Our Prime Minister and his advisors make a traditional halloween announcement on Covid

 nuf said

67% of Newham Children live in households in poverty after housing costs

 

I have been pushing on social media the Newham Council consultation on changes to our allocation policy and our new housing strategy.

Recently I had a push back from someone who did not believe our stats on how how many of our residents live in poverty after their housing costs are taken into account.

The caption above is from Newham Household Panel Survey 2017 p6 https://newham.gov.uk/downloads/file/563/research-householdsurvey9…

Every time I walk next to a newham school during play time I think about this statistic and what should we do about it?

3 Pension meetings in one evening!

 

This evening I took part in a zoom Newham Council Pension committee training meeting, open committee meeting  and then exempt committee meeting (no public or press due to discussion of confidential information). 

If you are a pension geek (like me) you may want to watch the public meeting here on youtube. 

Our fund in worth over £1.4 billion and I was pleased that one of the decisions taken this evening is that we will target staff eligible to join the fund who haven't and remind them not only are they missing out on "pay" (the employer pays at least 14% extra of salary into the scheme) but vital life assurance for their spouses and children as well as very valuable protection against serious sickness and accidents. 

Stop this prison in Newham...to detain black migrants in a prison that was built to store the produce of black slave plantations is an outrage

 

https://twitter.com/NewhamAgainst

The @NewhamRecorder  has covered our protest.United in our opposition

@grayee

: ..stop this prison in Newham

@rokhsanafiaz

: ..affront to diversity in the borough

@RKDasgupta

: ..must stand up & mobilise against this proposal Messages of support also from

@unmeshdesai

&

@lynbrownmp

Calling 1.3 million UNISON members - Ballot papers out from tomorrow. Vote Christina X

 Ballot papers out tomorrow to your home addresses. If you haven’t received one or lose it call 0800 0 857 857 between 10th November closes on 27th  November. Vote Christina X

Vote for the best candidate and also for her to be the 1st female General Secretary ever of any of the big 5 trade unions. 

Report Slum Landlords for Fly tipping!

 

It was great to see publicity here about Newham Community Safety team out and about in Newham.

"Last week Cllr James Beckles, Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety, joined our community safety cross service 3 days of action in Stratford. They were encouraging people to wear face coverings in the mall, ensuring businesses are COVID19 compliant, picking up on anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

Police and enforcement partnership team were also patrolling.

Report it on our website: www.newham.gov.uk/report"

I am really keen that residents report slum landlords who are responsible for many fly tips, especially dumped mattresses and discarded black rubbish bags. Please report them on link above (the vast majority of good landlords are are let down by a small minority of criminals who need to be prosecuted)

Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary: Greater London Campaign Rally Wednesday 28 October 7.30-8.30pm

 

Check out "Greater London Campaign Rally with Christina McAnea". Register to join via https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater-london-campaign-rally-with-christina-mcanea-tickets-126697657103?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=estw&utm-source=tw&utm-term=listing…

@EventbriteUK

Newham Council adds voice to #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign to address holiday hunger facing thousands of school children this half term

Newham Council has today confirmed its support for the #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign, announcing additional money to ensure no child goes hungry during this half term break. 

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Zulfiqar Ali said: “We share the huge disappointment expressed by England footballer Marcus Rashford following the government’s vote against plans that would have shielded children from hunger this half term.

“Responsibility for this decision lies solely with the government. It’s an absolute outrage that it has turned its back on our most vulnerable families already hit by poverty and low incomes, through a callous disregard for the impact this will have on the needs of children at this most difficult time.

“Food poverty is already a huge priority for the Council and that’s why, in addition to the existing free schools meals programme, we support thousands of local children through our universal Eat for Free food scheme during the school term.

“As well as this, we have been addressing food poverty as part of our response to Covid-19, through the establishment of the borough-wide Newham Food Alliance. Working with more than 30 voluntary sector organisations, we have been feeding thousands of low income families throughout the pandemic.

