Labour minutes

WHO'S PANICKING?




A few highlights - in some kind of order.

Party in Fife not geared up for modern campaigning, across Fife 5.5 % swing to SNP. They work hard to indentify support and get them out. Key thing [for SNP] reliability of information coming in.

Identity – SNP have taken the Saltire. Labour has red flags, they have Scotland flags.

[Labour] No attraction for young people, out of date, ethos is South of England based and does not resonate in Scotland.

Symbolism of SNP and Saltire used politically needs to addressed.

Scottish Labour identity, Thistle may be identifier. Kat Morrison says Labour’s indentity in Scotland – need more connection. Not just kilts and flags – Red Thistles talked about for years.

PROUD TO BE LABOUR – indenitity and profile.
Proud to be Scottish Labour. More advertising – Fife Labour Logo.

Local – services to elderly, services to young people. Incontinence pads, no money to increase to bigger size.

Incompetence thrives in the council and needs to be addressed. Customer scoring system is needed.

Support from HQ welcomed, but needs local level support – small number of volunteers. Lost support of Student movement/NUS.

SNP have one-off chance for independence – feel good factor.

2010 Nov maximum profile and view on independence.

25-16% flat line support for independence. SNP well organised. Salmond 60pts ahead of where Swinney was.

SNP did not save Callaghan and let the Tories in.

GB should stay more GB than presidential. Tony B was showman, charismatic with brains behind him. [GB] Serious politician with lack of brains behind him.


TRANSCRIPT

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

ClBalgonie new payment from FC to Moffet & (illegible). Bought bus back from Stagecoach.

LABOUR GROUP AWAY DAY 17/24

MR.- Tackle Salmond. West Fife - Chapman never out of Press.
Focus on Nationalists. Campaigning strategy needs to be worked on.
A.R.- Inviting dialogue on gathering views on how we work together and what what our priorities should be, Need to be confident and promote Labour. Big issues - Social work and Housing Cuts. Better coordinate media work. Kingdom FM better contact needed. AR saying busy in morning dry time
Labour Group newsletter done and sent out to all LP members in Fife. Drive further on Coal issues. Feedback form included.
Glasgow By-election - Party in Fife not geared up for modern campaigning - across Fife 5.5% swing to SNP. They work hard to identify their support and get them out. Hold masses of data on SNP support - organisation compared to (illegible) & West Fife LP organisation was was much better. Key Thing was reliability of information coming in. People had voted SNP but we had Them as Labour voters . SNP info was more pliable(?) than ours.
SNP candidate Glasgow councillor - very popular - he got back to (illegible) people, he put off time with people, he kept in touch.
Identity - SNP have taken THE SALTIRE. SNP cllrs are not working the wards. Lab has red flags they have Scotland flags.
TRUST - never seen LABOUR - negative G.B not an issue - Pilot campaign in Levenmouth/(illegible) we fund freepost for that that pilot - follow up will be to Trades Unions for funding. Use contract creator to harness information. Alex got 140 responses even though they had to put a stamp on to respond.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Significantly responses included e-mail and telephone contact. We will run training from office to set up databases.
Mark will be campaign coordinator for Levenmouth area.
Kelty C.C. going crazy on bus cuts.
Cut back on criticism and generate action and if mistakes happen.
SUNDAY 1030 Benaty - some letters to deliver - Take SNP on - non positive on Labour negative on SNP - (illegible) on Liberals - Thomas very active
Bill McColluch - freepost working well in Diline West Fife.

