Labour Party Conference 2024: Saturday

Back home after 5 days away at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This year I went as a Labour Councillor (self funded apart from the conference fee which is paid out of our ALC subs). Which meant that unlike delegates I could go and see the debates, speeches and fringes that interested me. Mostly about pensions and housing. I did not miss the early morning pre conference delegation meetings either. 

I travelled down with my UNISON and work colleague, Joseph Ogundemuren who is also a Labour Councillor in Hackney but he was part of the UNISON delegation. We travelled by train to Liverpool on the Saturday, to go to the London Labour reception that evening. At the station I passed the statue, once again, of "Battling Bessie Braddock". 

The London Reception was in a huge room in the ACC centre, Albert Docks. The PA was pretty awful but it was well chaired by Dawn Butler MP and I enjoyed the speeches by Prime Minister Keir Starmer (I am still in some way shocked that Labour is in power), London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and others (many others!).  Keir (A London MP of course) seemed in a particularly good mood and was clearly excited and pleased to be there. 

It was good to meet and chat (aka gossip) with various London Labour Party members, some of which I have known for many years but usually only meet at Conference. 

Saturday had also been Labour Women's Conference which apparently went well. The official Labour conference opened 11am Sunday. I will try and post on my personal Conference experience during the next few days. 

London Labour Conference 2024

Recovering from a busy weekend at the London Labour annual conference, as a UNISON Labour Link delegate. I arrived late on Saturday due to advice surgery commitment and missed keynote speakers David Lammy MP and Ellie Reeves MP. 

The venue was packed and a large number of stalls outside conference hall. There was definitely a positive conference buzz but also a recognition that the London Mayoral and GLA election in May (only 60 days away) will be tough and bloody since the Tories have resorted to the sewer in a desperate bid to avoid defeat. The Forthcoming General election will be equally vile. 

During lunch there was a great fringe organised by Labour Unions on the "New Deal for Working Parties" commitment. Our UNISON regional secretary, Jo Galloway, took part in the panel debate. 

Later there was another very interesting panel debate on AI and I asked the question that while I am not a luddite and welcome most technological change, there is a genuine real concern about AI being used to replace human face to face contact (I am a housing officer and there is a move to not meet residents in person but instead communicate via email and telephone) and that many back office workers face job insecurity from AI. We must have a "Just transition" and protect vulnerable workers. 

I also attended a useful seminar on election campaigning, there is a new script for door knocking and look forward to trying it out. 

The outstanding item yesterday was the speech to conference by London Mayor, Sadiq Khan. He arrived with no fanfare and started speaking to delegates and shaking hands (and being asked to pose for many selfies!) - See main picture in collage. The London Labour Movement "love" for Sadiq, was to me, pretty obvious. The many dreadful and disgusting comments made against him in recent days by senior Tories must have taken their toll on him and his family, but he is fighting back and gave a passionate and rousing speech which inspired and enthused conference. 

After conference there was a fund raising dinner with further speeches and the inevitable Labour raffle, where I continued with my run of luck in these events, by winning the book "Tribes" by David Lammy MP, which I look forward to reading. 

Conference started at 9am this morning (Sunday) and for some reason I needed lots of coffee to keep me up to speed. 

There was a number of great debates and speeches (including another panel debate on the importance of "New Deal"). I enjoyed the good humoured and intelligent presentation by Sadiq's campaign manager Matthew Greenough, (Known apparently in London circles as "Welsh Matt", who to my extreme pleasure, repeated a famous saying by St David in Welsh)

He was also in another panel debate on the GLA election, where I asked the question should we respond to the awful and disgusting racist comments, by trolls that are made on nearly every tweet Sadiq makes? He said "no", it will just amplify these hateful messages which is what they want and instead concentrate on the many positive things that Sadiq is doing to improve the everyday lives of Londoners. 

Later GLA London Labour Group Leader, Len Duvall, spoke about the "Battle of Ideas" that is going on in this campaign, while the closing speech was by local MP, Rushanara Ali, who called out the "Shame of the desperate Talking talking down her Borough...no longer is there "dog whistle" politics, it's now a fog horn"

There was a number of other fantastic contributions by many other speakers and delegates that I haven't listed. 