“We have also invested additional money to ensure that children and families can access food during this half term break. The additional provision includes extended opening hours for families to access food and increasing food supplies to meet growing demand.”

Residents can find more information about the Newham Food Alliance and order food here or call 07790 975 086 Monday to Friday between 9am and midday to secure food parcels.

Newham’s Eat for Free scheme offers free school meals to ALL primary school aged children, not just those in Key Stage 1 or who meet eligibility criteria. This means that 28,000 local primary school children have the option of a free school meal should they want one.

Newham Council has already this year invested £364,000 in the Newham Food Alliance, which sees the council working arm-in-arm with more than 30 voluntary organisations to ensure that Newham’s poorest residents do not go hungry. The council’s support helps towards logistical support, coordination and dedicated Newham Food alliance vehicles to distribute food to hubs around the borough to where it is needed most.

Thousands of Newham families benefit from the Food Alliance, and there is surplus food stock available to help meet any surge in demand.

Update on ONS Covid19 infection survey

 On 11 October I posted here https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/10/ons-covid-19-survey.html

on my experience as a volunteer taking part in the study being run by the Office for National Statistic (ONS)

The survey is being run by the US based multi National https://www.iqvia.com/about-us

It had taken a number of attempts to try and organise an initial visit for swab and blood tests. 

Finally, I had these tests on Saturday 10 October but had to wait until Wednesday 21 October to receive a letter (via Royal Mail - not email or text?) to tell me that the swab test was negative. I understand (and hope) that if it was positive the survey would have contacted me by telephone before this but I must admit I am not full of confidence that this would have happened in a timely manner. 

IQVIA do not send you the results of your blood test back, which is a shame. It would have been very interesting to find out if I had Covid-19 in the past. I know that if you had it this would not mean you are not totally immune to catching Covid-19 again. 

I had volunteered to have weekly swab tests and monthly blood tests. Since I was told my next swab test would be a week later I waited until the following Saturday but heard nothing so I rang the IQVIA call centre. I was unable to speak to anyone so left a message. 

No-one got back to me then on Wednesday a lady rang to arrange an appointment for a swab test the following day. She could not meet me at my workplace (which is also in Newham) so I agreed to come home on Thursday at 1.30pm from work for the test. She rang about 2.15pm to say she could find my address but was nearby. I gave her directions and left my MS teams meeting that I was chairing on Pensions and waited outside. She gave me a swab kit and then waited while I did the test indoors (I am getting quite used to them now). I handed her back the test kit, she asked some basic health questions then went off. 

So, it is a bit of a saga but I hope a worthwhile exercise. I wish it was better organised and that instead of a "for profit" multinational running this exercise it was being organised by our local NHS/public health team. While we are not perfect at least noone is making (I assume) huge profits from the Covid-19 emergency. I would still encourage anyone who is invited to take part in the survey to do so. 

Will update further as and when.  

"UNISON calls on government to pull back from scrapping Union Learning Fund"

 

UNISON is calling on the government to pull back from its plan to scrap the Union Learning Fund in England, saying that the decision makes no sense.

The announcement that the fund would be scrapped came as the economy struggles to bounce back from the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, and as the Department of Education’s own findings revealed that the proportion of employers not providing any training at all increased from 34% in 2017 to 39% in 2019; and the proportion of employees not getting any training increased from 38% in 2017 to 40% in 2019.

In Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the devolved governments remain supportive of the fund. So do employers in England – including Tesco, Heathrow, British Steel, Arla Foods and Müller Milk, who have already given support to the TUC-led campaign to defend union learning.

For 20 years, the fund has been getting working people into skills training they’d otherwise have no access to, with courses directly relevant to the workplace, tailored to workers and supported by funding from the government.

Workplace learning is a massive success. Not just for employers – 77% say that union learning has a positive impact – but for the economy too. It is a success that delivers a return of £12.30 for every pound invested.

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, explained: “Lifelong learning has a key role to play in helping us close the UK’s productivity gap with our competitors. Workplace learning is a big part of this – and union learning has proven to be brilliantly effective.

