Newham Fabians - Active Design: Building Healthier Cities (Thursday 3 Feb)

I have just signed up for this event here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/active-design-building-healthier-cities-tickets-242390746247 (open to all)

How can we design a healthier, active built environment?

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” said Sir Winston Churchill in his speech to the meeting in the House of Lords, October 28, 1943.

A University of Cambridge study found that about 676,000 deaths in Europe each year were down to inactivity and eliminating inactivity in Europe would cut mortality rates by nearly 7.5%.

People have the power to design our built environment. But how we design our homes and cities can also have power over us, from our health to how we socialise.

How can we design a healthier, active built environment?

Come join us as we find out!

On Thursday the 3rd of February Newham Fabians will be joined by:

1. Kris Sangani, London Cycling Campaign Trustee and former coordinator for Redbridge LCC,
2. Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council, and
3. Prof Catherine Thompson, Professor of Landscape Architecture.

This event is free to attend.

"Talking to the Fabians about committees"

On Saturday morning there was a virtual debate organised by Newham Fabians on "Participatory democracy". 

Local blogger Martin Warne spoke in favour of changing Newham's governance from an Executive Mayor model to a "Committee model". Next May there will be a borough wide referendum to decide. 

Interestingly it appears that Newham Fabians could not find a speaker who was in favour of the Executive Mayor model. For balance one of its officers gave examples of the positive arguments for the model. 

This is Martin's excellent post https://forestgate.net/2020/11/23/talking-to-the-fabians-about-committees/

On Saturday Newham Fabians held an online meeting to talk about local democracy and participation. I was invited to talk about the committee model and why I think it’s the best option for Newham.

This is what I said…

Since 2002 Newham has been run by a directly elected executive mayor – for the first 16 years that was Sir Robin Wales; the current mayor Rokhsana Fiaz has served for 2 ½ years.

The referendum in May will be the first time in close to 20 years that residents have the chance to debate and determine how our borough is run. The choice will be between the current arrangements and a modern committee system.

Newham Voting for Change, the campaign for a committee system, is delighted that there will be a clear choice between a council run by a Mayor and a small executive they appoint and a more participatory, inclusive and open system in which every councillor can play a role. We’re looking forward to campaigning for the committee system in the referendum and having the chance to make the arguments about how Newham council should make decisions and agree policy.

So, what is the committee model?

This is the flatter, less hierarchical and more collaborative alternative to having the executive – or strong leader – arrangements we have now.

Under this model, full Council holds all the decision-making powers. It is full Council’s decision whether to exercise those powers directly or to delegate them to committees or to officers. Council can decide for itself how to organise the committees and adapt them over time to meet changing needs.

While there is no set model of committees, historically they have been based on major functional areas, such as housing, finance, education and resources; along with regulatory committees such as planning and licensing; governance committees such as audit and standards; and statutory scrutiny committees, such as health.

The London Borough of Sutton, for example, has four main committees that are responsible for the Council’s principal functions. These are:

• Strategy and Resources Committee
• Environment and Neighbourhood Committee
• Housing, Economy and Business Committee
• People Committee

Full Council appoints a leader, but without executive powers and, of course, they can be replaced by full Council – not an option that exists under our current arrangements.

The council leader provides political and strategic leadership, proposing new policy, strategy, budget and service standards, as well as acting as spokesperson for the authority.

They represent the Council in the community and in discussions with regional, national and international organisations.

Although this is not an issue in our present one-party state, all committees and sub-committees must be politically balanced, where possible.

Research shows that in councils that moved back to a committee system, the role of full council has been enhanced, with more councillors involved in decision-making. Which is a key reason for moving away from a mayor or leader-and-cabinet system.

Why do we believe this the best option for Newham?

Good governance is about more than structures and processes. Political and organisational cultures, attitudes and behaviours are what make systems successful.

We have seen that the concentration of power and patronage in the hands a single individual, and their hand-picked ‘executive team’, has led to groupthink, poor decision-making and a toxic political culture. Although Rokhsana Fiaz has handed back many of her powers to cabinet there is nothing to prevent a future mayor reclaiming them for themselves.

In a modern Committee system, all 66 councillors will have the power to represent their areas and do the job voters believe they are electing them to do.

Decisions will be made by committees of councillors (from all parties, should an opposition ever manage to get itself elected) working together. All of our councillors will have a voice to represent the communities they serve – not just the mayor and their chosen few.

Power and resources for decision-making in local communities can also be built into a committee system. This means more decisions can be taken closer to the people affected.

