May 6 aftermath: Sadiq, Unmesh & Farah win well; Newham Democracy Referendum narrowly loses; Wales keeps Red as does some regions (but crushing by election defeat)

Now I have had some time to recover from electioneering and reflect upon last Thursday 6 May - some thoughts:-

Congratulations on Sadiq being re-elected as London Mayor; Unmesh re-elected as our local City & East Assembly member and Farah winning the by election in East Ham Central with over 52% of vote. Newham turnout was 35% which is by any standards unacceptably poor. We did not get out the Labour vote in Newham that we should have had. 

The Newham democracy referendum on replacing the Executive Mayor with a Councillor run committee model was lost by 44% to 56%, which is a shame but the narrow majority shows the concern felt by many residents about such governance arrangements. I supported the "Newham for Change" campaign and hope it will continue to argue for greater democracy and transparency in government, both locally and nationally. Certainly we should support the opposition to the Tory led referendum in October to change Croydon Council into a Mayoral system.  

My UNISON colleague Lola came second in the Kent Police and Crime commissioner election, doubling the Labour vote from the previous election & having the highest single candidate vote Labour has ever had in Kent. 

I was so pleased that Wales kept "Red" and Labour had one of its best ever assembly votes despite the very high Welsh brexit vote. Unlike the dreadful by election outcome in Hartlepool. 

Welsh Labour shows that we can win back our traditional working class base with a left of centre pragmatic socialist programme (and working in partnership with trade unions). 

Labour did well in many areas but overall it was not good and we need to get much better, we need to unite around Keir and get our policies across better. 

I did suggest at a recent meeting of UNISON Greater London Regional Council officers, where we compared the strong support for Labour in our region and the principality, that perhaps London ought to consider leaving the UK and forming a political union with Wales? It was just a thought....

Sadiq for London Manifesto launch - "My Green New Deal will support 175,000 jobs"

 This morning there was the launch of Sadiq's Manifesto to be re-elected as London Mayor. Check out YouTube launch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBkSm0cGEqo

If you love London: vote for it. #VoteLabour

London UNISON Labour Link phone bank with Abena Oppong-Asare MP

 
Photo (hat tip @iamritabegum) from tonight's Greater London UNISON Labour Link sponsored phone bank for the London Mayor and Assembly elections. I was pleased as elected Chair of the regional Labour Link committee to welcome long standing UNISON activist Abena to address the session on the importance of re-electing Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan and a Labour Assembly victory in May. 

I was also very pleased that we had another old union comrade, TSSA ringer, Sam Tarry MP also present! 

Many thanks for UNISON @JackTMPhipps for organising. 

Next week in Newham the Labour unions are planning another telephone bank session with our local East London & City Labour candidate, Unmesh Desai. 

Having a dialogue with West Ham residents

 

This morning there was a Newham wide Labour telecanvassing session using the Labour Party "dialogue" software to call residents about their views about Covid and the forthcoming local elections in May. 

I don't particularly like telecanvassing and much prefer going door knocking and speaking to people face to face. Obviously this cannot happen at the moment so the only means of direct political canvassing is via the phone using a special software tool called "dialogue". . 

You need a landline (preferred since cheaper for the Labour Party who pays all costs) or mobile phone and a PC, laptop or tablet. 

I was phoning residents in West Ham which is the ward I represent as a Councillor. Perhaps it was due to the cold but it was by far the best telephone canvassing session I have had using "dialogue". For understandable reasons many people block or will not pick up calls from anyone they do not recognise. 

I was able to speak to a number of residents and had some really good conversations with them. This included those residents who were highly critical of Labour and in particular local Council issues. We have to listen to them to understand their concerns and act upon them where possible. 

I was even given by dialogue a "John Gray" to ring in my ward. Alas, he did not pick up the phone to speak to his long lost cousin and namesake. . 

Our East London Labour Assembly member, Unmesh Desai, joined us and gave a pep talk on the importance of getting the Labour vote out in Newham. Since the London Mayor and Assembly vote is by proportionate representation (PR) every singe vote will count. 

We later spoke and agreed to organise a Labour unions meeting in Newham on how we can help achieve this.  

Unison affirms Sadiq Khan as our London Labour Mayor Candidate

Greater London UNISON’s Regional Labour Link Committee yesterday unanimously agreed to support Sadiq Khan as Labour’s candidate for the Mayor of London in 2020.   

It was great that Jeremy headed the list of endorsers and that all wings of the Party in UNISON support him. 

"UNISON affiliates to the London Labour Party and was asked to decide whether or not they wish for Sadiq Khan to be automatically reselected as Labour’s candidate. 

The Committee decided to unanimously back Sadiq based on his record of supporting Londoners at work, promoting trade unions and trying to tackle London’s challenges on housing, transport and crime.

John Gray (UNISON Labour Link Chair) said “Sadiq has always placed Londoner’s and UNISON members concerns at the heart of everything he does, we are proud to offer our support to him to carry on the job of housing Londoners and making London cleaner and safer”.