“It’s a unique way of switching people onto learning that cannot be replaced. It depends on the trust and support of a workmate who has been trained as a specialist learning rep. If the funding goes it will be a tremendous loss, harming business and the economy just when training and skills are needed for our economic recovery.”

UNISON members who take part in skills training not only widen their own horizons but improve the public services that they deliver as well.

For example, in Newcastle City branch, union learning rep Linda Slasor and branch education co-ordinator Wendy Aitman have established learning zones across the city council, allowing many traditionally excluded workers to improve their IT skills.

Ms Aitman explains: “For the most part, the learners haven’t been on a computer before and might not even have used a mouse before, so we get them started so they can access things like our weekly update for members and the council’s update for staff – a lot of them have been fascinated to see their payslips online.”

From digital to diplomas, from maths to mental health, the workers getting our country through the pandemic deserve the opportunity to access education. Now’s the time to invest in learners in our NHS and our care homes, in our police forces and our schools, in our local communities and everywhere else – not to scrap a scheme that makes it all happen.

Roger McKenzie, UNISON assistant general secretary with responsibility for organising, said: “The Union Learning Fund has made a massive contribution to raising basic skills levels across the country and, through that, makes a massive economic contribution.

“It’s not all about pounds, shillings and pence though. Many UNISON members have been able to read a bedtime story to their children or grandchildren for the very first time because of the Union Learning Fund. The government needs to change its mind and continue funding this vital work.”

Teresa Donegan, head of learning and organising at UNISON, says: “UNISON has always had a proud tradition of providing learning opportunities for our members. The Union Learning Fund allowed us to extend our reach to non-members as well, meaning that we could help thousands more public services workers improve their skills and knowledge.

“In councils, schools, hospitals, call centres and universities – to name only a few of the plethora of workplaces the Union Learning Fund reaches – union members and non-members alike have benefited.

“Subjects as fundamental as English, maths and IT open doors that may have remained locked since a worker left school.”

Sign the petition here - https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/uk-gov-don-t-cut-union-learning

Have Your Say! Newham Consultation on Changes to Allocation Policy

 

Dear Resident 

The London Borough of Newham is proposing to make some changes to the Housing Allocations Policy and we want to hear your views.

You can have your say by clicking here:

https://www.newham.gov.uk/allocationsconsultation

Over 27,000 households are waiting for social housing in Newham. Only a small number of houses become available each year and we want to make sure they go to the residents who need them most.
We do this through the Housing Allocations Policy. This outlines who is allowed on the list, how they are prioritised and how the council allocates housing.

The proposals

We want to make some changes to this allocations policy to make sure it is fair. Full details of the proposed changes can be found here but in summary, the four main changes being proposed are:

1. Who can join the waiting list: currently you can join the waiting list if you have lived in Newham for two years, if you work in Newham or if you have family in Newham. We propose changing this so you can only join the list if you live in Newham for three years. There are some exceptions to the three-year rule.

2. Waiting time: We propose changing the way time on the waiting list contributes to your priority when you bid on properties. Waiting time before a housing need arises will not count.

3. Removing the advantage given to people in employment: currently households in employment have a higher priority when they bid for a property. We propose removing the priority given to people in employment, so that priority is based on housing need and time on the waiting list.

4. Creating a new category based on overcrowding: we propose giving a higher priority to households who are overcrowded plus one other reasonable preference (housing need). We define severe overcrowding as being short of two or more bedrooms.

The consultation

The consultation is open until Monday 4th January 2021. The council will consider the responses it receives. Recommendations will then be made to Cabinet members to help them make a decision. We expect this to happen in March 2021.

The London Borough of Newham have appointed independent research agency Savanta to host this consultation and collect feedback from residents.

You can participate in the consultation by clicking here.

You can also request a postal version of the questionnaire by contacting newhamconsultation@mysavanta.com or 0800 304 7488.

