Vote Lyn Brown - Your Labour Candidate for West Ham (& what to do on election day)

I have been the election agent for Lyn since 2010 (now the 4th time) and below are some responses to enquires I have had previously on General Election polling day

• Check out West Ham Labour website if you want to help Lyn out today
• Polling stations are open 7am -10pm and if you are in a queue at 10pm you will still be allowed to vote. 
• If you do not know where your polling station is check https://action.labour.org.uk/page/content/polling-station-finder
• Ring 020 8470 3463 if any Labour supporters in West Ham needs a lift to their polling station. 
• If you have not posted your postal vote you can still hand it into any West Ham polling station before 10pm. 
• If you have not registered to vote - it is now too late. 
• You cannot vote by telephone or internet
• You do not have to speak to any canvassers outside the polling station. By all means take any literature they offer. 
• If they ask you on the way out how you have voted you do not have to tell them but it will probably stop them having supporters knock on your door later to remind you to vote, 
• You do not need your polling card or ID - it makes things slightly quicker if you have your polling card but all the Council officers need who run the polling station is your name and address.
• It normally only takes a matter of minutes to vote. You give your details, you are given a ballot paper and are shown to a private booth, pencils are supplied, you mark a single X against the candidate or Party you prefer, you fold the ballot paper and put it in the box. 
• Job done.  Remember your vote is completely private. 

also don't forget when deciding to vote :- 

Emeli Sandé - You Are Not Alone

The highlight performer at this evening's launch of Labour's "Art for All" charter at the Stratford Theatre Royal must be Emeli Sande "You are not alone". A beautiful song sung wonderfully.

Jeremy Corbyn recited some of its lyrics in his speech at the end of the launch.

Vote Lyn Brown Your Labour Candidate for West Ham

Its up in the window! Who else wants one? 

Labour Arts for All launch in Theatre Royal

Hat tip Mayor Roksana Fiaz. "Thrilled that @jeremycorbyn  is in Stratford, Newham for the launch of @UKLabour  ‘Arts for All’ - a charter for the Arts and cultural sector with @lynbrownmp  & @grayee  at @stratfordeast . A jam packed evening of creativity as we set out our Arts for All’ #VoteLabourDecember12

Guru Nanak 550 - Green Street Sikh Community Centre

Before the Peace march our Mayor, @RokhsanaFiaz visited the Green Street #Sikh community centre to an event to mark #GuruNanak550. Afterwards @WestHamLabour Candidate @lynbrownmp also made visit. Both were accompanied by @NewhamLondon  Cllr Harvinder Virdee Singh

Green Street Peace Procession Celebrating the Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed

 

A well organised & lively Peace march in Green Street to celebrate the Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed headed by @NewhamLondon Mayor @rokhsanafiaz & @WestHamLabour candidate @lynbrownmp

Go to the Marginals!

Hat tip Andy Diagram for a great map of London marginals. In West Ham we have a Labour majority of 36,754 votes. In 2017 our fantastic Labour candidate, Lyn Brown, got 76.7% of the vote.

While we will be campaigning in West Ham, we need to win in the marginals to form a Labour Government.

West Ham (and Newham) desperately needs a Labour Government. So please check out the list of marginals below and go and support.

We have been tasked in West Ham to support the nearby marginal of Cities & Westminster. While it is good to target all marginals, it makes sense that we concentrate on one marginal, where we can build relationships with the local party and learn what are the important local issues. The more you go to a particular marginal, the more that you will know that particular area and how to get into the difficult to enter blocks (and not get hopelessly lost as I have done many a time in a new area).

I was really pleased to see today that the Labour Party telephone banking software operation is now back on line. So we can arrange tele-canvass sessions targeting marginals from inside Newham (and members can ring from home). Watch this space.

