Labour Party leadership race comes to Bristol
ABOUT 400 people turned up at Brunel's Old Station in Temple Meads for one of the last meetings to listen to and quiz the candidates who are campaigning to become the next leader of the Labour Party.
Five candidates are in the race for the party's top post after Gordon Brown and his Government were swept from office at the General Election in May.
They include former Foreign Secretary David Miliband, his brother, Ed Miliband, who was also in Brown's last cabinet, Andy Burnham, the former Health Secretary, Ed Balls, the former Education Secretary, and Diane Abbott, who was the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons more than 20 years ago.
They answered questions from climate change to child poverty, speaking for a maximum of two minutes on each one.
During the past three months, the candidates have attended more than 60 meetings throughout the country.
About 160,000 members of the party can vote in the leadership election, as well as millions more who are members of trade unions affiliated to the party or organisations such as the Co-Operative Society or Fabian Society.
The deadline for voting is September 22 and the new leader will be announced at a conference in Manchester three days later and on the eve of the party's annual conference.
Evening Post political editor IAN ONIONS was in the audience alongside the party members to hear each contender make their pitch.
6 Comments
by Nostradamus, Bristol
Saturday, September 11 2010, 5:32AM
“Liars, thieves, war criminals who ahve given away our Constitution, sold us out to the EU, stifled free speech with political correctness, made Britain the surveillance capital of the world, flooded the country with immigrants, and economically broken the country. Is anyone still mad enough to vote for these criminals? What does it matter? Labour can swing it their way regardless of public opinion, thanks to postal voting.”
by Dan, South Gloucestershire
Friday, September 10 2010, 12:26PM
“Evening Post political editor IAN ONIONS was in the audience alongside the party members to hear each contender make their pitch.
So where is his exclusive report on this then?”
by Labour in Trouble, Filton
Friday, September 10 2010, 10:04AM
“When you look at the continued disgraceful conduct of Labour Cllrs is it any wonder Labour have lost touch with people?
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Condemnation-councillors-walked-meeting/article-2507479-detail/article.html?cacheBust=42htVFzI24Co&success=true#community
Until Labour remove these people from office and their party, people will not take them seriously
If only labour party decision makers acted...”
by Labour in Trouble, Filton
Friday, September 10 2010, 10:00AM
“Why would we have faith in these people when they fail to take action against their own Labour Cllrs? Disgraceful displays of disrespect continue and they turn a blind eye every time
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Condemnation-councillors-walked-meeting/article-2507479-detail/article.html?cacheBust=42htVFzI24Co&success=true#community
Judith Hutchinson, Labour Cllr told residents she would not be "dictated" to by them. How disgraceful. This is why Labour lost the trust from people. Until they remove these people from their party, it will not be restored.
Please sign our petition
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ftc2010/”
by Conservative Spokesperson, Bristol
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:38AM
“After the complete mess that they left this country in folliwng 12 years of lies and hoodwinking the public about the real depth of Britains debts, let's hope they never get in to power again and that this whole leadership contest is purely ceremonial.
The monster graving loony party could do a better job. Labour can't even keep their own house in order with debts reaching £30m, let alone run a country.”
by Conservative Spokesperson, Bristol
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:37AM
“After the complete mess that they left this country in folliwng 12 years of lies and hoodwinking the public about the real depth of Britains debts, let's hope they never get in to power again and that this whole leadership contest is purely ceremonial.
The monster graving loony party could do a better job. Labour can't even keep their own house in order with debts reaching £30m, let alone run a country.”