Middlesbrough Labour Group

Working for Middlesbrough

NATIONAL LABOUR PARTY

The Labour Party

Please see the link on the left to be directed to the Labour Party website or click here.

The Labour Party was formed in 1900 to fight for a fairer society in Parliament, led by socialists and trade unions under its first leader, Keir Hardie. The values put forward by Hardie and continued by the likes of Clement Attlee, Nye Bevan, Hugh Gaitskell, Harold Wilson, Jim Callaghan, Neil Kinnock and John Smith hold firm today and have been continued under this Government. The party is fundamentally committed to its binding principles of social justice, strong communities, equality and a fairer society.

Clause 4 of the Party's constitution sums this up:

"The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few. Where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe. And where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect."

Labour Leadership and Deputy Leadership

The contest for the Labour leadership has seen Chancellor Gordon Brown win 313 nominations from MPs, and subsequently, become the only candidate. His leadership website is: www.gordonbrownforbritain.com/

In terms of the Deputy Leadership, there are 6 candidates:

Hilary Benn - http://benn4deputy.org/home.html

Hazel Blears - http://www.hazelblears.com/

Jon Cruddas - http://www.joncruddas.org.uk/

Peter Hain - http://www.peterhain.org/

Harriet Harman - http://www.harrietharman.org/

Alan Johnson - http://www.johnson4deputy.org/

More on the contest here and view the video of the first hustings between all 6 candidates here.

Labour delivering across the UK

The Labour Government has delivered substantial benefits for the UK since 1997, with the UK having nine years of uninterrupted economic growth, the best employment record in the G7 group of industrialised countries, huge cuts in child and pensioner poverty and the delivery of the minimum wage.

There has been massive investment in the NHS and education, leading to drastically reduced waiting lists, record school results and more people than ever going on to university.

More money has been devoted to the developing world to combat world poverty and there are more police and CSOs on the streets than ever before with dedicated teams for each neighbourhood. Here are a few details:

1) Children

*700,000 children lifted out of relative poverty, child benefit up 25 per cent since 1997. Over 20m people, including 10m children, are benefiting from the Child Tax Credit and the Working Tax Credit. SureStart centres established to provide integrated childcare and support and training for parents, there will be one in every community by 2010.

2) Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour

* Cut overall crime by 35% since 1997, the chances of being a victim is at the lowest point for 20 years. 6,300 Community Support Officers introduced, police numbers at record levels with devoted neighbourhood policing to be rolled out. ASBOs and the 'Respect' agenda introduced to deal with anti-social behaviour and truancy, including fixed-penalty notices for nuisance drunks and powers to clamp down on noisy neighbours.

3) Education

* Doubled the amount spent on each pupil each year from Ł2,500 to Ł5,000, almost 33,000 more teachers and 130,00 more teaching assistants. The hard work of pupils and teachers has delivered the best ever results at ages 11, 14, 16 and 18, including a 10% increase in the number of 16-year-old's getting five or more good GCSEs. New specialised diplomas from 2008 on the likes of construction, engineering, health and social care and ICT. Record numbers of 18 to 30-year-olds going into higher education from all social backgrounds because of the abolishment of up-front fees and the restoration of grants.

4) Employment

* 2 million more people in work since 1997, lowest unemployment since 1975, highest ever employment, long-term youth unemployment cut by 75 per cent. The implementation of the Minimum Wage has raised the earnings of 1.5m people. Consistently low interest rates have helped 1.8million more people buy homes than in 1997, lowest mortgage rates for 40 years.

5) Environment

* Increased household waste recycled from 7.5% in 1997 to 23%. By 2010 kerbside collection of at least two types of recyclable materials for every house. Took a lead on climate change, pledging to cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2010 compared to their levels in 1990.

6) Equality & Culture

*Widened and strengthened the Race Relations Act, introduced Civil Partnerships, equalised the gay age of consent, repealed Section 28 and established the Disability Rights Commission. Brought free entry to national museums and galleries in 2001, leading to an increase in the number of visitors to 34m a year. Ł3bn invested in sport since 1997, going towards our aim of having 70 per cent of the UK doing 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week by 2020.

7) Health

* Hospital waiting lists in the NHS at the lowest level since 1987, with 19,300 more doctors, over 77,500 more nurses and matrons brought back to hospital wards. Patient choice introduced where any hospital can be chosen to be referred to, while more than 99% of people can see their GP in 48 hours and 96% spend less than 4 hours in A&E. Cancer and heart disease deaths down 12 and 27% respectively.

8) International Development

* Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries, more than doubled the overseas aid budget since 1997, banned anti-personnel mines and spent Ł1bn on bilateral aid to Africa in 2005/06. Over the next three years, an additional Ł1.5bn will be given to Africa in their fight against AIDS.

9) Pensions

* Compared to 1997, pensioner households are on average Ł1,350 a year better off in real terms through the Pension Credit, with the poorest third of pensioner households Ł1,750 a year better off. The Credit has helped 3.2m pensioners. Cut absolute pensioner poverty by two thirds. Introduced the Winter Fuel Allowance, free TV licenses and eye-tests for the over 75s. More community-based services for the elderly - over the next three years 3,000 community matrons will be recruited, offering NHS patients tailor-made services suited to their individual needs. Established the Pensions Protection Fund to safeguard the savings of pensioners of the future.

10) Westminster

*A new constitutional settlement has been put in place with power devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the end to hereditary peers in the House of Lords, a new Judicial Appointments Commission, a new Supreme Court and a massive expansion of freedom of information.

Join and make your voice heard

Click on the Labour Party link on the left hand side of your screen or here for details of how to join the party.

This will allow you to have your say on party policy, particularly through the Partnership in Power process, become involved in grass-roots politics, participate in Branch meetings, attend meetings with ministers and senior officials, vote for positions within the party and, above all, ensure that Labour remains the party of progressive social democracy in the UK.

You can also become a member of the Labour Supporters Network, more details of which you will find on party's website.