A Full Labour Movement Family Day

 

Today was one of those days that reminds me why I’m proud to be part of our Labour and Co‑operative Movement family.

🏛️ Morning: Community First

I started with my Labour & Co‑op Councillor Surgery at the newly refurbished Vicarage Lane Community Centre. It’s looking fantastic — bright, welcoming, and nearly ready for bookings. I’ll share more on that soon.

From there, I joined Adjoa for a positive canvass in the ward. My very first conversation was with someone previously marked “Against” Labour who now rated herself a 10/10 Labour voter. A reminder that people do change their minds — especially when they feel listened to. There was also some complex casework involving long‑running neighbour disputes, the kind of issues that really test patience and persistence.

🚲 Cycling, Chance Meetings & The Together March

I cycled to Stratford, enjoying the newly resurfaced stretch from Stratford Park to the L&Q HQ — smooth tarmac and clear cycle markings make such a difference.

On the Central line I bumped into Stella Creasy MP, and we had a good chat before the inevitable photo outside with Forhad Hussain, our Newham Mayoral candidate, and Cllr Sabia Kamali.

I joined the UNISON bloc on the Together March and helped carry the Greater London banner. Not heavy — but the wind certainly tried its best.

The march itself was inspiring. I understand the police estimate around 500,000 people came together to say clearly and proudly that whatever our differences, we stand united against racism, bigotry, and far‑right extremism.

One moment that meant a lot to me: I asked for a photo beside a placard reminding us that our grandfathers fought the far right in the Second World War. The woman holding it told me her grandfather landed on D‑Day and helped liberate Bergen‑Belsen.

Both my grandfathers also served in the war and fought against Nazism — something I carry with real pride.

There was a tiny minority who seemed to think “togetherness” only applied on their terms, but thankfully they were ignored by the overwhelming majority who understood the spirit of the day.

🚆 Back to Newham: Canvassing, Conversations & A Big Belly Breakfast

I left the march at Piccadilly Circus to head back for a Little Ilford canvass. On the train I ran into Chris, former secretary of my UNISON branch — another nice moment in a day full of them.

Before canvassing, I stopped at the Plaistow Café for their famous Big Belly Breakfast — my first meal of the day and very much needed.

The 4pm canvass in Little Ilford went well. More positive conversations, and it was great to see candidate Sharon Shawda, full of energy and determination, speaking to every resident she could. (For more on Sharon’s work, see my post: https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2026/02/newham-for-newcomers-by-sharon-chawda.html .)

Newham Rough Sleeper Count 27 March 26

 

Early this morning, I joined a team of homeless outreach workers and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of people sleeping on the streets of Newham. 

We met at 11 p.m. (Thursday) at the Newham Council Dockside Building for a briefing on our purpose, how to treat rough sleepers with respect, and personal safety advice. 

We began the count at midnight. While the main aim was to record the number of people sleeping rough to assess the situation and determine which measures are effective, we also handed out leaflets explaining how to access help and support, including medical care. 

I’ve previously been in many other inspections and had covered Manor Park for the count but I requested a change, so it was insightful to visit Stratford, where the scale of the problem is more significant. I worked with a fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable team of homelessness practitioners and gained a much better understanding of the challenges in supporting vulnerable people. 

We finished the rough sleeper count, including parts of my West Ham ward, and returned to Dockside around 2 a.m. before I headed home. Forgetting to block my work calendar, I’d booked a “difficult” 9 a.m. union meeting, which thankfully went somewhat fine. 

I’ll wait for the official count figures but know we must bring them down—life on the streets shortens lives. We have to do everything possible to prevent this and provide solutions for all those in critical housing need.

Remembering West Ham Station Attack - 50th Anniversary

 

Two separate events were held to commemorate the murder of 34-year-old Underground driver Joseph (Julius) Stephen on 15 March 1976. 

He was shot dead while trying to stop an IRA terrorist after a bomb exploded on his train, injuring nine passengers. Another passenger was shot and seriously wounded before the terrorist was overpowered by an unarmed police officer. 

Mr. Stephen was posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal but left behind a widow and a four-year-old son. 

The first commemoration was organized by the charity Ancre Somme Association, with speeches from Northern Irish MP Carla Lockhart and local West Ham MP James Asser, and attended by family friends.

The second, marking the 50th anniversary, was organized by TFL and the RMT union, of which Mr. Stephen had been a member. 

Many thanks to the charity and TFL for both well-attended events, which the family seemed very pleased with. It is only right that we remember and honour a brave public servant who sacrificed his life to protect his passengers, as well as all those injured in the attack.

Marching TOGETHER against the FAR RIGHT - LOVE, HOPE, UNITY this Saturday 28 March Central London

I’ve been working with my UNISON trade union branch and Newham Labour activists to help boost attendance at Saturday’s march. 

