Showing posts with label Midland Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Midland Hotel. Show all posts

Saturday, 13 October 2012

Lab12: Last post from Peoples Party Conference

Once again I ran out of time during the 2012 Labour Party Conference to write posts on the last two days. So here is a quick summary of some of the highlights during the last few days of Conference.

Clockwise. Due to disorganisation and meanness I stayed in a hotel in Rushholme which had the worse reviews on Booking.com that I have ever seen. It wasn't that bad but one of the things that kept me fairly sane during Conference was a morning run around the fantastic City green lung Platt Fields Park (the Peoples Park).

Picture of Peoples Republic Newham Crew (and guests) in Midland Hotel bar stairs. Below Gerry Sutcliffe MP, speaking at the EU fringe for Azerbaijan (UK is the biggest investor) ; Ed Balls MP speaking to UNISON reception at the "Peoples History Museum". Ed admitted that he would have lost his seat at the last General election if not for the help of UNISON - "no doubt" and he pledged to never ignore anything that UNISON said but we would not always agree.

Then a very good and sharp fringe on ending poverty by Webb Memorial Trust (lost notes), another on pension auto enrollment with Labour Shadow minster Gregg McClymont sponsored by the Peoples Pension (lost notes); then picture of UNISON reception with Andy Burham MP and Rachel Reeves MP and final centre picture of the great leader with UNISON delegates Mike and Mandy. What a great natural relaxed smile Ed? We never knew!

Roll on Brighton 2013.

Friday, 5 October 2012

Lab12: North & WSPA Fringes

Still catching up from Labour Party Conference. The North Fringe on Monday evening reminded me of a proper traditional Labour Party event. Before Ed came to speak there was an auction and raffle. I didn't win anything, not even the GMB branded Whiskey!

It was also the only event I went to during conference that served bottles of Brown Ale. 

Harriet Harman firstly thanked the region for its massive support for the Labour Party. When Ed came he told us that this was his 10th fringe of the night.
He also said how much he enjoyed the Durham Miners Gala and would return next year. 21 years was too long (since last Labour leader attended). He pledged to build new houses and get young people into work when the next Labour Government is elected.

Next was the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) Fringe. They had the World's only Parliamentary band MP4 playing. I must admit that I thought they were very good and didn't realise that they were amaters. Hope they are members of the MU!  There was a number of MP's boogying on down including John Healey, Mike Gapes and Caroline Flint. There were others who declined the spotlight.

Top picture is of my fellow Gog (north walian) John Prescott with UNISON Local organiser Joel Bodmer and UNISON SGE member Mike Davy. Afterwards we went to the Midland Hotel bar to yet again put the world to rights.