JH- Lost touch as Party - At Coop summerfest youth programme ran concurrently - no attraction for young people - out of date - ethos is South of England based and it does not resonate in Scotland.
Don't gel as a group - seperate people doing our things.
Constantly dealing with constituents - dont understand all issues.
Betty Cumphile(?)- more education needed. I interact with people well enough - people contacted me and Peter Grat who said. Auchnusty(?) Macedonia have had newsletter. Kinglanse(?) is getting isolated. Betty had problems hearing.
LGroup has value for her as new cllr.
Have to complain (illegible) 3 times to get things done New locality manager may help.
Symbolism of SNP and SALTIRE used politically needs to be addressed ass Lab Grp perhaps at enough car stickers, lapel badges, bumper stickers
Ther is an SNP movement - Lab movement has stagnated

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Trades Union contact. Need to sort out things like worker nights. Indus action simpler smoother process.
Cost to CLPs for Labour material is too expensive locally - incompetence Thrives in The Council and customer scoring system is needed.

Tom Adams - what structure do we have where members have a direct say. Dont see management structure.
South Labour identity - Thistle may be our identifier
More affordable to join - better with 4 people at £5 Than 1 person at £20. By-election - economy was not an issue but economy is huge issue - price of gas will put people out of.
Leadership in Scotland is lacking in Party. F.C. on strike - what can we do - on picket lines?

Kay Morrison - Labour's identity in Scotland - need more connection. Not just kilts and flags - Red Thistles talked about for years - work better as group - efect of cuts. More focus more organised - support from HQ welcomed but needs local level support - small number of volunteers - dont pressure The small group. How can we effectively target. Personal identity Labour allegiance and pride in being.
Structure local cllr meetings - plan for creation and delivery of newsletters. Desireability if team meeting regularly writing to all local newspapers would need to be formalised. PROUD TO BE LABOUR. IDENTITY AND PROFILE.
Bill McC - not just an identity issue more complicated.
A.R. wider policy agenda. SNP are riding an identity.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Labour + Trades Union movement - we need to re-focus to That - fell part of movement and family - Party structures are important and we need to review(?) Press pack influencing leadership - Those who are disloyal will weaken and defeat us. We dont do business Through media.
LOCAL - Services to elderly, services to young people
- incontinence (illegible) no (illegible) to increase to bigger size
- Nationally we are not together.
Biggest bus cuts ever locally - hospital + Education - schools - FutureTrust nothing(?) in This Parliament. Economy Tourism (illegible) - Tourism in Fife down from 38 to 9 - East of Scotland team in ML office - only 12.5m for local regeneration. Support down south in construction - no support in Scotland Food & Drink & Tourism - funding cut - none for training - work together.
Claire - How we behaved in Govt - focus on govt and lost touch with local organisations. Student Support and Higher Ed - work with Student movement/NUS. Office in Methil(?) - positive feedback - Central Heating Programme - God local press strategy and keep pressure on Tricia.
John Parlc- lack of acceptance about where we were. View was minority would unravel in weeks. Wendy did the right thing. We governed with longer term decision making - SNP have one-off chance for independence - feelgood factor 2010 NOB mamimum profile and view on independence. 25-26% flatline support now for independence.
SNP well organised party. Salmond 60pts ahead of

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

where (illegible) was. Salmond maybe biggest strength but possibly biggest weakness. Working with cllrs in (illegible) Billy liddle, Upper Forth Crossing, By.Pas campaign, re-regulation of buses. People want Labour to do well in Glasgow East - (illegible).
Thomas Docherly(?) - All member meets (illegible), cllr report, MOP, MSP report. Scrapped G.C. meetings to quaterly. Monthly fundraising - hosting hustings at East End Park on 24 August.
Since NOV (illegible) 40,000 leaflets and 20,000 direct mail. Surveys and canvasing proposes(?) - Big plan canvas 38%(?) Aug in May 40% Postal Vote strategy by raised.
Bob Eadie - 10 months to Euro election Debate in

RICHARD, CLAIR + BOB, C - Email them as I am talking to Pensioners Group (ticked).