1 Kensington   Lab maj-20   swing-0.03%

2 Thurrock   Con maj-345   swing-0.34%

3 Chipping Barnet   Con maj-353   swing-0.34%

4 Hendon   Con maj-1072   swing-1.03%

5 Finchley   Con maj-1657   swing-1.58%

6 Putney   Con maj-1554   swing-1.66%

7 Harrow East   Con maj-1757   swing-1.73%

8 Battersea   Lab maj-2416   swing-2.19%

9 Chingford   Con maj-2438   swing-2.60%

10 Westminster   Con maj-3148   swing-4.07%

11 Enfield Southgate   Lab maj-4355   swing-4.51%

12 Croydon Central   Lab maj-5652   swing-4.95%

13 Dagenham   Lab maj-4652   swing-5.07%

14 Uxbridge   Con maj-5034   swing-5.39%

15 Wimbledon   Con maj-5622   swing-5.46%

Our day by day campaign grid is here

West Ham plays at home then away at Thurrock and also Westminster #GE2019

This morning I went to a joint West Ham & East Ham Labour stall in Green Street to join our Labour Party Candidates, Lyn Brown and Stephen Timms. This was supposed to be a meeting point for our members to then go off and campaign in our marginal seats. I must admit to have been just a little frustrated at the constant calls for photo after photo rather than going out to the marginals but such is life. But if we don't go out and win our marginal seats in this general election, then we might as well just tell Boris to keep the keys to Number 10.

Happily, many members then went off to campaign in the marginal seats. I went with Lyn (and Cara our Labour attack dog, see picture of her and Lyn in Woolf Street) to Thurrock to support local Labour candidate, John Kent, who is seeking to overturn a 345 Tory majority. While other activists went with our Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, to support Gordon Nardell in the Cities & Westminster marginal.

I was very impressed with the Thurrock Labour Party campaign headquarters (Tilbury office, 10 Commonwealth House, Montreal Rd, RM18 7QX, there is nearby parking and they will pick you up from the station if you ring beforehand 07434 446148) they were very well organised, had food and drink and were very welcoming!

We went door knocking with a mostly West Ham team. We had a local Cllr, Lynn Worrall, with us. I was running the board (I had the list of addresses that the team had to call on and recorded the results). I gave both Lyns the difficult addresses, where it was known that these residents were opposed to Labour, It was a really good canvass and John Kent is obviously well respected as a real local candidate.

There was a little fuss and bother over #CaraGate, when one resident objected to Lyn Brown bringing Cara onto her property since they had cats. Cara was on a lead and there was no sign of said cats but Cara did unfortunately decide at that moment to have a little "sprinkle" in the garden, which as you can imagine, did not go down that well.

I should have sent Lynn W to that address since she later said that she went to school with that resident's father.

Apart from that it was a remarkably good canvass with lots of residents being supportive of John Kent who recognised that we need to get him elected as their MP.

Game on for General Election on December 12 - it is going to be difficult but not impossible for Labour to win

The phoney war finally seems to be over and the House of Commons voted for a General election tonight on December 12. It has to go to the House of Lords but it appears to be "game on" for a General Election on that day.

As you can see from the BBC poll checker above, we appear to be well behind the Tories (36% to 24%) but politics is so fractured at this moment in our history no one really knows what will happen. Note this report from the BBC during the 2017 election.

"Polls at the beginning of the 2017 election campaign pointed towards an overwhelming Conservative victory. They were consistently hitting around 45% of the vote - sometimes even higher - with Labour down at around 25%".

The Tories in 2017 ended on 42.4% and Labour at 40%. Never forget we still lost but going from 25% to 40% shows we can change the hearts and minds of voters. Of course due to the UK "first past the post" electoral system, the share of the vote is not always the decider.

However, a good campaign and another excellent manifesto could get us over the line and we could win. But we are going to have to work very hard and show far more discipline than we have recently.

Today we had an election planning meeting for West Ham CLP. We have a plan to re-elect our excellent MP Lyn Brown. I am the Parliamentary Agent for this election (my 4th time as Lyn's agent)

I understand that all triggers have now been suspended and existing MPs (not subject to discipline processes) will be automatically endorsed as Parliamentary candidates.

We are also going to support Labour candidates in marginal seats elsewhere in London (and maybe even beyond). We have to win the marginals to form the next Government and elect Jeremy as our next Prime Minister. It is as simple (and difficult) as that.

