Why Labour Members are backing Owen Smith

This article appeared on Owen Smith's website - and sets out reasons given by members why they will be voting for him. This piece accurately reflects MY views as a progressive.

Here are the top 5 reasons that Labour Party members have given for getting involved in the campaign to elect Owen Smith as Leader of the Labour Party.

1) Because Owen can form an effective opposition to challenge the Tories' deep austerity cuts and unfair Brexit negotiations

“I'm backing Owen because he realises, intrinsically, that real change in people's lives comes through achieving power. This country is crying out for a Labour opposition that can take the Tories to task on the Brexit negotiations, on the austerity agenda and on the continued privatisation of the NHS. Owen Smith can deliver the opposition that people up and down this country deserve!” - Alexander 

“I am backing Owen because I want a leader who can deal with the press, who can present a real challenge to the current government, who can build and unite a full, strong and experienced shadow cabinet but most of all who heart and soul wants to win the next election.” - Fran

2) Owen can reunite our Party, so we can take the fight to the Tories.

“I voted for Jeremy last time, his strong and hopeful message inspired me. Since then I've seen the party I love fall apart. Owen has the policies and the ability to take us back into government.” - Johnathan

“I'm backing Owen because he can build the bridges between the membership and the elected representatives to unite us in a common purpose - a Labour government. He has already shown he can hold the Tories to account effectively and he will stand up for the things we in the Labour Party care passionately about. He is a team player and a team leader.” - Sarah

 3) Because Owen believes in fighting social inequality

“I grew up in a working class community with a single mother who had to choose between feeding her children and heating the house. I don't want the next generation to live through the same. Jeremy Corbyn can't win over the voters we need to form a government, but I believe Owen Smith can.” - Vince

 4) Because Owen has the right policies, to drive the Labour Party

“Owen to me represents the hope and future we can have as a united country in these turbulent times. A hope that Britain can prosper, but Owen's promises are also backed up by genuine policies. I joined the Labour party not because I wanted to be a part of a protest movement that is destined to be in opposition, but because I wanted to be part of a political party that has a real chance of getting back into government and that can change the lives of people in Britain for the better.” - Hannah

“I am backing Owen because ideals need to be backed by political action. I have never felt more in tune with a politician since Owen Smith said, "It's not enough to be anti-austerity, you've got to be pro something." Austerity was always a terrible economic plan, but saying that means absolutely nothing when we have nothing to replace it with. Owen will formulate the policies that can kick the Tories out of office.” - Oliver 

 5) Because Owen can win the next election, for all those that desperately need a Labour Government

 “At nearly 83 years old, having campaigned for Labour since I was a teenager in 1945, I know how vital a Labour government is.” - Edna 

“I'm backing Owen Smith to be our next Labour Prime Minister because I love my party. I joined because I wanted to make a difference in this country, but to make a difference we need to be in Government. We now need a credible leader with a radical message, and that person is Owen Smith.” - James 

Owen Smith's Workplace Manifesto

On Wednesday Owen Smith announced his Workplace Manifesto, which details his plan to deliver a revolution in workers’ rights. These measures will make Britain the envy of the world for employment rights and job security - under Owen’s leadership real change will be made.

Below are each of Owen’s commitments, with the steps needed to achieve them.

 

Improve collective Trade Union rights

 

1. Strengthen union recognition rights to provide for recognition where majority support is clear.

 

2. Provide mandatory access arrangements to workplaces for trade unions where requested by workers.

 

3. Amend the law to remove unfair obstacles to industrial action, unfair time limits, and opportunities to use injunctions to obstruct democratic votes. Ensure law complies with ILO standards.

 

4. End use of sweetheart unions to avoid recognition.

 

5. Modernise balloting with e-balloting to increase participation.

 

6. Repeal the Trade Union Act 2016 immediately on taking office

 

Improve individual rights for working people

 

1. Introduce Day One employment rights.

 

2. Enhance definition of “worker” in employment law, to outlaw bogus selfemployment, strengthen rights and address agency labour issues.

 

3. Outlaw exclusively foreign recruitment.

 

4. Require all workers to receive a statement of rights, pay, hours, living wage

and average wage.

