Rushanara Ali to take on Respect in Bethnal Green & Bow

Rushanara Ali former aid to Oona King has just been selected to be the Labour Party Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow in the next general election. Commiserations to the other 5 shortlisted candidates (I am sure that we have not seen the last of them). However, Rushanara was the clear winner in tonight's ballot. Well done. I'm looking forward to getting rid of diss-Respect at the next election.

UPDATE: From Tower Hamlets Labour group web site : -

Bethnal Green and Bow Labour Party unites around Rushanara Ali, Bethnal Green & Bow's diverse Labour Party membership has confounded expectations ,by selecting a female Bangladeshi candidate to stand for the constituency in the next general election.

Rushanara Ali is only one of four women to be selected through open Labour Party contests in winnable seats in the last five years. If successful at the next General Election Rushanara Ali is likely to be the first Bangladeshi woman to ever be elected to Parliament.

Rushanara Ali said: "I am proud to come from the East End, and I am proud to have received so much support from right across the community and thank everyone for their support. The East End is a special place, full of un-tapped talent. I am looking forward to working with everyone to win this seat back for Labour." "Iraq was clearly a major issue in the last election and like many in this community, I also opposed the war and marched against it with many loyal Labour supporters. Now, we need to focus on the bread and butter issues which people are worried about here at home, which are housing, jobs and education. I will be working with everyone this community to campaign on these issues, and working hard to unite our community."

For more information please contact Karin Christiansen 07816839533 or email rushanara.ali@googlemail.com There are currently only 2 female ethnic minority MPs in Parliament. Dawn Butler (Brent South), and Diane Abbot (Hackney North & Stoke Newington). They are both Labour MPs Apart from Rushanara Ali, the other three women to be selected through open Labour Party contests in winnable seats in the last five years are Madeleine Moon (Bridgend), Dawn Butler (Brent South), and Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran)

Council Homeless Persons Unit to ballot for Strike Action over Safety?

UNISON and GMB members of Tower Hamlets Council “Homeless Persons Unit” (HPU) are carrying out an indicative strike ballot of members over health & safety. The Council have decided that there should be no safety screens in the HPU reception desks and most interview facilities. A building in Roman Road Bethnal Green is being refurbished as the new home for the unit. In the past there have been a number of violent incidents at the HPU. It is one of the most difficult and demanding jobs in the Council.As branch health & safety officer I attended an “open air” joint trade union meeting of about 50 staff yesterday in Millharbour, Isle of Dogs, E14. Staff was very worried out the prospect of screens being removed. As a last resort strike action is being contemplated although an urgent meeting with the head of adult services responsible for the unit, is being held next week.

The vast majority of “homeless” applicants are of course perfectly ordinary people who are undergoing a housing crisis and pose no danger. However, there are some people who will vent their frustration on staff, as well as those who abuse alcohol or drugs or suffer from certain mental health illnesses.

Staff do want to give the best possible service however, there has to be a trade off with staff safety. What is being currently proposed would mean that staff can be easily be hit or thumped across the counter and assailants can jump over it and prevent staff from escaping to a safe area. These sort of things actually happen. Not everyday, but often enough (and potentially serious enough) for staff to walk out and strike. Hopefully, we can resolve this without confrontation. Ironically, this is happening on the eve of Workers Memorial Day!

Rupa Huq out campaigning for votes in Bethnal Green & Bow

UNISON trade union member Rupa was out again tonight calling on local Labour Party members. Asking for their support for her to be their Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate in the next general election. On Thursday (26 April) there will be a hustings for the 450 members eligible to vote at Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End. There are 6 short listed candidates in total to choose from by transferable vote (this vote will be so tight that you must use all your preference votes). Each candidate will give a 5 minute speech then face a 5 minute Q&A from the audience:

Rupa Huq, Rushanara Ali, Shiria Khatun, Lutfor Rahman, John Biggs & Helal Abbas

Then on Saturday (28 April), there will also be a secret ballot of members which will be held at the Labour Party HQ in Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green (10am to 5pm).

