Saturday Labour doorstep in Plaistow South By election

 

Picture college from yesterday's doorstep in the Plaistow South By Election campaign with our candidate Ash and local party activists. 

There was 3 teams out and the result was pretty positive. On one occasion I had some robust conversations with two residents, who had been totally taken in by Reform propaganda and hopefully they will reflect on our exchange. However, we have to deal nationally and locally with the underlying economic causes that such populist extremist parties thrive upon. 

Overhaul it went well and Ash is excellent at both listening and engaging with residents. A rare gift for someone standing for political office! 

Some beautiful gardens in the ward. 

"On the Knocker" at Plaistow South

 

Tonight I met up again with our by election candidate Asheem and other activists including the Newham Labour Mayor Candidate 2026, Forhad Hussain.

The canvass went well and although I was mostly helping to "run the board" (directing activists to call on particularly addresses and recording responses and case work) on the doors I actually knocked upon and spoke to people, the reaction was pretty good. 

Some disappointment at some of the decisions of the Labour Government but a recognition of the mess that the previous Government had left the country in and that Labour should be judged on what it achieves in a full term and not just one year. 

Statement from Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE on Newham's May 2026 mayoral election

 

(The Labour Party has announced that former Newham Councillor (and Cabinet member) Forhad Hussain has been selected as the Labour Candidate for the May 2026 mayoral election). 

Councillor Report 3.1.17 - "Could we become Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV) Two?"

This is my latest written report (previous one 7 December 2017).

Council Issues
Meeting with Senior Council officers

13 December. I met again with other concerned backbench Councillors senior officers at Newham Dockside to discuss and examine reports on the way that the Council buys and manages commercial properties for investment purposes. The meeting was constructive and informative but I still have huge concerns about the governance arrangements and oversight. Newham is borrowing hundreds of millions of pounds to invest in property. We are still being refused sight of the Newham Council reports on the London Stadium disaster and the reasons for the £50-60 million pound losses. This is an executive decision not to release and not by officers.

Newham Council Investment & Accounts meeting
14 December. At this meeting while discussing the minutes of the previous joint Audit meeting the Director of Finance confirmed that the £40 million original loan to the London stadium is not being “written off” but swapped in some “debt for equity” exchange? Since the loan was recently declared in our annual accounts as “impaired” (currently worthless) I do not know what on earth that means? Nor what happens to the lost £4.4 million interest charge, the £5 million loan for investments in the Olympic South Park and the £12 million of "working capital”.

I was very shocked to hear that some Newham Schools are allowing private contractors to not enrol new starters into the Local Government Pension Scheme. This will penalise already low paid female school staff and is of course a disgrace and these schools should be named and shamed.

At the meeting there were members of the Newham Carbon Divestment campaign. I suggested that they should be allowed to make a presentation at the Newham Pension AGM.

Newham Cabinet Meeting. Could we become Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV) Two?
21 December I attended Cabinet as an observer and spoke to the Mayor about privatisation of Council services and also a proposal to set up some special vehicle to run all Newham’s property assets (we are talking potentially billions of pounds). I am astonished that this is even being considered before we learn the lessons on what went wrong with the London stadium special vehicle. This could be an even worse political mess than Haringey Council has found itself over its property development vehicle. I asked the Mayor if he would bring any such future plans back to a full Council meeting for approval but he did not agree and said it would go to Labour Group.

Fortunately Cllr’s Hussain and Clark managed to amend the proposal to just doing a review of existing arrangements and nothing else.

Review of Scrutiny arrangements
The Select Committee on Communities and Local Government has recently published a hard hitting report criticising many Councils for inadequate Scrutiny of Executive decisions. I have publicly commented on this report with and I am pleased that Scrutiny Chair, Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz, will be taking the recommendations to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Surgeries and case work
I have attended 2 surgeries per month in Vicarage Lane Community Centre and Brassett Point Residents Association room. Casework regarding Academies, ASB; parking ticket policy; disabled adaptations disrepair, speeding cars, Right to buy, insurance and forming a Tenants & Residents group. I was most unimpressed with repair failures in the Church Street block run by One Housing Group and I am trying to arrange an inspection. I have received a petition from residents which I will present at the next Full Council meeting.

Ward Issues

Ward meeting/Xmas Social
7 December I attended ward meeting and went on to enjoy the Xmas social. Many thanks to Lyn Brown MP for attending and the organisers for a great evening.

