Environmental and consumer activist Ralph Nader has just announced he is running again for the U.S Presidency.  He is widely credited with giving the 2000 election away to Bush by drawing support from the then Vice President Al Gore.  What impact do we think his candidacy will have this time?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7261670.stm

The independent MP and former Labour cabinet minister, Clare Short, has accused the Prime Minister of tokenism for sending Baroness Amos to the EU/Africa summit this weekend in his place. Today Short claimed that Amos, who will be attending as the UK’s representative, is being sent because she is black.  For more info, click here.

The Black Socialist Society has voted to change its name to BAME Labour.  The result of the ballot on a change of name was announced at a special conference of the organisation held in Manchester on Saturday.  For full details click here - http://www.tmponline.org/?p=271

Ahead of the Black Socialist Society's annual conference in Manchester this weekend, TMP editor, Chuka Umunna, looks at Labour’s relationship with the black community and responds to the documentary maker and Conservative Party supporter, David Matthews' piece in the latest issue of the New Statesman which argues that Labour can no longer rely on the unconditional support of black Britain.

The Black Socialist Society Special Conference 2007 will be held in Manchester College of Arts and Technology, Ashton Old Road, Manchester, M11 2WH on Saturday 24 November 2007. Conference attendees will gather to take part in Labour’s policy making process, receive training, hear from Government Ministers and much more.  For more info - http://www.tmponline.org/?p=259

Polly Toynbee is invariably referred to as one of the most influential commentators of the New Labour era, reviled and revered in equal measure.  This doyenne of the Left was formerly BBC social affairs editor and an associate editor of the Independent before rejoining the Guardian in 1998, where she had spent many years earlier in her career and where she still resides.  In this in depth interview with Polly - the first for many years - Chuka Umunna, editor of TMP (the online political magazine) and Compass management committee member, talks to Polly about life and her views.

Michelle Obama will be descending on London for a fundraiser for her husband’s campaign at the swanky Landmark Hotel, on Monday.  Her husband (above) will not be there as his team are reluctant to let him leave the U.S at this crucial time, so Michelle will be standing in.

Shortly before Gordon Brown’s announcement that there will be no general election in the near future, TMP editor, Chuka Umunna, caught up with Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Ed Miliband MP.

The former Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Oona King, has just published her book, “House Music: The Oona King Diaries”.  The book gives a moving account of her time as an MP. Last week, TMP editor, Chuka Umunna caught up with her.  In the first part of this wide ranging interview, Chuka talks to her about her book, politics, inequality and young people.  Below is a short extract.

Committed2Equality (c2e), the leading UK employment diversity consultancy, Unite, the largest union in the UK, and TMP, the online political magazine, will be hosting a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference on Monday 24 September from 5.30-7pm in the Franklyn Suite, Connaught Hotel, in Bournemouth.

The event – “Bridging the gap: narrowing the employment divide” – will explore the practical and pragmatic steps the Labour Government needs to take to ensure fair employment and improve the employment and work opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

The head of Labour's Ethnic Minority Taskforce has renewed calls for the introduction of all ethnic minority shortlists. 

The former U.S Democratic Presidential candidate and close associate of Martin Luther King returns to the UK for a tour to promote the importance of the economic contribution of Black and minority ethnic people to the UK.  

Ealing Cllr Virendra Sharma was selected last night as the Labour candidate for the Ealing Southall by-election.

Word reaches TMP that Ealing Southall is to be a selection from an open shortlist.  Click here for more.

We spent a day on the campaign trail with Jon Cruddas.  Click here, to read our exclusive insider's report of what it is like to put yourself at the mercy of 190,000 Labour members. 

P.S. Congrats to Labour Home on keeping us up to date on all the happenings during this deputy leadership campaign!  Great stuff.

What do we all think?  Somewhat more awkward and tougher for the candidates than Newsnight this one.

Some definite hostile vibes between Harriet and Hazel on show, with Hazel's "handbag wars" comment.  Hain giving off the "you've stolen my thunder" vibe to Cruddas - since when was Hain so concerned with affordable housing?  A bit of a Blears Johnson love-in at the end.  Harriet objecting to the Brown "patsy" jibe. Hmmmm........

A poll commissioned by The Voice newspaper published today shows that David Cameron’s Conservatives are still struggling to appeal to Black people.  However Labour has ground to make up too - 68% of Black British people are of the view that the Labour Party takes their support for granted, though many have benefited from measures such as the National Minimum Wage and Sure Start centres.