Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Homes at the Heart

An excellent campaign for a social housing led response to Covid-19 launched by the National Housing Federation supported by over 60 organisations (including the biggest UK Housing union UNISON)

1. No return to rough sleeping ● In the short term, we need to find permanent homes and support for those who are temporarily housed. ● In the longer term, our ambition is to end homelessness in all its forms. This can only be achieved by building more social homes and ensuring support services are properly funded – as we set out below.

2. A new generation of affordable homes ● In the short term, housing associations need certainty to keep building during challenging times. The government should earmark up to £3bn of the new £12.2bn affordable homes budget to support the short-term recovery, with more flexibility on the tenure of new homes and when they are delivered. ● In the long term, the government should use this year’s spending review to invest in a new generation of social and affordable homes to rent and buy. To kick-start this, the government should commit an additional £20bn in grant funding for 2022-32, creating a ten-year affordable housing fund.

3. Helping people to thrive at home ● Supported housing can transform lives – it can help people carry on living independently, improve life chances and help people manage through a crisis. It helps avoid costly hospital stays, prevents homelessness and supports employment. ● That’s why we’re calling for the government to ringfence housing-related support funding and allocate £1.4bn a year to local authorities. ● Supply of supported housing is reducing, when demand is increasing. So we’re calling for supported housing to be part of a new generation of social homes.

4. A new drive to decarbonise social housing ● Decarbonising Britain’s homes is an essential part of tackling climate change, and also saves residents money, boosts the economy and creates jobs. ● Housing associations want to be at the forefront of decarbonisation, but face challenges such as lack of finance and skills shortages. ● We’re working with our members to explore how we can work with partners to drive forward the decarbonisation of social housing at scale – and are calling on the government to provide policy certainty, set ambitious standards and targets, and deliver a Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

5. Change for communities across the country ● During this unprecedented time, people’s local communities have been more important than ever and housing associations will continue to work in and with their communities to help them bounce back. But the coronavirus crisis has highlighted the inequality that communities across England have faced for many years. ● We’re calling on the government to hold firm to its commitment to level up the economy with a new, long-term, £1bn-a-year investment in regeneration, targeting funding where need is greatest. ● The government can also empower local stakeholders to kick-start recovery, and should support housing and employment services to work together to boost employment.

Monday, June 29, 2020

"Starmer overtakes Johnson as preferred choice for prime minister"

Fantastic news. A long way still to go...

"Labour leader Keir Starmer has overtaken Boris Johnson as the public preferred choice for Prime Minister, according to the latest Opinium poll for The Observer.

Starmer is preferred to lead the country by 37% of voters polled on Thursday and Friday last week, compared with 35% who say Johnson would be the best Prime Minister.

While the Tories remain four points ahead of Starmer’s party on 43% to Labour’s 39%, the gap has closed from over 20% in February and early March when the Tories enjoyed a regular commanding lead as the country rallied behind the government, and Jeremy Corbyn was reaching the end of his time as Labour leader...".

The Guardian 28.6.20 and hat tip Shantu

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Essex Way: Great Waltham to Little Leighs circular walk

Off message but another fantastic country walk along the Essex Way (and back to starting point by alternative route). Got a little wet a couple of times but mostly bright sunshine, refreshing breeze and blue skies.

We hardly saw a soul during the 9 miles. Why do so many Londoners travel all over the UK to go walking when on their doorstep there is such unexplored beauty?

Check out route here https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/route/5358848/Great-Waltham-to-Little-Leighs  (you have to subscribe to OS but you can see the route)

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Labour Leader Keir Starmer MP on Armed Forces Day 27.6.20


Keir Starmer

Today is #ArmedForcesDay2020 and I want to say thank you to our serving personnel, their families and our veterans.
I’m proud of my country and proud of those who serve it

Friday, June 26, 2020

Newham Rough Sleeper (Mini) Street Count June 2020

Pictures from last night's Newham Rough Sleeping (mini) Street count with Councillors, Council officers and 3rd sector partners going out during the night to count how many rough sleepers there are. Usually this is done every two months.

Due to COVID19 only 4 teams of 2 people were sent out however, we visited 43 sites that have recent reports or historically associated with rough sleeping in Newham (and also there were central staff doing safety checks and gathering stats).

