The West Ham Count 2015 at the Olympic Velopark

I have mixed emotions looking at this collage. On the one hand we had a fantastic victory in West Ham that night with our Labour MP, Lyn Brown, being re-elected with a majority of 27,986 and 68.4% (increase of 5.8% from 2010) share of the vote.  Charlene McLean was also re-elected as a Stratford & New Town Labour Councillor with the highest ever vote in the history of Newham Council.

Yet we clearly lost the national General election.

This morning I had my Councillor surgery in my ward and a young mum with her son came to see me. She has an eviction notice since she cannot afford the rent on her privately rented 2 bedroom flat. She has always worked for the NHS but due to benefit caps, she now cannot afford to live in one of the least expensive parts of London. She has even been refused access to so called "intermediate Social Housing" since she does not earn £40k per year.

What on earth will happen to her and her son under a future Tory government committed to billions of pounds of further spending cuts? 

Final weekend of campaigning in Stratford, West Ham & Ilford North

It's been a hectic few days and about to get even more busy. On Thursday and Friday we were out door knocking for Charlene and Lyn, in Stratford Ward, with comrades from East Ham. It was fascinating to see the original archway for the "Queen Mary's hospital for the East End" (1861-1983) which is now a modern housing development off Byrant Street, E15.

Saturday there was a stall in Stratford High Street then door knocking in Ilford North and Stratford. Other West Ham wards have also been door knocking and campaigning locally.

See the plaque in wall (top middle of collage). We came across this while out canvassing in Aldbourgh Hatch. We were all curious about who was "Maureen" and why is she credited with starting the estate in in March 1963?

Today (Sunday) West Ham activists joined East Ham in Ilford North, which has been described by LSE Professor, Tony Travers, as  "a very, very, very marginal seat. It's on a knife edge". If you can help out at Ilford North then volunteer here http://www.wesstreeting.org/polling_day_2015

West Hammers have been active not only in Ilford North, but also in Thurrock and other marginals. Tomorrow morning Women forum members will also be in Harlow.

Remember, if we don't win the marginals, then we will not have a Labour Government and Cameron will be your Prime Minister.
 

West Ham Labour "On the Knocker" in Stratford & Ilford North

Picture update of campaigning activity by West Ham Labour members in Stratford & Ilford North. We have been door knocking, telecanvassing and delivering leaflets all week. The new blocks of flats in Stratford are notoriously difficult to get into and speak to people. We managed to get lists of Party members and supporters to ring their intercoms and let us in.

On Tuesday evening we were in East Village, which is the site of the former Olympic athletes village now converted into private & social housing. It looks like well designed and good quality housing with plenty of open spaces. The art work in the collage is in the foyer of the private owned and rented blocks. It is more than a pity that the social housing blocks appeared to have none.

Today is International Labour Day and it would be appropriate to remind developers and social landlords about "Bread and Roses".

Ilford North, Stratford, Canning Town, Ilford North

This collage is a snapshot of campaigning during the last 48 hours. On Thursday evening I went to Ilford North and was sent out with Ross, Jeremy and Glen to speak to the postal voters at the Tiptree Estate. Which is a very well managed and beautifully designed Council housing estate in Clayhall. Lots of safe, green spaces for kids to play.

On Friday evening I was in Maryland, Stratford with by-election candidate, Charlene McLean. This was one of the slowest canvasses I have ever been on since seemingly everyone wanted to stop, speak and chat to Charlene and local Councillor "Red" Terry Paul. One resident even went off and posted her postal ballot paper for Charlene while we watched.

Today we had a lively stall in Canning Town with Lyn Brown, our West Ham Labour Parliamentary Candidate and supporters. It was heart warming to see local residents queuing up to shake Lyn's hand and wish her luck in the general election.

After the stall we went off to canvass in Stratford or Ilford North. I ended up in Ilford North with Cllr John Whitworth and we were given a "car round" to canvass and found ourselves out in the rural part of the constituency.  The results were as good as we get in the more urban areas. People are fed up of this Government and just want the Tories out. 

Campaigning for West Ham, Stratford & Thurrock

Picture collage of West Ham Labour Party campaigning for Polly Billington in the marginal seat of Thurrock and in Stratford & New Town ward.

In Stratford we managed to get into the new residential blocks either side of the High Street and were able to see some fantastic views over the area and the Queen Elizabeth Park.

West Ham are campaigning tonight in Ilford North from 6pm (Gants Hill HQ) and Stratford on Friday at 4pm. 

West Ham & East Ham Labour Campaigning Weekend

This is another picture collage of West Ham (and East Ham) Labour out campaigning this weekend.

There is a Stratford & New Town ward team in Abbey Lane, E15. While East and West Ham activists were out Sunday morning with Ilford South, Mike Gapes. In the afternoon, Stephen Twigg was at Ilford North to show support. I went door knocking with Tower Hamlets Councillors, Josh Peck, Danny Hassell and Redbridge Councillor, Stuart Bellwood.

We went to Roding ward where we a pretty good response. I spoke to a number of residents who despite being in their 20's were first time voters intending to vote in this election and those who were genuinely undecided who to vote for and were up for a  political conversation.

At one home Danny knocked at an enormous Rottweiler dog charged out of the doorway despite being called back by its owner, but after a few dodgy seconds we realised that it was very friendly and in fact as soft as butter.

Back at the Ilford North Campaign base I spoke to a fellow North Walian about Labour chances in Clwyd (North Wales) and than ran into more West Hammers returning from another door knocking team.

I couldn't resist including the fanatic picture of Labour Leader, Ed Miliband and the Chester Hen Party (top right) nor the picture of baby Juniper (daughter of Cllr Farah Nazeer) with the Kinnocks in Hampstead & Kilburn. 

West Ham & Stratford Campaigning (and one reason why this General Election is so important)

Pictures of some of the West Ham Labour Party activists out campaigning with our Parliamentary Candidate, Lyn Brown and Stratford & New Town ward Candidate, Charlene McLean.

Yesterday evening in Stratford, Green Street this morning and this afternoon in Ilford North.

Check out below one of the reasons why I think this this election is so important. Remember that the Trussell Trust are not the only organisation handing our emergency food to hungry families.

"People reliant on food banks reaches one million

Figures from the Trussell Trust indicate the number of people relying on food banks will pass the one million mark this week. The number of people given three days' emergency food by the Trust rose from 2,814 in the 2005-06 financial year to 61,468 in 2010-11, 346,992 in 2012-13 before jumping to 913,138 in 2013-14 - including 582,933 adults and 330,205 children. Figures for 2014-15 are expected to show a continuing rise despite the upturn in the economy. 

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves described the 618% rise in the number receiving emergency food aid as “shocking” and called on David Cameron to sign up to a pledge to reduce the number relying on food banks. Meanwhile, the Yorkshire Post reports that one in five rural households is now officially classed as living in poverty...."

The Independent, Page: 1, 4   Independent i, Page: 4   Yorkshire Post, Page: 1

(Tomorrow - Sunday 19 April we are going to Ilford North for 2pm. Give me a ring if anyone wants a lift)