10 Years as a Councillor - New(ham) Kids on the Block 2010

Today is the 10th anniversary of my election as a Councillor for West Ham ward in the London Borough of Newham. The picture above was taken before an induction event held a few days later for newly elected Councillors.

It has been a privilege and a honour to serve as a Councillor even though it has been pretty "demanding" at times.

Sadly a few of my colleagues who were also elected have passed away since and out of the 60 Councillors elected in 2010 only 20 are still members.

While Labour was victorious in Newham on May 6 2010, the Tories won the general election which was also held on the same day. So it is a rather bitter sweet memory for me.

I was re-elected in 2018 for the 3rd time and then appointed by the new Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, as Cabinet lead for Housing Services and Deputy Mayor. It has had been a "full on" 2 years and for the last 2 months, due to the horrendous Covid-19 pandemic it has been particularly testing (although nothing when compared to the experience of our front line health and care workers).

However, I have no regrets whatsoever becoming a Councillor and still feel it is a great privilege and a honour to serve my community in this way.