Palestinian statehood- now is the time

This week sees the Palestinians go to the UN and ask for full membership at the UN and also international recognition of their state based on 1967 borders – the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Today the position of the Labour Party was definitively expressed by Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander, who in a statement on the Labour party website  http://www.labour.org.uk/united-nations-general-assembly,2011-09-20 stated:
 
“The case made by the Palestinians for recognition as a state is strong. This week, at the United Nations, the British Government should be willing to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of continuing steps to achieve a comprehensive two state solution.
 
“But there also remains a heavy onus upon the British government and other members of the international community this week to work to ensure that any change in the level of Palestinian recognition is then followed by meaningful negotiations between the parties.”

David Miliband has also been supportive of the move – albeit more cautiously than Douglas Alexander. In a blog for the Huffington Post, Miliband said that:

“My view is that the use of the UN is a smart tactical move by the Palestinians. My reasoning is that nothing else has produced any give in the situation.”

So will we see a two state solution brought closer this week? With the US stating it will veto, I’m not so sure, but either way I am extremely proud of my party’s policy regarding this especially when at the time of writing, the Government’s position remains elusive. I do however remain hopeful that if recognition is given, a state for the Palestinians alonside their Israeli neighbours myay become a step closer.

Today

Is today the day when they see what has been there all along,

When they try to right wrongs?

Will this day be spoken of in legends, in songs,

A day when hope shone in the decades dark skies,

A day when 2 peoples can recognise and live side by side,

Will this be the day?

 

Libya- MP’s back the UN resolution

Last night, after a long debate in the Commons, Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the UN resolution in Libya. The PM stated that the military action by coalition forces in Libya may have helped to prevent a “bloody massacre” in Benghazi, adding that the intervention was “necessary, legal and right”, telling MPs that inaction would have resulted in the “slaughter of civilians”.

Ed Miliband gave an empassioned speech supporting the measures, stating that “It is a just cause, with a feasible mission and it has international support.” He compared leaving Libyans to their fate with failure to intervene in the Spanish Civil War, saying: “As we saw the defenceless people of Libya attacked by their own government, it would equally revolt the conscience of the world to know we could have done something to help them, yet chose not to.”

But he added that ”We should be clear in this House about the degree of difficulty of what we are attempting: to secure a coalition from beyond western powers to support intervention in another North African state. And we cannot afford mission creep, therefore – including in our public pronouncements.” This is an important indicator that many in Britain and the Arab League are somewhat skeptical about action as it is and that a possible occupation of land forces would risk endangering support for the action.

Yesterday on his facebook page, David Miliband has stated his support for the resolution stating that “It seems to me clear rather than complicated that supporting the UN SCR is the right thing to do.   The Prime Minister spoke in general terms, Ed very clearly about the ‘responsibility to protect’, in advancing the case that it would be a dereliction of duty to turn our backs.”

However he adds that there is a dnager of stalemate, “but it is far less dangerous than slaughter.  Those of us supporting the resolution should not run away from the prospect that Gaddafi may endure in significant parts of his country.  We may not like it…  But it is better that he is hemmed in than given a free rein.”

I agree with this sentiment that we should not just stand by and allow Gaddaffi to massacre the rebels. What Ed, what both Davids have emphasised is the need to act to avoid bloodshed. The case in point was the ceasefires that Gaddaffi has proposed yet to break them shortly after. If we do nothing, we send a message that such behaviour is a) acceptable and b) normal, both of which are not the case. However we must stick to the mandate as the last thing we want is more boots on the ground for the 3rd time in 10 years. This would evaporate the support so carefully gained for this resolution.

I salute you,

You who will not stand by while the blood flows into the sand,

You who will protect the helpless from the tyrants hand.

I salute you,

Whilst cautious to pick up the sword, you will not stand by,

You, with heavy heart , will protect them with sword in the sky.

I salute you, my honourable friends

Whose consciousnce will not leave them on the side of the road,

In the desert left to die.

David Miliband – the left’s road of redemption!

David speaking at the LSE

I’m sorry for my absense from the blog, but with going down to London, yesterday I followed David Miliband’s instructions to ‘study hard’, for which I’m honoured that not only does his warm relations remain with me and Liza, but also he takes an active interest in our lives! But now I feel I must put forward my views on what was actually said at the LSE speech, as the waters have been muddied somewhat by some seeking to use the speech for their own purposes. Ok,  you ready for this?

