labour_party_best_practice_awards_2010Chinese for Labour welcomes the election of Ed Miliband as our leader. The members have spoken and we will unite in our support behind Ed to lead a constructive and responsible opposition. We have to stand up for the millions who will be affected by the coalition government's unfairness and socially divisive spending cuts.

Sonny Leong, Chair of Chinese for Labour says, "The party has to come together, we have to move on from talking to each other and start talking to the country about what kind of country and society we want. The fight back begins now, and let's resolve that this will be a one-term government. Ed has given me his promise that he will work with us to fulfil our pledge with his elder brother, David."

Also, at the labour Party Conference, Chinese for Labour won the Best Practice Award for their campaigning work with voters of Chinese origin, in Islington South and Finsbury and Westminster North to support the General Election Campaign in these seats.

Chinese for Labour piloted an innovative approach, and chose to dedicate their campaign activity to supporting two Constitutiency Labour Party - Westminster North and Islington South & Finsbury; both of which had been identified as having a significant number of Chinese voters living in the seats. The group set up a regular phone bank, to identify Chinese voters on the electoral registers in these seats.

Members of Chinese for Labour then canvassed Chinese voters for political support, using appropriate languages and dialects, and with a direct understanding of issues that are important to electors of Chinese origin. Chinese for Labour also conducted fundraising events, press conferences and campaign rallies, and during the Chinese New Year period, produced materials and hosted street stalls in China town and other areas with a high concentration of voters of Chinese descent.

At the National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting before the Conference, Chinese for labour was granted affiliation status, giving it a formal role in Labour decision-making. Leong says, "I am extremely proud of everyone who has worked so hard, gaining affiliation status and winning the Best Practice Award. We now have formal role in decisions taken at NEC meetings, and also participation in policy making within the National Policy Forum."