Newham Voting for Change

 Hat tip One Bangla News "Newham Voting for Change is the campaign set up in October 2020 to campaign for change in the local governance referendum which will take place on 6 May 2021.

The group, formed of Newham residents and councillors, believes that the committee structure is a more open, democratic and accountable way for Newham Council to make decisions.

The referendum on the 6 May 2021 offers Newham residents a choice between the current Democratically Elected Mayoral system, or the committee system, where decisions are made not by one person (the Mayor) but by committees formed of elected councillors.

Cllr Anamul Islam, Chief Whip for the Newham Labour Group of councillors, said: “The committee structure is a more democratic, inclusive and open way of making decisions in the local council. It allows much more participation from community groups in council decision making and ensures that local councillors are more accountable to the people who elect them.”

Josephine Grahl, Newham resident and campaigner for the committee structure, said: “The vote on the 6 May 2021 is binding for ten years, so it’s really important that Newham residents have their say. We’ve had a directly elected Mayor for nearly twenty years, but now is the time for a change to a fairer, more democratic system.”

Contact details
newhamvotingforchange@gmail.com"

https://newhamforchange.org/

https://twitter.com/ForNewham

https://www.facebook.com/newhamvotingforchange

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/newham-for-change

Two Walkabouts & Groundbreaking at TwelveTrees Park

Amidst the madness of the General Election campaign I have to get on with the day job. On Friday I went to meet Residents in Ibex House in Forest Gate with local Councillors Rachel Tripp, Anamul Islam and officers from L&Q Housing Association. There has been issues regarding the lift and fire safety. The tower block has 105 homes and at its highest has 12 floors but only one lift. This lift has been out of action on a number of occasions (sometimes over a week). L&Q are proposing to install a new lift.

L&Q also need to clarify that the cladding on the block is safe and there are a number of repairs that need to be carried out such as fire doors that do not close properly. L&Q have undertaken to send us (and residents) an action plan.

I must admit that I thought L&Q were a living wage employer but outsourced staff working at the block are only just paid over the legal minimum.

Later I joined the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, to the ground breaking ceremony at what is now called TwelveTrees Park which is right next to West Ham Station. This used to be site of a former Parcel Force depot and it is planned that just under 4000 homes will be built here. It is a partnership with Berkeley Homes, Peabody Housing Association and the Mayor of London. I hope that the new tower blocks will have more than one lift!

Finally, I met residents, Deputy Cabinet lead Cllr Shaban Mohammed,  local Councillor Pushpa Mkwana for an unannounced walkabout around Newham Council owned Gainsborough Estate in Little Ilford.  There had been a number of issues regarding minor repairs and caretaking. It is a marvellous red brick low rise estate. It was agreed that we would come back with repairs and cleaning managers in the next few weeks for a full inspection and draw up our own action plan.

I would like to thank Kate (and the other 2 residents) in Ibex House and Sonia in Gainsborough for their work as resident advocates. We need a Kate and Sonia in every block or estate in Newham to hold all landlords and freeholders to account. 

Iftar reception with Beanibazar Thana Jonokollan Shomittee

Picture of Cllr Anamul Islam, London Assembly member Unmesh Desai and myself at tonight's Iftar reception at Impressions in West Ham. 

It was packed and well organised. It was good to meet so many friends from Tower Hamlets, many of whom I have not seen for many years. 

Many thanks for the invitation. 

Hat tip photo Shebul Khan

Forest Gate North September Canvass & Street Surgery

Summer is now over and the never ending cycle of political campaigning and street surgeries continues. I missed a canvass session on Wednesday evening in my home ward but went out with local Councillors Rachel Tripp and Anamul Islam this morning (Sasha is on holiday).

Very positive response, in particular, local residents appreciated the support that their Councillors had given in opposing a recent attempt to close a nearby right of way.

I did not hear any mention of national party issues or Brexit. Mostly when you ask residents whether or not they support Labour they look at you as if almost insulted. "Of course we vote Labour!" (do you think we would vote for the Tories? one resident asked me today)

The Newham Council housing blocks we visited seemed in good order (well done to managing agents Swan Housing) but the L&Q Housing Association blocks had some shoddy bodged disrepair and a definite trip hazard on communal stairs. Cllr Islam will be contacting them with photos.

