Labour Conference 2025: Sunday

Conference started at 11am. I was at a UNISON delegation pre meeting at 9am were we confirmed who would speak on debates and which motions to support or oppose. First item was Conference Arrangements Committee Report, where delegates whose motions had not been accepted for debate were given the opportunity to ask for this to be reconsidered. Conference voted to accept the report.

There was also a minutes silence to remember Party members who have died during the past year. A list of names was shown on the main screens to music, which included the name of Newham Councillor, Neil Wilson. 

There was also number of good speakers including a passionate speech on the new Hillsborough Law followed by a choir singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

There was also international speaker, Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who gave a very thoughtful speech on how the Labour movement’s in both our countries had chosen Parliamentary democracy rather than protest to benefit working people. 

After Conference I went to be part of a panel for a fringe with Michael Shanks MP (Minister for Energy, Security & Net Zero), Bill Esterson MP (Chair of Energy, Security & Net Zero) and Tessa Khan (Uplift).  The panel was chaired by Sue Ferns (Prospect). I was there in my role as Vice Chair of Local Authority Pension Fund Forum. I will post later on this event. For some reason the photographs were all red!

Afterwards I joined friends and colleagues at the best social of conference, the Labour Friends of Bangladesh event and had a fantastic meal with one or two speeches.

 

Funeral Mass of Councillor Neil Wilson, RIP

 

On Thursday lunch time I attended the funeral Mass of Newham Councillor, Neil Wilson, at St. Alban the Martyr Church in Holborn. 

Neil had been a Labour Party and Councillor colleague of mine for many years. He was also at the time of his death the Cabinet Lead for Health & Adult Social Care. 

The service was very well attended and many thanks to his family and the Church for a lovely service and the refreshments afterwards.

The Church itself was magnificent with a wonderful Choir. Neil had been an active member of the Church for many years and used to assist with the services, which I knew, he was very proud of this. 

Rest in Peace Neil. 

Rough Sleeper Street Count 2024

 

Picture is from around 11.45pm last night of 2 teams about to leave the Council offices in Dockside to go out and count rough sleepers in Newham. At least 4 other teams had already left for the midnight start. Today was a national annual count day of rough sleepers across the UK (I think - or maybe only England).  The data is used to inform the Government and partners about the scale of the problem. It is no secret that the numbers of rough sleepers have been rising since Covid. 

The data from the national council is also confidential until released by the ministry. 

The numbers today (the count was between 12 Midnight and 3AM) will probably be lower because of the recent cold weather, which has trigged the London Mayor SWEP (severe weather emergency provision). Newham Council has been funded for a number of emergency beds located in a local community centre.

As well as the national count, Newham does a bi-monthly count, to assess how successful its own Government funded internal programme is in reducing numbers of people sleeping rough in the borough. In Newham the Count volunteers are made up of Council officers, stakeholders, volunteers and Councillors (as well as myself, Cllr Wilson & Cllr Lofthouse). 

I went with Aidan who is a Newham officer who works in a Government funded team to support long term rough sleepers and to help them get off the streets. A difficult but at times rewarding job. We were joined by another Newham Council colleague, Cllr Shaban Mohammed.

We went to a part of Newham that I had been to a number of times and I was pleased that we "only" came across 2 rough sleepers on a pavement next to a busy road (but 2 too many of course). The temperature was just above freezing. They only had a light duvet covering them. Aidan spoke to them and took some details. They had apparently refused the SWEP centre earlier today but agreed to speak to a follow team of outreach workers, who will be visiting people who had been found from 5AM this morning. 

After we had visited all the sites,  I drove back to Newham Dockside building and we passed on details to the Newham Council organising team led by its amazing manager, Ajitha Sajeev BEM (Front centre of main photo). 

Standing as a Labour and Co-operative Candidate in May 2022

Hat tip to Neil Wilson our Newham secretary, Co-op Party from London Region.

