Congratulations to UNISON Paramedic - Councillor Pete Hannell

London Paramedic and UNISON activist Pete Hannell was elected yesterday as a Labour Councillor for Dacorum Borough Council in Hertfordshire. Pete topped the poll for his ward in Bennetts End. Labour now has 3 Councillors when beforehand there was none. He is a member of the London UNISON Labour Link committee and we did have a telecanvass session for him on Tuesday but is clear that he and his local party members delivered for Labour and residents and we look forward to further gains in the future.

Condolences to Lola Oyewusi, another UNISON activist and London Labour Link committee members who was returned as a Parish Councillor but came second in a single member ward in Tunbridge, Kent.

I had on Monday and yesterday been supporting Labour in Southend-on-sea, Essex with other UNISON Activists, where they won back 2 seats but because the Tories defeated 2 independents, we might have lost overall control in this minority Labour administration.

 Nationally (England only), Labour did really well, gaining control of 22 new councils and electing 527 new Councillors. Labour is now the largest Party in Local Government, surpassing the Tories for the first time since 2002!

Roll on the next General Election.

UPDATE: at Pete Hannell's count an opposition supporter fainted and of course Pete sprung into action. 

Labour Doorstep in Sunny Southend (followed by fish n chips on seafront)

 A really good #Labourdoorstep on Saturday for Labour candidates in Southend-on-sea, Essex. I went with fellow UNISON member & Newham, Cllr Lewis Godfrey. We went on the doorstep in St Luke's Ward for existing Labour Councillor, Martin Berry. There was a really positive response for Martin and Labour. There was a few residents who declared they were "non voters" and  I think some of them were traditional tory voters who are so fed up with the present tory government that they will just not vote. 

Afterwards, some of us went off for fish n chips (and mushy peas for me) on waterfront.