My final comment is to thank the London affiliated unions for electing me to the London Labour Party Regional Executive Committee, which  I look forward to serving upon. 

Dan Tomlinson for Chipping Barnet

 

It was great to attend fundraising dinner last week for the Labour candidate in Chipping Barnet, Dan Tomlinson. I went with my UNISON colleague (and political secretary to London Labour Link) Joel Bodmer. 

Dan was supported by @unisonglr #LabourLink committee during his successful selection process to be the official Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chipping Barnet. 

Dan gave an inspiring speech on his local background, wider life experience and what he can offer the people of Chipping Barnet if elected as their MP.

Some great speeches also by London Assembly member Unmesh Desai and Rushanara Ali MP. 

My run of luck in Labour Party raffles continued and I for the second time in a row I won first prize in the (enviable) raffle. I choose a bottle of House of Lords whiskey, signed by the very good friend of UNISON, David Lammy MP. 

UNISON Labour Link Parliamentary Reception for London Councillors hosted by David Lammy MP

 

Picture collage from last weeks reception in the Jubilee Room in Westminster Hall. Many, many thanks to Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP and his staff for hosting this event and for David giving a passionate speech and Parliamentary report to UNISON members present, who are elected Councillors from all over London.

As Chair of Greater UNISON Labour Link Committee (and on behalf of our wonderful Vice Chair, Yvonne Green) , I welcomed and introduced speakers. After David gave his keynote speech, our new(ish) UNISON Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway, gave a cracking overview of politics and the union in London. Especially all the campaigns that should unite us, about tackling low pay, health and safety and training. 

Next was our also new(ish),  Political Secretary and UNISON Regional officer, Joel Bodmer. He laid out specific asks of Councillors regarding adopting our UNISON Ethical Care charter and Residential Care charter. 

UNISON National officer, Gavin Edwards, also spoke about our Social Care campaigns and what Councillors can do to support some of the most vulnerable workers in Local Government. 

Afterwards  there was a chance to take some photos and have a chat and gossip in the finest traditions of UNISON and Local Government. 

Due to Data Protection issues we cannot match UNISON members against Labour Party membership lists, so apologies that the invite to this event was a bit hit and miss. This will be the first of many events and all invitees will also be contacted with dates of campaign sessions to support UNISON nominated Prospective Parliamentary Candidates. 

Watch this space. 

Greater London UNISON Regional Council Meeting - Key Note speaker David Lammy MP

Last week I had to "last minute" chair the virtual Regional Council meeting of UNISON Greater London Region. Our Regional convenor, Yvonne Green, was on holiday in the Caribbean and had tried to join the meeting to chair (despite being silly O'Clock over there) but had internet problems. Our deputy Convenor, Conroy Lawrence was our delegate at  the physical TUC conference. 

The meeting was held virtually due to requests from our NHS/health branches, since they are in the midst of the industrial action ballot on pay and are working their socks off to get a good turnout and hopefully, a positive result in favour of industrial action. 

So, as Regional Finance Convenor (one of the 5 elected regional Council Officers), I stepped in to Chair. Our keynote speaker was Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, who gave a passionate Parliamentary report on the utter shambles that was the Truss Premiership (this was just before her very welcome resignation). 

Next speaker was NHS nurse, James Anthony, Vice Chair UNISON Campaigns Committee (formerly the General Political Fund/GPF) on the new "campaign fund", the programme of work to raise the profile of the fund, in particular increasing opt-in and using the fund more strategically and efficiently.

Final speaker was our Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway, on the new "branch organising and support fund" which is also a really important financial tool to support branches in campaigning. 

As a member of a regional wide branch that has multi employers with a fragmented membership this fund is exactly what we and many other similar branches need. It will also benefit all other branches that have good ideas and strategies to grow our membership. 

Since the meeting was as expected inquorate (due to NHS/health branches concentrating on the pay ballot) we had a useful and wide ranging Q&A on the new fund. I closed the meeting afterwards. 

