Manifesto

So Edinburgh Labour launched our manifesto on Saturday. We decided not to do some big meeting in a hall somewhere. Instead we went back to where we should be; the streets. Using an open top bus we went to 9 places across the city to meet shoppers (and the odd rugby fan) and to hear face to face what folk felt about our manifesto and what we stand for. It was not an easy experience at times. In some places the reception was was not as good as others but that was to be expected. As I made my speech in each place I had both rude signs and warm handshakes, the words “never” and “always” said to my face and many conversations that were both warm and wary. However, if Saturday's 7 hours in 9 places is anything to go by, our support is stronger than some are suggesting. What was important was that we began our journey towards the election in the streets, amongst the people and not just those who are our likely supporters. It was a wee return to old fashioned street hustings based on human relationships not slick messages. Rougher but, if truth be told, a whole lot more satisfying

Environmentalists check our manifesto

I took our manifesto to a group of environmentalists last week. They were robust in their response, supportive, but robust. We disagreed on whether or not there should be another Forth crossing, (I am of the view that, well thought through it could provide the opportunity to reduce car use, they want that achieved in other ways), but we agreed on a great deal.
They liked our commitment to challenge supermarkets to change their ways and to offer incentives to households to improve energy efficiency which we will be doing. I think they would like to see tougher targets on recycling ( I think 40% by 2009 is pretty tough but there you go) and whilst they liked our idea of a carbon off set trust, they were very clear that just planting more trees to salve your airborne conscience is in the chocolate fireguard category of usefulness. I had my eyes opened on that one I have to say. Beware gift horses and easy solutions to difficult problems.

Our Manifesto

Our manifesto is nearly finished but I have decided that, before we go public we should “road test” it six different community groups before its final publication and launch in March.

This is the first time that these kinds of groups, (the voluntary sector, young people, faith communities, students, environmental groups and the trade unions) will have had the opportunity to comment on and shape an Edinburgh Labour manifesto before publication.

I said I would try to involve more people in decisions about our priorities when I was elected leader and this is me trying to do what I promised I would do. I will have no control over who attends each of these events and I expect the conversations to be robust and frank, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. There is no point in trying to meet people's aspirations in a manifesto if you haven’t met them face to face in the first place

Manifesto for May

I spent much of Saturday morning with colleagues discussing our manifesto for May. The themes that are to be coming to the fore are transport (hence our support for issues like Trams and the Rail Link to the airport), affordable housing (we need 12000 new, affordable houses in the next ten years), the environment and the need to keep the City economy as buoyant as we have done in the last 10 years and more. We can and will make a series of pledges on these and other issues but the real challenge is how this document forms to basis for any coalition talks we enter. This is new territory and all party’s, not just ours, need to be clear on their approach. My view is that we don’t go into any talks (and we haven’t as yet talked with any of the other parties) assuming we need to reach agreement on every issue. I would rather work with a group agreeing on 70 or 80% of a programme and then put the rest up for debate to the Council meeting. Otherwise we end up with a series of lowest common denominator compromises that people feel they didn’t vote for or agreeing to things they don’t like in order to stay in power.