Lyn Brown MP Chairs Olympic Village public meeting with Residents and Police

I attended a pretty good meeting this evening in the Stratford Olympic Village with my MP, Lyn Brown, local residents and Police. I am not a local Councillor for this ward (Cllr Nate Higgins was there together with a number of Labour activists who do live in the ward) but I am Lyn's Parliamentary Agent and both as a Councillor and professionally (I work as a tenancy specialist dealing with complex ASB) I am very interested in learning more about effective Neighbourhood Policing. 

I was impressed at the range and scale of Police operations in the area. I think that I have got this right, that due in part to these operations, there has been a reduction in crime in Newham at the same time that crime in London is rising. 

The relatively new Borough Commander,Simon Crick, spoke about how the Police are not that good about communications and telling residents what they are doing and their successes. 

I totally agree and after the meeting I spoke to the local West Ham ward SNT Sargeant about arranging a similar meeting for my residents.  

St Stephens Road, West Ham ASB Walkabout

 

Picture college from a "Walkabout" I went on in my Council ward, West Ham, with local residents and Council officers last week. There are a number of serious ASB issues in the locality and while it was very disappointing that a number of Council officers and the local ward Police SNT did not attend (or apparently not  arrange substitutes or offer apologies) those who did attend were very proactive and attentive. Including our new "Design out Crime" technical specialist and advisor. 

While there was examples of good practice, overall the standard of cleanliness and degree of disrepair was unacceptable and I will be organising a follow up walkabout in the near future. I am looking forward to the recommendations of the "Design out Crime" specialist since there are a number of fairly simple "quick wins" that could be implemented. If any West Ham ward residents wish for a similar "walkabout" please let me know. 

Newham Rough Sleeping Count 31.3.22

 

Last night we met at Newham Council Dockside building just after 11pm for a briefing on tonight's count. There was Council officers, volunteers, outreach workers and Councillors taking part. We were split into 5 mobile teams and given maps and directions for each of our patches.

I was teamed up with local officer, PC Pearson, and we were tasked out with checking out two local parks, a tower block and a number of low rise blocks, where rough sleepers had been found in the past. 

It was a very cold, miserable and damp evening and I was pleased that we came across no one sleeping rough. I am sure that the other groups would find some people sleeping rough on the street but I hope that the collective figures this time will be less than last (which was 11). 

Since we came across no one, the count took less time than normal and I was back home for 2am. 

Many thanks to the Newham Council's Street Population manager, Ajith Sajeev BEM and her team for organising this event so well and PC Pearson for his interest and enthusiasm for our task. 

West Ham Ward ASB Action Day (and Italian Street Food)

 

This evening I went with Newham Council funded Met Police and Council Enforcement officers for a "walkabout" in West Ham ward, which I represent as a Councillor. Yesterday and today were ASB "Action Days" in West Ham and Stratford. Local ward Councillors were encouraged to join various teams tackling problems in our forum area. 

Tonight was very cold so there was no street drinkers to be found causing problems, so we concentrated on other issues in the locality. There was a number of actions found and I will also be raising members enquires for Newham Council, L&Q Housing Association and One Housing about public realm defects encouraging ASB, dumped cars on estate land and grossly inadequate communal area lighting. 

It was not only important for elected members to go out with our Police and Council officers to see what they do but also vital for us to listen and learn to the professionals about their experiences and their views on what works and what doesn't. This is a great initiative by officers and Cabinet lead Cllr James Beckles.  

On a more positive side, we walked pass the "Pasta Che Musica" Pop up Italian Street Food stall in Arthingworth Street, E15 and I introduced myself to the very friendly owner/chef. Which Newham officers assured me is fully licensed by the Council (and has 4.9 out of 5 google reviews) and will no doubt soon temp me to break my 2022 New Year Low Carb diet (yet again). 

Emergency Crime Scrutiny Meeting of Newham Council (5 May 2021)

The Chair of Crime Scrutiny, Councillor Daniel Lee-Phakoe, a father and local resident tells it as it is, about the recent tragic deaths of our young people in a meeting of police, senior council officers and politicians.

Full video of meeting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IWG-_VHkzc

Self isolate or this may happen in UK

Hat tip UK Government website

"This is a non-professional translation of the French personal travel exemption relating to the COVID-19 decree.

You must download the French form below, print it and complete it and carry it on your person for each outing.