I’ll be joining the national UNISON bloc, which will be second from the front. It’s so important to make our voices heard and show solidarity with those affected by racist, Islamophobic, and hateful commentary. 

The main march will gather at 12pm on Park Lane, setting off around 1pm towards Piccadilly and ending near Green Park tube station. 

The shorter, accessible march will meet from 1pm at the top of Whitehall by Trafalgar Square (outside Waterstones). 

The day will wrap up on Whitehall with speeches and music from 2 to 6pm. 

While campaigning for Labour in West Ham ward last Saturday, I was glad to see our local Filipino community also spreading the word about the march.

West Ham Ward SNT Panel Meeting

 

The photo collage is from the recent Ward Panel meeting with local Police and residents. West Ham Councillor John Whitworth, candidate Adjoa Kwarteng, and I attended to discuss crime and community safety in the ward. 

These meetings are held every few months, chaired by a local resident, and include reports from Police and Community Support Officers (PCSOs) on crime statistics and police actions. 

Residents can question the Police, share concerns, and help set local priorities to be addressed. 

Councillor Whitworth and I shared what the Council is doing to tackle common issues alongside Police and residents. 

This panel should be more widely known and attended, as any ward resident or local business can take part and contribute. It’s not just talk—over my 16 years as a local Councillor, I’ve seen it make real improvements to residents’ quality of life. 

The Police have also launched “Met Engage,” an online site where residents can sign up for updates, contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, and get more involved. 

Check out https://www.metengage.co.uk/Content/LocalArea/79642/West%20Ham and email the panel via WestHam@contact.metengage.co.uk

Labour Plaistow Super Saturday

 

Yesterday, after the West Ham litter pick, I cycled to Upton Station for the 1pm Plaistow Super Saturday campaign session. There were four different events across Plaistow that day, supported by East Ham MP Stephen Timms and West Ham & Beckton MP James Asser. 

I was assigned to a team backing local Plaistow North Councillor Zulfiqar Ali and his candidate team, Joy and Pervez, who were out with other teams. 

Zulfiqar, a well-known and active councillor, personally knew many residents and had a great rapport with them. The canvassing went really well, though there were a few tough conversations with residents who had been let down by both social and private landlords, as well as by fifteen years of Tory governments failing to provide enough social housing to meet demand. 

It’s important to be honest with those in desperate situations that change won’t happen overnight, but Labour is committed to delivering hundreds of thousands of truly affordable homes for those who feel they may never get on the housing ladder. 

One thing I heard for the first time, which made me angry, was from a resident who said corrupt letting agents and private landlords were taking money from vulnerable tenants by falsely claiming that eviction would help them get a council house—completely untrue, and in fact likely to have the opposite effect. If I find any evidence of this, (and I will be looking) I will report it to the police and other enforcement bodies. 

The weather was warm, with blue skies and sunshine, and the beautiful spring blossom made it even more enjoyable. 

Love E15 Community Litter Pick

 

This morning, my West Ham Councillor colleague John Whitworth and local resident (and West Ham candidate) Adjoa Kwarteng joined residents for a ward litter pick, organised by https://www.instagram.com/lovelondone15/. "Love E15 is a grassroots community group of residents who care about E15 and aim to create a happy, thriving neighbourhood".

We met outside the beautiful Parakeets mural on Bull Road, where we were given litter pickers, gloves, and bin bags. There was a great mix of local residents, including plenty of enthusiastic young people. The Council supported the event by providing equipment and arranging to collect the litter bags at the end. Former Newham Councillor Julianne Marriott was also there pitching in.

I spent most of my time clearing an alleyway behind a block of shops with Council flats above, while Adjoa picked litter with the volunteers in the surrounding residential streets. The top two photos in the collage show "before and after". I’ll be raising a member’s enquiry to find out who is responsible for cleaning this area, as there was more bulk rubbish dumped that needs removing.

It was a fantastic example of residents and the Council working together for the common good. Afterwards, I had breakfast with John at the Plaistow Café, then cycled off to join a political campaign in Plaistow which Adjoa also joined.

"We've recently had a jampacked Action Day of canvassing here in West Ham! Vote Labour on May 7th! 🌹🌹"

It was a fantastic Super Saturday with three canvassing sessions and over 35 activists in West Ham ward. Huge thanks to our organisers for their support. Although there was one particularly unpleasant incident involving a non-resident, which I reported to the police, the day overall was very positive, with plenty of casework and many local residents (though not all) happy to chat about real local issues, concerns, and possible solutions.

Eid Mubarak

 

This is the difference a Labour Government Makes - Abolishes 2 Child Benefit Cap