The picture on the bottom of the college (2nd left) is of a property I canvassed a couple of years ago. A young woman came out to speak to me and her front door slammed shut behind her. No one else had keys and I had to climb the wall into the garden to see if there was a window open. There wasn't so eventually we had to get the lock drilled and smashed the window of the front door for her to get in. I got a new lock fitted and she "sorted things out" with her landlord. Never a dull moment when you are canvassing. Thanks to retired caretaker manager (and Party member) Montrose Matty.

New CLP vice chair for campaigns Karl Lewis ran the board (told us who to contact and recorded information) while the ace campaigner of the day was Rachel's daughter India (Child Labour).

Anam, Karl and I went for coffee at "Freds" afterwards to gossip and chew the fat. 

East End May Day Rally - Yiddish, Cockney & Bengali Culture mix of Labour Movement Politics & History

After we finished campaigning in our ward, my Labour & Co-operative colleague John Whitworth and I went to the "East End May Day Rally" in East Ham Working Mens Club. This was organised by the Bangladeshi Workers' Council and the Morning Star.

We were late but within minutes of walking into the hall we were singing along (badly) to the French Revolution anthem "La Marseillaise" in Yiddish!

Next there was a local (E17) "Steve White and the Protest Band" who also wanted audience participation and sang several great songs including one advising the EDL to stick their racist hatred up their a...

At the end there was also a musical performance of the "Internationale" in Bengali which we were also invited to join in and sign along.

In between there was a number of political speeches, including that of our very own Newham Cllr, Anamul Islam, who gave a nicely presented speech about how the Labour movement should unite and join the Labour Party.

I am not sure that democratic Parliamentary reformism is everyone's cup of tea but if it is, then they are more than welcome in the political branch of our movement. 

Foxes, UKIP Switchers & New Eastenders - Forest Gate North Labour Canvass

After my Mobike UK adventure I joined comrades in Forest Gate North on #labourdoorstop.

It was interesting to be blamed for not stopping foxes getting into private gardens and then to hear a previous UKIP supporting family switching to being strong Labour supporters.

Anam and I had a great chat with a Bulgarian family who do want to participate in our democratic process and are of course they are the #NewEastenders.

The overall response was really good. So many say that the Labour Party is - their Party

Photo left to right: Me, Carel (our top branch secretary), Sasha Das Gupta (Candidate) & Cllr Anam Islam (Cllr Rachel Tripp was at a meeting with Newham Cyclists)

Forest Gate North Labour selects Sasha, Anamul & Rachel

A great picture from the end of last night's Labour Party selection meeting, where local members voted overwhelmingly to return their existing Councillors, Rachel Tripp and Anamul Islam, as candidates for the local elections in May. The vacant position was filled by Sasha Das Gupta due to the standing down of our super ace Councillor, Seyi Akiwowo.

I chaired the meeting and well done to the successful candidates and good luck to those who missed out this time.  

ATN Sky 827 Bangla interview on Newham Trigger

A fascinating evening spent talking Mayoral trigger ballots and Newham politics on Sky channel 827. I wish other community media were as interested in local politics as ATN Bangla.

Myself, Cllr John Whitworth, Cllr Julianne Marriott, Cllr Anam Islam and West Ham CLP Treasurer (and former senior Councillor) John Saunders spent a fascinating 90 minutes being interviewed live answering questions from the presenter and emails from viewers.

The TV presenter was the always impressive, Doros Ullah, who I used to know when he was a Tower Hamlets Councillor and I was a local UNISON branch officer.

I will try and search for a youtube link. 

Evening Canvass and offering support by local Councillors to Residents in Forest Gate following tragic murder.

Photo Collage from an evening door knock and street surgery last month in Forest Gate North, London by local ward Councillors (Rachel, Seyi & Anamul) and party activists. This was a sensitive matter since the area had experienced what is thought to be a gang related murder of a young boy only a few weeks previously.

Local residents were obviously still very upset about what had happened but were appreciative of the Councillors for coming out to speak to them. It is actually quite an uplifting experience that residents we spoke to were still shocked but on the whole very positive about the area (the estate itself appeared to be clean, well maintained and also well managed. Well done Swan Housing). 

