Salma Yaqoob

There are loads of photos here from the TUC’s International Women’s Day Event. 

This picture is of me with broadcaster Bonnie Greer and feminist writer Nina Power.


Here is a short and touching piece from Bonnie about her hero, the writer James Baldwin.


I have not read Nina’s book yet, but hope to shortly. The Guardian gave it a very positive review.

This photo includes my pal Salma Iqbal (on the left). Salma is working in London now and it was great to get the time to have a proper catch-up! 

I will be taking part in a discussion with Nigel Farage from UKIP about their call for a total ban on the burka as well as face-covering veils. UKIP’s position is even more extreme than that of the BNP, whom they are quite consciously trying to out flank in a race for the anti-Muslim vote. The programme starts at 10am and the burka debate will be the lead item.

The Stirrer website, always essential reading if you want to keep up with local news, features an interview with me today. Click here to see the full interview with Richard Lutz.

It is only fitting on today, International Women’s Day, to honour one of Birmingham’s finest. I bumped into Clare Short yesterday while on the campaign trail. She has long been a strong advocate for women’s rights, and broader issues of social justice. She is stepping down as MP at this election. Tony Benn famously said when he stepped down that he was leaving parliament to take a more active part in politics! Clare has done some great work in her career as an MP. I have not always agreed with her judgement, but I feel that in many ways her best is yet to come.

Behind everything I do are a team of people who provide support. They do much of the hard, unglamorous graft, helping to build a platform for Respect that I try use to the best of my ability to carry our shared principles to a wider audience.

Here are some who turned up on a cold Sunday morning to go canvassing. As ever, thanks to them for their loyal support, commitment and sacrifice.

Today is International Women’s Day. It is a global day of celebration of the achievements of women in all spheres of life, past, present and future. 

On Friday night I went to an event in the Council House celebrating the completion of the Councillor Shadowing Programme. The programme involved 12 young people aged between 14-19, who shadowed elected councillors from the different parties here in Birmingham. The aim was to involve young people in local democracy, and provide them with the opportunity to experience leadership within their local communities.

All the participants gained credits towards the Award Scheme Accreditation Network, and one of the recipients was Neelam Rose, who shadowed me for 25 hours.

Neelam is an intelligent dynamic young woman. I was really pleased when she said at the end of her time with me that she would now consider standing for councillor. We need more young women like her in politics.

This weekend I am going door to door in the Hall Green Constituency, listening to residents, and asking for their support for my General Election campaign. I really like this side of politics. There is simply no better way to find out what people think and I have been really heartened and enthused by the positive response I am receiving on the doorstop.

Respect election campaigns are always fun, and already this one is feeling extra special. If you have a free hour or two, come join me and the team. We are meeting tomorrow at 11.30am in car park of Muath Trust/Beardsley Centre B11 1AR, top of Stratford Rd and Camp Hill roundabout.

If you can’t make that time, but could do later, or would like to help in any, please ring our campaign hotline: 078 121 72885. Get involved, and let’s make a little bit of history together!

The Stirrer website  (www.thestirrer.co.uk) reports on the latest stage in the controversy surrounding Moseley school. Here is the article from the Stirrer:

"Sparkbrook councillor Salma Yaqoob has joined the opposition to Moseley School’s enforced merger with nearby Queensbridge accusing Birmingham Council of a “disgraceful slur” against concerned parents.

Yaqoob was responding to The Stirrer’s reports that Moseley is effectively being taken over by its neighbour – even though it has a better GCSE pass rate when English and Maths are taken into account.

The Council justified removing parent governors by accusing them of “refusal to implement a plan to secure improvements in standards.”

“That’s a disgraceful slur,” Yaqoob said. “They are treating parents as part of the problem, not part of the solution.

“Across the city they can’t get enough school governors, and yet this is how they treat those who do come forward.

The Tory economic case is simple: Britain’s national debt is too high, paying it off is a priority, and the way to do that is to cut public expenditure, and then cut it some more. If we are unlucky enough to be landed with a Tory government at the next election, then that is the medicine we are going to be forced to take.

