ conference: 10am-5pm, Friday 14th June 2019, Birmingham
The LGA Labour Group and Association of Labour Councillors are organising a one day ‘Effective Opposition’ conference aimed at Labour councillors in opposition. The day is designed to share best practice in communications, campaigning, and community leadership. High-profile local government speakers will lead sessions looking at effective scrutiny, understanding council finances, and support for opposition councillors, and there will be tailored breakout sessions for frontline councillors, councillors from small groups, and for groups looking to take or regain power.
Registration will be open to all Labour councillors and political assistants in opposition, and will be held in Birmingham from 10am to 5pm on Friday 14th June. Attendance costs just £10, which includes lunch and refreshments through the day. Online bookings will open later this month, and will be advertised in this bulletin – please save the date in your diaries!
News from Local Labour
Queen guitarist Brian May backs Nottinghamshire Labour Group after tightening of fox hunting laws
Two more fly-tippers tracked down and fined as part of Redbridge Council crackdown
Oxford City Council is backing the installation of the world’s largest hybrid battery system in the city
Seaside town reinvention 'should start with Blackpool'
Birmingham clean air charge 'to net £43m in first year'
Out on the campaign trail: we want your photos and will use the best for the LGA Labour Group Annual Report. They must be high resolution and you must have the permission of everyone in the picture. Please email to Lewis Addlington-Lee.
2019 Local Election Manifestos
Ahead of May’s local elections, please do send us through your manifestos for your local elections so we can use them to share best practice with other Labour Groups. Please email them to peter.robbins@local.gov.uk
National Education Union Pledge
The NEU is inviting candidates in the local election to sign a pledge to speak out against education funding cuts if they are elected. Find out more and sign the pledge.
BAME Councillor Study
The Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity at the University of Manchester are looking to speak to councillors from BAME backgrounds as part of a study into the ethnicity of local councillors. The study seeks to find out more about how policies and practices of the major parties shape the progression of ethnic minority people as well as how gender, religion and generation impact voting. For more details or to participate please contact neema.begum@manchester.ac.uk.
Job Opportunities
Lambeth Council are looking for a Senior Policy & Communications officer to provide policy advice to Cabinet Members and the Leader of the Council. More information here.
News from Wales
Swansea arena principal contractor impressed by potential Welsh suppliers
Labour’s Ruth Jones wins Newport West by-election
News from the Labour Party
Tory school cuts mean millions of children paying price for austerity – Angela Rayner
NHS financial sustainability PAC report – Jonathan Ashworth responds
Justice Select Committee report on ending some short jail sentences – Richard Burgon responds
Damning DWP research on Universal Credit – Margaret Greenwood responds
Higher Education admissions review announced – Gordon Marsden responds
Newport West by election – Jeremy Corbyn responds
John McDonnell responds to ONS productivity figures
£36 million of new NHS contracts tendered in just six weeks
Ofsted school inspections needs radical reform – Angela Rayner
News from the LGA
LGA responds to public health duty to tackle serious violence
New register for children not in school: LGA response
LGA responds to HCLG Committee Report on support for councils to prepare for Brexit
One year on: soft drinks levy needs to go beyond the school gate
LGA responds to Hamptons International Housing Report
Other news
UKIP North of Tyne mayor candidate once suggested euthanasia to reduce number of children in care
A quarter of Tory council leaders think Universal Credit is making more people homeless
'Revolting' Facebook posts could stop Swale UKIP councillor Padmini Nissanga from running in election
Northamptonshire County Council director's salary 'obscene' say unions
Tory council candidates list their party as ‘Local Conservatives’ in an attempt to separate themselves from Theresa May’s leadership
By elections
By-elections held on 04 March
Norfolk CC - Wroxham
Con 922 [55.7%; -3.2%]
LD 395 [23.9%; +4.0%]
Green 174 [10.5%; +5.0%]
Lab 163 [9.9%; -0.8%]
[UKIP 0 [0.0%;-5.0%]]
Con Hold
By-elections on 11 April
Lambeth LB - Thornton
Merthyr Tydfil BC - Cyfarthfa
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