Remember that most of the national media is against Labour and that the Tories will always outspend us during this campaign. Our major weapon is our 500,000 members (1800 in West Ham alone) and our millions of trade union & other affiliates. If we can mobilise them to campaign effectively for Labour in the marginals we can (and will) win.

West Ham General Election day 2017 (we win)

June 8 was not only a political historic day nationally but a busy day locally for all activists. At 4.30am 10 members of West Ham Women's forum were in Ilford North to deliver the "don't forget to vote" leaflets as were other West Hammers in marginal seats around London and Essex.

In West Ham itself we encouraged members on this day to go to either Ilford North or Westminster North marginals although many went to other seats including Dagenham. We had leafleting at our local schools and railway stations and we asked supporters who could not go to marginals to stand outside our polling stations to hand out leaflets.

As the Parliamentary Agent I spent most of the day in West Ham picking up elderly and disabled residents in my car and taking them to the polling station or organising lifts via local activists. I have always found it fascinating to do this. Life long Labour supporters who despite often being in pain and discomfort insisting that they will do their democratic duty and vote for their Party.

The reaction as I drove around with my little UNISON Labour link flag on my car was extremely positive with lots of waves, beeping of horns and flashing of lights apart from one potty mouth yob who received a traditional anglo-saxon visual response.

We had been asked by London Labour Party to arrange for them to be updated on turnout figures at selected polling stations and from noon all "Lyn Brown campaign "or West Ham Labour phone enquiries were diverted to my mobile as everyone else went off to the key marginals.

I had quite a few calls including media enquiries and they were nearly all pretty fascinating. They were predominantly from residents who had never voted and had no idea what to do.  I was asked what happens in the polling station, how do they actually vote, if they could vote via their mobile phone, is their vote secret, do they have to make a cross or a number?

It began to be clear to me that a number of young and old residents who have never voted before were planning to vote.

In the evening I visited a number of West Ham polling stations with our candidate Lyn Brown. She had a fantastic reception in all of them and in some she was actually (I exaggerate slightly) "mobbed" by constituents giving thumbs up, wishing us luck, saying hello and wanting to have their photo taken with her.

In all the polling stations we visited it was clear from talking to Presiding officers that turnout was up. Something was clearly happening. What that was we obviously did not know for certain at that tme.

At 9.45pm I was at the Velodrome in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the Newham Count (West and East Ham).

I met up with our 13 West Ham Count Agents and after a briefing we took our places at our Count to "sample" our vote. I won't say more about this apart than it is really important to do this and find out where your local vote is weak or strong.

I was running around at 10PM but managed to see on the Communal TV the result of the BBC Exit poll that there would be a a hung Parliament, which put a huge smile on my face.

It was a long night. After the sampling was complete we still had to take part in the checking and adjudication process on whether certain ballot papers were properly filled out or not. Including those individuals who had drawn very obscene but usually somewhat amusing cartoons on their ballot papers.

The West Ham declaration was about 3.30am, Lyn was reelected with 46,591 votes, 77% of the electorate an 8.3% increase since 2015.

Afterwards many of us went to the Wanstead Tap bar to watch the results (and drink beer). I went home at about 6.30am feeling so happy but determined. There will rerun some time soon and as long as the Labour movement work together - we will win and form the next government. 

"Theresa May's policing policy is based on a lie, says Labour's acting Shadow Home Secretary Lyn Brown"

Check out Mirror report "Lyn Brown has stepped in to replace Diane Abbott as acting Shadow Home Secretary - here's what she thinks of Theresa May's record on policing

The past two weeks have been traumatic, and the nation mourns for the victims of the despicable attacks in Manchester and London.

People are rightly concerned about whether the cuts to our police have increased our vulnerability to terror. But that is far from the only problem those cuts have caused.

The bottom line is that the Tory policy on policing is based on a lie: they have said it is okay that police funding has been cut because crime is falling. But that’s not true.