The speech was empassioned, an intelligent analysis on why the reasons the European Left are losing elctions across the heartland of European social democracy.  He states that after the ‘nice decade’, “the right is seeking to emulate the electoral strategies of the left in the 1990s; and the left in the last decade has not been able to decide whether to disown them or embrace them, when the key is in fact to build on them.  So it is losing elections again on a grand scale.” This makes perfect sense when we saw at the election the Tories brand of ‘compassionate conservatism’ , comparing this to George W Bush winning the US election in 2000, championing education and even progressive immigration reform. 

To those who saw an attack on Gordon Brwon, like the Mirror did, David was only stating facts that in the public perception, the leader was less popular than the party, not a personal attack, but surely reflecting facts is it not? Also he actually praised some of Ed’s approach, stating that he has “effectively highlighted” the position of the squeezed middle on Ed Miliband has effectively highlighted. Rather than his point about a ‘decifit of ideas’ being a criticism of the Ed regime, I saw it as a challenge to us all to think differently and in a way, I saw a parallel with my REVOLUTION OF THE MIND , a call for people to think differently and see past the media, which in part is inspired by Movement for Change. A movement he continues to champion as a way to allow us to take part in our community and societry rather than being just being spectators.

In this speech, I didnt for one second see David challenging Ed for the leadership, I saw David engaging in more fundemental questions on how we on the left can bounce back. As my friend Liza Harding stated, whilst Atlee was the PM, Bevan still created the NHS and as such they worked together in this endeavor. So why can’t David speak his mind and by analysing this, help his brother rather than seek to supplant him. As he said “together we achieve more than we can alone”. Lets work together and take on board what David states and thus create a blueprint for us to bounce back.

For those who wish to read the entire transcript of the speech, it is here on David Miliband’s facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/notes/david-miliband/why-is-the-european-left-losing-elections/195000080533460#!/?sk=lf .

Teacher (in honour of my good friend David Miliband)

Welcome back my teacher, teach,

The error of our ways, where we have gone wrong,

Teach, we yearn for you to show us the facts,

Up on that stage to dominate the lectern,

We yearn for you to speak.

Good friend, I beseech you to teach,

How our enemies mimic us,

Use subterfuge, disguise and defeat us,

Guru, share your secret knowledge with me,

We shall study hard, the truth shall set us free.

Your lessons shall give us hope in the dark yet,

For in your own way still you are David Hamelech!

Out of the wilderness- DM and his defence of the NHS!

The NHS, as a result of the governments planned reforms, is facing a challenge unprecidented in its history, one from which it may not recover. In a defensive salvo, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/06/david-miliband-nhs-reform , David Miliband states that the coalition health plans will undo all the good work of the Labour administration and they will be ”a poison pill for our National Health Service.”

He goes on to state how when the NHS was first created, Nye Bevan famously said that “he wanted the sound of a bedpan dropping on the floor at Tredegar general hospital to be heard in the corridors of Whitehall. He wanted political accountability. This government wants the opposite. It plans to pass the buck on health provision (and on whether drugs should be prescribed on the NHS) to GPs and on quality to the commissioning board.”

I agree wholeheartledy with all david says here. The reforms seem an ideological attack on the NHS, bringing in privatisation, and taking the responsibility from state to the GPs themselves. I have had the experience of my elderly grandfather and other members of my family have to wait ages to see their GP’s due to their demanding workloads. Imagine how long they would have to wait to see their GP if they have the added responsiblity of health provision stripped from the PCTs. This contrary to how the condems see it, is a matter of life and death not just a matter of pounds shilling and pence. A matter of life and death to the patients and to the concept of a National Health service.

I commend david’s defence (his return from the wilderness), in this article and his speaking out in the NHS debate. I urge us and fellow Mps to “oppose it and with absolute clarity and determination.” This is our NHS, this is David’s fight, this is your fight and this is our fight. WE MUST OPPOSE TOGETHER!

 

From the wilderness he rises,

For 40 days and 40 nights,

Wandering, no place to call home,

Wandering in the wilderness, his path on is own.