With kind regards,

Darren Levy
Director of Housing

London Borough of Newham
Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU

Keep up to date with the most up to date safety information about the Coronavirus on the Newham Council website ( www.newham.gov.uk/coronavirus) or call the Covid-19 helpline on 020 7273 9711 (1-7pm, 7 days a week)

"End our Cladding Scandal: Developers make £5.2 billion in profits while leaseholders face huge bills for safety works"

Need I say any more? Except many leaseholders are not only facing massive bills for the removal of dangerous cladding but also to make good other shoddy and incomplete safety work. While the government as the ultimate regulator of building standards should take responsibility so should the developers and the new home warranty insurers. 

Hat tip Inside Housing (pay wall)

 

Christina McAnea for UNISON General Secretary: "A great result for Jacinda and New Zealand’s Labour Party"

 

"A great result for Jacinda and New Zealand’s Labour Party. Her brilliant leadership has shown how important it is to have women in power"

Christina McAnea 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/18/jacinda-ardern-eases-into-second-term-amid-relief-in-new-zealand-at-election-landslide

(Christina is in my view the best candidate but also she is the only woman standing to be the first female General Secretary of the largest union in the UK which has 1.3 million members of whom 1 million are women. 

There has Never been a female General Secretary of any of the biggest 5 trade unions in this country. Never...)

Cllr Frederick (Frank) Matthews - my Great Grandfather

 

There is a lot of really nasty and unpleasant stuff on the internet and social media but there is also many positive things. 

This week I was contacted by a long lost relative Graham via this blog who had searched the internet for his great uncle (Frederick John Matthews - my maternal grandfather or "Taid"  in Welsh) and found my post on his military service https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/05/ve-day-sgt-frederick-matthews-and-sgt.html

Today Graham sent me a fantastic email with photos and scans of our family history and also of my Great Grandfather, Frederick (Frank) James Matthews who was also a Councillor for many years in South Wales. I had no idea that apart from my Father (who was a Councillor for Buckley District Council, North Wales in the 1950s) that anyone else in my family had served in this way.

The newspaper report above has a picture of Frank at the opening ceremony of the construction of a much needed fresh water reservoir in 1912 (October 16!). I am not sure who exactly is Frank in the picture but assume it is the big chap with the big white beard. 

UPDATE: No, the chap with big white beard was the chief engineer, Frank is as above in new college (definitely a Matthews)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grwyne_Fawr_Reservoir

Protest outside Warehouse K - Oppose the hostile environment and there is no place for hate in our borough

Yesterday evening I walked from Newham Dockside along Royal Docks to join Councillor colleagues and local residents protesting outside the historic Warehouse K which is the site of a proposed Immigration detention centre.  

Local Newham Councillors have set up a campaign group - Newham Against the Immigration Centre https://twitter.com/NewhamAgainst

We joined a protest organised by the Newham Branch of the SUTR. Local Cllr Dr Rohit Das Gupta was the first speaker. He described how the local ward Councillors had met via zoom today with the developers to make clear their opposition to the proposal. 

As well as a wide range of local residents and activists, Cllr James Beckles, Cllr Shaban Mohammed, Cllr Anam Islam, Cllr Belgica Guaña and Cllr Suga Thekkeppurayil (final speaker) were there supporting the protest. 

Councillors who are on the Strategic planning committee would not be able to attend since by law they have to remain completely neutral until they have heard the actual planning application. The application for a change of use into a 24/7 detention centre with 35 custody cells is thought to be heard next month. 

There was a wide range of speakers addressing the protest. I spoke as Newham Deputy Mayor and made it clear that we are opposed to this "prison" being built in Newham and we will do everything we can do to stop it.  I also pointed out that this warehouse was built in 1855 for imported tobacco and therefore in all likelihood produce from American slave plantations was stored here and now the Home Office is proposing to jail migrants in the same building. This is an outrage. 

Socialist & Labour West Ham Cllr George Coe "He tried to leave the world a little better than he found it"

 

During the summer I had a wonderful email from Plaistow resident and local historian, Alan Regin, connected to a post I wrote on this blog following the general election in 2015. 

