Axe the Housing Act

Picture is from the Defend Council Housing lobby against the Housing and Planning Bill in the House of Commons earlier this month. A number of MPs, Lords, Tenant representatives, campaigners and trade unions came to speak at it.

I was late due to a union commitment and missed Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but managed to hear Bethnal Green MP, Rushanara Ali, call for unity in order to oppose the bill. Later Diane Abbot MP, spoke about the need to build more and more Council Homes as the only real solution to the housing crisis, while Emily Thornberry described the housing misery of so many of her constituents, which is why she is known as the "Housing, Housing, Housing MP".

The Bill will steal homes from hard pressed Councils to pay the Tory election bribe on Right to buy for Housing association tenants and it will double or triple the rents of many social tenants who work and likely to result in mass evictions.

I spoke later on why UNISON is so opposed to the Bill. Out big issue is where will low paid families and key workers be able to afford to live in the future?

Not only do we have around 100,000 trade union members who work in social housing but we have 1.3 million predominately low paid, female members, many of which cannot afford a decent home to buy or rent. A recent survey found that a third of our members had grown up children still living with them and now twice as many live in private rented accommodation as in the social rented sector.

After the lobby I went to watch in the gallery the actual debate on the Housing Bill in the House of Commons. I saw Labour and other opposition MPs rip the bill to pieces and completely out of touch rich Tory MPs try to defend it on the grounds that it will benefit families who earn £100,000 per year!

The Bill is now law and despite some concessions is still vile. However, it does not come in force until next year and the Government will have to return to Parliament for approval on regulations etc so there is still time to campaign, oppose and axe!
  

Stratford, Finchley & Ilford Labour Campaign Day and the more people see of Ed Miliband - the more they like him

Saturday was a busy campaigning day. In the morning I went to the Sarah Sackman's headquarters in Finchley & Golders Green, to help deliver leaflets on behalf of "trade unions together" (TULO). This was a really well organised office with a friendly but competent briefing and no hanging around. Recommended.

By coincidence there was a large group of activists from Tower Hamlets there led by PPC Rushanara Ali and Labour Council leader, Rachel Saunders.

In the meanwhile I missed the Stratford High Street Labour stall (see above top) organised by West Ham Labour PPC Lyn Brown and Chair, Charlene McLean.

In the afternoon West Ham Labour were out campaigning for Wes Streeting in Ilford North with PPC Mike Gapes from Ilford South. Afterwards, we all agreed that we had the best canvassing responses  we had ever seen while in Ilford North and that we had some really positive feed back about how well Ed Miliband had done in the TV Q&A with Cameron the day before.

Is this a coincidence or is it that the more people see of Ed the more they like him? I think not.

Tower Hamlets Labour Councillors Iftar with the Community.

I had been invited on Tuesday evening by Labour Group leader (and long standing Unison member) Cllr Sirajul Islam to their Iftar at the
Waterlily function rooms at Mile End.

Ifter is the evening meal that Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. I have worked in Tower Hamlets for 20 years but this was the first formal Ifter I have ever attended.

It was a marvelous event with hundreds of guests and overflowing tables. I was somewhat surprised to see my old comrade, the Branch secretary of Unison Tower Hamlets Local Government branch present at this Labour Party event.  I wondered after all the trails and tribulations of his current Party if he is considering coming home to Labour?

Even more surprising was to see controversial Tower Hamlets blogger, a Sunday Express Editor and fellow North Wales Gog, Ted Jeory, with his lovely wife Alberta, who was brought up locally in Whitechapel. I just had to sit next to him and ask if he had felt any sharp pains in his back since he had been in the hall?

There were a number of speeches including by local Poplar & Limehouse MP Jim Fitzpatrick, who gave a rousing endorsement of Labour Tower Hamlets Mayor candidate, John Biggs, partly in Sylheti (apparently with a slight Scottish accent). While Bethnal Green and Bow MP, Rushanara Ali, claimed that Jim's Sylheti was better than hers! She introduced the star attraction, East London Labour Assembly Member and Mayor Candidate, John Biggs.
 
Also multi-faith contributions and prayers from Christian and Muslim preachers. Cllr Abdal Ullah was the main compere who kept things running smoothly and to time.

I think that you must have tremendous respect for British Muslims, for fasting from drawn to dusk in high summer. It cannot be easy at any time of the year but non Muslims I come across simply cannot believe that they are not able to drink water as well as eat no food during the current super hot and humid conditions. Many also pray early and late into the night which means they have to endure a lack of sleep as well.

