News and Events

Gordon Brown Delivers a Budget for Social Justice

The 2005 Budget will be remembered as a victory for economic stability and the benefits it can bring. Gordon Brown delivered a speech under an hour that detailed the Governments commitment to those most vulnerable in our society. The Chancellor delivered  for pensioners, hardworking families and first time buyers. 

From free buss passes and council tax rebates for pensioners to the increase of child tax credits for hard working families this budget was one for the long term stability and prosperity of Britain. A budget to protect all in our society.

Britain is going through its "Longest period of economic growth since records began in 1701" and the "Boom and Bust" policies of the Tories have been firmly banished. A Labour government will never see three million unemployed or allow families to lose their houses through negative equity. Gordon Brown has proven to be a fantastic Chancellor and the economic stability of Britain is in safe hands.

 For in-depth analysis of the Budget please follow the following link. http://newswww.bbc.net.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4354

"TV fame for Committee members"

Many of you will have seen Rt Hon Tony Blair PM on Channel 5 on Wednesday 16th Feb. If you saw him on The Wright Stuff you will have also seen our committee in the audience getting a chance to put the views of students to the PM.

But now things get even better with the fact that 4 committee members were also on BBC's Live Budget programme broadcast from the Hawthorns, home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club, on Wednesday 16th March. So by now the whole country will have seen our faces on telly!

"Website back online"

Apologies for the technical problems of the last few weeks that have slowed down the viewing of this website. Sadly these were out of anyone's hands. The problem was caused due to a hardware failure on the hosting server. The problem though has now been fixed and the servers improved on so hopefully over the summer you will see an even better website here! Until then bear with us as we try to catch up with updates.

"Well done Nathan!....."

Congratulations to Nathan Thompson the clubs Vice-Chair as he won a landslide to become Chair of his Law group. Well done Nathan we are all proud of you and remember ...."You've gota have..... Nath"

Lynne Jones joined about 12 students who were out in Selly Oak cleaning up the streets of Tiverton, Dawlish, Exeter and Hubert Road last week. ComAc's Community Task Force organised the event and Asked Lynne to come and open the event and raise people's awareness but Lynne was keen to get some gloves on and get in with the Students. 

Gay Lesbian and Bisexual people will now be allowed Legally Recognised Same-Sex Civil Partnerships thanks to the persistence of this Labour Government. Tory added a wrecking amendment allowing Brothers and Sisters the same rights! But last night the Bill passed through the Lords 251-136 in favour.

This came after some lengthy Labour Student lobbying, at Birmingham we wrote to every Labour Peer encouraging them out to vote. We have had positive responses from:

Baroness Amos - Leader of the House of Lords; Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe; Baroness McDonagh; Baroness Morgan; Lord Haskel; Baroness Lockwood; Lord Corbett of Castle Vale; Lord Triesman; Lord Harris of Haringey; Lord Kirkhill and Baroness Wall.

The University of Birmingham Labour Club are supporting the Guild's, Ethical and Environmental Week which includes a "Beat Genocide Down" event, Selly Oak Clean Up Day and much much more.

We have done leaflet about what labour has done for the Environment since 1997. To download a copy, click here: Labour on the Environment.

"Voter ID Session with Edgbaston CLP"

On Wednesday 7th December Birmingham Edgbaston CLP are telephone canvassing from the Labour Party building on the Bristol Road opposite the Dome. 

The session starts at 2pm and it is a great opportunity for our members to meet and talk to the people we will be working with in the up coming general election. If anyone is free then please email the club and we can arrange to go together. However I do recognise that many of you have essay deadlines so only come if you can give up the time.

If you need any other information then feel free to ring me, Chris Bloore on 07841447757.

Wolverhampton Young Labour will be having their Launch event this Saturday, West Midlands Young labour have been asked to join the group and go along and join them.

If you wish to attend, please contact Richard via our email address, labour@bugs.bham.ac.uk. 

Labour Progress have been leading the debate on policies for the third term and the Annual Conference on Saturday 16th November 2004 is the culmination of a series of conferences from around the UK that will feature Rt. Hon. David Blunkett MP and Rt. Hon. Robin Cook MP. 

Labour Students have been invited to attend for only £5 if they are not already Progress Members. The program is available online.

If you are interested click here to register or email events@progressives.org.uk or contact Mark Day on 020 7808 7780 for more information.

Labour Students nationally are having their first event of 2004/5 at Stoke Rochford Hall, near Grantham on 30th/31st October 2004 with speakers, forums, discussions and a massive party!

All entertainment. All Informal. All welcoming.