On election day 2015 an UNISON colleague of mine was acting as a Labour polling agent outside an Ilford polling station and had been given a copy of an early West Ham "Labour" election pamphlet from 1897, which they sent to me knowing I was a local Councillor. 

This leaflet mentioned the "Social Democratic and Trade Unionist" candidate "G.Coe" who I googled and checked what records I had to hand but was unable to find any further information about. 

Alan had seen this post and he sent me a photograph of  a "George Coe" headstone in the West Ham Cemetery. It seems that George had indeed been elected in 1897 and remained a Councillor until 1900. 

He died at the young age of 40 in 1910. 

What is particularly noticeable about his gravestone is the wonderful epitaph "this testimonial was erected by a few friends as a token of their respect for his devotion both to his public & private duties". He tried to leave the world a little better than he found it".

I hope to go and pay my respects to George with Alan and modern day Councillor colleagues in the near future. 

"A fairer future for housing – have your say on Newham Council’s housing ambitions"

"Building thousands more genuinely affordable council homes; defeating
homelessness; driving up standards, and making access to housing fairer are at the heart of two consultations launched today (Tuesday October 13) by Newham Council.

Residents are being urged to have their say on two ambitious plans that will help shape the future of housing across the borough.

The draft Housing Delivery Strategy underpins the Council’s commitment to investing millions in improving housing quality as it works to make Newham the best place for families to live and young people to grow up.

It sets out a raft of measures to: 

Put local people at the heart of housing – including co-design of regeneration schemes; greater support for residents in the private rented sector, and a tenants’ charter for council tenants

Build, buy and secure more and better homes for local people, including ensuring private developers deliver genuinely affordable housing for council rent 

Address the climate emergency by investing in green development and energy efficiency schemes for council and private homes 

Create a safer and more secure private sector, including ramping up the successful private rented sector licensing scheme 

Repair and refurbish sub-standard homes, with a focus on vulnerable adults and older people’s housing
Tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, and reduce the need for temporary accommodation

The council is also calling on the government to give local authorities necessary additional funding and greater freedom to borrow for investment in housing, and abolishing the unfair “Right to Buy” scheme that has seen thousands of homes removed from council ownership and passed on to private landlords.

Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “The huge ambition of our Housing Strategy shows how serious we are about fixing a broken housing system and meeting residents’ aspirations for quality, genuinely affordable homes in Newham.

“We have made great progress against our commitments on housing, but our ambition doesn’t end there – we want to go even further to tackle the housing challenges faced by Newham residents and deliver high quality genuinely affordable council homes.

“Now more than ever, in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, Newham’s people deserve access to good quality, secure homes where they can put down roots. We are determined to deliver that, to drive out homelessness and to continue our calls for the freedom and financial backing we need from government to help our communities thrive for generations to come.

“I hope that as many residents as possible will have their say and help us shape the future of housing here in Newham.”

As part of its commitment to making access to council housing fairer, the Council is also proposing a transformation of its Housing Allocations Policy, which sets the criteria for people hoping to get a council home in the borough.

Proposed changes to the policy – which have also opened for consultation today – aim to tackle the housing crisis, reduce the waiting list and put Newham’s residents first by prioritising council housing applicants on the basis of their housing need.

The changes would include: 

Requiring people on the council housing waiting list to have lived in the borough for at least three years, with certain exceptions for vulnerable people 

Removing employment in the borough and family connections as qualifying criteria for a “local” connection 

Restricting accrual time for those without a housing need – meaning those on the housing waiting list would only start to accrue waiting time once they had an actual housing need 

Removing the “priority homeseeker in employment” category so that all homeseekers would be treated equally, including those unemployed or unable to work

Creating a new priority category focused on overcrowding – to tackle severe overcrowding, where families need two or more additional rooms

Newham’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Deputy Mayor John Gray, said: “Newham faces the UK’s most severe housing crisis and it’s unacceptable that many of our residents are stuck in unsuitable, poor quality and over-crowded housing.