First of all, the latest data shows that violent crime, which includes offences that have the most devastating impact like homicide and knife crime, is increasing, as is credit card fraud.

And second, the type of crime is changing: it is more international, more online, and increasingly likely to involve vulnerable people, including children.

Crimes are more complex and so more costly to prevent and respond to than in the past.

But there’s another big reason why Tory complacency on policing is so wrong.

The horrible truth is that with such dramatic cuts across the whole of our public services, the police are having to pick up the pieces.

The official inspector for policing, Sir Tom Winsor, recently described police cars being called because ambulances weren’t available. People in the middle of a mental health crisis are being locked up in police cells because they simply wouldn’t be safe anywhere else.

It’s not hard to see that the job description for a policeman or woman in Britain has been stretched way beyond preventing crime.

Faced with these pressures, at the very least you would think that the government would have sought to prioritise the cash it does have to the places that need it most.

But that hasn’t happened either. Instead, they have just salami-sliced budgets year after year regardless of the differing needs in different parts of the country.

So much so that we’ve seen another lie – as recently as 18 months ago they said they would protect budgets after inflation. That hasn’t happened, and when individual police forces express concern the government just tells them to raise what they need through council tax, even though that is impossible in poorer parts of the country.

Overall, since 2010, under Theresa May, police numbers have been cut by 20,000.

It’s time for the Tory deceit to stop. Labour understands that to have a well-functioning police force it needs to be well-resourced.

We are committing to provide funding to the 43 forces across England and Wales to hire an extra 10,000 officers operating in community policing roles – equivalent to another bobby on the beat in every neighbourhood.

This will help our police services to be more effective in every respect, not only dealing with anti-social behaviour and complex criminal investigations, but creating more of the community relationships and intelligence that stop terror attacks in their tracks.

We’ll pay for this by reversing cuts to capital gains tax that only give money to those who are already well off.

We’ve had enough of the security of the many being put at risk so the pockets of the wealthy few can be filled with tax cuts. The truth of is that our police force needs better support and better funding. Only a Labour government will deliver it.

West Ham on tour in Spennymoor - General Election 2017

Picture collage from last Monday when a few of us from West Ham Labour Party, led by our PPC Lyn Brown, went up to Bishop Auckland in County Durham to support local Labour candidate, Helen Goodman.

We went first to a short mobilisation event of local party members in Spennymoor which was addressed by Helen and Yvette Cooper. PPC Sharon Hodgson was also there.  Yvette gave a pretty comprehensive demolition on any suggestions that the Tories were the party of law and order by detailing all the cuts in police and front line civilian staff.  Check out the UNISON map here https://www.unison.org.uk/at-work/police-and-justice-staff/key-issues/cut-crime-not-police/ to find out the Tory policing cuts in your area.

Next we went to canvass in Spennymoor with local activists. West Hammer, Muhammed Ravat, led our canvass team. There was many positive Labour responses particularly amongst women but there was some difficult conversations from a small number of people angry with Labour. When you delve deeper into this anger you find it is largely about rubbish pay, rotten and insecure jobs or inadequate housing. Ironically of course, Labour now has the strongest response in decades in addressing these real issues. We need to get that message out.

After the canvass there was a meeting with firefighters at  Bishop Auckland fire station. Lyn used to be the shadow Home Office spokesperson on fire authorities.

We then had another canvass session in St Chads (which had some fantastic individual gardens - see college). I had some in depth conversations with lifelong Labour voters about the general election and the need for working class people to see off the Tories. We know what they will do to us if they get in power for another 5 years. 

West Ham Labour volunteers on Polling Day 8 June

On Saturday I sent off my postal vote (see right). Tonight I have been ringing some of the 225 West Ham Party members and residents who have volunteered to help on polling day. We have also sent them this email below. We need to win these marginals!!!

Dear Friend

Thank you for signing up to help the Labour party in the 2017 General Election. 
We're asking you to help us in two places where the result may be really close: Ilford North and Westminster North.