Iftar is obviously a religious event but I most impressed with the courtesy and respect shown to guests such as myself. The fast finished that night at 9.10pm. I am not at all sure that I will have been so polite and well mannered if I had no food or drink for the previous 18 hours.

Hat tip pictures in collage to Sami Photography.

Update: Check out Hope Not Hate "The Big Iftar"  and "Dine at Mine" if you have never been to a Iftar.

West Ham 6 play Millwall 4 (Abbas as Labour Mayor)

Apologies for post title but I just couldn't resist it. Yesterday I was out with a canvass team led by West Ham MP, Lyn Brown in Millwall, Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets.  We were campaigning for the Labour Party Candidate for Mayor, Helal Abbas.

Last Saturday about 40 activists from Newham helped out with the campaign. 

The meeting point was in Copenhagen Place which I thought was fortuitous considering the election will be held this week on Trafalgar Day.  We were sent off to knock on doors.  The reaction from voters was again very positive. 

One person told me that he and his family will be definitely be voting Labour on Thursday "we don't want our Council tax in the hands of George Galloway for the next 4 years".  I told him I couldn't possibly comment :)

I also knocked on the door of the Chief Executive of a well know East London voluntary sector organisation and had a chat.

What is strange is that I work in Tower Hamlets and have been campaigning a few times now and I have never seen any of the opposition parties out door knocking or delivering leaflets?  Instead it appears from this report by independent local blogger, Ted Jeory, that for some - most effort has been in simply smearing Abbas and trying to poison the community against him.

Respect are up to their old tricks I see.

I posted on Facebook the other day this great quote from local MP Rushanara Ali "What’s at stake next Thursday is a billion pound budget, in one the most vibrant and diverse boroughs at the heart of our capital. For the people of Tower Hamlets this isn’t about personalities, it’s about the real issues – schools, housing, jobs and the economy. This is no time for a Galloway-backed independent who appeals to the margins and wants to turn the clock back to the politics of the past".  The bile it generated from Labour opponents was great fun.

Election is on 21 October - Campaign office is at 349 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9RA - 3 mins from Bethnal Green tube and is open for canvassing and leafleting from 10am-until late every day until the election. Or you can ring 0207 729 6682 or email abbas4mayor@gmail.com for further details.

Picture is from left: Newham Councillor Charity Fiberesima, Gordon Miller, Lyn, Councillor Pat Murphy (honorary West Hammer for day) and John Cullen.

Uniting the East End: A call to action in Tower Hamlets

Bethnal Green and Bow Labour MP Rushanara Ali calls for Action in Tower Hamlets Mayor Election. Hat tip Left foot forward.

"In a week when we are all waiting with trepidation for the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review, while marvelling at the twists and turns of Lib Dem MPs as they attempt to crawl out from the tatters of their higher education policy, there is a vital campaign happening on the doorsteps of Tower Hamlets. In less than a week, residents of the east London borough will be going to the polls to elect their first directly elected mayor.

Six months ago, many, many people from across London and beyond came to help me and Jim Fitzpatrick beat George Galloway’s Respect and the parties that would later join together and form the coalition. During that election the people of Tower Hamlets rejected the politics of division and joined with us backing our Labour vision of a united East End.

Since that election we have been putting that philosophy into action, challenging the far right English Defence League when they tried to march here, challenging the coalition on cuts to our public services and more recently fighting for Labour in this election.

Ed Miliband and Left Foot Forward have long argued that Labour needs to be a campaigning movement or it is nothing. By opening up the campaign to new volunteers we helped to create, with a fantastic team of organisers, a formidable campaigning force during the general election. Our team working under the banner ‘Uniting the East End’ attracted hundreds of volunteers, which let us do the most important thing – in elections – talk to voters.

Last time we had three years, in this election we have had three weeks! As MPs, Councillors, Greater London Authority members, Labour Party activists and community volunteers we are fighting as a Labour team on behalf of Labour candidate Cllr Helal Abbas, but we can’t do it alone. We need the support of activists from across London – so let’s start building that renewed movement in the East End, home to so many of the great  campaigns of the past.

What’s at stake next Thursday is a billion pound budget, in one the most vibrant and diverse boroughs at the heart of our capital. For the people of Tower Hamlets this isn’t about personalities, it’s about the real issues – schools, housing, jobs and the economy. This is no time for a Galloway-backed independent who appeals to the margins and wants to turn the clock back to the politics of the past.

Over this weekend, and on election day on 21st October, readers of Left Foot Forward have a chance to help defeat the Galloway candidate in Tower Hamlets, and make Labour’s Councillor Abbas a mayor who will finally turn the page on the politics of division, and start putting the people of Tower Hamlets first.

