How on earth can anyone say public finances are in a mess?

 

UNISON Winter essentials Grant: Applications open for 24 hours from 12 Noon on Wed 10 December

  Winter is tough enough. UNISON's Winter Essentials Grant is here to help members with £200 food shopping vouchers. 

Open 24 hours on 10 Dec!  Check eligibility here https://unsn.uk/40CMVT7

Applicants must:  

• Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 10 December 2025. Subscriptions must be up to date.
• Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 10 June
  2025, excluding the School Uniform Grant and Seasonal Food Fund.
• Must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.

And EITHER:

Be on a low income, meaning a net household income* of no more than £28,205/year (£2,350.42/month)**

OR:

Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child and/or Working Tax Credits
• Pension Credit
• Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
• Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
• Income Support

** Where members either have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £28,205/year an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds so that they are not disadvantaged.   

How do I apply?

All applications should be made online. Applications will open on this page for 24 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday 10 December. Eligible members will be chosen at random from the applicant pool and contacted to submit supporting documents.

Due to limited funds and in anticipation of high demand, we regret that we will not be able to help all members who apply.

If you are unable to complete the application due to a disability access need, please email: weg@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.

Voting has closed: UNISON General Secretary elections result due 17 December

 

"I want to say how grateful I am to everyone who’s backed my campaign, from activists and branches to the thousands of members who took the time to vote and put their trust in me.

This campaign has never been about one person. It’s been about you, your pay, your conditions, your safety at work, and your belief in the work we’re doing together to build a stronger union for every member. Thank you"

Hat tip  https://x.com/Christina4GS/status/1993383596565074212?s=20 Results are announced on Wednesday 17 December.

Pleshey, Essex Walk

On last Sunday 16th Gill and I did a 5.5 mile circular walk around the ancient village of Pleshey. Home to a famous medieval castle (now long gone) mentioned in Shakespeare's "Richard II". We have walked in the area a number of times but used this time a route from Country Walking magazine.

We saw near a lake, a much smaller bird repeatedly appear to attack and drive off a much larger Red Kite. I assume competition over food/territory?  

Mostly easy going, flat countryside, with a very muddy/clay final stretch. The weather was dry but overcast but there was still plenty of big Essex skies. We stopped for lunch outside the Great Waltham Guildhall. The former home of Sir William Wade who at the Tower of London interrogated (tortured?) Guy Fawkes over the Gunpowder plot.

Great Waltham is also known as the home of Elizabeth Lowys who was executed as a supposed "Witch" in 1565.

On the "listening bench" we sat upon for lunch, next to the war memorial, there was a QR code that you could use to download personal accounts by local residents of life in the village during World War 2, with reminisces of German bombing raids, the arrival of American servicemen and singing Italian prisoners of war. 

We drove from East London in around 50 minutes but you can use public transport via train to Cheltenham then bus 48 or X10. We stopped off on the way home for a drink at the George and Dragon pub in Wanstead. 

Last Chance to Vote for Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary

 

Very last chance to vote for @Christina4GS

- to be sure. stick a 1st class stamp on the ballot SAE to make sure it gets there on time for close on this Tuesday 5PM 25/11/25. If you have lost SAE just post the ballot paper in a normal envelope with 1st class stamp to 

“Civica election services,London N81 1ER”

Fingers crossed!

Newham "ACTIVATE" training & out canvassing for Labour Mayoral Candidate - Forhad Hussain

I was very pleased to be selected again as a Labour Councillor candidate for West Ham ward in Newham. Today around 60 Newham fellow candidates, attended an all day training in Forest Gate run by the Labour Activate programme. This was the first time that we had met together. It was probably one of the best political organising training courses I have been on. 

There was a nice mix of presentations, Q&As and small group work. It was very clear that the presentation team were very experienced and competent. 

After lunch there was the inevitable Group photograph with us all and our new Labour Mayoral Candidate, Forhad Hussain, local MPs Sir Stephen Timms, James Asser, Uma Kumaran and Unmesh Desai AM. Photos - no doubt will follow. 

Then Forhad gave a short, well received speech outlining who he was, why he is in politics and what he is determined to achieve for Newham if elected. 

Next we were taken out in small groups with a tutor to actually go out and practice what we had learnt. Each of the Group took turns to brief the team, on what to do when out campaigning, then each lead us for 10 minutes "running the board" (leading and directing the team and inputting feedback online via their phone). 

It got very, very wet towards the end but despite the rain it did not "put a damper on" a really positive day.  Tomorrow we finish the course with an "online session". 

Top 10 reasons to be in UNISON

 

Hat tip @LincsPolUNISON

"With me, UNISON is in safe hands": Re-elect Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary

Not long to go but there is still time to fill out your UNISON ballot paper, vote for Christina and pop the envelope in a Royal Mail post box (no electronic voting allowed by law). 

Today I travelled from East London to Fenlands to help hold a lunch time union surgery for members in my employer's regional office. We had another Clarion rep, regional officer and local branch secretary to speak to members and staff about their issues and their concerns. 

We were talking about what our pay claim should be for the year, inadequate expenses, pending scary restructures, grading unfairness, proposed changes to working arrangements, resulting safety concerns, equalities, fairness and how to provide better service to our residents. 

These are the basic, bread and butter union issues, that Christina believes in, and wants the union to deliver on for members. 

If you have not got your Ballot paper then the Ballot helpline opens on 0800 0 857 857 Mon-Fri 6am – Midnight, Sat 9am-4pm BUT IT CLOSES AT NOON TOMORROW  19 November. 

The ballot closes next Tuesday 25 November at 5pm so to be on the safe side vote by 22 November at the very latest. 

The 107th Anniversary of the Armistice: East Ham Cenotaph 2025

A belated post from last Tuesday. Another special Armistice Service in Newham. Well done to the Newham Catholic Deanery Schools, The Royal British Legion and Newham schools for organising such a well attended event and involving local children in remembering the sacrifice of so many. 
 

Newham Full Council Meeting 10.11.25 - Motion on Housing

A photo collage of myself speaking against a Green motion on housing and in favour of an amendment by my ward colleague, John Whitworth. 

I was to the point that while I recognise that political debate can be rough, the sheer hypocrisy of the Newham Greens is simply breath taking. They very "angrily" criticise Newham for not building more homes but when I check their party record while they were in power in Brighton, in 7 years they only built 497 homes while in the last 7 (actually 4) years Newham has built 1662 homes (more of course are needed). 

More than 3x than they built when they were in power in a much richer council! Thankfully now the Greens have been kicked out of power in Brighton by voters due to their incompetence. 

Hat tip pics to yet another John.