I felt it was a useful meeting but I look forward to the next physical meeting of Regional Council (but in this current climate there may well be further massive disputes - so watch this space)

Labour Party Conference 2022 - Sunday PM

 

A rather random collection of photos from the first afternoon and evening of conference. With picture from an excellent fringe in support of Ukraine with its UK ambassador as well as David Lammy MP and John Healey MP. I asked a question how can we can encourage local Labour Parties to engage with their Ukrainian and East European communities? 

I went also to a fringe addressed by our UNISON General Secretary, Christina McAnea, on fixing the social care crisis. As well as the Labour Unions (TULO) fringe where our former vice President Sian Stockham, spoke about her life experiences as a low paid care worker. As did later Labour Deputy leader (and former care worker) Angela Rayner MP. 

I visited various receptions and fringes in the evening but had a relatively early night since I had to prepare for being on a pension panel the following day. 

UNISON National Delegate Conference 2022: Day 3 (Why hasn't our NEC resigned yet?)

 

This morning I started the day with another slow jog along the Brighton beach front. During breakfast at the hotel my branch delegation agreed which 6 motions that we want to be "prioritised" for debate on Friday afternoon (the infamous UNISON "snake" - please don't ask me to explain what it is).

Conference started with a Solidarity photo call in support of Turkish trade union leader, Gonul Erden followed by an address by Mehmet Bozgeyik, co-president of KESK. After further debates on motions, Patricia King, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions gave a video message. 

During lunch I attended a very good fringe on health and safety. First a comprehensive report and presentation by Scott Donohoe from UNISON  Scotland on their Covid-19 Response then a fascinating academic report on the effectiveness of safety reps by Minjie Cai from University of Greenwich. A great fringe which had very practical solutions for union reps followed by some well researched blue sky thinking. 

Thursday afternoons at UNISON conference is set aside for debate on proposed rule changes. Normally a poorly attended and often pretty boring session. Not today. 

I spoke on the rule change 1 which was about whether conference could trust the current NEC to allow unemployed members to retain their unison positions. Clearly in light of the overwhelming decision on motion 11 that conference has no confidence in the NEC. We cannot trust them. The amendment was passed but there was a card vote and this failed to reach the 2/3 majority needed. 

However, Rule Change 2 was passed by more than 90% of delegates (so no card vote needed). Which meant that if someone is dismissed due to discrimination then the NEC would not be allowed to give that honour to them. Of course if someone is cleared on appeal then their position would be reinstated. 

I did point out in my speech that if my branch met and and passed a vote of no confidence in its executive, we would of course all resign and there should be fresh elections. Why hasn't out NEC resigned yet? Isn't Conference supposed to be "Sovereign" in our union?

After conference I went to another great fringe organised by UNISON black workers on "Racism and levelling up". Chaired by my branch member Lola Oyewusi. Keynote speaker was David Lammy MP with UNISON Head of equalities Gloria Mills, TUC Kudsia Batool, Alba Kapoor from Runnymeade Trust and UNISON East Region secretary Tim Roberts. 

Afterwards David met up with UNISON Labour Link members. 

UNISON Labour Link Regional Forum "UNISON Stands with Ukraine"

Today, as Chair of UNISON London Regional Labour Link Committee,  I chaired our London Forum of UNISON Labour Link. Which took place in the UNISON Centre in Camden. It was great to be back in the centre after two long years, for a in person (and virtual meeting).  

I was so proud that when I entered the centre, you clearly could see the huge screen with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, with the motto "UNISON stands with UKRAINE". Our elected General Secretary, Christina, has made it clear that we must offer "unqualified support for our sister unions and the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s aggression".

We discussed our workplan for 2022; our London Boroughs elections campaign grid, financial report and a marvellous motion from Voluntary Organisation branch about stopping employers forcing their staff to pay the full cost of the DBS (criminal record) tests. This was passed unanimously.  

David Lammy MP, was our guest keynote speaker and he gave great speech and took part in an informed Q&A with Forum members. 

