UNISON London LGBT "Equality at Work" Labour Link event at House of Commons

This great picture is from last weeks London UNISON LGBT "Equality at Work" mobilisation event at Portcullis House. I chaired the meeting on behalf of London Labour Link. Margret Hodge MP and Stephen Twigg MP were the guest speakers and reminded us that the Labour Party was the first political party to take LGBT equality at all seriously. While LGBT Chair, Deirdre Costigan, (next to Margaret) gave a fantastic speech about how no one should take these rights for granted if there is a future right wing government.

We are going to arrange for UNISON London LGBT activists to join West Ham CLP canvassing sessions for Labour in Ilford North. 2pm on the 2nd Saturday and 4th Saturday at Fairlop Underground station entrance. If you can let me know you are coming do so or just turn up at this time and place.

London Labour Party Biennial Conference 2010 (Morning speeches)

On Saturday at the Old Town Hall in Stratford there was the 2010 London Labour Party Biennial conference. 

This is now the 2nd London Biennial conference that I have posted upon. Check out 2008 here. I was again a member of the UNISON affiliate trade union delegation.  However, before the meeting I was helping out with the distribution of flyer's to all delegates about the impending launch of a London Branch of the Labour Housing Group (which was sponsored by UNISON Labour Link).

Usual health warning on the accuracy of my hurried notes. London Labour Party Regional Director Ken Clark opened the conference.  The first speaker was the the borough host, Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales, who happily reminded all delegates to sniff and enjoy the "Tory free" air in Newham.  Even better, in next door Barking and Dagenham, they enjoy the air being totally fascist free after the May elections! (loud applause).

Robin points out the sheer inequity and political gerrymandering of the "cuts" which has meant Newham will suffer £71 in cuts while Coalition run Richmond upon Thames, will only suffer £5 million.

Next was GLA Labour Assembly and London Pary leader, Len Duvall. I'll concentrate on the interesting bits of his speech (to me).  He condemned the Henz 57 model of community and personality politics.  Where elections are decided not on the basis of transparent London issues but on what is happening elsewhere.  The London Labour Party does want to have local parties (Tower Hamlets) in special measures, its not that we don't like someone or their politics but we are genuinely worried about what would happen.

Len spoke about the importance of London Labour Councils, not being too managerial and technical.  We need to be political and show there is a difference between us and them.  Between Labour and Brian Coleman.  We are different.  We want to genuinely negotiate and consult meaningfully.  If we look at terms and conditions of staff we need to think very carefully and make sure that everyone knows there is a difference.

Finally, never forget that Boris is an "anti-politician" who can make people laugh.  But the Tories fear Ken.  Because they know that Ken at his best is so superb.

Next was Barking MP Margaret Hodge.  Not only were the BNP in Barking and Dagenham "smashed" in May but their local defeat has contributed to their national destruction. Since May their BNP group leader has emigrated to Australia; BNP Assembly member Richard Barnsbrook has been expelled from their Party; their national leader Nick Griffin has agreed to resign and the BNP is also facing bankruptcy (shame). But we cannot take things for granted - such as the growth of the EDL. 

In London in May we won control of 10 new councils and 200 new Labour councillors. But this was still the 2nd worse defeat nationally in our history.  The Coalition policies are based on ideology not deficit. They are doing this because they believe in a small state, and "private good; public bad". This is worse than Shirley Porter in Westminster who only affected 1000 residents.  This policy will try and create middle class ghettos cleaned of anyone working class.

Remember always that Boris is at heart an enthusiastic right wing slasher.

Karen Bucks MP was warmly welcomed not least when she announced that dispute Tory predictions she was still the Labour MP for Westminster North!  Karen asked whether London stopped the Tories getting an overall majority? What will happen to waiting lists when the budget for new build is slashed by 50%?  Housing benefit may be a issue that makes ears bleed but even Boris is aware that if the housing benefits cuts go ahead then 20,000 children could lose their homes.

Finally, Labour should accept that they did not built enough houses while in power but instead did spend billions on much needed refurbishment and decent homes. However, we should agree that we did not spend enough time and money on new building new homes.

Note the recent comments by Tories that they only lost Westminister and Hammersmith seats to Labour because there are "too many poor people" living in these boroughs.

(I'll hopefully post on rest of conference later UPDATE: here)

Beat the BNP in Barking & Dagenham on Bank Holiday Monday

A number of West Ham Labour Party  (and of course UNISON) members were in Barking and Dagenham today (and will be again tomorrow)

"Just a reminder about Barking Labour Party's final big push to Beat the BNP. 

