It's a gray area...

 

For transparency - no known family connection (maybe some long lost Scottish cousin - this is the second time in a week I have made this declaration) and I have no idea about what really has happened except that it indicates that the  Labour Party does have problems in many places and at many levels.  This is not a great look but hopefully it can learn and move on.  

I will also say that it is more than a shame that a respected public servants career appears to have ended in this way.  

Check out what Labour List reports today:- 

Sue Gray: Did she turn down nations and regions envoy job or was it withdrawn? - LabourList .

Is this the final chapter of the Sue Gray saga? - BBC News

End "no fault evictions" - May's legacy or is it that all careers in politics end in failure?

Recently Prime Minister, Theresa May promised to bring about the end of "No fault" (section 21) evictions but we wait to see if her successor delivers on her promise.

The motion below was sent by my branch to UNISON National Delegate Conference earlier this year calling for the end of such "no fault evictions".  Surely not shome  coincidence!

This conference notes:

1.That the number of households in London who rent from private landlords is up from 15% in 2000 to 27% in 2017 and that Shelter forecast that nationally this growth will continue.

2. The lack of security for private tenants causes unnecessary homelessness and makes it very difficult for private tenants to lead settled lives.

3. High rents in this sector cause hardship for tenants and leads to the taxpayer subsidising private landlords via housing benefit.

4. Shelter believe that the reasons behind Labour winning in Canterbury and Kensington is due to the number of private tenants voting Labour (the rent quake).

5. In the devolved nations “No fault” evictions and “Right to buy” have been abolished or restricted. 

Conferences therefore calls upon the NEC:

1. To hold a national wide campaign day in 2019 for proposals to improve the private rented sector.

2. To produce campaign materials for branches on the private rented sector.

3. To campaign and support calls for an end to no fault evictions and rent controls for the private rented sector.

4. To produce guidance for all branches on how the Letting Fees bill currently in Parliament should be enforced by local councils.

5. To ask Labour Link to support manifesto commitment to reform of the private rented sector.

6. Campaign for all local authorities to be able to suspend right to buy in their locality due to housing need.

UNISON Housing Associations branch (Greater London)

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. 

Private Eye, EU referendums and the Role of Coincidence

Chance and coincidence can be a bit weird and unsettling but you have to accept that it just happens from time to time.

This morning in Newham,  by chance I spotted a bundle of papers including musical scores dumped next to a communal recycling bin. I had a look and noticed that there was a single well preserved copy of the satirical magazine "Private Eye" from  1975 in the pile. Which I recycled and took away to read.


Oddly, there was also some minutes from a 1986 Hammersmith and Fulham Conservative Party meeting.

While very few people nowadays will have a clue what the joke was about on the front page regarding "Social Contract" (Goggle it and weep), the 7 March 1975 edition of this 41 year magazine was extracting the Michael about the forthcoming Referendum on the UK membership on the European Union that was also due to take place later that year in June.

....Well, I thought it was all a bit weird.

"How to speak Corbyn" (and what a really rubbish press we have in this country)

From Private Eye. This shows why the UK press is so completely rubbish. Hat tip Ravi

Being Sued for Libel by a Disrespectful Tory

Alex Hilton at Labourhome first brought this to attention, then yesterday, Dave Osler, in this post here spilled the beans good and proper about an attempt to sue us all for libel.

Now, I am convinced that the case against us (and "Private Eye – now “settled”, The Labour Party – kicked out with costs awarded against the claimant and “Der Spiegel” – just coming up to speed) is frivolous and vexatious (also just plain nonsense). That is my opinion. However, I am not sure what the Court thinks about reporting actual details of the case so I will have to keep Mum for the moment.

I think that the law needs to be changed. This is in one way a truly fascinating and amazing experience but on the other it is in my view a colossal and tragic waste of Court time and money. Since there is no “Court” costs awarded in English libel cases, the costs to the public purse so far (which cannot be claimed against claimants or defendants) must run into thousand and thousands of pounds. What a disgrace. Please note how this money could have been better spent elsewhere.

I do think that with regard to Alex and Labourhome that it is just absolutely outrageous that they are facing any such legal action. I posted the original article on Labourhome and accept responsibility for it. Sue me if you must. If this legal action was to be successful then there would be no Labour, Conservative or whatever blogs which allowed un-moderated comments or posts. Even moderated blogs would be under threat since the law allows spurious claims to be made which cost £1000's to defend.

I hope all bloggers will pause for a moment and put aside sectarian interests (only for a moment of course) and realise that “there for the grace of god” argument applies to our little problem and any support you can offer in our common cause will be greatly appreciated.

Dave and I are defending ourselves in person but Alex has employed solicitors - so click on his post on Labourhome to donate to his costs and support the call for real on-line freedom of speech and expression for all.

Please note that for very obvious reasons I will have to delete any comments which may relate to the claimant or the case. You can email me privately via my blog profile (left).

(I've updated this post to take account of my Labourhome one)