Redbridge Trades Union Council Rally 2pm Saturday 7 December

Looking forward to speaking about cuts to NHS and what we need to do to solve the housing crisis

Mayor of Redbridge Quiz Night: Tuesday 5 April 2016

Looks like a good night!

Mayor blows own trumpet

This is a little late but there are still tickets available for this event on Sunday. Hat tip top Musician union member and Redbridge Mayor, Barbara White.

Redbridge Mayor's Appeal Burns Night Dinner

Knowing the Redbridge Mayor I am sure that the band (and piper) will be excellent!

Redbridge Mayor's Appeal - Fund raising meal Tuesday 1 December 2015

This is very last minute but tomorrow (Tuesday 1st December 2015) at the Adana Turkish Resturant in Ilford there will be a fund raising meal for the Mayor's Appeal.

Redbridge Mayor's Appeal: Ten Pin Bowling Wednesday 25 November 2015

It is a shame that I have my UNISON Branch Executive meeting on this evening. Hopefully Newham will be sending teams to support this event. Hat tip Barabara

Redbridge Schools Fairness Conference

On Thursday I went to Beal High School in Clayhall to observe a conference run by Redbridge Schools on "Fairness".

I am a member of the Redbridge Council Fairness Commission which has been set up to investigate poverty and inequality in the Borough and what the Council and its partners can do about it. 

set up to investigate poverty and inequality in Redbridge and look at how the Council and its partners are taking action to address it. - See more at: http://www2.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/the_council/public_meetings/fairness_commission.aspx#sthash.Fob7WwQK.dpuf

set up to investigate poverty and inequality in Redbridge and look at how the Council and its partners are taking action to address it. - See more at: http://www2.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/the_council/public_meetings/fairness_commission.aspx#sthash.Fob7WwQK.dpuf

set up to investigate poverty and inequality in Redbridge and look at how the Council and its partners are taking action to address it. - See more at: http://www2.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/the_council/public_meetings/fairness_commission.aspx#sthash.Fob7WwQK.dpuf

The conference had around 100 pupils aged 14-17 and teachers from all over Redbridge. It was an opportunity for young people to discuss and debate "Fairness" and let us know what they think. Co-chair of the Commission, Cllr Mark Santos, opened the conference and told us that one of his favourite quotes was from former Prime Minster, Gordon Brown, that “Inequality should not be woven into the fabric of our lives". 

The main facilitators were Phoebe and Jake from the social justice group "The Spark", who were entertaining and informative. They led the activities, workshops and debates. I think everyone present enjoyed their enthusiasm and zeal for social justice even if I thought there could have been a little more balance and objectivity at times. 

I was very impressed by the young students present who were articulate and confident with a wide knowledge of current affairs. The most lively debate was actually about grammar schools with those for and against (there are 2 grammar schools still in Redbridge) passionate in their beliefts but still eloquent.

The final session was a brainstorming about "how can we make Redbridge fairer?" . The feedback was wide ranging: - a mass of analysis and ideas. I picked up "improve relations between different communities, promote a sense of unity, work experience hub, tackle age divide, teach practical financial skills, a swimming pool in Seven Kings, more youth clubs and greater community cohesion".

The full feedback will be fed back to all the Commissioners and at the end Cllr Santos thanked everyone for being part of such a great event and made it clear that the Commission will respond to all their ideas and suggestions.

(picture by Banksy used in photo activity)

West Hammers at Fairlop door knock

On Saturday West Ham Labour Party members went to help out Fairlop Ward in the marginal Parliament seat of Ilford North. Lyn Brown our MP sent her apologies since she has not been well lately. 

We were met at Fairlop station by local ward activist Pat and Redbridge Councillor Debbie Kaur-Thiara (middle of picture)

We were canvassing on behalf of Labour Parliamentary candidate (and Redbridge Council deputy leader) Wes Streeting.

We split into 2 canvass teams. The weather was pretty miserable and drizzly but luckily heavy rain held off. My team had plenty of exercise climbing up and down outdoor stairs in maisonettes.  Who needs to join a gym to get fit when they could join the Labour Party and go canvassing! .

The results of the door knock for Labour was pretty good. Fairlop is a Tory ward but we were able to identify plenty of solid Labour support and many who voted for the Conservatives last time are now thinking of voting Labour. I didn't come across any UKIP support. I think that many residents really appreciate that Wes Streeting is from a similar genuine working class background to them.