Rupa has been selected as a Candidate worthy of support by UNISON “Labour Link” National Parliamentary Panel. I think she would make an excellent “crossover” candidate who would appeal and unite all the different communities and interests in BG&B behind her and the Party. She is a Bangladeshi Muslim woman who is not only proud of her community and her roots but also to call herself British. She is a Cambridge University graduate and holds a doctorate, but is also a working Mum with a boisterous toddler.

Rupa has past experience of standing as a Labour Party candidate in General and European elections. She is a long standing Labour Party activist, very hard-working, bright, articulate and committed. She wants to take on “Respect” and return BG&B to Labour and she has the presentational and media skills necessary to do so.

Talking to Rupa you realise that she is Passionate (with a capital “P”!) about achieving Social Justice. Politics is not just about theories, but is about practical real life issues such as putting more money into pensioner's pockets, affordable child care for working parents, decent local housing & health services, combating crime and properly caring for our environment.

This will be an interesting week

75th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass

Tomorrow is the 75th anniversary of the mass trespass that took place on April 24 1932.

This is what Wikipedia says about it. "The mass trespass of Kinder Scout was a notable act of willful trespass by ramblers. It was undertaken at Kinder Scout, in the Peak District of England, on 24 April 1932, to highlight weaknesses in English law of the time. This denied walkers in England or Wales access to areas of open country, and to public footpaths which, in previous ages (and today), formed public rights of way. Political and conservation activist Benny Rothman was one of the principal leaders.

A commemorative plaque now marks the start of the trespass at Bowden Bridge quarry near Hayfield (which is now a popular area for ramblers). This was unveiled in April 1982 by an aged Benny Rothman during a rally to mark the 50th anniversary. The trespass proceeded via William Clough to the plateau of Kinder Scout, where there were violent scuffles with gamekeepers. Several ramblers were arrested and some would receive jail sentences of 18 months, merely for diverging a few yards from a right-of-way.

The mass trespass had a far-reaching impact, some of which is still playing out today. Eventually, changes in the law would allow all citizens access to public footpaths, regardless of whether they crossed private land. This culminated in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which legislates a limited right to roam over scheduled access land (see Open Country).

Ewan MacColl, the poet and folk singer, celebrated these events in his song The Manchester Rambler, and it is also the subject of a song on Chumbawamba's 2005 album A Singsong and a Scrap".

Most of the original trespassers (Manchester based, who had the main “ruck” with the 8 local gamekeepers) walked up from Hayfield.

On Saturday this year I walked up to Kinder Scout via Edale where the Sheffield marchers started off. Although I went up along the Grinsbrook Clough –Ugh – give it a miss! Came back down Jacobs Ladder.

Apparently David Milliband MP was there that day to celebrate the anniversary (but I didn't see him – I did however see a Lamb being born on the hillside!). For the first time ever in the Peak District, the weather was actually excellent (in my limited experience). Blue skies, dry and warm.

The above plaque picture (top right) is in the Peak District Visitors Centre in Edale. I must admit to thinking that despite the determined efforts of the trespassers in 1932, National Parks were only actually created by the election of a Labour government in 1945. Also, we only have the “right to roam” following the election of a Labour government in 1997. So I can’t resist posing the question – “What does direct action achieve without Power – Discuss?”

Planning for WMD 28 April 2007

Workers Memorial Day (WMD - Saturday 28 April) is just over a week away. This should be one of the most important days in the Labour Movement calendar. The picture left “Empty Shoes” refers to the 1000’s of ordinary British workers who die each year at work (e.g. falls, slips, violence, road traffic incidents) or from industrial illnesses (e.g. contact with asbestos). This is the sort of thing that the Trade Unions and the Labour Party should work together closely to promote. It is a core issue.

UNISON health & safety section has posted this useful information “Workers Memorial Day takes place all over the world on 28 April each year. Its aim is that those who have died because of their work are not forgotten, and so that those still at work are not silently left to the same fate. Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living. UNISON's slogan for WMD 2007 is: Health and safety laws work better when they're enforced! The TUC has a similar slogan: Health and Safety needs not just regulations, but also enforcement".

UNISON's campaign demands:

an effective corporate manslaughter law,
directors duties - to hold them accountable for their organisations health and safety breaches,
more enforcement of health and safety breaches,
more effective penalties against organisations and directors found guilty,
more health and safety inspectors, and
More rights for safety reps.

