Campaigning | Karen Bruce

Philip Gould tribute

Campaigning, Labour Party Comments Off

Nov 072011

My thoughts go out this morning Philip Gould’s wife, Gail Rebuck and daughters, Georgia and Grace. Philip Gould, who was a key strategist and adviser to the Labour Party and former prime minister Tony Blair, has died from cancer. at the age of 61 yesterday.

Blair paid tribute to Lord Gould:

an "indispensable" member of the political team that secured three election victories.

He was Labour to his core, and today, as the Labour party, we mourn for one of our own.

He was rightly known as a path breaking political strategist. His friends will also remember an extraordinary human being: warm, funny, engaging, deeply emotional and loving to all those he knew.

Nowhere was he more extraordinary than in the final years of his life: battling his cancer like a political campaign that could be mastered and won, then accepting death with courage and bravery.

His contribution to Labour politics was enormous. His work and commitment helped change the lives of millions of his fellow citizens for the better.

Overwhelmed by messages of support

Campaigning, Labour Party, Rothwell Comments Off

May 082011

I’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of good wishes and congratulations on our Labour victory in Rothwell on Thursday – a huge thank you to everyone who’s left messages, phoned, sent texts, emailed, on Facebook and on Twitter. It’s great that we can all share in the good news after working hard for several years to win back Rothwell for Labour. These are just a small selection of the messages of support I’ve received, Thank you everyone.

Some Facebook messages of support

It was fantastic to be congratulated in church this morning, Esme and I usually attend Rothwell Baptist Church on a Sunday – the very place where the count took place. There’s loads going on at the church and as well as there being a great bunch of people, all kinds of community groups and events take place in the great new building.

Carnival in the air in Rothwell

Campaigning, Carlton, Labour Party, Rothwell Comments Off

May 022011

Karen Bruce and Esme at Rothwell May Day fair 2011 Had another great bank holiday weekend in and around Rothwell. It started on Friday with an official road closure outside The Unicorn in Carlton for our very own street party to celebrate the Royal Wedding. There was loads going on including \ barbeque, home made cake stalls, hook a duck, fun fair rides for the children and several live bands playing in the car park with a vegetable delivery lorry from Dobson’s pressed into service as a stage. The first band on was Defender, which was not only surprisingly good but had the added bonus that the dad of one of Esme’s friends was playing bass guitar. And what else would you expect in the jewel of the Rhubarb triangle than the Rhubarb Olympics – our daughter Esme made a valiant effort in the Rhubarb chucking managing to at least hit the bucket and being rewarded with a commemorative William and Kate china bell!

Saturday and Sunday saw more #labourdoorstep with us out campaigning in Rothwell, delivering leaflets and talking to people about the local elections on Thursday. It’s so inspiring to see how riled people are at what the Liberal Democrats have done to them. It’s interesting to see that it’s not just Labour and Liberal Democrat voters who are angry, but even some Conservatives. I met one woman who traditionally votes Conservative in the general elections and Liberal Democrat in the local elections – she was saying how she couldn’t bring herself to vote for either the Tories or Lib Dems as she was disgusted at what the coalition government are doing and in particular she was worried about her three grandchildren and whether they would be able to go to university at £9,000 a year each. It was also great to hear so many local people saying they’ve already voted for me with their postal votes, many making a point of coming out of their homes to tell me and other Labour members whilst out campaigning.

Today it was more campaigning this morning, swiftly followed by the Rothwell May Day festivities. The highlight for me was bumping into and talking to so many people I know, both friends and voters that I’ve met while out campaigning. The highlight for Stuart, my husband, was probably the traditional Punch and Judy show – something you rarely see these days. It also appeared to enthral Esme who especially loved it when the crocodile came on. But the real highlight for Esme was her ride on a little white donkey called Sally and having her face painted as a ladybird. I thought the Morris dancing was great as well!

Rothwell local election campaign gains momentum

Campaigning, Education, Elmet and Rothwell, Labour Party, Leeds, Rothwell, Young People Comments Off

Apr 102011

Another fantastic day on the campaign trail in Rothwell, we’re getting a fantastic response! It’s been a busy week campaigning, including with John Healey. the shadow health minister, door knocking in Rothwell on a beautiful sunny day! The campaign is very positive and upbeat. Time and again people are telling us that they want to send the Lib Dems a message as they feel totally let down by their blatant betrayal of the very people that voted for them. On so many issues from VAT to EMA and tuition fees and of course the NHS and even cutting winter fuel allowance for the older people who need it most. People on the doorsteps of Rothwell are telling us loud and clear that they won’t stand for such double standards.