I knocked on one door and a very large man answered and half way through my spiel he cut me short  by saying he "would never support the Labour Party even if there was a risk of a communist takeover! Go away!" I thanked him politely for his time and went next door where a very dignified looking lady answered the door and listened patiently to my pitch, then said "I do not support your Party but thank you so very much for taking the time to call". What a Classy lady, definitely old school!  The next two households I called at were lifelong Labour supporters.

Door knocking can be cold, wet and miserable but rarely boring - since you never really know what will happen when you knock on that next door.

Important Changes to Council Tax (off line Redbridge)

hat tip Barkingside 21 on FaceBook

Aldborough by-election Redbridge Thursday 10 November 2011

On Thursday there is an important by election in Tory run Redbridge Council in East London. The Labour Candidate is Debbie Thiara (picture left). This is in a mixed Labour/Tory ward. 

Newham Labour Party activists have been helping out during the campaign.

Polling day is this Thursday, 10 November, and the polls are open from 7am-10pm. To help, please go to 105 Headley Drive, Ilford, IG2 6QL (map here - nearest tube is Gants Hill or Newbury Park).

For more information, please contact their Campaign
Organiser Matt Goddin on 07932 691 809.

UPDATE: Labour win "Newly elected Cllr Debbie Thiara will now join Conservative Cllrs Ruth Clark and Vanessa Cole representing constituents in the ward. She polled 1,436 votes in yesterday’s election, with Conservative candidate Melvyn Marks getting, 1,071 votes. No other candidate reached three figures in the count at Redbridge Town Hall, High Road, Ilford.
Liberal Democrat Christopher Greaves was third with 87 votes, United Kingdom Independence Party candidate Paul Wiffen was fourth with 83 votes, ahead of the Green Party’s Clive Durdle with 64 votes and the British National Party’s Daniel Warville who got 34 votes. Turnout was 24.6 per cent".

Roding Valley Way

Only slightly off message. During the Christmas holidays I went for a walk along the “Roding Valley Way” in East London. There has been talk of a planned footpath alongside the river Roding for years. I came across some footpath signs during the summer and assumed that the path must have been built. I was a little concerned that I couldn’t find a proper map or route on “Google” but since the walk is mostly in Tory run Redbridge Council I didn’t really expect anything less. So a few weeks ago I decided to give it a try.

I joined the “route” via Wanstead Park walking first across the flats from Forest Gate, into the park, past “The Temple” then down to the river and the metal bridge going across towards Ilford. I followed the way markers going East along the south bank of the river. The way marks soon disappeared and I had to walk through a hole in a fence near the Redbridge roundabout. Go across the roundabout to rejoin the river on the other side. Walk past some pretty vibrant concrete “Graffiti Art” then follow the river also alongside the raised and very noisy A406 dual carriageway. Keep on following Roding Valley way marks. These then appeared to peter out and there are Roding Valley Parks signs but just keep on following the right hand side of the river. Tricky bit at Chigwell Road “Refuse and Recycling centre” but there is an alleyway you can follow to the left of the entrance to the centre (no signs) and you come back to the river. Then the Roding Valley way marks suddenly reappear. Follow them then cross another footbridge over the river and keep following signs to Roding Valley Underground station (the least used station in London!) to take the train back home. Or you could keep going east along the river. The walk in total only took about 3 hours.

This is not a picture postcard “pretty” or “peaceful” traditional country walk but if you live in London you could easily go to the Chilterns or the North Downs any weekend. This urban river walk is different and very beautiful in its own way. It is always rewarding for some reason to walk along flowing water, there are also loads of different birds, plants and trees about to stop, stand and stare. You are certainly aware of our industrial heritage from Victorian water treatment plants to huge gas storage tanks.

If you do this walk you will never be able to drive along that part of the A406 or the M11 again without thinking about what lies below.

Luke on Why Lib Dem's won yesterday in Valentines Ward

At the risk of it sounding just like “sour grapes” I thought this was interesting analysis reported by Luke. "There was also a by election in Redbridge yesterday, which the Liberal Democrats won. Their literature concentrated on Redbridge Council’s foreign policy and used some pretty unpleasant pictures of Gaza.

Interestingly they broke a cardinal rule by naming an opponent, just one - the Leader of the Council, Cllr Alan Weinberg.I am also told from friends campaigning in the ward, that there were people knocking on doors, speaking of Gaza and mentioning what Conservative Cllr Weinberg and the Labour Foreign Secretary have in common - which was why their respective parties were not campaigning on the council’s foreign policy.

I wonder who should be ashamed of that deceit?" East London Tory Agent Peter Golds.

Maybe after the “respect” candidacy imploded the mysterious “canvassers” that I saw last night mentioned here were those out spreading such frankly racist filth.