We met up in a local hotel that the Council has block booked to house and support rough sleepers. We took bottled water and sun cream to hand out (it has been very hot lately)

My team toured Manor Park and East Ham and "only" met 1 person sleeping on the streets! (S/he is well known to outreach workers and they are trying to support).

I am not sure if we can publish the actual figures yet from last nights count but it is no secret that it will be definitely and dramatically down from Pre covid times and the decision by the government to get "everyone in" into accommodation and off the streets

This shows what can he done if you have the will and the resources but we need our Government to commit further money & humane changes to the "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) rules to get rid of the blight in our society of vulnerable people sleeping on our streets. 

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Newham Unlocked - Showcase your creativity and tune in


This is really exciting. "26 June 2020 - Some of the creative talent bubbling away in Newham is set to be unleashed from this week in the first of a series of online videos that will feature residents of all ages showcasing their creativity and highlighting what role creativity has played during these challenging times".



Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Join UNISON



Join UNISON today -

Recent TV advert. Public service workers have been joining UNISON in droves

"We’re proud to be the UK’s largest union, giving support to over one million members. Wherever you work, your decision to join UNISON means everything to us. Thank you to each and every one of you – our public service champions."

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Private Thomas Highgate - the First to be Shot at Dawn (2020 update)

Early in 2014 I posted here on a controversy in the village on Shoreham in Kent on whether to add the name of Private Thomas Highgate to its War Memorial.  19 year old Thomas was the first soldier to be shot for desertion by the British army authorities in the first world war.

Some local residents also posted strongly felt comments on why (or why not) he should be remembered in this way.

At the time it appeared that there was a space on the memorial for his name and now Thomas had been pardoned by the British Government (2006) that eventually his name would placed there.

Recent discord about historical statues and memorials reminded me of Thomas.

This weekend I went back to Shoreham to take another walk around its beautiful countryside and to check what had happened.  I saw that his name had not been entered and instead the space had been filled with another fallen son of the village, who had been missed off the original plaque.

Personally, for what it is worth,  I think that Thomas should be remembered on this memorial in some way, but the decision is not mine.  I hope that eventually there would be a local consensus on what to do to remember Thomas and also the other 305 British & Commonwealth soldiers who suffered the same fate during the first world war. 

Monday, June 22, 2020

Windrush Day 2020

"This year there is an even greater need to mark #WindrushDay, which encourages commemoration, recognition and celebration of the contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants. Visit: newham.gov.uk/WindrushDay for stories, films, songs & memories
#WindrushDay2020"

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Remembering Sarah Chapman - Matchgirls strike leader

Picture of Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz and myself placing flowers at the grave of Matchgirls strike leader, Sarah Chapman.

Today family members and supporters were asked to place 'A Flower for Sarah" either on her grave itself or "virtually" on social media. Her grave (and others around it) are at risk of being levelled and "mounded" with additional topsoil by the company that runs Manor Park Cemetery were she is buried. 

See further details https://www.matchgirls1888.org/press-release-1

This picture of the grave this afternoon was tweeted by the campaign


Saturday, June 20, 2020

Happy Summer Solstice!

Its the longest day and why some might think it is a little sad that from tomorrow the days will slowly start to be shorter, I celebrate the UK's changing seasons and while I love the British summer ("Sunshine with a chance of showers") I look forward to autumn, winter and spring.  

Friday, June 19, 2020

"Stop outsourcing the UK’s response to Coronavirus"


Considering that without a doubt, the outsourcing (privatisation) of our public services has contributed to our horrendous UK death toil from Covid (poorly resourced care homes run by private equity funds; privatised hospital cleaners, cooks and porters forced to work despite being ill since they have no occupational sick pay; sale of council homes causing families to live in overcrowded and unfit homes...) it is wrong to outsource our response.

While there is a role for the private sector in this emergency, I wish for example that we had the funding in Newham, early on in the pandemic to have expanded our experienced public health team to "track and trace" infection.

Please sign this Labour Unions petition

"Over £1.7 billion has been spent by the UK Government with private companies to manage its Covid-19 response.