All accommodation and food is provided, together with transport from Grantham train station for a very cheap, £35.

For more info email labourstudents@new.labour.org.uk or call 0207 802 1381.

Debsoc will next week host the above debate that will be proposed by the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Birmingham: Perry Barr, Naweed Khan and Opposed by Labour's Northfield MP, Richard Burden.

The debate will take place in the Guild Council Chamber at 6pm on Thursday 28th October 2004.

Link to Debsoc's website, here.

"Annual General Meeting"

At 4.30 on Thursday 28th October 2004, before the Debsoc Event, the AGM for the University of Birmingham Labour Club will be take place.

The new constitution will be proposed, the committee will be up for election and the plan for the year will be ratified. 

The positions available will be:

Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Events Officer.

Autonomous caucuses will also elect to the committee a Women's Officer, a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Students Officer, an Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Officer and a Students with Disability (SWD) Officer.

If you are interested in standing feel free to contact the committee to talk it over, labour@bugs.bham.ac.uk, or feel free to turn up on the day and stand. We are keen that new people and first years. 

Agenda: Start at 4.30pm

	Agree New Constitution - Download here.
	Elect Officers of the Club:  Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Events Officer. Autonomous caucuses will also elect to the committee a Women's Officer, a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Students Officer, an Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Officer and a Students with Disability (SWD) Officer.
	Work Plan for the Year - Download here.
	Comments, Communications and Questions

The Guild Theatre Group, Article 19, will be producing Animal Farm, the famous George Orwell fable about the Russian Revolution and early Bolshevik Government. 

The Labour Group will be going along to enjoy the work of early Labour Party activist and critical friend of socialism, George Orwell. Please feel free to join us, ticket prices will be announced in the coming weeks. See Article 19's Website for more information.

"When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full. The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. 

"All animals are equal!

"Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power.."

Regional Young Labour and Labour Students Conference will take place at The University of Birmingham Guild of Students (BUGS) on Saturday 23rd October 2004, Guest Speaker, Estelle Morris MP, Minister of State for Arts will take about the importance of a Labour Third Term.   

If you wish to attend please email, Oliver Kempton, on oliver_kempton@new.labour.org.uk. It will be a full day, lots of fun and involve training on how we are going to win for Labour in the coming General Election!

For more info see our Press and News Section.

Last night, over 20 Labour Students were joined at the excellent "Dilshad" curry house in Selly Oak, by Labour MP Liam Byrne. It was a successful night and fun was had by all!!!

Liam said in his address, "this is an interesting time to be in politics, take advantage of the opportunities this year will pose and make sure you step up to the challenge of winning a radical and progressive Labour Third Term." 

"Campaigners Needed!"

Edgbaston Young Labour and BUGS Labour Club are joining forces to help Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Edgbaston fight to keep Edgbaston Labour. 

We meet at 10.30am on Sunday 17th October 2004 outside the Guild. We will finish by going to lunch/for a drink as group.

"Higher Minimum Wage Day! Labour increase Low Paid Worker to £4.85/hr"

Today students have been joined by Edgbaston MP, Gisela Stuart, to promote awareness amongst students of their new National Minimum Wage rights. The Labour club has developed cheque styled leaflets that highlight the new level of the National Minimum Wage and gives information on all parties’ stance on the National Minimum Wage.  

Gisela Stuart MP said, "This is a real example of a Labour Government delivering for the low paid workers and keeping the promises of 1997 and 2001.”

For more information, the press release and more photos, click here.

Last night, 30th September 2004, saw another great bi-election result for Labour with Iain Wright beating the Lib Dems by 2033 votes. 

The new MP said, "Tonight's result is great news for Tony Blair, a huge disappointment for Charles Kennedy and an absolute disaster for Michael Howard.

"I have always been proud to come from Hartlepool but I have never been prouder than tonight."

The result saw the Tories fall into fourth place behind the UK Independence Party, were they had held second place in 2001.

Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts said: "This is very disappointing. There is no point in pretending otherwise."

Take a look at the campaign website: http://www.wright4hartlepool.co.uk

University of Birmingham Labour Club members went with students from Aston, UCE and some of our campus' Tory members to see 'An Audience with Mo Mowlam.'  

It was an interesting debate listening to Mo's lessons learnt in Northern Ireland, about her childhood and progression into politics and her views on the current Labour Party.

When asked by club member about how to get into politics her clear advise was "for young people to: decide what they believe, join a party, get a real job and have your children if you want them and then you are ready to take up new opportunities that may come your way."

When asked by a member of the audience about what she wanted to be remember for, she said, "all the people who put the Good Friday Agreement together."

