Ealing Times Article – August 2007

 Conference Matters

After a busy week in Bournemouth at the Labour Party conference I thought it would be interesting to let you know how my first conference as an MP went and what I was able to do there on your behalf. You may also be interested to know the answer to the question that was on everyone’s lips. Will the Prime Minister call an election or won’t he?

For those who have never been to a political conference, you should know that they can be very enjoyable, but also a lot of hard work and very long hours. Bournemouth 2007 certainly did not lack any of these essential conference ingredients.

It was particularly enjoyable for me personally as the recent by-election victory in Ealing Southall was still very much in people’s minds and I was able to meet and thank many people who worked incredibly hard for me during the campaign and I was also honoured to share a platform with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown and receive his thanks and congratulations on what he described as a pivotal moment when Labour’s fortunes began to advance and David Cameron and the Conservative’s began to decline.

Listening to Labour Party representatives from the Prime Minister to constituency delegates in the main Conference Hall was a great opportunity to absorb the government’s policy platform and out in the fringe meetings hear some lively debates about the future direction of the country.

Away from the Conference Hall I was able to attend a briefing from Transport for London about the financing of Crossrail that will be such an advantage for constituents accessing jobs right across London and also about the future of Metronet and continued investment in the underground.

I also met representatives from the Trade Union Unite, who explained some of the problems employees at the airport face due to a lack of mechanised baggage handling equipment that has sent industrial injuries there soaring.

In the exhibitors’ hall I met representatives from many charities and voluntary organisations and was able to gather invaluable information and give my personal support to many including animal welfare and disability groups.

Oh yes and before I forget, the answer to that question - will the prime minister call an election or not? I don’t know, but by the end of the week it seemed a lot more likely than when we started!