Greater London UNISON Housing Associations Branch AGM 2022

This evening was our branch AGM held in central London. It was a hybrid, in person and zoom quorate meeting.  I was pleased to have been re-elected (unopposed) as the branch Labour Link officer. 

Our excellent guest speaker was David Lammy MP,  Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (who has been a consistent supporter of UNISON). As you would expect David slammed the Russians over their invasion in Ukraine. 

We passed motions calling for a review of pension provision in our sector (proposed by me)  and "No to Sexist Bulling" which recent events shows it is a real problem in our union. 

Afterwards, a few of us who attended the in person meeting when for a celebration beer (or three) and in centre picture is our new branch Chair, Joseph (centre photo on left) who is also standing in May as a Labour Councillor candidate in Hackney. 

UNISON and Labour Unions phone bank with David Lammy MP

 Picture collage from last night's "dialogue" phone bank organised by Labour Unions and Greater London UNISON Labour Link. 

David Lammy MP gave us a quick briefing beforehand on how important it is that we have a Labour Mayor & Assembly in London to protect Londoners against some of the excesses of Tory Government misrule. 

He spoke very movingly about why he is such a passionate UNISON member mainly because of the support the union gave to his Mum when she had serious employment issues. 

David also made a valid point that while many of us (Labour Party activists) prefer to campaign by knocking on doors rather than ringing people, you probably end up speaking to more people by phone than "on the knocker". 

I could only spend 45 minutes last night on the actual phone bank but did manage to gain 7 contacts which is probably more than I would have gathered if I had been knocking on doors. 

(I am pleased that I now have "Sadiq Khan for Mayor" leaflets which I will be delivering over the bank holiday weekend)  

Cllr Lola Oyewusi to be the next Kent Police & Crime Commissioner May 2021

This afternoon I spoke at the virtual launch of the campaign to elect the Labour and Cooperative Party candidate, Lola Oyewusi, as the next Kent Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2021. 

I have known Lola for many years and she is the assistant branch secretary of my UNISON branch, as well as being an activist in UNISON both regionally and nationally. She lives and works in Kent and is also a charity food bank volunteer, a religious Pastor and a Parish Councillor. 

There were many local Party members, Councillors, trade union activists, magistrates, Labour Leaders and Community & religious leaders including many UNISON colleagues. 

I have been out to support Lola and her colleagues in Kent in past elections, with our local West Ham MP Lyn Brown and if allowed (subject to Covid restrictions) will be supporting her and her Labour colleagues, in whatever way we can. Obviously we are due to have elections for the London Mayor and Assembly this year. 

At the launch we were shown the endorsement video of Lola by David Lammy MP, the Shadow Justice Minister. 

If you can share/follow/like the Campaign social media links below this would be very helpful. 

facebook.com/LolaForKentPCC

instagram.com/lola4kentpcc

twitter.com/CllrLolaOyewusi 

My NEC report to the UNISON Community Service Group Executive (SGE) meeting 8 July 2020

(Love this pic. The 1.3 million members of UNISON are split into "Service Groups" according to their occupation and employer. Community comprises of members employed by the Voluntary Sector (Charities and Housing Associations). While we have our moments, it is known as the "Friendly Service Group". Microsoft teams only allowed 9 videos out of I think 23 participants in the meeting on my laptop.

They were not laughing at my report - honest!)

"May I start by noting that this is the first full meeting of the SGE since the General election disaster and the woeful performance by Boris Johnson and his Government during the Covid-19 pandemic reminds us what a catastrophe that election result was to all workers.

I would like to thank the activists and staff in Community for their superb dedication, care and support to members. In this most difficult of times they have made the union proud of them and the work which they have done.

No-one expected when they became an activist or a staff member that they would have to part of this national emergency supporting sometimes very frightened members while fighting for adequate PPE and risk assessments.

Hopefully, you will have seen the letter of thanks signed by myself and Denise Thomas which was sent to all Community members (on email)

NEC Meeting 19 December 2019

Extensive discussion of General Election debacle; industrial action update (agreed to send message of support to Addaction members)

NEC sub-committee Policy Development & Campaigns 22 January 2020.

