Greater London UNISON Labour Link supports Kent candidates in Gravesham and Chatham Thursday 2 May 2019

There is no Council elections in London this year so we asked our next door regional UNISON Labour link comrades to recommend where London UNISON members could go on Thursday.

So far 2 requests both in Kent :-

1."London Labour Link Colleagues,

We have been asked to help out on election day in Gravesham in South East Region.

If you are free on 2 May and are able to travel to Gravesham you will be picked up and dropped off from the station.

They will be out door knocking from 9am until the close of poll, and any time during the day that you are able to help would be appreciated.

We can cover any travel expenses you may incur, and food and drink will be laid on locally.

If you wanted to travel directly there by car the committee rooms that have been booked are at the following locations; the Northfleet and Gravesend West Committee Room is 62 New House Lane, Northfleet, Kent, DA11 7JN which will be the key focus as they also have a Kent County Council by-election. The 2nd address for Gravesham East is 4 Kenia Walk, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 4HN.

Contact details for the day will be Shane Mochrie-Cox 0782 455 2520.

If you are able to help out on this day, please reply with the following info;

- What times you could help (eg. From 11am – 2pm)

- Whether you would prefer to travel by train and will need picking up, or if you will travel by car

- A contact number for you, so you can be contacted on the day if necessary"

2. Also my UNISON branch assistant secretary Lola is also standing near Chatham:-)

"You can get trains directly from Kings cross St pancreas platform 11 high speed to Chatham station and then take a taxi to the address. Bus 155 also from Chatham not that reliable takes you to the village. You can get trains from Victoria & London Bridge station to Chatham. Not an Oyster route . We don’t have a campaign coordinator we are doing everything by ourselves.

330 pilgrims Way Wouldham ME1 3RB. Park the car towards the Borstal end of the lay-by opposite. Up the steps in the middle (call me when you arrive if you need help climbing them). It’s the dark green one. Lola”

Not received your ballot papers yet? Call 0800 0857 857 UNISON NEC Elections 2019 #UNEC19

If you have not received your UNISON NEC 2019 ballot papers yet to your home postal address then ring 0800 0857 857 to ask for another set of ballot papers to be sent out.

You do not need your UNISON membership number and you still have time to ask for replacement ballot papers and to return them.

UNISON members can vote for their Regional candidates (e.g London if you work here),
their Service Group (e.g Community is you work for a housing association or voluntary sector)
and Self Organised Seats (e.g Black and Disabled members)

Once you get your papers my personal recommendations are :-

Regional Seats

Service Group Seats

Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats

Male Seat- Ash Dobi
Female Seat- Manjula Kumari
Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats

Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats

Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes

Lyn Brown MP speech at Workers' Memorial Day event 2019 - Remembering Lyra McKee as well as Godfrey Nicholson, Frederick Elliot, Robert Underhill and Thomas Pickett

"Thanks so much to John for organising this as he does every year, and to everyone who has attended today. It is always a powerful demonstration of how much the labour movement and our heritage means to us today.

On Worker’s Memorial Day every year we resolve to remember the dead, and renew our fight for the living. Both of those resolutions are about standing in solidarity with workers and the labour movement across the islands we call home, and across the world. Today we celebrate the victories and sacrifices of the past, we relate events in the present to our history and our tradition, and we reflect on what we can do to build a world of safety, security, justice and prosperity for workers and our communities in the future.

Every year we gather at this place to remember the heroism of Godfrey Maule Nicholson, Frederick Elliot, and Robert Underhill, who died in the attempt to save their colleague Thomas Pickett from a tragic and entirely preventable death at work. Their instinct to help their colleagues led each of them in turn to fearlessly climb down into the well where Thomas Pickett had already succumbed to the gas. They could have waited, but they must have felt that if they did their fellow workers would certainly have died. Their solidarity was immediate, powerful, and inspiring, and their tragic deaths are so worthy of commemoration more than a century on.

Today is also about the present, and I’ve been thinking about Lyra McKee. We stand together with all who knew Lyra McKee through her work as a journalist or in the rest of her life and with the Derry Trades Union Council, who are putting her at the heart of their commemorations today. Lyra was one of the hundreds of thousands of people who are killed or injured just doing their jobs each year. I condemn her murder as a trade unionist and a member of the labour movement just as I condemn it as someone who is deeply concerned about preserving the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland.