Standing as a Labour & Co-operative candidate

We are really keen to ensure we maintain a large number of Labour & Co-operative councillors following the local elections next year. We are working with our new regional organiser, John Cook, to help make this happen. Here are some things we're asking branches to do:

- Encourage any sitting Labour & Co-operative Councillors who are re-standing to get in touch with the National Party if they wish to re-stand as Labour & Co-operative. This is not an automatic process - candidates need to seek endorsement of the Co-operative Party even if they were elected on the joint ticket last time around. They can do this by signing up to the Candidate Development Programme.

 

Unlock The High Street - Newham Co-op Party Thursday 23rd September

"A reminder to join us at 7pm on Thursday 23rd September for our next meeting; Unlock the High Street.  

The Cooperative Party has launched a campaign to “Unlock the High Street” and we’ve got some great speakers lined up to share their experiences and views on the campaign.

Unlock the High Street also aligns exceptionally well with the Council’s own “Newham High Street” strategy, which will see areas including Green Street, Manor Park Forest Gate and Little Ilford transformed through community-led action plans. These will help to develop them into 15-minute neighbourhoods, where residents can access all social, cultural, civic, and economic essentials. 

https://www.newham.gov.uk/regeneration-1/newham-town-centres-regeneration-strategy

You can attend this meeting on Zoom or in person. We’re hiring space at the Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre so members can meet and discuss in person, and enjoy a small drink and celebration after the event at a nearby pub. If you’d like to attend in person please let me know by email.

The address is:  Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre, Albert Road, North Woolwich E16 2JB

If you’re attending via Zoom, please join via the following link. Please join with your camera on and using your real name.

Our speakers are:

Councillor Arooj Shah 

(Leader of Oldham Council & Cabinet Member for Economic and Social Reform)  

Twitter: @shah_arooj

Arooj has lived all her life in the Oldham borough and is became Leader of Oldham Council in May 2021, the first Muslim woman to hold such a role in the North of England. She has portfolio responsibility for Economic and Social Reform. Her priorities for Oldham include: 

·         cleaning up its streets and tackling fly-tipping, 

·         delivering the Council’s transformational regeneration plan for town centres based on principles of equality and shared prosperity, 

·         building a stronger relationship with residents, creating a council that is responsive to local priorities.

Within her portfolio, she has responsibility for reducing inequality and tackling poverty, Community Wealth Building, transport, community cohesion and the overall borough strategy. This portfolio allows her to utilise her passion for tackling inequalities and championing social justice for all of Oldham’s communities.

Councillor Doina Cornell 

(Leader of Stroud District Council)

Twitter: @doinacornell

Doina Cornell was elected in 2012 as a Labour and Cooperative district councillor for the Gloucestershire town of Dursley and has been leader of Stroud District Council since January 2018. Since 2012 the council has been run by a ‘Cooperative Alliance’ of Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats.

Doina's priorities as council leader are investing in local communities, both people and places, supporting the local economy and responding to the climate and ecological emergency.

Doina works with her family business Cornell Sailing Ltd publishing specialist sailing books, and in 2013-15 helped organise a round the world sailing rally to highlight climate change. She is the author of ‘Child of the Sea’, her memoir of her sailing childhood.

Saif Osmani

(Secretary of the Green Street Business Association). 

@AvidArtAgency

Saif Osmani is secretary of the GSBA, a non-profit making organisation run by the local business community in Green Street. As an artist operating within architecture, his practice inquires into socio-cultural ruptures resulting from changes in the built environment. Born in London, he is of Sylheti-Bangladeshi origin and has a studio located in East London.

After graduating from Chelsea College of Art & Design Saif worked for 10 years at leading architecture firms. In 2019/20 he recieved an Aziz Foundation Scholarship to complete his Masters in Architecture & Historic Urban Environments at UCL Bartlett School of Architecture. 