Long debate and analysis of General Election result. Very interesting presentations from all 3 devolved nations on key political and bargaining issues.

NEC meeting 12 February 2020.

So much has happened it is hard to remember. Much of the business was agreeing motions for NDC; Finance report. The General Secretary in his report noted that Shantha David, a UNISON legal National officer, had been named by “Lawyer Magazine” as one of the top 100 lawyers in the Country. There was a full discussion on the Labour Link Nomination process for Leaders – why Keir and Angela. The launch of the UNISON Housing manifesto and mentioned during the industrial action update the dispute between our members and Addaction over Agenda for Change terms.

Community Conference 28 February 2020

A wet and windy Cardiff but I think a warm and successful conference. A few weeks later began lock down. Hopefully, we will be able to hold next year’s conference in person.

(Note Community SGE 25 March 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19 lock down. NEC meeting on 1 April 2020 cancelled since it was a meeting to discuss National Delegate Conference only business - which has of course had also been cancelled).

NEC sub-committee Policy Development & Campaigns 20 May 2020.

Dominated by immediate response to Covid-19 and a future recovery response.

NEC Meeting 3 June 2020

Was held virtually via GoTo and actually worked in my view very well. I think there was a better attendance than during physical meetings in the UNISON Centre. The meeting started with a moving tribute and one minute’s silence as the names of the 66 UNISON members known to have died from the pandemic were read out. Covid-19 and “Black Lives Matters” naturally dominated the meeting.

General Secretary made it clear that UNISON will hold the government to account https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2020/06/nec-told-will-hold-government-account-covid-19/

Intention to hold an election for General Secretary as soon as practical. New timetable for postponed SGE elections expected soon. Covid-19 response fund. £250,000 extra on top of usual support.

UNISON Staff Pension fund.

A number of meetings and updates with trustees and advisers. Massive reports to read. By far my busiest NEC responsibility.

National Labour Link 2 July 2020

Shadow Justice Minister David Lammy MP gave a very thoughtful and considered presentation/Q&A

Labour Link also had a special meeting with Angela Rayner.

Finally

Many thanks to our Regional Community leads and the National officer team for all their support (while working from their kitchens and living rooms) especially Andrew who was thrown into the deep end as our new national officer.

I have been involved in constructive talks with National and regional officers with the National Housing Federation about possible joint working over Covid-19 and aftermath.

Next PDCC meeting 14 July 2020

Next NEC meeting 23 July 2020

John Gray

Community NEC (General Seat)

(Please ring #### or email John.Gray2012@icloud.com if any questions or comments. If you want Denise (my fellow NEC Community rep) or I to present virtually to your branch or regional meetings then just let us know)

Greece Solidarty Campaign delegation visit March 2016: Day One "Refugees Welcome to Piraeus".

This is a  late post on a 3 day delegation visit I went in March to Athens with the Greece Solidarity Campaign (GSC). The GSC is an independent campaign and non-party political organisation, established in response to an appeal by Tony Benn in February 2012 for solidarity with the people resisting ‘austerity’ in Greece. It is supported by the TUC and has a number of affiliated organisations and individual members. The GSC have run various delegation visits to Greece in recent years but the theme of this visit was about "Local Government". I was interested in this as both a local Councillor and also a public service trade union activist.

All members of the delegation arranged independent travel and accommodation and we met for the first time on the Sunday in a hotel in the centre of Athens. The delegation included trade unionists, Councillors, supporters and Jon Lansman, the National secretary for Momentum. David Lammy MP arrived the following day.

Our first visit and tour was to a Solidarity Centre, which was set up for and run by unemployed Greeks. It began in 2012 and now supported 200 families. It helps with food, legal advice, chemists, education and training. It is not a "charity" and all members have to volunteer for at least 4 hours and have to attend monthly meetings. Focus is on the out of work. 60% are unemployed. 30% have inadequate pensions and the remaining 10% inadequate income for other reasons.

