Leadership election news

New school at Morley Newlands

After years of campaigning Morley Newlands have just had the news that they are to have a new school. I first contacted Leeds City Council about the issues at Morley Newlands four years ago. It's great news that the children, staff and parents of Morley Newlands will finally get the …

Transcript of interview with Sky News’ Murnaghan programme

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: The Prime Minister said this week he would do whatever he could to keep Britain safe from the storm but Labour say the austerity measures have already failed in Greece and they are putting Britain at risk as well. Let’s say a very good morning to the Shadow …

Norwich City: A Nostalgic Look at a Century of the Club – my book review for the Eastern Daily Press

It’s all over – and what a fabulous season it’s been. Premier League football secured at Carrow Road. Spurs and Arsenal both humbled. Grant Holt’s hero status secured. Paul Lambert all but deified. The next couple of months will inevitably be a bit flat for the Canary faithful. I’m hoping the …

Osborne’s economic strategy has failed on all three promises – my Tribune column

Two years ago George Osborne set out his economic mission to “deal with our debts, set our country on a brighter economic course and show that we are all in this together”. How things have changed. It’s now clear that on all these three counts the government’s economic strategy has failed. First, …

Elementary my dear Watson

It was a huge privilege to open the new Thomas Tallis school today. It is a fantastically impressive example of the Building Schools for the Future programme.  But the most impressive thing – kids in a year 7 class I dropped [...] …

Ten tips to use social media and SEO to improve your media relations

Speaking on the PR and social media panel at the SAScon SEO, Analytics and Social Media conference yesterday prompted me to finish a draft blog post that I’ve been cogitating on since February looking at how social media and the internet has changed the way we do traditional media relations. My good friend and …

Marie Colvin

It was an honour to be part of a remarkable memorial service to Marie Colvin – war correspondent extraordinaire – at St Martin’s in the Fields today.  Marie was killed by President Assad’s forces as she reported from the siege [...] …

UK coalition government mind map infographic

To mark the first two years of the UK’s Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government the bright folks at Insight Public Affairs have put together a great mind map infographic of the policy issues. Insight has mapped out the: “headline policy drivers spanning: the economy; public service reform; localism; welfare reform; and, …

We agree about Europe – my joint Guardian article with Lord Mandelson

The coming months are critical for the future of Europe. Jobs and business investment – in Britain and across the euro area – depend on Europe’s leaders choosing the right course. The risk is that Europe gets locked into a false choice between growth and deficit reduction. The truth is that …

Queen’s Speech as seen by MPs infographic

Online political monitoring company Yatterbox has created an infographic of reaction by MPs to the Queen’s Speech on Wednesday. Browse more data visualizations.   Related articles Edelman Capital Staffers Index 2011 (stuartbruce.biz) …

New Leader for Movement for Change

As this advertisement for a new Chief Executive for Movement for Change makes clear, we are looking for someone to replace Blair McDougall.  Blair has done a fantastic job in setting up the organisation in its first 15 months.  In [...] …

David Miliband joins forces with UNISON on Living Wage campaign

Press Release Staff working as nursery nurses, cleaners and kitchen assistants in Further Education need a living wage – this is the clear message coming from Labour MP David Miliband and UNISON chief, Dave Prentis.  The call comes in the [...] …

Missing Millions

Over the last few months Movement for Change has been working to sign-up the quarter of a million unregistered voters across London. The last mayoral election was won by Boris and the depressingly cynical ‘doughnut’ strategy which relied on low [...] …

Good crisis communications–99p Stores CEO turns tables on BBC Watchdog

I try not to watch BBC Watchdog as it tends to annoy me with its fake concern for consumers, when it’s just making cheap ‘shock’ TV. But I’m glad I caught last Thursday’s as it contained a brilliant performance by Hussein Lalani, the entrepreneurial CEO of a family owned retail …

FT Global 500 companies still digitally challenged

New research reveals that many FT Global 500 companies are still failing to manage their digital strategies effectively. The sixth annual FT Bowen Craggs Index shows that an alarming number of companies still don’t understand that the corporate website is now one of the most effective communications channels that a …

Swansea Valley mine deaths a tragedy

I want to send my deepest condolences to the families of those who have died. They will be feeling terrible grief. These are tight-knit communities and this is a tragedy not only for the families but for the whole community of the Swansea Valley. Of course there must be an …

Ed backs Doncaster speed awareness campaign

Labour leader Ed Miliband has backed a Doncaster petrol station’s speed reduction campaign. The ‘20 is plenty’ scheme – pioneered by road safety charity Brake and supported by Jet garages – asks drivers to pledge to drive at no more than 20mph in built-up areas to lower the risk of …

Ed opens £12m green energy plant in Doncaster

A multi-million pound waste plant which turns Doncaster’s rubbish into green energy was officially unveiled by Labour leader Ed Miliband. ReFood converts 45,000 tonnes of food waste from offices, schools, restaurants and hotels into bio-gas – which is then turned into enough heat and electricity to power 5,000 homes. It also …

Ed Miliband demands Prime Minister returns to Parliament to correct inaccurate statistics

Dear Prime Minister, Yesterday, in response to me at Prime Minister’s Questions, you said that “since the election there are 500,000 more jobs in the private sector. There are more people—300,000 more people—in work than there were a year ago” (Hansard, 14 September 2011, column 1028). …

Remembering those who died in the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001

10 years on, it is right that we pay particular attention to this sombre anniversary. We remember those who died and those whose lives will never be the same again. And we remember the other terrorist acts that have happened in this decade, including the terrible events of 7/7. It …

Diane takes up position as Shadow Minister for Public Health

Diane Abbott has taken up the position of Shadow Minister for Public Health. Diane, who was a candidate in the Labour Leadership contest, said she was honoured to take up the role which will see her play a part in rebuilding the party alongside new leader Ed Miliband. Diane said: …

Diane vows to be a ‘strong voice’ in opposition

Diane has declared she will continue to be a ‘strong voice’ in opposition to the Lib Cons, despite losing out on a position in Labour’s shadow cabinet. Diane, who was a candidate in the Labour Leadership contest, has said she will support the new leader and Shadow Cabinet all the way in …

Diane announces she will stand for Shadow Cabinet

Diane confirmed today she will put herself forward for a place in shadow cabinet. Diane announced her intention to stand in a speech to Labour Party Conference earlier today. She spoke in a session in conference hall this morning on Crime, Justice, Citizenship and Equalities with Alan Johnson MP and Jack …

Results are in! Thanks to all who helped over the campaign

The results are finally in and Ed Miliband is Labour’s new leader. Many thanks to all who helped over the campaign – your hard work helped Diane make a real mark on this contest. Diane did particularly well among party members and trade union members – for full details see the results …

‘I will not sit back and let cuts damage North East’ – Diane writes in the Sunday Sun

Diane has promised the North East that she will not sit by and see the Lib Con cuts damage women and the vulnerable. Read her full piece in today’s Sunday Sun http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2010/09/19/labour-party-contenders-give-their-view-79310-27296088/ …

This content is supplied by the individual candidates in the Labour Party Leadership campaign and, as such, should not be regarded as official Labour Party policy or communication