The Labour Party are rallying around in the fight for a fourth term at conference this week. Rachel is in Brighton, speaking to conference on the economy and at a variety of fringe events. As part of a packed schedule, Rachel is getting her message o… more »

Today was the economy and prosperity debate. I arrived early in the conference hall to try and secure a chance to speak in the debate. After hearing from apprenticeship providers and entrepreneurs who are leading the way in the economic recovery and re… more »

The sun is shining down on Brighton. And don’t i know it...?! Interviewed by Adam Boulton this morning on Sky with the sun bearing down on me so much I could barely see! But, made the point that Labour’s record on the ground is a good one – two new sc… more »

Thirteen days in to the refuse workers strike and Leeds is awash with rubbish. Refuse workers earn just £18,000 a year and the council wants to cut their wages by a third. That's not fair and it's not acceptable. Refuse workers do an important job,… more »

At last week's Area Committee Meeting it was revealed that a shocking 100,000 tonnes a year of rubbish a year is now planned to be sent to Kirkstall's waste transfer site if the council get the go-ahead to build the super-size plant. That amounts to h… more »

Speeding cars are a big problem across the constituency, and Spen Lane in Kirkstall is a particular hotspot - with cars coming down the hill often exceeding 40 or even 50 mph. With the help of local councillors and community groups at Norman Towers and… more »

Rachel joined striking bin workers at Leeds Civic Council yesterday. Councils up and down the country have implemented the equal pay act without strikes, but in Leeds the Tory-Lib Dem coalition seem intent of cutting the pay of some of our lowest paid w… more »

George Osborne said today that the Tories would take a cost-cutting leaf out of Tory-led councils' book if they were to get in to Government. Channel 4 News tonight (10th Sept) gave us an idea of what that might mean. They featured what’s going on in H… more »

Council officials last night finally met with local residents in Burley to discuss the plans for a Waste Transfer Station being developed just off Kirkstall Road. In a heated meeting, the officials faced heavy criticism over the plans, both for the facil… more »

Why does it always rain when we plan to go out door-knocking? I wonder whether it’s the same for the Tories and Lib Dems?! Getting out on the doorstep is one of the key past-times for prospective parliamentary candidates, but encouraging activis… more »

Alongside local councillors, I visited Bramley Lawns Day Care Centre today. Like other day care centres across the city, Bramley Lawns offers a vital service to local people who rely on the centre for company and stimulation. What day centres like Bra… more »

EVANSTON AVENUE WASTE TRANSFER SITE Leeds City Council is pushing ahead with plans to rebuild the Waste Transfer Facility on Evanston Ave., just off Kirkstall Road. Because it is so close to a school, businesses and houses, there is concern about the… more »