“By making our allocations policy fairer, we can be sure that we are putting local people first and prioritising those with the greatest need. Together with our wider housing strategy, these proposals will help to improve housing in Newham.”

Both consultations will run until January 4, 2021. A series of resident engagement sessions will be confirmed shortly.

View the draft Housing Strategy consultation, including further information and the chance to have your say.

View the draft Housing Allocations Policy, including further information, FAQs and the chance to have your say.

Hat tip Newham Council and picture of Tanner Point, E13 following recent walkabout with local Cllrs

Make Misogyny (hatred of women) A HATE CRIME

 USE YOUR VOTE - 28th Oct to 27th Nov - VOTE CHRISTINA

This week is #NationalHCAW so here is a reminder of one of my manifesto commitments.

I will lead the fight to end sexism and campaign to misogyny a #HateCrime.

I will lead our collective strength of 1 million women to be a voice for all women in the workplace.

Together, we will be the leading light in demanding dignity, respect, equal pay and conditions and an end to gender inequality.

#NoPlaceForHate #SafePlaceForAll 

See less

H.M.S UNISON

The 1.3 million members of the British trade union UNISON (the largest union in the UK) will probably not be aware that there was a British second world war submarine also called UNISON. 

Hat tip Ali G.  check out  https://www.facebook.com/WW2colourisedphotos

10 October 1943

The crew of HM Submarine 'UNISON' display their 'Jolly Roger' at Devonport, Plymouth, UK, having returned from a successful 16 months in the Mediterranean.

This submarine took passage to UK from Malta for a refit on 9 September 1943 and after sailing from Gibraltar carried out a patrol west of Cadiz before arriving at Devonport on 28th to Pay-off. Refit work was completed in February 1944 and she recommissioned for trials and training duties in the 6th Submarine Flotilla based at Blyth. These duties terminated in May after she had been selected for transfer to the Soviet Fleet and she prepared for her new service at Rosyth.

(Photo source - © IWM A 19673)
Hampton J A (Lt)
Royal Navy official photographer

(Colour by Doug)

ONS Covid-19 Survey

 

I was randomly selected as to be part of this national survey. I agreed to take part several weeks ago to be swab tested for current Covid infections and blood tested for antibodies (to see if I have been infected in the past). 

However, it has been rather disorganised and I was unable to organise a test due to random telephone calls with no contact details being left so I was unable to respond.  Someone rang me once on the day to "cancel" my appointment (I had no appointment) and rebooked it for the following Monday (but no one turned up)

We finally managed to arrange an appointment yesterday afternoon (4pm) for a very nice lady to call at my home address, explain what is happening and safely allow me to take a Covid swab (via my tonsils and nostrils) and for her to take a sample of blood. It took about 15 minutes. I will have weekly swab tests and another blood test in 5 weeks. 

She did not know when I should  receive the results but I will be texted and sent a letter.  I should therefore know whether I currently have Covid (I have no symptoms whatsoever) or whether I have any antibodies which indicate that I have had Covid in the past (again, I have had no previous  symptoms). 

I will update this post when I receive the result and would also encourage anyone else who have received a similar invitation to take part in this survey.

We all need to know this information.Your involvement will be kept secret but we need to know how prevalent Covid is in our communities. 

Update https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/10/update-on-ons-covid19-infection-survey.html

(and yes a US multinational is running the survey)

"Newham Hero Honoured by the Queen on World Homeless Day"

Ajitha Sajeev awarded British Empire Medal in Queen’s birthday honours for services to Rough Sleepers.

Newham Council is delighted to announce that 30-year Council veteran Ajitha Sajeev has been honoured by the Queen for services to the homeless.Ajitha Sajeev, 52, who is the Newham’s Street Population Manager, has received the British Empire Medal for her work supporting rough sleepers away from the streets, and onto a path to permanent housing.

