Dear Progress
Young people may be voting in Pop Idol (Progress, May/June 2002). But we seem to have forgotten that many of them will be under the age of eighteen and can vote as often as they like. The same goes for Big Brother. The hard work for political activists like us is to convince voters that they should vote for us at the ballot box. Long may this effort be needed.
Andrew Edwards, Lewisham Deptford CLP
Dear Progress
The minimum wage is too low. Many local government workers and others in public services aren t paid enough for the job they do and their hours are far too long, despite European legislation. Some people still work in Third World conditions. Many employers do not recognise unions and there are occupations where membership is either low or non-existent. Nearly everyone has fears over job security. Women and children are still exploited by employers in Britain. Why then do union chiefs choose to speak out on the potential war with Iraq? With so many other perfectly relevant topics for them to pick from, it seems unbelievably destructive of them to try to make mischief at the Labour conference by trying to force a resolution on the possibility of war in the Middle East. We all recognise the seriousness of the position in the Gulf, but union bosses would do better to stick to the job for which they are very generously paid.
Chris Isaac, Rhondda CLP
Dear Progress
I welcomed your July conference on young people and apathy. It is entirely appropriate that a forum was provided for young people to share their thoughts on these matters. Apathy in this context is two-way traffic. It takes more than gimmicks and celebrities to make young people become interested and active in politics. Local and central government needs to enter into a more reciprocal, less distrustful, relationship with young people. Including citizenship in the national curriculum is a welcome step but we should be extending rights and opportunities for involvement in politics, in the expectation that young people will take up the responsibility to become fully engaged citizens and vote.
Parna Basu, Hammersmith and Fulham CLP
Dear Progress
As a Labour member, I am proud to belong to a party that prides itself on pursuing the principle of equality. That Labour is the only party brave enough to embrace real change and endorse all-women shortlists demonstrates the lack of interest in equality issues from the opposition they speak the rhetoric of equality but won t put their words into action. However, although this government has taken the first steps to a more equal society, there are many pathways that the government has either ignored or failed to explore. The fact that, in 21st century Britain, it is still possible to discriminate against somebody on the grounds of sexuality, demonstrates a lack of vision the result of a government bound, at times, by the rightwing agenda of the media. Labour is leading the way on equality but it is time to shrug off the prejudices of the Conservative press and fully embrace the equality agenda. These are our values and principles and we should be proud of them. Let s work to ensure that Labour can honestly say it is the party that will tackle discrimination and strive to make ours a more equal society.
Helen Symons, Hackney North and Stoke Newington CLP
Dear Progress The Labour Party currently faces the most divisive issue to confront it since coming to power in 1997 the question of whether to join any American military action against Iraq. Serious questions are being asked about the legal basis for any action and there is strong suspicion that the Bush administration is motivated more by a desire to complete the unfinished business of removing Saddam Hussein from power than it is by the war on terror or by legitimate security concerns. The government must act to dispel this anxiety by making clear that no military action will be taken by Britain without explicit authority from the United Nations and without clear evidence being made public of the necessity of such an attack. To do otherwise could distract from the government s ability to deliver on its other priorities.
Matthew Burchell, Hampstead and Highgate CLP