Ilford North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Ilford North

Westminster North - Click here for info and to sign up to help in Westminster North

And if you're really keen - Ilford North are asking for volunteers to deliver leaflets at 5.30am! (click here)

 Thank you again for signing up to help. In 2015 Labour only won in Ilford North by 589 votes. Every single vote really does count so if you're able to help you will be making a real difference.

Thank you

Julianne Marriott
Vice Chair, West Ham Labour Party

General Election - next week!

Dear John It's a week to go. The polls are narrowing. The next five years are about to be decided. If you have any time over the next week, please come out now to help Labour. The weather's nice and it might even be fun... Please help to fund Lyn Brown's election campaign We will spend thousand of pounds on Leaflets, Letters, Posters and Street Stalls in West Ham over the next few weeks. Please help if you can. A. Click here [DONATION]  or B. Send a cheque made payable to West Ham Labour Party, to John Gray, Election Agent, West Ham CLP, 306 High Street, E15 1AJ All donations go to West Ham Labour Party and will be used for Lyn's campaign in West Ham. ILFORD NORTH 11am, 2pm and 6pm every day. Meeting 12a High View Parade, Woodford Av, IG4 5EP (a 12 min walk from Gants Hill stn on the Central Line - exit 1). Turn up and say you're from West Ham (and they'll look after you if you haven't campaigned before). Polling Day in Ilford North - they're going to be busy all day. 5.30am leafletting - click here to sign up  Door knocking all day - click here to sign up This Saturday Newham Co-op and West Ham CLP will be out in Harrow West supporting Gareth Thomas, Chair of the Co-op Party - meet John Gray (ring 07432 150 530) at 1.15pm or meet in Harrow at 2.15pm, 132 Blenheim Rd, HA2 7AA (3 mins walk from Harrow West tube). WEST HAM Tonight Weds 31 May Canning Town South, 6.30pm, Contact Alan West Ham, 6.30pm,  Contact David or John Whitworth Thurs 1 JuneWest Ham will be helping Karen Buck in Westminster North at 2pm and 6pm. If you're free and can help - please meet at Labour office 4g Shirland Mews, W9 3DY (10 mins from Westbourne Pk tube which is only 35 mins from Stratford or West Ham tubes). Stratford, 5pm-7pm, Contact: Karl Women's Forum (women only) Canning Town South, Contact Gen or Seyi Sat 3 June Street stall - outside Forest Gate Station, 11am to 12.30pm and Forest Gate North, 11am, contact John 07432 150 530 Plaistow South, 11am, . Contact Neil Women's Forum Street Stall, 11am, E20 Street Stall, please wear red! V Contact Gen or Seyi Custom House, 11.30am, Contact Rokhsana or Momodou Canning Town North, 12pm, Contact Shabs Forest Gate South, 4pm, Contact Joel Sun 4 June Plaistow South, 2pm, Contact Neil Wilson Mon 5 June Stratford, 6pm-8pm leafleting with a canvass session leaving 7pm. Contact: Karl Plaistow South, 6pm, Contact Neil West Ham, 6:30pm, Contact David or John W on 07763 651131 Tues 6 June Women's Forum (women only), 6pm, Contact Gen or Seyi  Plaistow North, 6pm, contact Daniel or Mehmood Polling Day!  Please do go and help one of the nearby marginals (see details at top for Ilford North). If you want to stay in West Ham we'll put you in touch with your ward organiser as we will be leafleting stations. Thanks again to everyone who's been out and if you haven't yet please come out and help this last week... Best wishes Julianne Julianne Marriott Vice Chair (Campaigns and Comms) West Ham CLP e westhamlabour@gmail.com  t @westhamlabour  f westhamlabour  w westhamlabour.org

West Ham Ward Canvass Sunday 21st May

Love the feet sticking out of roof window (top left)

Pause to remember Jo Cox MP - Westhammers at "Arc in the Park"

A lot has happened since Sunday, when UK political parties suspended General Election campaigning for one hour in order to remember murdered young mum and MP, Jo Cox, and to visit community projects. In West Ham we stopped campaigning and visited the "Arc in the Park" project in Canning Town with our Labour Parliamentary candidate, Lyn Brown. This is now run by the charity called AAA (Ambition, Aspire, Achieve).