This attestation complements the printed and paper versions currently in circulation and works on smartphones or tablets with a QR code which allows the police to scan it without needing to touch the device. Police will also be able to see if and when the attestation was edited to counter fraudulently dated and timed copies. There is no risk to data being stolen, as files will not be stored. However, you can save your own information.

In accordance with Article 3 of the decree issued on 23 March 2020 prescribing the general measures necessary to deal with the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic in the context of the health emergency

I, the undersigned

Mrs/Mr:

Born on:

Address:

• certify that my trip is related to the following reason authorised by article 3 of the decree of 23 March 23 2020 prescribing the general measures necessary to deal with the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic in the context of the state of emergency:
• trips between home and place of work, when there is essential need for it, because the professional activity cannot be performed at home (provide permanent documentary proof) or professional trips that cannot be postponed
• outings to make essential purchases (full list available on gouvernement.fr), or to purchase supplies that are indispensable to professional activity, or to withdraw cash
• outings for urgent medical care, appointments and care that cannot take place remotely, care for chronic diseases, such as diabetes
• outings for essential family reasons, to assist vulnerable people or for childcare
• short trips, close to home, for individual physical activity, excluding collective sports, and for the needs of domestic animals; a walk with someone living in your household; within 1km of your home; no longer than an hour; only once per day
• responding to administrative and judicial summons
• joining a community activity, if asked by your administrative authority

Completed in (name of town or city) on (MMY) and time (hour you left home) Signature

Newham Walkabouts - Repairs, ASB & Building New Homes

Last week I went on two walkabouts with my Cllr colleague, Shaban Mohammed. First was to Drakes Walk, East Ham where we met up with the local Newham Council Housing liaison officer and a resident concerned about people gaining entry into her housing block to commit ASB as well as her personal outstanding repair issues.  Repair orders have been sent out but I am meeting technical officers next week to see what we can do to make our door entry systems to our housing blocks more secure.

Walking back to East Ham town hall it was good to see the building going ahead on the site of the old Didsbury Centre (top left of collage). Newham Council is building 148 new homes at this site. We are now building new homes across Newham (at least 50% of which will be truly affordable homes set at the London Affordable rent).

Also, on the way back I noticed for the first time that inside the Newham 6th form collegiate centre there is a large plaque dated 1903 marking the founding of building with the names of my Councillor predecessors.

Later that day I went on another walkabout in my own ward in West Ham to decide on the future of a green space which has been used by street drinkers for many years, causing a serious nuisance to residents living nearby. We had present a local concerned resident, Police, Newham Council Community Neighbourhood and Safety officers as well as political leads, Cllr James Beckles and Cllr James Asser.

This green space is right next to West Ham park and 3 options were discussed i) turning it into a community garden but fenced off; 2) building new homes on the site (if possible) or 3) greater enforcement on those individuals causing a nuisance. There was also across the road disused and abandoned garages that need sorting out.

I have emailed regeneration officers details of the site to see if they are interested and we will be holding another walkabout or public meeting in 4 weeks time. 

Unless anyone has got any other good ideas for the site? 

Haters are not welcome!

So proud of Londoners and our Police putting themselves in danger and defending us from the haters

St Matthews public meeting on Crime and ASB

A lovely picture from last Friday evening when Councillors and officers met Residents and Police to discuss how to tackle jointly crime and anti-social behaviour in the area (Forest Gate South ward adjacent to Romford Road).

The meeting was Chaired by Cllr Shaban Mohammed and went in my view really well with constructive but frank views expressed and received. Residents seemed to have been pleased with recent changes (thanks to the new ward Council Housing liaison officers who have been very proactive). Residents let us know that they expected us to deliver for them.

The Police and the Council undertook to support residents with improved enforcement action and also for housing to make improvements in order to try and "design out crime".

We also had a decent discussion about the impact that Government cuts to Police numbers and local authority grants has had. 

I have never been inside St Matthews Church before and did not realise how large it is and its beautiful stained glass windows. It parish war memorial from the first world war was also striking and it stuns you how many local men were killed in a relatively small London parish. There were also 3 family plaques on the walls remembering the war time deaths of young parishioners.

If a Police Officer can have his pension scammed then is anyone safe under Tory "Pension freedoms" ?

Check out this BBC report about a serving Police Officer who was cheated out of his pension but managed to win £135,000 compensation from the Ombudsman for his fund's failure to properly warn him about risks.  The Police Officer had been "persuaded" by his financial advisor to transfer his very safe and secure government backed Police pension into a completely dodgy scheme which it appears was then "lost or misappropriated".

