Facebook Community Standards (The Curse of Terry Paul?)

 

I have had a few bizarre messages from Facebook over the years. None stranger than today when I was informed that this post from 8 years ago, had in some way contravened "Facebook Community Standards". The post is about my preparation the night before I took part in the London Triathlon in 2014. 

There appeared to be some sort of appeal process, which I followed but at the end I was told that they may or may not get back to me due to Covid? 

While I think it is a good thing that Facebook algorithms are checking content this sort of arbitrary nonsense brings such censorship into disrepute. 

Check out this copy of the post here https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2014/08/prep-for-london-triathlon-2014-tomorrow.html

Of course this is yet another fine mess that Terry Paul has got me into....

Triathlon Challenge 2022

Picture of London Aquatics Centre (Olympic Pool 2012). After work this week I went for my first swim since Sept 2018 (I am amazed at this but Google timeline is pretty scary and insistent). 

I have kept myself fairly fit during the pandemic but I need a goal to get fitter and also burn off excess "lock down" pounds. 

Last Friday I met up with an old friend, who I used to go running with many years ago (Not anyone from Newham) for a meal in Covent Garden and (after several drinks) we agreed to take part in a self organised Olympic distance triathlon early next year (April/May). 

Similar to the one I did with Newham's Terry Paul in 2016  , when we swam 1500m in the Aquatic Centre,  went on a 40k cycle ride to the Houses of Parliament and back again then went for a 10k circular run alongside the River Lea. 

I will raise funds for UNISON's Welfare "there for you" and will throw open the challenge to Terry and others to join us. 

Double Rainbow over Newham Dockside (Is there really a pot of gold buried in East Wing?)

 

This evening I came out of Newham Dockside after a "in person/blended" Pension Committee meeting and was stunned to see a double rainbow across the skyline. 

I have seen double rainbows in the past but I have never seen the rainbow being reflected in this way by glass windows. 

It would appear that the end of the rainbow is in the East Wing of Newham Dockside. I think in the Facilities Management section. 

Newham could definetely use a (large) pot of gold. I wonder if Terry & Conrad will be there with their pick and shovels first thing tomorrow? I would expect nothing less. 

 

Olympic Triathlon in Newham 2016 for UNISON "there for you" and Greek Solidarity Campaign

I have finally got my act together and am planning to complete an Olympic distance Triathlon with fellow West Ham Labour Councillor, Terry Paul, in Newham on Sunday 18 September 2016. We will invite all other Newham Councillors (and anyone else) to take part.

We are self organising this Triathlon and aim to swim 1k at the Aquatic Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Park in Stratford then Cycle 40k up and down in Newham then return to the Olympic Park and complete a 10k run.

I will be raising funds for the UNISON charity "there for you" and the "Greece Solidary Campaign".

If you wish to sponsor me for "there for you" click here and/or the GSC then click here

(pictures above of me from 2002 and 2012 London Marathon, 2014 London Triathlon (with "Red Tel") and the 2016 Great Newham Run as well as "there for you", GSC and Newham coat of arms )

A day with G Company 7 Rifles on Salisbury Plain

On Saturday I spent the day with 7 other Newham Councillors as the guests of G Company 7th Rifles Regiment, while they were training on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.

G Company is our local British Army reservist unit in Newham, based at Cedar barracks in my ward next to West Ham park. This trip had been organised by the one and only, Terry Paul, Cllr for Stratford ward.

The idea was to give local Councillors some understanding of what our reservist soldiers in the modern army have to go through. Terry and I had both been members of the "Territorial Army" (TA) when we were younger, so we had some idea of what to expect. But in our day the TA role was to support NATO against a Soviet Union invasion of Germany. Not to serve on hostile active service operations such as in Iraq or Afghanistan, which modern day reservists are normally expected to carry out.

