Support Labour MPs

LCID Election Events

With the election just around the corner, LCID is putting on a number of events to help support Labour MPs. We’ll be supporting MPs who have done a lot on development, as well as MPs in seats where development may be an important electoral issue.

Please see our Facebook Fan page for all the latest events and full details.

Phone canvassing, on Thursdays

Dates:

• 18th March – Labour Party HQ
• 1st April
• 8th April
• 15th April

Action days

More details to follow, but please put these dates in your diary!

• Saturday 20th March – Jim Fitzpatrick MP, East London – full details on Facebook
• Saturday 10th April – Worcester
• Sunday 25th April – International Development Day (activity TBC)

Labour has shown real leadership on international development over the last 13 years – we cannot let the Tories put that at risk, so please do help how you can.

We will be setting up Facebook events shortly with more details. If you’ve never been canvassing before don’t worry, it’s actually really rewarding to engage with people on the doorstep and address their issues, and we’ll be on hand to help answer any questions you might have. You can also email Nick with any questions at nick@lcid.org.uk.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development

Douglas Alexander was previously Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland from May 2006 to June 2007. He was Minister of State for Europe from May 2005 to May 2006, Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs from September 2004 to April 2005 and Minister for e-Commerce and Competitiveness at the Department for Trade and Industry in June 2001. In May 2002 he moved to the Cabinet Office, becoming Minister for the Cabinet Office in June 2003 where, among other things, he led on the Government’s better regulation agenda, public and civil service reform and e-government.

Douglas Alexander is the MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire South. Support Douglas in his constituency.

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Gareth Thomas, Minister of State for International Development

Gareth Thomas is Minister of State for International Development. Previously he was joint Minister of State for DFID and the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) from 5 October 2008 – 8 June 2009. Prior to that, he held the position of Parliament Under-Secretary of State for DFID and DBERR from 29 June 2007.

From 2003 to June 2007 he was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the DFID with responsibility for Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Overseas Dependent Territories. He was also DFID’s Green Minister with responsibility for the department’s environmental performance in relation to the Sustainable Development in Government Framework and targets.

Gareth was a Member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee from November 1997 to October 1999. Prior to his appointment as PUSS at DFID, he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the former Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke MP.

Gareth Thomas is the MP for Harrow West. Gareth has a majority of 2,000 – please get involved & support Gareth in this marginal seat!

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Mike Foster, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development

Since May 2006, Michael has been undertaking his first ministerial appointment in the Government Whips’ Office where he had responsibilities for Northern Ireland and for Constitutional Affairs.

Prior to this he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Peter Hain in his role as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Before that he was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Lifelong Learning and Higher Education Minister at the Department of Education and Skills.

In 2005, he became Joint Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Lifelong Learning. In July 2002 he was appointed Chair of the newly formed All Party Parliamentary Group on Flood Prevention. He was Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Further Education and a member of the Education Select Committee until June 2001.

Mike Foster is the MP for Worcester. Mike has a majority of 3,1000 – please get involved & support Mike in this marginal seat!

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• Hilary Benn | former Secretary of State 2003-2007 | Leeds | Support Hilary
• Clare Short | former Secretary of State  1997-2003 | Birmingham, Ladywood (retiring at next election)
• Shahid Malik | former Minister | Dewsbury | Support Shahid (Majority of 4,600, please help in this marginal seat!)

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The following Labour MPs are active on the House of Commons Select Committee that scrutinises the work of DFID:

• John Battle MP | Leeds West | Support John
• Hugh Bayley MP | City of York | Support Hugh
• Richard Burden MP | Birmingham, Northfield | Support Richard (Majority of 6,500)
• Mark Hendrick MP | Preston | Support Mark
• Virendra Sharma MP | Ealing Southall | Support Virenda
• Marsha Singh MP | Bradford West | Support Marsha (Majority of 3,000, please help in this marginal seat!)

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• Tom Clarke MP | Coatbridge Chryston & Bellshill | Support Tom

Tom drove through the International Development Private Members’ Bill through Parliament.  The Act received royal assent on 25th July 2006, and enshrines in legislation the UK Government’s commitment to give 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) in overseas aid by 2013, and tracks the progress of Government policy towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Tom has given his support to LCID, saying “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals is a crucial objective and a Labour Government with a renewed mandate is much more likely to lead the world in making all this a reality.”

• Roger Berry MP
• Sally Keeble MP
• Kerry McCarthy MP
• John McFall MP
• Julie Morgan MP
• Andy Reed MP
• Andrew Smith MP | Oxford East | Support Andrew (Majority of 963, please help in this marginal seat!)
• Phylis Starkey MP

(The following list is by no means comprehensive and we are more than happy to expand it!)

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(Coming soon!)