While some may argue that a Police officer should know better, to me this shows that if a Police Officer can be conned out of their pension, then anyone can and that the Tory (and Lib Dem coalition) so called "Pension freedoms" have enabled con merchants to pray on ordinary peoples lifelong savings.

Since I used to work in financial services I know first hand how convincing and sophisticated these fraudsters are and also how extensive institutional corruption can be. I think that my personal views on institutional LOBO and LIBOR rips offs are well known.

Today there was also reports about the average loss is £91,000 for such pension scam victims and that

• The Financial Conduct Authority's Financial Lives report suggested that 107,000 people aged 55 to 64 could potentially have been victims of pension scams last year

What a complete and utter mess. No wonder ordinary working people have little confidence in our financial services and its regulation.

I am appalled that Sir Steve Webb, the former Penision Minister, who introduced "Pension Freedoms" and now works for the industry is also quoted as blaming pension schemes for these cons and not apparently taking any responsibility himself for the "Pensions freedoms" policy which is facilitating even more cons to happen. 

Call for Action: West Ham Labour Xmas Campaigning & Events Update

Dear Member

West Ham Labour Party Xmas update

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Looking forward to an early general election and a Labour Government in 2018 with Jeremy Corbyn as our Prime Minister.

As well as the usual campaigning and political events there are also surveys and petitions that you are being asked to participate in and support.

Councillor Candidate’s selection meeting postponed until New Year. 
Firstly, apologies to members who had reserved last weekend for the chance to elect candidates to be our Labour Party candidates in the local elections in May 2018. Due to a number of appeals outstanding for applicants who did not pass the initial interview the Regional Labour Party has postponed the selections until the New Year. We will let you know the new date ASAP

“Bookmakers target people who can’t afford to lose their money on these machines” 
Our MP Lyn Brown asks you to support her call to curb the blight being caused to our community by Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBT) and take part in the government consultation. Check out further information https://westhamlabour.org/2017/12/11/west-ham-clp-member-fixed-odd-betting-terminal-fobt-consultation-call-for-action/

“In response to years of Newham’s campaigning the Government has now launched a consultation survey which might lead to these terrible FOBT machine stakes being reduced.  But we need to make sure that gambling industry lobby don’t dominate the responses, which is why we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to respond to the survey online by clicking this link.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3XGGFP7

Newham Council: More Social Housing in Plaistow Petition
West Ham Ward ask you to support their online petition on a controversial planning application. See stall on 14 December. So please share with all your Newham friends and family: http://chn.ge/2iq4UKb

If you are interested in planning policy then Newham Council is also undergoing a review of its #LocalPlan Proposed Submission is open until the 16th January, so have your say! www.newham.gov.uk/planningconsultations” (warning this is heavy going but important)

West Ham CLP General Committee motion was passed calling on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner: To Suspend police officers under investigation for deaths of Edson da Costa & Rashan Charles. You can read more and sign the petition here: http://chn.ge/2zmfXa9

Zero Tolerance
Also please read the article on our website by our CLP Women’s officer, Seyi Akiwowo, about our zero tolerance of Sexual Harassment in our Partyhttps://westhamlabour.org/2017/11/29/west-ham-clps-zero-tolerance-approach-to-sexual-harassment/

Marked Register data inputting
If you have some time to spare before the New Year then contact our CLP secretary alangriffiths_per@yahoo.co.uk to volunteer to help us input the “Marked Register” data from the General Election into Labour Party records. He will explain if contacted.

Future Dates

Thursday 14th December – 6-7.30pm Street staff on West Ham ward petition for social housing outside Plaistow Station E13 organiser

Thursday 14th December – Newham Compass debate: “What should the Left be doing about Brexit?” at East Ham Working Men’s Club, Boleyn Road E6 1QE at 7.30 pm. Stephen Timms MP & Gordon Murray of the SNP are the speakers. Contact owenseaster@gmail.com for details.

Saturday 16th December – 1030hrs CTS Corner Tarling and Radland Road, E16 Organiser Terry Paul

Saturday 16th December, 11.00am, Stratford International DLR Station. Leafleting in E20. Contact: Clive Troubman,

Wednesday 20 December – 7.30pm to late Newham Co-operative Party Crimbo Social. Westbridge Hotel, High Street Stratford, E15. John Gray/Neil Wilson organising

Thursday 4 January 6.30pm FGN Canvass meet outside Forest Gate Tavern E7(before ward meeting) John Gray organiser

Saturday 13th January at 11am Plaistow North  canvassing session on meeting at Plaistow station E13 contact Daniel or Mehmood.