We arrived at the Drill Hall at 7.45 and we were somewhat to our surprise were issued with combat overalls, waterproofs, Bergen's (rucksacks), 24 hour pack of rations, mess tin, cooker and steel helmets. Everyone was very welcoming and pleased to see us. We then drove by a minibus to Salisbury Plain which is a massive military training area and got off at at some disused farm buildings.

During the trip down the soldiers accompanying us were very honest and frank about their experiences while on active service. By coincidence one was born in Canning Town, a street away from where Terry was brought up while the other was his possible distant cousin. At the farm buildings we had a series of briefings about our day and were advised to put on all our warmest and windproof clothing.

G Company had arrived on the previous Friday evening and had spent the night sleeping out in the open and were carrying out reconnaissance training exercises all Saturday until about 2am the following day.  They were then planning a dawn attack on an "enemy" position on the Sunday morning.

We discovered why we had metal helmets as we climbed into our army cross country heavy goods vehicle to be transported to our first site. I used to be a military HGV driver and in my day (an expression which makes me feel pretty old) there was only a bench either side of the rear of the HGV that we were expected to sit on as passengers. Nowadays you have to wear a metal helmet and sit in racks with an airplane style safety harness. Going across rough country you appreciate wearing a helmet and harness.

After about 15 minutes we stopped at a wood near a training ground, got out and walked to the company machine gun platoon exercise. The platoon were practising coordinating and firing 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)

We then spoke to the machine gun teams about what they do and examined the GPMG and their SA 80 rifles. The machine guns, the tripods and belts of ammunition were so heavy you could not imagine carrying them as well as your other military kit.

Afterwards we went into a nearby wood which had been the sleeping area for the company the previous night and had a fantastic presentation by a rifleman on how to cook lunch from our "24 hour ration packs".  It was very cold in the wood and we all enjoyed the hot food even if it took us a little while and a bit of trial and error. Hot food is a brilliant pick-you-up that you only really appreciate if you are very cold.

We then went off to observe a section of the Rifle platoon carry out different patrolling exercises and formations. If a patrol was attacked they practiced firing back and maneuvering either to attack or move away. This is what infantry soldiering is all about. If you come under fire on a patrol you know what to do instinctively since you have practiced this time after time after time.

It was sobering to think that some of the more experienced soldiers present had actually done this in real life and had carried out these exercises while under fire from live bullets.

Finally, we drove back to the base in the HGV and then had a debrief with a cup of hot coffee then left to drive home to East London. All of us fell asleep on the way back. At Cedar barracks we dropped off our kit and changed back into our normal clothes.

I think that every single one of us Councillors really enjoyed the day and found it fascinating and different but also the friendliness and hospitality shown by everyone towards all of us was simply stunning. Thank you very much G Company 7 Rifles. You did us proud.

Afterwards some of us went to the Black Lion in Plaistow to give a toast to 7 Rifles and wish them well with the rest of the exercise.

I must admit that I was also thinking that day of my Grandfather, Frederick Matthews, who in 1915 did his basic military training in the Salisbury Plain and then went on to command a machine gun platoon in Gallipoli and later in the trenches in France. Did he practice such military skills in these very same fields and valleys 100 years ago?

West Ham Labour Party AGM 2014 - The return of Agent Gray

On Thursday evening there was the AGM of West Ham Constituency Labour Party (CLP) which took place at our headquarters in the High Street, Stratford, E15.

The meeting began a with a 2 minutes silence to mark the recent unexpected death of respected East Ham Councillor, Alec Kellaway.  I known Alec for many years and and had worked closely with him on the Council Investment and Accounts Committee.  He had always been very considerate and supportive. His death is a personal shock and a great loss to the Party. Council meetings will not be the same without his home baked cakes.

The AGM went very smoothly and congratulations to the re-elected Chair, Charlene McLean and the other elected constituency officers;  Alan Griffiths, John Saunders, Gordon Miller, Julianne Marriott and Seyi Akiwowo. 

Elected CLP Coordinators are Dianne Walls, Kim Silver, Veronica Oakeshott, Rania Ramli, Winston Vaughan, Conor McAuley, Terry Paul and David Christie.

