Next Branch Meeting

Brighton & Mid-Sussex NUJ Branch Meeting
Monday, 6 January, 7pm
The Lord Nelson (back room), Trafalgar Street, BN1(down the hill from the station)

AGENDA: 

• Welcome 
• New members 
• Reports 
• Delegates Meeting preliminary agenda - branch motions and amendments 
• Election of DM delegates (please email nominations to Phil) 
• Planning Caroline Lucas meeting January 23 
• Other future meetings 
• Branch committee reorganisation 
• Any other business

Brighton and Hove first in the country to oppose the gagging law

From the 38 Degrees team:

Great News! Last Thursday Brighton and Hove became the first place in the country to formally oppose the gagging law.

Brighton and Hove councillors debated and passed a motion against the gagging law*.  38 Degrees members sent over 1600 emails to councillors asking them to back the campaign for freedom of speech - and it definitely had an effect! Councillors don’t often get involved in Westminster policies, so the fact that this motion was voted on - and passed - just shows how controversial the gagging law is.

And in the lead up to January’s massive public meeting on the gagging law, news like this is really important.

Mike Weatherley, the MP for Hove, has still not said he’s coming. And Simon Kirby, Brighton Kemptown MP, has put the date in his diary, but hasn’t 100% confirmed yet. The more the gagging law is on the local political agenda, the more pressure these MPs will be under to join in the debate.

Make sure you’ve saved the date for the public meeting in your diary! It’s on Thursday 9th January, and it looks like it’s going to be an amazing event.

If you haven’t done so already you can RSVP on facebook here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/Brighton-Public-Meeting

Or in the comments section of the blog here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/Come-to-a-meeting-in-Brighton

This could spark a movement in councils across the UK. Brighton and Hove was the first council to take a stand and publicly oppose the gagging law, but it could inspire other councils to do the same thing!

Thanks so much for all your hard work,

Megan, Becky, Rebecca & the 38 Degrees team

* This is the motion the councillors debated on. It passed with 34 votes in favour, 16 against, and 1 abstention:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/motion-to-oppose-gagging-law

Xmas Social

There will be an informal Xmas social, at The North Laine pub, Gloucester Place, Brighton, on Thursday 19th December from 6pm onwards. Free drinks for early birds. Food available. See you there?

Christmas is cancelled (maybe!)

Because of disappointing ticket sales, it is with regret that the Xmas Party at Emporium has been cancelled. We are hoping to reconvene in a smaller venue, later in the month, so watch this space.