As well as supporting Greeks hit by austerity they are also now collecting food for  refugees. "Solidarity for all" is their slogan. Their motto is the best way to show solidarity - is to do it. 

The kitchen in the back feeds refugees. But the refugees do not want to stay in Greece and tend to head out for "Macedonia and Germany".  Due to the border restrictions more people are staying longer (the restrictions have since become far worse). Greece is in danger of becoming a "deposit of lost souls". 75% of Greeks are supportive of refugees and show solidarity but this could change very quickly. See the rise of the fascist and racist Party "Golden Dawn".

Next we went to the Commercial Port and the E1 passenger terminal.  The terminal was a make shift refugee camp. Despite the efforts of volunteers the conditions were pretty shocking. Families and young children were sleeping on blankets over concrete floors. The children were making the best of it and playing games while their parents looked desperate and exhausted. Some of us also visited a former warehouse across the road which was also being used to house refugees. The conditions were even more appalling here being overcrowded, dark and dank. Many of our delegation were openly upset at what they witnessed. I for one never thought that I would ever see scenes like this in modern day Europe.

We met some of the young volunteers who included refugees themselves from Syria and Yemen and a British student helping out during her gap year. The volunteers worked 6am to 6pm shifts, 2 days on and 1 day off. Other volunteers handed out clothing and food while off duty Greek hospital doctors and nurses ran an emergency medical clinic.

The refugees wanted to tell us their stories. Horrific tales about suicide bombings and killings, the fear of drowning when crossing the sea, the uncertainty and worry about their future.

One of our guides explained that despite the poverty and economic hardship in Greece, ordinary Greeks still supported the refugees because so many of them were once refugees themselves because of past war and conflicts. He asked the British people to think that who knows, one day they might well be refugees and need help and support.

I will post on the other 2 days later.

On Sunday 17 July I will be attempting to complete a Olympic distance triathlon to raise funds for the GSC and for UNISON Charity "there for you".

You can donate to the GSC here (drop me an email to let me know) and/or to There For You on the "Just Giving" page I have set up.

Axe the Housing Act

Picture is from the Defend Council Housing lobby against the Housing and Planning Bill in the House of Commons earlier this month. A number of MPs, Lords, Tenant representatives, campaigners and trade unions came to speak at it.

I was late due to a union commitment and missed Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but managed to hear Bethnal Green MP, Rushanara Ali, call for unity in order to oppose the bill. Later Diane Abbot MP, spoke about the need to build more and more Council Homes as the only real solution to the housing crisis, while Emily Thornberry described the housing misery of so many of her constituents, which is why she is known as the "Housing, Housing, Housing MP".

The Bill will steal homes from hard pressed Councils to pay the Tory election bribe on Right to buy for Housing association tenants and it will double or triple the rents of many social tenants who work and likely to result in mass evictions.

I spoke later on why UNISON is so opposed to the Bill. Out big issue is where will low paid families and key workers be able to afford to live in the future?

Not only do we have around 100,000 trade union members who work in social housing but we have 1.3 million predominately low paid, female members, many of which cannot afford a decent home to buy or rent. A recent survey found that a third of our members had grown up children still living with them and now twice as many live in private rented accommodation as in the social rented sector.

After the lobby I went to watch in the gallery the actual debate on the Housing Bill in the House of Commons. I saw Labour and other opposition MPs rip the bill to pieces and completely out of touch rich Tory MPs try to defend it on the grounds that it will benefit families who earn £100,000 per year!

The Bill is now law and despite some concessions is still vile. However, it does not come in force until next year and the Government will have to return to Parliament for approval on regulations etc so there is still time to campaign, oppose and axe!
  

"What I learned when I visited a refugee camp in Greece"

Last week I went on a (self funded) delegation visit organised by the Greece Solidarity Campaign to Athens. David Lammy MP was a member of the delegation.

I will post on the visit but yesterday David wrote a powerful (and angry) article in the NewStatesman which I have copied below:-

"Unless Europe’s leaders summon the political will to act on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable this untold suffering will only get worse, and I fear that Greece, perpetually teetering on the brink of oblivion, may well collapse as well.