Please come and join us in this campaign, details of how you can help can be found below. The campaign office is at 349 Cambridge Heath Road, London, E2 9RA and will be open for canvassing and leafleting from 10am-6.30pm every day until the election. Please ring 0207 729 6682 or email abbas4mayor@gmail.com for further details or to let us know when you are available. With your help we can ensure a Labour victory on the 21st of October.

(picture Dan McCurry at Labour Party conference)

Battling for Bethnal Green and Bow

"On Tuesday Progress visited the East End, meeting up with Rushanara Ali in Bethnal Green and Bow. Rushanara told us about George Galloway and his neglect of the area and its people, the divisions his election caused and how she's trying to unite the community and make their voice heard in parliament again".

Tower Hamlets College - Save ESOL - Support the Strike

UCU at Tower Hamlets College are on all out strike. UNISON members I understand are also being balloted. Double click scans to bring up details.

Support the Rushanara Ali of Tower Hamlets
Labour Party Number 10 petition here. As requested by THC strikers.

“Recently, proposed cuts to courses and potential redundancies were announced at Tower Hamlets College. We are appalled by the plans to slash some 1000 places on the English for Speakers of Other Languages courses in addition to the 2000 places that have already been lost since 2005.

In such a diverse community as Tower Hamlets, English is not the first language for a large proportion of residents and these ESOL courses are vital for people of all ages as learning English allows residents to progress in both work and education, and to participate more fully in the community.


We are extremely worried that local residents who lack English training will continue to be marginalised in our society and their ability to integrate into the labour market and society more generally will be substantially reduced”.

Labour Rally at Cable Street – Michael Keith “on the stump”

Yesterday there was an outdoor rally for Labour Candidate Michael Keith in the Shadwell by-election, Tower Hamlets. The rally took place in the garden area adjacent to the Battle of Cable Street Mural (see main photo) painted on the side of St Georges Town Hall.

There were about 80 supporters, mainly from the local Bangladeshi community. Speakers included most of the “great and the good” of Tower Hamlets Labour politics. First was Baroness Uddin, then Tower Hamlets Labour leader Denise Jones , Parliamentary Under secretary of State for Transport and local MP Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour Prospective parliamentary candidate for neighbouring Bethnal Green & Bow Rushanara Ali. Councillor Anwara Ali (and local GP) chaired the meeting.

They all praised Michael for the work he had done in the past for Shadwell and Tower Hamlets as a Councillor. Jim Fitzpatrick astonished the gathering (well, me anyway) with a confident and fluent 4 minute speech entirely in Sylheti. According to those next to me in the audience he spoke it very well! I have uploaded a 30 second clip of (poor quality video) of Jim in action onto You Tube.

Michael was last. He was literally a politician “on the stump” since he climbed upon the remains of a cut down tree stump (see photo). He then proceeded to give a well delivered and passionate speech about how important it is for the local area to return a Labour councillor and to turn away from the divisive policies of Respect. It went down very well.

Afterwards the canvassing continued. See Councillor (and Newham UNISON member) Bill Turner “on the knocker” in the Tarling estate. On Thursday there was a good show from Newham Labour Party. I heard that there were 25 “Newhamites” out and about in Shadwell.

Again very little sign of Respect campaigners. I saw Galloway briefly; it appears from speaking to other campaigners that he was up to his usual trick of using a megaphone to scream abuse and threats at Labour party activists. Charming bloke.

I’ve had a chance to read an interview with the Respect candidate and to do some digging - will try and post something interesting later tonight.

Next Labour MP for Bethnal Green & Bow speaks to local UNISON Labour Link

Rushanara Ali, the Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow (BG&B) was the guest speaker at our Tower Hamlets branch UNISON Labour Link meeting. Cuckoo George Galloway, has “promised” not to stand in BG&B at the next election since he knows he will lose.

Rushanara spoke about local and national issues then we had informal but wide ranging “question and answers”. Some of the points we discussed with Rushanara were: -

A major local issue was the recent collapse of “1st Solutions” a money transfer service to Bangladesh from the UK. It would appear that many people all over Britain who thought they were sending money to their families may have lost everything. Incredibly it seems that such services are not regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

We also discussed the London Living Wage campaign. This campaign which is supported by London Mayor Ken Livingston, wants a higher minimum wage for London (currently £7.20 per hour) to take into account the higher costs of living in the Capital. Labour Boroughs want to make sure that all their directly employed workers and sub-contractors have this amount but are worried that if they specify a living wage in any tenders without specific legal authority, they could be sued by whoever failed to be awarded the contract. This could be challenged if the Labour Boroughs worked together.