AAA supports disabled children and young people as well as their families. Despite cuts in Council funding the charity still provides much needed respite and support. We were given a guided tour of the sensory garden and play area by staff who were so, so proud of what they do.

After the visit many of us went back to campaign for Labour in Forest Gate.

Little did we know that while we were remembering the terrible murder by a British born fascist last year of a young woman in Yorkshire that another British born fascist was planning to murder even more girls and women in Manchester.

I am so proud to live in a country that despite significant problems of inequality and unfairness, unites against fascism in all its forms and has so many people, like Jo Cox, the staff at AAA, the emergency workers in Manchester, who have dedicated their lives to the public service of others. 

3 weeks to the General Election

Dear John

Labour has set out it's manifesto for the many; now we have 3 weeks left to tell people about it. Join us and Lyn Brown talking to voters here in West Ham and in two key marginals: Ilford North and Westminster North.

FUNDING:  if you're not able to help us canvass, can you help fund West Ham's campaign? Click HERE! (cheques welcome too)...

ILFORD NORTH
11am, 2pm and 6pm every day.
Meeting 12a High View Parade, Woodford Av, IG4 5EP (a 12 min walk from Gants Hill stn on the Central Line - exit 1). Turn up and say you're from West Ham (and they'll look after you if you haven't campaigned before).

Join West Ham members this Sat meeting 1.45pm, Stratford stn (bus stn side) to travel together. Meet Juliane there or at Ilford North office at 2pm.

WEST HAM
Thurs 18 May
STREET STALL - Under Canning Town Flyover, 5 to 7pm. All welcome. Contact: Shabs 07958024188

Sat 20 May
Forest Gate North, Coffee7, 11am 10 Sebert Road, E7 0NQ contact John 07432 150 530
Custom House, 11.30am, Custom House Library, Prince Regents Lane, E16 3JJ. Contact: Rokhsana or Momodou
Women's Forum (women only) 11:45 am outside McDonald's (Stratford Centre), E15 1XA Contact Genevieve on or Seyi
Canning Town North, 12pm, Moka Coffee Shop, 126 Barking Rd, E16 1EN, Contact: Shabs

ILFORD NORTH - meet 1.15pm at Stratford stn or in Ilford North at 2pm

Sun 21 May
Canning Town, 11.30am, Keir Hardie Church, 14 Plymouth Road, E16 1QB. Contact Alan Griffiths
Forest Gate North, 2pm, Hibiscus Centre, Buckingham Road, E15 1SE contact John 07432 150 530

Mon 22 May
Plaistow South, 6pm, NewVIC, Prince Regent Lane, E13 8SG. Contact Neil
West Ham, 6:30pm, ATL Cafe, 125 Plaistow Road, E15 3ET.  Contact David on or John.

Tues 23 May
Forest Gate North, 6pm, Coffee7, 10 Sebert Road, E7 0NQ contact John 07432 150 530
Custom House, 6.30pm, outside Nisa Local, 53 Freemasons Rd, E16 3PJ. Contact: Rokhsana or Momodou
Stratford, 6.30pm, Old Town Hall (Stratford), 29 Broadway, E15 4BQ. Contact: Karl.

Weds 24 May
Canning Town South, 6.30pm, Keir Hardie Methodist Church, 14 Plymouth Road E16 1PAWeds West Ham, 6:30pm, ATL Cafe, 125 Plaistow Road, E15 3ET.  Contact David on or John.

Thurs 25 May
Women's Forum (women only). Meet Westminster tube station (Westminster Bridge exit) where we'll walk together to Labour HQ, Ergon House, Horseferry Rd, SW1P 2AL for phone canvassing for women candidates in marginal seats. Cakes and snacks welcome! Contact Gen or Seyi .
Plaistow South, 6pm, NewVIC, Prince Regent Lane, E13 8SG. Contact Neil

PHONE CANVASSING - 4pm to 8pm weekdays at Labour HQ, Ergon House, Horseferry Rd, SW1P 2AL

Polling Day - let us know if you can help - there will be loads to do from 5am (yes!) leaflets to deliver in Ilford North to help here in West Ham

Leaflets - please let me know (if you haven't already) if you would be happy to deliver leaflets (and I'll pass your details onto you ward organiser). Leaflets are now available!

