UNISON National Labour Link Forum pre meet & Campaigning for Bev In Manchester

The UNISON National Labour Link Forum this year was in Manchester. An interesting place to be politically at any time, but especially at this moment.

I took the train on Wednesday evening after helping to chair LAPFF meetings and arrived late. On Thursday morning, I started the day with a run (or, more accurately, a short, slow jog) around the Cheetham area. It was mostly industrial and a far cry from the shiny new Manchester city-centre office blocks and high-rise apartments nearby. One notable exception was the Manchester Jewish Museum, which I must make time to visit.

In the morning, I attended a meeting of the UNISON National Labour Link Committee, as an elected NEC member. We discussed the usual pre-Forum issues, including speakers, motions and the agenda.

Afterwards, many of us caught a bus to campaign for Manchester Labour mayoral candidate Bev Craig, who is standing to replace a certain Andy Burnham. We met local organisers, including former Newham organiser Jack Risbridger, before splitting into three groups and door-knocking in the traditional streets of Cheetham.

The response was good and, in many ways, it reminded me of canvassing in Newham. There was the occasional ear-bashing about litter, over-zealous parking enforcement and anti-social behaviour, but that comes with the territory. There was no negativity towards Bev, which was encouraging, but I know we cannot take anything for granted.

In the evening, we had a reception at the hotel, where Bev was the keynote speaker. I knew little about her beforehand but came away very impressed. She was articulate, no-nonsense and obviously highly competent, with the added benefit of being a former UNISON activist and officer. She spoke passionately about what she wants to achieve as Labour Mayor of Manchester and proudly referenced her working-class background – something that always rings my bell.

We spoke afterwards about her campaign and how the union, along with the wider Labour Party, can help secure her victory.

The Forum itself began at 9.00 am the following day (I had thought it started at 9.15 am, but never mind). I will post about that later, including the appearance of a "surprise" keynote speaker.

Celebrating the Life of Gilbert Constantine Clarke - RAF World War 2 Veteran/Windrush Pioneer/Musician/Community Elder

 

On Saturday morning I attended the funeral service for Mr Clarke in the main chamber of East Ham Town Hall. The chamber was full to the doors — a testament to the love, respect and gratitude felt for a man whose generation helped save Britain from defeat in the Second World War.

The RAF did him proud. Air Commodore Alun Roberts delivered a formal Military Tribute, supported by a bearer party of RAF Regiment airmen who carried themselves with impeccable discipline and respect. The service itself was beautifully organised by Mr Clarke’s family and friends, alongside RAFA, BWIRHT, the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, the Caribbean Social Forum and the RAF Benevolent Fund. Their collective effort created a ceremony worthy of his life and legacy. The Rev Dr Michael King conducted the service with grace and solemnity.

I attended as the representative of the Newham Mayor, Forhad Hussain, and was seated next to the Jamaican High Commissioner, H.E. Alexander Williams — a reminder of the deep Commonwealth ties that shaped the wartime generation. Men and women from across what is now the Commonwealth travelled thousands of miles to defend Britain from Nazi tyranny. Mr Clarke stood among those heroes.

It was an honour to honour him. His generation — steadfast, courageous, and united across continents — helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today. We must never forget their sacrifice.

Shoeburyness to Westcliff – Essex Coastal Walk

 

Last Sunday, Gill and I took the trains from Forest Gate out to Shoeburyness for another stretch of the Essex Coast. After the relative freshness of the previous weekend’s walk, we thought the sea breeze might offer a cooler alternative to an inland route. It turned out to be a perfect choice.

The King Charles III England Coastal Path is now the longest coastal trail in the UK — a national route that winds around the entire English coastline. We’ve been toying with the idea of completing it in stages over the coming years. Whether we’ll ever manage the whole thing is another matter; there are so many brilliant paths across the UK (and beyond) competing for attention. But who knows.

Shoeburyness itself was full of surprises. I hadn’t realised it had been home to a major Army base for many decades, specialising not only in the coastal defence of the Thames and London but also in gunnery and weapons testing. As we followed the coastal path, the military history was everywhere: former forts, barracks, memorials, bunkers, gun emplacements — each one a reminder of how strategically important this stretch of coast once was.

The walk towards Southend‑on‑Sea was glorious. Big Essex skies, bright weather, and that wide estuary light that always feels a little cinematic. By the time we reached the Pier, the day had settled into that perfect mix of warmth and sea breeze.