Last week, while European leaders met in Brussels to discuss their response to the worst refugee crisis Europe has seen since World War Two, I visited a dilapidated shipping warehouse in Piraeus, the port area of Athens that has become home to thousands of stranded refugees.

What I saw was absolutely harrowing. Hundreds of refugees are living in inhumane conditions in a dark, damp and filthy old shipping warehouse, lacking supplies or even basic levels of sanitation.

I spoke to a group of Afghan teenagers who told me that a young child had tragically passed away in the camp over the weekend preceding my visit, and there will be more deaths to follow if Europe does not act urgently to address the situation.

It has become clear that this situation can only be tackled if European nations reopen their borders and work to reach a collective, and lasting, political agreement.

35,000 refugees are currently stranded in the Greece, and according to the UN up to 2,000 more are arriving daily. Macedonia closing its border has blocked the Balkan route out of the country, leaving 13,000 migrants stranded in camps on the border, and the situation will become increasingly dire day by day with Croatia and Slovenia following suit.

Greece finds itself in the depths of a double crisis. In addition to being on the front line of Europe’s refugee emergency, it is hard to imagine an economy in a worse state. Official figures show that unemployment is around 25 per cent, but the Mayor of Piraeus told me that in areas of Athens the true figure is at least 50 per cent.

Public spending has also been cut to the bone and last year’s third memorandum imposed further spending cuts worth seven per cent of Greece’s GDP, which itself has been in freefall since 2010. Over half of young Greeks are unemployed, leaving entire families reliant on pensions and charity. The head of the Greek local government union told me that public sector pensions have been cut in half, before taking into account further cuts of almost €2 billion announced in the most recent budget.

It is a source of shame to European nations that Greece’s government is being hung out to dry in this way, handed the impossible task of rescuing an economy that is on the verge of collapse together with managing a humanitarian crisis that is without parallel in Europe this century. Meeting with Syriza ministers made clear that the Greek authorities are completely overwhelmed, like King Canute trying to hold back an unstoppable tide.

The scale of this disaster overwhelmed me in its all of its inhumanity, cruelty and brutality. Turning our back on the great crisis of our time won’t make the problem go away.

A “one in one out” deal with Turkey simply does not come close to providing the answer. A quick fix deal is likely to break down in the future and, as the UN Refugee Agency has warned, the deal is unlikely to stem the flow of refugees trying to reach Europe. A collective political agreement is not only the right thing to do in a moral sense, it is the only real available option that matches the scale and severity of this catastrophe.

Unless Europe’s leaders summon the political will to act on behalf of the voiceless and vulnerable this untold suffering will only get worse, and I fear that Greece, perpetually teetering on the brink of oblivion, may well collapse as well".

East London Labour Mayoral Hustings: #YesWeKhan

This afternoon there was a London Labour Party Mayoral candidate hustings at the historic Old Town Hall in Stratford, East London 

West Ham MP, Lyn Brown, local Councillors and other Party supporters held a stall outside on behalf of candidate, Sadiq Khan and encouraged local Labour voters to sign up and become "Party Supporters" for only £3. 

I had volunteered with local West Ham CLP members to help out with the registration of people at the door coming to the event (and sell them raffle tickets - see picture of the dynamic trio with back drop of Keir Hardie statute, who was elected as the first ever Labour MP in this same town hall in 1892). 

All six Labour mayoral candidates were present. The newly elected Tower Hamlets Executive Mayor, John Biggs, chaired the meeting. 

Since I was on the door I missed the beginning of the hustings and then left to go back after 30 minutes. My initial thoughts were that the panel all looked a little nervous and very serious. 

Diane Abbot spoke first and said she should be the candidate since due to her TV and media work people all over London know her and unlike former ministers, she also has the personality to win a London Mayoral election. 

Gareth Thomas said he was the only outer London Labour politician standing, who also knows how to fight these marginal seats and how to win for Labour in outer London. He is a street fighter while his opponents all come from safe inner London seats. 

