Beckton Street Surgery 15.6.25

 

Busy day yesterday. I took part in some interviews in the morning then joined Cllr Blossom Young and Cllr Rohima Rahman with some new campaigners in Beckton ward, Newham London. Cllr Tonii Wilson, the 3rd Beckton ward Councillor was unable to join the team on this occasion. 

Beckton is a huge ward with lots of parkland and low rise properties. Our role was to knock on doors and explain to residents that we were from the local Labour Party and were out today with their local Councillors to see if they would like to speak to them about any problems or issues and also advise them about the advice surgeries that take place in the ward every Saturday. 

It was a glorious warm, sunny day and many people were obviously out but we did speak to a number of residents and picked up a lot of case work for the Councillors to follow up on. 

It was for me a pleasure to see how many residents knew Blossom and Rohima, and were pleased to see them and to have a friendly chat. I met up with a former now retired colleague from Tower Hamlets Council (a Unite convenor) and we had a very good discussion about local issues and problems as well as reminiscing about past work colleagues. 

Obviously, not every single resident was that pleased to see us but the overwhelming reaction was very, very positive. 

I was leading the group using the Labour Party Doorstep phone app but was very grateful that that local Councillors were with me since Beckton is somewhat "complicated" to navigate around. 

The two new campaigners (who live in the ward) had been fully briefed by Blossom on what to do and what to expect. They watched us knocking on doors and chatting to residents, and then in a little while, when they felt comfortable, they were more than happy to knock and chat by themselves. They were both naturals. 

After the street surgery I cycled home then that evening I joined many others helping to celebrate the wedding of the daughter of a fellow Councillor (and personal friend). A simply lovely family event and a marvellous ending to a great day. 

Labour Win in Little Ilford & Beckton Ward By-elections

 

Just back home from the Count at East Ham Town Hall. So pleased that both Blossom and Alam (5th & 6th from right) had clear wins in their elections. I will post more on the elections when I can. 

Supporting Aktharul Alam in Little Ilford - By-elections Thursday 18 July

 

This evening I led a team in Little Ilford with our Labour candidate, Aktharul Alam (taking selfie), using printed sheets instead of the "doorstep" app on our phones. This is due to some national Labour technical glitch, which I believe has now been sorted. 

It was actually quite nice to have pen and paper again and to work as a team rather than individuals. Probably a more social and gossipy way of doing things while you wait to give your data or be given new addresses to call upon. 

The canvass itself went well and there was a number of teams out all day and evening in Little Ilford and Beckton Ward (where there is a second by election with the Labour Candidate being Blossom Young). 

Surgery, knocking up Little Ilford then phone banking for Beckton By election (both 18 July)

 

This morning I had my Councillor surgery in West Ham ward then cycled over to Little Ilford to go out and door knock for the Labour Candidate, Aktharul Alam. There are two By-elections next week on Thursday July 18. I joined my fellow UNISON member Alan Griffiths. 2 other Labour teams out canvassing.

We went to Warrior Square, which I am told is named after the famous Victorian Battleship, HMS Warrior, which was built nearby and is now in Portsmouth historic dockyard (which I have visited several times).

This was an overwhelmingly positive canvass. I think that residents realise that they need a local Labour Councillor, who can work with our newly elected local Labour MPs, to press the case for Newham, with a newly elected Labour Government. Makes sense.

Later that day I messed up on the timings of a canvass for our Labour Candidate in Beckton By-election, Blossom Young, so did some phone banking for her from home using the Labour Party "Dialogue" software. It is pretty frustrating process since so many telephone numbers are wrong but the 10 or so residents I managed to speak to were all Labour, which was positive.

If any London Labour activists can help out this week and on the day with our 2 by elections then please do. There is a problem with the link to Labour events website which I hope will be sorted out very soon.

On the knocker for Labour Blossom Young in Beckton with Sir Stephen Timms MP

 

Great picture from tonight's canvass in Beckton for the the Newham Council by-election next Thursday 18 July. Sir Stephen Timms came to support Blossom. Stephen use to be the local MP before recent boundary changes. He remains the MP for East Ham and we all congratulated him on his recent appointment as a Minister of State in the new Labour Government.

What was pretty amazing is the number of residents who came out to thank Stephen personally for his help and support with their personal issues as the local MP. It shows the cynics that elections and personal representation  matter. Blossom will be an excellent Councillor and will no doubt carry out the proud tradition of personal representation typified by Stephen and James (Asser the new MP). Not forgetting the other important local by election in Little Ilford next Thursday which I will be supporting and post upon over the weekend. 