Newham Council Motion on Antisemitism (passed tonight)

I was really pleased that this (amended) motion was passed at the Newham Council meeting on Monday. I spoke in favour as did (pictures) Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Cllr Neil Wilson, Cllr Anamul Islam, Cllr Clive Furness & the Mayor Robin Wales.

There also was an excellent motion on the slaughter in  Rohingya & other minorities in Myanmar which I will post. Also passed unanimously.

"This Council expresses alarm at the rise in antisemitism in recent years across the UK. This includes incidents when criticism of Israel has been expressed using anti-Semitic tropes. Criticism of Israel can be legitimate, but not if it employs the tropes and imagery of antisemitism.

This Council therefore welcomes the UK Government’s announcement on December 11th 2016 that it will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, making Britain one of the first countries in the world to adopt it. This definition has also been adopted by the Labour Party and featured in the Labour Party’s Race and Faith Manifesto (page 12) published during the 2017 General Election. The IHRA definition defines antisemitism as thus:

This Council notes that:

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries). Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.

Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries.

This Council welcomes support within the Council for combating antisemitism in all its manifestations.

This Council hereby resolves to adopt the above definition of antisemitism as set out by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and pledges to combat this pernicious form of racism through awareness raising and education; and through engagement with the range of Jewish opinion on how best to address antisemitism in addition with all communities that live in Newham.

This Council also condemns all forms of racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia and sexism and we commit to fighting against them".

"Dozens pay their respects to war victims killed when a bomb hit their bus"

Hat tip Newham Recorder "Cllr and members of the public attending a vigil on Dames Road where a V1 flying bomb landed killing people on a bus outside the Holly Tree pub

Dozens gathered to pay their respects to Forest Gate’s war dead on the anniversary of the night a bomb hit a bus during the Second World War.

The event, organised by Forest Gate North Labour Party, was held at the site of the 1944 blast outside The Hollytree Pub in Dames Road.

It is thought around 20 people died in the explosion, although no reliable record exists because wartime press censorship stopped much detail being published in order to limit the information available to the enemy about attacks.

Cllr Seyi Akiwowo, one of the organisers of Thursday’s event, said: “The event was fantastic. It was put together at short notice and there was a good turnout. I’m glad we were able to pay our respects.”

In his speech at the vigil, Cllr Anam Islam said: “Now, just as then, the price we pay for liberty is eternal vigilance against racism and prejudice.”

West Ham MP Lyn Brown, who was unable to attend the event, told of its importance.

She said: “It is right and important that we commemorate those who perished or lost loved ones in the fight against fascism, and just as important that we remember the anti-fascist and anti-racist heritage of the East End with pride.

“Levels of racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Semitic hate crime have all risen over the past year, and it is important we draw on this past to bring us together and renew the fight against far-right ideology and its terrible effects. That aim will be easier to achieve if we have a more accurate narrative of what actually happened.”

Eyewitness Cyril Demarne is quoted in The Heroic Story of the Second World War Bomb Disposal Teams by James Owen as saying: “A trolley bus, crammed with home going workers, had caught the full blast and the whole area was a sickening sight.

“Dismembered bodies littered the roadway, others were splattered over the brickwork of the houses across the way and the wreckage of the trolley bus was simply too ghastly to describe.

“The lower deck seated passengers were all dead. Although many of the victims had been decapitated, they were still sitting down, as if waiting to have their fares collected.”

(the V1 flying Bomb landed just outside Newham but much of the bomb damage and deaths were inside modern Forest Gate. A 80 year old local resident who remembered being told about the attack pointed out to us the exact impact. The death toil was at least 38 and probably much more) 

Remembering local Nazi atrocity - V1 attack on Forest Gate 27 July 1944

Above is a picture collage from this evening's anniversary vigil to remember the victims of a Nazi Flying bomb attack on this day 27 July 1944 which killed horribly at least 38 East Enders (updated figure) at this very spot.

Forest Gate Councillor, Anamul Islam, read out the speech below, While Councillor Rachel Tripp read out a message of support form our West Ham MP, Lyn Brown.