West Ham campaigning & petition on lack of social homes in Ford Showrooms development
We are waiting for the planning meeting. There is now a West Ham Labour ward petition at Change.org http://chn.ge/2iq4UKb. Please support this petition.

Durul Jannah Community Centre, E15 – Planning permission
19 December. I spoke in favour at a hearing for a change in planning permission for this centre. Officers are opposed but I think they have got it wrong over this issue. I was supported by Cllr Forhad Hussain and Cllr Mas Patel. Unfortunately due to a mistake with the paperwork the application had to put on hold but I hope this can be sorted out as quickly as possible.

Other Issues

Labour doorstep
9 December after Surgery I went door knocking & leaflet distribution in Stratford ward with a local Councillor and activists.

Councillor Candidate’s selection meeting postponed.
Apologies to ward members who had reserved 9/10 December for the chance to elect candidates for the local elections in May 2018. Due to a number of appeals outstanding for applicants who did not pass the initial interview the Regional Labour Party has postponed the selections. No new date yet.

Mayoral “trigger ballot” to be rerunThe Mayor, sent out a press release saying that he wants a rerun of his selection process as the Labour Candidate for Executive Mayor. I thought his release was extremely odd but it does appear that he concedes that the process was “rigged” and that it needs to be rerun. I strongly support it being redone but think that there is not enough time for a Mayoral “Trigger” and selecting Councillor candidates, so I believe that there needs to be an open selection process for our Mayoral candidate.

London Collective Investment Vehicle (CIV)
11 December I attended with UNISON colleagues for the public part of the business meeting. The CIV is planning to manage nearly all Local Government Pension funds in London (including Newham). However, the governance arrangements are nonsensical since there is no beneficiary representation.

Anti Academies Protest Hallsville School
23 December I attended a successful and well organised protest outside Hallsville School in Canning Town with parents, teachers, children and 4 other Newham Councillors (including are very own John Whitworth). I was quoted in the Newham Recorder that the Council must raise it game since schools are blaming it for “forcing” them to become academies due to lack of support.

UNISON
I am standing again for election as the Greater London UNISON Regional Finance Convenor (for the 10th year)

Workers Memorial Day 2018
Date for future is Saturday 28 April 2018 when West Ham Labour Party and local trade unions will be remembering all those killed at work or who have died of work related ill health at the Three Mills Green Memorial.

Living wages in Newham Schools
As a school governor I have sent in a question to the next Newham Governors Forum asking all schools to declare whether they pay a London Living wage to all their staff (including agency and contractors)

Donation in lieu of Christmas Cards
Once again I made a donation to a charity rather than send any Christmas cards. This year to the Magpie Trust which helps homeless families in Newham.

Congratulate Seyi Akiwowo
Finally, I think we should congratulate your ward chair (& Forest Gate Councillor) on her contribution to the UN about on-line hate and founding the campaigning group Glitchuk.

If any member wishes to contact me about this report to discuss any aspect please do not hesitate to do so.

Regards

John Gray
West Ham Ward Councillor

Why its never that boring being "on the knocker" for Labour.

Picture from last weekend's Plaistow North ward "Super Sunday" Labour door knock with our West Ham MP Lyn Brown, which which went really well. UNISON members James Beckles (2nd from left) and Forhad Hussain (2nd from right) are both candidates. The 3rd Labour Candidate, Joy Laguda is also a UNISON member.  Joy had to attend a funeral and was unable to attend. All 3 candidates work or have worked for the NHS. 

Tonight I am just back from being out in West Ham Ward. It was a warm and sunny evening.  It too went really well but just a little too perfect. There was a fantastic "Labour promise" response rate. Household after household said they would vote for us. We had mums bringing out their cute young children out to meet the candidates.

I had a detailed and interesting explanation of democratic Polish politics since the Solidarity strikes and the fall of the Communist State.

Excited first time voters who were delighted we had come to see them and who couldn't wait for 22 May and the opportunity to vote Labour. 

A woman very angry with this Tory led government who she blames for being made redundant and being now only able to find insecure part time work.

An unsubstantiated (but very specific) allegation of political and contractor corruption across the other side of the River Lea.

I also had one man in his 30's who admitted that he has never voted, agree that it was about time he participated and promised to do so this time (for Labour).

I knew it was too good to last. Towards the end of the session the law of averages re-established itself.

I came across a very unpleasant racist who scorned Labour because of all "these dirty foreigners". There was a short and sharp exchange with resulted with the front door being slammed shut very loudly in my face and me marking the address on our list as "Against".

