Elmet and Rothwell | Karen Bruce

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 creche saved from immanent closure

Elmet and Rothwell, Family, Health, Leeds, Rothwell, Woodlesford, Young People Comments Off

Mar 092011

Fantastic news today that Leeds City Council has decided to keep the crèche at Rothwell Leisure Centre open on a trial basis for a further six months from April. I’m sure other parents who use our leisure centre will be delighted at the news. I go swimming with my daughter Esme in the small pool at the centre and we always have great fun along with other families with small children. The centre is great for local families and the loss of the creche would have taken away from that.

Sadly, the hourly fee will have to increase from its current £2 to £4 to try and reduce the subsidy from the council and bring the charges more into line with what they should be (although the usual discounts for Leeds card extra etc will remain). Improvements will also be made to creche hours to better align them to activities so people can make the most of the creche here. I think that another problem the creche had was the lack of publicity so it’s good to hear that it will now be properly marketed. Simply putting a banner on the outside of the centre, as well as marketing via children’s centres, health visitors, expectant mums etc could see a lot more parents using the creche. It’s interesting that three organisations have shown interest in providing crèche services and the council is working with them to see if something can be done

All in all good news for all of us in the Rothwell area as the more people who use the centre the better!

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.

Congratulations to James Lewis

Elmet and Rothwell, Labour Party Comments Off

Oct 052009

I would like to thank you all for giving your loyal support throughout the selection in Elmet and Rothwell, I’ve loved meeting so many of you, thank you for welcoming me into your homes. I’ll never forget the trust and confidence you have shown in me. I congratulate James Lewis on becoming Elmet and Rothwell’s candidate for the general election. I for one will be fighting to ensure that we win Elmet and Rothwell for Labour and now that James is our candidate we should all get behind him and do our utmost to make sure we have a Labour MP here.

Eddie Izzard on Labour’s greatest achievements

Elmet and Rothwell, Labour Party Comments Off

Sep 202009

Not content with his amazing marathon achievements Eddie Izzard wants to be a Labour MP or MEP “in the next 10 to 15 years”. At least I’m not up against Eddie for the Elmet and Rothwell selection as in this YouTube video he does a brilliantly engaging job of reminding people of some of Labour’s achievements:

When people know the truth they back the bin workers and street cleaners

Campaigning, Elmet and Rothwell, GMB, trade union, Unison, Unite 4 Responses »

Sep 122009

Karen Bruce with Councillor Ted Hanley and Unison banner

I’m a bit late posting this photo, because I’ve been busy out talking to Labour Party members in Elmet and Rothwell for the Parliamentary selection. On Thursday I went with my daughter Esme to join the demonstration outside Leeds Civic Hall in support of the bin workers and street cleaners who are having their pay slashed by the Tory/Lib Dem council. It was a great event and everyone was rooting for the Unite, Unison and GMB members.

On Friday I had dinner with friends who aren’t particularly political, but were disgusted and horrified when they discovered what the bin strike was actually about. They had no idea that these hard workers, who are out every day in all weathers, were facing such massive pay cuts – £5-£6K when they only earn about £18K to begin with. It totally changed their perspective on the strike from being annoyed that their bins hadn’t been entered to being furious at Tory and Lib Dem councillors who are treating the refuse workers to shamefully.

First branch nominations 100% success

Elmet and Rothwell, Harewood, Labour Party, Wetherby 1 Response »

Sep 072009

Tonight the first two Labour Party branches in Elmet and Rothwell constituency held their nomination meetings and I’m delighted and honoured to say I secured a clean sweep by receiving nominations from both Harewood branch and Wetherby branch. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported me. That’s five nominations I’ve received so far.

Just added some new YouTube videos

Campaigning, Community safety, Elmet and Rothwell Comments Off

Sep 062009

I’ve just added some new videos to my YouTube channel. The three that I’ve added so far are all of me either public speaking or being interviewed on television news.

As I add more videos they will all be available by just clicking on the TV link at the top of this page. This is my speech at the Labour Party conference talking about anti-social behaviour and what Labour is doing to tackle it. The sound and picture quality isn’t brilliant as it was converted from an old video tape. If you watch it all the way through you’ll see Billy Bragg listening intently!

On the TV page there are also videos of me on Look North and Calendar. I’ll add more later.

Unite the Union nominates me for Elmet and Rothwell

Elmet and Rothwell, trade union, Unison, Unite Comments Off

Sep 062009

I’m delighted and honoured to be able to let you all know that Unite the Union, Britain’s biggest trade union, has nominated me to be the prospective Parliamentary candidate for Elmet and Rothwell. Every local Labour Party branch and affiliated organisation (which includes trade unions) is allowed to nominate three prospective candidates – one man, one woman and one BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic). I’m the only local candidate to receive a nomination. This is a real boost and local members have already contacted me to say how pleased they are. One texted me to say: “I’m glad Unite are fully supporting you.”

The support of Unite for me as the local candidate is really important to me. The Labour Party was born from within the trade union movement and it’s not a link that she should let lapse. I’ve been a union member for all my working life. First as a member of Unison, when I was a local government officer and Unison was Britain’s biggest trade union. I then joined the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) which merged with Amicus to become Unite the Union, which overtook Unison to take the top slot as the biggest trade union.

Despite the differences and hiccups along the way Labour needs the unions and the unions need Labour. That’s why I’m so delighted to have Unite’s support.

Elmet and Rothwell selection for Labour’s Parliamentary candidate

Colin Burgon MP, Elmet and Rothwell, Garforth, Labour Party, Methley, Rothwell, Swillington, Wetherby Comments Off

Aug 162009

I have been asked by local Labour Party members to put my name forward to be selected as Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Elmet and Rothwell.The constituency contains most of the old constituency of Elmet (currently represented by Colin Burgon MP), as well as all of the Rothwell ward from the old Morley and Rothwell constituency (Colin Challen MP) and parts of Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton MP).

I’m humbled and honoured by the support and encouragement that I’ve received from members right across the constituency from Wetherby in the north, through to Garforth, Swillington and Methley, and of course my own ward of Rothwell. I’ve lived in the constituency and have been an active Labour Party campaigner here for most of my adult life. I’ve lived in Methley and Swillington and now live in Carlton, Rothwell with my husband Stuart and little girl Esme (who we’ve just signed up to attend our local school).

Elmet and Rothwell has a proud Labour history, rich in industry, culture and tradition. It is a constituency that Labour must win if we are to protect all that we have achieved since 1997 – and if we are to achieve even more in the future.

Finally I’d again like to thank Colin Burgon MP for all his dedicated service to the the local Labour Party and our local communities. For 26 years – through good times and bad – he has dedicated his life to working for us. I bring enthusiasm, passion, experience, commitment and bags of energy to continue to unite the local Labour Party and ensure we keep campaigning to win Elmet and Rothwell.