Peter Wheeler is a constituency member of Labour's national executive committee and all round Labour party legend so I thought I would ask him for an interview and here it is.
1) I’m Labour because…?
I hate injustice and unfairness - I want to see a fairer better Britain and world. I want to see everyone given a fair chance to have a happy life. We all have a duty to work to achieve this.
Its not easy - probably no-one agrees with EVERYTHING a Labour Government or Council does (or doesn’t). However, there's an awful lot our Government and local Council do that I'm extremely proud of - and I know it wouldn't have happened without the likes of us - the ordinary members of the party.
2) As a proud Salfordian please explain the virtues of the place to the readers of this blog some of whom hail from strange parts of the world like the south of England and how long do you think David Cameron would last going around Salford on a Saturday night hugging hoodies?
Whisper it quietly but I was actually born in the Salford suburb of Manchester (Miles Platting actually). I grew up around Salford Docks and in the area called "Hanky Park" in "Love On the Dole".
The thing about Salford is - most people who come from here are proud of the fact and its like family - we can criticise it but we get very testy when people who don't know it do.It's a very democratic place - if you're genuine you're alright but Salford people have no time for bull**** or pompousness.
Its got its problems - we know that - but the Government and Council are working hard to tackle them - crime, schools, jobs, housing - and have made a real difference.Joseph Holts beer at £1.58 a pint is a big plus as well.
Cameron would last about 17 seconds in Salford on a Saturday night but it wouldn't be hoodies that would be his problem - it would be the ordinary Salfordians fed up with the likes of him commenting on our problems from the rolling acres of rural Oxfordshire.
3) What are the implications for the party of its debts?
It's going to force the party back into the arms of our traditional strengths - the ordinary members and the Trade Unions.Its' going to mean we have to campaign in different ways - more doorstep work - less billboard advertising.
And it means its up to all of us to more actively recruit members, raise funds and attract support.
4) You’ve had more years of experience in the Labour Party than some people have had hot dinners. What have you learnt? What experience would you like to pass on to future generations?
Just being in the party a long time doesn't necessarily give you wisdom - you have to continually be prepared to learn and admit you can be wrong.
For what its worth:
1) most people in the party are good people - even if we don't always agree on politics
2) you should always try to be helpful if you can - it costs nothing to be nice
3) never make an unnecessary enemy - but stick to your guns when you think you are right
4) if something's worth having - you usually have to work hard to get it
5) what goes round comes round
6) look after the young members
7) its meant to be enjoyable
5) I noticed that Rochdale is an open short list and I’m sure that Rochdale CLP would appreciate your unique Lib Dem bashing qualities. So is there any truth in the rumour that you’re going for selection in Rochdale? Go on say yes.
It would be an honour to be the Labour candidate for Rochdale. It’s a great place with a proud history and should be a safe Labour seat - the people of Rochdale deserve a Labour M.P.
It's crucial however that we win the seat and in my opinion the candidate best placed to do that is Afzal Khan. He's got a great campaigning track record - particularly in beating the Liberal Democrats. Crucially, he'll be able to attract both the Muslim vote and support from the rest of the community. I'm proud of the fact that he's backed by my Union, Amicus and it will be a great day for the Labour movement in the North West when Afzal is elected as our first Muslim Labour M.P.
6) How do you want to improve the experience of membership for ordinary party members?
This is the big question. Labour is a volunteer party - the individual members and supporters are the rock on which everything else rests.
I think members want to:
1) have their views listened to and treated with respect - to contribute to making policy
2) discuss politics- we're all interested that's why we join
3) do politics - campaigning, recruiting, arguing for Labour
The structures we have need to encourage that - and its up to us as members to ensure that happens so:
- more meaningful discussion that politicians take into account
- involve members in the campaigns that matter to the party
- we can't complain that they're not getting involved if we don't tell them
- engage the members at every level
- socials that people actually enjoy, campaigns where people are made to feel welcome
- keep reaching out to new members and then make sure that they survive their first year!
7) Who are you supporting in the deputy leadership election? Would it happen to be someone small, ginger and female whose surname begins with the same letter as the great Mr Tony’s? And does she have the good sense to have you as her campaign manager?
As they say "there's no vacancy yet" and I hope next year's internal elections don't dominate all party discussion for the next 10 months or so.That said - when there is a vacancy - there really will be a good field of candidates to choose from and an opportunity for the party to really discuss how to move forward. If Hazel does stand she'd be an excellent candidate and if elected would be a real asset to the party in electoral terms. We need to ensure we maintain the support of women we have built up over the past elections and re-invigorate our support in the traditional Labour areas. Hazel Blears knows how to do both.
8) My greatest ever election experience was….?
1997 aside it was probably the Council election of 1989 in Castle Hill ward Ipswich. A ward which had previously always been Tory and 99% white elected Dali Jabbar - a railwayman and Zaroastrian originally from East Africa. The Tories felt confident they'd hold this ward because "a black candidate couldn't win Castle Hill." Didn't we prove them wrong! In those days in Ipswich we were electing black and Asian candidates long before more "right-on" areas.Getting a 3.5% swing to Labour in Ipswich in 1979 was also an experience which takes some beating.
9) Which is the Labour MP I would most like to do karaoke with and what would be the song?
It would be an honour to do one with Dennis Skinner and it would have to be Frank Sinatra's "My Way! If Dennis was too busy, it would have to be Labour's best constituency MP - Siobhain McDonagh from Mitcham and Moreden. Knowing Siobhain it would be "I left my heart in Colliers Wood!"
10) What’s going on with the super merger of Amicus and the T&G?
Quite simply - the leadership of the two Unions have agreed an initial rule book. We anticipate a ballot of all members on the proposals early next year with the "Vesting day" being 1st May 2007. There'll be an awful lot of bedding down but by 2012 we should have one united Union of over 2 million members - and that will be a great step forward for the Trade Union movement - and bad news for bad employers throughout the country.
11) How do you view the rise of the career politician? Could it be leading to an increase in the separation of the lives of those who govern and the rest of us?
We need all types of people representing us - but they have to have a close relationship with the people they represent.
The nature of the job has certainly changed - the days of MPs visiting their constituency twice a year are definitely over - thank God! Society is increasingly diverse and MPs reflect that but the only requirement we need to put up is that they work hard on behalf of the people they represent and the party nationally works to ensure that they are representative of our people - by gender, race and class and then its about them delivering the policies that make the country a better place for all its citizens.
12) The way I see it the world would be much better if …?
1) Next week's lottery numbers were 2,14,15, 25, 48 and 49.2) There was a ban on men being taller than 5'5"3)There were less Tories in it4) Manchester City won the Premiership.The first three should be doable!
You can catch Peter's blog here
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