Apart from that - it was a good evening.

Ronald Valentine Higgins - East End Docker, Footballer, Trade Unionist & Lancaster Bomber Gunner

On Sunday 23rd June there was a Newham Labour Party "meet the candidates" BBQ in Cody Docks, Canning Town. Party members met potential candidates standing for selection in 2014.

West Ham MP Lyn Brown was the special guest.  Cody Docks is an amazing regeneration project but even this was out shined on the day by the 3 generations of the Higgins family from East Ham.

I first met 90 year old Ronald Valentine Higgins (born 14 Feb 1923) several years ago at another Labour Party BBQ on Wanstead Flats. Ron has had a pretty incredible life. He started his working life in the famous Thames Iron Works, which was not far away from Cody Docks and the home of West Ham FC. He later played for West Ham and Leyton Orient FC. Since he was a semi professional footballer, he was not eligible to compete in the 1948 London Olympics, even though his running times matched that of the leading British competitors. He also managed East Ham FC.

Before this he served in the RAF during the Second World War as a gunner on Lancaster Bombers. He took part in 32 missions. The life span of an average Lancaster Bomber crew was only 20 missions. They had to complete 30. After the War and football, Ron worked in the Docks and became a GMB convener.

Picture of me, his son also called Ron, Cllr Forhad Hussain, Cllr Terry Paul then below Ron Senior and Hanif Abdulmuhit (picture taken by Ron's Grandson Paul).

I think we were all really proud and humbled to meet Ron.

Wedding & Walima Ceremony of Forhad Hussain & Shamima Akhtar

This afternoon I went to the Wedding and Walima Ceremony of Forhad and Shamima in High Rocks, Tunbridge Wells.  Forhad is a fellow Labour Councillor in Newham and also an UNISON member (project officer for a central London hospital).

West Ham MP, Lyn Brown, was also a guest.

This is the first Muslim wedding I have been to and was most impressed. It was a colourful, friendly, good humoured family oriented event with lots of lovely food.  I enjoyed watching the traditional banter between the groom's and bride's family when Forhad arrived at the venue and he was initially refused entry. 

The religious service was quite short and repeated in Arabic, English and Bengali. 

Many, many thanks to Forhad and Shamima for a wonderful day and to their family who worked so hard to look after us all.

Newham Council AGM: Growing up in Newham

This speech was given by Cllr Ellie Robinson to the Newham Council AGM on May 19th.

“We grow up fast in Newham. Some children are carers by the time they are teenagers; others face the added responsibility of having to provide for their families, both here and sometimes abroad too.

Too many of our young people have felt the extraordinary pain of losing a friend, or a classmate, to violent crime. Others struggle everyday with growing up in a culture where the violence involves relatively few but where the fear it creates touches many more.

Thirty per cent of our population are under 20. We are the youngest area in the whole country. Their challenges are our challenges, but if we are in this together where are the government?

The Tories have slashed funding to our community. They cut the Building Schools for the Future Programme with which this authority has achieved so much over recent years and they’ve cut the Educational Maintenance Allowance which gave many of my sixth form friends a chance they would not otherwise have had to go to college – a precious, priceless opportunity which has now been snatched away from their younger brothers and sisters.....(read rest of speech and that of the Mayor, Cllr Hussain and Cllr Christie here)

Newham Council AGM: "...the kind of borough and place we want to live in..."

This speech was given by Cllr David Christie to the Newham Council AGM on May 19th.

"I have come to the conclusion that while this speech should extol the benefits of cycling, the starting point of any discussion on the issue should not be the pedal cycle itself but instead about the kind of borough and place we want to live in and create together. Today, I want to present a vision that through cycling, Newham can become London’s most liveable and vibrant borough.

In Newham we are awake to the importance of stimulating high quality urban design. It is about using the development opportunities we have to create well connected and attractive places for people. If you think about your favourite parts of London, I’m sure they will be places that are pleasant to walk around and are of a human scale. Those are places that work for cyclists too and so we can be pro cyclist just by creating places people want to live in.....

(read rest of speech and that of the Mayor, Cllr Hussain and Cllr Robinson here)

Newham Council AGM: Royal Docks Enterprise Zone

 At the Newham Council AGM on Thursday in the Old Town Hall in Stratford, Councillors Christie, Hussain and Robinson gave formal presentations. Cllr Forhad Hussain spoke about the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone.

