On Thursday evening I went with UNISON colleagues to the London Labour Party fund raising dinner. It was packed with people. The guest speaker was David Miliband MP who gave a simply superb speech. He was as usual very articulate and thoughtful but he was also I thought far more passionate and expressive than I had ever seen him before. He gave in fact a tour de force. Even people who don't agree with him politically thought it was excellent and inspiring.
He told a great self deprecating story about being in a husting in Norwich and waving what he thought was his Labour Party membership card at the audience while reading out our aims and values. Only to realise what he was actually waving was his Premier Inn hotel card.
Another great story was that he had been approached to speak at this meeting 3 or 4 months ago while he was still of course campaigning to be leader. After being invited by the London region organiser his office queried whether the invite was only in the event of him being elected Party leader or not? Which he took when he found out as meaning even his own office had its doubts about whether or not he would win!
Another great story was that he had been approached to speak at this meeting 3 or 4 months ago while he was still of course campaigning to be leader. After being invited by the London region organiser his office queried whether the invite was only in the event of him being elected Party leader or not? Which he took when he found out as meaning even his own office had its doubts about whether or not he would win!
Without any apparent bitterness or rancour he again and again stressed the importance of helping to get Ed elected as the next Prime Minister. Only 4 out of the previous 19 Labour Leaders had actually been elected as Prime Minister. He even swore a little (well, he used the word “bloody”) when describing this ‘orrible coalition government.
David argued that the much better than average results during the election in London was the base for the renewal of the Party nationally. Which obviously went down pretty well with the audience. London Labour Chair and GLA Group leader Len Duvall was the compere and Stephen Pound MP (of course) took charge of the inevitable Labour Party raffle and auction. It was a good night.
(picture above of the London UNISON Labour Link crew)