We also talked about working together to lobby the government about re-introducing a “Fair Wages Clause” which was done away by Thatcher. This clause use to state that if any public service was privatised then new starters would still be paid the same amount as if they remained in the public sector. This would benefit low paid workers who work in privatised services nationally and not just in London.

Tomorrow I am off to UNISON Labour Link Forum in Manchester. Our branch has had its motion on the Living Wage supported by London Labour Link Forum. I hope it will be adopted by the National Forum then we can take it hopefully to the Labour Party Conference later this year.

The GLA elections next year and in particular practical support for Ken and our local hard working GLA member, John Biggs, was agreed. Also the local by-election in Shadwell following the resignation of the Respect Councillor. For the next few weeks the priority will be canvassing in the Ealing Southall Parliamentary by-election (Sedgefield is a bit too far)

Also at meeting we unanimously nominated Rachel Voller, to be the London UNISON National Labour Link committee member. Rachel is a nurse at UCL hospital and has been an excellent Labour Link rep for London.

East London Labour Movement rally - Alan Johnson 4 Deputy Leader

Tonight in Brick Lane, East London there was a coming together of all sections of the London Labour movement for Alan Johnson to be elected Deputy Leader. Alan is pictured with some of the London UNISON Labour Link supporters (who helped sponsor the event). However, local MP Jim Fitzpatrick, other MP’s, London Councillors, Party members, supportive community leaders and affiliated trade unionists came to support Alan as the best candidate for Deputy Leader.

The superb Sonar Gaon Restaurant was taken over by over a 100 supporters for a series of speeches and an opportunity to meet Alan over a top curry. 3 different Asian TV stations were present. We even had a little demo by disRespect to welcome Alan.

There was a panel of speakers, Jim Fitzpatrick MP started with a ringing endorsement of Alan as someone who would help Gordon Brown rebuild the Party and secure victory in the next elections. Alan Jarman (another “AJ”) Greater London UNISON Regional Convenor , spoke about UNISON "Labour Link" support for Alan due to his trade union background and understanding of many issues such as public sector Pensions. However, despite that, UNISON did have differences with the government but at least Alan would listen and would act to support us if he thought we were right. It was good to hear him speak about LGBT issues.

Newham Cllr Winston Vaughan, is a long standing member of the CWU who had known Alan Johnson for many years, he described him as someone he could trust; Rushanara Ali, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, spoke I felt eloquently about the importance of renewing the Labour Party locally and taking on Respect at the next general election. Shahid Malik MP gave a cracking speech, I lost count but it must have contained at least a 100 reasons to vote Labour, he drove home all that Labour had done for the Muslim community (and its mistakes) and exposed the racist underbelly of the Tories. Shahid also mentioned the “story” that Alan represents. Someone who was born in poverty and deprivation yet has risen to become a leading cabinet minister. He reminded us that Alan as a postman use to deliver letters to Dorneywood, which was the official residence of the deputy prime minister. Now he may get the keys. You can understand the appeal that this “story” has for the BME community and this is the reason for his widespread support.

Jim Knight MP gave a laid back but effective endorsement of Alan as someone whose moral character and personal strength would makes him an excellent deputy leader. The session was chaired by Mizanur Rahman Chaudhury. Good to see relatively young members in such a role and doing it well. This is good for the future of the Party.

Alan Johnson gave an exceptional speech. He appeared at ease and to enjoy himself. I felt he was pleased with the breadth of support, especially by the trade unions and felt at home. He compared himself to a stick of Blackpool Rock, he was a trade unionist to the core. He agreed with UNISON Regional Convenor Alan Jarman, that the Unions will not always see eye to eye with a Labour government however, the important issue is that if compare our differences within the Labour Movement (Labour Party, affiliated Socialist Societies and Trade unions) with that of the Tories then our differences are minor. Hilary Clinton used a similar argument on the democratic TV hustings in the States a little while ago. He attacked those of the extreme “left” who practice postures politics (I wonder who he could mean?).

Alan also pointed out that the single major difference between this Labour government and previous ones is that they have stayed in power for more than one full term. It takes time to change society and we have to keep winning. He finished by personally thanking and mentioning all of the panel. Alan was received enthusiastically and then went on to “work” the floor (which he is very good at) and spoke to every table.

