Butetown Branch Labour Party

Lib Dems need to clean-up their act says AM

2005-12-23T02:30:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Don't drink and drive this Christmas

2005-12-12T17:42:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

AM backs ‘Labour Plus’ budget

2005-12-07T17:44:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Tories, Liberals & Plaid turn backs on extra money for health and pensioners

2005-12-07T17:42:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Labour delivers boost for childcare

2005-11-30T17:40:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Welsh Labour delivers justice, safety and security for all

2005-11-29T17:34:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

'Target communities most in need' says Barrett

2005-10-06T12:23:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Make Sure You are Signed Up for the Winter Fuel Payment

2005-09-01T10:03:00.000Z

Alun Michael MP

AM’s reaction to London attacks

2005-07-08T06:41:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Terrorists will not destroy what we hold dear - Tony Blair

2005-07-07T01:58:00.000Z

The Prime Minister described the terrorist attacks on London today as 'barbaric'.
In a statement from the G8 summit in Gleneagles Tony Blair said: "It is reasonably clear that there have been a series of terrorist attacks in London. There are obviously casualties, both people who have died and people who are seriously injured, and our thoughts and prayers, of course, are with the victims and their families.
"It is my intention to leave the G8 within the next couple of hours and go down to London and get a report face-to-face with the police and the emergency services and the ministers who have been dealing with this and then to return later this evening. It is the will of all the leaders of the G8, however, that the meeting should continue in my absence, that we should continue to discuss the issues that we were going to discuss and reach the conclusions that we were going to reach.
"Each of the countries round that table have some experience of the effects of terrorism and all the leaders, as they will indicate a little bit later, share our complete resolution to defeat terrorism. It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa and the long term problems of climate change and the environment. Just as it is reasonably clear that this is a terrorist attack or a series of terrorist attacks it is also reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8. There will be time to talk later about this.
"It is important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire impose extremism on the world. Whatever they do it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilised nations throughout the world."

Project encourages Butetown residents to pick up the mouse

2005-07-07T01:50:00.000Z

Lorraine Barret AM

Alun Michael Condemns Lib Dems Local Income Tax

2005-04-19T02:15:00.000Z

RIP Jim Callaghan (1912-2005)

2005-03-31T15:33:00.000Z

Many people more eloquent than ourselves have already paid tribute to Butetown's Member of Parliament from 1945 - 1987.

For the benefit of those of us who too young to directly remember the 60's & 70's the 10 Downing Street website offers this brief biography:
The son of a naval chief petty officer, James Callaghan left school at 14. He worked as a tax officer and was later employed by the Inland Revenue Staff Federation.
After serving in World War Two he was elected as a Labour MP for Cardiff South in the post-war Labour landslide, and later represented Cardiff South East. He rose steadily through the party in Opposition, and stood for the leadership after Gaitskell's death in 1963, losing with respectable minority support.
As Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1964, Callaghan's decision not to devalue the pound proved disastrous. After devaluation the discredited Callaghan resigned as Chancellor, to become Home Secretary, where he salvaged his reputation.
During this time he sent troops to Northern Ireland in 1969 to cope with worsening violence. As a staunch defender of trade unions, he opposed efforts to reform them, earning the title 'keeper of the cloth cap'.
In Opposition Callaghan became Shadow Foreign Secretary, and in government after 1974 it was his job to renegotiate the terms of Britains EC membership. When Harold Wilson resigned unexpectedly, Callaghan was not the favourite to win the leadership, being the oldest candidate at 64. However, he was the least divisive candidate, and won the vote.
As Prime Minister Callaghan presided over a sterling crisis, which led to negotiations with the IMF for a rescue package, but he did keep his Cabinet team together during the controversy over the conditions set. Spending cuts and pay restraint were demanded, but the left wing Labour conference nevertheless voted for more spending.
Things were made more difficult still when Labour's small majority disappeared in 1977, making Labour dependent on the support of the Liberals. However, Callaghan persevered in office even when this pact broke down.
During the 'Winter of Discontent' in 1978, industrial action over pay policy severely damaged the governments authority. The government lost a confidence motion on 28 March 1979 by just one vote a classic piece of high-tension political theatre.
Callaghan was obliged to hold a general election, which was won by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Party. As Labour's left wing gained strength in the early 1980s, Callaghan's influence waned, and he resigned as leader after 18 months.He retired from the House of Commons in 1987 and was active in the House of Lords as a life peer.
Lord Callaghan passed away at home in East Sussex on 26 March 2005, one day short of his 93rd birthday. He was the longest living former British PM in history.

