Monthly Archives: September 2010

September 22, 2010 · 12:00 am

Stronger EU Regulation for Financial Services

Given the enormity of the behaviour of the banks and other financial institutions over the past year or so, it was gratifying to see the European Parliament agree to improved supervisory measures earlier today. New watchdogs to regulate banks and other financial services have just been approved which will be of considerable help to consumers throughout the European Union. The Report, authored by British Labour MEP Peter Skinner, was passed overwhelmingly with 592 MEPs in favour, 29 against and 37 abstentions.

The new rules, which come into force on 1 January 2011, put in place a pan-European system of supervision, ensuring that where companies operate across EU borders, they will no longer be able to exploit regulatory grey areas between different national regimes. A new board made up of heads of European central banks will monitor and act against macro-economic risks as they emerge across Europe.

We can all now be confident that the full force of EU law is there to support us if things go wrong, irrespective of where a financial services provider may base its headquarters,.

There is no doubt that the new rules will also benefit the financial services industry. It is clearly not in their interests to have national regulators applying 27 different interpretations of EU rules. Whether we’re talking banking, insurance or capital markets, regulators will no longer act in hermetically sealed silos and will have to coordinate their work.

1 Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as ,

September 21, 2010 · 6:59 pm

Boris Bikes Flop

This article in today’s Evening Standard shows just what an ill-conceived and ill-fated scheme the much vaunted “Boris Bikes” are proving to be.

1,300 bicycles are not available for use nearly two months after the scheme was set up.  Bizarrely, 1000 bikes are in an underground store in Islington according to the Standard because there are not enough docking stations.  Since each cycle is thought to cost £950 this is nothing short of a criminal waste of money.

Maybe Islington resident Boris, who, as we know, is a keen cyclist, has plans.  On the other hand, perhaps not.  If I had to put money on it I’d go for the cock-up rather than the conspiracy theory.

5 Comments

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as ,

· 1:23 pm

About the Speakers at my Fringe Meeting – Jessica Asato

I was delighted when Jessica Asato agreed to speak at my fringe meeting.  Jessica is one of the few Labour women experts in social media, and I very much hope she will inspire more women to make use of the many and varied political online opportunities.   

As most of you know, Jessica Asato is Acting Director of Progress and an Islington councillor representing St George’s Ward.  She will speak at the fringe meeting in her capacity as social media organiser for the David Miliband campaign.

Prior to working at Progress, Jessica was a researcher at the Social Market Foundation think tank for three years, and spent a year working as a freelance researcher publishing reports on the issues of demographic change and paying for long-term care.

Jessica is, in addition, a former Chair of the Young Fabians, and has been an Executive Member of the Fabian Society since 2004. She is also a former Vice-Chair of Young Labour.

She is at present a governor of Tufnell Park School and acting Joint-Chair of the sexual health charity Brook.  In 2008 Jessica set up the Gareth Butler History Trust to raise money to pay for disadvantaged students to go on school history trips.

My fringe meeting is on Monday 27 September at 6.00pm in Manchester Central, Charter 1.  The other speakers are top Labour blogger Tom Harris MP, Alex Smith, editor of LabourList and Councillor John Gray from the London Borough of Newham.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

September 20, 2010 · 5:53 pm

About the Speakers at my Fringe Meeting – Tom Harris MP

During the next few days I thought I would give a brief pen-portrait of each of the speakers at my fringe meeting at Labour Party Conference, How Social Media can drive a Wedge into the Coalition.  First off is Tom Harris MP.

With his lively mix of political commentary and personal anecdote, it’s not surprising that Tom Harris, MP for Glasgow South, has established himself as a firm favourite in the ever-expanding blogosphere.  His blog, “And another thing…”, has, in recent years, accumulated a whole host of awards, along with more that 50,000 viewings a month.

This popularity is, in part, a reflection of Tom’s writing style; a former journalist, he writes eloquently, enlivening even the duller policy issues. Perhaps more significant, however, is his willingness  to challenge received wisdom and offer a distinctive personal perspective, informed by his Scottish roots and long history of Labour Party involvement. Tom’s nine years in Parliament give him that all-important insider’s insight whilst, having grown up on a Ayrshire council estate and experienced unemployment and deprivation first hand, he is able to offer an outlook that is sometimes missing from mainstream media.