We believe that the committee system is:

OPEN – there is more opportunity for citizens, experts and communities to have their say and influence decisions

REPRESENTATIVE – all council members have input into decisions, not just the Mayor and Cabinet

CO-OPERATIVE – councillors have to work together to make decisions

ACCOUNTABLE – every councillor takes a role in making policy and seeing decisions enacted

And a properly designed committee system will be just as swift for decision-making as the mayor-and-cabinet system.

The socialist case for committees

Socialists know that supporting open, democratic and accountable government is crucial. Our party was established to open up government to working people who had gone unrepresented — so that democracy might be used to improve the lives of the many, not just the few.

I hope the referendum debate can be a starting point for a wider discussion on how to renew our democracy in Newham. As Fabians and socialists, we have questions to answer.

How do we create a political culture based on cooperation and solidarity? How do we rebuild trust in our politics and in our public institutions? How do we build support for and fund high quality, universal public services? How do we become carbon neutral within the next decade, to avert climate catastrophe?

The scale of the task confronting us means that the public needs to be at the heart of deciding how to proceed.

I will finish by quoting Olivia Blake, MP for Sheffield Hallam and a supporter for the campaign for a committee system in her city: “Labour councils should be innovative, pioneering new democratic processes with greater citizen participation and deliberation. And we need to start now. The people are ready for change, and we should listen.”

Newham Fabian Society is the local branch of the Fabian Society, a left-leaning think tank dedicated to new public policy and political ideas that is affiliated to the Labour Party. If you’re interested in finding out more, email the secretary.

"Health inequality and the impact on Newham"

Join the Newham Fabian Society this Saturday for debate and discussion on health inequalities.

We'll be joined by Dr Martin Edobor and Cllr James Beckles who, along with Newham Fabians Vice Chair Cllr Mumtaz Khan, will lead a discussion on health inequality and the impact on Newham.

🎤 Dr Martin Edobor is the Clinical Director for North Newham Primary Care Network and NHS GP at Woodgrange Road Medical Practice in Forest Gate. He is the Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society and was the Labour parliamentary candidate for Witham in the 2019 general election.

🎤 James is a councillor in Custom House and the Cabinet Member for Crime and Community Safety. He is a Newham Fabian Society member and has previously worked in education policy for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and was a Compliance Inspector for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

🎤 Mumtaz is Secretary of the Fabian Women’s Network, a councillor for Green Street West, and has led campaigns and organisations which fight to stop violence against women and access to health and social care for the BAME community.

Newham Fabians London Labour Policy Conference

This photo collage is from yesterday's all day event in the Old Town Hall in Stratford. This the Fabians at their very best. Great speakers (apart from me - obviously), fair but effective Chairs of panels and genuine questions and real debate about the key issues of our time - Brexit, Equalities, Housing, Crime and local democracy.

West Ham MP Lyn Brown, opened the conference. I also took part in a panel on Housing with my excellent Tower Hamlets, doppelganger, Deputy Mayor & Cabinet Lead, Rachel Blake. Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, was the last keynote speaker.

At the end we stood in solidarity, next to the bust of the first ever Labour MP, Keir Hardie (who won West Ham South in 1892 and was a renown anti colonist) to support "Indigenous Resistance Day". 

Indigenous Resistance Day - Showing Newham solidarity alongside Keir Hardie

Today is #IndigenousResistanceDay remembering the struggle against Colonialism in the Continent of America. (It used to be called "Columbus Day"). After @newhamfabians
event in the historic Old #Stratford town hall we gathered next to bust of avowed anti-colonist #KeirHardie to show solidarity.

POLICIES FOR A LABOUR LONDON - Newham Fabians event Saturday 12 October 2019 Stratford Town Hall

Next May London faces important elections for the Mayor of London and Lon Assembly. As a world city and a Labour city London has led the way in electing a Muslim Mayor. Sadiq Khan has spared no effort in shaping London for the better, by promoting progressive policies affecting all Londoners.

This policy forum is creating an opportunity to debate some of the challenging issues facing London to feed in to the policy making process in advance of next year’s election.

Join us to contribute to the discussion for a London we can be proud of.

Open to Fabian Society and Labour Party members.

REGISTER HERE

Speakers include:

Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham; Lyn Brown MP West Ham; Stephen Timms MP East Ham; Claude Moraes MEP, Cllr Darren Rodwell Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, Jennette Arnold AM, Unmesh Desai AM, Cllr Sanchia Alasia Barking and Dagenham, Cllr John Gray Newham Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Polly Billington SERA and UK100, Murad Qureshi, Cllr Kevin Brady, Tower Hamlets and more to be announced

Newham Fabians on local Housing

This evening I came back from attending the Ryanair AGM in Dublin (will post further on this) to attend the meeting of Newham Fabians and speak on my role as the Cabinet lead on housing.

