Pride in Newham rally with Sadiq Khan

 

Thanks to Sadiq for stopping by to support Forhad and our Newham Labour campaign this week. He delivered an inspiring speech highlighting Labour’s achievements so far, like lifting 10,000 children in Newham out of poverty by ending the Tory two-child benefit cap, while acknowledging there’s still more work ahead. 

Not long after this photo was taken, the rain began, and I quickly regretted leaving my umbrella at home.

Greater London Authority UNISON AGM with Sadiq Khan Mayor of London

 

On Wednesday lunchtime I was invited to attend the UNISON GLA hybrid branch AGM in City Hall as a guest speaker. Before me the Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke to members about the importance of partnership working between employers and unions. He kindly name checked me for my support with some of his early housing policies. UNISON Director of Political Strategy, Maggi Ferncombe, spoke about the impact of the Employment Rights Bill while new GLA member James Small-Edwards gave a very personal speech about how important the Labour movement family is to his politics. 

I spoke to the meeting about the importance of voting in the forthcoming UNISON NEC elections which starts later this month on April 21st. I made it clear that while I am re-standing as a candidate for the NEC, it is as the representative of Housing Association and Charities UNISON members and no-one in the GLA can vote for me in this election. Instead I am just making a plea for members to vote, regardless of who they vote for, in these really important elections. 

The UNISON NEC is made up of  67 elected lay representatives and is our "Parliament" which runs the union in-between our annual conference.  It is hugely important and for many years the turnout in elections has been really poor (8% or so of our 1.3 million members). Everyone should agree that we need to improve these participation rates. 

I had to leave straight afterwards in order to go back to the TUC Conference on Pensions (which I will post about another time) but I was very impressed with the the GLA branch for the efficient and effective running of their AGM. 

London, let’s do this.

Great result! Sadiq back as our Labour Mayor for another 4 years. 

"On the knocker" for Sadiq and Labour in Corporation Street E15

This evening my ward Cllr colleague. John Whitworth and I went knocking doors in Corporation Street, West Ham, Newham London. This was to remind residents about the election tomorrow and find out when and if they intend to vote for Sadiq as Mayor and for Labour. 

Corporation Street is reputed to be one of the longest residential roads in Newham. It is a mixture of London railway terrace housing and maisonettes. It is made up of owner occupiers, social and private rented homes. Multicultural and multi social economic class. Pretty typical of Newham. 

It was also positive for Sadiq and Labour but we had some respectful discussions with residents on a wide range of real political and social issues. 

While some had reservations and concerns, the majority simply wanted Labour in power and to stop the Tories in London. They understood that voting Sadiq and Labour this was the only way to do so. 

We will be out tomorrow with ward members knocking on more doors (and getting our steps up)

 

West Ham ward canvass with Janet & John's

 

Yesterday, I had my Councillor surgery (ASB/\neighbour dispute/Overcrowding) and today I joined my Cllr colleague John Whitworth and new party member, Janet, for a street surgery/canvass in our ward. 

Janet has been a Labour supporter for many years but she recently joined the Party, because she wants to to do something to get rid of this appalling Conservative Government. Janet had never been canvassing before and she didn't feel confident knocking on doors, so she was here today to see what it was like and she would deliver leaflets. 

The canvass went really well with 68 contacts, the majority of which were solid Labour. There was one or two grumpy & negative respondents but Janet was surprised how little confrontation there was on the doorstep and that there was so many very positive responses. 

The only worrying thing was that some residents said they were Labour supporters but thought we were going to win, so nothing to worry about! I had to explain about the requirement for photo ID and the Tory scrapping of proportional voting in Mayoral elections could mean trouble and every single vote will count. 

Getting out the Labour Postal vote in West Ham, Plaistow & Canning Town

 

Yesterday I spent the morning in West Ham ward with our local MP, Lyn Brown, my colleague Cllr Charlene Mclean (and our super young pioneer) and our top activist Varghese . 

We were calling at all Labour supporters who are postal voters to remind them to fill out their 3 votes for:-

1. Sadiq Khan as London Mayor, 
2. Unmesh Desai as local City & East London Assembly member and 
3. Labour - for the List candidates.  

It was a lovely warm, spring day day so many residents were out and the contact rate was not great but Labour support was pretty solid. 

In the afternoon, Lyn and I joined Plaistow West & Canning East ward Councillors John Morris & Simon Rush with local activist Veronica. We were later joined by my UNISON colleague and Hackney Wick Councillor, Joseph Ogundemuren.  

Again, many residents were out but very firm support for Sadiq and Labour from those who were in.

