West Ham and Manor Park Street Surgery

 

Last Saturday I joined my West Hammer comrades John & Varghese for our ward street surgery. We went to the historic heart of the ward - Church Street. 

As a local Councillor, I picked up case work on housing repairs - individual and communal, rubbish collection and bin sheds, planning issues (see middle top) and street homelessness. The reaction to us calling was all pretty positive and it was good to see again, local community activists and Labour Party members and chat about issues. The top left picture was us in the front of a very welcome Council new build development. 

This morning I joined Manor Park comrades, local Councillor Salim and Hassan. We knocked up the Wanstead flats side of the ward. The recent grass fire on the flats had obviously caused concern. While there was some polite push back from known opponents, it was overall very solid Labour. It is clear that some Labour supporters are very concerned with local and national Party issues but are still giving us the opportunity to earn their trust. 

As Chair of Newham Labour Group, I will be joining all Newham wards in their future street surgeries. 

West Ham Sunshine Street Surgery

This morning we took part in a Street Surgery knocking on doors of residents around Old Barrowfield and asking them if they had any problems or issues with the Council that they wished to discuss with their local Councillors. 

My colleague, John Whitworth and I picked up a case work on estate management, disrepair and housing waiting lists. On the whole, we were well received and although most residents did not have any complaints, they appreciated being asked and given information on our surgeries and how to contact us if they had. We had in total 37 contacts of which 2/3rd also said they supported Labour. 

Many thanks to our local Labour volunteer activists Varghese, Mushtaq and Janet for their support. We finished off with Coffee and gossip at a local café. 

A West Ham Labour doorstep

 

Picture collage of today's doorstep with my West Ham ward Councillor colleague John Whitworth and our super local activist, Varghese. It did not start well since the Labour Party canvass software (contact creator) was not working and we could not download information on who to call at. 

So we did an old fashioned doorstep and knocked on every door in the area. After a rather large number of elections this year it was pleasant, not to be just identifying supporters and asking for votes, but speaking to residents about any problems or issues they may have with the Council, life or the new Labour Government  (as it turned out). 

At one home I picked up a housing repair chase by a Council tenant, who was also trying to console her 2 young, very upset, grandchildren, whose goldfish had just died.  The children asked me if I was able to help their goldfish but I had so say to them that I could not but I was sure they had given the fish a wonderful life.

I later had a lovely time with a very friendly English short hair house cat (see collage). 

I had complaints about the Newham Council telephone contact centre, not answering up calls in a timely manner and I will be raising this issue with management. Other complaints about fly tipping, weeds in communal areas and unkept gardens.  

I did also get some ear bashing about the ending of winter fuel grants for all pensioners, including two residents who were about to lose the benefit. But they were not hostile and understood what a dreadful financial hole the new government was in. One of them was a UNISON member in schools and we had a chat about the forthcoming strike ballot on pay (if your union says vote to reject the pay offer - so vote to reject and in favour of action)

At the end of the canvass, I called on another pensioner, who described himself as "a retired trade union Labour man", who was a very strong supporter of the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and gave a very detailed account of why the Tory mismanagement of our economy in the past had made very difficult decisions inevitable. 

It was good to see the Newham council new build project opposite the estate. 

I will be contacting Dominos Pizza about their canvassers just throwing leaflets on the floor of blocks. We saw this in 3 different housing blocks and I will be asking Council officers if we can prosecute this shameful litter bug. 

Supporting Melanie & Uma in Maryland - Wednesday (then burger, pint & chips in the "Cart and Horses" the birthplace of Iron Maiden)

 

I went to Beckton to canvass but it had to be cancelled due to a mishap. These things happen in elections. So I went again to Maryland to support Melanie and Um,a in a session led by my West Hammer colleague, John Whitworth and our number one canvasser, Varghese Mathai. 

As we started it was nice to be told "good luck" by a friendly passer bye. It was pretty hot and humid and we had lots of blocks and stairwells to climb which was good for my steps. 

Tonight, we were in a more traditional working class part of Maryland and I had a 100% positive response for Labour from the residents I managed to speak with.  I was also stopped by other passer byes, pledging support and asking for leaflets. So many people are so desperate for change and want to give Labour a chance. 

Afterwards we went for a drink (and some of us food) in the well known, Maryland pub, the "Cart & Horses", which is apparently the birthplace of the heavy metal band "Iron Maiden" ( a name inspired by a certain former Tory Prime Minister). There were some bands playing in the basement but it was very nice and relaxed in the bar area. 