"Good Evening, I want to talk to you tonight about the future plan to implement an Enterprise Zone within the Royal Docks in Newham and the potential benefits for both Businesses and our Newham residents.

As an entrepreneur myself I have a passion for business and have been involved in a number of startup businesses in recent years. So, I understand the importance of business support from government and also understand the vital role that businesses should play within their surrounding communities such as contributing to the local economy, community cohesion and local job creation.

So what is the Enterprise Zone in Royal Docks? During the Budget announcement, in March this year, the Government announced that they were going to create 21 Enterprise Zones around the UK to help generate Business development.

Following the budget announcement and lobbying from Newham Council, The Royal Docks was awarded Enterprise zone status which covers a 125 Hectare area which includes the area around the docks, Custom House and Silvertown. This Enterprise Zone will be led by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority, working closely with Newham Council.

Thousands of jobs are expected to be created by this Enterprise Zone which will provide a significant boost to the regeneration plans to transform the Royal Docks into a brand new district to live, work and invest in. Businesses will be encouraged to start-up and develop by enticing them with various incentives.

What are these incentives? The first major benefit is that Businesses will have the opportunity to claim Business rate discounts worth up to £275,000 over a five year period. Revenue from Business rates within the Enterprise Zone will be retained and controlled by the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority and will re-invested in promoting economic growth elsewhere in Greater London.

This business rate discount incentive will be a huge benefit for start up businesses. However as a local authority we need to ensure we negotiate with the Mayor of London and the Greater London Authority that the majority of revenue from the business rates collated from the Royal Docks Enterprise zone is to be reinvested back in Newham.

The second major incentive to incoming businesses is that the Government and local authority will relax planning laws and take a radical and simplified planning approach in the enterprise zone. This will allow Businesses to expand and develop more quickly, easily and with little bureaucracy.  This incentive will be great for rapid business expansion and development but as a local authority we need to be careful that we maintain our influence on the way OUR Royal Docks is regenerated.

So how do our Newham Residents benefit from the Enterprise Zone? As businesses in the enterprise zone receive incentives, I feel it is fair to ask these businesses to give something back to Newham; Incoming businesses need to work with initiatives like the ‘Workplace’ and help create jobs for local Newham residents. We need to influence incoming businesses to prioritise jobs to our long term Newham residents and especially our younger people and the long term unemployed.

Incoming Businesses in the zone should also be expected to support and develop long lasting relationships with other Newham organisations and Community groups. These businesses should be offering skills, training & work opportunities to our students, getting involved in community initiatives/events and help to promote Newham as a great place to do business and invest in.  

I believe creating local jobs and Community Cohesion programmes should be paramount within incoming businesses and should be set as required criteria before being accepted in the Royal Docks Enterprise zone. This will definitely ensure our Newham residents benefit in different ways from the local enterprise zone. So, what do we need to do to make Enterprise zones work in Newham?

Various think tanks have identified that the success of enterprise zones such as the one implemented in the Canary Wharf is down to investment in the regeneration of infrastructure. Therefore I feel as a local authority we need to ensure that the correct infrastructure is in place within the Royal Docks enterprise zone and that we invest in local transport links (developing effective Bus, cycle and walking routes), leisure opportunities (especially outside working hours) and in housing (with the right balance of affordable homes). For this infrastructure setup we need vital investment and support from the private sector and the Government.

To summarise; The Enterprise zone is to be introduced in April 2012 and there is ongoing further consultation between the council, Mayor of London, the coalition Government and interested businesses.   As a local authority we need to ensure we maintain our influence on the development and regeneration of the Royal Docks and make sure that jobs are created for OUR Newham residents and ensure their interests are prioritized. 

I sincerely believe The Enterprise Zone in the Royal Docks is a Fantastic opportunity to encourage new businesses into Newham, especially with the arrival of international businesses such as Siemens (in the Royal Docks) and Westfield (In Stratford). I am confident that the Enterprise zone will regenerate and revive the Royal Docks, Create economic growth within the borough and will create a world class business & tourist legacy that we can ALL be proud of".

UPDATE: the speech is now online here with those by the Mayor, Cllr Christie and Cllr Robinson. 

Knocking up in Thurrock

This evening I was “knocking up” Labour supporters in Thurrock, Essex and reminding/encouraging/cajoling them to go out and vote for Labour candidate, Phil Smith.