Saturday 13th January 11-1pm Custom House Canvass check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Sunday 14 January 11.30 FGN Canvass (check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Saturday January 20th – 1100 am to 1 pm. PS Meeting at Plaistow  Library  E13 9HL
Contact Neil Wilson

Thursday 25th January – West Ham CLP GC, 306 High Street, Stratford E15 – Visiting Speaker Nia Griffths, Shadow Defence Secretary

Saturday 27 January 11.30am FGN Canvass meet outside Hibiscus Community Centre E15 1SP organiser John Gray 

Sunday 28 January 11-1pm Custom House Canvass check CLP website for meeting point and organiser)

Sunday January 28th 2.00pm to 4.00 pm PS Meeting at Plaistow Library E13 9HL Contact Neil Wilson

Monday 26 February 7pm Newham Full Council Meeting, East Ham Town Hall E6

We look forward to seeing you at future events and campaigns!

Regards

John Gray
Vice Chair (Campaigns and Comms) West Ham CLP
e westhamlabour@gmail.com
t @westhamlabour
f westhamlabour
w westhamlabour.org

"The police need to provide swift answers after the death of Rashan Charles" by Seyi Akiwowo a councillor in Newham, east London

After having a great time at the Afropunk London festival last weekend, I followed my usual ritual before going to bed on Saturday night: checking to see what I had missed on Instagram during the day. I came across the clip of CCTV footage that appeared to show a Metropolitan police officer attempting to restrain 20-year-old Rashan Charles from east London, who shortly afterwards took his last breath. I was stunned and confused. I closed the app with a heavy heart and said a prayer for Rashan and his family.

Angry protesters challenge police over death of Rashan Charles

 

Read more

When I saw the statement from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) the next morning, reporting that it had “obtained evidence which indicates an object was removed from [Rashan’s] throat at the scene”, I instantly thought of Edson Da Costa. Just four weeks ago, 25-year-old Edson, also from east London, died after contact with the police. The IPPC also said that “the pathologist removed a number of packages from Mr Da Costa’s throat”.

I am a local councillor in Newham and the deaths of two young black men in east London in a matter of weeks is a cause for concern, to put it mildly. At this stage there is a lot we still don’t know about both cases and we should wait for the independent investigation to be completed, but I’d like some questions to be answered.

Whatever the packages or objects that were removed from Rashan’s and Edson’s throats were, is there is a safe way to do this? Is there a protocol? Is there a different protocol at an airport if someone is suspected of smuggling something? Does and should the same protocol apply to officers on the beat?

Were the circumstances the same as those of Edson’s death? If so, have the Met been recently given sufficient training and guidance to properly and safely assess the danger a person is in and be able to remove objects from someone’s throat?

If these cases were drugs-related, is this symptomatic of a wider drugs problem in east London? If so, why are drugs still a problem in 2017? Since 2010 we’ve seen central government cuts to local authorities’ budgets on an unprecedented scale, year after year. This has resulted in cuts to non-statutory services such as youth and drug prevention services. We’ve also seen cuts to the public sector and police budget. Police officers are essentially being asked to do more with a lot less. Information on our rights when being stopped and searched by the police is readily available; this should include the searching or removal of objects swallowed.

Part of the anger following this death, expressed by some at a vigil on Monday, is the suspicion that excessive force was used because of the colour of his skin. We know that black men are more likely to be treated harshly by the criminal justice system, at the stages of arrest, charging, prosecution and imprisonment.

Would witness statements and accounts from arrests of non-black people in similar circumstances mirror how we saw Rashan being treated in the video?

Man dies after struggle in east London shop following police chase

 

Read more

These questions are by no means accusations. I regularly work with the police and have seen first hand how hard our local Safer Neighbourhood Team work to keep our community safe. We hold joint surgeries and the team are responsive to the concerns residents have. I see them out around the ward: they produce quarterly updates, they hold various safety sessions and they actively build relationships with our diverse community. I feel this is important to say as, like politicians, they are often negatively generalised.

In recent dealings with the police for online abuse I received, they were helpful and supportive. However, just like politicians, the police are accountable to the public. Additionally, not everyone has or has had a positive experience with the police. There is still a lot more the police need to do to rebuild trust with community groups, beginning by being more representative of the society they represent. This is why, instead of being able to quietly mourn the death of yet another young man from our community and paying respect to his family, many are angry and suspicious of the police and demand the media cover the case accurately and without bias.

