Rachel visited Leeds College of Building last week, meeting Principal Ian Billyard. Rachel was full of praise for the college, which is the only specialist further education construction college in the UK.

The college was featured on Rachel's short film for Channel 4's 'Political Slot'. It currently has 600 apprentices, spread across 7 locations, and provides a unique and valuable service to the city.

Rachel is lobbying for the college to expand into West Leeds, with a number of viable sites from where the college could offer yet more apprenticeships and training. She said: "Investment in skills is making a real difference. Leeds College of Building are offering more courses for the next generation of builders, plumbers, architects and joiners. Advanced apprenticeships around the country are producing the engineers who will lay the cables to make high speed internet a reality for all, and the technicians who will build electric cars of the future. This targeted investment by the Labour government is supporting our emergence from the recession on the sound footing of a broad, competitive, skilled economy, not something that happens by chance. I want to make sure that Leeds West is part of that opportunity economy, having the college of building here would be a step in the right direction."

'Why Vote Labour' has hit the shops today.

The book is Rachel's personal account of why she is a Labour Party member, candidate and voter, and includes personal stories from members and supporters around the country about what the Labour government has done.

You can order your copy direct from Rachel by emailing whyvotelabour@googlemail.com - if you do £5 of the price will be donated to the Party! Every little bit helps to counter Lord Ashcroft's millions!

Short synopses of the book are available at at progress and LabourList

Local theatre group Interplay have been awarded the Best Film in the over 13s category at the prestigious First Light Film Awards.

The group went to the glitzy awards ceremony in London after nomination for Best Film by over 13s and Best Comedy.

The accolade came for the film 'One Man's Walk', a story by Kenneth and Nicholas Mitchell. The film is 'a window into Kenneth Mitchell's life and his favourite things.'

We are delighted for Interplay, who do fantastic work in the community. Creative Director Steve Byrne featured in Rachel's new book, explaining the effect the Labour government has had on Interplay.

You can buy 'Why Vote Labour' direct from Rachel now by emailing whyvotelabour@googlemail.com, and donate £5 to the Party by doing so.

Congratulations to Steve and all at Interplay!

Another Wednesday closer to the election, another Prime Minister's Question Time gone by. It was bound to be a lively session following the revelations about Tory peer Lord Ashcroft's tax status, and the House did not disappoint.

Rachel analysed the session for Progress, alongside Conor Ryan and Rupa Huq. You can read her comments here.

In January, Leeds’ Tory/Lib-Dem Council dumped its plans to build a Waste Transfer Facility on Kirkstall Road.

That decision, officially based on cost considerations, followed a hugely successful campaign amongst the local community against plans to handle waste opposite their houses, schools and shops.

The Council has revealed the true extent of the financial costs of the site. Had the Council built the station on Evanston Avenue, it would have cost the taxpayer £424,000 extra PER YEAR. This exorbitant figure does not even take into account the costs of building a new facility.

The Council was keen to push through a plan that would have been both a blight on the local area and burden on Kirkstall Road, at a cost of nearly half a million pounds every year.

Although delighted at the campaign’s success, Rachel is determined to make sure that lessons are learnt from the farcical project, and that the site is put to best use in future.

Rachel spoke to a Council meeting last week, questioning the decisions taken so far and making sure that the site is not forgotten by the Council moving forward. She said: “While it is great news that we won’t see a massive station in a ridiculous location, it is important that the site isn’t forgotten, and that the ugly burnt shell of the old station is removed.”

Rachel will continue to fight alongside your local Labour Councillors to ensure that

- the eyesore of the old facility is removed;
- the site is transformed into a modern recycling facility;
- local residents are properly consulted on future plans; and
- the Council is held to account for its decision making on the project.

You can keep up to date with any developments here.