My week at Labour Party Conference

I'm over at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester  and will be here until Thursday. Yesterday I joined my colleague John Denham MP at a Fabian Society event to launch 'Labour4Democracy', a new group drawing support from across the Party and of which I'm Chair.  L4D aims to build support for a more pluralist approach to politics, working with those from other parties who share common goals in seeking progressive change.
 
In the main hall, I'm looking forward to Ed Miliband's speech on Tuesday outlining Labour's developing programme for the radical change our country needs. Away from the main Conference, there's a busy programme of 'fringe' meetings and I'll be speaking at a couple - on the case for graduate tax in place of the £9000 tuition fees introduced by the Tories and also for a change to the immigration rules to take students out of net migration targets. I'll also be holding meetings and supporting events on a range of issues - from house building to Kashmir.

I'll be back in Sheffield on Friday to launch my annual report and consultation week, with a street stall and public meeting in Broomhill, followed up with an event on Saturday with the UK Youth Parliament to listen to the views of young people.  That will be followed by an opportunity to talk with people at the re-scheduled Sharrow Festival.