Sunday, September 29, 2019

West Ham ward Labour Doorstep with Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz

This morning we went on a #LabourDoorstep to speak to local residents in West Ham ward. We split into 2 teams and knocked on doors to ask residents whether they had any problems or issues with Newham Council.

As a local ward Councillor I had a number of challenging but always civil conversations with residents. The ward is strongly Labour but that does not mean that residents weren't willing to let us know their views on national as well as local issues.

I picked up various repair and management issues such as a new roof leak into a communal area, insecure storage areas, overgrown gardens (in fact, arguably mini jungles), ASB, fly tipping and a 13 year horrible on going waste pipe repair issue with one of our tenants, Newham technical services and the leasehold flat above.

Residents were really pleased that the Mayor of Newham was there to visit them in person and to talk about their concerns on a damp and windy Sunday morning.

On national issues people told me that we are in a mess but they mostly accepted my argument that Labour are the only party capable of fixing it by stopping a "No deal" Brexit, overturning privatisations, building more homes and supporting the NHS.

After 4 days of at times hot air, speeches, fringes and debates at Labour Conference last week, it was good to be back in West Ham, on the doorstep, talking to real people about real issues. 

JC thanks West Ham CLP & it's MP Lyn Brown

Video of Jeremy Corbyn thanking West Ham Labour & Lyn Brown MP yesterday for mobilising activists to campaign for Faiza Shaheen at Chingford & Woodford Green Labour. Jeremy also slated the government for doing nothing to help respected holiday company, Thomas Cook form collapsing and putting 9000 workers out of work and ruining holiday dreams for hundreds of thousands. 
Hat tip @DanLP86

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Newham Council Rough Sleeping Task Force & Bi Monthly Count

On Wednesday I went to the Newham Council Scrutiny Committee meeting with Homeless officers to present and take questions on where we are with the Rough Sleeping Task Force. We have over 120 people and organisations involved in the Task Force and its various work steams. A progress report will be sent to the next Cabinet meeting next month. Nothing is being ruled out or in except doing nothing is not an option and anything we do will be rooted in care and compassion.

The next day on Thursday evening just after 11pm, I went to Newham Dockside Building to take part in the bi monthly rough sleeper count. This is the 4th one I have taken part.

There was over 30 volunteers from a very wide range of organisations including my colleagues, Cllr John Whitworth and Cllr Shaban Mohammed. We were split up into 10 teams and from midnight to 3am we all drove and walked around Newham to count how many people were sleeping rough that night.

In my team I was a driver with 2 colleagues from the charity, Thames Reach. We were tasked with visiting all of Newham Council run parks to count any rough sleepers. We visited and walked around all our parks and did not find anyone that night. This does not mean that we did not miss anyone, since it was brought home to me that night just how many parks we have in Newham. My phone Sat Nav calculated that we walked that night for about 5 miles.

We did find an encampment with 5 rough sleepers hidden away in woodland alongside a busy dual carriageway. It took us over 10 minutes to walk through woods and bushes to find them. I remembered it from my first count in February. We did speak to some of them to find out what they need. They were quite friendly and forthcoming and said what they really wanted was help to find jobs in the locality.

It was agreed that a Thames Reach worker will come and see them and find out what can be done to help them.

I got back to Newham Dockside at about 3.20am booked out and went home. I had a 10am budget meeting the next morning.

The results of the count will be out soon. While I was pleased that we found no-one in our parks I am still shocked and horrified when I come across people living in such dreadful conditions. We need to do whatever we can to solve this modern day scourge.


Friday, September 27, 2019

"What next for responsible investment in the LGPS?" Professional Pensions 25 Sept 2019