More people arrived after the start and it was good to have a debate with members who have detailed knowledge and experiences of housing issues in Newham.

I presented on what we are currently doing as an administration and what we hope to achieve in the future. I must write this up properly but in short we are doing lots of good things in Newham on housing but we need to do a lot more.

While building a 1000 Council owned homes at truly affordable rents will be transformational for those residents we house we need a Labour Government in power to provide the money and ability to house the 27,000 families on our waiting list (and the many thousands who are in desperate housing need but not on the list)

Afterwards there was a typical Fabian "polite but challenging" Q&A which I really enjoyed.

Many thanks to Newham Fabian Officers Anita, Rohit and David, for the invite and the opportunity to speak and explain.

Newham Fabians "Delivering Municipal Socialism" by Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader, LBWF Council

This should be interesting. I have a clash with LBN cabinet but will hope to come to this event afterwards. 

"Delivering Municipal Socialism" Cllr Clare Coghill - Newham Fabians

"Dear all please note the postponed Newham Fabians talk by Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council has been rescheduled for 05th March 2019 now. We hope to see many of you there" 
Secretary Cllr Rohit Dasgupta. 

REMINDER - Grenfell Tower: The anatomy of a disaster & the future of social housing in London - Newham Fabians 20 Sept 2017

REMINDER: Tom Copley, GLA lead on Housing speaking this Thursday 20 September 7-9pm at Eat 16 Cafe, St Luke's Community Centre, Canning Town, E16 1HN

Agenda

1. Welcome & introductions

2. Talk: Grenfell Tower & the future of social housing policy with guest speaker Tom Copley AM, Assembly Member and Labour Housing Spokesperson at the GLA

3. Audit Report

4. West Ham CLP GC delegate election- Those wishing to stand should email the secretary at least seven days before the meeting. As per our constitution these names will also be sent to the national Fabian Society. We are still waiting to be affiliated with East Ham CLP after which we will be able to elect a delegate for East Ham.

5. AOB & Date of Next Meeting

West Ham Labour August e-newsletter - Future campaigns, political and social events

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Dear Comrades Just a quick summer update on recent local and future events. Since the General election we have continued campaigning including holding high street stalls in Forest Gate, Canning Town and Stratford as well as door knocking and speaking to residents in Canning Town South and delivering ward newsletters in Forest Gate North. West Ham Women’s forum have recently held a stall at Stratford Station and a BBQ. Our newly elected MP, Lyn Brown held a “thank you” party at the Eat 16 (see picture above). There was a well-attended Memorial organised by Forest Gate North remembering the anniversary of the deaths of at least 34 residents killed in 1944 by a Nazi V1 flying bomb. Some activists have also continued to campaign in Ilford North Constituency and in the newly “marginal” seat, Chingford and Wood Green, trying to get rid of Ian Duncan Smith MP. The closing date for applications to be a Newham Councillor candidate in 2018 has now passed. Applicants and sitting Councillors will be interviewed in the autumn and branches will be given the chance to select their candidates in hustings. Watch this space for further details. Future campaigning & events West Ham branch are having a BBQ open to all on Thursday 31 August from 7-9pm at Vicarage Lane community centre, E15. Please advise members interested in going to RSVP 'John Whitworth'jhnwhitworth@yahoo.co.uk because of concern over space. Forest Gate North Branch are also having a BBQ on Sunday 3rd September on Wanstead Flats opposite the Golden Fleece pub from 3 to 6 p.m. Come along and bring a dish to share. Newham Fabians 20 Sept 2017 at Eat 16 are holding an important event on “Grenfell Tower: The anatomy of a disaster & the future of social housing in London”. While Newham Co-operative Party will be holding an event to mark the centenary of the Party and also to encourage Newham Labour Councillor Candidates in 2018 to stand jointly as Co-op candidates. Please send me news of events and photos for future newsletters and to place on our website. Regards John Gray West Ham Labour Party Vice Chair Campaigns and Communications e westhamlabour@gmail.com  t @westhamlabour  f westhamlabour  w westhamlabour.org Copyright © 2017 West Ham Labour party, All rights reserved.

