A Leeds City Council decision to reject a gift from the British Shakespeare Company has been admonished by local Labour party figures.

Councillor John Procter, the Conservative Councillor for Wetherby and Executive Member for Leisure rejected a full size replica of the Rose Theatre used in the Oscar winning film "Shakespeare in Love".

In letters to the Yorkshire Evening Post, John Liversedge, member of Kirkstall Valley Community Association questioned the process behind Cllr. Procter's decision, while Rachel described the decision as unfathomable, particularly after the popularity of the recent open air Shakespearean plays at Kirkstall Abbey.

You can read the letters here: http://bit.ly/Tz18x

Rachel is a keen supporter of the Co-operative Party's campaign for banks to put people before profit. The problems with a de-mutualised system of banking have come into sharp contrast in the past year, particularly with the government take-over of Northern Rock.

The campaign for remutualisation wants to ensure that customers are put before profit, and the lessons of the current crisis are acted on to protect people in the future.

Whilst campaigning for a fairer banking system outside the Briggate branch of Northern Rock, Rachel said

“It is time for banks to put people before profit. I ask that the government takes account of what the people of Leeds are saying about bank ownership.

The success of mutually owned organisations demonstrates that responsible banking is best achieved in a democratic and accountable way”.

You can register your support for a fairer system of banking at www.thefeelingsmutual.org.uk, or join the facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=85530723579&ref=mf

Over the last few days I have been appalled by the comments coming from sections of the US media deriding our national health care system. Obama campaigned and won an election calling for reform of the US health care system where nearly 50 million people have no health care cover. The will of the American people should be acted on not de-railed by the business lobby and right-wing media.

The NHS is a pillar of our society of which we are proud. The NHS is a world class health system, providing care with no cost at point of access. I have seen first hand the difference that the NHS has made, caring for my grandparents and for my cousin who was born with a hole in her heart. The NHS is there for us, and our families, in times of need.

While I have been shocked by the tone of the debate in America, I have been impressed by the rallying support of the British people, getting behind our NHS. I added my support to the “#welovethenhs” feed on Twitter, and think that Gordon Brown’s statement captured the mood: “NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death. Thanks for always being there.”

The debate has made me even more proud to be standing in Leeds West for the party that created the NHS, and still strives for a comprehensive social safety net that leaves no-one behind.

Rachel took the opportunity to watch “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the cloisters of Kirkstall Abbey last night.

Rachel said "The surroundings were the perfect complement to a brilliant rendition of the timeless comedy. It is fantastic that the British Shakespeare Company can stage annual events in the grounds of a Cistercian Abbey on our doorstep." Tickets are still apparently available for the last couple of shows if you want to experience one of Shakespeare's most popular plays, go to http://www.britishshakespearecompany.com/ for more information.

While National Lottery funding has helped preserve and restore the heritage on our doorstep, building has been going on throughout the community. The new schools, health centres and Sure Start centres built by Labour since 1997 may not be echoing to the sounds of Shakespearean sonnets in 900 years, but are concrete benefits of twelve years of a Labour Government, and are exactly the kind of progress under threat from proposed Tory spending cuts.

Labour’s “Change we see” campaign wants your photos, to show the development we have seen in the last twelve years. In Leeds West, as across the country, you cannot travel very far without seeing a brand new community building. From Hollybush Primary and Children’s Centre to Wortley Beck Medical Centre, they are making a positive difference to everyone in Leeds West.

You can upload your photos of progress at www.labour.org.uk/change-we-see, email them to change-we-see@labour.org.uk, or share them on Flickr, Facebook or Twitter.

The I Love West Leeds festival this year was a resounding success. Organised by the Interplay Theatre, July saw the creative juices of West Leeds flowing, in carnivals, theatre performances and art. The festival was bigger and better than ever, even being nominated as the Culture-led project of the year in www.regen.net’s annual awards. The nomination recognises the role that artistic projects like the festival can play in the community, beyond being great entertainment for everyone. I really enjoyed “Dust” and the “strangers and fiction” bookswap, and revelled in seeing West Leeds flex its artistic muscles.

The best news is that the festival isn’t the end of the fun! Throughout the summer holidays and beyond there are plenty of sporty, creative and sometimes unusual activities to brighten up even the dampest days… here are just a few!

- Casey Orr’s “Comings and Goings” is still on the walls outside Armley Prison and is a fascinating (and free!) photo exhibition, running until the end of August. http://www.caseyorr.com/comings.html

- Kirkstall Abbey will once again be resounding to the sonnets and soliloquies of the bard, as the British Shakespeare company return to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Much Ado About Nothing in idyllic surroundings. You can get tickets here.

- "Breeze" is brightening up summer holidays, and will be on tour in Armley and Kirkstall this month. Swimming is free with a breeze card, and there are all sorts of events across Leeds to make sure the summer holidays don’t drag on too long. http://www.breezeleeds.org/

- You could give those green fingers a workout with BTCV Hollybush, who have opportunities throughout the summer to discover the outdoors right here, and make a difference at the same time!
www.btcv.org/hollybushleeds

You can see all the events that were part of the festival and may still be ongoing at www.interplaytheatre.org. Don't hesitate to get involved, as there are lots of events on your doorstep that may surprise you!