Recently there seems to have been a surge in interest in responsible investment, also known as ESG, in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) world. 
My email inbox is filled with invites to meet advisers or attend seminars and conferences on this subject, near and far (and sometimes very far!)
Maybe, ten years after Lord Myners slated trustees for being "asleep at the wheel" and allowing the 2007/08 crash, we are finally beginning to understand its importance? The days of carrying out a beauty parade, picking a manager because he had a good record, then concentrate forever more on its latest quarterly returns, are now mostly long gone.
More likely this interest is being driven by the acceptance (apart from a certain president across the pond) that we face a climate emergency and responsible investment is needed to stop an environmental disaster and achieve a just transition, while still delivering an income for pensioners.
There is still no widely accepted definition for responsible investment, or ESG, except we are not "ethical" investors - but, in the words of the late Ian Greenwood, "that does not mean we are uninterested in ethics". Instead, there is a fairly widespread belief that pension funds are for the long term, and superior returns can be produced by funds that invest in companies that are well managed, open and transparent, act in interests of its asset owners, do not exploit their workers, and do not destroy the environment. We need this extra return to meet our pension liabilities.
The trauma of LGPS funds being forced to pool is now receding and the pools will now have the scale (eventually some £250bn in eight collective investment vehicles) to be even more demanding of their fund managers and investments, while individual funds who still retain the liabilities must now hold the pools to account.
For even greater influence and reach, LGPS funds and pools should partner more with other pension schemes and stakeholders with shared interests. For example, these can include faith and social impact investors, charities, non-governmental organisations, university endowment funds, the media, trade unions, and regulators - both in the UK and abroad.
It is not just that scale can get those behind the scenes, face-to-face engagements with company chairs or help get media attention if you have a "name and shame" public spat - but sharing information and resources, all year round, is key to success. We need to know what is happening.
Scale and cooperation also helps with the ongoing battle for transparency on costs and charges; the LGPS, supported by trade union Unison, has been successfully leading this campaign.
Another relevant responsible investment campaign must be to challenge the continued refusal of most fund managers who offer conventional pooled funds and trackers to allow the owners of these funds to vote its shares as it sees fit. This is nonsense. I cannot believe that, in this day and age, fund managers cannot find the computer programme to allow this to happen. The various excuses I have heard over the years are simply pitiful. Owners of capital are being denied the right to exercise their responsibilities as owners. If you don't believe me this is wrong then check out what 18th century economist and philosopher Adam Smith says about this.  
Overall, I am optimistic about the future with regard to responsible investment. I don't think this is just a "blip" or something solely faced by the LGPS. Colleagues in the private sector say the same. When I first started in pensions we were told that we would be sued if we considered anything other than maximising financial returns. Now we are told the exact opposite.
Cllr John Gray, writing in a personal capacity, is a member of the London Borough of Newham pension committee and joint vice-chair of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum.

(article in Professional Pensions: Paywall)

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Our tribute to John Smith



"John Smith was an internationalist, a socialist, a Leader.
25 years ago, on course to become Britain's next Prime Minister, he was tragically taken from us.
This is our tribute to him".

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

UNISON Community Service Group Executive meeting & NEC report

Since Jeremy gave his leaders speech yesterday in order to be back at Parliament, I also left Labour Party Conference early this morning to go to UNISON centre in Euston.

The UNISON Community (for our housing association and voluntary sector members) Service Group Executive (made up of elected lay members) was meeting and I was able to participate and give them a verbal report as one of their two National Executive Council members.

It was a brief report since there had not been a regular NEC or subcommittee meetings since the last SGE on 3 July.

"As previously reported at the NEC meeting on 3 July 2019 (same day as SGE) I was reappointed to the Policy and Development Campaigns Committee (PDCC) and as an employer trustee to the UNISON Staff Pension Committee.

I was also re-elected as Vice Chair of Industrial Action Committee (IAC) and by Labour Link NEC members to be on the National Labour Link Committee.

I stood down from Welfare Committee due to time pressures (which I regret since it is a very important committee).

There was also a brief meeting of PDCC to agree TUC Congress business - motions and delegates.
  
As a NEC member, later that week I attended the Unison National Labour Link Committee Forum in York. This is a very good 2 day conference during which I spoke on behalf of National Committee on motion 2 which is on cuts to "Local Government Finance".

As Vice Chair IAC, I have agreed with the Chair, our UNISON Vice President, Sian Stockham, to a number of strikes including those involving Community members. 

As Chair of staff pension investment subcommittee I recently attended an all day trustee meeting with advisers and fund managers". 