14 Years of Tory CHAOS 10 Days until you can Vote for Change

This evening I joined our Labour Beckton by-election candidate, Blossom Young and local activists to campaign for her and our Parliamentary candidate, James Asser. The weather has turned warm but the rain this spring and early summer has made the area lush and green. There is an outer London suburban feel to this part of Newham. 

I had many positive conversations with residents including with those who are critical of Labour but understand that the only choice is between a Tory Government and a Labour Government. People are desperate for change. 

But I can remember the 1992 General election, when nearly everyone thought that we were ahead in the polls, change was going to happen and that  Labour were going to win - but we didn't. We had to endure another 5 years of pretty disastrous Tory rule. 

While it sometimes feels that the Tories have a death wish - do not underestimate in the next 10 days the money they will spend, the lies they will tell and the slander they will spread.

So do not take anything for granted and remember - Vote Labour if you want change. A vote for any other party is likely to mean a vote for the Tories. 

Vote Labour for Change - Manifesto Day Canvass in Beckton, East London

 

This evening I went on a canvass with our Labour by election candidate, Blossom Young and activists in Beckton ward. We went to new build housing developments, owned by social landlords (secure tenants, shared ownership and market rents). 

Both Blossom and I work in the sector and we did come across a number of serious housing issues (as do all political canvassers in Newham and elsewhere). To me, it is so important that we get a Labour government elected committed to address the housing crisis and everything else that is so wrong in our broken Britain. 

I was really impressed with Blossom handling a couple of difficult conversations on the doorstep. By listening, being honest, polite and respectful, she at the end won over all of them. The canvass itself was overwhelmingly positive for Labour. Residents want a change in Government. 

They know that the General election is pretty much a simple choice between Labour and the Tories. In my personal view, a vote for anyone else but Labour is likely to be a vote for the Tories. 

Today the Labour Party issued its manifesto which I am wading through but can see lots and lots of great stuff.

Tonii Wilson wins Beckton By Election for Labour

Congratulations to Newham Councillor Tonii Wilson who was elected last night for Beckton Ward (seen in between existing Cllrs David Christie and Ayesha Chowdhury)

The by-election was caused by the death after a short illness of Cllr Alec Kellaway.

I have previously described Tonii as "supernice" and she is - but I also admire her determination and evident hard work during the campaign.

Thanks are also due to the Agent, Alan Davies, who has run a great campaign.

The actual results were as followed:-

Syed Hussain Ahmed ​        Conservative ​584

​Mark Dunne    ​                    Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition ​21

​Jane Alison Lithgow   ​        Green  ​70        ​

​David Mears                       ​UK Independence (UKIP) ​215          ​

​Kayode Shedowo               ​Christian Peoples Alliance      ​33        ​

David Thorpe  ​                   Liberal Democrat        ​43

​Tonii Wilson    ​                  Labour ​1,006   ​

Turnout was low at 18.87 which is something that politicians do need to do something about. The irony in Newham is that the higher the turnout usually means the higher is the Labour vote.

It was good to see that ultra Tory UKIP running a very poor third. While TUSC came bottom with 21 votes (the 1%ers).

"On the Knocker" in Gallions Reach

Collage is from Saturdays canvass session in Gallions Reach, Beckton.

Tonii Wilson is the excellent Labour candidate (centre of collage) seeking to win this weeks by-election following the tragic sudden death of Cllr Alec Kellaway.  

London Assembly member John Biggs came along to help out as well.

John and I were sent to knock doors and ask residents if they will be supporting Labour on Thursday (11 September) in a new housing development in Gallions Reach. This is made up of several distinctive blocks of flats.  It is quite an attractive site overlooking the Albert Basin.

The response rate was pretty good from the people that we managed to speak to but many were out or didn't open their doors. Always a problem for all canvassers in blocks of flats.

In the middle of the site there is the rather incongruous redbrick 19th Century Gallions Hotel (see top left of collage). Which was built when this area was a dock for travellers about to embark on international P&O voyages. The author Rudyard Kipling stayed at the hotel before setting off for India, and mentions the place in his novel The Light that Failed (1890): “Is it Tilbury and a tender, or Gallions and the docks?”.

Another source states that the hotel used at one time have a bad reputation and was allegedly known as the 'Captain's Brothel'!

