Yesterday, I helped the Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, with her surgery at Canning Town Library (next to the "Keir Hardie" room).
Trying to help the long queue of residents with their housing misery was far, far worse than before the election since there is now no hope of a Labour Government anytime soon. I saw 7 families and individuals, all suffering from dreadful housing problems.
I had dreamed last year that we would win the general election and would be able to build good quality, affordable homes for all in need. That is obviously not going to happen.
So we have no choice but to do our very best, fight, campaign and get on with it but....
We have 27,000 families in Newham on our waiting list
We have 5300 families in Newham who are homeless
We have 50% of all families in Newham living in poverty after housing costs
The Tories will not solve this emergency. Only a Labour Government in power can do this. We need to win the next general election.
No ifs and no buts.