One great advantage of a coastal walk is that it’s harder to get lost — just keep the sea on your left  — and with excellent local rail links you can easily do a linear walk and decide your finishing point as you go.

Lunch was at 140 Eastern Esplanade Café, found via Google Maps — highly recommended for good food and very Essex. 

We carried on as far as Westcliff, roughly six miles in total, before deciding to head home. The return was easy: c2c to Barking, then the Overground to Wanstead Park. With a railcard, it’s incredibly cheap, and if we’d booked a return a few days in advance it would have been even cheaper — around a third off.

Another great coastal section completed, and a lovely day out. Plenty more of the Essex coast still to explore.

Clarification regarding the UNISON General Secretary statements regarding the Labour Party by UNISON Labour Link

 Dear National Labour Link Committee and Regional Labour Link Committees, 

 

Some of you will have seen the article in the press and communications from the General Secretary Andrea Egan regarding an endorsement of Ed Miliband to be Chancellor of the Exchequer.

 

The General Secretary made this statement in her personal capacity. Any Labour Party endorsements should be and remain the decision of the Labour Link Committee. In this case, there is also no process for unions to be involved in the nomination or endorsement of members of the Cabinet. 

 

To this effect, UNISON’s press team is clarifying to journalists that the General Secretary’s comments have been made in a personal capacity and are not an endorsement on behalf of UNISON....

 

Best wishes,

 

Linda Hobson and Tess Morris

Chair and Vice-Chair of the National Labour Link Committee

As an elected member of the UNISON Labour Link London Regional Committee — and its Chair — as well as a National Labour Link NEC representative, I fully support the statement issued by Linda Hobson and Tess Morris.

The General Secretary is, of course, entitled to express a personal opinion. But she does not speak for UNISON on matters of Labour Party endorsement. Under long‑established practice and our UNISON Rule Book, these decisions rest solely with the Labour Link Committee, whose members are democratically elected for precisely this purpose.

Any endorsement must follow proper consultation and a transparent, democratic process — not the personal view of any UNISON official. Departing from that principle undermines our structures and risks making UNISON look frankly silly at a time when clarity and discipline are essential.

The Passing of Second World War Veteran & Newham Resident: Gilbert: Clarke.

This Saturday I will be attending the memorial service at East Ham Town Hall on behalf of Newham Council to honour the life and service of Gilbert, a veteran whose courage helped safeguard our freedoms at a moment of profound danger for our country.

I feel a deep personal connection to the RAF and to the generation who stood against the Nazi threat. My maternal grandfather served in the RAF during the Second World War, and my father completed his national service in the RAF in Germany during the Berlin Airlift — a critical chapter in the defence of post‑war Europe. In my youth I was a proud member of the Air Training Corps, and I understand Gilbert was a committed supporter of our local Newham ATC. My sister also served in the RAF, continuing that thread of service across our family.

Gilbert belonged to that extraordinary generation who travelled thousands of miles, leaving home and loved ones, to protect people they had never met. Their bravery shaped the world we live in today. We owe them a debt that can never truly be repaid, but we can honour it — by remembering their sacrifice, by telling their stories, and by ensuring future generations understand what they gave to keep tyranny at bay.

We should never forget heroes like Gilbert.

Hat tip to Newham Voices for helping keep these important stories alive.

West Ham Ward Councillor report: Week ending 28/6/26

This is a factual round‑up of my recent activities as one of your West Ham Ward Councillors. Please feel free to share with neighbours, community groups, and WhatsApp chats.

Safeguarding Induction – Adults & Children

On Monday evening, Cllr Kwarteng and I attended an in‑person induction session on Adults’ and Children’s Safeguarding delivered by Newham Social Services. The training covered our responsibilities as councillors and corporate parents, and what steps we must take when we encounter safeguarding concerns in the community.

Residents can find more information here:

• Safeguarding Children: https://www.newham.gov.uk/children-families/safeguarding-children

• Safeguarding Adults: https://www.newham.gov.uk/health-adult-social-care/sg-raising-alert/2

Pension Committee Training

On Wednesday evening, I joined a mandatory online training session for members of the Council’s Pension Committee. Although I’ve served on various pension bodies over the years, it was helpful to revisit the fundamentals and ensure full compliance with current governance requirements.

Maud Gardens Walkabout

On Thursday lunchtime, I cycled to Maud Gardens to meet residents, Council officers, and Cllr Kwarteng for a walkabout focused on anti‑social behaviour, cleaning issues, and estate improvements. A number of concerns were raised, and several practical actions were agreed. We will be circulating an action plan to residents and arranging a follow‑up meeting. Further walkabouts will take place across West Ham ward and elsewhere in Newham.

