WORCESTER'S NEW MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR 16/5/12
 
Roger Berry has been elected Mayor of Worcester for 2012-13, with his wife Jill as our new Mayoress. Roger is Worcester's first Labour Mayor since Jo Hodges in 1999-2000.
 
Roger spoke about his commitment to Labour and Co-operative values, and spoke about issues around housing. He named his Mayor's Charities for the year as two local organisations which support the homeless: St. Paul's Hostel and Maggs Day Centre   http://www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk/  http://www.stpaulshostel.co.uk/  Of course, Worcester Labour Party will be helping to promote these charities on Roger's behalf in the year ahead.
 
Congratulations are also due to Pat Agar, elected as the Deputy Mayor of Worcester for 2012-13.
 
Roger and Pat will doubtless do an outstanding job for our city in the year ahead, which will include the Olympic Flame, the Queen's visit, and the opening of the Hive.
 
If you would like to contact our Mayor or Deputy Mayor, you can reach them at roger.berry@worcester.gov.uk and pat.agar@worcester.gov.uk.
 

 

 

TORIES LEAD MINORITY COUNCIL 10/5/12
 
The Tory and Lib Dem Groups on Worcester City Council have agreed on terms which will allow the Conservatives to continue as a minority administration. They are at pains to point out that this is not a coalition.
 
The terms of the agreement can be read here: http://www.worcester.gov.uk/index.php?id=338&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1299
 
Amongst the terms of the agreement is a commitment not to oppose the current Deputy Mayor, Labour's Roger Berry, becoming Mayor for the civic year 2012-13.
 
The next City Council meeting is next Tuesday (15 May), from 7pm at the Guildhall. This meeting is open to the public, and I am sure that many Labour members and supporters would like to attend this meeting in support of the City Council Labour Group, led by Adrian Gregson.
 
I would like to thank Adrian for the huge input of time and effort on his behalf over the last few days, working to secure the stable future of the City Council.

 

 

WORCESTER'S LABOUR COUNCILLORS MEET 5/5/12
 
The fifteen Labour City Councillors met on Saturday morning, in order to plan for the future. With the Tories now having lost overall control of the City Council, the Labour Group put forward plenty of ideas for new directions. Watch this space for future developments.

 


Picture shows:

Back row: Pat Agar (Nunnery ward), Richard Udall (St Johns), George Squries (Arboretum), Matt Lamb (St Johns), Joy Squires (Arboretum: also Worcester's Labour Parliamentary Candidate), Geoff Williams (Gorse Hill), Jo Hodges (Warndon), Roger Berry (Gorse Hill)
 
Front row: Simon Cronin (Nunnery ward), Chris Cawthorne (newly elected in St Johns), Paul Denham (Rainbow Hill), Adrian Gregson (Rainbow Hill: also Labour Group Leader), Richard Boorn (newly elected in Nunnery), Lynn Denham (newly elected in Cathedral), Alan Amos (Warndon).
 

 

ED MILIBAND VISITS WORCESTER 4/5/12


Labour Leader Ed Miliband visited Worcester, meeting Labour's councillors who were elected and re-elected yesterday. Ed was keen to stress that this is the beginning of Labour's fightback and we still have a long way to go.
The results of these elections show that people are beginning to listen to Labour once again but we still have a long way to go to regain the confidence of the British public. Ed was keen to hear that we are talking with Worcester people about issues that nmatter to them: housing and youth unemployment in particular.
 

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TORIES LOSE CONTROL OF WORCESTER CITY COUNCIL 4/5/12
 
Heavy rain throughout election day reduced turnout, but there were some spectacular results on the 2012 City Council elections.
 
Labour picked up three seats (Chris Cawthorne took St Johns, Richard Boorn took Nunnery, both previously held by Independents; Lynn Denham took Cathedral from Tories). Rich Morris ran the Tories close but was not able to pick up St Clements. Alan Amos, Joy Squires, Adrian Gregson and Roger Berry were returned in their seats with large majorities.
 
Elsewhere, the Tories lost St Stephens to the Greens, and were clearly not prepared for this. The Tories gained Claines from the Lib Dems.
 
The Tories are the largest Party on the City Council, but their 17 seats mean that they have lost overall control as there are a total of 18 seats held by others (15 Labour, 2 Lib Dem and 1 Green).
 
A huge effort was put in across the city by Labour campaigners, ably supported by a group of young members working with students, and members from Malvern and Bromsgrove. Despite the pouring rain, we battled hard, and the Tories now find themselves in a tricky position in Worcester.

 

David Miliband supports Labour’s campaign in Worcester

 

 

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David Miliband  enjoyed a guided tour of The Hive and the University of Worcester City Campus when he visited Worcester on Tuesday 17th April. David was shown around by Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor of the University and was accompanied by Joy Squires, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester. David was keen to speak to students about their experience in Worcester and their hopes for the future.  Read the report by Worcester News political reporter Tom Edwards here  http://bit.ly/Jj70j1
 
A large gathering of Labour Party members and supporters then had the chance to talk to David about Labour’s local election campaign here in Worcester and the issues that are emerging on the doorstep, especially youth unemployment which is the main concern.  David explained Labour’s Jobs Guarantee plan that would give young people unemployed for 12 months a guaranteed job. With long term unemployment amongst young people rising rapidly, this is an important initiative and in direct contrast to the Coalition’s work programme that helps only one in ten unemployed young people
 
You can listen to David Miliband and Joy Squires in conversation about Worcester here http://on.fb.me/J1ppng

 


 

Joy Squires


Proud to live in Worcester
Proud to be 

Worcester Labour Party has selected Joy Squires to be its Parliamentary Candidate at the next general election. Joy lives locally and is a well-known local councillor.

 

Joy says


“I care deeply about Worcester, my home for almost 25 years. With my family, I have experienced Worcester's schools and colleges, its GP surgeries and hospitals, its shops, theatre, music and sport. I know what works and what needs to change. I understand the political make-up of the city and the issues that matter to local people.

I am ambitious for Worcester - I want a city where all the schools offer the best possible opportunities for all our children; a city that is more accessible to people with disabilities; a city that promotes jobs for local people and supports them to gain the skills they need; a city that has the best NHS, accessible to all; a city with more affordable housing and no more homelessness; a city that aspires to be the best and to do the best by all its residents - a city based on Labour’s values of fairness, equality and social justice.
Only a Labour government, backed by a Labour MP in Worcester, can achieve this.”

To join Joy’s campaign to win back Worcester for Labour, contact joysquires@worcesterlabour.org.uk