Plaistow North By Election Polling Day (& speaking at Pension conference)

I took yesterday off work for the by election but got tied up in morning with urgent UNISON "fire and rehire" case work. I was able at lunch time to go "knocking up" (knocking on doors of identified Labour Supporters , reminding them of the election and encouraging them to vote) with party colleagues Sofia and Larry. We had a good response but I felt that some residents were being somewhat evasive about their voting intentions. They had changed from previously saying they were Labour supporters to now saying they were "undecided". Not a good sign.

After we had finished that round I had to go back home, change into a suit and rush off to the Bloomsbury Hotel (ironically right next to Congress House) and speak in a Professional Pensions Conference panel debate on the merits of  trustees being "Professional Vs Lay: The Great Pension Scheme Debate". Anyone who knows me would be able to predict which side of the argument I was on and I will post on this another time.

Afterwards back home to Newham, change of clothes into comfy shoes, outdoor clothes, torch and drop key. I took the 58 bus to the committee room and was soon allocated a round with my Councillor colleague Larisa and a Hammersmith & Fulham Labour colleague (also a local Councillor and Chair of Planning) Omid.  It is always difficult to canvass in the dark but we worked very well together as a team. Larisa's russian language skills were particularly helpful. I did not realise how many residents from eastern europe also spoke russian as well as their native language. 

I only had 2 "difficult" conversations with residents about Gaza and the Labour Party response but they were respectful and considered. However, again, I was concerned at the number of residents who were now saying they were "undecided" or not voting.

I bumped into some of the the independent landlord party activists outside polling stations and had no problems but they were clearly breaking electoral law by gathering so close and in large numbers. It must have been intimidating for voters.

At the end of our round we joined up with another team and were still out "knocking up" after 9.30pm. Many thanks to activists from Tower Hamlets and Hackney for their support. 

After the close of campaigning some of us went to the nearby historic "Black Lion" pub for a drink and a gossip. While we were hopeful of a good result, we thought it was going to be tough night. 

Alas, our wonderful Labour Candidate, Akhtharul Alam, did not win on this occasion. It was not his fault in the slightest. The community did punish us over Gazi but there were other issues regarding parking, fly tipping and Anti-social behaviour which we need to address better. While this is clearly a defeat I am confident that Labour can restore trust and win back support in the future. 

“Who is Mehmood Mirza?”

Check this very good blog by Josephine on Newham 65 blog (which I certainly do not always agree with) and also make it clear that our Labour candidate, Sofia, at the by election was one of the hardest working, capable and all round nice person candidate I had ever worked with. I also declare that technically at least, I am also Josephine’s “employer” again (for third time). 

Guest post by Josephine Grahl

Mehmood Mirza has surprised many by winning Thursday’s by-election in Boleyn ward. But who is he, and what does he stand for?

He has described his occupation variously as a legal adviser, a campaigner and a human rights activist, but he is also a significant private landlord. He currently owns ten properties in the borough, which will make him – since the departure of Ayesha Chowdhury from the council last year – the most propertied Newham councillor-landlord.

As part of a group calling itself Democracy Newham, Mirza was a driving force behind the ‘people’s petition’ – the collection in 2020 of over 12,000 signatures needed to force a governance referendum on Newham Council. The petition was rendered invalid due to the pandemic-related suspension of electoral legislation, but the council had in any case committed to hold a referendum before the end of Rokhsana Fiaz’s first term of office.

On the announcement that the referendum would be held in May 2021 and that the choice on the ballot would be between the existing mayoral system and the committee system, Democracy Newham sued the council, arguing that the choice should be between the mayoral system and the cabinet system. Their legal action was unsuccessful, and the council made a counter claim against Democracy Newham for breaching the embargo on the judge’s original decision.

Making the best of a bad job, Mirza became an enthusiast of the committee system. Democracy Newham flyposted the borough with thousands of posters and leaflets which dubiously asserted that a vote for the committee structure would lead directly to dozens of policy changes on the council, from the removal of parking charges to the reduction of council tax

A long-standing Labour party member, his conduct in the party drew widespread criticism particularly for his habit of ‘organising’ meetings – attending meetings in other wards to oversee elections and ‘encourage’ his own supporters. Perhaps the nadir of this form of ‘organising’ came when he lobbied the West Ham Women’s Forum AGM in May 2019, stopping women members as they entered the meeting to press on them a list of his preferred candidates.