Weekend Community Checks & Reporting

We had planned a mobile street surgery on Saturday morning, but due to the extreme heat we decided not to knock on doors unless responding to specific issues.

Instead, I joined local ward activist Pravin to carry out checks in St Stephens and Abby Road, reporting communal issues using the Love Clean Streets app: https://lovecleanstreets.info We logged:

• Litter in play areas

• Overflowing communal bins

• Overgrown shared garden areas

• Defective entry doors

After completing her 2½‑hour surgery at Vicarage Lane Community Centre, Cllr Kwarteng joined us and we door‑knocked a road affected by recent missed domestic bin collections, likely linked to British Gas works. Residents confirmed collections had resumed, but we will follow up to ensure service failures do not recur.

🌤️ A Post‑Conference “Recovery Walk” on the Benfleet Downs & Hadleigh Marsh

Hadleigh Castle, marshes, detours and a bit of social history

After a full-on UNISON conference week & then a Newham Council Saturday, I escaped to Essex with Gill for what we optimistically called a “recovery walk” — the familiar 6.5‑mile circular route from the Essex Pathfinder Walks guidebook. We’ve done this one several times over the years, including back in 2021.

You’d think by now we’d know the starting point. You’d be wrong.

🚗 The Wrong Car Park (Again)

In true tradition, we parked at the car park near Hadleigh Castle rather than the actual start point in Hadleigh Country Park. No matter — the beauty of this walk is that you can easily join it from the Castle and adjust the route. It’s one of those forgiving circuits where a bit of improvisation doesn’t spoil the day.

For anyone planning it:

• Official start: Hadleigh Country Park car park

• Our start: The Castle car park (scenic, but technically wrong)

• Verdict: Still works perfectly well

🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Downs, Marshes and a Closed Crossing

The route across the Downs and marshes is as enjoyable as ever, with big skies and wide estuary views. You can also do this as a linear walk using the C2C line — station to station across the Downs is a cracking option if you don’t want to loop back.

One hiccup:

• The railway crossing at Point B was closed, forcing a about turn detour (remember we were going opposite way around to suggested route).

• And later, at Point D, we looked at the hill climb… and decided that due to the heat discretion is the better part of valour. So we headed straight back to the Castle for lunch instead of the full ascent. No regrets.

🏰 Lunch with a View

Hadleigh Castle remains one of the most atmospheric spots in Essex — ruined, windswept, and perched above the estuary. A perfect place to sit, decompress, and enjoy the breeze.

🧵 A Bit of Social History: The Salvation Army “Labour Colony”

Nearby sits the site of the former Salvation Army Labour Colony, now a training centre and rare breeds farm (and we used its paid for car park). The history is fascinating — part Victorian social reform, part moralistic experiment, part cautionary tale. Source: https://www.workhouses.org.uk/labourcolonies/

While these colonies were often framed as benevolent attempts to “rehabilitate” unemployed men, they also reflected the harsh attitudes of the era. And when you look at some modern international equivalents — forced labour camps, coercive “work programmes”, or exploitative migrant labour systems — the parallels are uncomfortable. Today we’d call many of these practices modern slavery, and in some cases, worse.

It’s a reminder that good intentions don’t excuse systems that strip people of agency or dignity.

🌿 A Good Walk, Even with Detours

Despite the wrong start, the closed crossing, and our tactical retreat from the final hill, it was a lovely day out. Fresh air, lots of sunshine, familiar paths, and time away from everyone - exactly what a post‑conference Sunday should be.

Saturday Councillor Surgery

 

This morning I held my West Ham ward Councillor surgery at Vicarage Lane Community Centre. Arriving at 10am, I found seven residents already waiting to speak with me.

Two residents raised an urgent parking and anti-social behaviour (ASB) issue. I was able to offer practical advice on next steps and we also discussed the possibility of arranging a public meeting involving local residents, the Council, and the Police — something I am confident my ward councillor colleagues would support.

Three further residents came forward with more serious ASB concerns in the ward. I had previously spoken to one of them during the recent campaign and have already raised the matter with local Police. I will be carrying out a walkabout and inspection of the area later this week, hopefully alongside ward colleagues and relevant officers.