The usual tendering processes have been bypassed and new deals signed. Serco has been hired for contact tracing, big accountancy firms have advised on PPE logistics and Amazon are delivering test kits.

The UK Government has turbo charged outsourcing, when we know outsourcing has been shown time and again to be bad for workers, taxpayers and the public.

The stakes are so high – the UK Government should not be outsourcing responsibility when the capacity and expertise to do this work exists within the public sector.

We are calling for:
  • Full transparency over how these contracts were discussed and agreed upon
  • An end to the UK Government’s approach of automatically outsourcing at the expense of using existing public sector experience and expertise
  • Investment in the public sector to build knowledge and in-house expertise by employing and training staff directly"

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Tribute to Vera Lynn (1917-2020)

"Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has today offered condolences of behalf of the residents of Newham to the family and friends of forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn who died today at the age of 103.

Mayor Fiaz said: “Dame Vera was the girl next door who galvanised the morale of the nation and those who served during the darkest days of the Second World War. Born and raised in East Ham, she was a symbol of the spirit and resilience of this part of the East End, which suffered heavily during the War. She lifted the spirit of millions at home and abroad then, and fittingly, did so again in May when we marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day with a rousing nationwide rendition of her most famous song We’ll Meet Again.

“Dame Vera will be sorely missed, but will live on through her wonderful songs and continue to be an inspiration to our armed forces communities. On behalf of the people of Newham I offer our deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”

She was born Vera Margaret Welch in Thackeray Road, East Ham, to Annie Welch, a dressmaker, and Bertram Samuel Welch, an assistant coppersmith. Encouraged by her parents, Dame Vera loved singing as a child and took her maternal grandmother’s maiden name Lynn for the stage. From 1921 to 1938 she lived in Ladysmith Avenue, East Ham.

Dame Vera began singing at family events. She made her public debut aged seven at working men's clubs. Two years later she joined a juvenile troupe and from 1935 was singing on radio with the Joe Loss band. In 1937 she appeared with the Ambrose Orchestra in West End nightclubs, remaining with them until 1940 when she went solo.
She was 21 at the outbreak of war and already appeared on early, experimental television and was doing regular radio broadcasts.

It was her 1939 recording of We’ll Meet Again that thrust her into the hearts of the nation because of the nostalgic lyrics that were popular with troops abroad and families at home. That same year she was awarded the title Forces' Sweetheart following a Daily Express poll among its readers to name their favourite singer. She also starred in a radio show Sincerely Yours, popular with soldiers on the front line. She also visited Egypt, Burma and India.

For her support of the services Dame Vera received the British War Medal (1939-1945) and the Burma Star. She received an OBE in 1969 and became a Dame (DBE) in 1975. In 2016 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH).

To mark the milestone of her 100th birthday in 2017 Newham Council erected new signs in streets with a connection to Dame Vera, including Thackeray Road, Ladysmith Avenue, and at Dame Vera Lynn Close in Forest Gate, where the unveiling was supported by members of Newham-based G Company 7 Rifles".

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Become a Newham Covid-19 Health Champion



Become a Covid-19 Health Champion

Newham Council are really pleased to launch the Covid-19 Health Champions network, a new initiative that will empower thousands of Newham residents to remain up to date on the latest advice, so that they can be kept informed and help their family, friends and other community members to make sense of the latest facts, evidence and guidance about the virus. By disseminating clear information, residents can make informed choices about what’s best for them and their families.

Covid-19 Health Champions can be anyone in the community. They might be the person that everyone knows and trusts, or someone less visible who wants to help in whatever way they can.
To sign up visit the Council’s website here 

Or register by phone by calling 020 3373 2777

If you have any questions please contact the Covid-19 Health Champions team via email on covidhealthchampions@newham.gov.uk

We are translating all the materials into different languages including Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Chinese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Lithuanian and Portuguese. If there are any other languages that you think would be useful to have the materials translated too, please do let us know.

Putting Newham Residents at the Heart of Everything We Do.

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2020 (Not)

This is great picture of our UNISON Presidential team. From left is Senior Vice President, Sian Stockham (Support Care worker Wales); President, Josie Bird, (Local Government Newcastle) and James Anthony (Nurse in Birmingham).

