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Last week Rachel met with members of Leeds Tenants Federation to discuss the current issues facing tenants and to hear the opinions of local residents on what the upcoming changes will mean for them.

Leeds Tenant Federation represents council and housing association tenants, as well as private residents from across Leeds. They campaign for tenants' rights and aim to ensure that tenants have a say in the decisions that affect their homes and communities.

Rachel said,

‘It was great to meet the Leeds Tenants Federation. They do fantastic work in championing local tenants, with events such as their recent lobby of Parliament. I really enjoyed speaking to them about the future of social housing and look forward to seeing them again soon!’

You can find out more about Leeds Tenants Federation at: http://www.leedstenants.org.uk/ Rachel is pictured with (R-L) Dave Smith, Deputy Chair; Linda McNeil, Chair; and Michael Dean, Director.

On Friday Rachel spoke at a Progress event on ‘How does a winning Party make policy?’, along with Jamie Hanley (a National Policy Forum representative), Councillor Lucinda Yeadon (Leeds City Council Executive Board Member for Adult Services), Richard Angell (Vice Chair of Progress) and Emma Hoddinott (a former Labour Councillor). The event looked at how Labour can better make policy, in order to win the next general election. Rachel spoke about the failures of the current government’s policy making process, particularly in her field of pensions, and about how the Labour Party can improve its local structures. Rachel is always keen to hear your input on policy - get in touch today!

Rachel campaigned outside Tesco in Bramley on Saturday, collecting signatures for better opening hours at Bramley Baths.

Because of the Tory-led government’s cuts, the Council is proposing to reduce the opening hours at Bramley Baths. Rachel and local Councillors have lobbied hard to keep it open, but current proposals are for reduced hours during the day.

Rachel and local Councillors, including Ted Hanley, are campaigning hard for better opening hours at the historic facility. They were at Tesco this week, and collected hundreds of signatures.

If you would like to sign the petition for better opening hours at Bramley Baths, please email rreevesmp@gmail.com.

Rachel spent some time this week campaigning in Barnsley for Labour's candidate in the upcoming Parliamentary by election, Dan Jarvis.

The Barnsley by election will be fought on Thursday 3rd March, and Dan Jarvis is an excellent Labour candidate, having spent 15 years around the globe as a British soldier, and has now made his home in Barnsley.

Rachel is pictured in Barnsley with Labour activists including Farnley and Wortley Council Candidate Stuart McKenna, and former Leeds West MP John Battle.

Rachel joined local residents at Hawthorn Mill on Friday night for their Award Celebration Evening. The residents were celebrating winning the EAC Gold Award for ‘Best UK Retirement Housing Scheme 30-40 units 2011’.

The sheltered residence won the award after being nominated by residents and eight lucky residents and members of staff went to Ascot to collect the prize. The Award Celebration Evening was a chance for everybody to celebrate the prize and to get glammed up! There was a presentation of the award to the Head of the Tenants Association and an airing of the specially composed song, ‘The Hawthorn March’.

Rachel spoke to the residents and gave her heartfelt congratulations on such a well deserved win. She said,

“It was great to see the hard work put in by Sue Hendry and all the wonderful staff at Hawthorn Mill being rewarded. Everyone looked great on the night and it was lovely to catch up with everyone on the day out at Ascot. It was a great evening and I was very grateful to be invited to share in it.”

Rachel attended the ‘New Wortley, New You’ event at New Wortley Community Centre today to meet local residents, and also campaign groups and organisations who work within our community.

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On Friday Rachel led a delegation of Headteachers from schools across Bramley to meet with the Executive Board Member for Leisure at Leeds City Council, Councillor Adam Ogilvie, to discuss the proposed shorter opening hours at the Bramley Baths swimming pool and gym. Leeds City Council has proposed shorter opening hours for the facility, as part of cost cutting measures across the city, as a result of the Tory-led government’s 28% cut to Leeds City Council budgets. Rachel and local Bramley Councillors including Councillor Ted Hanley have worked hard to ensure that Bramley baths can stay open in spite of the central government’s cuts. But, Rachel is concerned about local schools that use Bramley Baths during the day. Rachel has spoken to all local schools in the area, and is working with them to try and persuade the Council to open Bramley Baths specifically for them in the daytime. Six local schools were represented at the meeting, along with Bramley and Rodley Community Action. They outlined to the Council how often they use the Baths, and how much more they would have to spend if they had to travel to another pool in the city. Rachel commented on the meeting,

“It was a very positive meeting. The Council understands the schools’ concerns, and we understand that David Cameron and George Osborne’s unfair cuts to the Council’s budget makes things very difficult for them.” “I will be taking forward this campaign by knocking on residents’ doors in the local area in the coming weeks, and also collecting signatures on Saturday at 11.30am outside Tesco in Bramley. I will keep working with the Council to try to get a better deal for local people.” “I will be doing all that I can to fight for local schools and local people, in the face of the government’s enormous cuts.”

To sign the petition for better opening hours for Bramley Baths please email rreevesmp@gmail.com with the subject header ‘Bramley Baths petition’, or write to Rachel Reeves MP, Unit 10, Armley Park Court, Stanningley Road, Leeds. LS12 2AE.