Due to a very previous wicked life, I was elected as Campaign Coordinator and Agent with Mas Patel as Assistant.

Obviously the next year will be dominated by the forthcoming General Election and the need to re-elect our excellent local MP, Lyn Brown. While it is vital to keep up with the energetic local campaigning and canvassing that we have carried out since 2010, we all know that unless Labour wins its national target seats next year, Newham will be stuffed by a return of Tory rule.

Therefore we have a duty to make sure that in West Ham we do our bit in the target seats that we have been asked by the Party to support. As our Secretary, Alan Griffith, reminded us on the night, we have only "45 weeks until the 7th May 2014 General Election". Let us by hard work and unity turn this statement into we have only "45 weeks to get rid of this rotten Tory led Government".

(Picture of our West Ham HQ during the General Election 2010 when I was also the Agent)

Collins Review and West Ham CLP

I'm on my way to the Labour Party Special Conference in London from Brighton and have some time to reflect upon the debate we had on Thursday evening on the Collins Review at West Ham Labour Party General Committee.

We had existing policy opposing the initial proposals on reforming the relationship of the Party with the trade unions. This was the last chance for us to let our CLP delegate ,Terry Paul, know our views in light of the latest review (I am going there as a UNISON delegate)

The debate was actually more about London Primaries and the raising of the threshold for MP's to nominate a Party leader than on the future relationship with trade unions. I think that most members knew that the affiliated trade unions were on the whole supporting the proposals.  Yet there was a concern that this would damage the link with the unions.

I told the meeting that I thought that classic compromise had been hammered out which has got to work. While I am a supporter of the principle of collective affiliation, trade union members actively choosing to opt in and pay a levy to the Labour Party (which is the UNISON model) should finally end the lie about so called "union barons" controlling the Labour Party (if only).

If the proposal go through then the unions and the Party have got to use this opportunity to not only persuade train unions members to pay their £3 per year affiliation but also to get them, their friends and family to join the Party and participate.

We need to do because there is a massive disconnect in our politics. The working class in this Country have traditionally bought themselves political power and economic/social benefits by the ballot box. Many working people don't "get this" anymore. We need to get people to understand that if they want increases in pay, more homes, secure employment and save the NHS then they not only have to vote Labour but also take part and participate. The Party itself is in desperate need of new activists who are rooted in their community.

The issue of Labour Party "supporters" was debated and some members thought it was simply wrong that those who paid their full membership were in effect being disenfranchised in the London selection process for Mayor.  There was also a fear that the process will be dominated by the media. While one member argued that the Party outside London is basically dying with less than 200 in each CLP. We need new blood and new ways of attracting support.

Another member complained about the failure in the Collins report to reform the Labour Party NEC since there was still only 2 on the Executive from Labour Councillors despite them being the largest financial contributors to the Party outside the unions.

The raising of the bar for MP nominations for leader was attacked because it would make it very difficult for women and BME candidates and not give the wider Party a real political choice. 

There was a proposal that the Collin Review should be taken in parts which was agreed at the meeting. Yet in the vote on a London Primary for selection for London Mayor it was passed overwhelmingly. While by a narrow majority so was the proposal for the raising of the threshold for nominating a Party leader. Since there are no apparently no rule changes at the special conference regarding the trade union link we didn't have any formal vote.

Picture of long standing Party member John Saunders giving us the benefit of his views! London Labour Assembly member and Tower Hamlets Mayoral candidate, who is to left of picture, spoke to us next which I hope to post upon soon.

London Triathlon 2014

Off message but following massive Christmas greediness and self indulgence, as a punishment, I have entered the Olympic distance London Triathlon which takes place on Sunday 2 August 2014.

I now have 6  months to get into shape for the 1.6k open water swim, followed by 40k cycle and 10k run.

I have joined the local borough leisure centre service "Newham Active" and for the first time in decades, I have been swimming and in the gym.