We had leafleted the local area beforehand about the event and I was really pleased that a 80 year local resident, who remembered the atrocity turned up to point us out to the exact location of the attack and give us the copies of the newspaper reports in top left of college. Another resident offered help with the funding of a permanent memorial to the victims (what a good idea).

Many thanks to "E7 now and then" website for providing historical content and Councillor Seyi Akiwowo, for organising leaflets and publicity.

Cllr Islam "I would like to start in the first instance by thanking everyone for making the time to come to mark an important moment in our local history.

During WW2 Newham was one of the most badly damaged parts of London. The bombs came in two waves - the Blitz of 1940/1 and the V1 and V2 raids of 1944/5.

Forest Gate was less badly hit than other parts of Newham such as the dock area, but nonetheless we suffered almost 200 recorded direct hits during the Blitz and about 50 V1 or V2 rockets- but each one was far more lethal- killing at least 70 civilians in total.

This evening we remember the dead of one of the most horrific attacks- when a doodlebug struck the corner of Pevensey and Dames Roads, hitting a passing trolley bus. It was near Holly Tree pub- where we stand today- on 27 July 1944.

The bomb caused mayhem- just how much is unclear. There are no reliable contemporary accounts as the press at that time was heavily censored so as not to give too much information to the enemy.

The Stratford Express was the local paper at the time and was only able to report that a number of buildings close to a public house were damaged. The public house was not named.We know today it was the Holly Tree, where we stand near bye.

The account went on to name four passengers who were killed. It hinted that others were killed or wounded but did not give details. After the war official Air Raid papers named a further four people who were killed that night- almost certainly by the bomb.We know the names, therefore, of eight people killed but following the published memoirs of West Ham’s Chief Fire Officer, Cyril Demarne, we know that probably dozens more died that day as a result of a fascist terror attack. Fire Chief Demarne described the Dames Road bomb as ‘the most horrific thing I have ever witnessed’. His full memoire was published in 1980 by the Newham Bookshop.

It is doubtful that we will ever know the full scale of the death and casualty toll of this dreadful bombing. If there are any lessons to be learned it is that we should never ignore the rantings of seemingly mad fascists and racists, whether they wrap themselves in a black shirt or in the Union Jack. Now, just as then, the price we pay for liberty is eternal vigilance against racism and prejudice.

Let us never forget the dead of this awful bomb blast, or the lesson their destruction leave us.

We will now read out the names of those known to have been killed:

Gladys Blackburn, aged 39

Wendy Blackburn, aged 4

Abraham Ince, aged 76

Edith Tilley, aged 41

William Winter

Denis Barfield

Thomas Driscoll

Reginald Hillman

We will now have a minutes silence.

(note newspaper report that 34 bodies were recovered from bus and more victims died of injuries in hospital and this does not include those killed nearby in their homes)

Campaigning in Forest Gate North & Ilford North 20 May 2017

Yesterday morning I started off campaigning in Forest Gate North with local Councillor, Anamul Islam and activists. It was also the first time that my wife, Gill, had actually knocked on doors and spoke to residents about supporting Labour.

It was the usual, rock solid and humbling Labour vote in Forest Gate.

The weather held out during the morning but on route to Ilford North to support marginal Labour Candidate, Wes Streeting,  there was a torrential downpour, which set the scene for the rest of the day.

West Ham Labour activists met up with our candidate, Lyn Brown, at the Ilford North HQ. Lyn had been out that morning with a number of different groups including West Ham Labour Women's Forum (see picture collage top left) who also turned up for afternoon Ilford North session led by the one and only, Cllr Seyi Akiwowo.

During the canvass in Ilford North the weather was on the whole a little wet but I think electors are impressed with canvassers who turn up to meet them and listen to their views regardless of the weather.

I got a shock while door knocking on at one home. I could see a dog's nose sticking out of a cat flap in a front door that Cllr Seyi had sent me to canvass. I thought nothing of it but when I knocked on the door the dog started barking violently and then stuck its whole head out of the cat flap! For a moment I thought it was coming out to get me and I jumped backward very quickly, much to the amusement of the team (see the wolf - bottom right).

Apart from that it was a largely positive canvass for Wes, with many residents saying they will support him due because he is a very good and active constituency MP.