Category: Uncategorized
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Trade Unions are vital partners abroad as well as at home
There can’t be many Labour blogs today that aren’t discussing the relationship between trade unions and the Labour Party. Much of this espouses the vital role that unions play in this country, supporting members at work. However the role of trade unions is not something that springs to mind when you think of international development.…
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LCID’s programme of events for Conference
LCID Reception – Trade, Growth & Jobs (in partnership with Demos) Monday 23rd September, 9pm Hilton Brighton Metropole, Hall 7 – Tyne Speakers include: Rachel Reeves MP, Jack Straw MP & Kevin Watkins (ODI Director) Refreshments provided Both members and non-members are welcome to join this event, although we encourage LCID members to RSVP for…
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Is this the last chance for Palestine?
It must be good news that negotiations have resumed between Palestine and Israel in Washington but most would remain very sceptical over the likelihood of this initiative achieving an agreed solution. Two of the main obstacles to agreement are the illegal settlements in the West Bank and the problem of Palestinian refugees. When I was…
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A thank you from Ivan Lewis and Tessa Jowell
LCID were delighted to receive this video from MPs Ivan Lewis and Tessa Jowell, thanking us for our coverage of their Malawi trip. As well as boosting our ego, Ivan and Tessa took the opportunity to explain some of the things they had learnt about Early Years Provision during the trip. We’d…
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What happened at the social event of the year AKA the LCID Members Reception….
With the parliamentary session ending and the summer weather making itself known, what more could you want to set the scene for this year’s LCID Members Reception in Parliament. For the second year running the event was packed with people genuinely spilling out the doors at one point. The most heartening thing about it though…
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Jessica Toale’s Diary: DAY 4 – Lost in translation and a lesson in Malawian politics
Before we left for Malawi I was wondering why we hadn’t had a lot of luck securing meetings with Ministers and senior politicians. It wasn’t until I arrived that I was informed that the title “Shadow” in Malawi basically means Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. No wonder. Given the recent political history of mass party swapping, being…
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Jessica Toale’s Diary: Day 3 – Narrowly missing Tony Blair but an inspiring meeting with FEDOMA
Today we met Caroline, an inspirational volunteer carer at the Chilomoni Resource Centre who goes above and beyond to encourage mothers to communicate and interact effectively with their disabled children. She introduced us to a beautiful 3-year old boy called Siphol who had developed blindness in his left eye but whose mother was in denial…
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Jessica Toale’s Diary: Day 2 – Making porridge and visiting Chikwara District
The drive to Chikwawa District saw us descend the hills of Blantrye into the Shire River valley. An area of contradictions – it suffers from a lack of rainfall yet is susceptible to flooding. It is replete with sugar plantations, yet often experiences food shortages. This is usually one of the hottest parts of the…
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Jessica Toale’s Diary: Day 1 of Malawi trip with Ivan Lewis and Tessa Jowell
Yesterday afternoon I arrived in Malawi with Ivan Lewis and Tessa Jowell to kick off a visit with the NGO Sightsavers http://www.sightsavers.org/ and take a closer look at their innovative early childhood development programmes. The visit is part of the campaign http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/sep/30/tessa-jowell-role-international-aid Ivan announced at Labour Party Conference last year and is being led by Tessa and Sarah Brown…
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A special visit from Lord Hughes to LCID’s Members Reception
With all eyes on the VP speakers at the front, few attending the LCID Members Reception would have noticed the gentleman at the back who popped in, listened and then slipped away. It was Bob Hughes (Lord Hughes of Woodside). Bob Hughes was a Labour MP for Aberdeen North from 1970 till 1997 and served…
Labour Campaign for International Development 