The Leeds Summat Gathering 2011 is a free, all-day event for people from all walks of life across Leeds and the North.

Advance notice: the ILP’s 2012 Round Table Discussion weekend will be held on 5th/6th May next year at the Esplanade Hotel in Scarborough.

Ideas, campaigns and coalitions are needed to build the good society. BARRY WINTER reports on this year’s Compass conference.
The recent Compass conference exceeded my expectations. Not least because, following the general election, last year’s event felt rather flat and earlier versions of this year’s programme seemed a little uninspiring. Was the formerly successful formula getting [...]

As the controversial Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill moved into committee stage this week, HARRY BARNES called for campaigners to defend current legal provisions.
“Because the proposed legislation covers a wide area, the issue of the massive cuts in legal aid is in danger of failing to get a full and fair hearing in [...]

An interview with Harry Barnes, former Labour MP and ILP friend, which appears on the Irish Labour Watch website: http://irishlabourwatch.wordpress.com
Harry talks about his political influences, the politics of Northern Ireland, Iraq, Libya, new Labour, the Robin Hood Tax, and much more besides.
Read the full interview here.
Read Harry Barnes’ own blog here.

The ILP: Our Politics is a draft statement from the ILP’s National Administrative Council of the organisation’s perspective in the current political period. It will be presented for discussion and general endorsement at the ILP Weekend School in Scarborough on 7/8 May after which we hope it will form the basis for the ILP’s future [...]

When confronted with a familiar problem, the wise either resort to the sure solution or, remembering past follies, try to muster an imaginative and novel way out of their bind. Sadly the current government hasn’t displayed such dexterity in fashioning responses to our economic crisis, rather it responds to familiar problems with failed solutions, says [...]

The left of centre think tank, Compass, is currently consulting and balloting its members on proposals to become more ‘pluralistic’ by allowing full voting membership to members of political parties other than Labour. It would be easy to regard this debate as relevant only to Compass itself, and those with an unhealthy interest in centre-left [...]

Compass has published a statement protesting at the government’s education reforms. We reproduce the statement here and provide a link to the Compass page where you can sign the petition.
If you agree that education should remain a protected public good sign our petition!
There is widespread anger over the government’s higher education reforms because they represent [...]

Why Inequality Matters
A lecture by Professor Richard Wilkinson, author of The Spirit Level, in memory of Richard Brown (Dept of Sociology, Durham University 1966-1993).
Monday 8th November 2010, St John’s College (http://goo.gl/maps/wnDg) , South Bailey, Durham, 6:30pm – FREE
Drinks and nibbles will be provided.
The Spirit Level: Why equality is better for everyone, by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, was [...]