James tweeted the photograph this morning and reminded us that today would have been the first day of the UNISON National Delegate Conference 2020. It was not to be due to Covid-19.

Next year....

Monday, June 15, 2020

Essex Way: Stagden Cross to Pleshey

The Essex Way is a long distance walk from Manor Park, Newham to Harwich, a distance of 96 miles (you can also start the walk from Epping). Gill and I have been walking in stages along the route (off and on) for a couple of years.

Yesterday, we started off from our previous finishing point at Stagden Cross and walked along the Essex Way to Pleshey then self guided back to the start point by a different route. Just over 6.5 miles

The weather was glorious and the countryside was empty. We saw 2 other walkers during the whole trip. The Essex Way has lots of ancient green lanes as well as paths through open fields under big skies. 

Pleshey is a medieval village with a ruined castle (visit by appointment only) thatched cottages with beautiful flowers and the remains of a defensive moat and embankment around almost the entire village.  Its pub, "The Leather Bottle" was serving take away roast dinners for £10 each. 

The route is well maintained and sign posted but best to get a map or guidebook (or for £2 per month download the ordinary survey app to your smart phone). 

Sunday, June 14, 2020

GRENFELL 3 YEARS ON

By Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz
"Still no justice for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in North Kensington, which could have been avoided if residents where treated with the respect and dignity they deserved.
We read the news reports over the weekend that many of the residents that survived this horror have experienced racism, ‘cultural bullying’, indifference and arrogance by a charity tasked with supporting them: including discriminatory decision making and practices such as negative stereotyping by the Westway charity. These former Grenfell Tower residents still haven’t been housed in suitable permanent homes either.
The Labour Party has estimated that some 56,000 people are still living in homes wrapped in the same flammable cladding as the Grenfell Tower.
Three years on from the gross injustice which led to 72 people dying on the 14th June in Grenfell, tonight thousands and thousands of people and families will still be going to bed in unsafe homes.
Including thousands of leaseholders living in properties that remain potentially unsafe, they find themselves as ‘mortgage prisoners’ unable to sell their homes or re-mortgage; and face the prospect of facing huge costs as well existing on-going costs such as ‪24/7‬ ‘waking watches’.
Leaseholders who are unable to re-mortgage face being put in on very high variable interest contracts; and all blocks with cladding - regardless of height - face intrusive and destructive testing.
A survey by the UK Cladding Action Group (UKCAG), published last week, shows that 9 out of 10 of 550 leaseholders and tenants surveyed have experienced sleeping problems and other mental health issues including suicidal feelings and self-harm as they contend with the prospect of unsellable apartments and crippling bills.
UKCAG say that there some 262 private and social residential blocks still wrapped in similar aluminium composite cladding systems, found to be the main cause of the fire that spread at Grenfell Tower, that killed 72 people. They’ve also estimated that 1,700 buildings across the country have some form of other dangerous cladding that needs replacing and others have other fire safety defects. The journal, Inside Housing estimates that some 600,000 flats nationally are unsellable as a consequence.
This includes properties owned by Housing Associations and private developers in Newham; and we’ve been pressing and demanding that they do more; with cabinet lead Cllr John Gray and deputy Cllr Shaban Mohammed, leading on this urgent focus locally.
The Government’s £1 billion fund is grossly inadequate and does not include on-going costs such as waking watches. The fund was only announced last month to help pay for the replacement of dangerous non-ACM cladding, adding to £600m already set aside for the removal of ACM cladding on social housing blocks.
Their slow and inadequate progress of this is unjustified, and their guidance is causing anxiety, delay, and confusion as well as risking lives.
Three years on from Grenfell, the government must meet full costs of making these homes safe and cover the ongoing costs caused by their failure to regulate and bring in effective building controls.
Building contractors who failed to build homes, to even the inadequate standards of the time, must also be held accountable and pay up.
Cllrs John Gray and Shaban Mohammed are organising a special zoom conference with Housing Associations who operate in Newham, to establish their latest progress and demand that they speed up on behalf of residents; as well as demanding government and builders to pay up.