Newham mayor ‘trigger ballot’: GMB union says it followed the rules as it affiliates more branches locally

Check out former Guardian journalist, Dave Hill's website "OnLondon" about the latest twist in the Newham Mayoral Trigger saga. Leaving aside this important issue for the moment, what is happening with excessive trade union affiliation to local Labour Party's is a national issue which in my view threatens to completely destroy members democracy in the Party.

For whatever reason the GMB has recently decided to affiliate 26 branches to West Ham Labour Party. I understand that a similar number of GMB branches was also affiliated to East Ham.

What this will mean that it will be pointless for any local Labour Party wards or Branch to vote in future MP or other Trigger ballots since they will be completely outvoted. In West Ham there is only 10 branches. They will be completely swamped by the 26 GMB branches or maybe Unite or another union might affiliate say 50 branches? It only costs £6 for a trade union to affiliate each branch.

Also, it will be a complete waste of time in most Local Labour Parties for its members to turn up to its Annual General Meetings since they will be outvoted by trade union affiliates. This happened recently in the East Ham Labour Party AGM, when all positions and nominations were decided purely by GMB delegates.

I am strongly in favour of trade unions being involved in the Party but this makes us look at best ridiculous. The Labour Party is already in a mess and unless this issue is sorted it could even finish it off and destroy us.

This is a Labour Party issue and the party needs to urgently review its rules on affiliations.

"A London GMB official has explained why he believes his union followed correct procedures in the Labour Party process that led to the selection of Sir Robin Wales to seek a fifth term as Newham Mayor but which 47 party members in the borough have claimed contained many “procedural irregularities” that “made a material difference to the result”.

Gary Doolan, a GMB political officer, says his union was fully entitled to its four votes in the affirmative nomination or “trigger ballot” process, all of which backed Sir Robin going forward unopposed as Labour’s mayoral candidate for 2018, and that he suspects the challenge to it is largely the product of “old political battles” and “twitchiness” arising from local political circumstances. Sir Robin won the ballot, conducted between 25 October and 4 December last year, by 20 votes to 17.

In a sometimes strongly-worded letter sent to Labour’s governing national executive committee (NEC) in January, the 47 complainants listed three alleged “major failings” in in process, including the fact that some affiliated unions, the GMB among them, cast votes for each of their branches affiliated to Labour locally while others cast only a single vote no matter how many of their branches had affiliated.

They stated that “it is not our purpose, in general, to question the internal affairs of affiliates” but asserted: “It cannot be right that the NEC accepts this stark variation in practice within the franchise of the process,” which they attributed to “a different interpretation of the rules” brought about by “unclear” procedural guidance. The NEC declined their request for an inquiry to be held into the running of the process and some votes to be declared void or held in abeyance pending its outcome.

Doolan said his union correctly followed its own rules relating to all trigger ballot processes, which sitting MPs too must undergo. These include votes to which branches of the union become entitled when they affiliate to Labour CLPs being cast on their behalf by the London region rather than by the individual branches themselves.

Another locally-affiliated organisation, Newham Fabians, have been informed by the Fabians at national level that their procedure for deciding how to vote in the ballot breached the society’s own rules. The union Bectu, which had a branch affiliated in Newham at the time of the ballot (but which has since disaffiliated from Labour altogether), has said that no affiliation fee was paid in 2016.

Both Newham Fabians and the Bectu branch voted “yes” to Sir Robin going forward automatically. It is understood that the 47 complainants, who are drawn from both of Newham’s CLPs, West Ham and East Ham, are awaiting legal advice before deciding on their next move.

In January, the GMB increased the number of its London branches affiliated to Labour in Newham by more than 20 as part of what Doolan says is a new political strategy for increasing working class participation in grassroots politics across the capital and wholly unconnected to the dispute over the trigger ballot process. He wrote to West Ham CLP in mid-January listing 26 branches that wished to affiliate to it, enclosing a cheque for £156 to cover the required fees.

Many of the 26 branches are in workplaces outside Newham, including Barking, Bromley, Hendon, Woodford and the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, but Labour Party rules permit branches to affiliate to CLPs if a member of it is also party member who is “resident or registered as an elector within the constituency”.

The trigger ballot process allowed each of Labour’s 20 wards in Newham a single vote and 17 in all for affiliates. Two others unions cast more than one vote and four cast only one. Of the 20 wards, 9 voted “yes”to Sir Robin going forward automatically with 11 preferring the alternative, an open selection battle in which other hopefuls could have contested him for the nomination. The affiliates, comprising unions and other organisations, voted “yes” by 11 to 6.