One example is a guy who I remember speaking to before in a recent election who had told me in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t voting Labour, but he was voting for the Lib Dems. He is now very angry at the Lib Dems and told me that he thought they were nothing more than ‘opportunist’. He also told me that he has so far been impressed with Ed Miliband and he thought that I would make a great hard working councillor for Rothwell and he would definitely be voting for me on May 5.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has chipped in to help with the campaign so far – I really appreciate it!

Thanks to Leonie Mathers for the great photo of some of the team with John Healey.

Rothwell Labour fighting for local people

Campaigning, Carlton, Environment, Labour Party, Leeds, Liberal Democrats, Oulton, Rothwell, Tories, Woodlesford Comments Off

Nov 182010

I’m very excited to have been chosen by Labour Party members in Rothwell, Woodlesford, Oulton and Carlton to be their candidate in the May elections and helping to take Rothwell Labour Party into a new era. This is a very serious job for serious times.

These are tough times and there will be tougher times to come - at the top of my list of priorities will be fighting to protect local people against the Conservative and Liberal Democrat government’s cuts. The most vulnerable in our community must be protected from the savage cuts which will be imposed on to Leeds City Council.I will do everything I can to protect local older people, those with disabilities, our young people and our children – in fact everyone who relies on our essential public services.

I am already fighting to protect our local environment where there are threats to our local area such as the Yorkcourt Properties planning application on Newmarket Lane towards Methley and potential development on Oulton Hall Estates land. Local residents can be assured that Rothwell Labour Party will always fight to protect the greenbelt.

I know from speaking to people locally that many feel that they have been ‘sold out’ by the Liberal Democrats as when they voted for them they weren’t voting for a Conservative government, but that’s what they’ve got along with the most savage cuts ever. Rothwell Labour Party understand how people feel and we are on your side!

A new era for Labour

Campaigning, Equality, Labour Party, trade union, Young People Comments Off

Oct 032010

I came away from Labour Party Conference renewed and refreshed and feeling that as a party we have entered a new era. I was pleased with the election of Ed Miliband as leader (my second preference after Andy Burnham.)

Ed’s speech was excellent, I was really impressed with his passion for the party and his vigour for ideas to make life better for people, such as the living wage. I was in the hall and know that many there said they had goose bumps and others were brought to tears. It was an emotional time and whilst it was hard not to feel for David Miliband, I feel the right Miliband has been chosen and it’s time to move forward. It strikes me that David’s decision to give Ed some space is the right one.

Labour can now move forward and reach out to a new generation. Ed has the ability to listen to people, it’s an important quality to be able to get along with people and be one of them (when Ed was first elected as an MP I remember him at Labour Party Conference in the bar (I think it was The Grand in Brighton) playing the piano and leading a sing along at about one in the morning!)

I hope that this new era will be more inclusive and that the party will really listen to members and voters. Labour did some great things in its 13 years in government but the government ended up distant from people and unable to listen. If we learn from past mistakes, as I believe we will, then we can not only win the next election because people don’t want to vote Tory, but because people really want to vote Labour again.

The highlights of this year’s conference for me were a) Ed being elected b) Ed’s speech c) my three year old daughter Esme sitting in the conference hall listening to Andy Burnham’s speech as shadow health secretary and clapping enthusiastically, when I asked her what she thought Andy was talking about she said, “making people better” d) various fringes and training sessions including a fringe on the future of social care and training sessions such as community organising and beating the Lib Dems.

Leeds loves Andy Burnham

Campaigning, Education, Environment, Equality, Family, Health, Labour Party, Leeds, Older People, trade union, Transport, Young People Comments Off

Aug 212010

On Monday event with Andy Burnham took place in Leeds. As Andy’s regional director I got to organise and host the event.

Thanks to @pennyb for the photo.

Great feedback for Andy from Leeds with lots of twitter comments and this great email I thought I’d share:

I really enjoyed Andy Burnham’s presentation and questions last night. I am impressed. He came across as genuine. He has obviously thoroughly thought through his politics. He will definitely be getting my first preference. If only more MPs were like him. He is a breath of fresh air in a climate of career politicians. I will put a donation for his campaign in the post.

@laidbackian: Had a great night with @andyburnhammp in Leeds. He has a passion for the Labour Party unmatched by the other candidates. #andy4leader

@stephenjtowler: Andy Burnham excellent in Leeds tonight. Why would you not vote for him?

@khutchinsondean After event tonight finally getting off the fence and backing @andyburnhammp for leader; most authentic, credible and fresh thinking choice

@laidbackian: Great night with @andyburnhammp in Leeds. He has a passion for the Labour Party unmatched by other candidates. #andy4leader

@Emma_Hoddinott: Saw @andyburnhammp last night in Leeds. Was very impressed with his ideas on Labour Party reform.