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Unforgivable

Last weekend we had ultra left idiots doing their best to try and discredit legitimate protest about Black Live Matters and today we had ultra right morons disgracing a memorial to a murdered Police Officer. Tossers. 

Friday, June 12, 2020

Annual National Health Service (NHS) Day petition




What a great idea - I have signed the petition

"We want an annual National Health Service (NHS) Day to celebrate and honour our brilliant health care system and the expertise, efforts and the unconditional, selfless commitment of it's staff.
We want to raise the profile of our NHS and come together to celebrate annually the tremendous work our NHS is doing in providing patient care and saving lives
We also want this day to be a tribute to staff for their outstanding, dedicated and exceptional service whilst working in the NHS and those who have sadly lost their lives working on the frontline because their sacrifices must not be forgotten.
An annual NHS Day will help applaud, celebrate, appreciate and thank our NHS - something which has been very long overdue!
An NHS Day will provide a platform for people to fund raise in their own personal ways to help support and protect our NHS.
With the coronavirus UK death toll passing 29,000 and new cases over 4000, this highlights the significant pressure our NHS is under and the risks and dangers NHS staff are exposed to.
These sacrifices being made by staff during this war against Covid 19 need to be recognised and appreciated and an annual NHS Day would a step in the right direction".

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Solidarity from London UNISON to New York AFSCME


This letter was sent to our sisters and brothers in New York who are members of the public service union, AFSCME, from Greater London UNISON, signed by our elected lay Convenor, Yvonne Green and our Regional Secretary, Maggi Ferncombe (with support of all Regional Council Officers). 

"Henry Garrido
Executive Director, District Council 37
AFSCME
125 Barclay Street
New York
NY10001
  
8th June 2020

RE - Solidarity Message from UNISON Greater London

Dear Henry

We wanted to write to you on behalf of all UNISON members in London to pass on our solidarity to you and your members in AFSCME DC 37 during these difficult times. We too are the largest union in our city and as the public services union, have borne the brunt of dealing with Covid 19. The heroic efforts of your members in either battling Covid 19 on the frontline or ensuring the necessary infrastructure of New York continues running for its residents is remarkable. 

Like us, you will have lost too many members to this wretched virus and we ask that you please accept our condolences on behalf of their friends, union comrades and of course their families. 

Like you, we are still struggling to deal, day to day, with the virus under a government either too inept, too ignorant or simply incapable of recognising the daily struggle our members and city residents face. All while restrictions are being lifted too soon and like you we live in the very real fear of a second wave and the pressure this would put on already overburdened and historically underfunded public services.   

Please know that if there is any support we can provide, even if it is just friendship and solidarity, you only have to ask.

Similarly, we stand shoulder to shoulder with you on challenging systemic racism ingrained in our societies. We have been inspired by the level of activism that your city has shown and we too will encourage our members to get involved in the movement to eradicate racism. 

We believe that now is the time for long due change and whilst we, in our respective unions, have been fighting against racism, discrimination and racist values for some time, it now feels that, finally, society is ready to listen. The next few months will be difficult and painful however we believe there is finally hope.

We look forward to a time when we can correspond in better circumstances

Yours in friendship
                                               
Yvonne Greene                                                               Maggi Ferncombe
Regional Convenor                                                        Regional Secretary
UNISON - Greater London                                           UNISON - Greater London

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Thanking the Newham Housing Heroes

Yesterday I took part in two Skype meetings with Newham Council Housing Services staff.

There were altogether 230 participants which is nearly half of all our housing staff, not bad considering we run a 24/7 service and many of our front line workers are not office based.

Our interim Housing Director, Darren Levy, led both sessions.

I was invited to speak at both where I thanked all our staff for their hard work and public service during this emergency on behalf of the Mayor and all Councillors.

Our staff have carried out emergency repairs and safety inspections to homes and communal areas throughout the Covid-19 emergency; brought voids back into use for families; transported food to #HelpNewham hubs for distribution to shielding residents; moved around 400 families and individuals from shared accommodation to self contained accommodation where they can self isolate; dealt with a constant flow of new homeless applications day and night; protected private sector tenants from illegal evictions; our concierge workers have kept our tower blocks and lifts clean and personally checked on vulnerable residents; others have been redeployed from normal office hour duties into 24/7 shifts for emergency call outs; been giving advice and support to very worried residents on rents, service charges, allocations, tenancy issues and benefits while working from bedrooms and kitchens at their homes.

