Blunkett: rich need to step up in the downturn

david_blunkett.jpg The financial chaos of recent months has reinforced the importance of both government and community,  writes David Blunkett MP in a new Fabian Freethinking paper, leaving Labour in a position to play to its strengths.

The paper stresses the importance of the giving of time and money - but calls on wealthy individuals and businesses to do more to pull their weight:

"Rich people should be encouraged to contribute more," he says.

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"Ethnic penalty is disappearing"

Big BenNew research on selection rates of black and minority ethnic UK parliamentary candidates shows the “ethnic penalty” is disappearing for the next generation of MPs, argues Sunder Katwala in a new essay.

“Nobody can say when we might see a British Barack Obama. In many ways, Obama could be a once in a lifetime strike of political lightning. But Obama’s election will throw the spotlight on progress on race in British politics. The question we can try to answer is this: how far do candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds still face higher hurdles because of their race?

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"Cameron doesn't get message of change"

David Lammy"David Cameron says this society is broken; even Boris Johnson says this is piffle. Barack Obama has not argued that American society is broken because his is the politics of hope. He has re-engaged America not talked it down,"said David Lammy MP at the America Votes, Europe Responds conference.

Read the David Lammy speech here.

Find the Fabian podcast below. 

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Obama's online campaigner interviewed
obama120.jpgLeading online campaigner Ben Brandzel talks about the highs and lows of the recent Obama campaign and reveals some of the online techniques that came to fruition in this campaign. Listen to the Fabian podcast.
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"Labour needs to learn from US campaign"
election badgeThe US presidential election throws down a major challenge to Labour to “change dramatically” and become a 21st century campaigning force, according to a new Fabian paper.  Crucial lessons — covering organisation, message and technique — can be drawn by British parties from the Obama vs McCain race for the White House, argue co-authors Will Straw and Nick Anstead.
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