• Monday, Dagenham Heathway, Monday, 10 mins walk up Parslows Avenue, or call 07576 323 109
Yours,


Margaret Hodge

PS. We need lots of help on polling day as well. We are looking for 500 volunteers to help out between 6.30am and 10pm on May 6th.

Promoted by Jennifer Oliver on behalf of Margaret Hodge both at 152 Reede Road, Dagenham, RM10 8DX

Also on Monday "Hope Not Hate HQ, 50-52 New Road, Dagenham, Essex RM9 6YS, 10:30AM - 2PM" Eddie Izzard will be there to help out.

Beating the BNP - Barking Day of Action

Yesterday afternoon after the West Ham Labour Party stall in Green Street I went off with a long serving CLP member to Barking to help out with Margaret Hodge and the local Labour Councillor campaign.

The campaign headquarters is in a local Baptist church and is very well run and organised. Soon after we arrived, we were properly briefed and given materials (and grabbed some tasty sandwiches) and sent off to fight the good fight.

We went off with quite a large canvass team to Parsloes Ward which I believe has currently two BNP councillors and one Labour. I thought that the canvass went quite well. People didn’t seem to me to be at all hostile. The international Rugby match was on and two people apologised that they could not speak because of this as they rapidly closed the front door. Fair enough. I didn’t actually get anyone to admit that they were BNP supporters. I had two decent “political” conversations with local residents. The key issue was not immigration but the shortage of affordable housing. A divorced grandmother who was looking after her daughter’s home explained how she was stuck in an expensive private sector flat on the dole since the very high rent meant that she could not work. In another home another resident who worked for the local Council complained that she would have to move since her children could not afford to live locally. Interestingly both of them volunteered that they recognised that the real reason for the housing shortage was a direct consequence of the “right to buy”.

At the end of the session we had mugs of tea and biscuits waiting for us. I was also able to meet my new Facebook friend Graham Letchford. I love the shirts! Graham is standing with our Louise Couling in Gorebrook ward against the fascist Barnbrook.

Photo with Margaret and team outside Labour battle bus. It was a good day.

UNISON London Labour Link Forum 2010

This year’s Forum took place in a committee room at the House of Commons. The Forum is a regional annual meeting of Labour Link delegates from London UNISON branches. It debates Rule amendments, policy motions and tabled reports on finances and work plans.

We had a GLA report from Joanne McCartney and “Fighting the BNP” call to arms from Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking. Our key note speaker was the Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP who arrived fresh from giving evidence at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq war.

The usual daft rule change by the usual suspects on restricting the franchise on electing our committee members to delegates who only attend the Forum meeting was overwhelmingly defeated. A fairly useful motion by LFEPA branch on “Investment not cuts in public service-sorting Labour Priorities” was “improved” by an amendment.

We also passed a motion in favour of proportionate representation. Both these motions will be going to national Labour Link forum.

I only took notes about on Joanne’s report since I chaired the meeting for the other two speakers. She started off by pointing out if you want to see what a Tory Government would be like - look at what is happening to London. Conservative mayor Boris Johnson is already breaking manifesto promises. He is cutting full time Police numbers and trying to replace them with unpaid specials. There will be a smaller GLA budget for policing for the first time. Boris not committed to Safer Neighbourhood Team model (which in my view would be a disaster if it went). There have been massive increases in London transport fares particularly for buses. Boris is of course not a “detail person” and this can be seen at Mayor “Question time” were he relies on “bluster and bluff” rather than answering the questions. There is no vision out there. Gossip from City Hall 8th floor is that Boris wants to return to Parliament if the Tories win. Watch your back Cameron! On a serious note many community groups have complained that they now feel distant from the Mayor and the Assembly since Boris has cancelled nearly all community based events.

Joanne was aware of our request to arrange a meeting with GLA members and staff from Notting Hill Housing Group who are due on strike next week and we be arranging this soon.

Both David and Margaret gave positive and confident speeches and were well received by the Forum. David comprehensively destroyed the Tory myths that Labour had not improved or invested in public services and that the Tories had not really “changed” into a modern centre and progressive Party. He also dismissed the other myths that there was no difference between Labour and the Tories. This was not at all a speech from anyone expecting defeat any time soon. Margaret gave a firsthand account of the nasty, violent and thuggish BNP threat in Barking and Dagenham. On Saturday I hope to be part of a UNISON Labour Link canvassing team in Barking.

