Farthing Common, Postling & Tolsford Hill Walk

 

Check out a view from my seat. A fantastic 5.5 mile circular Pathfinder walk in Kent, North Downs. For a "Green Walk" is was quite demanding with lots of ups and downs. The views were wonderful. No good public transport links apparent I am afraid. 

This was during my "recovery" weekend after the local Council elections on May 5. 

I will post more pictures on Facebook and link. 

"It is an honour to be elected to serve you" - West Ham ward thank you leaflets May 2022

Tomorrow we will start delivering these "thank you" leaflets to West Ham Ward  residents after the recent local election. 

It is a definite honour to be elected to serve our residents - and in the next 4 years we need to earn this trust. 

Relaxing Weekend next to Dungeness

 

After election day (Thursday), the "count" (Friday) and my Councillor surgery (Saturday morning) Gill and I went off for a last minute weekend break. We had not been to this part of the Kent coast before and did not quite realise how close it was to the Nuclear power stations (see picture) but had a marvellous and relaxing recovery weekend. 

Check out Facebook for more pictures of Dungeness and later walks on the North Downs and Kent Weald. 

Vote Labour (and co-operative) May 5

Vote Labour - and when there are joint candidates - Vote Labour and Co-operative (our sister socialist party)

How to hit the Tories in the Ballot Box

 

Great post by UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea

"Political leaders of all parties will be watching nervously to see how well their candidates do in this week’s local elections.

Results often show how happy or unhappy people are with their local politicians and the local services they’re getting. But it’s also a big reflection on how satisfied voters are with national party leaders.

For Boris Johnson, this Thursday will be a referendum on his time in office as prime minister and could trigger a leadership challenge.

Reports suggest he could lose as many as 550 council seats – which would be the Tories’ worst local election results since the 1990s.

Voting for a party endorses their actions and policies, and quite rightly, many voters won’t stand by them after the ‘partygate’ scandal and as the cost of living crisis continues.

When you use your vote, remember you’re voting for the politicians you want in charge of your local area, for the future of the services you rely on every day, and for the sort of society you want for yourself, your family, and friends.

Political decisions made in council chambers will affect the services available for vulnerable children, elderly relatives, families in need, and how well kept your local libraries, swimming pools, parks, and streets are.

Workers delivering these services do a great job for our communities. I know this because many of them are our UNISON members, but direction and budgets are set by the politicians.

These elections are so important because UNISON members use services – just like the rest of the public – but they also deliver them. After a decade of cuts to local authorities, our members know the challenges faced by councils.

When you use your vote, remember you’re also sending a message to those at the very top. If the cost of living crisis and ‘partygate’ aren’t enough for you, then just take a look at this morning’s news – the prime minister is planning for housing association tenants to buy their homes at a discount.

The legacy of the Thatcher government policy on right to buy depleted housing stock, while abolition of right to buy in Scotland and Wales has meant public authorities have been better able to meet local housing need.

His new plans will surely only fuel the housing crisis with fewer homes available at social rent.

Many of you are already out campaigning for the Labour Party to win council seats in England, Scotland, and Wales, but there are also elections in the Northern Ireland legislative assembly.

No matter where you are, you can vote against the Tories. Hit them in the ballot box with a clear message that we don’t trust them to run this country, we don’t trust them with our public services, and they have themselves to blame for the cost of living crisis".

Out and about for Labour in Little Ilford

 

I joined this afternoon a really great canvass session in Little Ilford, Newham. The reception on the doorstep was overwhelmingly positive. Residents do express their views on what they think is wrong and could be improved, which is why it is so important to have local ward Councillor Candidates with you. East Ham MP, Stephen Timms was also part of a campaign team. 

Afterwards, some of us went to the Golden Fleece pub in Manor Park and by coincidence met up with a number of  Labour activists and supporters, who were enjoying a family birthday celebration in the garden. 

Campaigning for Labour in Maryland, E15 (and my first family Iftar)

Yesterday evening I joined activists and candidates for the new Maryland ward. We were on the boundary of Newham and Waltham Forest and many roads and estates were split between the two which made for a little bit of confusion about which bit was ours and which the other borough. Building an estate across two different planning authorities must have caused some issues. 

This was positive territory for Labour and we got a great response. While social media and all the new forms of engagement with residents is really important, I am a firm believer that voters like candidates knocking on their doors and asking for their support. Now, to be frank some hide this "likeness" really well, but I understand that there is plenty of research that shows voters are more likely to vote for someone who has knocked on their door than not. 

While I have known and campaigned with Maryland Candidate, Ken Penton for donkey years, this was the first time I had been canvassing with the 2nd Maryland candidate, Carolyn Corben, and I loved the way she dealt with a resident who had been previously identified as "Against" Labour, He came to the front door quite suspicious and hostile but she was able to calm and reassure him and turn him and his son into Labour voters. Great stuff!

I had to leave early to share a Iftar meal with a colleague and his family in his home. I felt honoured and really enjoyed the meal, the conversation and the hospitality that he and his family showed. It was a wonderful experience.