Beat the BNP in Barking & Dagenham on Bank Holiday Monday

A number of West Ham Labour Party  (and of course UNISON) members were in Barking and Dagenham today (and will be again tomorrow)

"Just a reminder about Barking Labour Party's final big push to Beat the BNP. 

• Monday, Dagenham Heathway, Monday, 10 mins walk up Parslows Avenue, or call 07576 323 109
Yours,


Margaret Hodge

PS. We need lots of help on polling day as well. We are looking for 500 volunteers to help out between 6.30am and 10pm on May 6th.

Promoted by Jennifer Oliver on behalf of Margaret Hodge both at 152 Reede Road, Dagenham, RM10 8DX

Also on Monday "Hope Not Hate HQ, 50-52 New Road, Dagenham, Essex RM9 6YS, 10:30AM - 2PM" Eddie Izzard will be there to help out.

Beat the BNP in Barking: Saturday 24th April (POSTAL VOTERS WEEKEND!!!)

"Friends,

Thank you to all who have supported the campaign so far. We've spoken to thousands of local people, making the case for Labour, and against the BNP. And we've delivered hundreds of thousands of leaflets and direct mails.

Next week voters receive their postal votes. This weekend is therefore crucial in making one last push to speak with as many residents as possible. We'll be based in Mayesbrook Ward, a BNP/Labour split ward.

Please join us from 10am - 4.30pm.

- Saturday 24th April. - 26 Bromhall Road.

- Turn left out of Becontree Tube station (District Line), then left again along Rugby Road, a 5 minute walk on the right you'll find Bromhall Road.

- We'll provide lunch and refreshments.  There's plenty of leafleting to do if you'd prefer.

Any questions, please call 07576 323 109.

All the best, Margaret"

Promoted by Jen Oliver on behalf of Margaret Hodge, both at 152 Reede Road, RM10 8DX

Beating the BNP - Barking Day of Action

Yesterday afternoon after the West Ham Labour Party stall in Green Street I went off with a long serving CLP member to Barking to help out with Margaret Hodge and the local Labour Councillor campaign.

The campaign headquarters is in a local Baptist church and is very well run and organised. Soon after we arrived, we were properly briefed and given materials (and grabbed some tasty sandwiches) and sent off to fight the good fight.

We went off with quite a large canvass team to Parsloes Ward which I believe has currently two BNP councillors and one Labour. I thought that the canvass went quite well. People didn’t seem to me to be at all hostile. The international Rugby match was on and two people apologised that they could not speak because of this as they rapidly closed the front door. Fair enough. I didn’t actually get anyone to admit that they were BNP supporters. I had two decent “political” conversations with local residents. The key issue was not immigration but the shortage of affordable housing. A divorced grandmother who was looking after her daughter’s home explained how she was stuck in an expensive private sector flat on the dole since the very high rent meant that she could not work. In another home another resident who worked for the local Council complained that she would have to move since her children could not afford to live locally. Interestingly both of them volunteered that they recognised that the real reason for the housing shortage was a direct consequence of the “right to buy”.

At the end of the session we had mugs of tea and biscuits waiting for us. I was also able to meet my new Facebook friend Graham Letchford. I love the shirts! Graham is standing with our Louise Couling in Gorebrook ward against the fascist Barnbrook.

Photo with Margaret and team outside Labour battle bus. It was a good day.

UNISON London Labour Link Forum 2010

This year’s Forum took place in a committee room at the House of Commons. The Forum is a regional annual meeting of Labour Link delegates from London UNISON branches. It debates Rule amendments, policy motions and tabled reports on finances and work plans.

We had a GLA report from Joanne McCartney and “Fighting the BNP” call to arms from Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking. Our key note speaker was the Foreign Secretary David Miliband MP who arrived fresh from giving evidence at the Chilcot enquiry into the Iraq war.

The usual daft rule change by the usual suspects on restricting the franchise on electing our committee members to delegates who only attend the Forum meeting was overwhelmingly defeated. A fairly useful motion by LFEPA branch on “Investment not cuts in public service-sorting Labour Priorities” was “improved” by an amendment.

We also passed a motion in favour of proportionate representation. Both these motions will be going to national Labour Link forum.

I only took notes about on Joanne’s report since I chaired the meeting for the other two speakers. She started off by pointing out if you want to see what a Tory Government would be like - look at what is happening to London. Conservative mayor Boris Johnson is already breaking manifesto promises. He is cutting full time Police numbers and trying to replace them with unpaid specials. There will be a smaller GLA budget for policing for the first time. Boris not committed to Safer Neighbourhood Team model (which in my view would be a disaster if it went). There have been massive increases in London transport fares particularly for buses. Boris is of course not a “detail person” and this can be seen at Mayor “Question time” were he relies on “bluster and bluff” rather than answering the questions. There is no vision out there. Gossip from City Hall 8th floor is that Boris wants to return to Parliament if the Tories win. Watch your back Cameron! On a serious note many community groups have complained that they now feel distant from the Mayor and the Assembly since Boris has cancelled nearly all community based events.

Joanne was aware of our request to arrange a meeting with GLA members and staff from Notting Hill Housing Group who are due on strike next week and we be arranging this soon.

Both David and Margaret gave positive and confident speeches and were well received by the Forum. David comprehensively destroyed the Tory myths that Labour had not improved or invested in public services and that the Tories had not really “changed” into a modern centre and progressive Party. He also dismissed the other myths that there was no difference between Labour and the Tories. This was not at all a speech from anyone expecting defeat any time soon. Margaret gave a firsthand account of the nasty, violent and thuggish BNP threat in Barking and Dagenham. On Saturday I hope to be part of a UNISON Labour Link canvassing team in Barking.

The Finance report and work plan went well and we also had a short report by national Labour Link officer Daniel Zeichner. In AOB I wished all the London UNISON Labour link members who are Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (2 were present) and all those standing for election to Councils (7 present) the best of luck. I also asked for messages of support to be sent to my branch over the Notting Hill Housing Strike for “fairness and dignity”. Forum closed until 2011.

Roll on a historic 4th term Labour victory in the Parliamentary elections and a majority of London Councils turning red as well.

Beat the BNP in Barking Day of Action - Saturday 13 March 2010

"Barking Labour Party held a record day of action last Saturday with over 1 000 contacts made. Thank you so much to everyone who came along and helped out.

Our next day of action will be on the 13th March. We will be at Wood Lane Baptist Church between 11am and 4pm, with a lunch provided between 1pm and 2pm. I really do hope that you can join us. We give a warm welcome and full training to anyone who hasn't been canvassing before.

From next week we are increasing our phone canvassing. We are running sessions from 6pm each evening in Barking, please do drop in if you have some spare time, the number to call is 07576 323 109.

I look forward to seeing you next Saturday in Barking.

Best wishes

Margaret Hodge"