Recently he was artist-in-residence/ visiting fellow at Loughborough University London. Previously he has been a visiting tutor at University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury. He occasionally lectures at Loughborough University's Media and Creative Industries and for UCL's planning and geography departments.

The GSBA has been part of the consultation led by Newham Council to develop and co-design a high street action for Green Street as an integral part of the Council’s Towards a Better Newham Covid-19 Recovery Strategy and Community Wealth Building Strategy.

Yours in co-operation,

Neil Wilson,

Secretary

Kent Street ASB, Cleaning & Parking Walkabout

Last Wednesday I took part in a "Walkabout" in Kent Street, Plaistow South ward, West Ham with local Councillors, residents and our new ward based housing officers. There are a lot of problems with Anti-social behaviour, parking, communal disrepair and cleaning.

I am really pleased with the approach of the new Housing officer's liaison team. They are tasked with inspecting all tall tower blocks with local Councillors and residents every month and low rise blocks every 3 months. There were a number of actions agreed to tackle the problems we found.  Some more easy than others.

We are also introducing controlled parking zones on all housing estate land and car parks (subject to consultation) which will help stop its misuse by non residents.

Newham becomes first London borough to fly progress rainbow flag to mark LGBT History Month

Hat tip Newham Council Facebook pictures and website

"Newham Council raised new Progress Rainbow flags at its Town Halls in East Ham and Stratford today (Fri 1 Feb) to celebrate February as LGBT History Month.
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As part of the month there is a series of events and activities that recognises the contribution made by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. There will also be emphasis on the need to continue to raise awareness of the prejudice many still face.
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The new Progress Rainbow flags incorporate the well-known rainbow design but additionally now represent trans, black, and ethnic minority communities.

See the full programme on our website: https://www.newham.gov.uk/…/Services/LGBT-History-Month.aspx"

Campaigning in Plaistow South & Running a Board

This canvass took place two Sundays ago. I "ran the board" for the team which means I gave out names and addresses to canvassers to go and call at then collate any information. I quite enjoy this from time to time since it is mentally challenging to control a team especially in a part of this ward that I have only canvassed once before a few years back.

However, it can get a little repetitive and I miss the face to face contact with people.

This area used to be a BNP stronghold but thankfully is now a strong Labour seat. We had two ward local councillors with us, Neil and Aleen, so they were able to pick up Council case work. There was one house where the owner was unhappy that the Council will not pick up and recycle glass during rubbish collections. So she had left all the bottles she had used in the last few years on her drive. There were "a lot" of bottles. I am not sure what Neil is going to do with that one?

There were a number of really pretty and well kept gardens in the area. A bizarre door entry system for a block of flats where the button to open the communal door (top right) was on the outside not the inside?

On way back I noticed a wonderful example of street art by Prince Regents Lane Post office (bottome right). 

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".

Sunday Night Live "21st Century NHS - a state of perpetual upheaval and crisis. Where now for the health service?"

Pictures from last weekends "Sunday Night Live" at Stratford Picture House, E15.  The debate was about the crisis in the NHS.

West Hammer Neil Wilson chaired. There was two guest speakers, Nigel Keohane, from the Social Market Foundation and Jos Bell, Socialist Health Alliance. Each speaker had 12 minutes to speak then Q&A. 

Jos Bell spoke first about the present crisis in the NHS and how we used to have the best NHS in the world (pre 2010) and the 3rd most efficient. Now we have Accident and Emergency departments "stuffed to the gunnels", hospital closures, ambulance services forced to recruit from Australia and New Zealand, while at the same time, 20% of junior doctors are thinking leaving the NHS and working in New Zealand.

NHS staff can't afford to live in London while social care funding has almost disappeared

Nigel Keohane spoke next and firstly explained he was not a "Labour person".  He quoted Nye Bevan and then Tory Minister, Lord Lawson, on how NHS  is the "closest thing the English have to a religion". 

