Russian Revolution Birthday

Today is the 98th anniversary of the Russian (also known confusingly as the October or Bolshevik) Revolution. The 7th November is also the birthday of my unlikely Scorpio twin :)

The first Indian army VC

In the run up to Remembrance Sunday this is a good time to remember the heroism of Indian Army soldiers, such as Khudadad Khan who was awared the first Indian Victoria Cross in the First World War.

In 1914 Khudadad and his out numbered comrades held off a German attack until all the others were killed and he was wounded and left for dead.

Thanks to their bravery, reinforcements were able to arrive in time and hold off the Germans.

"Despite the severity of his injuries, the hero lived to a ripe old age, dying in Mandi Bahauddin, Pakistan, in 1971"

At the outbreak of war, the Indian army was 1.3 million strong, with the ranks including 100,000 Sikhs and 800,000 Hindu troops.

Of that massive force, 62,060 were killed in action".

8 Indian nationals earned the Victoria Cross during the First World War. See here for details of Remembrance events in Newham this Sunday and Armistice Day.

Lest we forget.

Veronica Oakeshott: Labour Candidate in Boleyn Ward By Election, Newham, London

Congratulations to Veronica Oakeshott for being selected as the Labour Candidate in Boleyn ward in East Ham for the by-election on 3 December 2015.  Commiserations to the other excellent candidates.

The by-election was caused by the sad and unexpected death of local Councillor, Charity Fiberesima.

If elected Veronica will make an excellent Labour Councillor.

 Seen here campaigning for Labour with her baby daughter outside Newham polling station during 2014 Council election. 

Vote Dave Prentis for UNISON General Secretary "Everything I stand for starts with you"

"The following have been confirmed as candidates in this election. Their names are listed below in the order they will appear on the ballot paper and in the election address booklet.

Roger Bannister, Knowsley Branch
Nominated by 25 branches

John Burgess, Barnet Local Government Branch
Nominated by 62 branches and 1 regional council

Dave Prentis, General Secretary
Nominated by 204 branches, 8 regional councils, 6 service groups and the National Executive Council

Heather Wakefield, UNISON National (Staff) Branch
Nominated by 81 branches, 1 regional council, and 1 service group

Members not on the UNISON central membership system on 9 August 2015 will not be eligible to vote in this election. Retired members are entitled to vote.

Ballot papers will be sent to members’ home or other notified address in writing.

The despatch of ballot papers to individual members will begin on 9 November 2015.

The deadline for receipt of ballot papers by the Scrutineer is 5pm on Friday 4 December 2015. The result of this election will be available on 17 December 2015"

(My underlying above - hat tip info here at UNISON)

TUC Rally and Lobby against authoritarian & extremist Tory TU Bill

Picture collage is from yesterday's TUC protest rally and Parliamentary lobby against the Tory Trade Union Bill which is an attempt by the Government to attack fundamental rights and freedoms at work.

First, there was a lunchtime rally in Central Hall, Westminister, which was packed out with over a 1000 people waiting outside. Great speeches and even a song from the UNISON staff Choir. Next I queued for over an hour to get inside the House of Commons to lobby my MP, Lyn Brown, on the Bill.  Lyn has many years of experience in the real working world and knows what is being proposed is unworkable, petty and spiteful as well as a constitutional outrage.

After a group of West Ham residents met with Lyn, some went into the Commons' public gallery to watch the debate on the Housing and Planning Bill. By coincidence (or not) this is yet another hard right, extremist Tory Bill. It was really good to see Labour Shadow Housing Minister, John Healey, monster his Tory minister opponents in this debate.

It was incredible to see and listen to the Tory ministers and MPs' inability to argue in favour of this Housing Bill. All they did was try and score points about what Labour did or did not do in 2009. John had to gently remind them that they had been in power since 2010.

Most of the Tories actually know both the Trade Union and Housing Bills are very dangerous, divisive and authoritarian. Ironically they are arguing for the ending of local democracy and employment freedoms in favour of "Big Government" politics.

Housing Associations and Council Housing stock are being effectively stolen by the State while peaceful picketing and protest will be criminalised.

A future Labour Government has now a precedent on how to act when we next win power.  The Tories will reap what they sow.

