1. Motion: In Defence of the NEC Anti-Semitism Code of Conduct Following a lively and lengthy debate, by 11:4, North Cornwall CLP passed the following motion provided by the Jewish Voice for Labour: JVL – Model motion This CLP welcomes the NEC Code of Conduct on Antisemitism as giving clearer and stronger guidance than previous codes and definitions on what antisemitism is and what it is not. We note that the NEC code states emphatically: “Labour is an anti-racist party….

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7th August 2018 By Graham Smith Labour Party activists might be forgiven for feeling frustrated at their party leadership’s continuing squabble over what is and what is not anti-Semitic – but the row has at least shone a spotlight into how Israel’s occupation of Palestine reaches into every corner of the political world, even Cornwall. Half of Cornwall’s Tory MPs have accepted free trips to and hospitality in Israel, paid for by the lobby group Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI.)…

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Ray Shemilt – Labour Candidate for Bude 2018 The Labour party only have a handful of Councillors on Cornwall Council. I would love to be elected as the only councillor from North Cornwall to represent The Many Not The Few. Being both Disabled and a council tenant, I feel that I can give a different point of view, making it known what the often overlooked people of Bude want and need. Please let me have your thoughts – you can…

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    Marina Barham.  Marina is the founder and director of Al Harah Theatre, Beit Jala near Bethlehem.  Al Harah is a much respected Theatre Company  performing in theatres, schools and other centres in the West Bank and beyond.  The company runs  a wide and varied programme of training,  youth theatre and community activities for young people, children and adults.  Before working in the arts Marina worked for 7 years with UNRWA in Palestine. David Oddie is director and founder of The…

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  We have a serious problem in Bude concerning the discharging of raw sewage into our seas. Our beautiful coastline that is vital to the economy of Bude, has been subjected to this affecting both the beaches and the Sea Pool. If elected I will make this situation a priority cause. It is only going to get worse. Both developers and SWW must be held to account by Cornwall Council; this situation cannot continue. South West Water can afford to pay…

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2nd August 2018 By Graham Smith Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has pledged that a Labour government would guarantee the level of structural funding Cornwall currently enjoys from the European Union until at least 2028.  The promise is worth around £350 million. Mr McDonnell has been persuaded of the case by Cornwall Parliamentary candidates Paul Farmer and Jennifer Forbes, who hope to become MPs for the Camborne, Hayle and Redruth; and Truro and Falmouth constituencies.  Labour came a close second in…

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1st August 2018 By Graham Smith A row is brewing at Cornwall Council over the establishment of a new panel to “advise” on investments. The main plank of the council’s investment project is a massive housebuilding programme, with most properties designed to be sold at profit, on the open market, as a way of financing services without raising local taxes. Most councillors now accept that their 1,000-home project should never have been described as a “council house” building programme as…

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Battle lines drawn as councillors challenge “secretive” County Hall, wondering how elected cabinet members can reclaim power from unelected senior officials 31st July 2018 By Graham Smith There are signs of a new power struggle developing between Cornwall’s elected councillors and their full-time officials at County Hall. An extraordinary meeting of the council’s Constitution and Governance Committee will today (Tuesday) try to agree a new definition of the powers enjoyed by their £220,000-a-year* chief executive, Kate Kennally. The council’s “Scheme of…

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    A bit about me…. I came to live in Bude in 2005 with my wife and daughters as I wanted my then young daughters to have a better quality of life. I achieved this by doing a council house exchange from Sussex just in time for my eldest to start her secondary education at Budehaven Community School. Prior to coming to live in beautiful Bude, I worked in a management role for a London based fashion house until…

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4th July 2018 By Graham Smith Cornwall Council is coming under increasing pressure to scrap its policy of making children walk to school between Delabole and Camelford.  Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to intervene later today (Wednesday.) North Cornwall MP Scott Mann, who has been backing local parents on the issue for several years, plans to raise the matter in Parliament.  He has walked the route himself and shares the widely-held opinion that the road is not safe for…

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