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Labour Party Conference 2019: Tuesday #Lab19 (Twitter)


"We will only be able to keep global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels if we effect unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society, including energy, land and ecosystems, urban and infrastructure as well as industry'
https://ipcc.ch/srocc/home/

@IPCC_CH
After excitement of leaders speech back to the fringe circuit with

@LAPFForum discussing how #pension funds can help deliver net zero carbon economy and just transition #LAB19 #labourpartyconference2019

Watching @UKLabour @jeremycorbyn giving his leader speech to #labourpartyconference2019 #lab19 "the NHS is not for sale" 

Inspiring panel yesterday @TWT_NOW on housing struggles with @MoyraSamuels (
@officialJ4G ), Andrea Jones (Community Led Homes Brighton), Sophie Odgers-Roe (
@ACORN_Brighton ), @grayee and @rokhsanafiaz (@NewhamLondon ). About radical changes the planning system needs, for the many

Rokhsana and I were part of a interactive panel of 5. Probably the most interesting & intelligent "fringe" I have attended this conference #LabConf19 #lab19

At @TWT_NOW Housing Struggles fringe w/ @grayee & the amazing @MoyraSamuels speaking passionately abt #Grenfell + people power = the impetus for quality housing for all. Plus talking community involvement, Community Land Trusts & improvements we’re driving in #Newham #LabConf19 

John McDonnell praised our mp
@lynbrownmp member of his shadow treasury team " I want to thank Lyn Brown... Lyn's the conscience of our party in ensuring everything we do will secure social justice and equality for all that need it" Well done Lyn! https://youtu.be/M7cKGdspE0E
At #lab19

@NSLiveEvents fringe with @NewhamLondon Mayor @rokhsanafiaz speaking on "Efficient, Effective, Attractive: how to build the Cities of the Future " @AECOM

A wet and windy run along #Brighton beach. Great way to start the day #labourpartyconference2019 #lab19.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Labour Party Conference 2019: Monday (#Lab19) Twitter


Made it for a pre #LabourConference2019 #lab19 run. As you can see my selfie taken today is much better than that in yesterdays run

Great to meet up with #Newham Labour comrades at last night's informal social

Typical #Lab19 #LabourConference2019 dilemma. Clash of #housingfringe. I had to leave this one after 10 mins to go to housing roundtable next door

At my 1st #housing fringe on innovation with @JohnHealey_MP and great contributions from

@UKLabour councils in Croydon, Southampton and Leeds #lab19
My comment to panel was that it was great to hear of all the great work on housing by

@UKLabour councils & how similar all our problems our. My q was that in #Newham we dismantled our Tenant Resident Associations & we are now restarting them. Do you have any good practice TRA? Croydon and Leeds report back on successful TRAs. It is difficult to engage with people who all live busy lives

Now at packed #housingfringe by @Shelter with Ed Milliband speaking
@LabourSJ up next. #Lab19 #LabourConference2019 #BuildSocialHousing

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Labour Party Conference 2019: Sunday #Lab19 (twitter)


Feeling very smug that managed to go for run this morning. I was/am looking a little rough for some reason. Will I make it tomorrow?

At @thefabians @unions21 #Lab19 fringe on does labour have a progressive plan for the NHS?

Now at @LGAcomms #councilscan fringe on why the Queens speech important for local government #LabourConference2019 #Lab19

My question to the panel was at recent #LGA conference to my surprise both the former & new conservative Chairs were very supportive of council housing? They sounded like speakers at a Defend council housing rally. Does this signal change?

Cllr Nick Forbes said in Tory party their councillors have more power & influence over policy than Labour

Next fringe Newham Mayor @rokhsanafiaz explaining the horror of austerity & the devastation it has caused. Our budget cut by 60%, 27k waiting list, 1:24 residents are homeless, overcrowding. Need #JC4PM. But not just waiting for @UKLabour victory, paying #livingwage, building 1k counci homes ...taking on the banks who caused austerity over toxic #lobo loans, saving us £143 million.

At #communitywealthbuilding Fringe #LabourConference2019 #Lab19. A relaxed social with expert panel. It is fantastic that there so many #CWB projects in councils up and down the country
@MatthewBrownLab

On Sunday had very relaxed pleasant Newham Labour social

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Labour Party Annual Conference Saturday #Lab19

I am on route to Labour Party conference in Brighton belatedly looking through the handbook and trying to decide which debates and fringes to attend. This year I am attending as a Councillor not a delegate. Being a delegate gives you the opportunity to vote and possibly make a speech but it is far more fun being a visitor and being able to go, see and hear what you are really interested in.

