This week see below to sign up to our post pre-budget report meeting in Westminster, we publish two new thinkpieces, a new event in Leicester on how Labour wins a 4th term and much more. For all the latest news, views and debate from the centre-left visit the all new Compass website: www.compassonline.org.uk
Compass convene special post pre-budget report meeting in Westminster (last remaining places - register today)
The day after Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report will see Compass convene a crucial meeting in Westminster to discuss issues around the current economic turmoil, how we got there and debate what should come next. After market meltdown - a new age for the active state? will take place in Parliament from 6pm on Tuesday 25 November. Speakers include: Treasury Minister Angela Eagle MP; Jon Cruddas MP, The Guardian's Larry Elliott, nef economist Andrew Simms, author of The coming first world debt crisis Ann Pettifor and chaired by Neal Lawson.
Click here to register
New thinkpieces published on making tax fairer & Keynesianism
We're pleased to publish our latest thinkpieces, the first is by David Byrne and Sally Ruane and looks at the UK tax burden and asks "Can Labour be called the party of fairness?". The second is by Colin Crouch who argues "Both its supporters and its opponents are proclaiming that we are ‘going back to Keynesianism'...But history never turns ‘back'; ideas might exist in a timeless world, but the social forces that move them usually change irreversibly".
Download and debate the new thinkpieces
Leicester event announced: winning a 4th term - what's the road to victory?
Our series of meetings on Labour's future direction moves to the East Midlands, as the Leicester Labour Group host this special meeting where speakers representing Compass and Progress will discuss how Labour wins a 4th term in government and crucially for what purpose. The event takes place from 11:00 to 12:30 on Saturday 06 December 2008 in Leicester. Speakers include Lillian Greenwood Labour PPC for Nottingham South; Prof Ruth Lister CBE; Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP and Ruth Smeeth, Labour PPC for Burton on Trent.
See our new events page for full details
Protect the Post Office by setting up a People's Bank urges Compass
Under massive public and political pressure James Purnell, Work and Pensions Secretary, has announced that the Post Office will retain its £1 billion, 5 year contract to distribute benefits to 4.3 million claimants. Compass has always campaigned to save the post office network and is delighted by this move. This is a new direction for the government and is a signal to show they recognise the game has changed. The obsession with pro-market rhetoric may be over.
Read in full
Latest articles to debate at compassonline.org.uk
- What does the death of ‘P' tell us about British values? asks Katy Swaine
- Kate Bell casts a critical eye over the validity of Labour's welfare reforms
- Obama must restore America's moral credibility argues Martin Schultz
- Prem Sikka examines how Barclay's directors protect their bonuses
- Lindsay Mackie calls for a moratorium on post office closures
- Anna-Helga Horrox looks at how Britain has backtracked on gender equality
- George Irvin asks: Can we spend our way out of recession?
- Crack down on tax havens argues Robert Clayton
- Look out for the Barack effect says Chuka Umunna
Competition: yes he did! Win Obama victory t-shirts
Produced by the self-styled 'sporting outfitters of intellectual distinction ' at www.philosophyfootball.com this ingenious design takes the words of Barack Obama's victory speech and subvertises the Stars and Stripes into the symbol of progressive change we must all now hope Obama will transform the US Presidency into. We have 5 of these superb T-shirts to be won (also available at www.philosophyfootball.com). To win simply answer the following question:
In which US city did Barack Obama give his Presidential Election victory speech? Email your answer to admin@philosophyfootball.com give your full name, address and T-shirt size. No purchase necessary to enter, entries close 30 November 2008.
Join Compass for £1 when you subscribe by standing order: help make change happen here in the UK
Do you support Compass but are not yet a member? Please join us, we rely heavily on individual membership subscriptions and your support is needed. If we want a centre-left politics fit for the 21st century here in the UK, then we need people to become members of Compass and support our vision of a more equal and democratic world. You can join from just £1 for 3 months when you subscribe by standing order, or £12.50 when you join by Paypal.
Become a member today and help make the difference
News from the progressive community
- DEFEND COUNCIL HOUSING
Invest in first class council housing - DCH national conference: 10.30 - 4.30pm Tuesday 25 November, ULU, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HY
Contributors include: Austin Mitchell MP, Paul Holmes MP, Jack Dromey (Unite), Alan Walter (DCH), Prof. Peter Ambrose, Heather Wakefield (UNISON), Eileen Short, Paul O'Brien (APSE), Steve Hilditch (facilitating workshops advising the 'Review of Council Housing Finance'), Steve Partridge (Housing Quality Network), Linda McNeil (Leeds Tenants Fed), Alan Rickman (Winchester TACT). Workshops covering government's Review of Council Housing Finance; building a new generation of first class council homes; opposing means testing and time-limited tenancies; keeping the Nazi BNP off our estates; independent tenants movement.
Full details at http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk / email info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk
- PROGRESS
Progress Annual Conference 2008, Saturday 29 November, TUC Congress Centre, Central London
Speakers include: Brendan Barber, Hazel Blears, Martin Bright, Andy Burnham, Liam Byrne, Charles Clarke, Derek Draper, Caroline Flint, Kate Green, Peter Hain, Margaret Hodge, Tessa Jowell, Peter Kellner, David Lammy, Pat McFadden, Tony McNulty, Denis MacShane, Fiona Mactaggart, Peter Mandelson, Alan Milburn, Ed Miliband, Trevor Phillips, James Purnell, plus many more.
For a full agenda and to book please click here: http://www.progressonline.org.uk/Events
- BRITISH INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The British Institute of Human Rights' Annual Conference 2009: Changing the Face of Human Rights - Wednesday 28 January 2009, 9.30 - 5.00pm, at the British Library, London NW1
This innovative one day conference will explore the vital role of the arts, media, government, third sector campaigns and wider civil society in contributing to a fresh vision of human rights - a vision that shows their value and relevance for everyone.
BIHR's experience has shown that the prevailing narrow - and often negative - public discourse about human rights is preventing appropriate, beneficial and widespread use of the Human Rights Act and is a major barrier to people's understanding of human rights.
The conference will capture key debates about human rights and challenge prevailing attitudes. It will influence and engage key decision-makers within the media, public sector and wider civil society organisations to broaden current public understanding of human rights.
Speakers and contributors include: Anna Ford (Chair), former journalist and newsreader Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, Secretary of State for Justice Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner for Human Rights in Northern Ireland Trevor Phillips, Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission Mark Easton, Home Editor, BBC News Andrew Dismore MP, Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Professor Francesca Klug OBE, Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission Clare Short MP, Independent MP and former Secretary of State for International Development Ceri Goddard Acting Director, BIHR Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Journalist, and columnist for The Independent Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, National Union of Journalists Professor Roy Greenslade, Professor of Journalism at City University, London and former editor of the Daily Mirror Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor (Politics), Daily Mirror Bob Satchwell, Executive Director, Society of Editors
Contributors will also include people and organisations working in the public, private and third sectors, nationally and on the ground, to promote the value and relevance of human rights for us all.
For a full conference programme, to find out who should attend, and to book your place, please visit the BIHR website: http://www.bihr.org.uk/events/conferences
Compass - direction for the democratic left
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"Be the change you wish to see in the world" - Gandhi
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