In the UK, we believe in the principle of innocent until proven guilty and this extends to the police as well as Rashan Charles. The police, the Home Office, the Greater London Authority must respond quickly to deaths following contact with the police, working with community groups and leaders, giving as much information as possible as soon as they can. Otherwise, rumours will fill the vacuum in which myths are created and fictions believed – and that is not in anyone’s best interest".

Guardian  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/26/police-swift-answers-rashan-charles?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other 

Who is this thug? Manchester City Centre 3.50am Sunday 10 July

I haven't done this type of thing before on blogger but this yob is wanted by Police to "assist" them in their enquirers following the serious and unprovoked assault on the partner of a friend of mine. This could have been a murder investigation.

"Police have released a photograph of a man they want to speak to after a 28-year-old man was attacked and left with a fractured skull in Manchester City Centre. 

At around 3.50am on Sunday 10 July 2016 a 28-year-old man was seriously assaulted on Portland Street outside the Siam Orchid, Manchester City Centre.

The victim was waiting for a taxi when he was head-butted and punched, knocking him unconscious.

The attacker then fled along Sackville Street towards Bloom Street with another man.

The man was left with multiple injuries including a fractured eye socket, a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull, which he received hospital treatment for.

Police have released a photograph of a man they want to speak to.

Detective Constable Phil Bainbridge of GMP’s City of Manchester team, said: “The attacker is clearly a violent and aggressive individual who knowingly left a man in a serious condition after he had attacked him in the middle of a busy street.

“I am appealing for the man in the photograph to come forward, and anyone who recognises him to contact police as they may have vital information that could help our investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 1398 quoting 123846J/16 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

PC Nina Mackay 24 October 2015

This morning I was present at a memorial tribute to murdered PC Nina Mackay. The 25 year old was stabbed while trying to arrest a wanted man at a flat in Arthingworth Street, West Ham ward on October 24, 1997.

Local Police Officers and members from the Territorial Support Group were present. A wreath was also laid by the Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales and  Council Chief officer, Nick  Bracken (a former Police officer).

I am not sure whether it is the Council or the Police who organise this event but I will suggest that next year we should invite local West Ham residents and organisations to it.  I think it is important and I am sure my constituents will agree, that we show our respect to those who have died protecting us. I will bring it up with the Council and at our next ward and Stratford forum meeting.

Exclusive Pictures of Justin Bieber being chased by Police on allegations of DUI...

Off message and I know it is really not a laughing matter but it made me....:)

Hat tip Comrade Rayner

Signs of our times on the West Ham doorstep

On Saturday morning I went door knocking in my ward with local West Ham Labour branch comrades (and Council candidates in 2014) Julianne Marriot and John Whitworth. Julianne had been up early that day to be interviewed by various BBC channels in her role as a supporter of "Don't Judge my Family" campaign against Tory plans to penalise families who don't want to be told that they have to get "married" - or else.

She was pretty talked out and was facing more interviews later that day so she did the paperwork and the two John's did most of the door knocking and the talking.

I said hello to members of the Abbey Gardens Community Garden who were setting up their "Food Glorious Food Festival" for that afternoon. I gave my apologies for not being able to attend due to another commitment but my colleague Cllr Freda Bourne did attend.

Anti-social behaviour was a key theme of this street surgery. Residents were pleased that the local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood team were moving to nearby Newham Council Abbey Road depot. I am still more than a little fed up with London Mayor, Boris Johnson's failure to live up to his manifesto promises to keep up Police numbers in London. He has tried to hide this reduction in numbers by merging our local safer neighbourhood teams. But everyone needs to know that due to Boris there is less Police out on our streets to look after us.

An interesting sign of our times was that I knocked on one door and spoke to a resident who told me she had a complaint about our council bulk rubbish service. She went and got her IPAD and showed me within seconds a record she had made of a long list of people she had spoken to (and times) at the  Council arrange collection of her bulk rubbish, which for whatever reason never happened. She agreed to send me this information so I can try and find out what had went wrong.  I was surprised since the bulk rubbish service in Newham is my experience pretty good and I get few complaints and many compliments.  

I knocked on another door and a resident who I have never met before spoke to me about an email he had sent to me recently. I apologised that I hadn't yet seen that email but he said that he understood since he followed me on Facebook and knew I had been busy and away last week at Labour Party conference!

My best "door knock" of the day was speaking to a resident who so pleased that I had called at his home to speak to him that when I got home, I saw he had emailed me to thank me even though we had a somewhat difficult conversation about what I could (and could not) do about his rehousing application. He and his family lived in a overcrowded and small flat.