There has already been one massive row over the attempt to get rid of Tom Watson as Deputy Leader. While I can understand why people are frustrated with Tom, kicking a directly elected deputy out at the eve of a general election was not a great move.

Hopefully, we will not score anymore home goals during Conference and instead concentrate on attacking the Tories, trying to clear up the Brexit mess and preparing for the election.

So far, I am planning to attend this evening the Labourlist fringe and then the Greater London regional reception. Sunday has a number of debates on “rebuilding public services” and in evening there is the Newham Labour “Get together”.

I am due to speak at some housing fringes and hope to attend the Unison reception and Local Authority Pension Fund Forum fringe on “A Just Transition” on Tuesday evening.

Conference finishes on Wednesday afternoon following the Leaders speech. I hope to post more often at this conference... but I say this every year.

Update: I arrived at Brighton station and walked to my hotel near the Pier. I had booked accommodation via the Expedia website some months ago. Last Thursday I got a text saying that this had been cancelled due to “over booking”. After a series of telephone calls Expedia eventually booked me into suitable alternative accommodation at a cost of over 4 times my original booking. They covered the extra costs. Something to think about if you normally do not use a booking agency for booking accommodation.




Friday, September 20, 2019

"Rebuilding Britain – starting with community wealth building in Newham" (Labourlist)

"More than a decade after the financial crisis, and more than nine years of the brutalising Tory austerity agenda, communities across our country are still waiting for the so-called ‘end of austerity’. Despite Brexit being pushed by commentators and politicians on the right as the only antidote for Britain’s ‘left behind’, Boris Johnson’s promise of more tax cuts for the rich and his disastrous no-deal Brexit folly will simply result in all of us being left behind.
However, the government-driven chaos around us hides a quiet revolution that has begun in local authorities across the country. It’s the community wealth building revolution, started in Preston and now spreading across the county, from Newcastle to Newham. It’s what Andrew Gwynne, Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, describes as “a renaissance of local government in communities right across Britain”. This approach has rekindled optimism and confidence in local government’s transformative potential, and for the first time in many years we’re not on the back foot.
When I was elected mayor in May 2018, I pledged to make Newham a beacon of community wealth building. I wasn’t joking. Now more than ever, Labour in local government needs to be bold and loud about what we’re doing to tackle the stark inequalities the country suffers from. The current economic model is broken. Nationwide, real terms pay is less than it was in April 2008, and people in Newham are feeling it more than most. Meanwhile, precarious work has proliferated, with our residents disproportionately affected. Newham has the highest percentage of working residents in low-paid work in London. Astonishingly, up to 36,000 people in our borough were paid below the minimum wage in 2018.
The people of Newham are also on the front line of the housing crisis. We have over 27,000 residents on our council house waiting list, and after housing costs, a shocking 48% of our residents live in poverty. All the while central government has hamstrung our ability as a council to tackle these problems. Government funding of councils has fallen 50% in real terms since 2010.
Too many people in Newham – as elsewhere – are stuck in jobs that don’t pay enough to meet the cost of living, powerless to stop abuses such as wage and time theft. Too many of our children are growing up breathing in toxic air. Too many families are living in substandard accommodation. Newham Council is ready to tackle these issues head on, and we are already taking action.
Newham has a proud radical history in the fight for social progress. We are the borough of titans of the early labour movement such as Ellen Wilkinson, Eleanor Marx and Susan Lawrence, who fought passionately to improve the lives of Newham’s residents. Under my leadership, we are determined to continue this tradition as a radical, campaigning council. Recently we took on the banks and saved our residents some £143m in interest payments when we terminated toxic lobo loans with NatWest Bank. We’ve led the way in protesting the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair, hosting our first ever Peace Exhibition – and we’ve kick-started a massive programme of building more homes at social rent levels, homes that our people can afford. The centrepiece of this new municipal socialism is community wealth building, embracing the principals of the green economy to respond to the climate emergency we all face.
Our new community wealth building approach is about ensuring our residents have the best possible opportunities, encouraging the creation of high skilled jobs and helping support our residents into them. We will aggressively and unapologetically drive up employment standards for our residents. We are now on course to become an accredited living wage employer, having already put aside £3m for our hardworking care workers.
We have been working closely with our local trade unions on sector-specific initiatives to improve the quality of employment in the borough. In this spirit we have signed up to Unite’s Construction Charter, as well as the Unison Ethical Care Charter. Finally, the council has been conducting research with workers in insecure employment, trade unions and third sector organisations so that we can tackle employment rights abuse in the borough.
Our community wealth building approach goes far beyond the labour market. Our strategy, which will be launched later this year, sets out the bold vision with which we will tackle the injustices our residents face. Following the lead of Preston, we will use our purchasing power and influence to keep wealth in our local economy. We will use all the tools available to us to help deliver this ambition. This is about harnessing the resources, talent and potential that already exists in our borough.
Our efforts shape our ambitious housebuilding programme and our response to the climate emergency. We aren’t just creating an economy that works for our residents, but a community where people live in homes at social rent levels that are fit for purpose and a borough that will become a hub for low-carbon innovation and industry.
All of this is just the beginning. We have already started scoping opportunities for cooperatives and community land trust housing, and we are tackling the pay gap in a borough which is the most diverse. We’re also financing a different type of economy as part of our plans to embed Newham’s local Green New Deal.
The opportunities and challenges faced by Newham requires an approach that genuinely transforms lives. That approach is community wealth building and now is the time to unleash its transformative potential in towns and cities across the country. This is all part of Labour’s agenda to reverse the devastating impact of Tory-led austerity that has wreaked havoc on so many communities and lives.
Rokhsana Fiaz will speak at our flagship rally ‘Rebuilding Britain’, at Labour conference. She will be joined by John McDonnell MP, Diane Abbott MP, Emily Thornberry MP, Jon Ashworth MP, Danielle Rowley MP, Stephen Kinnock MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Lara McNeill and Miriam Mirwitch. Hosted by LabourList in partnership with Unite, the rally will take place on Saturday 21st September, 5.30-7pm in the Charlotte Room, The Grand.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Newham Fabians on local Housing

