Salford Labour Party Website

The new coalition govenment has caused record numbers of applications to join the Labour party. If you want to join the party, you can apply via the Labour web site. You can find the link here along with other methods of joining .  You can also email the webmaster and we will send you an application form.

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In a little reported speech to the think tank magazine Fabian Review, Ian Duncan Smith, former Tory Party Leader admitted that the “Right to buy” policy had condemned thousands to be excluded from economic prosperity. Moreover, in the same speech, he drew attention to the fact that “sink” estates had been created through this process. He went on to say (referring to the Right to buy policy), “….. we did not have any real sense of where this might go and what needed to happen. Big social reforms should have taken place then, and they never did.”

Noting that Ian Duncan Smith is the founder of  the Centre for Social Justice and that David Cameron recognises that organisation’s central role in developing the Conservative Party’s social policy then we not only have re-positioning but attempts to present a Tory Party completely different from that of Margaret Thatcher. In doing so it has to be recognised by the Conservatives that this policy failure further divided the nation rather than being a cause for greater unity.

In reviewing that failed policy, in social terms, it is worth assessing whether there was ever any intention of combining the right to buy with social reform. Certainly there is no evidence! The economic structures imposed by the last Conservative government meant:
those properties that were desirable would be purchased,  those that could afford it would buy, those properties which were undesirable would not be purchased, those occupying undesirable properties would be those at greatest financial disadvantage. Moreover the declining availability of public housing meant that (increasingly) such a tenancy would only be a prospect for the most disadvantaged.

Now the real question is: “has the leopard changed its spots?”. Looking at the Conservative Party’s Spring Forum in Cheltenham last weekend (24th to 26th April) the answer is a resounding no! Talking about the 50p tax rate Boris Johnson said; “If you tell [the best talent] you are going to take considerably more of their money away than they could expect in the competitor capitals, that’s a poke in the eye for London.”. George Osborne (Shadow Chancellor) said he thought that higher tax rates discouraged enterprise and damage economic activity. All this against grumbling Members who believe the Conservative Party is nothing if it is not tax cutting. So the leopard is only going to have a makeover and if and when elected will resume its carniverous habits and look after the rich and pretend disadvantage does not exist. Don’t let them get away with it!

Keith Mann
28th April 2009

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I make no apologies for plagiarising John Prescott’s blog. He has a valid point.! I quote:

“At Cheltenham Racecourse (I’m saying nothing) the Tories will be gathering for their spring conference, no doubt salivating at the prospect of introducing such progressive policies as fox hunting and the extension of grammar schools.

And who will be their star turn? Only the new poster boy of Fox News and the Republican Right – Daniel Hannan. You’ll remember he was the MEP who ambushed Gordon at the European Parliament and then had the clip promoted and watched by right wing bloggers across the UK and the US (bit of an echo chamber I think.

I’m sure Cameron will be delighted to see his conference give a standing ovation to this rabidly right wing neocon who believes the NHS was a ‘60 year mistake’ and made people ‘iller.’

I called on Cameron to ‘back him or sack him.’ No surprise at his decision. The frightening thing is that most Tories fully agree with Hannan not their leader. This is why Go Fourth will continue to unmask the real face of ‘Caring Conservatism.’”

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At 4 to 1 against, it is clear the public has rejected any form of charge to use the road, even if means missing out on massive public transport improvements. This now puts us in all in an interesting position, with all major parties having some form of road pricing in the manifesto.

It is clear we cannot continue as we are, congestion can only get worse, the environment will continue to suffer and health issues will continue to rise. So which party is brave enough to stand by conviction and act in the face of such public unpopularity?

I see a few of the papers have framed the question “what now?”. I think it is a good question, but it should have been asked before the vote. Not one single alternative was put forward by any opposition! It was made very clear there was no plan ‘B’.

Scratch that! One large company suggested we should sell off our crown jewels to fund the capital expense. No mention of ongoing revenue sources to support it! For some parties, a former ally now becomes the enemy as they now turn attention to two major developments planned for Salford. There is a bit of irony here because if TIF had succeeded, it may have been (according to to the ‘NO’ campaign) a less desirable proposition!

There is one major concern, it has been shown that some have no regard for politicians and will fund activities to undermine any local opposition. Against local politicians prepared to speak out against them, they may even arrange telephone surveys, pointing out there is alternatives. Should this come to pass again, WE ALL should be outraged and act accordingly.

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Shneur stood for the Conservatives in the May 2007 elections and will again this year. He is less than honourable on his website! He invites you and I quote including his misspellings “please do come back and leave your COMMENTS and SUGESTIONS.”
I would ignore this invitation, because, if you take up the offer, he will censor every comment that disagrees with his opinion. He is not interested in debate, he only wants your votes and then he can ignore you too!

He failed in Salford, he failed in Bury and have a look at what he did in Hackney!

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