A more detailed biography is here

His successor as our Member of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alun Michael JP, MP said:
"Jim Callaghan personified the link between national leadership and the people. Coming from a poor family, he never forgot his background. He was a trade unionist before he was an MP. And above all his personal roots and loyalty to the people who first elected him in 1945 never wavered – even long after he stood down after 42 years as the MP for Cardiff South & Penarth.
At the heart of our constitution is the relationship between the MP and the constituency – talk of Ministers being "out of touch" ignores the fact that each Minister is also an MP, returning each weekend to family, friends and the people who send us to Parliament. As the only person ever to hold the four Great Offices of State, who better to set the tone for Parliamentary democracy than Jim ?Respected by world leaders for his shrewd insight and sound judgement – the Falklands War could never have happened on his watch - Jim still asked what people were saying in Splott and Llanrumney and Penarth. He held monthly surgeries, took part in the monthly meetings of the Constituency Labour Party and listened to local views passed through a passionately loyal group of supporters - not least his agent Jack (now Lord Brooks of Tremorfa) and his constituency chairman, Gordon Houlston.
This went far beyond public opinion. As Chancellor and Prime Minister, he sought to help the economy of South Wales – the Mint in Llantrisant, Companies House, Fords in Bridgend and many other developments reflected his belief in the need for renewal of our economy. Had the 1979 election not allowed Mrs Thatcher to put a stop to it all, British Rail and Ministry of Defence jobs would have followed to Cardiff.Even in retirement, he continued to be a tower of strength for Cardiff’s future – he knew better than most that the devastating loss of jobs which followed the closure of East Moors required more than incremental change. When the battle raged, he backed the new vision for our capital city which only the Barrage could provide.He also led the search for the right building for the new Welsh Assembly Chamber – and no-one should underestimate Jim’s contribution to the building now under construction in Cardiff Bay – at last.
One commentator said that given a decent majority Jim "could have been" a great Prime Minister. No, Jim was a great prime minister. He gave strong leadership despite having no majority and in the face of overwhelming odds. As a trade unionist, Jim could never have been against the trade unions – but through the tribulations of his final months in office he reminded us that the Labour Movement exists not just to represent its members but also to create a better society and opportunity for all. On that there could be no compromise.
Jim’s death, as the longest-living ex-premier, follows close on the death of Audrey who campaigned vigorously for children and on health issues. We salute and remember two wonderful people who gave us so much over the past 60 years."

The Prime Minister & Leader of the Labour Party pays tribute to his predecessor here.

"He was a patriot, a loyal servant of party and country and a devoted husband and father. His love for Audrey was very special."

Cardiff West AM & Welsh First Minister, the Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan AM has also paid tribute.

Other obituaries penned by contemporaries from the Labour governments of the 1960's & 70's include Shirley Williams in the Independent on Sunday, Gerald Kaufman in the Sunday Telegraph and the late Roy Jenkins who penned his obituary for the Sunday Times shortly before his own death.

Representing the younger generation, Tom Watson MP recalls his first meeting with Jim in 1995.

A Book of Condolence has today been opened at City Hall in Cardiff.

Anyone living locally with memories of Jim Callaghan in his days as our MP, or subsequently, is very welcome to post a comment, or email us, and we will pass them onto his children, Margaret, Michael and Julia in due course.

Jim Callaghan was truly representative of the political generation, shaped by the war, whose undogmatic socialist credo, combined with his bluff personality and superb political skills to take him to the Premiership. His tragedy was that his decision to see through his government's programme (including the delivery of devolution for Scotland & Wales), rather than going to the country in 1978, followed by the 'winter of discontent', marked the final phase of the post war social democratic consensus he personified.

A big man in every sense, Jim Callaghan will be warmly remembered and sorely missed.

Lib Dem Cardiff leisure centre cuts slammed

2005-03-18T00:45:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Lib Dems dishonest on rebanding

2005-01-30T02:13:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Tackling Knife Crime

2005-01-20T14:02:00.000Z

Alun Michael MP

"Don't axe funding for Women's workshop" demands Barrett

2005-01-20T13:54:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Take your own advice on council tax, Labour warns Liberal Democrats

2004-12-19T17:57:00.000Z

Lorraine Barrett AM

Cardiff South & Penarth is working. Don't let the Tories wreck it again

2004-12-03T16:54:00.000Z

Britain is working with two million more jobs and unemployment at its lowest level since 1975.

With a record number of people in work we’ve reached a major milestone in our journey as a Labour government to deliver full employment in every part of Britain.