This evening I came back from attending the Ryanair AGM in Dublin (will post further on this) to attend the meeting of Newham Fabians and speak on my role as the Cabinet lead on housing.

More people arrived after the start and it was good to have a debate with members who have detailed knowledge and experiences of housing issues in Newham.

I presented on what we are currently doing as an administration and what we hope to achieve in the future. I must write this up properly but in short we are doing lots of good things in Newham on housing but we need to do a lot more.

While building a 1000 Council owned homes at truly affordable rents will be transformational for those residents we house we need a Labour Government in power to provide the money and ability to house the 27,000 families on our waiting list (and the many thousands who are in desperate housing need but not on the list)

Afterwards there was a typical Fabian "polite but challenging" Q&A which I really enjoyed.

Many thanks to Newham Fabian Officers Anita, Rohit and David, for the invite and the opportunity to speak and explain.


Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Ryanair AGM

I have just arrived in Dublin to attend tomorrow’s Ryanair Annual General Meetings.

I am there on behalf of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum which represents 80 Pension funds and 6 collective investment Pools worth £250 billion.

Should be interesting...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) Executive Induction

Today I went on an induction to the LAPFF Executive following my election as Joint Vice Chair.

I used to be on the LAPFF Executive in 2013/2014 and it is good to be back.

LAPFF represents 80 UK Council pension funds and 6 Collective investment pools with asserts worth some £250 billion.

Some 4 million people have paid into UK Council pension funds.

Last week I represented LAPFF at the Sports Direct AGM and on Thursday I will be in Dublin for the Ryan Air AGM. 

Monday, September 16, 2019

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Jeremy Corbyn | Climate Emergency & Car usage



Hopefully those of us who support Jeremy to be our Prime Minister will recognise that we must radically reduce car usage in Newham, not only to prevent climate change disaster but also to stop it contributing to the killing of 7 out of  every 100 deaths in our borough for those over age 30 (mostly our elders).  While young people in London are also dying from car related air quality.

I can personally vouch that Jeremy is a life long cyclist and supporter of public transport who hates using a car unless there is no alternative.

If you do not support a radical reduction of car use in our borough, you are not a supporter of our leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

When we were young...

A lovely picture from 1980's Leeds University with most of my 3rd year housemates. We look so, so young. Hat tip Claire. 

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Bowers Marsh Walk & the Battle of Benfleet

Off message but went with Gill on a lovely 5.5 mile walk on Sunday courtesy of the free website EssexWalks.Com.