For £36 per month you get unlimited access to the 3 Newham swimming baths and gyms. I still have Wanstead flats to go running and can use Ken Bikes into work and back.

I do however need to buy a bike (problem if you live a flat) and a wetsuit.

I have also in the boot of my car and on my hall landing, 12 boxes of West Ham ward Labour leaflets to help distribute. Join the Labour Party and you can get fit for free delivering lots of leaflets!

I will be seeking sponsorship on behalf of the charity "Alone in London".  Who are a youth homelessness charity that has been supporting young people since 1972. It provides a range of services to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and last year engaged with over 2000 people including those in Newham.

I supported them when I ran (very slowly and very painfully) the London Marathon in 2012.

If you want to sponsor me you can at this Just Giving web page online or by mobile phone text.  I will also have a traditional hard copy sponsor form. 

So far fellow Newham Labour Councillor Terry Paul  is also taking part in the Triathlon but we are busy trying to "persuade" various other folk to also take the plunge.

I will post every now and then on my progress.

Canning Town North Labour doorstep (and some local East End "Faces")

On Saturday afternoon Lyn Brown MP had organised a West Ham CLP Labour Super Saturday doorstep in Canning Town North ward.

We split into difference canvass teams and I went with Party stalwart John Saunders and Stratford Councillor, "Red" Terry Paul who was born in the ward and still lives here today.

We started in Addington Road, E16 which Terry told us was the childhood home of actor Reg Varney. Who I remember from the 1960's comedy classic "On the Buses" (see above).

While one of our local Labour Party volunteers actually lives in the flat that actor and singer David Essex use to live in as a boy (see his picture as "Che" in the musical "Evita"). Both Reg and David went to the local Star Lane Primary School (at different times).

Terry also pointed across the local park (see picture bottom left) where the house he was born use to be and also the home of Jonny Speight, who became the writer of iconic BBC hit "Until Death Do Us Part" and created the West Ham supporting East End monster bigot, Alf Garnett (see above played ironically by north London, left wing, Spurs supporting, Jewish actor, Warren Mitchel).

The actual canvass was pretty solid and supportive Labour heartland. We had some decent conversations with local residents on local issues and problems but on the whole it was very positive. One of the last addresses we called at the resident was openly anti-Labour and said that all Labour Councillors in Newham were former patients of closed mental health institutions! He said that if he had a gun he would shoot the lot of us.

I told him not to be so silly. While he is fully entitled to his views about our mental health, he should realise that for all our faults, Labour is the only Party who stands up for working people against the rich. If the Tories get in next time with a majority, then forget about a free NHS, employment protection and a fair wages.

You know in your heart of hearts, that they will be coming to get you!

(Personal views as always. Afterwards Terry and I went for swim at Balaam Street baths as part of our training programme for London Triathlon)

Phil Wilson MP at West Ham GC on the Trade Union link

The guest speaker at last months West Ham Labour Party General Committee was Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield.

I was late due and missed the main part of his speech supporting the proposed reforms of the trade union link. He finished by stressing he wants not to break but to "mend the link".There was then a lively Q&A.

Daniel Blaney, an Unite delegate thought that the arguments for reform are inconsistent. What happened to "Refounding Labour" and why was this proposal not discussed then?

My question was that if the Party followed the UNISON model only about 1/3 members pay the Labour Party political levy and if the other unions reduced their affiliations by 2/3rd we are going to be broke.   The Tories are going to outspend us as usual and we will need every penny we can get to defeat them in 2015.

Phil said that this will take at least 5 years to implement and and that there will be no reduction in levy income until after 2015 General election.

I also said that a pilot London wide primary to pick the next Labour candidate for London Mayor is too risky and there is a real danger that we would have a candidate selected by the Evening Standard. We should experiment first with a CLP. One member suggested to widespread merriment that we should instead experiment with the a primary for the Newham Mayoral election next year!

Unite delegate Terry "Red" Paul spoke strongly in favour of keeping the union link. 