Finally, today is about the future. It is about what we can recommit to do to increase safety for workers in the future:

· Joining a union and encouraging others to do likewise.

· Working for a solution to the Brexit crisis that ensures we won’t fall behind our fellow workers in the rest of Europe on health and safety, the environment we all live in, or our workers rights.

· And fighting for political change at all the different levels of government to put workers and people who will stand up for workers into power. We have local and European elections within the next month, and I’m hopeful with the May Government faltering we’ll have a General election soon as well.

We could soon have an opportunity to fight for a Ministry of Labour, for pro-union and pro-worker policies across the board, and for a Government who won’t see health and safety rules as red tape to be reduced but as essential protections and as ways that our solidarity is made permanent and effective, so workers like Lyra McKee, workers like Thomas Pickett, Robert Underhill, Frederick Elliot and Godfrey Nicholson will never be put at risk again".

Workers' Memorial Day 2019 - UNISON Wreaths at Clasping Hands Statue, Three Mills Green, Newham

Today we remembered four local workers who in 1901 selflessly lost their lives,  while trying to rescue a colleague who had collapsed from poisonous fumes, whilst inspecting a ventilation shaft in what is now "Three Mills Green park".

This annual memorial event is organised by my trade union branch, Greater London UNISON Housing Associations, but Workers Memorial Day is an international event supported by the UK Government, remembering those who have been killed while at work or have died of work related illness or injuries.

There were a number of speakers including UNISON members, West Ham MP,  Lyn Brown and Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz.

Lyn reminded us that  today we should also remember the Northern Irish journalist, Lyra Mckee, recently murdered at her work.  Rokhsana said that at the 1901 inquest into the deaths of the workers the employer was blasted for ignoring basic health and safety rules which resulted in their deaths.

Other speakers included London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai; Former Tower Hamlets Council Leader, Helel Abbas, Newham Unite branch Chair, Brenda Bedminster and local Stratford Councillor, Joshua Garfield.

(Hat tip main picture Cllr Mumtaz Khan)

Sri Lanka - United We Stand

"This morning we supported a community vigil on the steps of Newham Town Hall to remember those killed in the Sri Lanka terror attacks and show united we stand with Sri Lanka and all those affected.

The vigil was followed by a silent walk to St Michael’s Church, East Ham for an inter-faith service". Hat tip Newham Council. 

UNISON NEC elections #UNEC19

 

Service Group Seats
Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats
Male Seat- Ash Dobi
Female Seat- Manjula Kumari
Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats
Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats
Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes

Workers’ Memorial Day - Sunday 28 April 12 noon: Stratford

The purpose behind Workers' Memorial Day has always been to "remember the dead: fight for the living" and unions are asked to focus on both areas, by considering events or memorials to remember all those killed through work but at the same time ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated. That can best be achieved by building trade union organisation, and campaigning for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health & safety laws.

Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.

Theme for 2019 is: “dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace”. The focus will mainly be on carcinogens but you can adapt the theme to whatever is most relevant in your workplace or area, as many substances can also cause illnesses such as asthma or dermatitis.

Two important issues are of course asbestos and diesel exhaust, and the TUC has useful guides on both of them, but other ideas may be cleaning fluids or dust in general - Asbestos - time to get rid of it (pdf), Diesel exhaust in the workplace (pdf), Occupational cancer (pdf)

The TUC has a guide on workplace cancers. Hat tip TUC

Assemble no later than 11.45am at the “Clasping Hands” statue, 3 Mills Green E3 3DU, on the site where 3 workers sacrificed their lives in 1901 while trying to save their work colleague. A minute’s silence and wreath laying at 12 noon. Finish by 12.15am.

Nearest tube Bromley by Bow and parking Tesco’s

Organised by UNISON Housing Associations Branch. Please contact J.Gray2@unison.co.uk

Labour MEP candidates for London (and one for SE)

 

Above is a list of candidates selected by Labour to stand in the European elections next month (if they go ahead). My Newham cabinet colleague, James Beckles, is standing and another Newham Councillor, Rohit Dasgupta, is standing in South East region.

The Europeans elections are entirely by proportional representation. There are 8 seats for London, 4 of which are currently Labour. The Labour candidates were “ranked” by the Party 1-8 (see list above). So if  Labour did the same as 2014 Claude, Seb, Katy and Laura will take up seats. 

