London Labour Conference - Day 1 (and National Campaign Day)

Today was the first day of the London Labour Party conference (and a National Labour campaign day following the budget #BetterOffWithLabour).

I was an UNISON delegate and missed most of the morning session due to other commitments but arrived just as a vote on rule changes was taking place after what I hear was a long and at times bad tempered debate.

On the way in I stopped off to drop leaflets for Forest Gate branch stall. There were also two other canvass events taking place in West Ham and Canning Town South wards (our MP Lyn Brown was in West Ham).

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot MP gave an excellent speech to conference as did Shadow Home Secretary, Emily Thornberry MP.

I attended the Housing Fringe on Grenfell, then the housing and finally the education workshop.

Tomorrow is the final day and I hope to hear the debate on the West Ham CLP motion on youth safety and also move the UNISON motion on Housing. 

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!
  

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 Hammers out campaigning for John Biggs as Mayor in Devons Road with Diane Abbot MP

Picture collage from this afternoon's canvass and leaflet in Devons Road, Tower Hamlets. I was given a board to run and went with a team of West Hammers, which was joined by Diane Abbot MP and the shy and retiring Bill Turner, formerly from Tower Hamlets and now Barking and Dagenham.

It was an energetic round, up and down mainly non lifted housing blocks. Diane was recognised by residents who couldn't believe that someone from the telly was standing outside their front door!

I enjoyed listening to Newham's youngest Councillor, Seyi Akiwowo, tell off a young man who said he wouldn't vote for any politician "because they were all corrupt". She said she was a politician and she certainly wasn't corrupt!

The response from voters for John Biggs was pretty good but there was isolated allegations and counter allegations of dirty tricks, none of which could be substantiated.  I think overall there is a feeling that Tower Hamlets needs some stability and although some still have reservations about what has happened, many think John Biggs would be a good Mayor and make a new start for the borough.

Afterwards, many of went to the Galanisers Union pub in Bromley By Bow and proceeded to put the whole world to rights.

Tomorrow, (Sunday) Sadiq Khan MP, will be outside Crossharbour DLR in the Isle of Dogs at 2pm. 

Last weekend to get a Labour Mayor for Tower Hamlets

"Please come and join London Mayor candidates Diane Abbot MP and Sadiq Khan MP help John Biggs become the Labour Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

Saturday with Diane Abbot, Devons Road DLR at 2pm
We'll meet at 1.30pm at Stratford station or 2pm at Devons Road station (3 stops from Stratford or 1 from Bow Road/Bow Church). Don't worry if you haven't been out knocking on doors before someone will help you (or you could deliver leaflets). (Julianne). 

Sunday with Sadiq Khan, Crossharbour DLR at 2pm
We'll meet at 2pm at Crossharbour station (Isle of Dogs). Again, don't worry if you haven't been out knocking on doors before someone will help you (or you could deliver leaflets). 

If you've got time next week and particularly Thursday to help on election day please let us know - our colleagues in Tower Hamlets will appreciate any time you can spare.

Best wishes
Julianne


Julianne Marriott
Vice Chair
West Ham Labour Party"

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. 

West Ham CLP Social with Diane Abbott MP: 27 October 2011

(An offer you cannot refuse....and it's in West Ham ward! See attached leaflet from West Ham Constituency Labour Party) 

Open event

All Labour Party members and affiliates are welcome

Guest Speaker

Diane Abbott MP

Thursday 27^th October

7.30pm start

Vicarage Lane Community, Centre, Govier Close E15 4HW, Raffle & Food at moderate price, Keep this evening free and join us.

Diane Abbot just entered leadership race - Live on Today Radio 4