Saving the People's Forest

This is very last minute but I have only just seen details. Will try and attend after Council surgery and Labour Party training. I have always wanted to visit this Quaker Meeting Housel. Well done to Leyton & Wanstead CLP for promoting this event. We should do the same in West Ham. 
 

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. 

Black candidate beaten by black votes”?

Check out this post with its provocative headline regarding the outcome of the recent Leyton and Wanstead Labour Party selection for its Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. This is on the blog “Operation Black Vote”.

I will admit to being a mate of Terry Paul who came 2nd (and check out this, this and that)

No-one is really suggesting that John Cryer did not win this election fairly under Party rules and by a significant margin. He was the clear leader in all the rounds. Looking at all the figures I think he would have won in any case so well done to him and I am sure that he will make a very good MP for the CLP.

The row is about whether or not Ahmad Shahzad (Chair of BAME – see picture) who came 3rd should have “encouraged” his supporters to vote for another black candidate if he was knocked out. It would clearly appear that they were not. Which is not good if you are Chair of BAME and “Our main aim is to work towards increasing the number of black and Asian and other minority Members of Parliament and other elected bodies.

While this could be “cock up” rather than "conspiracy" (and I repeat that I think that John would have won anyway) this sort of thing needs to be sorted out asap.

John Cryer selected as PPC for Leyton and Wanstead.

The ballot closed yesterday and the count was today. I got a text at about 5.30pm and heard the news. John won by 38 votes which is a clear margin and congratulations to him.

Former Chair of West Ham CLP Terry Paul came 2nd (see posts here, here and here). I think congratulations are also in order to Terry as well for running a great campaign and if things had had worked out differently he could have won. But that’s history now – there is only one position and only one real winner.

The local Party will now rally around John for the forthcoming real election and I am sure he will do well and retain the seat.

I spoke to Terry just a little while ago and he was obviously a little disappointed but was energetic and enthusiastic as ever. He especially wanted to thank the local members who had supported him.

Next time he stands somewhere it will be different I think.

Congratulations also to Unite’s Jack Dromey who was last night selected as PPC for Birmingham Erdington.

Terry Paul for Leyton and Wanstead.

Check out also this and that

Leyton & Wanstead: Vote for the Future (and Fairness for All!)

This afternoon the Hustings took place for Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leyton & Wanstead. As posted last week here I only know one of the candidates - Terry Paul.

Terry has been handing out this Card (see picture) to Party members who have until next Friday (I believe) to return their ballot papers.

On the back of the card there is:-

We have to stop Cameron’s callous conservatives destroying our public services.

We need a new generation of MPs who are passionate about Labour values

Terry, Paul 1”

This afternoon I spoke to some members who were at the Hustings and they thought that Terry gave the best speech and gave the best responses to questions. But they thought it was going to be close.

Terry has posted some YouTube videos here which I will also post later.

Good luck Terry with Leyton & Wanstead shortlist

Terry Paul, West Ham Labour Party member (and our former CLP Chair) has been shortlisted to be a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leyton and Wanstead. I know a few activists in this neighbouring East London CLP and I understand to him to be one of the “front runners”.

My Labour Party blogging “mucker” Alex Hilton on Labourhome lists the shortlisted candidates here.

John Cryer, former MP for Hornchurch who lost his seat in 2005 and is now political officer for union Unite

Tristram Hunt, historian and broadcaster

Sophie Linden, a Hackney councillor and former special advisor to David Blunkett

Terry Paul, chairman of the West Ham Labour party.

Roxanne Riaz

Ahmed Shazad, a millionaire businessman

I don’t know any of the other candidates and obviously the choice now is with the Party members of Leyton and Wanstead. All I can say is that I have found Terry to be a hard working Labour Party activist. He is a local boy made good; he is very personable, ferociously bright, articulate, passionate about his politics and full to the brim with ideas. I would agree with Alex that he would make a good MP.

Good luck Terry! Hustings are next Saturday to be followed by a postal ballot of all members.

(Picture is of Terry last year on the “dog and bone” tele-canvassing for Labour)