The Socialist Group of the European Parliament is visiting Manchester as part of their regular diary of committee meetings around Europe. Around 150 Socialist MEPs are visiting the city, visiting local schemes and meeting local people while discussing important issues such as Immigration and the Economy. To mark their visit a number of articles by leading figures from the left wing of the European Parliament will be written for Labourhome, inviting discussion and dialogue with the writers and others from Brussels.

writes Martin Schulz, Leader of the European Parliament Socialist Group

We shockingly gave away a 10,000 seat majority up in Manchester Withington to the Lib Dems in 2005. John Leech was duly elected and the Lib Dems claimed this as another victory in their campaign to take control of the big Northern cities. Yet what has transpired is the usual Lib Dem problem, they fight a localised campaign with smears then when it comes to actually handling the responsibility they are found wanting.
 
Manchester is in the middle of a referendum campaign for a congestion charging scheme. A 'YES' vote gives us £1.5 bn of investment in trams, trains and bus routes. A 'NO' vote leaves us still stuck in traffic.
 
It seems John Leech needs an A-Z when it comes to taking the tough decision about protecting the environment, investment in public transport and keeping the city moving BUT potentially making enemies he's hiding. He's totally gone missing, including missing Parliamentary debates and a key public meeting.
 
Read this http://chrispaul-labouroflove.blogspot.com/2008/11/honest-john-mp-misses-transport-and-gpo.html and this http://newerlabour.blogspot.com/2008/11/congestion-charging-and-manchester.html
 
and help us win back Manchester Withington. Winning these kinds of seats is what keeps DAVID CAMERON out of Number Ten. leave your comment here http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/nov/14/manchester-congestion-charge  and join our candidate, Lucy Powell's Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/home.php?ref=home

Members of the European Parliament from all across Europe will be visiting Manchester next week to discuss Building Communities in a Global Europe and take home lessons from Manchester about regeneration and economic development.  To give Bloggers in the North West and Labour Bloggers a rare opportunity to gain access to some of Europe's most experienced and influential politicians, we are hosting a bloggers' reception on:

Tuesday November 11th
18:00 - 20:00
Palace Hotel, Oxford Road, Manchester
Refreshments provided

• An opportunity to meet and talk with senior MEPs from across Europe
• An opportunity to discuss major international policies without travelling to Brussels or London
• Exclusively for North West-based or Labour bloggers.

To reserve a place and confirm your attendance - email tris.brown@tangerinepr.com

Progress launches its Party Conference as usual with the Annual Rally, but this year it's much bigger with 12 speakers including 10 Cabinet Ministers and will be competing to be the 'must attend' event of the weekend.

Full details of the Rally, and the rest of our packed fringe programme, can be found here >  

 

Why oh why are the labour councils in Manchester hell bent on introducing the congestion charge? Can't they tell when something has the potential to be the poll tax of the next decade?

Greater Manchester Fabians, a group that we like and who tend to organise good events, have organised a session called Unlocking Democracy - How far too much power is locked up in the hands of far too few people and what we can do about it.

Its on Thursday 5th June 2008 in Manchester City Centre and more details are here.

The Black Socialist Society Special Conference 2007 will be held in Manchester College of Arts and Technology, Ashton Old Road, Manchester, M11 2WH on Saturday 24 November 2007. Conference attendees will gather to take part in Labour’s policy making process, receive training, hear from Government Ministers and much more.  For more info - http://www.tmponline.org/?p=259