Single outcome agreement - No money behind it - Trojan Horse - Govt will blame local authority for not delivering - Ringfencing was not liked by LA's - (illegible) - we were not listened to by our leaders - How front bench listen - everyone wants to be listened to -
Glasgow East - local cllrs did not do anything, MSP and MP did not put too much out.
Thomas - we target message to communities

Raymond - Values not Income.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Proud to be Scottish Labour. More advertising - Fife Labour logo - Mark will work on That.
Identify vote - mountain of work - concentrate on database. Identify vote in streets - cuts in social work should be with SNP in Fife.
Experience of Housing Services - cllr has to follow up regularly to get this done - filling gap by chasing around. Local S.N has broken down. 1st rate staff with 3rd rate systems and (illegible) processes. Deaf Community.
Ieun Crichton - dont need to wrap myself in tartan, SNP has momentum. IF you are not SNP you lack Scottishness. Address what's Labour ever done for us.
Closer links with Labour and Trades Unions. Getting rid of Incapacity Benefit - Why? Work for benefits release during election probably cost - G.B photo with Thatcher big mistake - SNP did not save Callaghan and let Tories in. Use of socialism or socialist. Most people who contact me probably have not voted and dont know who I am.
Raymond - Party - proud of very local Kinglamie(?, Fife, Scottish, UK international - Saltire with Rose as logo - GB should stay more GB than Presidential - Tony B was showman, charismatic with brains behind him. Serious politician with lack of brains behind him Blairite/Brownite disastrous needs to stop. Local and(?) Nah press against us. Cllr + MSP need to know bigger picture on how we will come Through This.
(Illegible)/popular/politics SNP do well. Glasgow fought OK fight well but lost on local views. Party too close to Industry leaders - get back to

NEW PAGE

JIM WARD

Alex Rowley - John Simpson has come off all Strategic Committees - He has stopped surgeries(?) but he will start back again, PFAM - Mike Rumney ST(?) + AUDIT -
Social work -
Scottish Ass L. Cllrs - Plans on Scottish Policy Forum - 1 man 1 woman - Let D.Ross know. New Group meal schedule will be circulated.
(Illegible) and Levenmouth Pilot with Meurle(?) as Coordinator leaflet for Gleus(?) area of Kily which is part of ASB biggest policy issue. Work ward by ward to get leaflets out.
Spokesperson meeting in next week or so. (Illegible) in group on Communications needs sorted - Lots of material to attack on. ML coordination of MSP meetings needs to be addressed.
Discuss attendance and input to Committees of Fife Council.
Area clTee(?) needs ability to scrutinise Partnerships which have major spending priorities.

Campaign Against Charges - Working with Independents and Tories - concerted effort, All Opposition parties working together. 9/9 next social work & Health clTee(?). Mark will send round The questions and be asked on social work charges.

24/8 2PM East End Park Need to register at Scottish Labour Office - online or e-mail. D.Ross will forward.TRANSCRIPT

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

ClBalgonie new payment from FC to Moffet & (illegible). Bought bus back from Stagecoach.

LABOUR GROUP AWAY DAY 17/24

MR.- Tackle Salmond. West Fife - Chapman never out of Press.
Focus on Nationalists. Campaigning strategy needs to be worked on.
A.R.- Inviting dialogue on gathering views on how we work together and what what our priorities should be, Need to be confident and promote Labour. Big issues - Social work and Housing Cuts. Better coordinate media work. Kingdom FM better contact needed. AR saying busy in morning dry time
Labour Group newsletter done and sent out to all LP members in Fife. Drive further on Coal issues. Feedback form included.
Glasgow By-election - Party in Fife not geared up for modern campaigning - across Fife 5.5% swing to SNP. They work hard to identify their support and get them out. Hold masses of data on SNP support - organisation compared to (illegible) & West Fife LP organisation was was much better. Key Thing was reliability of information coming in. People had voted SNP but we had Them as Labour voters . SNP info was more pliable(?) than ours.
SNP candidate Glasgow councillor - very popular - he got back to (illegible) people, he put off time with people, he kept in touch.
Identity - SNP have taken THE SALTIRE. SNP cllrs are not working the wards. Lab has red flags they have Scotland flags.
TRUST - never seen LABOUR - negative G.B not an issue - Pilot campaign in Levenmouth/(illegible) we fund freepost for that that pilot - follow up will be to Trades Unions for funding. Use contract creator to harness information. Alex got 140 responses even though they had to put a stamp on to respond.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Significantly responses included e-mail and telephone contact. We will run training from office to set up databases.
Mark will be campaign coordinator for Levenmouth area.
Kelty C.C. going crazy on bus cuts.
Cut back on criticism and generate action and if mistakes happen.
SUNDAY 1030 Benaty - some letters to deliver - Take SNP on - non positive on Labour negative on SNP - (illegible) on Liberals - Thomas very active
Bill McColluch - freepost working well in Diline West Fife.