Stratford door knock for Sadiq Khan as London Labour Mayor

On Saturday West Ham Labour were out in force "on the knocker" for our Labour Mayoral candidate, Sadiq Khan.

I went out with a team to canvass Stratford ward tower blocks. It was a lovely warm, sunny day, despite being the 31st of October. We saw lots of excited children dressed up for Halloween. Their parents doing their best for their kids despite being worried sick about their future if there are no tax credits.

Interesting comment by one resident about how he was a life long Labour voter but in the past he thought there was no difference between Labour and the Conservatives but now there was too much! Neither view I agree with at all but this is the sort of narrative that we have to tackle head on. How can anyone really believe that an Ed Miliband Government would have not been radically different that this current one? We need to explain and show that the only extremists in British politics are the Tories.

The canvass returns for Sadiq and Labour were very good. He has name recognition and ordinary Londoners can relate to him in a way that his multimillionaire Tory opponent has not a clue about.

(Sad to hear last night of the death of Brent Labour Councillor, Dan Filson. I saw him speak at Labour Party Conference this year and at a pension fringe. RIP Dan)

Oppose the Tory Trade Union Bill & stand up for rights and freedoms at work

Sign this Labour Party petition here (an incredible 344,000 people have so far done so).

There is a slight change of plan for tomorrow's TUC Rally and lobby. Can residents from West Ham Constituency who wish to lobby Lyn Brown MP, please meet our Trade Union Liason Officer (TULO), Kim Silver, at the central Lobby of the Houses of Parliament at 3.15pm

Please allow plenty of time to get inside and past the security checks.

My Forest Gate: Thursday 5th November 8pm Coffee7

My Forest Gate

A discussion meeting for all Labour party members, supporters and friends:

Thursday 5^th November 2015 from 8pm

Coffee7 corner of Woodgrange/Sebert Road

Rachel Tripp, Community Lead Councillor for Forest Gate, will lead a friendly and interactive discussion about Forest Gate North.

·         What do we love about Forest Gate?

·         What would we like to improve?

·         What role does a lead councillor play?

·         What would you like to contribute to the community?

Beginning with some information about her role, we will move into sharing our ideas and hopes for how the place where we live might change, and the ways in which we want it to stay the same!

Come along, meet local people, learn more about how Newham's Community Neighbourhood structure works, and contribute your ideas and energy to making Forest Gate a better place.

#myforestgate    twitter: @forestgatenorth  email: forestgatenorth@gmail.com

When you try to "Trick or Treat" a Tory...

Hat tip David Cameron is Killing Britain.

TUC mass lobby of Parliament – protect the right to strike #KillTheBill #TUBill

Monday 2 November
 
"As you know the Trade Union Bill is the biggest assault on working people’s rights in living memory.  We need as many branches and members as possible in Westminster on Monday to lobby MPs and ensure they are aware of the key issues, the impact it will have on our ability to support and defend workers and the strength of feeling around this issue.    

If you haven’t already made contact with your local MP it’s not too late:-

·         Try to arrange a meeting with your MP before the day. We have set up an email template you can use, just by putting in your postcode and a few details, here:http://goo.gl/4tYUrO

·         You can also write to them by post if you would prefer, at the House of Commons. Put your post code in the box on this website: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ to find our their name if you don’t know it, then send it to House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA.

ON THE DAY:

The lobby on Monday will take place at Central Hall, Westminster - https://www.c-h-w.com/contact/location/

12.30: Arrive (please do arrive by 12.30)

Arrive for the rally at Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, Westminster, London, SW1H 9NH. (The building is open from 11.30 am if you want to arrive earlier.)

Please first go to the Great Hall (inside the Central Hall building) to register. There will be a UNISON table

1 – 3.30pm: Rally

Hear from some exciting speakers from 1pm – 3.30pm.

2pm: Lobbying starts

The lobbying in Parliament will start from 2pm and throughout the afternoon groups will go over to the House of Commons to meet with their MPs to explain why they should vote against the bill. Please the queue outside the main entrance to the House of Commons from 2.00pm. You will need to enter through a ramped entrance (the Cromwell statue entrance) to the left of the St Stephen’s entrance to the Commons.

Finally if do meet with your MP please let me have any feedback and photos from the day .

The UNISON activists briefing ‘Everything you need to know about the TUC mass lobby on 2 November’ is attached for your info.

Hat tip KW