Melanie Ward of LWN, with Kate Green MP and Nan Sloane

On 12 June we hosted our second annual fundraising dinner, launching the LWN Margaret Bondfield Club and celebrating another year in which LWN has continued to grow and develop nationally.

Our speakers included Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (and a great LWN supporter), who spoke about the devastating impact on women of the Government’s legislative agenda.  We also heard from Seema Malhotra MP, Labour’s newest MP and an LWN graduate. The evening brought together women and men from across the Labour Movement, including activists, Councillors, Peers, MPs and shadow Ministers.

A full gallery of photos from the event will follow shortly.

LWN is holding an organised campaigns day in support of our by-election candidate in Feltham & Heston, Seema Malhotra. Join us to make a difference – and help secure the election of a brilliant Parliamentary candidate.

As you may know, LWN member Seema Malhotra has been selected as the Labour & Co-operative candidate for the Feltham & Heston by-election.

Seema grew up in Feltham, and went to school in Heston. She is co-founder and Director of the Fabian Women’s Network and a former National Chair of the Fabian Society, as well as a former adviser to Harriet Harman during her stint as leader of the opposition last year. She is a graduate of LWN’s parliamentary training, and will make an outstanding MP if she is elected.

But to win she needs your help.

Anas Sarwar MP is the first of the Scottish deputy leadership contenders to respond to LWN’s letter. We have published his response here; others will be posted as they are received.

LWN member Seema Malhotra has been selected as Labour’s candidate for the Feltham & Heston by-election. Seema grew up in the area, and has worked both in the private sector and as an adviser to Harriet Harman. She is the co-founder and Director of the Fabian Women’s Network, and was instrumental in setting up their mentoring scheme this year.

The by-election, which was caused by the death of Alan Keen MP earlier this month, is likely to be held on 15 December.

The Feltham & Heston shortlist of 4 included 2 women candidates, both LWN members and graduates of its training. LWN is very proud to have seen one of its members selected; she will be a brilliant candidate and, if Labour wins the by-election,  an excellent MP. Details of how to get involved to help Seema will be posted on our webitse soon.

Ken MacIntosh MSP has become the first of the Scottish leadership contenders to respond to LWN’s letter. We have published his response here and look forward to others following.

The Scottish Labour Party is currently in the process of electing a new Leader and Deputy Leader. There are 3 candidates for Leader: Tom Harris MP, Johann Lamont MSP and Ken MacIntosh MSP, and three candidates for the Deputy Leadership: Ian Davidson MP, Lewis MacDonald MSP and Anas Sarwar MP.

This is an important moment for each of them to outline their views on improving the gender balance amongst Scottish Labour’s elected representatives, and on how they would reach out to women across the Party and the country. LWN has written to all candidates to ask how they would do this. The letter is on our LWN Scotland page and we will publish each of the responses online. You can also find out how you can get involved in our campaign.

The newly elected Labour Women’s Network executive committee will be meeting in October to agree a new schedule of training dates for 2011/2012, along with other event for LWN members. If you have ideas and would like to help organise events in your area, please get in touch with us.

More information coming shortly.

LWN has a packed diary of events for Labour women at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool this year.

Carry on Campaigning: How women can do it for themselves

In September 2011, Labour Women’s Network and Young Labour hosted a round table discussion with Kate Green MP and some of our most experienced female campaigners to talk about how we can empower the next generation of Labour women. The event focused on the best way for us to get our voices heard, the campaign tools we can exploit and the barriers to participation. The panel shared their experiences of working with the Labour party and facilitated a discussion about what support we need to build our own campaigns.

Councillor Victoria MacDonald (Norwich) gives her perspective on how women can juggle the demands of life and still succeed in the world of politics.