The complainants’ letter to the NEC argued that “if trade union affiliates are allowed more than one vote, it presents a situation where trade union affiliates are able to affiliate as many branches as they want to any CLP, thereby completely out-voting party branches and the democratic expression of branch members’ wishes”.

The Future of the Left in Britain: Newham Compass & Fabians event 21 Feb 2017

Should be interesting. 

Pizza & Politics : Broadlands UNISON AGM 1 March

AGM season for the Labour Movement is in full swing. There has already been a Newham Fabians AGM, on Wednesday it is the Greater London UNISON Regional Council AGM. On Thursday it is Forest Gate North Labour Branch AGM and I am planning the UNISON Housing Association branch AGM for March and our branch Labour Link AGM at the House of Commons. Not forgetting the West Ham CLP AGM in June.

I hope to make the Broadlands (Norwich) UNISON AGM this year. I like the "Pizza and Politics" theme. 

Newham Fabians - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I posted here on the AGM meeting of Newham Fabians due to be held tomorrow Wednesday 11 January 2017.

A previous "relaunch" meeting with Newham Mayor, Robin Wales, as speaker, had already been cancelled I understood because of a planned lobby by members of Newham Fabians and the local Labour Party about alleged forgery and malfeasance regarding voting irregularities in the recent Newham Labour Mayoral 2018 selection.

This morning I was forwarded this email

From: ###### #####
To:
Cc: #### ##### ##### ####
Sent: Tuesday, 10 January 2017,
Subject: Re: Newham Fabian Society - AGM Notice *postponed to 30th Jan 8pm*

 Dear all,

Hope you are well.

Please note: unfortunately we are having to postpone our AGM to Monday 30th January at 8pm in Trinity Centre. We apologise for the short notice and for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Agenda will be tabled, membership form to join Newham Fabians will also be available prior to the meeting for anyone who wishes to join/renew their membership and it is £7 per year. I look forward to seeing you on the 30th January 2017 8pm at Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue London E12 6SG.

Best wishes,

####

I never received this email despite being a long standing member of the Newham and National Fabians nor did some other members. I contacted the Membership secretary and General Secretary of the Fabans to enquire why? 

It is also the date and time of the Newham Full Council meeting when many members of the Fabians who are Councillors will be expected to be there. 

However, a number of comrades have now been phoned up today by the Chair? of Newham Fabians to say that the AGM is still on tomorrow after all. I have just received this email 

Sent: 10 January 2017 23:13

"Dear Fabian member,

This is to remind you about the Newham Fabians AGM taking place on Wednesday 11^th January. It is open to all members of Newham Fabians and of the national Fabian Society in the Newham area.

The AGM is confirmed to take place (note: earlier today a small number of members received a cancellation note - this was sent in error).

I look forward to meeting you at the AGM.

#####"

wtf is going on? I think this is as good excuse as any to play this favourite song from my long lost youth.

I will be going tomorrow even though I had rearranged things in light of the previous email.

Newham Fabians Annual General Meeting 11 January & the National Fabians Society New Year Conference 14 Jan 2017

On Wednesday I am looking forward to the Newham Fabian AGM. See picture right from the last one I attended in 2011 (I think there was one in 2013 but none since).

Hat tip photos Dan McCurry. 

I think you can still join for £7 and attend.

"Newham Fabians Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 11 January 2017 at 7PM

Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue, London, E12 6SG.

Guest speaker: Andrew Harrop, General Secretary of the Fabian Society

Andrew will also officiate over the AGM and committee elections

All members of the Fabian Society living in the Newham area are warmly invited to the AGM of Newham Fabian Society. The meeting is open to members of both the national Fabian Society and of Newham Fabians. To take part in votes you need to join Newham Fabians.

The Secretary of Newham Fabians is Tahmina Rahman,

tahmina_rahman_1@hotmail.com"

(also on Saturday as a member of the National Fabians I am going to their New Year conference. Must remember to take my #LOVEUNIONS placards and leaflets :-)

"Fabian Society New Year conference 2017

This time next Saturday the Fabian Society will welcome Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn MP onto the stage to open our 2017 New Year Conference. We are delighted Jeremy is joining us at our biggest and best event of the year, and we hope that you will too.