His re-election (as membership officer) at the June 2019 West Ham CLP AGM was one of the factors which prompted this writer’s resignation as CLP Chair the day after that election. My experience of working with Mirza in the CLP Executive previously did not give me any confidence that the CLP, already riven by factional division, would become a more inclusive or effective place to work towards a Labour government.

In early 2020 he gained the necessary nominations to stand for the Labour NEC as a candidate for the BAME section, with endorsement from a platform describing itself as the ‘Labour Left Alliance’ – a short-lived Labour grouping which set itself up in competition to the long established Centre-Left Grassroots Alliance, where the Labour left actually organises agreed candidate slates. 

But in February 2020, before ballots had closed, Mirza was suspended from the Labour party, allegedly for antisemitism. Nearly two years later in January 2022 he announced on Twitter that he had resigned his party membership.

Having left the party, he was free to stand against Labour, and decided that the issue of fly-tipping would be a suitable focus to build a political profile in the borough. He was eventually blocked by Newham Council on Twitter and Facebook after an extended ‘campaign’ of obsessively replying to every post by the Council with a stream of photos of fly-tipping sites.  

In the 2022 Newham local elections he stood against Labour as part of a loose alliance of disenchanted formerly Labour independents which included both the former West Ham CLP Chair Carel Buxton and the former East Ham CLP Chair Tahir Mirza. Standing for election both as Mayor of Newham and ward councillor in Plashet, he outperformed his comrades, but did not win.

Newham 65 was correct, at the time, to describe his manifesto as “a muddled policy platform veering between revolutionary socialism and pro-small business and -car measures.” This kind of opportunistic and incoherentpopulism has characterised all of Mirza’s political interventions – including his most recent, successful one. But we were clearly in error to conclude that we had seen the last of Mirza’s electoral endeavours”.

 

East Ham Newham Voices - By Elections Hustings

 

Yesterday morning I went to the hustings in East Ham Library organised by Newham Voices. Picture is of Labour Candidate for Boleyn Ward, Sofia Patel (Stephanie Garfield, Wall End Labour candidate was unable to attend) telling it as it is on - fly tipping, sex education, hate speech, housing, policing and diversity. 

I admit that I am biased but I genuinely thought that Sofia was head and shoulders above everyone else on the panel. Dispite a rather vile sexist and anti working class question directed at her by those who claim to be pro equality (aka posh middle class white Green male's) that since she worked for the Labour Party she must be a Personal Assistant. However, she kept her cool and answered this and some other unpleasant attack questions with dignity, passion and great skill. 

Many thanks to Newham Voices for organising this event and to all the candidates and all residents who attended (even the sexist bigots, who hopefully learnt some things - probably not).

I hope that there is a good turnout this Thursday 13 July, at the two by elections and we must let the People of Wall End and Boleyn wards decide (but don't forget to bring your photo ID!)

Getting the Labour Postal Vote out in Boleyn

 

On Saturday morning I joined Labour colleagues door knocking in the Boleyn ward by election in East Ham. The local Labour Candidate is Sofia Patel. Thanks to Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz for main picture of us mostly trying to install the Labour doorstep information on our phones (my attempt failed)

We were calling at residents who had previously said they were postal voters and we were gently reminding them to vote. The response was on the whole really positive and residents either knew or had heard of Sofia and the vast majority had already voted (most for Labour). 

During the session I only came across 3 residents who had not voted Labour. One was a relative or tenant of the so called "independent" candidate, another was a labour supporter who apologised for voting Green due to a "moment of madness" but would be voting Labour again in the future. 

The third was someone who I had a decent political conversation with. He was not supporting Labour since he wanted more to be done to protect cars in his road since he had recently suffered "hit and run" damage on his car. I suggested that Labour in Newham was very much in favour of traffic calming & diversion  schemes which would help with this problem. 

He then said he was against emission parking charges in Newham, despite the fact he had a lovely young daughter running around in the hall. I mentioned again (same as last Saturday in Uxbridge campaign) the views of my UNISON paramedic colleague (Peter Hannell) that in central London 25% of kids suffer from asthma but in  his home town in rural Hertfordshire it is only 5%.

I think he got that point. Afterwards canvassers enjoyed coffee and gossip in Red Rock cafe right next to the Champions Statute. 

Out and about for Labour in Boleyn

 

This morning after my West Ham ward Councillor surgery, I cycled over and joined Labour colleagues in Boleyn ward to deliver Direct messages to local residents. I missed the local MP, Sir Stephen Timms who had been with teams earlier but did join the Mayor, Candidate Sofia Patel and local Councillors and activists, walking up and down stairs delivering these messages. 

