UNISON Greater London Black Workers Parliamentary reception

Picture collage is from last month's Parliamentary reception for UNISON Greater London Black Workers. The meeting was on behalf of Labour Mayoral Candidate, Sadiq Khan, was a great success and oversubscribed with a 150 names on the waiting list. Margaret Greer, the Regional Black workers Chair opened the meeting and introduced the keynote speakers

It was sponsored by UNISON London Labour Link (which was why I was there). Sadiq had a clash which meant he could not attend so our regional Political Officer, Steve Terry, read out Sadiq's speech.

First speaker was new MP, Rupa Haq, who described what it was like to be a newbie MP, the lack of black and female MPs in Parliament and the importance of staying in Europe and electing Sadiq as Mayor of London.

Next was Chuka Umunna MP, who asked the room why should they get involved in the political process? Because change will never come about if you do nothing. We all have to be part of working for change. He also stressed the importance of staying in the EU and supporting Sadiq.

Other speakers included Chair of National Labour Eleanor Smith, UNISON Race Equality officer Khadiee Campbell and London's very own, Conroy Lawrence.

Nearly everyone signed the yellow form (middle right) volunteering to help Sadiq in the forthcoming battle for Mayor. 

Daily Mail "clarifications & corrections"

So, so true...The Daily Mail is completely and utterly vile and hateful.  (double click on scan to bring up detail). Hat tip thingy Rupa.

No fun being a Trot Friday...

Some bit's out of some posts that I have enjoyed reading this evening.

No fun being a trot
"THE righteous have their work done for them by others, the old Jewish proverb insists. Now that newspapers from the Daily Mail through to the Financial Times routinely run headlines describing ‘capitalism in crisis’, what purpose can possibly be served by rising at the crack of dawn to sell Socialist Worker to the early shift? It must take all the fun out of being a Trot".
My best mate ever Dave Osler

My long lost cousin across the pond
"I've recently seen a lot of stuff going around about "anti-bullying pledges" so I decided to share my own. I have pledged to teach my daughters ignore any bullies who resort to name calling and to knock the snot out of those who resort to violence. To be honest, I began teaching this to each of my daughters when they first began school. They seem to learned these lessons well".
Graymatters "anti-bullying pledge"

Labour & Capital advises
News Corporation AGM "if you have any shares or influence make sure you vote against the re-election of Andrew Knight; Arthur Siskind; James Murdoch; Lachlan Murdoch; David De Voe; Natalie Bancroft"
see New Corporation

Rupa Haq
"I was actually in the hall for Ed M’s Q and A last week attending the conference for just that day alone but despite my hand being up I didn’t get picked to put forward my question. Fair enough, they did want non party members rather than old lags and Ed kept asking for difficult questions. I would have asked “As you may have heard REM broke up last week, I wonder if you had a favourite REM song and the reason for that choice”. I’m not sure how he would would have reacted (“difficult” is a subjective concept) but we will never know".
Rupa