JH- Lost touch as Party - At Coop summerfest youth programme ran concurrently - no attraction for young people - out of date - ethos is South of England based and it does not resonate in Scotland.
Don't gel as a group - seperate people doing our things.
Constantly dealing with constituents - dont understand all issues.
Betty Cumphile(?)- more education needed. I interact with people well enough - people contacted me and Peter Grat who said. Auchnusty(?) Macedonia have had newsletter. Kinglanse(?) is getting isolated. Betty had problems hearing.
LGroup has value for her as new cllr.
Have to complain (illegible) 3 times to get things done New locality manager may help.
Symbolism of SNP and SALTIRE used politically needs to be addressed ass Lab Grp perhaps at enough car stickers, lapel badges, bumper stickers
Ther is an SNP movement - Lab movement has stagnated

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Trades Union contact. Need to sort out things like worker nights. Indus action simpler smoother process.
Cost to CLPs for Labour material is too expensive locally - incompetence Thrives in The Council and customer scoring system is needed.

Tom Adams - what structure do we have where members have a direct say. Dont see management structure.
South Labour identity - Thistle may be our identifier
More affordable to join - better with 4 people at £5 Than 1 person at £20. By-election - economy was not an issue but economy is huge issue - price of gas will put people out of.
Leadership in Scotland is lacking in Party. F.C. on strike - what can we do - on picket lines?

Kay Morrison - Labour's identity in Scotland - need more connection. Not just kilts and flags - Red Thistles talked about for years - work better as group - efect of cuts. More focus more organised - support from HQ welcomed but needs local level support - small number of volunteers - dont pressure The small group. How can we effectively target. Personal identity Labour allegiance and pride in being.
Structure local cllr meetings - plan for creation and delivery of newsletters. Desireability if team meeting regularly writing to all local newspapers would need to be formalised. PROUD TO BE LABOUR. IDENTITY AND PROFILE.
Bill McC - not just an identity issue more complicated.
A.R. wider policy agenda. SNP are riding an identity.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Labour + Trades Union movement - we need to re-focus to That - fell part of movement and family - Party structures are important and we need to review(?) Press pack influencing leadership - Those who are disloyal will weaken and defeat us. We dont do business Through media.
LOCAL - Services to elderly, services to young people
- incontinence (illegible) no (illegible) to increase to bigger size
- Nationally we are not together.
Biggest bus cuts ever locally - hospital + Education - schools - FutureTrust nothing(?) in This Parliament. Economy Tourism (illegible) - Tourism in Fife down from 38 to 9 - East of Scotland team in ML office - only 12.5m for local regeneration. Support down south in construction - no support in Scotland Food & Drink & Tourism - funding cut - none for training - work together.
Claire - How we behaved in Govt - focus on govt and lost touch with local organisations. Student Support and Higher Ed - work with Student movement/NUS. Office in Methil(?) - positive feedback - Central Heating Programme - God local press strategy and keep pressure on Tricia.
John Parlc- lack of acceptance about where we were. View was minority would unravel in weeks. Wendy did the right thing. We governed with longer term decision making - SNP have one-off chance for independence - feelgood factor 2010 NOB mamimum profile and view on independence. 25-26% flatline support now for independence.
SNP well organised party. Salmond 60pts ahead of