While he recognised that there was indeed a crisis in the NHS and it was especially failing to deliver for those who need social care such as those with dementia, he is "pro market" and saw nothing wrong with private companies providing NHS services. 

He believes that this could be proved if the best performing hospitals were handed over to the private sector to manage rather than what has happened in the past, when failing hospitals have been given to private companies who in turn have also failed. 

Nigel thinks there is only 3 possible solutions to the funding crisis in the NHS - either everyone should pay an extra 3p in income tax;  or a one off levy on richer older people or introduce means tested charging for NHS and social care. 

This sparked a passionate but civilised debate in the Q&A. Some of the audience were NHS staff who criticised Nigel for his support of privatisation and charging. However, there was support for his suggestions from some who criticised free NHS services as being a subsidy for the rich by the poor. 

I suggested to Nigel that while the market is very good at certain things such as making cars, it is not good at providing or charging for health services, since the profit motive subverts services and it is expensive, bureaucratic, demeaning and inefficient to means test. Nigel replied by saying there is no evidence that the private sector is less efficient than the public sector.

There was an interesting discussion on PFI (Private Finance Initiative) funding for hospitals. Jos pointed out that it was a myth that Labour started PFI when it began under the Tories while John Major was prime minister.  Also that some of the later deals were actually not that bad value. Lewisham Hospital PFI was okay but Barts PFI was obviously not. 

Local Labour stalwart, John Saunders, praised the NHS but pointed out the failure of social care especially for the elderly.

It was an excellent debate and we soon ran out of time but continued the arguments in the bar afterwards.

Next "Sunday Night Live" is due on 13th December which will be on Syria. Details to follow.

"Sunday Night Live" is a series of friendly monthly conversations and debates for Labour Party members and supporters. Many thanks to the organising panel and especially Susan Masters and Rokhsana Fiaz (hat tip to them for many of photos in collage as well)

London Labour Europe team "on the knocker" in Canning town.

On Saturday afternoon the Labour Candidates for the May Euro elections came to help out in West Ham CLP. In the morning they had been in East Ham.

Picture is of London MEP Mary Honeyball with West Ham Cllr Charlene Mclean and Neil Wilson.

We were in Canning Town ward and went door knocking around Ordnance Road. This area has changed in recent years but is still pretty solid Labour.There use to be a BNP presence in the past but this has largely long gone.

The area seemed to be well maintained. Mainly Council built flats and houses with some modern developments. There was not to be absolutely honest a huge interest in the Euro elections but residents I met seemed really pleased to meet one of their London Member's European Parliament. 

I had been canvassing in the morning in West Ham ward on local issues but it was interesting to be out with Mary and seeing things from a more European campaign prospect. I was hoping to have a debate with residents on Europe but apart from one very grumpy resident who just said he hated the lot of us, the issues were the same bread and butter problems such as street cleaning, rubbish, dog mess and housing waiting lists.

As a trade unionist I think it is vital that Labour does well in the Euro-elections.  The EU is in a mess and there are huge governance problems but Social Europe helps protect ordinary workers in this country and if the ultra Tory UKIP had their way, British workers would have no rights, what so ever in this country.

Plaistow South Sunday Canvass (& BNP Love Story?)

The summer break is long over and it is time to be back “on the knocker”. Calling on local people in Newham to identify any local issues that they want resolving and their voting intentions.

Yesterday there was a large team out in Canning Town South and this afternoon I helped out in Plaistow South (West Ham CLP). Local Councillor Graham Lane (2nd right) and Neil Wilson (4th right) each led a team.

The voter identification went very well but I was surprised that we picked up very little casework considering we had local ward councillors with us. But I then found out that the local Councillors hold a successful weekly surgery in the New Vic School which is just nearby.

Interesting story told about how one local resident use to regularly stand in elections as a candidate - year in – year out - for the BNP. Then one day when a Labour Party canvasser called he told him that he was no longer in the BNP. He admitted he had been expelled because he had married a “non white”.

omnia vincit amor