Another case involved a dispute over a parking ticket. While Councillors cannot normally intervene due to this being a legal process, the evidence presented suggested there may have been maladministration. I therefore agreed to raise a Members’ Enquiry requesting a review. However, I made it clear that I am not a decision-maker in this process and advised the resident not to delay any formal appeal — which they understood and agreed with.

The surgery overran, and just as I was leaving, a local resident arrived seeking help. I apologised as I had to attend another meeting in East Ham, and she was happy to follow up by email regarding her housing repair concerns.

It was a busy morning (followed by a full on afternoon meeting), but a good day. Being a Councillor can be challenging, but supporting residents as they deal with often serious issues — and doing so to the best of your ability — is both important and rewarding.

UNISON NDC 2026 - Reflections (Day Four and home)

 

NDC Day – Reflections on a Full and Moving Friday

I was up early and went for a run — well, a slow jog — east along the prom for fifteen minutes before turning back to the hotel. Warm, dry, and misty: the kind of morning that feels suspended in time. And what a way to wake up — to the news that Labour’s candidate, Andy Burnham, had won the by‑election decisively. It was a powerful reminder that you can defeat the far‑right Reform and the increasingly fascistic Restore Party with a confident, progressive left candidate who is both charismatic and competent. A real lift to start the day.

After getting back, showered, and changed, it was straight into the 8.30am NEC pre‑conference meeting. The main item was, of course, the election of the 2026/27 UNISON NEC Presidential Team. I was genuinely delighted that James, Debbie, and Micaela were elected President, Senior Vice President, and Junior Vice President respectively — and by a clear majority. A strong team for the year ahead.

Conference opened at 9.30am. The morning brought several important debates — some ill‑tempered, but most constructive, thoughtful, and focused on building rather than tearing down. With no fringes running (everyone was packing up), I used the lunch break to deal with some branch and work issues. While waiting for a sandwich in Subway, I ended up in conversation with activists in the queue about good practice in internal disciplinary procedures and a local pensions dispute. As ever, you can’t switch off from the work — and nor would I want to.

After 2pm, I spoke on Motion 65: “Men’s Mental Health Matters”, moving a friendly NEC amendment. I mentioned that I had lost male family members to suicide, and the response afterwards was deeply moving. So many people came to speak to me about their own losses — friends, brothers, fathers — and to check on my wellbeing after the speech. That, to me, is UNISON at its very best: compassion, solidarity, and the willingness to share painful truths so that we can change things together. This issue matters enormously, and I am proud that UNISON is committing to take real action. I’ll post the full motion and my amendment speech later.

Conference closed at 3.45pm with a heartfelt tribute to our outgoing President, Catherine McKenna, whose term has now ended. Catherine has been an outstanding leader — strong, no‑nonsense, principled, and deeply respected. A fitting send‑off.

Afterwards, I picked up my suitcase from the hotel and walked up to the station to head home. NDC 2027 will be in Liverpool, and I sincerely hope to be there again.

UNISON NDC 2026 - Reflections (Day Three)

 

Day three started with some early HIIT training to wake me up, followed by an NEC pre-meeting and then breakfast with my Community colleague Denise.

Conference (NDC) began at 9:30am, and thankfully the rudeness and disrespect previously shown towards our lay elected volunteers on the Conference Standing Orders Committee was far more limited today.

Throughout the day, debates were generally more thoughtful and more respectful, even on potentially controversial issues such as Palestine. Many UNISON delegates from London made excellent contributions.

At lunchtime, I attended the fringe meeting on the Employment Rights Act — quite simply the most important victory for UNISON in my entire trade union membership of over 30 years. A huge well done to everyone who played their part in achieving this.

Of course, we want more. The law is still imbalanced in favour of employers. But, for once, can we please give ourselves a collective pat on the back? This is what the Labour Movement family — unions and the Labour Party working together — can deliver: meaningful, positive, and radical change for working-class people.

I remain firmly convinced that the Housing Association and Voluntary Sector should be the next to secure a Fair Pay Agreement. Denise and I will be fighting tooth and nail to make this happen.

In the afternoon, we moved on to rule change debates. Once again, I was pleased to see further respectful but sharp discussion on issues such as reviewing subscription rates and whether LGBT+ members should have NEC seats in the same way as other Self-Organised Groups.

In the evening, I had to write a speech for tomorrow and deal with various branch and other matters. As much as I enjoy conference, I am looking forward to it closing at 4pm tomorrow. However, we then move straight on to the very important NEC Presidential Team elections — watch this space.