WHAT RECOVERY?

Yes, I know. Any left blogger worth their salt should have been reporting the resolutions, the policies, the way ahead as proposed by TUC Congress. I haven't.
I haven't because this economic recession is no longer something to be debated, discussed, and argued against a backdrop of a meal out or dinner round at someone's house or a political meeting. It is real, it is me, and it is the prospect of earning less than I need to pay the bills. And it is frightening.
It keeps me awake at night, it means that maybe for the first time in a long time my solidarity with those similarly trying to survive is no mere intellectual discussion. Or opportunity for grandstanding. And it makes me angry beyond belief that in the space of two days I have been talking to exdcellent people in Leeds and Manchester who would want to do something to change the way things are, who would like to be our representatives, but who are blocked at the highest levels by those who don't want to see the troublesome, the awkward squad, the socialists in our Labour Party ever achieving what they should.
Over 2 million unemployed, swatheing cuts in the public sector, arrant nonsense about a "recovery" which has no impact on those I know who are seriously struggling. Columnists like Kevin Maguire say Gordon Brown is doing the best he can, so why day after day do people tell me they have had it with the Labour Party, that they can longer stay involved. Because there is no point. I would like to tell them they are wrong. But I seriously begin to wonder.

80,000 JOB LOSSES IN A DAY

Anyone doubting the depth of the recession should read this piece in today's Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/26/job-losses-uk-europe-usa

KEIGHLEY- SNAPSHOT OF RECESSION

In the past few weeks, I have been travelling by bus over the moors to Keighley, where I am aiming to stand as PPC. Under NEC rules, I cannot talk about the process. But I can talk about the town, which featured on tonight's BBC News.
In many ways, the neighbouring constituencies of Calder Valley and Keighley are mirror images of each other. Both have rural, affluent areas and also towns of high unemployment and much deprivation. They both share unwelcome advances by the BNP - which are fought with serious hard work by the local Labour Party and MPs Linda Riordan and Ann Cryer.
In recent years, heavy manufacturing industry has collapsed in West Yorkshire. Major employers have deserted the area and shops and businesses are closing at a rate of knots. It is small Northern towns like Halifax and Keighley which bore the brunt of the last recessioin and they will bear the brunt of this one.
They both have a record of Labour MPs like Ann Cryer and Linda Riordan who are prepared to stand up for their constituents and be an independent voice at Westminster. Whoever is chosen to fight the Keighley seat should be someone unafraid to speak their mind and help ensure that the Government has the right policies to get us out of this recession. It simply won't be enough to say the Tories would do it worse and look back to better days.
We need to address the basic concerns which people have about their homes, jobs and their livelihoods. They want answers - not soundbites. So let's start by making it clear that this is NOT a "credit crunch " - it is a full-blown recession. Whoever is chosen to represent the constituency I am fighting, I hope they will take that on board.

CUTTING ONE'S CLOTH....

How touched I am that the Queen has apparently cancelled a champagne banquet which was to have marked her Diamond Wedding. As recession looms for the rest of us commoners, she felt it would not be "appropriate." for us to see the aristocracy enjoying themselves.

No such qualms, of course, over the ridiculously opulent banquet whch greeted Nicholas Sarkozy on his state visit to Britain.

Back in the real world, it's been a tough week financially and like everyone else I am battening down the hatches for a rough time ahead.Food prices are going through the roof, utilities bills a nightmare.And just to make matters worse my teaching work is about to come to an end for the summer.

On the advice of a finance "expert" I recently switched some savings which were losing money hand over fist to a "low risk" ISA. Which in just threee months has cost me another £300 in lost cash and a complaint is in the pipeline. The money is now in a bog-standard deposit account where at least it will not be prey to the worst horrors of the stock market. I have no pension as I am self-employed and the likelihood is that I will have to carry on working in 15 years time when I am 65. Still, at least I only have to fend for myself and only have a few years to go on the mortgage. One of the lucky ones.....

Today, Ivan Lewis MP, not normally one to rock the boat, claims Gordon Brown has lost touch with the realities of life for most ordinary working class people. He's absolutely right. White tie and tails at Windsor Castle does not exactly endear him to the electorate.