Eve of Poll 4 May 2016 - Getting the Labour Vote out

The day started with some family political scandal via LinkedIn, my lovely sister-in-laws' current husband, has just defected as a North Wales Councillor (and former Mayor) from Plaid Cymru to the Conservatives. No further comment.

Other than that a busy Labour movement day. Today I had UNISON meetings with members at Stratford, Islington and Bow (yesterday in Guildford, Dorking and Merton). This evening I was calling at previously identified Labour supporters in Forest Gate North ward, Newham with local Councillor, Rachel Tripp.

We started off by bumping into a very strong minded resident, who I knew well when we both worked for Tower Hamlets Council and Rachel knows as a Councillor, who assured us that our Labour Mayoral Candidate, Sadiq Khan, had his second preference vote (his first preference was not Tory).

It is actually good fun calling on identified Labour supporters during the eve of poll. You can be less formal and more relaxed but need to be careful, since sometimes previous canvassers have got the voter identification spectacularly wrong.

Most of the photos in the collage relate to recent canvass sessions in West Ham ward (where I am a Councillor) with our local MP, Lyn Brown.

Last night I spoke at the lobby in a House of Commons Committee room on behalf of UNISON against the Tory Housing and Planning Bill (post to follow). Afterwards I went to watch the debate on the bill from the public gallery. Sadiq Khan was there in the chamber to support Labour MPs who were attacking the Bill and supporting the House of Lords amendments to this obnoxious and disastrous bill.

Instead of campaigning for himself, he was in the House of Commons to support and vote against a bill that will steal homes from Councils, get rid of tenant rights and force low to middle income Londoners out of the capital.

Tomorrow is a chance for ordinary Londoners to make a stand and elect a Mayor who will represent all of London and not just posh old Etonian multi-millionaires. 

Remembering Welsh Revolutionaires and Fusiliers

Former Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price giving the Harvard Graduate "English" address reminiscing (amongst over things) on George Washington's Revolutionary Army in 1775, Adam's ancestors  in the Royal Welch Fusilier's who opposed them as well as the 14 Welsh signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence.
Hat tip Col. Roi

Deputy Mayor Robbins

This elected municipal thing is catching. Belated congratulations to my in-law, Greg Robbins, who was made the Deputy Mayor of Llandudno District Council for 2010/2011 (and I assume will become Mayor 2011/2012?).

Greg is on the left hand side of the picture wearing the bicorn hat next to my very proud sister-in-law Debbie.

It is a very grand looking traditional costume and pendent that he is wearing.

You never know perhaps wearing red for the next year or so will help Greg “see the light” and leave the Welsh Nationalist Party Plaid Cymru and join Labour?

:)

Welsh Nat joins Tories because of "respect for Queen and Country"

I cannot resists this story and as someone who has family (I was born and brought up in North Wales and my mum’s a Denbigh “Matthews”) who are sincere Plaid Cymru supporters (my niece's step-dad is one of their Councillors). I know they will be splitting feathers at this news!

Knowing a little bit about Welsh politics I suspect the actual truth of this matter is probably more than appears.

This is though even better than the Tower Hamlets Respect Councillor (and SWP member) who defected to the Tories.

Picture is of the investiture of the Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth II in Caernarfon Castle 1969. Which I vaguely remember since we had a day off school, a great traditional street party and a free Prince of Wales mug (now alas lost).

A Plaid Cymru Councillor in the family

At the New Year’s family meal I posted upon yesterday I had a long chat with my niece Holly’s step-dad, Greg Robbins, who was elected as a Plaid Cymru Councillor for Llandudno District Town Council last May.

Greg is enjoying being a Councillor and is active in the Plaid Cymru Party. I must admit that I was surprised that Greg hasn’t experienced any “problems” being a card carrying Welsh nationalist. Greg looks “Welsh” and speaks with a North Walian lilt but he was born in England and his mother is English. His Dad did have family in North Wales but Glen admits he is only “technically” half-Welsh.

Interestingly, Greg also does not speak Welsh either. In the best traditions of British (and Welsh) local government when he was elected councillor he was appointed as a governor of the only Welsh speaking school in Llandudno. When he attends school governor meetings he therefore has to rely on the interpreter who also translates for the 4 or 5 parent governors who are also non-Welsh speakers.

Greg said he has never experienced any difficulties in the Party over his background and lack of Welsh. I am astonished by this since in the past I have come across “some” (not all by any means) Plaid Cymru activists who frankly put the BNP to shame for their views of the English (and anyone else they deem to be non-Welsh and therefore “sub-human”). Nowadays such views are now seen as being clearly racist. When I lived in Scotland, “some” Scot Nats were just as bad.

Greg said that Plaid had changed and there was a new face to the Party that welcomed English migrants who believe in self determination for Wales regardless of their origin or the fact that they speak Welsh or not. He reminded me that there is a Bengali Plaid Cymru deputy mayor of Colwyn Bay!

I have now lived longer in Newham than Wales so I really don’t know what Welsh nationalist sentiment is nowadays. I hope Greg is right. I do have my doubts. While I think independence for Wales would be a disaster (not only for Wales but also the rest of us) I hope my fears are wrong.

Picture is from the Llandudno Plaid Cymru website attacking the expansion of local offshore wind farms. Which I think are a good idea!