Phil reminded us saying Labour is a movement not a monument. Things have changed. When he grew up there was 100k coal miners and people automatically voted Labour.

Gill Hay, an UNISON member supported the reform because she thought it will encourage trade union members to consciously and positively join the Party. Alan Griffiths, also from UNISON thinks unions are already incredibly weak and can do more.

Phil finished by stressing, once again, that to him this is all about strengthen the union link with the Party.

George Lansbury - the Cause Alone!

Just back from lively and animated conversation in pub after West Ham Labour Party EC and thought this quote below was apt. Hat tip Captain Swing.

 "Out of the setbacks of today, from the darkness of this reaction, a new and brighter day shall dawn. But, my comrades, it is up to you. We cry out against this one and the other, call for this policy and that, ask for new formulas and more and more words: what we need most of all is the selfless spirit which animated our early pioneers.

I am probably as guilty on occasions as anyone of bad temper and heated language : it is certain, though, that this leads nowhere at all.

The Cause Alone Is Worthy

The Great Movement of which all of us are part, no matter what label we put on ourselves, is bigger and more important than any individual or any organisation. No sect, no individual, has all the truth, because truth is many sided, and in its expression any of us may, with perfect good faith, find ourselves wrong.

As my days lengthen and I follow first one and then another to their graves, I find myself reviewing the past and trying to understand the events of to-day. The one solid ground for comfort, is an abiding faith in the goodness of the average man and woman; those countless myriads who know nothing of our internal strife; the men and women who long for a better day, and respond to our call for action in the hope that we, with them, will make the way straight and the path plain which leads to the better land.

I remain confident that in some way these millions will brush on one side our petty personalities and jealousies, and themselves carve out a "future worthy of themselves and their children; and I believe this because in life I have met more good people than bad, and because I am sure that the masses are growing in knowledge and understanding."

George Lansbury
ILP - New Leader - February 1928

Ronald Valentine Higgins - East End Docker, Footballer, Trade Unionist & Lancaster Bomber Gunner

On Sunday 23rd June there was a Newham Labour Party "meet the candidates" BBQ in Cody Docks, Canning Town. Party members met potential candidates standing for selection in 2014.

West Ham MP Lyn Brown was the special guest.  Cody Docks is an amazing regeneration project but even this was out shined on the day by the 3 generations of the Higgins family from East Ham.

I first met 90 year old Ronald Valentine Higgins (born 14 Feb 1923) several years ago at another Labour Party BBQ on Wanstead Flats. Ron has had a pretty incredible life. He started his working life in the famous Thames Iron Works, which was not far away from Cody Docks and the home of West Ham FC. He later played for West Ham and Leyton Orient FC. Since he was a semi professional footballer, he was not eligible to compete in the 1948 London Olympics, even though his running times matched that of the leading British competitors. He also managed East Ham FC.

Before this he served in the RAF during the Second World War as a gunner on Lancaster Bombers. He took part in 32 missions. The life span of an average Lancaster Bomber crew was only 20 missions. They had to complete 30. After the War and football, Ron worked in the Docks and became a GMB convener.

Picture of me, his son also called Ron, Cllr Forhad Hussain, Cllr Terry Paul then below Ron Senior and Hanif Abdulmuhit (picture taken by Ron's Grandson Paul).

I think we were all really proud and humbled to meet Ron.

West Ham Labour Party AGM 2013 results

Picture is from the end of tonight's West Ham CLP AGM and of some of the new "dream team" Executive also celebrating the 65th birthday of the NHS.

58 delegates crowded into the Party rooms at 306 High Street, Stratford, E15. Best attendance since 1980s according to one delegate.

Can't think why? :)

For contested positions we had one minute hustings then ballot. It all went pretty smoothly.

From left - Julianne Marriot, new vice Chair Campaigns & Communications; Terry Paul, re-elected Assistant Secretary; Gordon Miller, re-elected Agent and new Vice Chair membership, Charlene McLean, re-elected Chair; Alan Griffiths, re-elected Secretary and Anne Easter, new Women's officer.