Here in Birmingham, the Tories and their Lib Dem partners are already gearing up to throw thousands of council workers out of a job. They too want to repay borrowing, and they think that destroying services and lengthening the job queues is the way to do it.

At first sight it looks like common sense. After all, if we allowed our overdraft to get out of control, the rational thing to do is cut back on some of our spending. But running a national economy is not the same thing at all as running a household budget.

There was a very interesting letter in Wednesday’s Guardian (3 March) from a group of influential economic historians who challenge some of these common-sense myths.

They argue that, “British public debt is not high by the standards of the past 200 years”. There have been long periods when our debt burden has been far higher than today.

They also observe that our debt is low in comparison to many of our competitors; “…only Germany and Canada’s are lower among the larger industrialised powers”.

And they argue that it is economic growth that is the key to paying off debt, which is exactly how Britain paid off previous high debts in the post-war period and earlier.

A strategy for growth does not start with massive cuts in public spending. That would guarantee a slow, sluggish recovery or even risk a new and damaging recession. Cutting investment and taking money out of the economy would be the quickest way to guarantee that a debt problem turned into a real crisis.

When we oppose mass sackings of council workers and support keeping our public services alive we are also promoting a rational economic policy that has the lessons of history in its favour.

I will be speaking about the plight of the Palestinians and the struggle for peace and justice in the Middle East at a meeting in the University today. It start at 5.15pm and the location is Mechanical Engineering, G31. The event includes an eye witness student report from the recent Viva Palestina/PSC Convoy to Gaza. If you are free, pop in for a listen.

Former Labour leader Michael Foot has died. He always struck me as a unique figure who combined principle, intellectual rigour and engagement in the political fray. My condolences to his family in their time of loss.

There are a selection of tributes here. And below is an appreciation from Ken Livingstone which captures something of the man.

“Michael Foot was consistent in his politics and principles throughout his political life from the 1930s until his sad death today.

“He was right on the majority of issues when the political establishment were wrong as his staunch anti-fascism and his dedication to the abolition of nuclear weapons demonstrated.

I have been thinking over my meeting with the American Ambassador. I made the criticism that for all the hope invested in President Obama his foreign policy remains remarkably similar to that of his predecessor.

This opinion has only been strengthened by reading reports of a speech by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates. Speaking to NATO officials last week he criticised Europe for being too keen on peace, and too reluctant to let the bullets fly.

He is certainly right about the deep opposition to war among large sections of the peoples of Europe. Opposition to the invasion of Iraq was profound, and mobilised millions of people in protest. I vividly remember walking through the streets of Barcelona well over a year after the great February 2003 demonstrations and seeing anti-war banners and bunting still hanging from apartment balconies. Europe has strong memories of war, and its ugly realities. It is not so surprising that its peoples are reluctant to be dragged into new wars – especially those fought in the interests of US imperialism.

No-one wants to talk about cuts. Instead there are ‘efficiency savings’ or ‘prudence’ or ‘managing resources’. It all sounds so sensible. But being ‘efficient’ always seems to involve someone losing their job, and someone else losing a service they once relied upon.

For all the talk of ‘doing more for less’, the grim reality of budget cuts is now becoming clearer.

Last month the Birmingham Mail claimed there was a ‘secret’ plan to shut all 23 community day nurseries in the city. The council denied it, saying a review was in progress, and there were no firm proposals.


One month on, and The Stirrer  website reports that £1.45 million will be slashed from the nursery budget for 2010 with a total cut of £2.5 million by 2011.

Many of these nurseries are in the poorest areas of our city, and provide a vital service. Closure will disrupt the excellent work being done in these nurseries, and cause major problems for parents who will have to hunt for places in private nurseries.

It is easy to be confused by politicians spin when it comes to the economy and the national budget. But now the axe is starting to fall on our jobs and services we can begin to count the real cost. The work our nurseries do with our youngest children is an investment in the future of our society. They should not be fighting for survival.