Yvonne Green (UNISON Regional Convenor) said “with our decision we confirm what Londoners know already, this Mayor is committed to making London a fairer and more equal city for everyone”.

Choose the next Labour Leader and London Mayor - Sign up to be a Labour Supporter

It is not the most enticing advert but I assume people are working on it and something better will come out soon.

If you agree with this :-

"I support the aims and values of the Labour Party, and I am not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it."

Then for only £3 you can become a "Labour Supporter" which will give you right to help choose a New Leader and deputy Leader of the Labour Party. 

If you are a member of a trade union that affiliates to the Labour Party you can become a registered Labour Supporter for free.

If you live in London as a Labour Supporter you can also help vote for a London Mayoral candidate.

Click here and just do it.

‘Fair Deal for Tube Users’

Ken Livingstone has called on Conservative Mayor, Boris Johnson, to get a grip of increased delays on the tube. The latest Transport for London (TfL) performance figures show:
• Tube passengers are spending 10% more time on delayed trains and 33% more time on the Central line.Tube passengers are spending 10% more time on delayed trains and 33% more time on the Central line.

• Station closures are up on District line by a staggering 1250% and over 100% on the Northern line.Station closures are up on District line by a staggering 1250% and over 100% on the Northern line.

• Delays up on the Jubilee line are up by 300% and over 100% on the Victoria line

Ken has called for a ‘Fair Deal for Tube Users’ which sets out five immediate steps the Mayor should

1. Get a grip of persistent tube delays and disruption.
2. Improve how TfL communicates tube problems to passengers.
3. Compensate delayed passengers and clearly explain how to claim refunds for late running journeys
4. Bring common sense to the weekend tube-closure programme.
5. Tackle the problem of engineering works over-running into Monday mornings.

Ken Livingstone said: “The increased number of delays and closures on the Tube are causing huge frustration and inconvenience for millions of Londoners. It’s time for Boris Johnson to roll his sleeves up and get a grip.

‘My ‘Fair Deal for Tube Users’ would put the interests of Londoners at the very top of the Mayor’s agenda. ‘The Mayor must be far more accountable for the tube, improve the way TfL communicates with Londoners, make more effort to ensure delayed passengers can fairly claim compensation and review the weekend tube-closure programme.’

London shadow transport minister, Jim Fitzpatrick MP said, “It's time for Boris Johnson to get a grip of the daily delays and disruption on the tube. It's not fair that Londoners are paying more in rail, tube and bus fares, because of decisions taken by the Conservative Mayor, and then suffer delays in their daily commute to work.

'Tube delays and closures incur costs which London businesses can ill-afford and are detrimental to the quality of life for millions in inner and outer London. The Mayor must act quickly to improve tube services and reverse the increasing delays we are all experiencing."

Val Shawcross AM, Labour’s London Assembly transport spokesperson said: “It is hard to recall a day in the past few months when there has not been a signal failure or major delay on the tube which has caused real inconvenience for Londoners. We are all paying more for tube services which Boris

Johnson’s own figures show are getting worse. ‘It’s about time Boris Johnson paid some attention to his day job and got a grip of the increasing number of tube delays. The Mayor claims he watches the tube on a screen in his office ‘like a hawk’, I think Londoners want a Mayor who is more than a spectator.”
(Hat tip poster to Col. Roi)

Oona King to stand for London Mayor

Last night on Facebook Tower Hamlets Party comrades were busy chatting about Oona King standing to become the Labour Party candidate for London Mayor in 2012. Today it was confirmed.

I haven’t made up my mind who to support but I think it this is great news for London and the regional Labour Party. Ken Livingstone is the only high profile candidate so far and I have my doubts about whether or not he would be able to beat Boris.

Oona is a high profile and very credible candidate. Who was treated disgracefully when she lost her seat as MP in Bethnal Green and Bow in 2005. The campaign against her was characterised by shameful misogynistism and blatant “dog whistle” racism.

We need more candidates like Oona to put themselves forward.

Picture of Oona in March this year at a Karen Buck and Glenda Jackson House of Commons event with UNISON Housing Association members discussing their dispute over equalities with Notting Hill Housing Group.

Backing Ken Livingstone for London Mayor 2008

The London Labour Party has launched a website for the re-election of London Mayor Ken Livingstone. So far the website.

KenLivingstone.com only has a request for donations and to "sign-on" box to enable activists to sign up for email alerts. More to follow.

“Ken Livingstone is committed to securing the long-term success of our capital, making sure that every Londoner is able participate in that success – and protecting our environment so that London's success is sustainable.

We'll be campaigning hard to ensure that London remains on the right course and that Londoners understand the choices they'll face in the election for Mayor on 1 May 2008”.

During the election campaign I will also be doing my best to encourage trade unionists to support Ken and the excellent existing Labour GLA member for City and East, John Biggs, as well as looking to increase the Labour vote and turnout, not least in order to prevent the BNP from getting a seat.

Interestingly Galloway has indicated that he will stand for the GLA as well this year! Should be fun. Email Hat tip to AG