Canning Town Street Surgery

 

This lunch time I joined my colleague Shaban and local activist Robbie to take part in a Street Surgery in Canning Town North ward. 

By coincidence the area chosen was one I had been to previously in 2022 and it was an estate owned by 2 housing associations, L&Q and Sovereign Network. Shaban's ward colleague, Rita had a work commitment and could not make it. 

The canvass was largely very positive and Shaban was well known in the estate as an active Councillor, and being born and bred in Canning Town and as a local shopkeeper. 

There was a refurbishment scheme going on which was causing problems and concerns to residents which generated a lot of case work. 

I am always interested in Housing communal notice boards and L&Q seemed better than Sovereign but I noticed that their estate inspections seemed over due, but at least they were publicised unlike Sovereign.  Sovereign was also criticised by residents for not responding to emails. Newham Housing has I admit very similar issues. 

As Labour Group Chair I am planning to visit all Newham wards in the next few months. 

Campaigning for Labour in Canning Town with Labour Candidate, James Asser

 

I met up with James and some of his team outside Canning Town Library, while they were canvassing local blocks. Other canvass sessions were also going on in Custom House and elsewhere in Newham. 

It has been a very busy time recently campaigning and also sorting out the legal paperwork but this should be completed very soon and we can really start the real fight to deliver Newham and the rest of the country from tory misrule. 

West Ham Labour campaigning for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan & getting ready for the next General Election

A busy long weekend delivering leaflets in various parts of the borough for the re-election of Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan in May next year and promoting Labour to our residents.

Saturday and Sunday in West Ham ward with activists and with local Cllr John Whitworth & Cllr Charlene McLean. We are also had a young pioneer with us and a ringer from East Ham, Cllr Susan Masters, who had been attending a "Save NHS" meeting nearby.

On Sunday afternoon I went out with a team led by our MP, Lyn Brown to Canning Town North. Afterwards we had a drink in Cody Docks and watched a marvellous sunset.

This morning I was in my home ward, Forest Gate North, with Gill delivering to local streets including the address of a recent former leader of UKIP, who would not appreciated the front page of Sadiq's newsletter (top left).

Darul Jannah Community Centre 2nd anniversary & Student Prize Awards

I was really pleased tonight to be a guest at the Darul Jannah community centre in my ward, alongside Cllr John Whitworth, Cllr Anam Islam and Cllr Shaban Mohammed as well as local Police and other community activists.

The centre has been open for 2 years and the ceremony tonight involved making speeches, listening to prayers, islamic hymns and giving out prizes for achievements and attendance to the students who have religious classes at the centre. There was a fantastic hymn by a group of young girls.

In my speech I compared the Darul Jannah Islamic tradition of a strong inclusive community, charity and love of family with the close knit, socialistic community that I knew growing up as a child in North Wales.

Towards the end, newly elected Newham Councillor, Moniba Khan, also attended. The centre gave everyone a delicious meal afterwards.