We started off at the RSPB reserve at Bowers Marsh which has a wonderful sense of "Big Essex Skies" and marsh land solitude despite the distant hum of road traffic.

Follow the Thames Path out of the marsh and under the road bridge and along the mudflats of East Haven creek. The path is a little overgrown approaching a second world war pill box so not suitable for shorts or sandals.

It was very pleasant walking along the creek and checking out the boats moored or those abandoned to rot beside it.

At Benfleet there was a memorial to the battle in 894AD when the Saxons defeated the Vikings in a surprise attack and burnt their long ships. Traces of the burnt ship timbers were apparently found when the railway was built.

After walking through parks, back of houses green lanes and horse paddocks (we had to climb over a gate on a public footpath which had been locked shut with a screw - must remember to report to Essex Council rights of way officer) we stopped at the historic 14th Century St Margaret's Church, which is reputed to be haunted, but nothing spooky occurred and the Church wardens who let us in were very friendly.

At least we think... they were the wardens?

We stopped off at the nearby Gun Pub for a beer to re-hydrate then drove home (about 45 minutes each way). You could take the train and start the circular route at Benfleet station.

I do recommended this walk, there is some traffic/train noise and you walk through a few brownfield sites but it has lots of atmosphere and history as well as being a change from chocolate box "pretty" country side walks. EssexWalks.Com has lots of excellent free walks across the county. 

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Pension fund anger at Sports Direct's Mike Ashley: 'There’s a problem here'

This morning I went to the Sports Direct Annual General Meeting, during which I had at times a rather robust conversation with its founder, majority shareholder and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Ashley. The media were banned from the meeting.

Hat tip article Oscar Williams-Grut. Senior City Correspondent, Yahoo Finance UK

"Sports Direct (SPD.L) received an angry reception from major shareholders on Wednesday at a tightly controlled meeting with investors.

The discount sports retailer faced a shareholder rebellion at its annual general meeting with investors. Press were barred despite intense public interest in the company.

At the AGM, 9% of voting shareholders rejected Mike Ashley’s reappointment as CEO and 17% of independent shareholders who voted tried to stop David Brayshaw being reappointed as a director. Other directors faced smaller rebellions.

Founder Ashley owns over 60% of shares in the business, meaning he was always set to win all the AGM motions. However, independent shareholders expressed their anger at the way the company is being run at the voting box and outside the AGM.

“I’m hoping that everybody wakes up, smells the coffee, realises there’s a problem and fix it,” John Gray, vice-chair of the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum, told the press.

Sports Direct has in recent months lost its auditor, unveiled a surprise £600m ($742m) tax bill, and warned that its controversial acquisition of bust department store House of Fraser is hurting the wider business. It is currently struggling to appoint a replacement auditor.

‘Insufficient challenge’
“Without being personal about it, there is insufficient challenge to Mike Ashley on a board level,” Gray told the press outside the AGM in London’s Soho.

“When you’re dealing with a majority shareholder, somebody like Mike Ashley — who I’ve never met before — you need to have a robust team of directors, confident in what they do with extensive experience in order to stand up to him.”

Gray, who is also a councillor in the London borough of Newham, said he represented 80 local authority pension funds with assets of £250bn ($390.1bn). Collectively, his organisation represents the retirement plans for 4 million UK citizens.

“It’s really, really important that when we have issues with companies that we have to invest in because they’re in the index, that they meet with us and address our concerns properly,” Gray said.

“I don’t want to have another robust conversation in 12 months time but we will if necessary.”

Gray said he voted against all motions at the AGM, which attracted less than 20 attendees and ran for about an hour. Ahead of the meeting, advisory group Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) counselled investors to vote against Ashley’s reappointment as CEO.

“This could be a test case for good governance in the UK,” Gray said. “The issue over the way workers are treated at Sports Direct should have been a signal to everybody: there’s a problem here.”

Sports Direct was criticised by MPs in 2016 for “appalling working conditions and practices,” after an investigation uncovered workers at its Shirebrook warehouse being paid below minimum wage and penalised for taking breaks, as well as health and safety breaches.

“It’s not just about workers dignity and their rights — it follows through with the governance in the company,” Gray said, “and that’s why you’ve got a £600m unexpected tax bill from the Belgian government, that’s why the auditors have walked away from Sports Direct, that’s why — and there may be other reasons as well — they can’t find an auditor.”