From the wilderness he rises,

With passion renewed,

With mission given a new,

He rises.

To save the service we hold most dear,

The ones who care for the sick, who raise the dead,

He returns, filling his rapacious enemies with dread,

From the wilderness, the champion of the people,

The great orator, the healer arises.

"Keep your hands off my NHS! Be afraid Clegg-eron, I'm back!"

Movement for Change! The resurrection!

Last night came the news in the guardian, futher confimed by David Miliband tweeting the link, that “David and Ed Miliband are combining to create a 10,000-strong “army” of community organisers in the first formal rapprochement for the pair since Ed beat David to the Labour party leadership. Movement for Change, set up by David during his leadership campaign, is to be relaunched in March and expanded, initially under the wing of the Labour party.” – http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jan/25/ed-david-miliband-activists

As someone who was a part of the Movement for Change, I know first hand how empowering it was for activists as it showed us that we could make a difference in our communities and that in an age of distrust of politics, we can have our voices heard. The Rainbow Representation project I have been working on with Aaron Kumar borrows heavily from this idea as a way of promoting equality by widening participation at the grassroots level.  I for one obviously welcome this wholeheartedly and will be keenly be following what happens next!

Long live the movement (my poem celebrating the rebirth of M4C under BOTH Milibands)

Long live the Movement,

Resurrected, after languishing in the tomb,

After languishing in purgatory’s doom,

It is back.

Reunited, the power to heal the wounds,

The brothers combine to lead,

To form a family of the willing,

The caring, those who will not walk on by the other side of the road,

Those who want to make a difference.

For now we are all brothers,

Brothers in the Movement!

Brothers in arms- both resurrect Movement for Change

Faith renewed, D Mili will not be tempted by the ‘apple’

The other day, I wrote this blogpost- Please, please don’t leave me….. with an emotive poem almost begging David Miliband not to take the job as US ambassador. Well tonight our prayers are answered, as David wrote on a tweet “Seen the UK ambassador to US rumours. I am not in for it and wouldn’t take it. #MPforSouthShields #Labour” See there we have it, David was not tempted by the “flashing legs” and the apple. Part of me feels ashamed for even wavering, however, all I said in the post was my opinion that he shouldn’t take it. Now I can breathe now, and David, if you do read this, I’m sorry for doubting you!

Forgive me for i have sinned,

I doubted, my faith in you my brother wavered.

Yet to question is the key to truth,

To question is to be free not servile.

Glad to hear you weren’t tempted by the apple,

Tempted by the whore flashing her body with abandon,

Glad to hear you will stay in the fight, in the trenches with us.

My faith renewed, my hope restored

Satan himself shall not break our bond!

Please, please don’t leave me…..

I should really learn my lesson not to believe everything I read. For the record, I don’t take every word as gospel, yet I still evaluate said pieces and offer my opinion, whether true or not. This is another such time.

A story on the Guardian’s website has appeared today, http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/27/david-miliband-us-ambassador-post , stating that Downing Street is considering offering David Miliband the post of British ambassador in Washington, citing that he has the skills, contacts and abilities to make a success of the post. Whilst as many on twitter have pointed out that this may be either a non story, or the right wing media creating mischief, I seriously hope he doesn’t accept such a post. Call me old fashioned, yet I cling to an idea of honour that you don’t work for people you first of all campaigned so vehemently against during an election (sorry Nick ), and have opposed whilst they were enacting regressive policies. Call me old fashioned but how can one be a mouthpiece for this and represent these people? David, I beg of you, do not throw away your carrer like this- do not give up the fight and abonadon South Shields to the scrapheap. David, tell them where they can shove this job, as there is still a place for you here!

They tempt you by flashing their legs,

A job hanging ripe from the tree,

Don’t bite from the apple Adam,

Don’t be tempted by the whore.

Overcome her femine wiles,

Her charms, you need to resist.

We still need you here,

Not on distant shores, not in the New World,

To fix this world ,we need you here!

They hang this post from the tree to lead you astray,

Don’t bite the apple Adam,

In this fight, in this green and pleasent land we need you to stay!

Here to stay!

