Labour publishes media meetings

30 July 2011 Last updated at 10:13 GMT Ed Balls met Rebekah Brooks and Will Lewis (right) in February The Labour Party has published a list of the shadow cabinet's meetings with the media.

Ed Miliband had already published the list of his meetings with newspaper proprietors and editors since he became Labour Party leader in September 2010.

The new details come after documents released earlier this week disclosed meetings with cabinet ministers.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls met Rebekah Brooks and Will Lewis from News International in February.

He also met the former News of the World editor Colin Myler at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester last September and attended a News International reception at the conference.

Mr Balls met Mr Myler again in March and June and attended a News International reception as recently as 16 June.

The shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper attended that same reception and the one at the party conference.

She also met Mr Myler in September.

Shadow cabinet office minister and minister for the Olympics Tessa Jowell met Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth socially in London and Oxfordshire several times over Christmas 2010. Rebekah Brooks was also at two of these gatherings.

Summer party

Ms Jowell also attended Elisabeth Murdoch's summer party in Burford, Oxfordshire on 3 July 2011.

The Tories have already given full details of their meetings with the Murdochs and other media chiefs

The shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland Shaun Woodward also met Ms Brooks socially in Oxfordshire on Boxing Day and again, in France, in June.

Eleven of Mr Miliband's 32 meetings were with News International executives or editors.

It has previously been reported that the Prime Minister David Cameron had 26 separate meetings with executives from Mr Murdoch's companies since last May's election.

Mr Miliband had 15 meetings or social contacts with News International executives over the same period, while the Chancellor George Osborne had 16.

Mr Cameron has ordered all ministerial meetings with media proprietors, senior editors and executives to be published.

It comes amid fears politicians have become too close to the Murdoch empire.

Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg published a list of their meetings earlier this month.

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Labour urges rail contract review

3 July 2011 Last updated at 04:51 GMT Bombardier is the UK's last train-making factory The decision to award a ?1.5bn rail contract to a German rather than a UK manufacturer had dealt a "body blow" to the sector, Labour has warned.

Shadow business secretary John Denham and shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle have written to PM David Cameron urging him to review the decision.

They said it threatened thousands of jobs at Derby-based Bombardier.

The Department for Transport awarded the contract for 1,200 new carriages for the Thameslink line to Siemens.

The German company is due to construct the trains for the line between Brighton, London and Bedford at Krefeld, in the industrial Rhineland region.

Bombardier's Litchurch Lane plant in Derby - where about 3,000 people are employed - is the last rolling stock manufacturer in the UK with a 150-year history.

Mr Denham and Ms Eagle wrote: "It is our belief that the loss of the contract could critically damage Britain's last train manufacturing company.

"It could affect the inward investment that Bombardier makes in its own operations across the UK, and to the many suppliers which rely on it.

"And it raises serious questions about Britain's ability to be a world-leading base for manufacturing."

They added: "It is essential that we do all that we can to support our manufacturing businesses. If we do not, British companies will continue to lose out to our global competitors."

They said a "full independent review" must take place to take into account the effect on the UK economy that the loss of this contract would create.

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Labour wins Inverclyde election

1 July 2011 Last updated at 05:33 GMT Declaration of Iain McKenzie's win

Labour has won the Inverclyde by-election for the UK parliament but its majority has been more than halved.

Iain McKenzie took the Westminster seat with 15,118 votes over the SNP's Anne McLaughlin on 9,280. Labour's majority fell from 14,416 at the 2010 general election to 5,838.

The Conservatives took third place with 2,784, the Liberal Democrats polled 627 votes and UKIP was fifth with 288.

The by-election was held after the death of David Cairns in May, aged 44.

'Enormously humbled'

The turnout for the by-election was 45.53%, down more than 17% compared with the 2010 General Election.

In his victory speech, Mr McKenzie said: "First can I say this is an election none of us wanted.

"We would have much preferred that our dear friend, and widely respected MP David Cairns was still among us and still selflessly serving the people of Inverclyde as he did for 10 years before he was tragically taken from us.

Continue reading the main story Jamie McIvor BBC Scotland local government correspondent

This could have been a night of catastrophe for Labour. Both Labour and the SNP were sure this would be a tight result decided by just a few hundred votes.

Even a narrow Labour victory in what would normally be considered an ultra safe seat would, by any reckoning, still have been a disaster for the party.

Unsurprisingly, activists were tense as they arrived at the count. Spin doctors were at work trying to manage journalists' expectations.

Nationalists were tense too. But for them, the question was whether they would actually clinch the seat. Substantially reducing Labour's majority and share of the vote would still be cause for celebration.

A few London-based journalists had joined the Scottish media in the expectation of a political earthquake - another by-election shock of the scale of the SNP's victory in Glasgow East three years ago.