There was a wide range of questions to Darren from staff including PPE; what will happen to families in temporary accommodation; Risk assessments; Protection for BME staff from Covid; Newham's role in "track and trace"; Rent arrears; Gas servicing; residents with "No recourse to public funds"; budget cuts due to Covid and modular housing building (and many others).

A line manager did ask what can we do to really thank all the "Housing Heroes" who have gone above and beyond for our residents?

While I want a celebration for all staff once it is safe to do so I suspect that if the Government does the right thing and funds a decent pay rise for all Council staff that this will go down much, much better. 

Tuesday, June 09, 2020

The legacy of subjugation corrupts American society – and shows us why we need to put out own house in order too

My Newham Council Cabinet colleagues telling it as it is.


"As night turns to day, another black man is killed by the police in the United States of America – and his death is ‘televised’.
The response from the Minneapolis Democratic Mayor, Jacob Frey, to denounce the killing and sack the four policemen involved in the brutal death of George Floyd, was swift. But this has not been enough to quell anger. We know this is yet another example of police brutality which has led again to the loss of a black man’s life. 
The circumstances leading to the brutal murder of an unarmed man at the hands of the police are not new and perpetuate the dangerous trend in policing of black communities across America. The question before us is whether George Floyd’s death disrupts this trend and becomes, as Keir Starmer said on May 30th, a catalyst for meaningful change in the lives of African Americans – or whether his death merely perpetuates and reinforces ‘the cycle’:   
Step 1. Black individual stopped by the police;  
Step 2. Police brutality and then death;  
Step 3. Outrage/ protest/ twitter storm/ virtue signalling;  
Step 4. Silence and the media circus move on; and,  
Step 5. Go to Step 1’ and repeat.  
If we are ever to break this cycle and change the structural inequalities that continue to define and disfigure life in the USA, we believe that a peaceful, national civic revolution is required. A commitment to social mobilisation and an effort, unparalleled in peacetime, is needed to reboot the USA so that its ethnic minorities can fully access and participate in American society. Life chances should never be defined by skin colour.   
When the Founding Fathers declared the unalienable rights of ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’, people of colour were not at the forefront of their thoughts – quite the opposite. The USA was founded on the subjugation of Native Americans and enslaved Africans. It is this legacy of subjugation that corrupts contemporary American society. The acceptance that black lives matter has to become central to the American way of life if it is to have any moral purpose going forwards.
There are criticisms made of the Thirteenth Amendment in the American Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as criminal punishment. There is anger in the USA today that this was only a partial abolition and another injustice— one that concretely exists today. People still forced into grinding and unremunerated work, but as prisoners. In a number of states, the prison population is disproportionately made up of people of colour.
Incarceration rates for ethnic minorities are significantly higher than for non-ethnic minorities, African Americans are imprisoned at 5 times the rate of white Americans, and although African Americans and Hispanic Americans (those of Spanish speaking ancestry) make up 32% of the U.S. population, they make up 56% of the American prison population. 
Black men in America are also 2.5 times more likely to be killed by the police than their white counterparts. Black women are also 1.4 times more likely to killed by the police than white women. So common is death at the hands of the police it has been recognised as a leading cause of death for black men. These are systemic problems which must not only be challenged but fundamentally changed.
When it comes to the experiences of black communities, those in the US share similarities with those in UK. Yet there are particular differences in the legacy of slavery and the lived experience.
Modern British society was founded on the back of the wealth accumulated by the creation and expansion of the British Empire.
Have you ever wondered why black colleagues and friends have ‘English/Scottish/Welsh/French surnames? From where do you think some of our ancient UK businesses and cultural institutions acquired their wealth? Have you stopped to ponder the issues influencing the environment, and determining the life chances, of the young black man standing on the street corner?
Have you considered the motives of both government and parliament in removing the rights and citizenship of black British citizens? 
The challenge for the British Labour movement, in the wake of the current wave of protests, is to define and develop the changes we think are necessary if we are to bring any kind of meaning to George Floyd’s death— not to mention all the others who suffered before him.   
We need to harness the pain and the anger of the moment, honing our transformational zeal, and reaffirming that the Labour party is the home for the aspirations and desires of black communities across the UK, especially among the working class.  