We are proud that the West Midlands Young Labour Chair, Stephanie Peacock one of the Conference Diarists as a first time delegate.  

To read her diary click:  http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php?id=ac04stephaniepeacock

"First Event: Lunch and Party Leader Speech"

Birmingham University Labour Party activists, trade unionist and other interested people will be joined at a friendly lunch by Party Leader, Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP making his Leader's Speech at Conference. 

Come along for a chat, some food and to listen to the wise words of our Party Leader! 

For more info download the flyer here.

The Alexander Theatre in Birmingham hosts 'An 'Audience with Mo Mowlam' next Wednesday, 29th October 2004. 

Birmingham University Labour Club have been offered an exclusive 2 for 1 deal on tickets. All club members are welcome, tickets for the pair will be £15.

The former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said: "The evening will be a behind the scenes look at my life in politics - negotiating the peace in Northern Ireland and the lessons learnt, the highs and lows of political office and there'll be plenty of fun too!"

If you are interested please email labour@bugs.bham.ac.uk  and join those of us that are going.

For more information about Mo Mowlam's tour click here.

There will be a parliamentary by-election in Hartlepool on 30^th September after the appointment of Peter Mandelson as European Union Commissioner.

As Labour Students Members we're asking you to help to support this by-election campaign.  Labour campaigners from all over the UK must work together to ensure that Hartlepool stays Labour and that our candidate Iain Wright keeps the Tories and Lib Dems out.  

We are the party's key resource in beating off the Tories and Liberal Democrats. It is our support that makes Labour stronger.

That's why we're asking you to pledge some of your time over the coming weeks to this by-election campaign and to encourage members and supporters in your area to do the same. 

The most valuable way of contributing your time to these campaigns is to help out in person.  

If you're able to make it to Hartlepool for a day, or longer, you can call our Youth Coordinator up there, Karim Palant, on 07773354945.

Lynne Jones, MP for Selly Oak, visited BUGS Guild Council chamber during the NUS National Week of Action to talk to a small-engaged audience of students about where we go next in the campaign.

BUGS Labour Club was pleased to host the Joint Young Labour/Labour Students West Midlands BIG Conversation event. About 40 young people came to the event. We were lucky to be joined by Deputy Government Whip, Bob Ainsworth MP, and Edgbaston MP, Gisela Stuart.

A special thanks must go to Alex Belardinelli for all his hard work and effort.

Before the BIG Conversation event at BUGS, West Midlands Young Labour held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) where Adrian Bradley was elected a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Officer for the group.

Something to think about:

Protect Yourself, Promote the Cause

As a young Trade Union activist I often get asked why members of Labour Students should be members of Trade Unions.  Some point out that the majority of students who work do part-time jobs like bar work - often in un-unionised workplaces. Others argue that most students don’t even know what jobs they want to do when they’ve finished college or Uni, never mind predicting what the recognised Union in their workplace will be.

So why should Students join a Trade Union, and how should they choose which one to join?

Trade Unions are changing to fit into the modern workplace, where there is no longer a job or even career for life.  Trade Unions follow their members now, and are aiming to be a more general union- rather than specific. It is not hard to find a Union that will cater for your needs, even if you are in a short term job, or are likely to do something quite different in future.

Why wait until you face harassment in the workplace or get unfairly dismissed before joining a union?

Trade Unions do far more than just protecting workers in their workplace; they also proactively campaign for social change.

To quote Tony Blair ;

“The Labour party was created in 1900; a new party for a new century. It’s formation was the result of many years' hard effort by working people, trade unionists and socialists, united by the goal of changing the British Parliament to represent the interests of everybody.”

By becoming a member of a Trade Union, you are also providing yourself with another opportunity by which to input into Labour Party democracy.

I’ve been a Trade Union delegate to Labour party conferences, and am currently a delegate from my Trade Union to my Constituency Labour Party.  This not only is an important part of the democratic process of the party, but if your local branch doesn’t have enough young members to send a youth delegate to the CLP meeting, it’s an easy way to get involved.

Trade Unions need young people to bring in a new viewpoint and to represent the changing needs of a younger generation of workers.  For Labour Students this is another opportunity to influence and develop the party and your Union, bringing benefits to yourself and many others.

Both the Labour Party and Trade Unions have recognised that to really make a difference to peoples' lives in the next century they need to take the next generation with them, raising awareness and increasing involvement from those who comprise tomorrow’s society, as well as today's.

For more information on joining a Trade Union please contact Mel Whitter at mel_whitter@yahoo.co.uk.

Mel Whitter is the Students with Disablilities Officer for National Organisation of Labour Students and a former Vice Chair.