UNISON makes a number of practical suggestions about campaigning activities to mark the day such as: -

ordering and distributing the purple ribbons and car stickers;
writing a letter to the local press about any of the campaign issues, local problems, or events you've planned;
organising a special meeting;
organising a safety reps inspection or carrying out some risk, hazard, or body-mapping;
focusing on a particular issue of concern where you work;
Putting pressure on the government to act by encouraging members to write to their local MP and to John Hutton and Lord McKenzie (at the Dept. of Work and Pensions) and John Reid, Home Secretary. Demand action on corporate killing, directors duties on health and safety, and for WMD to be an officially recognised day;
Remember the workers who have been killed at the workplace or in the community. Arrange an event such as planting a memorial tree in a public place, putting up a plaque, dedicating a sculpture, a piece of art, or a bench;
asking local religious centres to include WMD in their worship during the week;
negotiating with your employer to allow some form of recognition of the Day, such as a one minute silence at 12 noon;
negotiating for any official flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast on the Day; and/or
finding out what your branch/other branches/unions, your local hazards group, or regional TUC or trades council are planning and taking part or organising a joint event.

What is your local trade union or Labour Party branch doing to mark WMD? Photo above is of UNISON London Regional Council officers (yesterday - Lynn Bentley, Gloria Hanson, Khi Rafe, Alan Jarman, Me) wearing their purple ribbons to show their support. On Saturday 28 April West Ham Labour Party and Newham TULO will be holding a remembrance event in Forest Gate with local MP Lyn Brown.

Calling All UNISON Members: Vote against Extremists!

Calling all UNISON Members: NEC and Service Group Elections

I got my UNISON (London region) ballot papers in the post this morning. UNISON Elections are also taking place all over the UK.

It’s probably true to say for all postal ballots, that people tend to either vote within a day or so of receiving the ballot papers or not at all. So, please don’t put the ballot papers on the shelf for later. Fill out the ballot papers now and put in the post (and vote for trade unionists that put members first).

Please make sure you vote and encourage all of your fellow members to vote. Below are centre left London Region Candidates. But elsewhere, a quick read of the election statements will usually tell you who are United Left (which is dominated by the SWP) and who are not.

Stand up, be counted and vote for democracy

GREATER LONDON REGION

FEMALE SEAT (vote for TWO candidates - put a “x” against each)

Louise COULING

Kim SILVER


MALE SEAT (Vote for x ONE candidate only: Put an “x” against the name)

Conroy LAWRENCE


LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE GROUP

FEMALE SEAT (Vote for TWO candidates - put a “x” against each)

Julie ROBINSON

Lynn POULTON


MALE SEAT (Vote x for ONE candidate only)

Mark FYSH


GENERAL SEAT (Vote x for ONE candidate only)

Carole MALEHAM


A vote for them is a vote to put the interests of our members first

If you have not received your ballot paper by 23rd April, call the helpline on 0845 355 0845.

The People have spoken….

Bethnal Green & Bow Labour Party PPC selection. Sorry this is a bit late but I have been away for a few days. Ayub Korom Ali didn’t make it into the shortlist. An absolute shame since he was an excellent candidate. Talent spot him for the future.

However, there are 6 really good candidates left who will face a secret ballot by 450 odd ordinary BG&B Labour Party members on Saturday 28 April (Husting on the 26th). As Ayub made clear in his recent blog the most important thing is that a Labour Party MP is elected at the next election. The final 6 are: -

Rupa Haq,
Rushanara Ali,
Shiria Khatun
Lutfor Rahman,
John Biggs and
Helal Abbas

Rupa is a member of UNISON and would be a winning candidate.

Land of Our Father - Yr Wyddfa 14 April 2007

On route to summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon - highest mountain in Wales) with my sister's Lucy and Helen (with daft Chocolate Labrador "Jazz" and very serious Boarder terrier with the even more daft name of "Chili"). Off message, of course, but we try to walk up Snowden every Easter to remember our Dad, John Gray, (1929-2002) who died of a heart attack on April 14 2002 while on a long distance walk ("wild camping" aged 73 against all medical advice!) practising for his 5th Camino de Santiago also known as "The Way of St James" (Spain). We scattered his ashes on top of Snowdon.