Sports Direct was due to appoint an auditor at today’s AGM. The company told investors it was “in the middle of a process” but did not comment further.

If Sports Direct is unable to appoint an auditor in the next seven days, it will have to ask business secretary Andrea Leadsom to step in and appoint one on its behalf.

‘Panto villain’

Besides questions over governance and auditing, Sports Direct’s board also faced criticism for their failure to pay a dividend.

“The share price is low because who’s going to buy a share when you’re not getting a return?” Laurence Corbet, a Sports Direct shareholder for over a decade, told the press outside the meeting.

Corbet said he too voted against all the resolutions but said he would support management if they introduced a dividend. He called Mike Ashley the “enfant terrible of retail, but he gets things done.”

Ashley, who owns over 60% of Sports Direct, complained at the AGM the media was “painting me as a panto villain”.

A spokesperson for Sports Direct said after the AGM: “We remain totally focused on delivering our elevated proposition, which following the AGM continues to be supported by the investor community.

"We are already seeing some exciting milestones with the acquisition of Jack Wills, the opening of the new Flannels flagship store in London, and plans for Fraser are now in motion.

"We are building a young and dynamic executive team to assist in this transition but making sure we retain the core values in the existing business that have allowed the business to prosper over the years.”

The spokesperson gave no update on Sports Direct’s auditing situation.

Wednesday’s AGM also saw a small protest from fans of Newcastle United, the football club owned by Ashley.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Monday, September 09, 2019

Newham's Alternative Peace Exhibition: Tuesday 10 September 4pm-10pm at 51 Freemasons Road, E16


The event, which follows a motion agreed by councillors in June expressing dismay at hosting the arms fair in the borough, will be held between 4pm and 10pm on Tuesday 10 September at 51 Freemasons Road, E16.

DSEI will run at the ExCeL exhibition centre in the Royal Docks from 10 to 13 September, the council’s alternative peace event will run in opposition of the arms fair.

The alternative peace exhibition will include film screenings, talks, readings, and an ‘observations for peace’ open mic night.

Among the speakers will be:
  • Commons Committee member on Arms Export Control Lloyd Russell-Moyle;
  • Rachel Kennerley of Friends of the Earth;
  • International Environment lawyer and climate activist Farhana Yasmin;
  • Former Minister for Disarmament in the New Zealand government Marian Hobbs;
  • Writer Maya Goodfellow;
  • Economist and author Ann Pettifor;
  • General secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Kate Hudson;
  • Kim Sharif of Human Rights for Yemen;
  • The Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz.
Mayor Fiaz said: “It is abhorrent that such an event should happen in Newham and it is important than we make clear our opposition to the DSEI going ahead in our borough.

“Newham is a very diverse borough and many of our communities have links across the globe to those areas that have been affected by conflict, displacement and the horror of war.

“This council is taking a stand and, in line with the motion approved at Full Council, is doing everything we can to prevent the DSEI coming to Newham ever again.

“This is part of the reason why the alternative peace event is so important. It gives the people of Newham the opportunity and the opportunity to protest, allowing them to make their views clear to ExCeL – that they do not want the arms fair in their borough.

“Our alternative peace event will be themed around the climate emergency which is being exacerbated by devastating conflicts, to save to our planet we must first end wars.”

Talks will include:
  • The Carbon Footprint of War;
  • A just transition: Moving away from the chaos of conflict and carbon;
  • Disarmament – Spreading across the globe.
In addition, the will be a screenings of Lucas Plan and a videos in collaboration with the international campaign Stop Killer Robots. The will also be an open mic night with rapper and poet Potent Whisper among the performers.

The event will be accompanied by a unique soundtrack of selected music and speeches by historic figures on the notion of peace.

Free refreshments will be provided at the alternative peace event".

Sunday, September 08, 2019

Community reassurance visit around Byford Close, E15

Yesterday as a local Councillor, I went with Council officers to visit the area in my ward around Byford Close E15 to speak and reassure residents following the senseless street murder of a 15 year boy here last week.

The Police have recently charged a 16 year old boy with the murder. Neither boy were Newham residents and we do not know all the facts about the case.

Cllr Shaban Mohammed was also there with officers from Newham Enforcement, Community Neighbourhoods and Housing.