Unison NEC elections 2019 - the video #UNDC19

Meet the Dagenham and Barking Mayor - Charity Dinner

“Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine. And there’s more of it to come with my final event as mayor with my charity Caribbean gala finale and birthday celebrations.  Taking place on Friday 3rd May. I have top Caribbean chef Mr Nice Caribbean Catering waiting to make your mouth watering Caribbean dishes.  And my charities Africa Children's Charity, Pennu and Endometriosis UK, grateful for your support.  As we will be doing silver service (not buffet), bookings will close this Friday 26th April. We are almost at capacity so get your bookings in today”.

My Unison Councillor colleague (and Labour Candidate for London MEP) Sanchia Alasia holding her final Charity event as Ceremonial Mayor of Barking and Dagenham. 

Unison NEC elections 2019 #UNEC19

 

Service Group Seats

Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats
Male Seat- Ash Dobi
Female Seat- Manjula Kumari
Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats
Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats
Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes

Crying girl on the border

The winners of the World Press Photo 2019 contest have been announced, selected from over 78,000 photos taken by 4,738 photographers.

Warning: contains images that some may find distressing.

The winning image is by John Moore showing Honduran toddler Yanela Sanchez crying as she and her mother, Sandra Sanchez, are taken into custody by US border officials in McAllen, Texas, USA.

The photo was taken in June 2018 and is entitled Crying Girl on the Border.

Moore, a senior staff photographer for Getty Images, said: "I think this image touched many people's hearts, as it did mine, because it humanises a larger story.

"When you see Yanela's face, and she is more than two years old now, you really see the humanity and the fear of making such a long journey and crossing a border in the dead of night."

After the photo was seen all around the world, US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Yanela and her mother had not been among the thousands who had been separated by US officials.

But public outcry over the controversial practice resulted in President Donald Trump reversing the policy on 20 June.

UNISON #UNEC19 Elections - Black Members and Disabled Members seats

Following on from my post this morning on community and London seats, I have these recommendations from black and disabled members I trust. All UNISON members can vote for these seats

Black Members

Sandra Okwara - Female Seat

Manjula Kumari - Female Seat

Ash Dhobi - Male seat

Disabled Members

Katrina Murray - Female Seat

I will post more recommendations if you work outside of London for national seats.

Blue Bells in Wanstead Park

Out for a run this morning in Wanstead Park. The blue bells in Chalet Wood are magnificent and well worth seeing. My picture does not do them justice. 

UNISON #UNEC19 Elections - Community & Greater London Region Seats

I have just voted for the following candidates and will post the ballot paper to the independent electoral reform services later today. It took me 5 minutes.

UNISON is the largest trade union in the UK with 1.3 million members covering a wide range of traditional public services such as Local Government and the NHS as well as out sourced private companies and the voluntary sector. So our elections are a "little" complex.

I am standing for one of the two Community (for members who work for Housing Associations and the voluntary sector) national seats and Denise Thomas, for the other seat.

Denise has worked for the Community sector for 26 years, supporting adults with learning difficulties. She is a valued colleague on our Service Group Executive in battling for our sector.

Also I voted for the following 3 candidates standing for Greater London Regional seats.

Sonya Howard is a respected London activist. She is the secretary of the Kensington & Chelsea branch and she has been outstanding in supporting members and campaigning for safety and tenants rights post Grenfell fire.

Cynthia Adjei works for the GLA and is our London UNISON Regional Convenor for Equalities. She is a committed campaigner for greater funding for all public services to tackle homelessness, child poverty, in work poverty and gun/knife crime.

Eddie Brand has been a London Ambulance worker for 32 years and says things as it is. As long as I have known him he puts UNISON members first and foremost while proud to be a NHS paramedic.

Congratulations to Jo (daughter of our dear departed comrade, Irene Stacey) for being elected unopposed.

I will post my ballot paper for Black and Disabled Members seats next. If you don't work in the Community sector or in London, you can see my other recommendations here  

Visit to outer Newham Estates

Picture of myself with Newham Council residents in our estate in Rainham.

After a meeting in the local housing office, we went for a "walkabout" with residents and with Laura who is a Newham housing manager.

We came across a number of issues which need addressing and we will sort out.

It was good to meet again former West Ham ward Newham Councillor, Ron Manley (and his much better half Jean) who is now a local resident and quite rightly, Trouble-maker-in-Chief.