I was in a canvass team with fellow West Hammers (CLP) vanguardists (and Newham Cllrs) Forhad Hussain and Ellie Robinson.  We were joined by Ron from Hackney South CLP (see main photo left to right). There were a number of Newham Party members out and about in Thurrock today, including the Mayor Sir Robin Wales (and in recent weeks).

Since there are no elections in London this year the Regional Labour Party have allocated each CLP a key Council election outside London to help out.

We were working in Stanford East & Corringham Ward. During the Election last year the Tories won the council seat by only 1649 votes to 1620. So this should be winnable but I do worry about the turn out in such local elections when compared to the General election.

It was all quite quiet. I didn’t see a single political poster in any window or garden. I didn’t see any other canvassers. All the people I met were very polite but those who had already voted were unusually hesitant in admitting to me who they had actually voted for. I had a good conversation with a Ford worker about the NHS, pensions and “Sending a message to Downing Street” about his concerns.

The most excitement of the night came from the traditional arguments amongst canvassers of all political persuasions helping out in new places about “we are lost” and “what way should we go?” (see photo left above) I think from now on, West Ham Labour Party should describe the direct route to anywhere as the “Ellie Way” and the going totally in the wrong direction route as the “Forhad way” :).  I was too lazy to do any map reading tonight.

It was still a good day. We met up with London Assembly John Biggs, Cllr Bill Turner from Tower Hamlets and Cllr Josephine Channer from Barking and Dagenham.

Update: check out some more photos on FB here

Update: Phil wins by 136 votes! Well done.

Newham London Run 2011

Yesterday I was marching in central London, today I was running (very slowly) around the Olympic Park in Stratford, Newham.  So another day, another photo collage. This 10k run started outside the Railway Tavern Hotel (one of the best pubs in Newham by far) and was set off by Cllr Paul Brickell, the Newham Council Executive Member for Olympics and Public Affairs.

We ran through Westfield Stratford City and the 2012 Olympic site.  Then along the Greenway and finished in Stratford Park (which is in my ward, West Ham).  Nearly 4000 runners took part.

The run really brings to home the huge size of the Olympic park and the massive regeneration that is going on.  This is great news for Newham and East London.

Cllr Forhad Hussain was I think the only other Newham Councillor taking part (UNISON member of course) he was also on the March yesterday.  He ran with his twin brother Fokrul and was supported by his "Team Hussain" nephew supporters. 

It took me 1 hour 11 minutes which is pretty slow but 7 minutes better I think than last year.  Next year I will try and break the 1 hour (and maybe even run the marathon that I was supposed to have done this year).

All in all a great event and I would encourage everyone to take part next year.  I'll post all the pictures on Facebook when I get a chance.

(double click to bring up picture detail.)

Labour Party Conference 2010: West Ham CLP delegates report

The Labour movement usually requires all delegates to write reports on the conferences they have been sent to by their unions or the Labour Party.

Ellie Robinson (right) and David Christie (middle) were the West Ham Labour Party delegates to Conference this year.  (Left is Forhad Hussain, who was there as a ex-officio visitor and is also a UNISON member).  All three of them are newly elected Newham Councillors.

This is Ellie and David's delegation report to the West Ham GC.

"We arrived in Manchester on the Friday night and stayed in apartments just over the border in Salford.

Saturday was the day of the leadership conference where they were to announce the new leader of the Labour Party.  The hall in Manchester Central was buzzing with excitement.  Gordon Brown kicked things off with an emotional speech where he celebrated what the last Government had achieved and thanked many people for supporting him and the Labour Party.  Ann Black, chair of the NEC then took the rostrum and led us through the votes.  It took several minutes to get to the result because of the AV system, and the tension and gasps from the audience mounted until in the final round David Miliband received 49.35% of the vote and we knew that Ed would be the next leader of the Labour Party.  There were cheers and Ed gave a short speech where he paid tribute to the other candidates. In the evening we attended the London Region reception where Ed spoke again.

On Sunday a London region welcome was held introducing delegates to the format of conference and Karen Buck, Labour MP for Westminster North launched a new priority campaign in London on housing reflecting the coalition’s attack on housing benefit claimants.  We attended the young councillor network launch and then went into the hall for conference business. 