Salford, Stratford and Bow Belles: Deputy Leadership Meetings

Excuse the probably sexist pun – Tonight there was the second event organised by West Ham CLP (sponsored by London UNISON Labour Link) in Stratford to meet Deputy Leadership candidates. Last Wednesday we had Hilary, Jon and Harriet. Tonight it was the turn of Alan, Peter and Hazel. First picture is of Hazel with local MP Lyn Brown MP and Rushanara Ali, the new Labour Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green & Bow (to take on Galloway’s) Again, I was acting as a steward (and self appointed CLP photographer), so I only picked up bits and pieces.

Each candidate had 10 minutes followed by a Q&A. Peter was “proud” to have sent his children to a comprehensive in the middle of a South London Council estate. He spoke about his background in the anti apartheid movement and his recent work promoting peace in Northern Ireland. He pointed out that all the candidates had voted in favour of the War in Iraq.

Alan, the only candidate to have left school at 15, he said that the Labour Party was only able achieve things (minimum wage) since it had stopped being losers and started wining general elections. He wanted the 21 century to be one dominated by the progressive left, not as was the case in the 20 century, the regressive right. Controversially, in response to a question, he was the only candidate to indicate that we should consider some type of “amnesty” for illegal migrants while the others were opposed. He recognised that there were difficulties (encouraging further illegal immigration etc) but he thought it was a trade union principle. Peter thought if we adopted this we could lose an election on this point alone.

Hazel started off by saying this is the first hustings she had been to that she had been given a “lollypop” (courtesy of UNISON). Her main thrust was she wanted to be an organising and campaigning deputy leader. Labour will only win the next election through “discipline, unity and loyalty”. If Cameron and the Tories win they will cut through vulnerable people like a knife through butter. She was firmly in favour of Academies which she said had transformed a school in one of the toughest wards in her constituency.

I did note that all the candidates supported (to a lesser or greater degree) Councils being allowed to build social housing. Alan was probably the most enthusiastic. They all stressed their trade union backgrounds. They left at 9.15pm to rush to the “Newsnight” Deputy Leadership live debate. We then had a raffle (tickets picked by Rushanara). After packing and clearing up we then ended up in the pub “The Goose” in Stratford.

Rushanara Ali to take on Respect in Bethnal Green & Bow

Rushanara Ali former aid to Oona King has just been selected to be the Labour Party Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow in the next general election. Commiserations to the other 5 shortlisted candidates (I am sure that we have not seen the last of them). However, Rushanara was the clear winner in tonight's ballot. Well done. I'm looking forward to getting rid of diss-Respect at the next election.

UPDATE: From Tower Hamlets Labour group web site : -

Bethnal Green and Bow Labour Party unites around Rushanara Ali, Bethnal Green & Bow's diverse Labour Party membership has confounded expectations ,by selecting a female Bangladeshi candidate to stand for the constituency in the next general election.

Rushanara Ali is only one of four women to be selected through open Labour Party contests in winnable seats in the last five years. If successful at the next General Election Rushanara Ali is likely to be the first Bangladeshi woman to ever be elected to Parliament.

Rushanara Ali said: "I am proud to come from the East End, and I am proud to have received so much support from right across the community and thank everyone for their support. The East End is a special place, full of un-tapped talent. I am looking forward to working with everyone to win this seat back for Labour." "Iraq was clearly a major issue in the last election and like many in this community, I also opposed the war and marched against it with many loyal Labour supporters. Now, we need to focus on the bread and butter issues which people are worried about here at home, which are housing, jobs and education. I will be working with everyone this community to campaign on these issues, and working hard to unite our community."

For more information please contact Karin Christiansen 07816839533 or email rushanara.ali@googlemail.com There are currently only 2 female ethnic minority MPs in Parliament. Dawn Butler (Brent South), and Diane Abbot (Hackney North & Stoke Newington). They are both Labour MPs Apart from Rushanara Ali, the other three women to be selected through open Labour Party contests in winnable seats in the last five years are Madeleine Moon (Bridgend), Dawn Butler (Brent South), and Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran)

Bow Belles join Bow Boys

Apologies for the sexist pun. Last night candidates Dr Rupa Huq (UNISON: Left) and Rushanara Ali (GMB Right) were also present at the Bow West branch nomination meeting. Former MP Oona King who lives in the ward also turned up to vote. The results are very interesting. Rushanara (who use to work for Oona) was the clear BME nomination. Then Rupa got the Women’s nomination and David Edgar narrowly piped John Biggs. Ayub was nominated twice however he did not “work” Bow due to time constraints. However, he made plenty of contacts that night talking to members.

Also in photo is candidate Abdus Shukur (3rd left) and (4th left) Councillor AM Ohid Ahmed (GMB). You can click on the picture to make it bigger.