Labour Deputy Leadership Election 1992

[Angela Harvey (LAB)]

Canvassing, 1 hour. 2 hours remaining

Angela Harvey was talking to traditional Labour party members in and around local constituency offices, mentioning her career as a teacher, member of the National Union of Teachers, and more recently as local Labour party worker in Dover. She summarises her plan for a Strong Social Britain:

• I want to restore the powers of workers to collectively bargain for their interests. The Tories' vicious attacks on the trade union movement in the 1980s led to a membership reduction of 5 million, which combined with the oppressive legislation passed by the last government weakened the power of unions to protect workers. We need a new balance between corporate employers and workers, and I pledge to find this new balance.
  
• It will be my priority as Deputy Labour Leader in government to negotiate lower external EEC tariffs on food, bringing food imports from the Commonwealth and across the globe and reducing food prices for British consumers. Food prices skyrocketed during the 13 years of Thatcherite rule and they did nothing to address the situation. I will work to change that.
  
• Labour MPs and local constituency parties must come closer together. We're one Labour movement. I will do everything in my power as Deputy Labour Leader to bring about greater transparency between MPs and local parties. After more than a decade of division and confrontation, we need unity and dialogue and I believe this starts within our own party.