Britain now has the highest employment and lowest unemployment of any of the major (G8) world economies.

Since 1997 unemployment has fallen by 1,832 in Cardiff South & Penarth. In Wales 132 new businesses have started up on average every week.

Today’s families face competing pressures as they strive to balance work and family life. Labour understands that flexible and affordable childcare is essential for working parents trying to achieve that balance.

7,000 people have benefited from the Labour’s Tax Credits in Cardiff South & Penarth. In Wales at least 90,000 people benefited from the most recent rise in the National Minimum wage helping families in Cardiff South & Penarth.

Britain has come too far and worked too hard for us to allow the Conservatives to wreck it again. When Michael Howard was a Minister in the Conservative Government, he introduced the poll tax, interest rates were at 15 per cent for a whole year, 1.5 million households suffered negative equity and over 150,000 families lost their homes.

Alun Michael MP

Labour slam Lib Dem hypocrisy. Cardiff Lib Dems claim credit for tough action they opposed

2004-11-27T09:10:00.000Z

Labour have attacked Cardiff Lib Dems for "sheer rank hypocrisy", for
claiming credit for tough action which they have consistently opposed.

New police curfew powers in the Bayside Estate in Splott recently saw the
Liberal Democrat Cardiff Council quick to claim the credit. Yet both at
Westminster and at a Cardiff Council level they have opposed all Labour's
efforts to tackle the misery caused by gangs of youths.
In Westminster they voted against the Anti Social Behaviour Bill and
against measures to disperse gangs of yobs, while in Cardiff they voted
against a resolution calling for tough action to tackle anti-social
behaviour, with new leader Rodney Berman specifically opposing dispersal
powers.

Cardiff South and Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett said: "The sheer rank
hypocrisy of the Lib Dems is breathtaking. This is a typical Lib Dem
tactic to claim the credit for things which go well while disowning
anything unpopular.

"Curfews do not come about quickly and the Lib Dems would have more
credibility if they acknowledged the work of those who achieved this.
Local residents groups fought for this, working closely with Splott Labour
councillor Clarissa Holland, the police and the Cardiff Community Safety
Partnership to tackle youth annoyance."

Lorraine Barrett AM

Lib Dem local tax plans would hurt hard-working families

2004-11-27T09:06:00.000Z

Liberal Democrat plans to replace Council Tax would hit hard-working
families

According to the Liberals' own local income tax calculator an average
earning two parent family in Cardiff would have to pay an extra £42 per
month an extra £505 a year.

Cardiff South and Penarth AM LORRAINE BARRETT said: "The Lib Dems make
grand claims about the benefits of their local income tax but like so many
of their promises, they turn out to be made of sand. The plain reality is
that working families would be worse off. In Cardiff an average family
would be forced to pay more than £500 a year extra.

"When your study Lib Dem policy it is very quickly apparent that, far from
standing for more fairness in society, a Lib Dem Government would result
in huge social injustices. They are committed to abolishing Child Tax
Credits, scrapping the New Deal and abolishing the Pension Credit. Liberal
Democrats oppose tough measures to deal with thugs and anti-social
behaviour.

"The Liberal Democrats love to spread scare stories on local taxation in
their leaflets. But they would be far better off using their energy to
encourage the 30 per cent of pensioners entitled to council tax benefit
but who currently do not claim it."

Notes - Living under the Lib Dems:

The Lib Dem plans to introduce a local income tax hit hard-working
families hard.

Just like their plans to abolish the Child Tax Credit, scrap the New Deal,
and abolish the Pension Credit their local income tax plans would hit
hard-working families in the pocket.

Local 2004-05 Band D Lib Dem Local Annual Monthly
Authority Council Tax Rate Income Tax Rate Change Change

Cardiff £872 £1,377 £505 £42

*Figures based on results of the Lib Dem Local Income Tax Calculator.
Figures calculate the rate of tax of two working people earning the gross
median average wage in Wales.

Lorraine Barrett AM

Funding Frozen for Vital Vocational Training Service - MP attacks Lib Dem Council for deserting youngsters in need

2004-11-12T15:29:00.000Z

Alun Michael MP

Welcome!!

2004-08-28T01:37:00.000Z

Welcome to the Butetown Branch Labour Party Website.

It is a place for us to keep in touch with the Butetown Community,
and also for you to tell us of anything that we might need to know.

We'll keep you updated on issues of concern to the Community.
And if you want us to look into anything for you-then let us know
and we'll keep you update on here and in person.