Neil Kinnock delivered a moving tribute to Michael Foot who died in the year since the last conference. Merit Awards were presented to members from Hammersmith, Hyndburn and Exeter.  In the priority ballot as West Ham delegates we voted for debates on housing, people trafficking, consumer credit and rights at work as we felt these most reflected the particular needs of people in the West Ham constituency and would not all be prioritised by the Trade Union section. We attended a fringe event on the Gaza siege in the evening and a young Labour event. Labour friends of Bangladesh held a reception which several Newham members came up to Manchester to attend and Rushanara Ali spoke passionately about the Bangladeshi community uniting and having transparent elections and decision making in Tower Hamlets. Mary Honeyball MEP for London held a reception and talked about her ongoing focus in the European parliament.  At the end of the evening there was a Newham drink in a bar net to the Manchester Wheel.

On Monday David Miliband gave a speech as Shadow Foreign Secretary for which he received a standing ovation.  Particular focus was on Burma, Kashmir and Pakistan. Ed Balls, Andy Burnham and Dianne Abbott also gave speeches throughout the week that were very well received.

Particular fringe highlights of the rest of the week included the Labour friends of India event hosted by the High Commissioner, again with very good attendance from Newham.   John Gray was on the panel for a fringe on new media and blogging.  Newham Mayor Robin Wales spoke at several fringes, including one on housing where he identified Newham’s plans in that area.

On Tuesday Ed gave his speech, there was tremendous anticipation and he delivered a passionate speech which aimed to draw a line under New Labour. The theme was the ‘New Generation’ and he spoke to the country saying ‘A new generation has taken over Labour- a new generation that understands the call to change’. He called for a mass membership party again with a membership greater than 1997, and talked about winning back votes lost since 1997.  He also promised to work with the coalition when they did the right thing. 

Throughout the rest of the week there was an increasing feeling that David would not run for the shadow cabinet and he announced this on Wednesday.  There was a lot of disappointment at this and generally there were a lot of mixed feelings about Ed’s election. It was inevitable that in so close an election, the losers would feel very disappointed and people did discuss the impact of the union vote on the election and the impression of that in the media.

On the Tuesday night we met our MP Lyn for a drink in the Midland Hotel with other Newham members.

On Wednesday there was a Q and A with our new leader, Ed Miliband, and Eddie Izzard. Two members a minute had joined the Party since Ed was elected leader and a lot of this session focussed on stories from new members.

Harriet Harman, as our Deputy Leader, closed the Conference on Thursday. We came home physically tiered but mentally reenergised to fight for our Party locally and nationally.

An update on rule changes will be provided at the GC".

Plaistow North Labour Movement Family Team

All three elected Labour Party Councillors at Plaistow North ward in Newham, London are UNISON members.

Seen here at the Count shortly after their declaration are (left to right)

Alan Griffiths (Housing officer); Forhad Hussain (NHS hospital project officer) and Joy Laguda (NHS Nurse).

They were convincing winners in their ward by over 2000 votes.

Check out this YouTube link here to hear the declaration.

Well done comrades!

Newham London Run2010

Off message-ish but this morning I took part in this 10k run which started off at Stratford Park then took us up to the new Olympic stadium (where I was told off by a security guard for taking pictures); along the Greenway; West Ham Park and the finish.

Newham elected Labour mayor, Sir Robin Wales, set us off alongside local hero and Olympic 400m champion, Christine Ohuruogu. There were 3700 starters and I took 1 hr 18 mins to finish (I was pacing Mrs Grayee – this is my excuse and I’m sticking to it). Apparently I came 104th according to my “age group and gender” which sounds better - whatever it actually means.

It was to my mind pretty cruel for the organisers to make us actually run past the finishing line at the 6k point!

Fellow West Ham Labour Party and UNISON member, Forhad Hussain, was with us at the start while the first person I saw at the end was Harvinder Singh Virdee who was a “Newham volunteer” (see pics). While Labour Councillor Ayesha Chowdhury also took part but I did not see her.

It was all in all a good day and I look forward to next year’s event. I was going to run today for the Charity “Alone in London” but I am planning an “off road” ½ marathon later this year and think I will raise more money with a longer race.

I am currently losing the race with middle aged spread and have decided that since I am too weak and greedy to cut the calorific intake I will have to expand the calorific output. So I am aiming to take part in a full marathon early next year (even though I swore blind I will never do another one).

The friendly atmosphere; good organisation; blue... blue skies and loads of early spring sunshine of today leads you into such rash promises 

West Ham Labour Party

New sign and freshly painted front for West Ham Labour Party headquarters in Stratford High Street. 

Well done Forhad!