Fabian New Year Conference

Today in London, the Fabian Society is holiday its annual "New Year Conference". It is being held at the Institute of Education, fairly close to Euston Station. The keynote speech is being given by Ed Balls, the Shadow Chancellor. The title of the conference is "The Economic Alternative" - and the full programme is available here.

The Fabian Society has been influential in the Labour Party throughout the party's history. The "Fabians" played a key part as one of the organisations which set up the Labour Party. Originally formed in 1884, it was a "think tank" long before the term became fashionable. It takes its name from the Roman General Fabius Maximus, whose strategy was to avoid the immediate headlong attack - but to adopt a longer term "gradualist" approach - which delivered ultimate victory more effectively. That describes the political strategy of the Fabians. They oppose violent revolution - but the establishment of social democracy through persuasion. I once owned their tie which was a succession of the phrase "the inevitability of socialism".

The photograph is of George Bernard Shaw, the playwright, one amongst many influential Britons who have been involved in the Society. A book he wrote on the early history of the Society is available here.

Sunday Evening

At lunchtime a number of fringe meetings were held. I attended the event organised by the EPLP (European Parliamentary Labour Party) - whch was entitled "Setting a peoples agenda for Europe." The panel included Jim Murphy, the Minister for Europe; Sir Julian Priestley - former General Secretary of the European Parliament and Glenis Willmot. After a series of short speeches questions were invited, I asked the following question - whih received the answers below










During Plenary sessions Crime, Justice, Citienship and Equalities were discussed. Keynote speeches were made by Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw; Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman; Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, Keith Vaz and Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith.

In the evening I attended a number of events including receptions for the West Midlands and East Midlands regions; a 'Diversity' Party; a discussion on whether Britain should have its own Bill of Rights - and the Fabian Society Party.

Sunday Morning

Conference is due to kick off at 10.45 this morning. There are a couple of breakfast meetings; A team of MPs will play the Press at football- and seminars will be held for delegates. I shall be taking a long walk from my accommodation (with a few detours) to get into the conference site in time for the plenary session to begin.

There should be two major debates in the two plenary sessions (10.45-12.45 and 14.45 to 17.30) on "Crime, Justice, Citizenship and Equalities" and "Prosperity and Work". At lunchtime there are a host of fringe meetings - and I intend to go to a meeting organised by the European Parliamentary Labour Party (the Labour Members of the European Parliament) with the title "Setting A Peoples Agenda". This clashes unfortunately with a Fabian Society fringe meeting to discuss "Can Foreign Policy be a Labour Strength?"

Tonight I have a busy schedule of events - with receptions for the West Midlands (where I live - Rugby is just two miles within the eastern boundary) and the East Midlands (where I will be standing as a candidate in next year's European Elections).
Other receptions I hope to attend have been organised by the BBC with the British Council; Save the Children and the Fabian Society.

Despatch from Manchester - 18h40

I've arrived in Manchester for the Labour Party Conference which begins tomorrow. This afternoon I drove up from my home in Rugby, and checked into my accommodation at the Luther King House, just off the Wilmslow Road. It's about 2 miles from the City Centre - and the conference venue - [which incorporates Manchester Central (Conference Centre); the Midland and the Radisson Hotels.] This was the site of the Peterloo Massacre in August 1819 - when cavlry rode into a crowd of some 70,000 people who were demanding the reform of parliamentary representation.

After a walk into the city centre to get my bearings I returned by bus to my accommodation. Tonight the Greater Manchester Fabian Society are hosting a pre-Conference event in a bar in Piccadilly Gardens. I'm looking forward to meeting fellow Fabians from this area - as well as other delegates who have arrived in advance of the start of conference.

Their website is http://gtrmancfabians.blogspot.com/

Late Night Update from Manchester

An interesting evening of conversations at the Greater Manchester Fabians event. Lots of discussion about what should happen over the next few days - and how Labour can get its message across to sceptical voters. Also I learnt about a system of electric cars using batteries which are recharged by overnight surplus wind power in Norway. The Fabian Society has always been a forum for ideas to be discussed - and has played a very influential role in Labour history. Today's event was an informal get together - the serious business begins tomorrow.

For a list of Fabian events at the Labour Party Conference visit http://fabians.org.uk/events/events/labour-conference-08-fringes