But once a few ballot boxes were opened, the mood began to shift. It started to become clear Labour looked like winning. "Labour Hold Safe Seat Shock" is hardly a killer headline.

The question soon was about how close the SNP would come. Liberal Democrats started to concede that it looked as though they had come fourth and lost their deposit.

As the votes started to pile up it became clear Labour was heading for victory. When candidate Iain McKenzie arrived at the count just after midnight, Labour activists cheered as if victory was already theirs.

Labour's safe majority was greater than many activists dared to imagine. It was a shot in the arm for activists, still demoralised after the Scottish election result two months ago.

Meanwhile the SNP could satisfy themselves that they had cut Labour's majority substantially but for activists who sincerely believed they had every chance of taking the seat - or at least taking the result to a knife-edge - this was still a disappointment.

"We have to manage our activists' expectations," reflected one senior nationalist. "We've got too used to winning. We can't win all the time."

"Can I say I'm enormously humbled to be elected to succeed David, and continue his work, standing up for our communities, fighting for fairness and opportunities for our people."

Mr McKenzie said it had been a "good night for Inverclyde and a good night for Labour too".

"I'm proud to be part of the Labour Party, renewing itself under the leadership of Ed Miliband, listening more, working harder and challenging for better, to get back in touch with those we seek to serve," he said.

"And I'm proud that my community of Inverclyde has [taken] an important step in Labour's mission to win back the trust of the people both here in Scotland and south of the border.

"Remember, only weeks ago the SNP came within 511 votes of winning here, but tonight the voters of Inverclyde have rejected them - this time giving myself and the Scottish Labour Party not a 500 majority, but over 5,000 of a majority.

"Labour's fightback has started right here in Inverclyde - my hometown."

Speaking after the result, Ms McLaughlin said: "We have cut Labour's majority by more than half which I am thrilled about.

"The reason I'm thrilled is that I met so many people who said they had voted Labour all their lives, but they were motivated by how well they felt the SNP government was doing, how well we did in the last elections and by the campaign that we've run here in Inverclyde, to vote SNP for the first time.

"Obviously for us to cut their majority by so much, several thousand people voted SNP no doubt for the first time, so I'm really pleased that so many people took that step and will continue to vote for us."

The Scottish Conservative candidate, David Wilson, said: "Given that we started in fourth and that the media told the electorate that this was a two-horse race, we faced an enormous squeeze but we can hold our heads high.

"We have secured a clear and credible third place in an area that has little tradition of voting Conservative. The result is not of a scale which backs up Ed Miliband's alleged fightback, and is a slap in the face for Alex Salmond.

"The SNP had spent the last two months engaged in an anti-British rant of grudge and gripe. Alex Salmond had been here seven times, but by two to one the voters of Inverclyde have rejected Alex Salmond's separatist agenda."

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Labour MPs 'to cross picket line'

29 June 2011 Last updated at 15:09 GMT Mr Miliband has criticised the strike but did not mention it in Wednesday's exchanges Labour MPs will be expected to cross picket lines during Thursday's public sector strike, the party has said.

A spokesman for leader Ed Miliband said Labour MPs would "come to work as normal" in Parliament despite a pension strike affecting up to 750,000 workers.

David Cameron taunted the Labour leader over the issue in the Commons, saying he could not raise it as he was "in the pocket of the unions".

Mr Miliband has criticised the strike but did not mention it at PMQs.

Asked whether Labour MPs would cross picket lines outside Parliament and other public buildings, a spokesman for the Labour leader said they "will be coming to work as normal".

The PCS Union has said some of its members who work inside Parliament, in roles such as security staff, will picket outside the building.

'Cannot talk'

On Tuesday, the Labour leader and First Minister in Wales Carwyn Jones said his cabinet ministers would not cross any picket lines but would continue with their work across Wales.

Continue reading the main story A funded final salary schemeNormal retirement age is 65, minimum age is 55MPs can contribute either 11.9%, 7.9% or 5.9% of their ?65,738-a-year salaryPayments are increased in line with the retail prices indexAccrual is capped at two-thirds of an MP's final salaryThe coalition agreement included a commitment to consult with the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority on "how to move away from the general final salary pension system"The prime minister's official spokesman said "low numbers if any" of the 200 civil servants that work at Downing Street are expected to take part in the strike.

Teachers, civil servants and other public sector workers are due to stage a one-day strike in protest at plans to raise the station pension age, raise employee contributions and link pension values to the generally lower consumer prices index (CPI) rather than the retail prices index (RPI).

Mr Cameron said there had been "not a squeak" from Mr Miliband or other Labour MPs on the issue of the strike or reforms to public sector pensions during the 30-minute weekly session of prime minister's questions.

"Clearly this is the issue that they simply don't want to talk about on the other side of the House," he said.