Change begins with the individual, not the institution, so the first question is about what we’re doing individually within the confines of the Labour movement: how can members create lasting change rather than simply speaking about the need for it?   
The protests taking place in London and across the UK demonstrate solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the USA and bring attention to our own faults at home. However, solidarity – especially the social media variety – tends to evaporate over time. A society built, instead, on the foundations of equality, fairness, and meritocracy is everlasting.  
We need to hold a mirror up to ourselves and be honest about where we have come from and what we want to see in the future. The UK is not immune from the worst aspects of institutional prejudice. There is a list of inquiries and reviews which proves this point: the Lammy Review, the Angiolini Review into deaths in police custody and, most damning of all, the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. 
Within our movement, there is still debate on how to increase the prevalence of black MPs and Councillors, especially black males, who find themselves in the minority. Where are the numbers of black senior staffers in Parliament and Labour HQ? Do we not have enough quality black graduates with an active interest in politics? We must put our own house in order first.
Our movement must seek, from this point onwards, to develop radical, anti-racist policies to deal with our own structural impediments. If black people aren’t in the room, then no one speaks for us on the policies affecting our community. If we think it is wrong for policies to be predominantly forged by white men, then we need to empower and promote women and black people in numbers that give them influence at senior levels. Perhaps, if black people were in positions of power, we would have a school system that delivers; a prison system that doesn’t warehouse its talent; and a country that protects its BAME population so they aren’t disproportionally represented in Covid-19 mortality statistics.  
As a roadmap for genuine change, we’ve set out some immediate challenges for Labour:
In The Party: Let us be the change we seek to promote. We should review and transform BAME-related political structures and increase Black representation at all levels of the Party. 
On Education: The impact of Covid-19 provides an opportunity to look again at our current educational structure. We should seize the opportunity to transform our primary, secondary and tertiary education systems, especially for black boys in our inner cities. How can we justify a policy for a national education service when sections of our community fail to benefit from the most basic of human rights? 
On Health: BAME communities are experiencing a disproportionate Covid-19 impact, whilst the Government downplays the situation by omitting the recommendations of its own BAME Disparities report. We need a credible Public health and NHS strategy, and implementation plan. Not mere slogans and protests, but genuine action to protect the BAME community.  
On Social mobility:  We don’t talk enough about social mobility and class. We should revamp our current policies, to truly promote social mobility, by appealing to the aspirations of the black community and enabling its talent to flourish. 
On Community Policing: As senior black Councillors in one of the UK most diverse boroughs, we know there is distrust between the police and sections of the black community. We can— and must— develop a plan that drastically improves perceived and actual community relations with the police. 
On Policy development: We must involve BAME communities in the development of policy outside of traditional areas such as health, education, housing and crime. We must be inclusive in our discussions on the most relevant issues of our time, such as climate change, Brexit, infrastructure, AI and the fourth industrial revolution.
Shirley Chisholm— the first black woman elected to the US Congress, and the first black candidate to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination— said in 1972: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”  
Now is the time for both: we must bring the folding chair and push for ample room at the table.
Terry Paul and James Beckles are Councillors and Cabinet Members in the London Borough of Newham and write in a personal capacity. They tweet @terrympaul and @james_beckles, respectively."

Monday, June 08, 2020

"Making our streets better for social distancing, walking and cycling..."

Check out the interactive survey launched today by Newham Council  https://www.newham.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/c19-information-advice/5

"We want to hear your ideas for making our streets better for social distancing, walking and cycling.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, current Government advice is that public transport should be avoided unless absolutely necessary, and with over 50% of Newham households not owning a car, we need to make sure that walking and cycling is a safe and attractive option.

Newham also has the largest number of deaths attributable to poor air quality and encouraging more residents to walk and cycle, instead of private vehicles, will also help reduce air pollution.

Make suggestions on the map for wider pavements, new or better crossing points, reducing speeds and traffic volumes, changes to cycle routes or any other changes to support with social distancing, walking and cycling
".

