Just fancy that!
Friday, September 12, 2008 I'm sure we did submit an entry to the 2008 Labour Conference brochure, but an interested observer has just emailed to say: "Simon, did you know your meeting isn’t listed in the Labour Party official fringe list? Now why would that be …."
In the unlikely event that any Labour MPs are reading this, the Forest/Free Society meeting is at the Radisson Hotel, Manchester, on Tuesday September 23, 6.00-7.00pm. Title: "Labour: how to win back the smokers' vote".
I'll be speaking. So too will my colleague Brian Monteith. Everyone welcome, but you'll need a pass because we're inside the secure area.
Simon Clark
To get a pass for this year's Labour conference Brian and I had to provide the following: passport number, National Insurance number, driving licence number and, regardless of whether we are driving to Manchester, our car registration numbers plus make and model. By comparison the LibDems have given us five visitor passes for our fringe event in Bournemouth on Tuesday without a single question being asked. They didn't even want a photograph. Just like the old days!
Reader Comments (5)
Simon, your update says it all. I won't mention the 'N' word, but they are getting beyond a joke.
The main problem though with thier 'ID freakiness', is that it is rubbing off onto every other profession (as though it is a norm) and causing so much red tape that needn't be there. I know that it's causing plenty of problems and time-wasting in my line of work.
BTW best of luck for speaking so close to the 'lions den', and yes, I hope some unbrainwashed labour MPs do attend. Afterall, if they don't start listening and radically altering policy (instead of spinning and downright lying), then they're out of a job.
I hope Simon, you will be e-mailing MPs to let them know about this meeting, and that it would be worth hearing the views being put forward.
Why not send them tickets?
Simon, Kerry McCarthy is blogging excitedly about her conference diary, even wondering which fringe meetings to attend. Shall we all ruffle her feathers again by inviting her to your fringe event?
http://kerry-mccarthy.blogspot.com/2008/09/twenty-four-hour-garage-people.html
Oh, I'm so very looking forward to the nu-labor fanclub convention next week. A bubbling morass of discontent threatening to break the stage-managed skin. Will there be a Walter Wolfgang moment perhaps? Worse? Will Gordon try to smile during his speech whilst reassuring delegates that stability has been locked into the tractor-production figures? Troubled times indeed. Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people.
Every Labour MP has been sent an invitation (no response yet from Kerry!) but I'm sure a gentle reminder wouldn't go amiss.