He added: "Because they (Labour MPs) are all paid for by the unions they cannot talk about this issue."

The prime minister said the proposed strike action was "irresponsible" as talks between ministers and unions were continuing and the government's proposals were fair to workers and fair to the taxpayer.

'Mistake'

The leader of the opposition often tends to quiz the prime minister on an issue dominating that day's headlines.

David Cameron at PMQs: 'Not a squeak on strike and pensions'

But Mr Miliband decided to use the six questions he is allotted each week to attack Mr Cameron over what he said would be a huge rise in NHS bureaucracy as a result of government reforms and the cost of making NHS staff redundant.

The Labour leader has made his views on the industrial action clear, however, saying on Tuesday it was a "mistake" and "should not go ahead" as it would inconvenience parents and children.

He has urged both sides to continue negotiations, arguing that public sector pensions do need to be reformed. But he has criticised the government for what he said was their "provocative and reckless" handling of the negotiating process.

'Up to individuals'

Labour MP John McDonnell has called on Mr Miliband "to do what is right" and support those taking action.

Mr McDonnell, who chairs the PCS parliamentary group, said he was "disappointed" by the Labour leader's opposition to the strike.

He said many of those affected by the proposed pension changes were natural Labour supporters but that the party was leaving them with nowhere else to go and would continue to haemorrhage votes as a result.

The GMB, which sponsors a large number of Labour MPs, said it was "up to individuals and their consciences" about whether they choose to cross picket lines.

Up to 5,000 schools in England will either close entirely or partially on Thursday and the UK Border Agency has said some travellers could face disruption at airports and other points of entry and should consider making alternative arrangements.

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Miliband stories 'hurting Labour'

12 June 2011 Last updated at 10:10 GMT Ed Miliband beat brother David to the Labour leadership by a narrow margin Headlines about an alleged feud between Ed and David Miliband are "damaging" Labour, Lord Falconer has said.

According to press reports the relationship between the two brothers is far worse than either has admitted.

Both men have dismissed the claims, made in a new book serialised by The Mail on Sunday, as "tittle tattle".

But Lord Falconer told BBC News they were "distracting" and "highly reminiscent" of disagreements between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

"It is trying to fit the present and the future into a template from the past. There is no doubt that Gordon and Tony got on incredibly badly," said the former Lord Chancellor.

"Everybody therefore wants that sort of rowing to continue and it's got the added spice of the fact that the two leading figures in the Labour Party are brothers. But that's not the way it is."

Leaked documents

The two brothers have both insisted their personal relations were not damaged by Ed's defeat of elder sibling David in last year's Labour leadership contest.

Continue reading the main story

This is soap opera speculation about history when the public want politicians to be focusing on the future”

End Quote David Miliband spokesman The pair were on different sides in the feud between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair during Labour's time in power - and have both acknowledged the damage that row did to the party and the need to avoid it happening again.

David has largely remained silent on policy issues since his defeat and avoided public criticism of Ed's performance as leader.

But the newspapers have been dominated in recent days by leaked documents, including the speech David planned to make if he had won the leadership, in what has been seen by some commentators as a concerted attempt by David's supporters to destabilise Ed's leadership.

Shadow health secretary Jon Healey denied reports of in-fighting between rival camps.

"There is very little of that, I have to tell you, either in Parliament or around the country," he told Sky News.

He said Labour was in a "unique position" for a party that had just lost an election as there was "a determination and a unity that we simply have not seen before".

A new unauthorised biography, Ed: The Milibands And The Making Of A Labour Leader, claims David Miliband can barely bring himself to speak to his brother, and the two men communicate mainly through officials.

David is also said to be scathing about Ed's performance in private, saying he is "heading in the wrong direction".

'Bad blood'

Ed, for his part, is said to regard his sibling as too "managerial and technocratic".

The book also claims there is "bad blood" between Ed and shadow chancellor Ed Balls, dating back to their time as advisers to Gordon Brown at the Treasury.

The biography, by Labour-supporting journalists Mehdi Hasan and James Macintyre, questions Ed's claim he made a last-minute decision to stand and may have been plotting to eclipse David for years.

The book also claims Ed blames David's team for spreading his nicknames Red Ed and Forrest Gump and that the two brothers have clashed over how Ed broke the news he was planning to stand.

A spokesman for ex-foreign secretary David said: "This is soap opera speculation about history when the public want politicians to be focusing on the future."

A source close to the Labour leader said: "David and Ed talked before, during and after the leadership election.

"There is no problem. This is tittle tattle and the Labour Party will be concentrating on meeting the challenges of Britain's future, not looking back to the past."

Ed will try to regain the initiative on Monday, with a speech in which he will admit Labour got it wrong over the welfare state and banking regulation.

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