So, if you haven’t already had a look at Tom’s entertaining offerings, read his blog now at: http://www.tomharris.org.uk/

My fringe meeting is on Monday 27 September at 6.00pm in Manchester Central, Charter 1.  The other speakers are Alex Smith, editor of LabourList, Jessica Asato who is running David Miliband’s social media campaign and UNISON activist, Councillor John Gray from the London Borough of Newham.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , , , , , ,

September 19, 2010 · 9:47 pm

Honeyball’s weekly round up

Four in ten regret voting Lib Dem. This survey, by pollsters ComRes, exclusively for the Sunday Mirror is without doubt a damming blow for Nick Clegg, as their first party conference kicks off since they formed a coalition government he can expect to face the wrath of many activists unhappy at his new alliance. The Sunday Mirror claims that this latest set of statistics is the worst result of any ComRes poll completed since the election. You can read the full article  here in the Sunday Mirror. 

 

It will be a difficult time for Clegg as he will undoubtedly be faced with questions from disgruntled party faithful who could never have envisaged their party forming such a close alliance with the Tories. He has an enormous task ahead of him, and that is to appeal to his members to support the coalition government which will, he claims be a “great, great, reforming government.”  The Observer’s political editor has a big piece in today’s paper which you can read here. 

President Sarkozy found himself in hot water once again this week following his decision to deport Roma gypsies from France despite the European Parliament demanding an end to the policy. But there were harsh words between The French President who was angry over comments made by EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding who appeared to compare France’s actions to persecutions in Nazi-occupied France. 

He said of her words: “The disgusting and shameful words that were used – World War II, the evocation of the Jews – was something that shocked us deeply.” I did a blog on it earlier in the week which you can read here and you can read the BBC report here. 

I was disappointed to read in today’s paper that Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has given a civil service post to the daughter of a business associate who, the paper claims, is also a Tory party donor. The move has ‘raised eyebrows’ in Whitehall. She was made his parliamentary assistant in his private office two years ago but in May was given a job within the Department for Culture Media and Sport on a fixed term civil service contract. You can read the full article here in today’s Observer. 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Jeremy Hunt

Tagged as , , , , ,

September 17, 2010 · 1:09 pm

If you haven’t yet voted, please make David Miliband Number One

David Miliband has just sent out this e-mail:

“In the last four months I’ve travelled the length and breadth of this country and listened to thousands of members – and I’ve been inspired by what I’ve seen and heard.

“When this contest began talk was of how the Labour Party would implode, talk only to itself or seek to fight old battles. But instead we’ve moved on from the Blair/Brown era and shown that we are determined to look outwards and to the future.

“We are a Party determined to show that whilst we lost in May, we are not beaten. A Party that knows it can buck the trend, not disappear into the obscurity of opposition for a decade. A Party that will not give up, but will fight to win.

“Now, with voting closing next Wednesday, we’re into the final week. And we have to decide who can win for Britain.

“Every candidate in this contest claims that they are going to win, it’s what you do in campaigns.

“But ask me who I’d most like to beat and there is no contest – it’s David Cameron.

“Poll after poll carried out during this contest has shown that I am the candidate who can beat David Cameron.

“I am ready to stand opposite him at Prime Minister’s Questions and expose the wrongs he’s inflicting on the communities we care about.

“I’m ready to expose a Tory government as ruthless and right wing as any of Thatcher’s and win for the people we came into politics to serve. They need our values, our voice and, most of all, our victory. When we lose, they lose.

“They are the reason why I am fighting for every last vote in this contest. I will take the fight to the heart of the Coalition – and I will not let you down.

“My campaign has reached out across the Party. I’m humbled that my support unites Dennis Skinner, Jon Cruddas and Alistair Darling. And today I’m asking for your support as well. 

“So if you haven’t voted yet in this contest please do so now.

“Please give me your first preference – millions of people are depending on us and the values we hold dear.

“Thank you

“David Miliband”

If you saw David on Question Time last night, I am sure you will agree with me that he is the only one of the five candidates who looks and sounds like a Prime Minister.  Vote David Miliband for a Labour victory.