Hat tip picture Laura

UNISON #UNEC19 Elections - Regional seat contests

My recommendations for UNISON regional seats. You can vote for regional and national candidates and for those in your own "service group" (see below - Health, Local Government, Community, Higher Education and Energy)

Service Group Seats
Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats
Male Seat- Ash Dobi
Female Seat- Manjula Kumari
Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats
Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats
Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes

Reform of Private Rental Sector (& really end no fault evictions)

Great news that the Government is considering ending Section 21 "no fault evictions" of tenants who pay their rent, don't cause a nuisance and respect their property. 

This is a major victory but we need to make sure that this current Conservative Government can deliver on this promise and that "revenge evictions" by landlords who will simply lie about the reasons they are evicting are also ended. 

By coincidence my UNISON branch has submitted a wide ranging motion on reform of the Private Rental Sector (see below) to this years National Delegate Conference and it has passed Standing orders committee!

Motion 74. Reform of Private Rental Sector (PRS)

Conference notes:

1) That the number of households in London who rent from private landlords is up from 15 per cent in 2000 to 27 per cent in 2017 and that Shelter forecast that nationally this growth will continue;

2) The lack of security for private tenants causes unnecessary homelessness and makes it very difficult for private tenants to lead settled lives;

3) High rents in this sector cause hardship for tenants and leads to the taxpayer subsidising private landlords via housing benefit;

4) Shelter believe that the reasons behind Conservatives losing seats in Canterbury and Kensington is due to the number of private tenants voting against them (the “rent quake”);

5) In the devolved nations “No fault” evictions and “Right to buy” have been abolished or restricted.

Conference therefore calls upon the National Executive Council:

a) To hold a national wide campaign day in 2019 for proposals to improve the private rented sector;

b) To produce campaign materials for branches on the private rented sector;

c) To campaign and support calls for an end to no fault evictions and rent controls for the private rented sector;

d) To produce guidance for all branches on how the Letting Fees bill currently in Parliament should be enforced by local councils;

e) To ask Labour Link to support manifesto commitment for the reform of the private rented sector;

f) Campaign for all local authorities to be able to suspend right to buy in their locality due to housing need;

g) Campaign for all local authorities to be able to introduce licensing of all private sector landlords. Housing Associations

UNISON NEC Elections: Make Your Vote Count

What’s the election for?

All seats are up for election on UNISON’s national executive council (or ‘NEC’).

The NEC is a diverse group of 67 ordinary members like you, working in all areas of public services, who make decisions about how our union is run.

When can I vote?

The ballot opens on 15 April 2019 and closes on 17 May 2019.

A ballot paper will be sent to the home of every eligible member, together with information on the candidates.

What if I haven’t had a ballot paper?

The election opens on 15 April, so if you haven’t received your ballot paper by 29 April, please call 0800 0857 857.

Please join your fellow UNISON members and vote in the NEC election. It only takes a few minutes! Thank you.

Newham Council Declares a Climate Emergency

Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and Councillors agreed unanimously to support this motion. My local Councillor, Sasha DasGupta moved the motion which was seconded by Stratford Cllr Joshua Garfield.

Many thanks to Fossil Free Newham. Now to implement.

“Full Council notes:

1. Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt around the world. Global temperatures have already increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels. Atmospheric CO2 levels are above 400 parts per million (ppm). This far exceeds 350 ppm deemed to be a safe level for humanity

2. In order to reduce the chance of runaway Global Warming and limit the effects of Climate Breakdown, it is imperative that we as a species reduce our CO2eq (Carbon Equivalent) emissions from their current 6.5 tonnes per person per year to less than 2 tonnes as soon as possible

3. Individuals cannot be expected to make this reduction on their own. Society needs to change its laws, taxation, infrastructure, etc. to make low carbon living easier and the new society norm

4. Carbon emissions result from both production and consumption

5. Newham council has already shown foresight and leadership when it comes to addressing the fiduciary duties of pension funds. Having been successful pulling local government pension funds away from the tobacco industry on the grounds of public health. It is crucial that Newham reduces its carbon exposure of its pension funds so that it can meet London’s goal of becoming carbon zero by 2050 (1)

6. Unfortunately, our current plans and actions are not enough; in Newham asthma remains one of most prevalent diseases of its constituents after diabetes, therefore it is in the public’s best health interests to further address air pollution and climate change (2) More needs to be done to improve existing infrastructure so that innovations in energy, alternative transport (e.g. electric car charging ports) and waste management can become more accessible to the majority. The U.K. is currently at risk of falling short on its carbon targets for 2023-2027, despite renewable power generation reaching its highest peak in 2018 (3)

