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.

East Ham Women’s Forum 31 Jan

Hat tip West Ham Labour blog  "Our comrades in East Ham have invited West Ham women to their meeting. It’s an informal meeting to discuss the formation of an East Ham women’s section and to explore and debate ‘women’s role in elections’ and is there a ‘women’s vote?’.
Speakers:

Anita Pollack, former MEP
Kirsty McNeil, former Prime Ministerial aide to Gordon Brown and member of the executive committee of the Labour women’s network
Seyi Akiwowo, West Ham CLP’s women’s officer
and special guest speaker – Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham

When: Friday 31st January, 7-9pm
Where: Lister room, East Ham town hall

It promises to be a lively, fun evening full of insight, shared experiences, networking, seeing old friends and making new ones!

For more information and to RSVP: Please contact Farah Nazeer at farahnazeerlabour@gmail.com
Organised by: Cllrs Farah Nazeer, Kay Scorsby, Ayesha Chowdhury, Lakmini Shah, Feroza Nekiwala, and Labour party members Anita Pollack, Gloria Hanson, Pushpa Makwana, Sue Masters and Rokhsana Fiaz".

(Check out Newham Story for the picture of Susan Lawrence's election address from 1923 when she became MP for East Ham and made Labour history by becoming one of the first ever women Labour members to Parliament.  I also use to manage Susan Lawrence House in Bow as a Housing officer and once spoke to a relative of Susan who wanted to know the location of the building)

"Britain and Europe: Which way for Labour?"

Last week I attended (late) the joint meeting with Newham Compass and Fabians on "Britain and Europe: Which way for Labour?". Which took place at the West Ham FC supporters club in Castle Street, East Ham (now

what would Alf Garnett have made of this?)

Jon Cruddas MP, who was billed as a speaker with former MEP Anita Pollack, could not attend since he had to vote on the Health and Social Care Bill in the House of Commons (a very honourable excuse).

I only made the Q&A but Anita (who lives in Newham and was the former MEP for London South West from 1989 to 1999) was I thought on form and gave a passionate, no nonsense  and honest response to questions. It was one of the best attended Newham Compass or Fabians events that I have attended in recent times. It was chaired by former Newham Labour Councillor Graham Lane.

Please note my usual disclaimer about the absolute accuracy of my hurried and fumbled (two thumbed) Blackberry notes.

Anita responded to a question about the power of MEPs. She reminded us that in the beginning, the European Parliament had very limited powers. In 1979 it could only refuse to accept the budget set by the (unelected) European commission. Nowadays the Parliament has equal powers with commission. MEP's do have power. For example they managed to transform the recent Service Directive. Which is still not perfect but could have completely eroded workers rights had MEP's not amended it out of all recognition.

She then had a question about whether a Referendum on continued membership of the EU was not a good idea to settle the issue once and for all. Anita was firmly against. She understood that some good Europeans such as Jon Cruddas MP were for a referendum for this reason. However she thought that the "flat earthers" (those totally and utterly against the EU) would not be convinced if they lost a referendum in the same way that the one in 1977 (during which she admitted she opposed membership) did not settle anything permanently at all.

Anita admitted that she had maybe been wrong about UK membership of the Euro and it was not going to work. She was surprised however that Ed Balls MP in the Andrew Marr TV show on Sunday had said that this would not happen "in  his lifetime". There could be a "two speed Europe" with the Original 6 EU members forming a separate political and economic union. 

She had not read the full text but she understood that the EU Socialist Group was very much against. the "economic straight jacket" being proposed.

She noted amusingly that in America the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, had been criticised for speaking French. When a good comrade made a separate point about British cultural isolation  by saying he had lived for "20 years in Europe mainly in France" Anita interrupted by saying "you have lived all your life in Europe, we are in Europe now".

Anita Greens was firm in response to a question about aliening to the Greens who were "pink socialists". In her view they were not at all "socialist". There was some good people in the Greens but many are in "Cloud cuckoo land". While you can work with individuals such as Caroline Lucas they are not "soft pink". Some of them she had come across in Europe had even believed in Eugenics. The Greens have different political values, they are not socialists even if we agree with some of their policies. 