@christophe_read: Spoke to @andyburnhammp last night about my Young Labour report -he’d seen it & was v much along same lines. Top bloke.

@LauraPony: Pleased @brianahaha is also putting @andyburnhammp as first preference following event in Leeds last night #andy4leader

@LauraPony: Excellent evening listening to @andyburnhammp then eating lovely Italian food with fantastic family

@MagsNews: Andy Burnham – great guy. Met him in Leeds yesterday evening. V genuine and cares passionately about the party… My second preference!

@KatRRose: Enjoyed meetng @andyburnhammp in Leeds, @ed_miliband‘s better civil liberties 1st pref, but Andy Burnham is cool prob 2nd pref

@alexsobel: RT @KatRRose: Enjoyed meeting @andyburnhammp in Leeds, @ed_miliband 1st pref but Andy Burnham cool prob 2nd pref -prob me too

Andy reconnecting Labour

Campaigning, Elmet and Rothwell, Health, Housing, Labour Party, Leeds, Rothwell Comments Off

Jul 032010

All the Labour leadership candidates were invited to speak at the Unison annual meeting yesterday in Leeds and take part in a hustings. I was there with Andy Burnham and was really impressed by the level of support he has with many Unison members. Speaking to members there it was obvious the respect and affection Andy is held in by many in the public sector and particularly in the NHS. Knowing Andy’s commitment first hand, many having worked with him whilst he was Health Secretary, and the fact that Andy has shadowed staff at every level has made a huge impression, that was obvious.

Then it was on to a house meeting I’d arranged for Andy to meet some local members in Rothwell. Discussions included some of Andy’s big ideas, his leadership bid is based on Labour becoming the party of “aspirational socialism”, the members there liked the use of the word socialist which had seemed to become a bit of a ‘dirty word’ of late in the party. Andy talked about his ideas that include the large-scale purchase of private accommodation by councils and for a national care service funded by a fair levy on estates, instead of the unfair ‘dementia tax’ that people are saddled with at the moment, which means working people who are the first in their family to own their own homes are forced into losing everything they have worked for to pay for care in older age.

With Andy we will get a leader of conviction, someone who cares about people , is passionate about the Labour Party and the NHS and someone who can communicate with everyone, which crucially means that members and voters know he can connect with them because he is one of them.

Fourth term within sight for Labour

Campaigning, Labour Party, Tories Comments Off

Feb 282010

The YouGov poll in today’s Sunday Times shows a narrowing of the Conservative lead to just 2%. This would actually mean that Labour would be just nine seats short of forming an overall government. This is great news, and though by no means can Labour be complacent, if this trend continues we will get a fourth term, which would certainly be a historic moment for the party. In 1997 a third term was a distant dream, a fourth an impossibility. Yet here we are 13 years later and a fourth term is indeed possible. It’s up to us now to secure that victory and make sure that the momentum doesn’t slide away from us. I believe passionately that only Labour has the best interest of all sections of the community at heart and over the 13 years there have been some great achievements – the national minimum wage, investment in our schools and hospitals are just some, and we’ve had our ups and we’ve certainly had our downs, and I think we’ve learned a great deal as a party. On the doorsteps in Leeds yesterday, it felt optimistic. It’s great to see we’re winning people back and that people are putting their trust back in Labour. I think that the main reason is the upturn in the economy. For the first time in a YouGov poll since July 2007, before the financial crisis, people trust Labour more than the Tories to run the economy. The saying is very true – actions speak louder than words!

Lightweight opportunist or experienced pair of hands?

Campaigning, Labour Party Comments Off

Jan 022010

As the year 2010 begins we will have a tough choice to make as a nation in the coming months. There are stark differences between the two main parties and it is up to us as Labour Party members to make sure that voters know what these differences are. The results of the election this year will shape what the next 10 to 20 years are to look like. Make no mistake, if the Conservatives gain power, those to benefit will be the richest estate owners in the country through the Conservatives planned inheritance tax cuts. Without a doubt Tory plans would benefit the few not the many.

There will be big changes this year, these will come from a new intake of Labour MPs who will bring a fresh perspective, to build on the many good things that the Labour government has done over the last 12 years . Positive change will not come from the Conservatives who have failed to capture the public imagination, even 12 years on from their demise in 1997.

The televised debates will provide a valuable opportunity for Gordon Brown to get his message across, voters will get a chance to compare and contrast in full how the two party leaders cope head to head. I think that Gordon will do a better job as the more experienced and knowledgeable of the pair

Gordon Brown has been a good safe pair of hands at the helm here whilst the storms have battered the global economy. Taking the bull by the horns and levying a windfall tax on banker’s bonuses was the right thing to do and the government’s vision includes a clear plan to halve the deficit in the next four years.

The general election campaign starts now, interesting times lie ahead!

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