Most of the activity took place at the site of the Old West Ham FC stadium. The picture top right is I think where the centre of the pitch used to be.

It was pretty hot and a real treat to finish this session with ice cream! 

Meet at West Ham Champions Statute

This morning I joined our Labour candidate, Sofia Patel and her team at the "Champions Statute. This was the starting point of the West Ham FC victory tour on Thursday following their celebration parade upon winning the Eurora Conference League cup.  Well done to West Ham and the many, many thousands of fans who turned out that day to celebrate their fantastic victory. 

This morning there was another successful canvass and lots of good conversations with local residents about problems and possible solutions. Whenever a local resident wanted to speak to our candidate, Sofia Patel (who lives in the ward and was born and brought up in Newham) she would run over to see them and listen then talk. A somewhat rare and very welcome attribute in politics in my experience.  

It was definitely the hottest day of the year so far. Afterwards we went to the famous Boleyn Pub for coffee, water, soft drinks and snacks. I had to leave early to get ready for the prelims of the UNISON National conference tomorrow in Liverpool. I will soon be back to support Sofia and Stephanie in Wall End

On the knocker for Sofia Patel in Boleyn

 

This morning after my Councillor surgery in West Ham, I cycled over to the Champions Statute in Boleyn ward. There I joined the canvass team supporting our excellent candidate, Sofia Patel, who was born and brought up in Newham and lives in the ward. 

It was a really positive canvass and Sofia was brilliant at listening to residents and showing how she is keen to help and support them. I had some really interesting conversations with residents including one who are Labour doorstep app identified as being "Against" Labour the last time we had spoken to him a few years ago. 

He told me that he was a lifelong Conservative voter who was now undecided for the first time ever. We had a "grown up" conversation about politics and the current state of the country. He was clearly embarrassed and frustrated at the antics of recent Tory leaders. I think we both agreed that the present government had been in power for 13 long years and it is time for a change. He still hadn't made up his mind but I think (and hope) he will take the plunge and at least "lend us" his vote. 

Apart from that, my canvass returns were very solid. The online Labour doorstep app is a fantastic canvassing tool and you know who is on the electoral role and you can enter information instantly. No more soggy, unclear canvass sheets which are never inputted. 

I will be going back to Boleyn but I will be also supporting Stephanie, who is standing for Labour in our other by election in Wall End ward. 

Newham Labour: Boleyn and Wall End by-Election candidates chosen

Hat tip Newham Labour  "Local campaigners Sofia Patel and Stephanie Garfield have been selected by Labour to stand as the party’s candidates for the Boleyn and Wall End by-elections.

Mayor of Newham Rokhsana Fiaz said: “Sofia and Stephanie are great community champions who will both hit the ground running to improve the lives of residents in Boleyn and Wall End wards. From tackling the scourge of fly-tipping in their neighbourhoods, to championing renters rights they will be passionate advocates for local people across all those things that matter to residents most.

I am looking forward to them joining the Labour team at the council as we drive forward with our purpose of building a fairer Newham for everyone.”

Boleyn candidate Sofia Patel was born, raised and educated in Newham. She has previously managed a local cinema, held roles in health and social care and now works for the Labour Party. Sofia is a strong advocate for youth services, social justice and the needs of older people. 

Sofia said: “I’m Newham through and through – I was born and raised here, and I’m proud to call Boleyn ward home. “Having worked in social care, and been a carer myself, I am passionate about providing people with the support they require to live rich and fulfilling lives. 

That’s why the action being taken by Newham’s Labour-run Council to increase expenditure on social care and deliver fair pay for our carers is so important. If elected, I will speak up for carers, continue to tackle the fly-tippers whose actions blight our neighbourhood, and work hard to help deliver on Newham Labour’s vision for a cleaner, greener, safer borough.”

Wall End candidate Stephanie Garfield works for the NHS, runs a small independent arts business and has been a British Sign Language interpreter. She is a dedicated public servant, local activist and entrepreneur, with a strong commitment to inclusive and compassionate local services.”

Stephanie said: “Alongside my brilliant NHS colleagues, I worked tirelessly to serve our communities and support deaf students throughout the pandemic – so I know all too well the value of properly-funded, well-run public services that are accessible to everybody.

“But while Newham’s Labour-run Council are delivering crucial investment and supporting local people through the cost-of-living crisis, Tory government cuts and economic mismanagement continue to harm our community. Only Labour can build a fairer Newham and I pledge to champion Wall End and work hard for a cleaner, safer and fairer neighbourhood.”