The Finance report and work plan went well and we also had a short report by national Labour Link officer Daniel Zeichner. In AOB I wished all the London UNISON Labour link members who are Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (2 were present) and all those standing for election to Councils (7 present) the best of luck. I also asked for messages of support to be sent to my branch over the Notting Hill Housing Strike for “fairness and dignity”. Forum closed until 2011.

Roll on a historic 4th term Labour victory in the Parliamentary elections and a majority of London Councils turning red as well.

Beat the BNP in Barking Day of Action - Saturday 13 March 2010

"Barking Labour Party held a record day of action last Saturday with over 1 000 contacts made. Thank you so much to everyone who came along and helped out.

Our next day of action will be on the 13th March. We will be at Wood Lane Baptist Church between 11am and 4pm, with a lunch provided between 1pm and 2pm. I really do hope that you can join us. We give a warm welcome and full training to anyone who hasn't been canvassing before.

From next week we are increasing our phone canvassing. We are running sessions from 6pm each evening in Barking, please do drop in if you have some spare time, the number to call is 07576 323 109.

I look forward to seeing you next Saturday in Barking.

Best wishes

Margaret Hodge"

Beat the BNP Day of Action this Saturday 13th February in Barking

"Dear Friend, I do hope that you will be able to make our Day of Action this Saturday in Barking. We will be door knocking in a ward where the BNP have two councillors, but which we are confident that we can win back thanks to the hard work of our local action team.

We will be door knocking from 10am-12pm and again at 1pm-3pm with a break for a hot lunch (provided) at 12pm-1pm.

We're based in Becontree Avenue Baptist Church, Dagenham on the day, with lifts from Chadwell Heath Station at 10am and 1pm.

Please give Jennifer or Darren a ring on 07576 323 109 if you need a lift or directions, or alternatively please e-mail jen_oliver85AThotmailDOTcom or barkinglabourcampaignsAThotmailDOTcoDOTuk.

I look forward to meeting you on Saturday.  Best wishes, Margaret Hodge".

(Promoted by Jennifer Oliver on behalf of Barking Labour Party, all at 152 Reede Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 8DX)
 
"Hope Not Hate" are also doing work on Saturday in the area but I can't find any links?  Could someone let me know?  

100 Days to Beat the BNP

Dear Friend

Tomorrow (27th January) we have just 100 campaigning days left before the local elections in Barking and Dagenham. That's 100 days for us to see off the threat from the BNP once and for all.

Barking Labour Party have been actively campaigning against the BNP since the facist party gained 12 seats at the 2006 local elections. We have been out every single Saturday on the doorstep talking to residents about the issues which matter to them and have backed this up with phone canvassing, leaflets and newsletters.

Following Nick Griffin announcing his intention to run for the Barking parliamentary seat, our ward teams have been out in force and we have held three hugely sucessful days of action attended by between 50-100 Labour activists and supporters. Through the Days of Action alone, we have spoken to over 2 000 residents.

The coming election campaign will be one of the most important campaigns Barking Labour Party has ever fought. The reprecussions of how people vote here on May 6th will be felt around the country.

I am now asking for your help in the final 100 days of our campaign. There will be activity taking place in Barking every day from now until May 6th.

Our next Day of Action will be on 13th February, meeting at Chadwell Heath Train Station at 10am and 1pm. It would be great to see you there.

If you can not make Saturdays and/or would like to do some door knocking, leafletting or phone canvassing on another day of the week then please do e-mail barkinglabourcampaignsAThotmailDOTcom with the subject line 'FIND ME A CAMPAIGN' and your availability and we will let you know where activity is taking place for you to join.

Please do make an effort to help in Barking in whatever way you can. If every one who receives this e-mail can commit to just one out of the 100 days we have left, then we will be so much closer to putting an end to the far rights dreams of winning a local council and a Westminster seat.

I look forward to seeing you in Barking soon.

Best wishes

Margaret Hodge

Barking Young Voters

What a great event on Tuesday at the Attlee rooms in the House of Commons. Over 200 young people who had become 18 and were registered on the Barking electoral register were invited by local MP Margaret Hodge and turned up.

There was a series of events in the hall organised by local young socialists to engage with these young people around equality, voting participation and democracy.

UNISON Labour Link bought them all a free drink, which of course went down quite well! A number of Labour MP’s arrived to help out and speak to everyone and afterwards, there were free tours of the House of Commons.

I can’t wait to help organise something similar for West Ham CLP. Thanks to Gloria Hanson and Louise Couling from Labour Link for helping to recruit people to the union and the Party.