Statement - Kate Osamor The main task confronting the Labour Party now is to put forward policies that

can solve the economic problems created by the Tory led coalition. The Tory view that wealth can be created by reducing peoples standards of living is plainly false. The result to date of their austerity programme has been deterioration in the economy. Across the country people are worse off, the poorest being hit very hard, with women and families disproportionately disadvantaged. In some inner city areas disorder broke out last summer. The Tories are creating a society that is less safe. Offering no way forward, they resort to fostering division and whipping up prejudice. With Ed Miliband as Leader we have come some way in rebuilding our lost support. Now the NEC, working with Ed, needs to focus on developing policies and campaigns that pin responsibility for the current situation on the government and indicate the difference Labour will make. Our message has to be one of decisive action to help people through these tough times. Labour will be investing in key sectors of the economy including public services, to create jobs that will provide real help and support to families. The party needs a range of different experiences at the NEC, to help ensure our campaigns are relevant across the electorate. With the involvement of a black woman, the NEC would be stronger and more reflect the diversity of voters we seek to represent. We also need to reconnect with younger people who worry their future is being sold off to pay for the mistakes of the buy-now, pay-later generation. I am a party member in Tottenham, CLP Womens Officer and Chair of Governors of my local primary school. For more than twenty years I have also been involved in a wide range of local community campaigns, such as defending social care provision and opposing NHS closures. I work to link up the local communities with the Party. I support core Labour values of social justice, peace and public ownership, particularly of the public services. I encourage party members to become more involved including getting more women to stand for office. The NECs focus must be on winning the next general election and if elected I could use my breadth of experience to assist that work. I would take account of the views of party members and be accountable.

It is clear that the Tory led coalition's deficit reduction strategy is unfair and will disproportionately disadvantage women and families, particularly those on low incomes. The Coalition attacks on the public sector will hit women harder than men : WHY well

 More women will lose their jobs simply due to the fact that significantly more women than men are employed in the public sector. In 2011, over 1,000 Haringey council employees lost their jobs. Over 75 per cent of Haringey council workforce is female, meaning a disproportionate number of women have lost their jobs. Many women choose to work in the public sector because it offers a pension and secure, flexible work that allows them to combine work with their caring responsibilities. Women are more reliant on the services that the public sector provides and therefore stand to lose more from cuts to front line services. Women are more likely to depend on the welfare system and will be hit hardest by cuts to benefits. The three-year freeze in the value of Child Benefit, in addition to the withdrawal of Child Benefit from women living in a household where one adult is a higher rate taxpayer. Also, the abolition of the Baby Element of Tax Credits (worth a maximum of 545 to eligible families) and a reversal of Labours commitment to introduce a Toddler Tax Credit (worth a maximum of 208 for eligible families). On an almost daily basis, the Tory led coalition announces new policies that will have a negative impact upon women. The abolition of the Womens National Commission, cut backs and a review of the functions of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and cuts to legal aid are just a few examples of recent coalition's announcements, which will have a direct, negative effect on women.. Finally as the full impact of public sector job losses becomes clear, many women could find themselves having to take lower skilled work and a significant pay cut, or struggle to find work at all. This would be a shocking waste of talent and have a devastating impact on family incomes. Public sector job losses and welfare cuts will disproportionately hit women's income and set progress on closing the gender pay gap back years. To that end I ask that you all support women and families during this time of austerity.

Women's Forum Stall Saturday 19th March 2011

National

Stall contents: Leaflets on Labour Party. Raise awareness of TUC March against Cuts being held on 26 March 2011

March for the Alternative Saturday March 30 2011 The flagship demonstration against coalition government cuts organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Estimated 500,000 marched in London against public sector cuts . Tea Party for new members in conjunction with Bruce Grove Ward Saturday 2nd April 2011 An afternoon to welcome New labour Women members from both West Green & Bruce Grove Wards Listening Event on Tuesday June 21 2011: Hornsey & Wood Green and Tottenham CLP Women's Forum jointly organised a listening event with Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women who spoke about empowering women and the current political scene. Listening event on Thursday October 27 2011 Tottenham CLP Women's Forum invited Chi Onwurah MP, Junior Shadow Minister for Business and Innovation Skills who spoke about empowering women during times of ConDem cuts. Political Office Meeting Tuesday 22 November 2011 Labour women are taking steps to encourage women in the borough to stand for political office. Following a successful initial meeting . It was agreed a councillor mentoring scheme for prospective women candidates will be essential also a support programme to build campaigning experience would also make a difference. Plans

include a coffee morning to canvas interest and a training day for prospective women candidates in 2012. Labour is keen to promote the candidacy of women.

Stall contents: Leaflets on Labour Party. Raise awareness of TUC National March against Cuts being held on 26 March 2011
The flagship demonstration against coalition government cuts organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Estimated 500,000 marched in London against public sector cuts . Hornsey & Wood Green and Tottenham CLP Women's Forum jointly organised a listening event with Yvette Cooper MP, Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women who spoke about empowering women and the current political scene. Tottenham CLP Women's Forum invited Chi Onwurah MP, Junior Shadow Minister for Business and Innovation Skills who spoke about empowering women during times of ConDem cuts. Labour women are taking steps to encourage women in the borough to stand for political office. Following a successful initial meeting with Joanne McCartney, Haringey GLA representative, and Anne Stennett, Labour Councillor for White Hart Lane ward. It was agreed a councillor mentoring scheme for prospective women candidates will be essential also a support programme to build campaigning experience would also make a difference. Plans include a coffee morning to canvas interest and a training day for prospective women candidates in 2012.

Experience: CLP Womens Officer; GC Delegate, LGC delegate Chair of Governors at local primary school Unite: Branch LE/524 Equalities Officer; Regional Community Workers & Not for Profit Regional BAME. Member: Co-operative Party Labour Party membership number. L0121033 Tottenham CLP