Register to vote online if you you are not registered by 11.59pm 16 April 2024 https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . It usually takes only 5 minutes. 

Applications to have a postal vote have to be by this Wednesday 17/4/24 by 5pm https://www.newham.gov.uk/council/vote-post

Sadiq's Free School Meals

Yet another reason to Vote Labour in London on May 2 (and imagine if we had more Labour Mayors with similar Executive powers elsewhere). 

 

Vote Sadiq, Vote Labour: Out & about with Lyn Brown MP in West Ham & Custom House

 

This morning I went to my Councillor advice surgery and met with residents concerned with overcrowding and a 2nd stage appeal over travel provision. Afterwards,  I met up with my ward colleagues, activists and our MP, Lyn Brown, to knock on doors of nearby West Ham ward residents. 

We were trying to three things. Firstly, ask them whether or not they would be supporting Sadiq to be our London Mayor on May 2nd (and the other Labour candidates). Second, whether or not they would be voting Labour in the next General election and thirdly did they have case work issues they wanted to bring up with Lyn or local Councillors. 

The canvass went really well, as far as I could tell. Positive responses from residents and the few "undecided" still seemed positive and engaged. 

Unusually, I did not pick up any new case work but was stopped in the street by two constituents who had organised a petition to relocate a local bus stop due to ASB issues. We discussed the case and also that I had presented the petition to the Full Council meeting on Monday. 

Lyn and I left early to join activists in Custom House for another canvass. 

Newham Labour activists have been out today in various parts of the borough and will also be out tomorrow. A car load of Newham activists have also been out to support marginal seats outside London. 

As well as supporting Sadiq, we are also supporting our local City & East Assembly candidate, Unmesh Desai and the "list" candidates, including Newham's own, James Beckles who is 4th in line to be elected (it is a complicated system - check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_London_Assembly_election) 

UNISON London Labour Link Regional Forum 2024 - Vote Sadiq Khan & Labour in May

 

Brilliant picture of delegates to our 2024 regional forum, who are supporting the Labour Party "New Deal for Working People" campaign promise.

This was a hybrid meeting held in the National UNISON centre. 

Speakers included the UNISON London Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway; Current Assembly members Len Duvall & Sem Moema; Eddie from Labour Unions on New Deal; Mark Ferguson, our Labour Link national secretary. 

We also had contributions from new London Assembly Candidates, Marcela Benedetti & James Beckles. 

The forthcoming GLA and UNISON Member, Sadiq Khan, Mayoral elections in May, was our number one topic. 

We must not be complacent about apparent poll leads. The Tories have bent the rules to favour their appalling uber right wing candidate. They have doubled election expenses for candidates, banned proportional voting and imposed voter ID requirements on the million London voters who have none. 

Expect loads of Tory fibs and dog whistle politics in the next 42 days.

"Sadiq Has Frozen Your Fares"

 

After work this evening together with activists across London, we leafleted local railway stations with these flyers pointing out that Sadaq had frozen fares for the 5th time! 

While the Tories have allowed fares to rise by 4.9% elsewhere. Together with free school meals and the largest number of council homes built in London since the 1970s, Sadiq policies are making a massive difference to ordinary Londoners struggling with the cost of living crisis. 

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. 

#LondonForEveryone | A Message For All Londoners

Tonight there was a briefing for all London Labour Councillors by our Mayor, Sadiq Khan. I sadly missed most of it due to trade union case work. 

Sadiq's team have retweeted this great video about his recent message to all Londoners. When we have racist and islamophobic MPs attacking London and spreading lies, it is really good to have our mayor "tell it as it really is".

"A message for all Londoners: Whatever walk of life you come from, if you live in London, you're a Londoner, and this will always be your home. It’s so important that we remind everyone of the value of our shared ties and experiences during these difficult times. Our diversity truly is our greatest strength—because we all make London. Find out more about our #LondonForEveryone campaign:
https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-..."

Fund raiser for Labour GLA Candidate Marcela Benedetti with keynote speaker Sadiq Khan

On Thursday evening (after another Labour Movement event) I went with UNISON Labour Link colleagues, to a fundraiser for the branch chair of our London Voluntary Organisations branch (Vol Orgs), Marcela Benedetti.   

Marcela is the Labour Candidate for the  South West London (Kingston, Richmond & Hounslow) seat in the Greater London Assembly Elections in May. The keynote speaker was of course, London Mayor Sadiq Khan aided by Kevin McGuire. 