A few of us stayed behind afterwards to continue to put Europe (and the world) to rights.

Newham Compass & Fabians "Britain & Europe: Which way for Labour?"

Reminder: "Britain and Europe: Which way for Labour?" debate will take place 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st February at the West Ham Supporters' Club - Castle Street, off Green Street. Near the

junction with Barking Road. Nearest tube Upton Lane.

Guest speakers Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Anita Pollack, former MEP for London South West from 1989 to 1999

A free event (collection after meeting) organised by the local branches of Newham Compass and the Fabians. Double click flyer on right to bring up more details of event.

(I have a clash so am not sure if I can make it - which is a pity)

"Britain & Europe: Which way for Labour?" Newham Compass & Fabians

A rather topical debate on "Britain and Europe: Which way for Labour?" will take place 7.30pm on 21st February at the West Ham Supporters' Club (the football club not the Labour Party! NewhamTrades Council also use to meet here). Organised by the local branches of Newham Compass and the Fabians. 

I've not heard Jon Cruddas MP speak about Europe before and no doubt he will have some interesting perspectives.  While Anita Pollack lives in Newham and was the MEP for London South West from 1989 to 1999. She wrote the excellent book "Wreckers or Builders: A History of Labour MEPs 1979 to 1999" which one day I will try and do justice to in a review.

Yesterday at the UNISON NEC Policy Committee we had a good presentation and debate on Europe. The irony of ironies is that the Prime Minster, David Cameron, for short term political advantage "veto's" (sort of) an agreement on saving the Euro solely to appease his own anti-Europe fanatics.

When in fact the actual measures he opposed for Europe are pretty much the same hard line slash and burn budgetary cuts being pursued at home.

Newham Fabians AGM 2011

Picture is from Newham Fabians AGM which took place at the Town Hall in East Ham on Monday evening. The Fabians are an independent socialist society affiliated to the Labour Party. 

The Guest speaker was local MP Stephen Timms (main picture).  He spoke about the role of the Fabians in the current climate.

I missed most of the meeting due to a clash.  When I came in there was a robust but comradely debate going on about possible past mistakes and the future direction of the Party.  Very Fabian!  Stephen then had to leave in order to go to the House of Commons to vote against the Tories (to loud cheers from one and all).

It had been a very positive and constructive Labour Movement meeting.  A local MP, Councillors, trade unionists, (a former MEP) and Party activists meeting up together to exchange views and progress Labour politics.

Many thanks to Tower Hamlets Labour Party activist and photographer, Dan MCCurry, for the excellent photos.  They really bring the event to life. Check out his "Newham Fabians" FaceBook album here.

"We want a school fit for the 21st Century.."

This great YouTube video has been produced by pupils (past and present) staff and teachers at Little Ilford school in Newham about the cancellation of a planned new School building (BSF) by the ConDems.

Hat-tip former MEP Anita Pollack whose daughter went to the school.

“Wreckers or Builders? A History of Labour MEPs 1979-1999”

I’ve just started reading this new book by fellow Newham Labour Party supporter and former MEP Anita Pollack. I met up with Anita and other Party members at conference this year and got this flyer which I meant to post months ago. It is amazing Politics that Labour used to be the Party fanatically opposed to a European Parliament (or practically anything to do with Europe) while it was the Tories who were its most enthusiastic supporters. How times change. Whatever you view of the role of Europe this should be a fascinating insider account.

Anita also use to work for Barbara Castle and was Chair of Manor Park ward when I gave them a talk here on the “Labour Movement and New Capitalism” in 2007. Here is a review of the book by David the Methodist Preacher blogger who was also a MEP colleague at the time. The ISBN number 978-0-9556202-9-4, and it is available for £20 from Turpin Distribution Services. (Free delivery in the EU) contact 01767 604 951 or email: custserv@turpin-distribution.com.

I have read a number of books recently that I haven’t quite got around to posting upon so I thought it was best to post this plug now.