No-one could doubt that the Broxtowe Labour Party evening with David Blunkett was a great success. The large turnout was more surprising because we had deliberately chosen to hold it in a church hall in the middle of Inham Nook, one of the most deprived areas in the borough. We believe it should be a Labour ward but it has three Tory councillors.
Over a hundred people attended, perhaps a fifth of them from the Inham Nook area itself. It was an informal evening with question and answers, and there was certainly no shortage of questions. The audience were looking for an alternative to the present coalition government.
David Blunkett began his political career as a local councillor involved in community politics. He became the leader of Sheffield City Council, then an MP, and then ultimately a cabinet member. Promoting community politics within the Labour Party is my aim too.
How do we respond to the effects of the harsh economic climate on the lives of the most vulnerable people? For four years the NG9 branch of the Nottingham Credit Union has operated from Inham Nook, offering affordable loans and helping savers to put money into our collection point every week. Now we are closing down, mainly because the new model at NCU is not community work but centralised work in Nottingham. Sadly we never reached the really poor who cannot afford loans, never mind the bus-fare to the city centre, and so are prey to loan sharks and door-to-door licensed lenders.
A day can be a long time in politics: in community politics we need a lifetime of work. But Thursday evening gave us heart to carry on.