I have known Marcela for a number of years and she is a brilliant UNISON activist and able chair of one of the largest union branches in London. Under her chairship, Vol Org has been one of the fastest growing and best organised UNISON branches in the Country.  I am sure she will make a great London Assembly member.

I was also pleased to see that the Richmond venue was the home of the London Welsh Rugby club. 

Greater London UNISON Celebration : Year of the Black Worker

This evening I was pleased to have been invited to this celebration in the UNISON Centre in Euston. Our General Secretary, Christina McAnea, spoke and took part in Q&A as did our London Regional Secretary, Jo Galloway. 

There was another great panel with the leader of Islington Council, Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz and UNISON Eastern Regional Secretary, Tim Roberts. At the end there was a reception with keynote speaker, London Assembly member, Sem Moema. 

Afterwards, myself and Labour Link colleague, Joseph Ogundemuren, left for another Labour movement event with London Mayor, Sadiq Khan in Richmond. Further post to follow. 

West Ham ward New Year Canvass and Street Surgery

This morning we had our first canvass and street surgery of 2024 in our ward. We met at the ATL cafe then went to doorknock and speak to residents with my Councillor ward colleagues, Charlene and John. Also, we had Lewis (Green Street West Councillor, our sister ward), Ash and Varghese (West Ham ward members).

It was pretty successful, over 50 contacts and we came across some important case work. Mostly housing issues but also complaints by residents against a charity who have leased a local community centre but appear not to have opened it recently.

I had one difficult conversation with a resident who was against Sadiq and the Council over the introduction of emission charges. I tried to point out that we must stop gassing our children and our elderly but he was not convinced. Nor did he accept the argument put forward by a UNISON colleague of mine, who is a paramedic in central London, that 25% of his emergency "shouts" involving taking children to A&E is about breathing difficulties but it is only 5% in the countryside surrounding London. 

I was really pleased to see the new build in Arthingworth Street (which had been dis-used since at least 2010 when I first became a Councillor) and that the memorial to PC Nina Mackay, who had been killed there in the line of duty, had been restored. Top right is a picture of the 3 of us in the new garden area. 

Labour Party conference 2023 - Sunday

Today started off with a gentle 2.5 mile jog along the Mersey then back again.  At 12.30 I took part in a well attended, lively panel organised by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum on "Green washing" which I will post on later.  

I am not a delegate this year at conference but attending as a elected Labour Councillor and enjoying the freedom of not being required for early morning delegation meetings and attending all conference debates and speeches (no matter how boring).

In the afternoon I checked out the conference stalls and met up with various contacts and colleagues for coffee and gossip. I had a "hello stranger, long time no see" from London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, as he walked past quickly with his escort to his next event. 

At 6pm I attended the Labour Unions reception and heard some great speeches and contributions especially from our deputy leader Angela Rayner MP and leader Keir Starmer. 

Afterwards I went to the Association of Labour Councillors reception and then the Labour Friends of Bangladesh event. During which I was asked to make a speech on my role as a housing worker in Tower Hamlets for the past 31 years and as a UNISON trade union and Labour activist.  Great food and company. 

After that I went back to my accomodation and will very shortly crash out. A good day. 
 

Mayor of London's Summer Reception 2022

Some pictures from the Summer Reception that took place last Thursday at the new London City Hall (in Newham!). I was there as Chair of UNISON London Labour Link with Yvonne Green as Vice Chair (and we had a great turnout of regional and national officers). 

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, met with us (UNISON) and we discussed various issues but also for a photo with the local Newham "Crew". 

Other speakers at the reception included Leader of Camden Council, Cllr Georgia Gould and Dawn Butler MP. I was able to offer my congratulations in person to local MP, Stephen Timms, on his knighthood. 

A good evening and was able to catch up in person and chat with lots of people. 

Early Voting in Newham for Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan (and campaign begins to step up).

Check out this "early voting" video by the Labour Party promoting postal vote registration in Newham. "Early voting can help double the Labour vote". 

Yesterday there was a meeting of Newham Labour Union activists, where it was agreed to hold regular telecanvassing sessions in the run up to May 6 with our local London Assembly Candidate, Unmesh Desai. 

This morning, Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, gave a keynote address by video to the UNISON Greater London Regional Council and praised our public service workers for their fantastic work and sacrifice during Covid. In particular our London Ambulance Service. 

This evening there was a training session and phone bank for West Ham ward members. I was also pleased to see on email that West Ham ward is currently the number one ward in the borough (out of 20 wards) for telecanvassing campaign activity. Many thanks to our Labour Group organiser Hasib Baber for all his hard work (and patience!) training members.