What I really liked is when I next knocked on the door of one of his neighbours, an elderly and  fragile man answered the door, looked at me in surprise and said he had only opened the door because he thought it was that same neighbour checking up on him that he was ok, because his wife had recently gone into a nursing home.

So the lesson is some things in the East End do change, but other things don't. We have IPADs, email and Facebook but as long as we still have neighbours looking out after neighbours, one of the really important East End values will live on.

(picture of Abbey Gardens festival with Freda judging) 

This Is What happens When You Try To Film the Police in Sweden ...

Great Video. Must ask West Ham Safer Neighbourhoods team about their dance moves :)

Police, Camera, Action! Forest Gate Style

Off message but possibly a Citizen Journalist (blogging) post.

Yesterday evening at about 10.30pm I was at home in Forest Gate, London, when I heard a mass of Police sirens and looked outside of the window to count 17 Police cars and vans drive past along Woodford Road toward Wanstead chasing a car. I could hear a helicopter as well.

I thought this seemed a little excessive but thought well, I don't know the facts, but there is probably a good reason.

To my surprise a few minutes later the noise and flashing lights returned and I looked out again and saw that the Police had managed to stop the vehicle they had been chasing. The chase must have gone in a complete circle and the suspect vehicle appeared to have been boxed in by a Police Car while trying to drive along Woodford Road again (see photo to the right).

The Police taped off the road and later officers searched the roadway and I saw evidence bags being filled near the stopped car. I went to bed shortly afterwards. In the morning everything had gone and it was like nothing had ever happened.

I still don't know what was going on. Will check Newham Recorder next week.

SWP: Something is seriously rotten in the state of LaLa land

I think most folk know that I'm no friend of the Trotsky Revolutionary sect, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), but the latest scandal they are embroiled in is just breath taking.

One of its junior female members made a complaint of rape against a longstanding member of its Central Executive Committee.

Instead of insisting that this member should report this very serious crime to the Police, they agreed that an internal "Disputes Committee" made up largely of friends and senior colleagues of the the alleged perpetrater  should "investigate" the complaint.  To no ones surprise they found (6-1) the case against "Comrade Delta" (a well known SWP Central Committee activist and reputed to be a violent thug) was "not proven".

Check out the report in "Socialist Unity" (who broke the story), "The Independent" and "Dave Osler" blog.

While I fully accept that the Police and the Crime Prosecution Service have in the past treated some rape victims shamefully and the Jimmy Saville debacle shows that powerful men can get away with a life of crime. I cannot for a second accept that an internal "investigation" by any organisation into such serious allegations is acceptable, never mind that the investigation panel comprised of mates and colleagues of the accused. How dare they think that they are better than an independent jury of 12 of your peers.

Is this a case of history repeating itself? In the picture above is Gerry Healy, the former leader of the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP). Healey was eventually found to be a serial rapist and sexual abuser who for years was protected from accusations. The WRP collapsed after the discovery that its leader was a rapist and afterwards the SWP took its place as the "main" Trotsky sect in the UK.

Is there something in the essential DNA of these tiny ultra left sects and cults that make them prone to its leading men treating women as dirt? 

George Galloway and the Secret Policeman



Shock, Horror: George Galloway MP has been exposed for hiring as his personal Parliamentary Assistant, the wife of one of Scotland Yard's most senior Counter-terrorist Police Officers, Afiz Khan, who is a Detective Inspector with the elite SO15.

Galloway even gave his PA, Aisha Ali-Khan, the keys to his own London home. Apparently the happy couple had marital relations (or was that "carnal knowledge"?) in his home.

Despite declaring her relationship with DI Khan, Aisha has now been suspended by George who is planning to dismiss her. She apparently thinks that this is due to "Some men in Respect hated the fact that she was a non-hijab-wearing Muslim woman, she says. "The atmosphere around Respect was so hostile to women. I was seen as an outspoken, opinionated woman who had ideas, who made things happen, who organised events and the guys didn't like it at all."

She further complains she is being made out to be a tart "sleeping with random police officers".

Respect hostile to women??? Surely not! Especially since its one and only MP, the Gorgeous One, has such a progressive attitude to rape and abortion? Don't mention "window lickers" either.

Picture is one of George being caught out doing one of his many moonlighting jobs while pretending to be an MP. Is this another Guy Burgess? I think we should be told the truth about him and his Secret Policeman family.