7. The IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, published last year, describes the enormous harm that a 2°C rise is likely to cause compared to a 1.5°C rise, and told us that limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities (4)

8. City and local Councils (5) around the world are responding by declaring a ‘Climate Emergency’ and committing resources to address this emergency. (6)

Full Council believes that:

1. All governments (national, regional and local) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of Climate Breakdown and local governments that recognise this should not wait for their national governments to change their policies. It is important for the residents of Newham and the United Kingdom that cities commit to carbon neutrality as quickly as possible

2. Cities are uniquely placed to lead the world in reducing carbon emissions, as they are in many ways easier to decarbonise than rural areas- for example because of their capacity for heat networks and mass transport

3. As Newham was instrumental in the set-up of the London Collective Investment Vehicle (LCIV), it is our duty to be a leader on environmental issues in the U.K. and ensure this is reflected in investment strategies for both Newham and London going forward (7)

4. The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be humanity’s number one priority; and

5. Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people worldwide)

Full Council calls on the Mayor to:

1. Declare a ‘climate and health emergency’;

2. Pledge to make the London Borough of Newham carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050, taking into account production and emissions8

3. Call on and work with other London Boroughs to pool power and resources together to make 2030 target possible

4. Call on Westminster to provide power and resources to make 2030 target possible

5. Work with other governments (both within the U.K. and internationally) to determine and implement best practice methods to limit Global Warming to less than 1.5°C.

6. To commit to a Green audit of all council services to ensure that weight is given to the environmental and sustainability impact as well as cost.

7. To provide air quality monitoring devices in all schools.

8. Explore local renewable energy grid systems to provide free renewable energy for residents in social housing maximising our use of industrial land in the borough.

9. Council must lead by example to remove single-use plastic items from their premises.

10.Council to encourage plastic-free initiatives such as Surfers Against Sewage/Plastic Free Royal Docks, and support events intended to promote plastic reduction in the Borough.

11.A representative of the council must be named on the Surfers Against Sewage/Plastic Free Royal Docks steering group.

12.Council to publish annual reports on progress towards reaching carbon neutral target.

Check out motion on line and references

UNISON NEC elections 2019 - Ballot papers out from tomorrow

My recommendations if you are a member of UNISON in London. You can vote for regional and national candidates and for those in your own "service group" (Health, Local Government, Community, Higher Education and Energy)

Greater London Region

Male seat - Eddie Brand

Female seat - Cynthia Adjei

Female seat - Sonya Howard

Service Group Seats

Health - General Seat - James Anthony; Female Seat- Pat Heron; Female Seat - Jenny Forbes-Reid; Male Seat- Gordon McKay

Local Government - General Seat- Maggie Griffin; Female Seat- Maxine Rowden; Female Seat- Kati Conway; Male Seat- Peter Crewes

Community - General Seat- John Gray; Female Seat- Denise Thomas

Higher Ed - General Seat- Dan Beard; Female Seat- Katie Hall

Energy – Tracey Wainwright

Black members seats

Male Seat- Ash Dobi

Female Seat- Manjula Kumari

Female Seat - Sandra Okwara

Disabled members seats

Female Seat- Katrina Murray

Young members seats

Female Seat - Kendal Bromley-Bewes

"Half of UK's Largest Housing Associations see gender pay gap grow"

Inside Housing this week had a number of stories and features on the growing gender pay gap in large Housing Associations.

See here (paywall) for  links to full reports.

I was asked to comment "John Gray, national executive committee member for housing associations at UNISON, questions whether employment practices are the reason some landlords have relatively few higher-paid female managers.

“Some of the organisations are notorious for only paying lip service to part-time work or care arrangements, so this brings into question the governance arrangements for these organisations,” he says. “There are a number of employers which do recognise the value of having managers who work flexible time, or do joint working, and are successful organisations".”

I also bought up with Inside Housing, the importance of decent maternity pay and trade union recognition in challenging gender discrimination. Also, the tiny numbers of senior people who identify as Black (4.5%), Disabled (1%) or LGBT (1.6%).

If Housing Associations claim to have a social purpose and to be progressive "exemplar" employers, they should work with their trade unions to put into place real plans to eliminate all such discrimination. 