Alongside Jeremy Corbyn will be speakers from across the left and beyond, including MPs, policy experts and commentators. They will come together to have the fundamental debates the left needs on its purpose, organisation and ideas. Speakers include:

Jon Ashworth MP (shadow health secretary), Dawn Butler MP (shadow minister for diverse communities), Nia Griffith MP (shadow defence secretary), Keir Starmer MP (shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union), Emily Thornberry MP (shadow foreign secretary), Rushanara Ali MP, Stella Creasy MP, Wayne David MP, Maria Eagle MP, Kate Green MP (Fabian Society chair), Caroline Flint MP, Margaret Hodge MP, Stephen Kinnock MP, Alison McGovern MP, Bridget Phillipson MP, Emma Reynolds MP, Seb Dance MEP, Luke Akehurst (Labour First), Richard Angell (Progress), Jonathan Bartley (Green party), Stephen Bush (New Statesman), Claire Fox (Institute of Ideas), Katie Ghose (Electoral Reform Society), Stephany Griffith-Jones (economist), Dr Jan Halper Hayes (Trump Transition Team), Ayesha Hazarika (commentator), Ruth Hunt (Stonewall), Paul Hunter (Smith Institute), Owen Jones (the Guardian), Neal Lawson (Compass), Helen Lewis (New Statesman), Hywel Lloyd (Labour Coast and Country), Cllr Sue MacMillan (Hammersmith and Fulham), Paul Mason (writer & broadcaster), Deborah Mattinson (Britain Thinks), Cllr Reema Patel (Barnet), Trevor Phillips (former chair, Equality & Human Rights Commission), Vicky Pryce (economist), Elizabeth Quintana (RUSI), Ania Skrzypek (FEPS), Ernst Stetter (FEPS), Jo Swinson (former LibDem MP), Leslie Vinjamuri (Chatham House & SOAS) and many more.

New Year Conference is always a highlight of the Fabian calendar, and I hope you can join us to hear Jeremy and all of our other speakers. Tickets are selling fast, and if you haven't booked yours already, head over to our website now - they're just £32 for Fabian members".

Private Eye's view of Newham Labour Mayoral Process

This is not going away and is making Newham and the local Labour Party look ridiculous. 

"Fabians to look into Newham Mayoral Nomination Vote"

 Check out report below in Newham Recorder.
"The Fabian Society is “seeking further information” after its Newham members alleged they had not participated in a trigger ballot vote to support Sir Robin after the results were announced yesterday.

The incumbent mayor’s victory came from the affiliated organisations – comprising trade unions and socialist societies – which voted 11 to six in favour of keeping him, despite 11 out of 20 Labour wards voting for an open selection process,

The Fabian Society, which has not met in four years, voted to re-select Sir Robin Wales but Newham member Dianne Walls said no invitation was sent to members and if a vote did happen “it was a secret from us”.

She said: “I do not know how it can stand if we were not given the opportunity to vote.”

Representatives believed the society to be defunct after Giles Wright, Membership Officer for the Fabian Society, said it was “no longer active” in an email sent in August 7, 2015.

But Mr Wright announced two new social meetings by email last Tuesday (Nov 29), as seen by the Recorder.

In response to a recipient he said: “Newham Fabian Society is being revived, after a break partly caused by the urgency of national and mayoral elections, etc.”

General Secretary of the Fabian Society, Andrew Harrop, said: “The Fabian Society’s rules require a vote of eligible members before a local Fabian Society makes a nomination in Labour Party selection processes.

“The national Fabian Society has received a number of complaints that correct procedure was not followed in the Newham mayoral trigger ballot and we are now seeking further information from Newham Fabians.”

A representative for Sir Robin Wales declined to comment".

I have also made a complaint to the Fabians.

Fabians Relaunch in Newham (better late than ...)

"We are pleased to announce two meetings of Newham Fabian Society.  All Fabian members welcome.

December Social

Tuesday 6 December at 7PM

With Guest Speaker Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham. 

Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue London E12 6SG.

Annual General Meeeting

Wednesday 11 January 2017 at 7PM

Guest speaker:  Andrew Harrop, General Secretary of the Fabian Society

Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue London E12 6SG.

Further details from Tahmina Rahman,

Secretary, Newham Fabians

I think this is the first meeting of the Newham Fabians for several years.

You can join the National Fabians here http://www.fabians.org.uk/members/join/ but I am a member of the Newham Fabians for £7 per year.

Not sure what I have signed up to with my £7 and what it entitles?

Anyone know?

(Picture of a #MayorWhitworth look-a-likey at the last Newham Fabian event)

What should the next Labour Government do about Education? Newham Compass & Fabians

The next Great debate by Newham Compass and Fabians will be on Education and will take place on Tuesday 1 April (no comment) at the West Ham Supporters' Club Castle St, London, East Ham E6 1PP.