I have been a keen cyclist and walker in Newham (and beyond) for many years. Today I cycled from Forest Gate 5.08 miles into Newham Dockside in 30 minutes and then this evening 4.36 miles back in 27 minutes (slow but not that much faster if I drove during rush hour). 

Cycling through West Ham Park, the Greenway and Beckton Park was really enjoyable. While cycling back along Tollgate Road, Prince Regent Lane and Plaistow High Street wasn't that great. 

So if you have any ideas about how to make our streets safer then click on the interactive survey and let Newham Council know. 

By coincidence as a Councillor I have had casework recently from residents wanting to increase the number of cycle hangers (secure storage cages on our roads). So as well as using the interactive survey to indicate areas which need more hangers, email Cycle.Training@Newham.gov.uk with your location and ask for more (and encourage your neighbours to do so as well) 

Friday, June 05, 2020

West Ham Ward Councillor Surgery Saturday 6 June 10am to 11am

My next Newham London, West Ham ward, virtual Councillor surgery is tomorrow (Saturday 6 June) from 10am to 11am. Please email John.Gray@Newham.Gov.uk and I will contact your by phone, or by Zoom, or by Skype or by GoToMeeting or by Teams. 

You can always contact me via email outside this time and I will get back to you as soon as I can. 

Picture above is of one of my West Ham Councillor predecessors, Ben Cunningham and the "Plaistow Land-grabbers"  https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2010/06/what-will-harvest-be-abbey-gardens-fair.html

Thursday, June 04, 2020

UNISON Labour Link Q&A and discussion with Angela Rayner MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

The National elected lay committee of UNISON's political fund, which is affiliated to the Labour Party, met up yesterday in a virtual meeting with Angela Rayner MP.

Angela is a life long UNISON member and former member of this Committee before she was elected as a MP.

She is a former care worker who has never forgotten her UNISON family and her Labour movement roots.

She spoke about her background in the movement and working with our new Labour Party Leader, Keir Starmer, to hold the Tories to account and deliver change.

In the Q&A my question to her was about how in light of Covid-19 we bring about a "New Deal" for all care workers with regard to decent employment rights and conditions and what can UNISON do to help her and Keir Starmer deliver.

Angela was fully supportive of this and pointed out the work she has already done with trade unions and that Clapping for Care workers must be matched by meaningful action.

There had been a meeting of the UNISON NEC that day as well which I will post upon soon.




Wednesday, June 03, 2020

In memory of George Floyd and in solidarity with those standing up against racism and injustice

"Last night, Labour authorities all over Britain lit up buildings with purple lights in memory of George Floyd and in solidarity with those standing up against racism and injustice".  hat tip Labour Party tweet

Check out Newham Town Hall, Newham Dockside and Stratford Town Hall (not show in tweet)




Tuesday, June 02, 2020

A "thank you" to UNISON Community from their NEC Members


(This message sent today to the 82,000 UNISON members who work in the Housing Associations and Voluntary Sector. 

May I also pay a personal tribute to my NEC colleague, Denise, who as well as her trade union responsibilities is also a care worker in a home for residents with learning disabilities)

A message from your UNISON Community National Executive Council Members


Dear (first name inserted)

We hope you are keeping well in these most trying of times.

We appreciate the fantastic work that you are doing to maintain services in our communities.

As a UNISON member, you are part of a large movement that covers more than 1.3 million workers. We have lost some members and activists to the virus, which some will have contracted at work. This is exceptionally sad, but we will always be here for you if you have been affected. You can contact our charity, There for You, who can offer confidential support and advice during this time. We also have some guidance on our website to help with the emotional toll coronavirus may be having.

Many of you have been supporting your fellow members, by taking part in the weekly claps for carers, stopping to remember them in last month’s worker’s remembrance day, or remembering to thank them when you see them. This recognition of the vital contribution they make is so important to them.

On behalf of your trade union, thank you for supporting front-line workers. And thank you for taking the time to remember those who have died as a result of COVID-19.

If you need support, please contact your local branch or our helpline, UNISONDirect.

Thank you and keep safe.

Denise Thomas – NEC
John Gray – NEC