Ajitha, who is a very proud mother of two, was born in Singapore then moved from India aged seven with her family to set up home in East Ham. She began working with the Council at the suggestion of her mother, aged 22 and has stayed ever since, working in translation services, housing and finally the street homeless team.

She said of the award; “I am so proud and deeply humbled by this honour, but this work is all about the team and treating people with the dignity, respect, care and compassion they deserve when they are at their most vulnerable. This has never been truer than now with the extra health risks, and anxieties and fear that Covid-19 has brought.

“During the pandemic I have been proud to co-ordinate an amazing effort across various Council services and the faith, charity and voluntary sectors, to reach, and support hundreds of people into safer accommodation’.

“Before the Pandemic hit we had already done a great deal of work through the Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Task Force, to get people off the streets and out of tents. When Covid-19 came the problems became more acute with the closure of Stratford Mall for public health reasons, with many rough sleepers displaced. Today I am proud to say we have no more tents, and no-one beds down in the Mall.

“It makes me very proud, and quite emotional when I see some of the people we have helped, some of whom have been sleeping rough for years resisting efforts to get them off the streets. We’ve genuinely seen lives turned around.”

Newham Chief Executive Althea Loderick said: “We are very proud of Ajitha, and delighted that her fantastic work has been recognised and rewarded. After 30-years at Newham Council she truly deserves this honour.”

"I am so pleased to hear about this honour being awarded to Ajitha"

This is brilliant news. Ajitha is a caring and competent officer who has done so much to help the most vulnerable in Newham.

Check out picture of Ajitha at the last rough sleeper street count briefing https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/09/newham-bi-monthly-street-count.html

Newham Against Immigration Centre @NewhamAgainst

 

Tonight I spoke to some young people from Newham via zoom who were very concerned about a proposed immigration detention centre being built by the Home Office in Royal Docks, Newham (and other things). 

Many Newham Councillors (excluding obviously members of the Strategic Planning committee who legally have to remain open minded until they hear any actual application) the Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, and local residents have already voiced their opposition to having an immigration detention centre with 35 cells in a historic warehouse in Royal Docks, right next to the Excel Centre. 

The warehouse was originally built in 1850-55 to house imported tobacco products. Bearing in mind the era I wonder if it has any connection with the slave trade? 

Check out Mayor report here and follow  https://twitter.com/NewhamAgainst/status/1313102400392253443

There has been no planning application so far to Newham Council for a change in use for permission to turn it from an office building to an immigration "enforcement detention centre". 

However, the Home Office has started its own consultation process on this and I would encourage residents concerned about this to make their views clear here https://www.warehousekconsultation.co.uk/

Keir Starmer visits Newham NHS Professionals

"Today we didn't get the reassurance and hope we needed from the Prime Minister."

"Just 21 days until voting papers are sent to UNISON members" - Rally for Vote Christina as our first General Secretary Wednesday 14 October 6.30pm

 

There are just 21 days until voting papers are sent to UNISON members.     Dear friend,   Thanks to you and all the wonderful UNISON members who have helped on the campaign, we're way ahead in this election. We have the support of: UNISON's National Executive Council  9 UNISON Regions: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Cymru/Wales, Northern, Yorkshire & Humberside, Greater London, Eastern, East Midlands and South West. 5 Service Groups: Health, Higher Education, Energy, Police & Justice, and Community Plus over 210 Branches - click here to see the full list Ballot papers will be sent to members from 28th October so it's important that we keep campaigning to get the turn out to win the election.       To say thank you and to talk about our 'Get Out The Vote' campaign, I am holding an online Campaign Rally on Wednesday 14th October at 6.30pm. Please put the date in your diary and we will send you log on details soon.      Before then, there is one quick action you can take today to help the campaign:   ACTION: Ask your UNISON friends to sign up to our campaign at votechristina.org   ACTION: Ask your UNISON friends to sign up here   Yours in solidarity,         Copyright © 2020 Vote Christina, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Vote Christina 17 Conyers Road London, London SW16 6LR United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.