On the way back home I listened to the live debate between Sunak Vs Starmer and thought Keir wiped the floor with him. I admit that I am somewhat conflicted on this issue :-) 

Getting out the Labour Postal vote in West Ham, Plaistow & Canning Town

 

Yesterday I spent the morning in West Ham ward with our local MP, Lyn Brown, my colleague Cllr Charlene Mclean (and our super young pioneer) and our top activist Varghese . 

We were calling at all Labour supporters who are postal voters to remind them to fill out their 3 votes for:-

1. Sadiq Khan as London Mayor, 
2. Unmesh Desai as local City & East London Assembly member and 
3. Labour - for the List candidates.  

It was a lovely warm, spring day day so many residents were out and the contact rate was not great but Labour support was pretty solid. 

In the afternoon, Lyn and I joined Plaistow West & Canning East ward Councillors John Morris & Simon Rush with local activist Veronica. We were later joined by my UNISON colleague and Hackney Wick Councillor, Joseph Ogundemuren.  

Again, many residents were out but very firm support for Sadiq and Labour from those who were in.

Register to vote online if you you are not registered by 11.59pm 16 April 2024 https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . It usually takes only 5 minutes. 

Applications to have a postal vote have to be by this Wednesday 17/4/24 by 5pm https://www.newham.gov.uk/council/vote-post

West Hammers on tour: Wellingborough By election 15 Feb 24

This morning four of us (Alan, Ash, Me and Varghese - all of whom live in the West Ham Parliamentary constituency) drove down to Wellingborough to support the Labour Candidate, Gen Kitchen (former Newham Councillor) in this important by election. 

It took under 2 hours to get there and we had been directed to a community centre which was a campaign hub. It was thankfully, very well organised and we were speedily booked in, given leaflets and shown a video by Gen and the Labour Party GS, David Evans, on local issues and campaigning techniques.  There was also sandwiches and drinks available. 

There was no hanging about and we were soon allocated a Labour Party "board runner" to take us "on the knocker" and remind voters that this is election day and to get out the Labour vote. 

We bumped into Rita (another West Hammer) who was campaigning with "Sikhs 4 Labour". 

Kizzy led us on our first canvass session. She is a Labour Party media organiser and this was the first time she had led a canvass team and she did a great job. We went to the Finedon ward which comprised predominantly of traditional terraced houses, but there was many blocks of flats which were converted from shoe wear factories, which used to be a major employer in the area. 

The canvassing went well but we were approached by a shop workers who asked us if she was able to vote since she had no photo ID. She was disabled and had no passport or driving licence. Sadly she was not able to vote but we did suggest that she apply for a postal vote for next election. She was angry about being deprived of her right to vote and had wanted to support Gen. 

Another elderly voter told us that she had gone to the polling station but got turned away since she had forgotten to bring her photo ID with her. She said she would go back but she was clearly frail and not well. I suspect that she too will be deprived of her vote. 

We only saw one canvasser for any of the opposition parties (it may have been the Tory candidate but we were not sure). There was in the distance a mobile loudspeaker which I believe was ranting for a far right party but could not make out what they were saying.  

One person stopped me and asked me about Gen and was very supportive of Labour but said he was worried because he had been told that Keir Starmer had been the "lawyer" for the sex abuser, Jimmy Saville. I assured him that this is totally untrue and it is a shame that opposition parties are spreading such lies and misinformation. He seemed content with this. 

We stopped for coffee and cake at a local shop then went out again this time with Rob as our "Board Runner".  Good to meet up again at the community centre, with the Leader of Greenwich Council, Anthony Okereke. 

This 2nd session was now later in the day and we found more people at home after work and it became clear that many residents had either voted already or were about to vote and they were well motivated and keen to vote for Labour. 

One lady however, told me that she had "forgotten" who she and her partner had voted for that morning. Hmmnn... I suspect she not vote for us. 

Alan drove us there and back. According to Google fit I walked 20,343 steps today (8.73 miles). 

Result is due around 4am tomorrow morning. Fingers and toes crossed for Gen and her team. Will update tomorrow. 

Good luck to Damien Egan in the Kingswood byelection. Another great candidate. 

Update: Great news @Gvkitchen & @damienegan both elected! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68313421