We walked up "Watkins path" (2nd picture) for the first time in many years. It is probably the most pretty and dramatic route in good weather (free parking) but the final climb through scree is pretty tough and only do it if you are well prepared (four hours up, 3 hours down).

The third picture is of Dad's grandchildren, Hannah, Rachel, Matthew and David on an oak bench we have put up on the Marian, Colwyn Bay. With a plaque that says "John Gray Passed this Way"

Despite being a lifelong atheist, Dad enjoyed the challenges and fellowship of taking part in the longest pilgrimages in Europe. He was also a life long member of the Labour Party, former Buckley Labour Councillor and trade union activist.

Ironically on April 14 2002 I took part in the London Marathon (never again! 4 hrs 24 mins) which caused some confusion on the day about which "John Gray" had actually died!

Forest Gate South Labour Party honour WMD

Remember Workers Memorial Day 28 April 2007.

Thought I should post a picture of some of the members of the top Labour Party Branch, Forest Gate South, whose members tonight voted to reselect Lyn Brown MP and also had a blinding debate on knife crime (see last post). They are all wearing their WMD ribbons. Newham TULO will be holding an event to mark the day on the 28th in Forest Gate. Further details to follow.

Recent Knife Murders - Should we have metal detectors in our Schools?

Last night I was the West Ham CLP Executive committee observer at the parliamentary reselection meeting of Forest Gate South branch. There was another unanimous vote in favour of the existing Labour MP Lyn Brown.

However, as I waited for the meeting to end to take the inevitable picture for my blog. There was firstly a very good discussion led by the branch chair Councillor Winston Vaughan about saving a local “after school” club threatened with closure (I use to work in a “after school club” in Edinburgh – the hardest job I ever did in my life - it’s another long story).

Then local Councillor Akbar Chaudhary who is Newham Council Scrutiny Commission Chair brought up the matter that the Commision had been discussing whether secondary schools in Newham should have metal detectors installed to prevent pupils form carrying knives? He said that this had been very controversial amongst Labour Party Councillors and he wanted to know what the opinion of his local Labour Party branch was.

14 year old Paul Erhahon (see his “myspace” site) was murdered and a 15 friend seriously injured last weekend in Leytonstone (just next door to Newham). A 13 and 14 year old (and others) has been charged with his murder. Adam Regis, 15, was stabbed in Plaistow, 17 March ((inside West Ham CLP). There have of course been a “spate” (or just an statistical aberration?) of similar knife related murders elsewhere in Britain

There then followed a really constructive and informed discussions. A social, political and practical issue that touched all of us. It was accepted that this is not a “night or day” question. But a really difficult issue that there is probably no absolute “right” answer. One member who has links to a secondary school which has a very good reputation in Newham put forward the view that teachers fear that this is a real problem since a significant number of pupils are “tooled up”. Is it fashion or is it “self-defence”?

Is it a “media exaggeration”? There is evidence that overall knife crime is reducing. Last month everyone fussed about “gun crime” this month it is “knifes”. Is this to some extent just the generational fear of the young? If you looked at the headlines and substituted the word “hoodies” with “teddy boys” you would find similar press headlines across the ages.

One member who has an historical bent pointed out that after the Second World War there was an alarming amount of violent firearm incidents inside schools. Weapons being relatively widely available at this time. (So is it all about availability?)

What if “airport” style metal detectors were installed? Who would physically search the pupil? Teachers? What would the school do if they found a pupil with a knife or unlawful sharp implements (I’ve seen innocent looking rings which turn into really nasty cutting weapons). Apparently, it is a specific criminal offence to bring a knife into a school. Will, therefore teachers be obliged to report such incidents to the Police (and if not why not?)

I think that the link with crime and deprivation was accepted by everyone however, the fact that everyone present seemed to be genuine working class (who I am pretty confident were not tooled up) tells us more is at stake than purely economics.

This debate is the sort of thing that showed the Labour Party in its best possible light. I am sure that the Councillors present will take on board the contributions by members.

There was no conclusion but my understanding was that a majority of members present would reluctantly support such measures. The most powerful argument expressed was that “of course we could adopt the option of doing nothing….”