RISHI'S RAW DEAL -Pay £10 more tax and get £2 off

Poster campaign launched today in Wellingborough where Labour candidate, Gen Kitchen is campaigning to replace disgraced Tory MP, Peter Bone.

Hat tip Independent "From Saturday, the main rate of national insurance will be cut by two percentage points to 10%, as promised by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the autumn statement in November.

Ministers have previously said cutting the main rate for employees is a tax cut worth £450 for the average employee on £35,400 in 2024/25.

But Labour point out that income tax and national insurance thresholds, which have been frozen since 2021, mean that many families have been drawn into higher tax bands.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Under Rishi Sunak’s raw deal, for every extra £10 people are paying in tax they are only getting £2 back.

“Working people know that this month’s tax con is just a cynical giveaway from a weak and out-of-touch Tory government that is desperate to cling onto power, rather than a credible plan to fix our broken economy".

Wellingborough PPC: ‘I cut short my honeymoon to win this by-election’

 

Hat tip Labour List for this article by former Newham Councillor Gen Kitchen. 

"I was on day four of my honeymoon in Suffolk when I got the call to say Peter Bone had been suspended from the Commons and a recall petition had been triggered.

I would have said wild horses couldn’t drag me from my honeymoon early, but I travelled home immediately to get ready to begin my campaign with the local community in mind.

Wellingborough deserves better than Tory neglect

I grew up in Northamptonshire and I know just how special the local area is, but I’m also acutely aware of the issues that concern local people. From crime to cost of living – Wellingborough deserves a better future.

My husband Joe and I are moving back to Northants, and we can’t wait to get settled back in the County where we grew up and where our families live.

Wellingborough deserves a candidate with bold ideas, energy and determination. Local people can and should have an MP with integrity who works tirelessly for them.
I’m confident that my experience means I can represent Wellingborough

I have dedicated my career to improving the lives of others. I am proud of my decade of experience in the charity sector, supporting homeless people into employment, helping vulnerable women to improve their lives, creating new clinical nurse specialists, and raising over £1 million for cancer research.

I want Labour’s campaign here to be positive, full of energy and hope for the future. That’s because I am hopeful for the future. I believe we should be proud of where we live and that we can fix the things that we know are wrong.

We don’t have to sit back and give criminals free reign to escape punishment. We should be able to get an appointment with a GP when we need one. We can provide our children with a worldclass education.
The Tories are out of ideas and in a cycle of failure

Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party are bereft of ambition and new ideas. They are in a cycle of failure and we are paying the price. Peter Bone’s refusal to do the decent thing and resign immediately is costing the taxpayer over a hundred thousand in a costly and cumbersome recall petition. It’s time for them to get out of the way for a party that is offering the country hope for a brighter future.

People are eager to hear from Labour here, and genuinely want to know how we can get towns like Wellingborough and Rushden back on a positive track. They want to feel proud of their high streets, safe in the town centres and are keen to know how the Labour Party can help with that.
Early conversations are important – every conversation matters

That’s why these early conversations are so important, to find out what people want, because nobody knows that better than the local shopkeeper, the small business owner, the parents looking for activities for their children.

Labour members and volunteers are very welcome to join us on the doors for these vital conversations. Wellingborough is less than an hour on the train from London, and we’ve got a fantastic team on the ground up and running and ready to welcome you. I hope to see you soon!"

Gen Kitchen: Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Wellingborough

Congratulations to my former Newham Councillor Colleague (and Executive member) Gen Kitchen for winning the nomination to become the Labour Candidate for Wellingborough (the current MP a certain Peter Bone is currently suspended from Parliament due to serious misconduct finding and facing a recall petition).

I am really pleased that East Midlands UNISON decided to nominate Gen. She was a hard working Councillor, Labour Party activist and formidable organiser who will make an excellent MP. 

 

Housing Crisis Canvass in Royal Docks 31.8.19

After a lazy summer I was back on the campaign trail on Saturday in Royal Docks ward in East Ham. We met after the "Socialist Sisters" picnic in Thames Barrier Park (a truly lovely park, well worth a visit) . Local MP Stephen Timms had joined the sisters at the end of their picnic with London Assembly member, Unmesh Desai.

The canvass session was organised by Royal Docks branch secretary, Cllr Genevieve Kitchen, and we went around the Newham side of the Thames Barrier area. The theme of the canvass was about the "Tory Housing Crisis". This area compromises of newly built expensive apartment blocks with some town house terraces, many of which are privately rented.

The canvass was successful even though it is notoriously difficult to get into many of these new developments to knock on doors or leaflet due to entry phones entrances.

I spoke to tenants who privately rent, who said despite earning good money in London the rent they pay just makes it impossible to live a decent life and they were considering leaving London.

However, most people we managed to speak to supported Labour, even though there was one door slammed shut in the face of a canvasser, since the resident believed we are now a "racist party". Not good.

Mindbogglingly high rents and unaffordable property price rises could make this an unlikely Labour stronghold if we get our National housing policy right (which I think we have). 

The cost of renting in the capital (Newham average rent is 75% of average salary)

Shocking statistics but no surprise. Hat tip @GVKitchen via @HelloHowsy. We need a change of Government, we need this now. Nearly everyone accepts that there is a "Climate Emergency". There is also a "Housing Emergency".

Sri Lanka - United We Stand

"This morning we supported a community vigil on the steps of Newham Town Hall to remember those killed in the Sri Lanka terror attacks and show united we stand with Sri Lanka and all those affected.

The vigil was followed by a silent walk to St Michael’s Church, East Ham for an inter-faith service". Hat tip Newham Council. 

Royal Docks Labour Branch meeting: Housing

This evening I was invited by this branch to come and speak to their monthly meeting about LBN Housing issues.

I gave a short overview of what we are doing as a new administration, led by our Executive Mayor< Rokhsana Fiaz, with regard to housing services and its part in our plans to transform Newham and make "people at the heart of everything we do".

Then there was a longer and thoughtful Q&A which I really enjoyed and hope that members present found useful.

I have offered to come back to the ward at a later date to present again and also to join residents, officers and local Councillors in a "walkabout" in the ward of our social housing blocks and any areas suffering problems with rogue landlords.