Sadiq Khan said he wanted to be someone who having been born and bred in a London council estate and was the son of a London bus driver, wants to be the candidate who will represents all of London. 

David Lammy made clear that he wanted be the young, active and independent of party candidate who could defeat Zac Goldsmith. 

Tessa Jowell  compared herself to Hillary Clinton, and pointed out that if she win, she will be the youngest ever female mayor of London (think about it).

After 30 minutes I went back to the front door to let another member of the registration team go and listen. I understand things got a little heated later on with questions about building on the Green belt, the number of social housing homes in the Olympic Park and the relaxation of gambling laws.  

Talking to people as they left it seemed that they did learn from and enjoy this event. 

Nuf said. 

West Ham Labour nominates Sadiq Khan and Tessa Jowell as their London Mayoral Candidates

Over 80 members of West Ham Labour Party attended yesterdays nomination meeting at Vicarage Lane Community centre, E15. At the beginning, our CLP Chair, Charlene McLean, called out the names of the 8 declared candidates and asked for proposers and seconders. Members present selected Diane Abbot, Tessa Jowell, David Lammy, Gareth Thomas, Sadiq Khan and Neeraj Patil.

We could nominate up to two candidates, at least one of which had to be a women. The women candidate was decided first. A number of members spoke in favour of nominating Diane or Tessa. All contributions that evening were heard out and treated with respect.

Tessa Jowell was elected as a women's candidate by 49 votes to Diane Abbot 32.

Next we debated the open selection and voted for Sadiq Khan as our candidate, who got 52 votes to 16 for Gareth Thomas and 15 this time for Diane.

There was some fantastic contributions from a wide range of new and experienced activists. I was really pleased with the arguments, the passion and energy shown. Despite our national defeat on May 7, the Labour Party in its historic homeland, West Ham, is still very much alive and kicking.

Our MP, Lyn Brown then gave us an impassioned speech, thanking us for all our hard work during the General election and in particular, for Wes Streeting's victory in marginal Ilford North. She promised to lead a "fightback" in West Ham against  the consequences of Tory rule.

After which, of course, was the inevitable Labour Party raffle, followed by a little bit of a social followed by some late night discussion by some in the nearby Bay Tree public bar.

Check out the report in West Ham Labour blog. We hope as a CLP to host a hustings for the Labour Leadership nominations.

Hat tip picture Julianne Marriott. Many thanks to top Community Centre volunteer Kim for helping to set up and clean up. 

On board the Livingstone Battle Bus against Boris & CONDEM Cuts

Early yesterday morning I was with London UNISON convener, Gloria Hanson, at Euston to join other trade unionists who were helping London Labour Mayor Candidate, Ken Livingtone, launch his Boris and CONDEM anti-cuts campaign.  We went on a open air double decker bus to the Beormund Community Centre in Bermondsey, which itself is facing a Government £40k cut in its budget putting its existence in doubt. With us amongst others was Steve Hart, the Unite Regional Secretary, Paul Hayes the London GMB regional secretary, David Lammy MP and of course - Ken. 

Before we set off Ken got a good reception from passing commuters who shouted support and gave him the "thumbs up" sign and in return they received the famous grin.  Ken is of course notoriously a bit of a "Marmite" character, but ordinary Londoners seemed to be genuinely pleased to see him and offer support.

The bus driver was unsure of the best route to Bermondsey, so the Unite union Black taxi reps present offerred to help.  This could have been a "tricky" situation (taxi drivers telling bus drivers "what to do") but it seemed to work well (all comrades together!).  Perhaps also we were lucky there were no low bridges on route either? :)

The immediate Boris/CONDEM cuts already announced and the prospect of even much, much more are the defining issue facing Londoners.  We need the candidate who is best able to inspire and protect ordinary Londoners and then defeat in 2012 the ideological "slash and burners" who will be doing their level best to destroy our London.

In this particular battle - nothing else matters.

UPDATE: check out Mary Honeyball MEP top post here on her support for Ken.