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

where (illegible) was. Salmond maybe biggest strength but possibly biggest weakness. Working with cllrs in (illegible) Billy liddle, Upper Forth Crossing, By.Pas campaign, re-regulation of buses. People want Labour to do well in Glasgow East - (illegible).
Thomas Docherly(?) - All member meets (illegible), cllr report, MOP, MSP report. Scrapped G.C. meetings to quaterly. Monthly fundraising - hosting hustings at East End Park on 24 August.
Since NOV (illegible) 40,000 leaflets and 20,000 direct mail. Surveys and canvasing proposes(?) - Big plan canvas 38%(?) Aug in May 40% Postal Vote strategy by raised.
Bob Eadie - 10 months to Euro election Debate in

RICHARD, CLAIR + BOB, C - Email them as I am talking to Pensioners Group (ticked).

Single outcome agreement - No money behind it - Trojan Horse - Govt will blame local authority for not delivering - Ringfencing was not liked by LA's - (illegible) - we were not listened to by our leaders - How front bench listen - everyone wants to be listened to -
Glasgow East - local cllrs did not do anything, MSP and MP did not put too much out.
Thomas - we target message to communities

Raymond - Values not Income.

NEW PAGE

LAB GRP AWAY DAY

Proud to be Scottish Labour. More advertising - Fife Labour logo - Mark will work on That.
Identify vote - mountain of work - concentrate on database. Identify vote in streets - cuts in social work should be with SNP in Fife.
Experience of Housing Services - cllr has to follow up regularly to get this done - filling gap by chasing around. Local S.N has broken down. 1st rate staff with 3rd rate systems and (illegible) processes. Deaf Community.
Ieun Crichton - dont need to wrap myself in tartan, SNP has momentum. IF you are not SNP you lack Scottishness. Address what's Labour ever done for us.
Closer links with Labour and Trades Unions. Getting rid of Incapacity Benefit - Why? Work for benefits release during election probably cost - G.B photo with Thatcher big mistake - SNP did not save Callaghan and let Tories in. Use of socialism or socialist. Most people who contact me probably have not voted and dont know who I am.
Raymond - Party - proud of very local Kinglamie(?, Fife, Scottish, UK international - Saltire with Rose as logo - GB should stay more GB than Presidential - Tony B was showman, charismatic with brains behind him. Serious politician with lack of brains behind him Blairite/Brownite disastrous needs to stop. Local and(?) Nah press against us. Cllr + MSP need to know bigger picture on how we will come Through This.
(Illegible)/popular/politics SNP do well. Glasgow fought OK fight well but lost on local views. Party too close to Industry leaders - get back to

NEW PAGE

JIM WARD

Alex Rowley - John Simpson has come off all Strategic Committees - He has stopped surgeries(?) but he will start back again, PFAM - Mike Rumney ST(?) + AUDIT -
Social work -
Scottish Ass L. Cllrs - Plans on Scottish Policy Forum - 1 man 1 woman - Let D.Ross know. New Group meal schedule will be circulated.
(Illegible) and Levenmouth Pilot with Meurle(?) as Coordinator leaflet for Gleus(?) area of Kily which is part of ASB biggest policy issue. Work ward by ward to get leaflets out.
Spokesperson meeting in next week or so. (Illegible) in group on Communications needs sorted - Lots of material to attack on. ML coordination of MSP meetings needs to be addressed.
Discuss attendance and input to Committees of Fife Council.
Area clTee(?) needs ability to scrutinise Partnerships which have major spending priorities.

Campaign Against Charges - Working with Independents and Tories - concerted effort, All Opposition parties working together. 9/9 next social work & Health clTee(?). Mark will send round The questions and be asked on social work charges.

24/8 2PM East End Park Need to register at Scottish Labour Office - online or e-mail. D.Ross will forward.