We split into two teams and knocked on doors to explain what has happened and listen to their concerns. 

On Friday evening, my ward colleague Cllr John Whitworth was also involved in a similar exercise with Council officers and the local Metropolitan Police, Safer Neighbourhood team.

I must admit that the visit was amongst the most rewarding experience that I have had as a Councillor. Residents were all very concerned about what had happened but we had a serious conversation about crime, drugs and other forms of anti-social behaviour.

I explained what we are doing as a Council to tackle crime and the underlying causes of crime. Such as the appointment of 30 more youth workers and plans to double the number of youth centres (hubs).

All two teams gave similar feedback. Everyone we had spoke to were glad we were there and had spoken to them.

Saturday, September 07, 2019

Custom House Labour Doorstep with Lyn Brown MP & Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz

Picture collage from this morning's Labour Doorstep in Custom House, West Ham with activists and local MP Lyn Brown, Newham Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and local ward Councillors Sarah Ruiz and James Beckles.

Cara, our Labour attack dog was out with us (see middle of collage), determined as always, to strike fear in any political opponent by licking them to death and after a long canvass we were all treated to a delicious meal at the home of a local party activist. Many thanks Sayed to you and your wife for your hospitality.

It was a good canvass with positive results but it feels at the moment like a bit of a phoney war and I personally cannot wait to get the immediate threat of a "No Deal Brexit" sorted then get on to fight a general election asap. 

Friday, September 06, 2019

Abbey Gardens: The Herb Festival 14 September 2019 12-4pm

"Come along to our Herb Festival on 14 Sept, from 12 noon - 4pm. Workshops, live music, face painting, teas and food. Entry and workshops free, food and drinks for donations"

Thursday, September 05, 2019

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Newham Council Cabinet gets welcome back gift from PEACH of Peaches

Yesterday's cabinet meeting at East Ham Town started off with a lively and good natured "action" by residents, children and activists from PEACH (The People's Empowerment Alliance for Custom House) with lots of singing, dancing and laughter.

A lovely change from the dire politics nationally.

They presented the Newham Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and her cabinet with boxes of fresh peaches. Each peach had a name attached of an actual member of PEACH.

Activists said it was a welcome back gift to the Mayor after the summer break but also residents thanked her for the Council renegotiating rent levels for those in temporary decants. Some residents have experienced significant cuts in rent with one resident saying her rent had been reduced by £2400 per year.

PEACH being PEACH did not miss the opportunity of reminding the Cabinet that they still have further demands pending for better and more secure housing and they will be back.

The fruit was delicious and has been given out to Newham staff and family members.

There were a number of important items discussed and agreed at the meeting including Community Wealth Building and Climate Emergency/Improving air quality measures. 

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Housing Crisis Canvass in Royal Docks 31.8.19

After a lazy summer I was back on the campaign trail on Saturday in Royal Docks ward in East Ham. We met after the "Socialist Sisters" picnic in Thames Barrier Park (a truly lovely park, well worth a visit) . Local MP Stephen Timms had joined the sisters at the end of their picnic with London Assembly member, Unmesh Desai.

The canvass session was organised by Royal Docks branch secretary, Cllr Genevieve Kitchen, and we went around the Newham side of the Thames Barrier area. The theme of the canvass was about the "Tory Housing Crisis". This area compromises of newly built expensive apartment blocks with some town house terraces, many of which are privately rented.

The canvass was successful even though it is notoriously difficult to get into many of these new developments to knock on doors or leaflet due to entry phones entrances.

I spoke to tenants who privately rent, who said despite earning good money in London the rent they pay just makes it impossible to live a decent life and they were considering leaving London.

However, most people we managed to speak to supported Labour, even though there was one door slammed shut in the face of a canvasser, since the resident believed we are now a "racist party". Not good.

Mindbogglingly high rents and unaffordable property price rises could make this an unlikely Labour stronghold if we get our National housing policy right (which I think we have). 

Monday, September 02, 2019

Newham Council Tenant & Leasehold Forum: Plaistow, Boleyn, Green Street & Out of Borough - 10/9/19

"Our next council tenant & leaseholder forum for Plaistow South & Plaistow North, Boleyn, Green Street East and Green Street West & Out of Borough takes places on 10 September – book nowhttp://socsi.in/housingliaison_Ga57B"

Sunday, September 01, 2019