Hope Not Hate Action Fund

Hi everyone, My name is Robbie Mullen. I asked HOPE not hate if I could send this email to say thank you to everyone who sent me a message since the end of the trial at the Old Bailey last week. The last few years have been a bit mad to be honest. I don’t know how else to put it. But it’s been great to have all these good wishes from people who have seen the news about Jack Renshaw and his murder plot. I want to take this chance to say a bit about how this happened. I first became interested in far right politics when I was quite young — when Nick Griffin was elected as an MEP actually. In about 2015 I began going to a few NF demos and became almost addicted to following the far right and far left online. I ended up joining National Action. We hated everything and everyone and if I’m honest it made us feel like we were superior. There were some very disturbing people in NA. Everyone was obsessed about training for a race war. You’ve probably read that Jack Renshaw is a paedophile, but he wasn’t the only one. Well before Jack told us about his plan to murder Rosie Cooper MP, I’d decided that the whole thing wasn’t for me. But NA wasn’t something you resign from. I couldn’t just hand my membership card back. And anyway, I’m not a grass and wouldn’t have dreamed of going to my local police. So I went to HOPE not hate. I contacted them because they — and in particular Matthew Collins — had never stopped going after us. Matthew got under National Action’s skin so much, it just seemed obvious to me he should be the one to go to. I’m not the first person that HOPE not hate have helped get out of the far right and I won’t be the last. At least I hope not, because there’s lots more Jack Renshaws out there. I’ve seen some messages from people saying stay safe and worrying about my photo being online and what not. HOPE not hate have been looking after me, and the people still involved in NA know exactly who I am already. If having my story out there can help others avoid the life I got into then it’s no loss to me. Anyway, thanks for reading this. Thank you again to Matthew Collins, Nick Lowles, and to every HOPE not hate supporter who’s been in touch or helped during this whole thing. Thanks, Robbie The HOPE Action Fund We've launched a new way to help sustain our work to challenge, close down, and defeat the far right. Why? Despite our recent success foiling a neo-nazi terror plot to murder a Labour MP, the threat of the far right remains. Donald Trump is openly appealing to white nationalists, and protesters are taking to the street to support 'Tommy Robinson' and his Islamophobic agenda. Our research work is more vital than ever, and we need to be ready now for the next fight. That's why we're asking our most committed supporters to become members of the HOPE Action Fund by signing up to a regular monthly contribution of £5 or more. Are you in? Set up your membership now:

Royal Docks Labour Branch meeting: Housing

This evening I was invited by this branch to come and speak to their monthly meeting about LBN Housing issues.

I gave a short overview of what we are doing as a new administration, led by our Executive Mayor< Rokhsana Fiaz, with regard to housing services and its part in our plans to transform Newham and make "people at the heart of everything we do".

Then there was a longer and thoughtful Q&A which I really enjoyed and hope that members present found useful.

I have offered to come back to the ward at a later date to present again and also to join residents, officers and local Councillors in a "walkabout" in the ward of our social housing blocks and any areas suffering problems with rogue landlords.  

Voting starts in 5 days! #UNEC19

Check out London region and national seat candidates below. Ballot papers sent to your home address

Murder investigation launched in Manor Park

Newham Council "Sad incident in Church Street, Manor Park, on Monday evening. Man in 20s died from gun and knife wounds.

Extra police in area reassuring residents. Sympathy to those who knew victim. Call police on 101 with information about incident or any concerns. Quote CAD7566/8APR. or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz "My deepest condolences to his family today following a devastating incident last night in Manor Park, @NewhamLondon. 

Myself and the Deputy Mayor John Gray, were at the scene last night providing reassurance to local residents and those there who knew the victim".

(hat tip picture Newham Recorder).

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/09/man-dies-from-knife-and-gunshot-wounds-in-east-london

Bring them in UCL

Dear Supporter,

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our UCL outsourcing protest last Thursday. We had great turnout and sent a strong message to UCL that they cannot ignore: it’s time for them to bring their outsourced workers back in-house.

Please see a photo attached and you can watch a great video of the protest here: twitter.com/BringThemInUCL/status/1114187695411085313

The fight continues, and we need your help. Make sure you’re spreading the word about the campaign and sign and share our petition: https://action.unison.org.uk/page/40366/petition/1

In solidarity,