Labour GS Iain McNicol visits Newham Party Machine

Yesterday evening the new Labour Party General Secretary, Iain McNicol paid a visit to Newham. He had a briefing on the campaign plans and went out with a door knocking team in East Ham.  While in total there were 73 activists out last night knocking doors and telecanvassing for Ken Livingstone and Labour in the GLA elections.

This picture is of some of the canvassers with the Labour candidate for the City and East London seat, John Biggs.

Update: it was actually 80 plus and we made 1782 contacts that evening - the overwhelming majority
were positive.

Picture of Iain with activists.

Vote Ken Livingstone Thursday 3 May (Game on)

The Greater London Assembly and Mayor campaign (Purdah) 2012 officially starts to day! London members should have got this poster from the Party. Put it in your window!

Fare Deal Rally at Old Vic Tunnels

I'm just back from the Rally held this evening in the Old Vic Tunnels in Waterloo. Which I have never been to

before and is a fantastic location.

There was more than 500 people present. It was so crowded that I couldn't get into the main hall (or rather "arch") and had to stand outside
one of the entrances and listen. That was the downside. The upside was being outside I had free access to the bar:)

Picture is of the overspill crowd standing outside the first entrance which I have used google Picasa software to make more atmospheric and moody (to me anyway). I had a UNISON regional service group meeting earlier so I missed Eddie Izzard and the other speakers but I arrived in time to hear Ken play perfectly to the audience and give a cracking speech. The GLA election campaign starts tomorrow.

(guess who is sitting in chair top right!) 

Sadiq Khan MP Stratford fund raiser for GLA elections 2012

Picture from last night's successful GLA elections fund raiser at the

Manus Restaurant in Stratford.

Please indulge me for messing about with the picture attributes. The keynote speaker, Sadiq Khan MP (Shadow Minster of Justice) is genuinely funny and had everyone laughing at this
point.

On the left is John Biggs the local Labour City and East GLA candidate, and to the right of Sadiq is East Ham MP Stephen Timms and West Ham MP Lyn Brown MP. Double click to bring up detail.

The event had been organised by Newham Cllr Unmesh Desai, who is also standing as a GLA candidate in this year's election. The buffet meal was absolutely excellent. I shared a taxi home with some of the Newham born Leyton and Wansted CLP crew who shame us by always turning up and supporting our  events. 

Ken in the lead for London Mayor (just)

Good news that YouGov opinion polls have Labour Candidate, Ken Livingstone in the lead . Only just (39% Ken and 37% Boris) but it seems that Londoners are beginning to get fed up with "out of touch" Old Etonian Millionaire, Boris Johnson and the Labour Fair Fares campaign is also making an impression on hard pressed commuters.

On Saturday 28th January, to mark 100 days to go, there is 100 campaign events in one day across London (see video). 

Check out Red Brick on role that the housing crisis in London has helped bring about this change.

Beware: Pickpocket Operating on Public Transport

hat tip thingy: Ken for London