Camden Labour’s manifesto

LEFT-WINGERS in Camden Labour’s election team are frustrated that the party’s local manifesto is not radical enough, the New Journal understands.

Yhe final document – entitled “Standing Together In Tough Times” – was created after several internal discussion meetings and an open day with members. But while everybody in the party was encouraged to submit ideas, members more enthused by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership have privately suggested that their priorities were sidelined.

Policies which did not make the cut included setting up a council-run energy company to combat prices set by the Big Six providers, as neighbouring Islington has done, and opening up the waiting list for council homes to everybody, no matter how slim the chance of ever getting one might be to some applicants.

There was also hope that the Labour group would be bolder about its move towards providing services in-house, with some candidates believ­ing there is a mood for stopping contracts with private contractors where possible, rather than wait­ing for them to expire.

One insider said a suggestion to pause and review the Community Investment Programme, Camden’s strategy of investing in homes and schools by levering in cash using its own valuable property and land portfolio, had been submitted but flatly rejected.

Another point of division within the Labour team, which some predict could be in line for a record win at the elections, is a call to abandon the cabinet system at the Town Hall and return to a committee set-up, where backbenchers have more influence over policy-making. This has been voted down before, internally, but supporters detect a possible drift in opinion.

Asked how she felt about apparent disappointment among some members, group leader Georgia Gould said: “I am proud that we are putting forward a manifesto that pledges to put our residents at the heart of decision-making. The ideas in our manifesto come from lively discussions across our borough.”

She added: “We are committed to bold action on air quality, standing up for EU citizens, building the homes our community desperately needs and investing in our children and young people. “We know these are tough times and we are pledging to be a campaigning force speaking up for the people of Camden.”  She said the move to council-run services was supported, adding: “We are committed to building up our in-house capacity to deliver and oversee contracts to make sure residents are at the heart of all we do.”