Nearby is the Gallions Retail Park which occupies part of the gasworks site where Stanley Kubrick filmed the Vietnam scenes for Full Metal Jacket and scenes from the James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only".

On a more sombre note, last week was the anniversary of the Princess Alice disaster. "On 3 September 1878, on the return upriver from a day trip, the steam powered pleasure steamer 'Princess Alice' collided with the collier 'Bywell Castle' just off Gallion's Reach at Woolwich. In very warm weather the pleasure boat was packed with between 700 and 900 day-trippers. The 'Alice' was only equipped to take 500. She sank almost immediately with the loss of approximately 640 lives".

We are campaigning in Beckton tomorrow: -

Monday - St Marks centre, 218 Tollgate Road, E6 5YA at 6:30pm - 8pm

Tuesday - the junction of Boultwood Road and Harper Road, E6 5QA at 6:30pm - 8pm

Email newhamlabour@gmail.com if you can help out on Wednesday and polling day.  

Tonii Wilson for Beckton

Tonii is a dedicated and hard working candidate who is super nice and will make a great local
Councillor for Beckton.

I am back from holiday but laid low with a Lergi (aka "Man's flu") so not been out "on the knocker" since back from leave.

Hopefully, I will get better soon. If you can help out - see message below from agent : -

"Saturday 30th August
Windsor Park Community Centre 18-20 Warwall, East Beckton , E6 6WG at 11am.

Monday 1st
St Marks Centre , 218 Tollgate Road, E6 5YA at 6:30pm - 8pm

Tuesday 2nd
St Marks Centre, 218 Tollgate Road, E6 5YA at 6:30pm - 8pm

Wednesday 3rd
The junction of Kirkham Road with Dunnock Road, E6 5SX 6:30pm - 8pm

Thursday 4th
Windsor Park Community Centre 18-20 Warwall, East Beckton, E6 6WG at 6:30 - 8pm

Additionally......

If anyone is free during the day (or evening) to deliver the 2nd leaflet that would be a great help. Please email me at newhamlabour@gmail.com and I will make arrangements for delivery.

Election Day 11th Sept
We will be knocking up our vote throughout the day on election day. We need people who will knock on doors, deliver leaflet reminders or be a teller at a polling station.

Please let me know if you are free on polling day and let me know which times you are available, from the early morning until late evening".

(published on and on behalf of Newham Labour Party, Trinity Centre, East Avenue, E12 6SG)

Britain Deserves a Pay Rise - Demo Sat 18 October 2014 (and I'm back)

Back from 2 weeks holiday in Ireland. Will post soon on my impressions of history and politics from a fantastic time in both Dublin and County Kerry.

Feeling very refreshed and relaxed, looking forward to busy year ahead (this feeling will not last very long of course!)

There is a Council by election in Beckton to help fight; a load of trade union and local political issues and the national TUC demo on pay in October to promote (see UNISON poster on left). Last, but not least, will be the the General Election in 2015. Now less than 9 months away.

As the Agent for West Ham CLP, I think it is really important that we do not take anything for granted locally but unless Ed Miliband becomes the next Prime Minister - all of us in West Ham and the country will be stuffed. So we have to help out in the targeted Labour marginals that West Ham have been allocated.

A busy time for all.

Beckton By Election Labour doorstep

Last night I joined the Labour Candidate for the Newham Council Beckton By election, Tonii Wilson, for a doorknock in the Windsor Park Estate. Tonii will make an excellent candidate for the ward. Local MP Stephen Timms also joined us

It was touching that so many residents told us how upset they were at the unexpected death of Cllr Alec Kelloway. Many people knew him and recounted what he had done to help them.

I went with local Councillor David Christie.  There was a very positive Labour response. While there was a number of complaints about local social landlord, East Thames Housing Association, failure to maintain the local environment, I actually thought that there had been an improvement to the area in recent years but obviously there needs to be more done.

I understand that there has been a number of high profile evictions of criminal residents in recent years which have had a significant positive impact. Good.

I must admit to being intrigued about the unusual street names in the area such as "Warwell" and "Horse Leaze". No-one seemed to know why. I am sure Alec would have known and told me exactly why.

I spoke to a very sensible young man who had been born and brought up on the estate who agreed that there had been improvements but thought that there needs to be more youth services in the area. I see the local community centre has now been closed by East Thames?

I'm sure that Tonii and the current Councillors, David and Ayesha will be doing what they can to improve services.

I will post a personal tribute to Cllr Alec Kellaway in the near future.