With the election of our new Parliamentary Candidate, elections to the CLP Exec, a joint event in Lancaster with Shadow Minister for Health Jonathan Ashworth MP, the first of our Community Conversations held in Silverdale, the launch of a campaign by Town, City and County Councillor, Margaret Pattinson to clean up the back alleyways of Morecambe plus canvassing out in Morecambe North for the County By-Election in February, it’s been a very busy week for the CLP and a sign of the positivity and enthusiasm that is infusing the whole of the Constituency.

PPC Election

After a positive and friendly campaign and hustings by our 3 shortlisted candidates, on Tuesday 23rd January 2018, the CLP choose our new Parliamentary Candidate, County Councillor for Lancaster East and NHS Campaigner Lizzi Collinge.

Following her election, Lizzi, with her customary energy and motivation, talked of plans to engage with the membership and the disparate parts of the Constituency; with the aim of getting the Labour message out to all.

In this first address as our PPC, Lizzi called for members who would like to be involved in all the various aspects of campaigning, and promotion of our Labour values, to come forward and volunteer. Both she and Miles are keen to support training initiatives where members feel they would like to develop new skills.

On Friday, Lizzi received a warm message of support from Jeremy Corbyn, he congratulated her on her selection and said he was looking forward to campaigning alongside her in Morecambe and Lunesdale when the next General Election is called.

We would like to thank the other shortlisted candidates Erica Lewis and Julie Reid for putting themselves forward to be our PPC, for their enthusaism and kind offers of help going forwards.

It was an extremely close campaign, with many members finding it a tough decision due to the excellent quality of the candidates. We wish them both well, look forward to supporting them in their future ambitions and also to working alongside them in the future.

CLP Monthly Meeting

On Thursday, we held our monthly meeting at Battismore Road. In addition to welcoming Lizzi to her new role, the meeting saw the nominations and elections to a number of CLP Executive Officer roles.

Chair: Mandy Wildman
Secretary:  Philip Black
Vice Chair Membership:  Philip Blundell
Vice Chair Campaigns:  Tom Porter
IT Officer:  Joanne Ainscough
BAME Officer: Naley Alobari.

The role of LGBT Officer remains unelected at present. Nominations from Branches are called for and election will take place at next months meeting..

Those Exec and General Committee roles which remain unchanged are as follows.

Treasurer:  Paula Oliver
Women: Claire Cozler
Young Labour:  Becca Snow
Disability Officer:  Jean Withers.
TULO:  Jean Yates
Political Education Officer: David Whittaker.

Thank you to all those who stood for nomination and for those who remain in role.

The meeting also heard updates from the recently formed CLP Think Tank, the Fundraising Group and the Disability Group. Full minutes will be sent out to all members over the next few days.

Our Health, Our Care

On Friday, there was the opportunity to attend a joint event organised with our close neighbours, Lancaster and Fleetwood CLP. Attendee’s had the opportunity to hear from the Shadow Minister for Health, Jonathan Ashworth MP. Former MP, MEP and Trade Union Activist and Researcher Les Huckfield and Vice-Chair of the Co-Operative Party Cheryl Barrett.

It was an extremely well attended meeting in the beautiful banqueting room at Lancaster Town Hall. Jonathan talked passionately about Labour’s plans for the NHS, how Labour will tackle the NHS recruitment and retention crisis. Labour will also stop the privatisation that is delivering poor services and poor value for the taxpayer.

In Part 2 of the weeks report we will bring you news of the clean up campaign, the Community Conversations in Silverdale and the latest from the Morecambe North By-Election campaign