Our Members and Affiliated and Registered Supporters all reside in Elmdon, Lyndon or Olton. These three wards comprise our Branch which is part of the combined Solihull –Meriden Constituency Labour Party. The Constituency Party meets on the second Thursday of every month, alternately in Shirley and in Chelmsley Wood. All branch members are encouraged to attend these All Members’ meetings.

Our branch meetings are held within our wards, usually in the meeting room of the Lyndon pub or upstairs in Olton Library. Branch meetings are held every two months, usually on the third Wednesday of the month. They start at 7.30pm and invariably finish by 9.30pm. The branch meetings comprise some brief formal business (e.g. approving minutes of previous meetings and flagging important correspondence) before a discussion of some aspect of Party policy or current issues of local or national importance. All present are encouraged to express their views. Our Branch has nearly 200 members of all ages from 17 to 70+, with a fairly even gender split. The Branch has a small committee: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Women’s Officer. Current officers (in 2020) and their email addresses are:

Chair: Marcus Brain chair.elo.branch@solihulllabour.org.uk    

Vice-Chair: Lorraine Essex

Secretary: John Wilson  secretary.elo.branch@solihulllabour.org.uk  

Treasurer: Steve Gulati     

Women’s Officer (post unfilled)

Campaigning

We try to be active in all aspects of Labour Party campaigns: leafleting to households; manning stalls (e.g. at Hobs Moat shopping centre); canvassing and discussing on the doorstep and at school gates; telephoning supporters, actual and potential; expressing concern over urgent issues and contributing to our local Party Newsletters. There are roles for everyone! Although we try to maintain a steady effort throughout the year, these activities peak near election times. Then there is much for each of us to do. There is also quite some flexibility in that ELO members might help campaigning in North Solihull and members from the wards in the “north” might assist in our campaign days. In the Solihull Metropolitan Council, each ward has three councillors. Unfortunately, at present (2020), none of the councillors representing Elmdon, Lyndon and Olton is in the Labour Party. One of our main aims therefore is to have Labour councillors elected for our wards. We always field a candidate in each of our three wards. For the local elections in May 2021 our candidates are shown above.

Getting involved

If you wish to join our activities, you will be very welcome. Joining the Labour Party is very straightforward, just click on the link at the top of this page. Even easier, if you are keen to help our local community, whether as a branch member or just to assist in campaigns, please contact one of our committee.