2 Comments

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as ,

· 8:05 am

112 Europe’s 999

A London doctor recently wrote to me about an emergency situation in another European country she had to deal with. The doctor suggested it would be a good idea to have a common emergency number for all European countries to help professionals like herself to get swift assistance in case of an emergency in a foreign country.

I replied that hers was an excellent idea which had already been in place for about 15 years.

The European emergency number 112 was established by the European Union in 1991. European Union countries have had the system since 1996. The 112 service is free of charge whether you are using a mobile or a landline.  Some countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Holland have introduced the 112 as their single emergency number.

In most countries the 112 service runs along another number like the United Kingdom’s 999.

The EU claims to be committed to raising awareness of 112 across Europe, obviously with little success

You can find more information on 112 at http://www.eena.org/view/en/About112/legislation.html

My Doctor constituent was very surprised and said no-one in her practice was aware of this universal 112 service, and had no idea it even worked in the UK. I am grateful to her for this feedback which has prompted this blog. I think this is something that should be part of health professional’s training as it could be a life saver in many situations. When you travel in Europe, please add 112 to your saved numbers on your mobile – it might save somebody’s life.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , ,

September 16, 2010 · 4:41 pm

Andy Burnham’s Campaign Supremo to vote David Miliband second Preference

You may remember that I blogged on 1 September that one of Ed Ball’s most prominent supporters, Geoffrey Robinson, was giving his second preference vote to David Miliband. 

The London Evening Standard has now reported that Gerry Sutcliffe, Andy Burnham’s campaign supremo is also giving his second preference to David

This has to be good for David Miliband.  He already has more first preferences than any of the other candidates and it now looks as if he will pick up a good number of seconds in the MP/MEP section.  

It’s also good news for the Labour Party.  David Miliband is the only one of the five candidates who is prime ministerial material.  He has a sound electoral platform which will appeal to many outside the Labour Party – the very people we need to vote for us in the next general election.

As a Party activist in the 1980s I know what opposition is like – frustrating and soul-destroying.  Believe me, it would not be good for the Labour Party of the people who vote for us if we remained in oppositon party for any longer than necessary.

David Miliband is a winner.  Vote David for victory.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , , , ,

September 15, 2010 · 12:33 pm

Sarkozy spies on Le Monde

I was interested to see this article on the BBC website. The story also appeared in the Financial Times.

Not content with expelling Roma from France, it seems as if President Sarkozy is also spying on journalists from Le Monde, one of France’s most respected newspapers.  The newspaper’s alleged crime? Daring to cover the Bettencourt story, a saga of truly Byzantine proportions.  Beginning as a family feud between France’s richest women, l’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, and her daughter, the Bettencourt affair has since mushroomed into a major political scandal involving, amongst others, France’s Labour Minister Eric Woerth.  But M Woerth is not the only politician implicated in this complicated and sordid tale. M Sarkozy has also been mentioned in despatches.

Could this be why the ever resourceful and none too particular Sarkozy took extreme action against the Roma? The Roma issue has, after all, provided a diversion away from M Sarkozy’s alleged financial irregularities.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , , , , ,

· 9:06 am

Sports For All!

Along with four other MEPs; Joanna Senyszyn from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Sean Kelly from the European People’s Party (EPP), Ivo Belet, also from the EPP, and Hannu Takkula from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), I am the co-signatory on a written declaration to support sports at grassroots level.  The declaration itself:

1.   Calls on the Commission and Member States to promote sport for all, strengthening its educational and integrating role, with special attention paid to under-represented groups such as women, seniors, and disabled people;

2.   Calls on Member States to ensure that grassroots sport does not suffer from major budget cuts in times of crisis;

3.   Calls on the Commission to pay the necessary attention to grassroots sports in the upcoming Communication on sport and to ensure sufficient funding for the EU Sport Programme from 2012 onwards;

4.   Calls on the Commission to take due account of the results of the study on the financing of grassroots sports with regard to a possible EU initiative on gambling issues;

5.   Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Commission and the Parliaments of the Member States.

The declaration closes for signing at the beginning of December, but given the cross party support and the importance of the topic, I am fairly convinced it will get enough signatures and will become European Parliament policy. 

Show your support for grassroots sport and get your local MEPs to sign Written Declaration No. 0062/2010!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Labour Party

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,