Laura Bruni

• Labour Party Member since 1987
• Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate in 2005 (Colchester) against a Liberal Democrat incumbent
• Lived in Walthamstow for 17 years
• Constituency Secretary, Walthamstow CLP for 5 years
• Former Political Secretary to John Cryer (former Labour MP for Hornchurch)
• Former assistant to Bernie Grant MP
• Active in every election campaign since mid 1980s
• Active in campaigning between elections
• Active in Transport and General Workers Union

Laura was praised by Colchester Labour Party for being an excellent, hardworking Parliamentary candidate, able to motivate a team of members from all wings of the party. She knocked on thousands of doors in the 6 months leading up to the general election campaign, spoke at numerous public meetings, raised money for the campaign and worked with local trade unions. She appeared regularly in the local press and on radio and television.

Laura has a track record of campaigning on immigration rights and in favour of improving rights at work, and tackling low pay and a longstanding track record against the Iraq war.

Whilst working for Bernie Grant MP she ran a campaign for the regulation of immigration advice services to protect vulnerable claimants from exploitative unqualified immigration advice services which secured a commitment to legislation in the 1997 Labour Manifesto and subsequently found its way into law. In 2004 she was the author of a motion opposing the occupation of Iraq which was debated at Labour Party Conference, seconded by Walthamstow CLP. During the 2005 General Election she spoke against aspects of anti-terrorism legislation at a conference at Essex University organised by the Islamic Society. At the 2006 Greater London Labour Party Biennial Conference she delivered a speech in support of the London Living Wage campaign and have been consistent in raising trade union issues and encouraging trade unions involvement within her local Labour Party.

Working for John Cryer throughout his two terms as Labour MP for Hornchurch, Laura helped him retain his seat in 2001, against a strong anti-Labour swing in outer East London and South Essex and nearly retaining the seat in 2005. This was achieved through an assiduous attention to constituency casework, on a wide range of issues, ranging from supporting the families of murder victims in their efforts to negotiate their way through the criminal justice system, alleged police corruption, complex immigration cases, to housing, benefits and anti-social behaviour cases. John Cryer and Laura were able to tap into the individual experiences of constituents to inform our approach to national policy issues. They developed this into a wide-ranging programme of community engagement, contributing to John’s near victory in the 2005 election. Laura is convinced that had Hornchurch Labour Party had the resources that were spent by the Tories, the result would have been very different.

Electorally, the Labour Party is threatened by a resurgent Tory Party, short on policy but capitalising on disaffection, as well as a well- entrenched Liberal Democrat Party and the BNP. Both of the latter have managed successfully to capitalise on frustration and cynicism amongst longstanding Labour voters who believe Labour party should give greater priority to the issues they care about, whether these be foreign policy, the environment, council housing or reducing the gap between rich and poor.

Laura says that if Labour is to win the fourth term all members want, as well as highlighting its many achievements, the party needs to refocus on Labour issues, such as publicly owned and accountable public services, improving the job security of working people and fighting inequality. Britain need policies that motivate Labour’s traditional voters to turn-out, as well as those that appeal to ‘undecided’ voters in marginal seats.

Laura seeks to secure a society based on equal access to power for all people, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic class, religious identity, disability or sexual orientation.

She has been involved in Labour politics for most of her adult life and firmly believes Labour is the only party that can represent the interest of working people, the vulnerable and the ‘seldom heard’ in local and national politics.

Laura also wants to strengthen trade union rights to organise, particularly amongst marginalised and vulnerable groups of workers. When the political will is there, very significant change can be achieved through collaboration and collective efforts by the Labour movement.

She first applied to join the Labour Party after the 1984 Miners Strike because she believed it was necessary for people in all walks of life to campaign against the destruction of jobs and communities. Like thousands of other loyal Labour members Laura worked for many years to secure the election of a Labour government and wants to play an even stronger role to improve standards in education, health, employment and the environment. She would also like to help Britain play a progressive role in international politics, standing up for human rights and working to tackle disease and poverty throughout the world.

She became politically active in an era of high unemployment and recession caused by Tory policies. And is determined that Britain is never again faced with the same lack of opportunity and destruction of communities. Nor should Britain accept a society is healthy where extreme poverty exists alongside extreme wealth. The Labour Party should implement policies to the narrow the gap between rich and poor, strengthen the trade union laws and combat racism and discrimination.