Not in photo was John Saunders, re-elected Treasurer; John Whitworth, re-elected political officer;   Winston Vaughan, re-elected as Equalities Officer; Kim Silver, re-elected as Trade Union Liaison officer; Ahmed Noor, re-elected as Social officer. Apologies if I have missed anyone out?

Kim and I were also re-elected to the Executive Committee as 2 of the 4 trade union delegates.

"Trident: What its for?" Newham Compass and Fabian Debate

This picture is from the debate organised on Trident by Newham Compass and Fabians last week.

Kate Hudson from CND and Labour Party Councillor (and NEC member) Luke Akehurst debated the proposed Trident Nuclear submarine and missile programme.

Former Newham Cllr (and budding author) Graham Lane (middle of photo) chaired the meeting.

Luke went first and started by arguing that he is not here to argue for the use of nuclear weapons rather it's role in deterring such war. While there is no current threat Trident is an insurance policy for the next 40 years, since who knows what threats we will face during this time interval.

He agrees that the world would be a much better place if there was no nuclear weapons but believes that this is more likely to happen if there was multilateral rather than unilateral disarmament. Since no one would care if we disarmed by ourselves. If you have a deterrence you can negotiate it away but if you haven't got it & then find you need it to face a threat then it will be too late.

Trident lite nuclear solutions make pre-emptive strikes more likely & more dangerous than not having nukes. The total cost of Trident should be viewed over its entire lifetime - 0.3% of total government budget.

Kate was not having any of this and costed Trident at £3 billion per year for 30 years. The equivalent of 30,000 new homes being built each year which could provide 60,000 jobs.

She believes that even the UK Military top brass are worried about opportunity cost of Trident and that the UK cannot have Trident and be an useful military ally. Former Labour minister Des Brown thinks we cannot afford Trident. She points out that even Tony Blair admitted that that having Trident is not about defense but about national status.

Having any nuclear weapons is just too dangerous. If we think we need them then so will other countries.

The debate and Q&A that followed was civilised and courteous unlike similar debates I remember from my youth. As an aside I pointed out in the Q&A that myself and Terry Paul (a Newham Councillor who was also present) were "cold war warriors" who had spent part of our misspent youth in the 1980s as members of the British Territorial Army. Who at the time were trained to defend the German plains and stop the possible advance of hordes of Soviet tanks.

At the time I didn't think we would have much success in this role nor the reassurance we were given that don't worry if nuclear weapons were being used in the battlefield because as long as we had 18 inches of earth above our trenches, we were perfectly safe from anything apart from a direct hit! ...Yeah.

Dan Hodges at West Ham CLP

West Ham Labour Party like many active CLPs prides itself on its political debates. We regularly invite controveral guest speakers to our General Management Committee meetings (GC) which are open to all members to attend.

At GC last week, our Political Education officer had arranged for Labour Blogger and Daily Telegraph columnist, Dan Hodges, to be our guest speaker. See Dan speaking in picture next to the "tweeting" minutes secretary Terry Paul and our Chair, Charlene McLean.

Dan, is let me say, quite a "controversial figure" in the Labour Movement. His mum is former Labour MP and Hollywood actress, Glenda Jackson. He has worked in the past for the Labour Party and the GMB. But he is widely derided as the "Blairite Cuckoo in the Miliband camp". He has been a ferocious critic of the Labour leader, Ed Miliband and a strong supporter of his brother David.

You can check out my twitter comments here (25 October) on his speech and the Q&A. Afterwards the usual suspects took Dan off to "The Goose" in Stratford Broadway to continue the debate.

Dan had made a number of valid points about how fragile the Labour lead in the polls and that we should not at all take victory for granted in any future election (he thinks that unless we change, and change our leader, we will lose). He was willing to take the mick out of himself and be polite and measured in his responses to fairly direct questions and comments.