Some very welcome news came the other day on the Shields gazette website, http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/39Five-more-years39-says-David.6583650.jp where for the first time since he quit frontline politics, David Miliband has stated he was “committed to remaining the town’s MP for “at least” the five-year term of the coalition Government.”

He added that he deliberately avoided the latest Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in Parliament this week, when Ed Miliband made his first appearance as Labour leader, staying away becuase he didnt want cameras looking for reactions yet he sated that Ed’s performance “was strong”.

Asked if he had any immediate plans outside his job as South Shields MP, Mr Miliband did not rule out spells on the lecture circuit, or even writing a book on politics. Well David I hope my poems and my and Liza’s groupying of you make an appearance!

I’m really pleased by this as David is in his capacity as an MP still fighting the good fight, fighting about the cuts that will impact in particluar Tyneside which he states that  3,450 people now receive jobseekers’ allowance, are ”around 3,500 stories of wasted potential.” So despite all the people stating that him declining a place in the shadow cabinet was betraying Ed, he is still fighting and providing Ed with support in this war against the Coalition’s imminent cuts. A FIGHT WE MUST ALL BE READY FOR!!!!

Flying the flag

Stepping back,

Not in anger, not in betrayal,

He understands one army needs only one general,

One captain to guide the ship through stormy seas.

Back in the trenches, to fight for those on their knees,

Ready to fight the oncoming hoarde,

The bloody onslaught that is coming.

Flying the red flag above the battlements still,

Flying the flag of defiance,

The flag of hope!

Movement for Change- keep the torch burning!

On Labourlist today http://www.labourlist.org/labour-must-mainstream-the-movement-for-change , a blog has called for Labour to mainstream Movement for Change.

The blog’s author Michael Payne states that Labour must “remember its roots and build an active movement; a movement that builds on the infrastructure already put in place by David Miliband and doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel,” and that Ed Miliband must “ensure that the ‘new generation’ of Labour leadership is supportive of the ‘Movement for Change’ and doesn’t believe that change is simply brought about by changing policies or changing rhetoric.”

I agree, and I do hope Movement for Change does get the support from the party that Ed Miliband promised at the Movement for Change rally. As someone associated with Movement for Change, I praise the initiative as a way of reaching out and empowering people like me in order to make a difference in their communities. I praise David Miliband, without his vision and investment, it may never have happened. Lets hope the “new generation” keeps the torch burning!

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

Back to our roots,

Back to our legacy,

Our legacy for wanting more,

More than the life given to us,

More for those oppressed.

We gain a voice,

To speak loud and proud,

Speak for what is right,

Speak without fear for we are many,

Many not in a rapacious horde,

Many united as one machine,

One heart, One energy, ONE!

The quest for an elusive peace!

Tonight on the Foreign Office website, the Foreign secretary William Hague (how I miss saying someone elses name here!) issued a statement on the Middle East peace process, commending the leadership of President Abbas, and urging further progress on direct negotiations.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

“I spoke with President Abbas late last night and was impressed by his resolve to return to direct negotiation if possible. I welcome the significant progress achieved by the Palestinians in recent years on their Road Map obligations with regard to security and institution building, including reducing violence against Israel substantially.

A freeze on settlement activity is now urgently important to enable talks to continue and achieve the real prize of a peace deal of a secure Israel living alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state. We must make progress before the window closes on a two state solution.

I commend President Abbas’ unwavering commitment to peace and the leadership he provides to the Palestinian people.”

As you probably know from my previous blogposts on the subject, I am fully in favour of a peaceful solution to this long conflict and on this rare occasion, I must say I agree with William Hague here. At his Britain in the world speech at the Labour conference, my mentor and friend David Miliband stated that “the peoples of the Middle East need a friend in Britain who knows the different between right and wrong”, and added that “It is wrong to build settlement houses on land that is not yours, it is wrong to try to “squeeze the life out of Gaza, because the only peace settlement will have to involve Gaza. And it is wrong to be sending rockets into Israel,” echoing the same sentiments for peace! (and what a speech it was )

What needs to happen is that ALL sides should recognise that peace is the way and that these peace talks are the vehicle for such a future. Look to the future and don’t miss the train and dwell in the past! The cycle of violence must be broken now!