Thanks again everyone. Look forward to seeing you over the next 3 weeks.

Best wishes
Julianne

Julianne Marriott
Vice Chair (Campaigns and Comms) West Ham CLP

e westhamlabour@gmail.com  t @westhamlabour  f westhamlabour  w westhamlabour.org

Re-electing Lyn Brown in Custom House & Forest Gate

A great collage of photos from recent campaigning. Custom House canvass on Sunday morning with Lyn Brown (and Cara) as well as local Newham Councillors, Rokhsana Fiaz and Pat Holland.  Lyn had also been that morning to Ilford North with West Ham activists to support Wes Streeting.

In the afternoon we were in Forest Gate North, where we had the support of super walker, Cllr Seyi Akiwowo and 3 Young Pioneers, courtesy of their Mum, Councillor Rachel Tripp.

The support for Labour in our constituency is humbling with superb canvass returns, yet while we want our activists to go to the marginals, we are making sure that we do not take our support in West Ham for granted.

At the end of canvass in Forest Gate, we had the traditional warm weather canvassing icelolly feast. The Young Pioneers seemed very happy with this (especially when their Mum said she was now taking them to the local Park and swings).

On Tuesday evening Lyn was out again with team FGN in Lorne and Latimer Road. 

25 Days until UK General Election: On the knocker in Forest Gate & Ilford North

Yesterday started with my Newham Councillor surgery in Vicarage Lane Community Centre, West Ham. A constituent came to see me about a pretty appalling disrepair case in a Housing Association shared ownership block. I have been in touch already about this case and have written to the association asking for a site visit with an officer and a surveyor to do a  joint visit.

Another constituent came to see me about Newham Council organising a sports competition between a team representing the Commonwealth and another for the rest of the world. Which is an ambitious aspiration but not one, alas, that back bench local Councillors will have much influence over.

After the surgery I met up with Forest Gate North activists for a Labour doorstep session. We started door knocking in Curwen Avenue, E7, where I used to live many years ago.

I had some interesting political conversations on the doorstep, especially on Brexit and the future of the Labour Party. Forest Gate, on the whole, is very pro "Remain". More than one person was supportive of our Candidate, Lyn Brown, for voting against the triggering of Article 50 but very critical of the poorly supported official Labour campaign in Newham for "Remain". I had to agree and point out that this was despite her best efforts and other Newham Labour Remain supporters. The blame for the poor local result lies elsewhere in Newham.

Our candidate, Lyn Brown, this morning was at a well supported stall at Green Street and and had a number of community meetings including one with local East European residents and East Ham Labour candidate, Stephen Timms.

In the afternoon I went to Ilford North marginal which has a super friendly and efficient campaign office. If you have never been canvassing before I would recommend you go there. They will explain what you have to do and what are the key issues and make sure you are sent out with a supportive team leader.

ILFORD NORTH
11am, 2pm and 6pm every day.

Meeting 12a High View Parade, Woodford Av, IG4 5EP (a 12 min walk from Gants Hill stn on the Central Line - exit 1). Turn up and say you're from West Ham (and they'll look after you if you haven't campaigned before).

In Ilford North I came across some evidence of UKIP and Conservative switchers to Labour. Including one former Tory supporter, whose husband is suffering from dementia and who told me in great detail how much she now "hated" the Conservatives for the lack of support for her husband and the cutting of his benefits.

The Labour candidate, Wes Streeting,  was widely respected as a hard working Constituency MP and supported by residents who will normally vote for another Party in local elections.

By one of those strange coincidences, this morning I was canvassing with Joshua Garfield in Forest Gate and this afternoon with his Mum, former Newham Councillor, Judith Garfield, in Ilford North. Both of them are expert canvassers. Must be in the blood.