Yet I think that most people felt he is just plain wrong in his views. I must admit that he reminded me of personable figures on the "ultra left" who you listen to while quietly thinking "Yes, but, no but, but this is nonsense". I don't think the right wing of our Party (and of course we have a right wing and there is nothing per se to be scared of that) understand that the world has changed since 2008 and that we will not achieve what we frankly all want in our society without radically changing the way we run our economy.

Update: apologies but of course Glenda is still a MP (thank you Alex Sobel) and Dan has tweeted that "nice blog" but he didn't say that unless we changed our Party leader we would lose. 

David Miliband speaks to meeting at Stratford Town Hall

This college is from last night's meeting with David Miliband held at the Old Town Hall in Stratford, E15.  This was chaired by Ahmed Noor who I believe is the son of the first Asian shopkeeper in Green Street and my old mucker Terry Paul, who is a local ward member for Stratford and fellow "newbie" Newham Councillor.  Labour MP Keith Vaz introduced everyone to the audience.

David was the guest of the Pakistani Association of Newham.

He gave his usual impressive and polished speech and dealt with pretty well with a wide ranging Q&A.

I managed to ask him a question about what he thought the role of modern trade unions should be if became Prime minister and he was let us say pretty positive without being particularly prescriptive. 

I think he is a very good candidate, but his brother Ed - has the edge - and I think has the better chance of appearing different from the evil twins, Cameron and Clegg, and defeating them at the next election (sorry Steve and Terry)

Black candidate beaten by black votes”?

Check out this post with its provocative headline regarding the outcome of the recent Leyton and Wanstead Labour Party selection for its Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. This is on the blog “Operation Black Vote”.

I will admit to being a mate of Terry Paul who came 2nd (and check out this, this and that)

No-one is really suggesting that John Cryer did not win this election fairly under Party rules and by a significant margin. He was the clear leader in all the rounds. Looking at all the figures I think he would have won in any case so well done to him and I am sure that he will make a very good MP for the CLP.

The row is about whether or not Ahmad Shahzad (Chair of BAME – see picture) who came 3rd should have “encouraged” his supporters to vote for another black candidate if he was knocked out. It would clearly appear that they were not. Which is not good if you are Chair of BAME and “Our main aim is to work towards increasing the number of black and Asian and other minority Members of Parliament and other elected bodies.

While this could be “cock up” rather than "conspiracy" (and I repeat that I think that John would have won anyway) this sort of thing needs to be sorted out asap.

John Cryer selected as PPC for Leyton and Wanstead.

The ballot closed yesterday and the count was today. I got a text at about 5.30pm and heard the news. John won by 38 votes which is a clear margin and congratulations to him.

Former Chair of West Ham CLP Terry Paul came 2nd (see posts here, here and here). I think congratulations are also in order to Terry as well for running a great campaign and if things had had worked out differently he could have won. But that’s history now – there is only one position and only one real winner.

The local Party will now rally around John for the forthcoming real election and I am sure he will do well and retain the seat.

I spoke to Terry just a little while ago and he was obviously a little disappointed but was energetic and enthusiastic as ever. He especially wanted to thank the local members who had supported him.

Next time he stands somewhere it will be different I think.

Congratulations also to Unite’s Jack Dromey who was last night selected as PPC for Birmingham Erdington.

Terry Paul for Leyton and Wanstead.

Check out also this and that

Leyton & Wanstead: Vote for the Future (and Fairness for All!)

This afternoon the Hustings took place for Labour Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Leyton & Wanstead. As posted last week here I only know one of the candidates - Terry Paul.

Terry has been handing out this Card (see picture) to Party members who have until next Friday (I believe) to return their ballot papers.

On the back of the card there is:-

We have to stop Cameron’s callous conservatives destroying our public services.

We need a new generation of MPs who are passionate about Labour values

Terry, Paul 1”

This afternoon I spoke to some members who were at the Hustings and they thought that Terry gave the best speech and gave the best responses to questions. But they thought it was going to be close.

Terry has posted some YouTube videos here which I will also post later.