Rachel was the main speaker at UNISON's National Women's Conference today. The Conference, in Harrogate, was attended by hundreds of delegates from across the country.

The women of Unison are discussing the impact of the Tory-led government's cuts to the public sector and how they are going to work to fight the cuts.

In a speech to the conference floor, Rachel spoke about the importance of women in politics and how the Tory-led government's cuts are disproportionately affecting women on middle and modest incomes.

Condemning the way that cuts to local services, jobs and welfare, are being handled, Rachel emphasised that women have a voice and should use it to defend themselves from the cuts that will make their life harder.

Rachel also answered questions in a Q & A session, on a broad range of topics from local government cuts to the future of the NHS.

Rachel said,

"It was great to speak to the women of Unison and to hear their stories firsthand. They told me me about how they are being affected by spending cuts, and what action they want to see taken to combat the government.



I encouraged them to get involved by writing to their MP, contacting their Councillor and speaking out on the issues that are affecting them.



I also look forward to joining Unison in the March on Parliament,

called by the TUC, on 26th March. It will be a great opportunity to call for a fairer alternative to what is a reckless economic gamble. I hope to see many others there!"

Rachel's Senior Researcher, Louise Tinsley, was last night awarded with the DODs 'Labour Researcher of the Year Award', in recognition of her research in Rachel's Westminster office.

Louise has provided expert support to Rachel in her role as Shadow Minister for Pensions, and was presented her award by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP in the Speaker's Apartments in the Houses of Parliament.

Rachel was delighted with the award, and said: "Louise is part of a fantastic team who support me in my Parliamentary and Constituency work. I'm very pleased that she was recognised by the panel of the judges and Mr. Speaker for her efforts since I was elected in May."

Louise is pictured receiving her award from the Speaker.

On Friday Rachel visited the Good Work assembly at Bramley St Peter’s Primary School, to see what work the children had been doing recently. At the Good Work assembly, children are congratulated for their work, and rewarded for stars that they have gained during the week. Many of the childrens’ parents also attend every week.

Rachel then went to a School Council meeting, where the School Council discussed a range of topics, such as a pupil who was recently Mayor for the day (Emily Humphries from year 6), and recent projects that the school has led on. The School Council also took Rachel on a tour of the school, and she met with teachers.

But the hot topic was future of Bramley Baths - whose opening hours are under threat because of cutbacks to Council funding. Children, parents and teachers were all worried about whether they could still go swimming in the most beautiful swimming pool in the city.

Rachel commented, “It was lovely to see the excellent work that the children have done recently, and the School Council are confident and impressive. They were really worried about the future of Bramley Baths. Bramley’s Councillors have been working very hard to keep the venue open, even though the government’s cuts are hitting hard. I encouraged the children to write to the Council, and will be meeting with the Council to discuss how we can deal with the funding cuts they are facing, while protecting swimming lessons for children in Bramley."

“I really enjoyed my time at the school and look forward to visiting again soon!”

There are just a few weeks to go until International Women's Day 2011. In Leeds West, there are three events with experts at the Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall, who are there to lead the following discussions:

Wednesday 2nd March, 10.30 – 11.30amA talk about Leeds Suffragettes with Dr Drummond from Leeds University Trinity College

Wednesday 16th March, 2-3pmA talk on Victorian working women with Dr Sayer from Leeds Trinity University College

Friday 18th March, 2-3pmA talk on women in Ancient Egypt with Katherine Baxter, Curator of Archaeology.

Booking essential. £3.80 per person (no concessions).

To book or for more information please contact Abbey House Museum, Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH. 0113 2305492. abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk

After outcries over plans to cut the £27m Financial Inclusion Fund, The Business Department has found money to fund the programme for another year.

The fund, which paid 500 hundred debt advisers around the country to provide free advice to people struggling with debt, was facing the axe just last week.

On Tuesday,Rachel highlighted the 11 debt advisers who had been handed their redundancy notices in Leeds alone. She was told by Mark Hoban, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, that other services would 'reach out to the most vulnerable people in society to ensure that they get access to high quality advice.'

Yet just a few days later, the value of the debt advisers has finally been recognised.

Rachel said "Even the Government is starting to realise that their spending decisions have gone too far too fast.



Week in week out at my constituency surgeries I see people who are struggling with debt from loan sharks, credit cards and catalogues. Debt advisors can make a real difference to people's lives and so I'm delighted that the government has re-thought these cuts.



I'm glad that the money has been found to continue the fund, but it is disappointing that so many people had to be handed their redundancy notices."

Cameron's government have gone back on their promise in the Coalition Agreement, and are delaying the state pension for thousands of women who are in their 50s at the moment. It will mean that when they come to retire in their 60s, thousands will have to work for up to two years longer. You can find out more and sign the petition to oppose this broken promise by clicking here.

Rachel has written on pensions this week for The Guardian, Comment is Free and LabourList. You can find the articles below:

Comment is Free - The government is unfairly rushing state pension changes

LabourList - Pensioners are being short-changed by the Tory-led government

The Yorkshire Evening Post have also featured the story, '3,000 Yorkshire women facing timebomb of 'lost' pensions', which you can read in full by clicking here.