 

5. Outlaw zero hours contracts.

 

6. Introduce compensation for cancelled shifts.

 

7. Restore access to justice for workers by abolishing fees for Employment 

 

8. Strengthen enforcement of the National Living Wage.

 

9. Strengthen enforcement of Health and Safety legislation, including restoring civil liability for breach of regulations and restore Health and Safety protection for self employed workers.

 

Ensuring a voice for people at work

 

1. Worker representation on all Remuneration Committees.

 

2. Information and Consultation rules to apply to companies of over 50 employees without restrictive trigger requirements.

 

3. Protect Works Councils in larger companies in the event of a Tory Brexit by introducing Works Councils with similar powers and composition (including trade union reps where present) to all companies with over 500 employees

 

Strengthen collective bargaining

 

1. Introduce Modern Wages Councils to cover 9 million workers in Hospitality, Retail and Social Care. Membership of Councils would be balanced between employers, TU reps and workers. Responsibilities would include to negotiate minimum terms and conditions, gender and race equality, access for disabled workers and at least a living wage in the sector.

 

2. Provide a legal framework for voluntary sectoral collective bargaining in other sectors with universally applicable wage rates and provide tax and investment

incentives to encourage participation in such voluntary sectoral arrangements.

 

3. Restore full collective bargaining and end pay freezes in the public sector. National pay bargaining to continue in Health, Local Government and Education

and to be restored in the Civil Service - with Pay Review Board decisions to be respected. Require contracted out services to pay comparable rates. 

 

Achieving lasting  equality

 

1. New Equal Pay legislation, to close the gender pay gap.

 

2. Simplify the enforcement of equality law and abolish fees for Employment Tribunals.

 

3. Reintroduce discrimination questionnaires and employments rights from Day One, for workers with protected characteristics including pregnant women, older and young workers, LGBT workers and disabled workers.

 

4. Require publication of race equality plans for all companies over a certain size.

 

5. Require publication of the highest and lowest rates of pay for all companies with over 20 employees

 

Protecting workers rights after the EU referendum

 

1. Defend workers’ rights in the Brexit negotiation process, where UK labour law and Heath and Safety regulations directly flow from our EU membership.

 

2. Insist on a seat at the table for Labour in the negotiation process.

 

3. Put the terms of the Brexit deal to the British people in a second referendum or at a General Election for their final say

The State of Play

We live in interesting times! - and frankly, worrying times. My nightmare scenario involves

Trump winning the US Presidency (though losing it may bring its own problems - he's already talking about a conspiracy to 'steal the election' from him!)

The Labour Party in Britain opting for purity over power, and re-electing Jeremy Corbyn as leader of a dysfunctional opposition. That might increase the chances of the Scots moving closer to independence as Tory hegemony over Westminster extends beyond the short term.

Sarkozy or Le Pen winning the French Presidency....

Today I will summarise the state of play in the various UK party leadership elections.


LABOUR PARTY

Owen Smith is challenging the incumbent Jeremy Corbyn for leader. Edible voters (Labour Party members; Registered supporters (who signed up and paid during a brief window in July) and Affiliated Supporters (members of affiliated trade unions, socialist societies and other affiliated organisations who individually sign up as affiliated supporters before next Monday) - will be sent ballot papers (Members only) and an email with instructions on voting electronically - from 22nd August. Ballot papers must be returned (or online voting completed) by noon on 21st September. The result be be announced immediately prior to the start of the Labour Conference the following weekend.

Owen Smith's website can be accessed at http://www.owen2016.com

Jeremy Corbyn's website can be accessed at http://www.jeremycorbyn.org.uk 


UKIP

The favourite to succeed Nigel Farage was disqualified because computer problems meant his online application was only successfully received minutes AFTER the deadline closed. (you couldn't make this up! - but serves as a warning to any students submitting essays or eTMAs (OU) close to the cut off time!!!)

The candidates are

Jonathan Arnott - an MEP for North East England. Aged 35

Phillip Broughton - a former UKIP candidate in the parliamentary seat of Hartlepool

Lisa Duffy - A Cambridgeshire councillor , who is a party organiser. She is a former chief of staff for Patrick O'Flynn - a UKIP MEP. If she wins, he will be HER deputy.

Bill Etheridge - 46 year old who is both an MEP and a Dudley councillor.

Diane James - an MEP for South East England - an admirer of Putin.

Elizabeth Jones - a member of UKIPs NEC and the deputy chair of UKIP in Lambeth.