Notes from the front

All out for Labour in Oldham – reject the cynical war-mongering of the right

The last week has seen a continuation of the right-wing assault on Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party, given added drive by the terrorist attacks in France which have, at least temporarily, driven public opinion in the direction of supporting British involvement in the war in Syria.

Maximise Labour’s vote in Oldham – by opposing austerity and racism

The first parliamentary by-election since Jeremy Corbyn became Labour Leader takes place on 3 December. The seat of Oldham West and Royton became vacant following the death of the staunch left-wing Labour MP Michael Meacher. It is important for Labour’s new leadership that this electoral contest is won decisively.

Support grows for Corbyn’s agenda

Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership continues to gain support, as his new direction for Labour has created political problems for the Tories, compounded by the latter’s small parliamentary majority.

Corbyn inflicts first defeat on Tories

On 26 October a Labour motion in the House of Lords dealt a blow to the government’s proposed tax credit cuts. By 289 votes to 272 it voted the cuts should be delayed and those affected compensated in full. As a result Tory Chancellor George Osborne has been forced to rethink the proposed cuts and has indicated he will announce changes to the plans in the Autumn Statement on 25 November.

Building Momentum

One of the important opportunities coming out of the campaign to get Jeremy Corbyn elected as leader of the Labour Party was the possibility to renew political discussion and campaigning in the Labour Party and beyond by maintaining the organisation of the many new, renewed and existing activists that came around the campaign. The first step to achieving this has been taken by the launch of Momentum, a grassroots network based on those who signed up to Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign, which will continue to build support within the labour movement and campaigning organisations for progressive policies.

Jeremy Corbyn gets key Labour policies in place

Less than one month into Jeremy Corbyn’s new leadership of the Labour Party, a series of key policies are already being set out that can form the basis of a popular manifesto.