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<<First Name>>
Below is my SEC report which I hope you will share with your CLP if you feel it appropriate. The mood of the meeting was very constructive and it feels like Richard is now at home in his role as leader.
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SEC Meeting Report – 8th of September 2018
Richard Leonard’s Report –
Richard noted that the SNP’s “Programme for Government” in 2018/19 was stale but he welcomed:
1. Support for a Scottish Investment Bank (this was first announced by the SNP in 2009!).
2. Investment in mental health services.
Richard was disappointed by:
1. Lack of support for a “Good Food Nation” (see: http://www.nourishscotland.org/campa…/good-food-nation-bill/)
2. Transport Bill – Weak on the public ownership of Rail & Bus services. There was broad agreement that companies like Alexander Dennis should benefit from the modernisation of bus fleets.
Notable observations from Richard’s national tour in August:
1. Every area visited was facing a housing crisis – this vindicates the need for a “Mary Barbour Law”, more public housing (Labour is committed to 12,000 per year) and asking Prof Stuart Gulliver to chair a commission on housing in partnership with Pauline McNeil MSP.
2. Almost every area visited had a “NHS Action Group” fighting for better services or against centralisation.
3. Living standards for many low income households under huge pressure.
Westminster
1. The Brexit chaos continues to paralyse the UK Gov.
2. The proposed boundary changes should be seen as an erosion of democracy. Allegations are circulating in Westminster that Tories are “horse trading” on changes. There are clear DUP/Tory tensions on boundary changes, but disadvantaging Labour may unite them.
3. Next week Scottish Labour have secured a debate on PIP.
4. Lesley Laird is to speak to Dianne Abbot about immigration policy from a Scottish perspective.
Local Gov
1. Attendance at Labour COSLA meetings is now very good, but the Edinburgh Group is a notable absence.
2. There is strong focus on fighting centralisation – particularly in education.
3. IJB – Concerns about budgets and unelected NHS officials not always being in touch with local needs.
4. SNP Gov is now more open to working with COSLA – the Labour Group is wary of this, but are willing to work constructively if councils are viewed as a sphere of government rather than a tiers.
5. Huge tensions in pay – unions are unhappy with the current offer which is unfunded (i.e. services will be cut to pay for it).
Brian Roy.
1. Selection of candidates for the top 20 Westminster target seats is now largely complete (only Glasgow SW outstanding). The 10th of November SEC meeting will consider which Holyrood seats are targets and the process for selecting candidates.
2. In 3-way marginal council by-elections the focus is entirely on the constitution.
3. The UK Labour Party Democracy review will be considered at the UK Party Conference. If approved, the Scottish Party will review which parts it adopts. The Scottish Party already has the ability to implement many of the changes.
4. The CLP delegates to the Scottish Policy forum are now largely in place. So far, 22 of the 39 candidates are female.
I'd welcome your feedback & questions.
BTW - To add others to this mailing list, please just give them this link: http://eepurl.com/cL-l_n
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