Labour Party Leadership discourse

Last Saturday I was in North Wales and went out for an evening meal and family get together in a small bistro restaurant in Ruthin, Denbighshire called "On the Hill". There was 6 of us aged 25 to 74 sitting in a private table in the corner away from other diners.

We had not met since Easter and there was lots of news, reminisces and gossip to exchange. The food was excellent and the wine flowed.

The subject of the Labour Party leadership came up and I was asked what I thought of the candidates and who was likely to win. Three of us present would be eligible to vote in the election. I went through what I thought were the strengths and weaknesses of the leadership contenders. There followed some polite questions and comments. I mentioned to everyone that I was pleased that we were discussing the issue because it showed that people thought it was important. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement but I felt that people's attention was starting to wonder.

When suddenly someone mentioned "Liz Kendall used to go out with Greg Davies". "Really!" was one immediate excited response. "Greg Davies, the comedian from the telly?" was another. There then followed an animated and wide ranging discussion about the funniest things he had appeared in. The pros and cons of his alternative comedy act and even heated comparisons of Greg with other favourite comedians.

Alas, I never got my chance to say who I thought would actually become Labour leader but never mind. The food was gorgeous and the wine good. Personally I had always thought that Greg Davies was rather overrated. Now if Liz Kendall had been going out with Jack Dee....

(Picture taken this year in Labour Headquarters in Victoria during an agent training session. Who will be the 13th leader of the Party since 1945? Hope he or she is not superstitious)

Vote FIAZ, Rokhsana #1 - London Rep on Executive of Association of Labour Cllrs

(In a personal capacity and as a London Cllr I fully support Rokhsana as a candidate to be the ALC rep for London. She has integrity and principles and will be a fantastic advocate for London Councillors at the ALC). Vote FIAZ, Rokhsana #1 Association of Labour Councillors Executive Representative for London Region Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz  Councillors at the heart of Labour's future Dear Friend,   You’ll have received details of how to vote online or via post for the next Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, and as a Labour councillor you are also able to vote for your Association of Labour Councillors executive representative for the London Region.   As a candidate, I am seeking your support because I want to make sure that Councillors are at the heart of Labour’s policy and campaigning future.   I am a Councillor in Newham - one of London’s most ethnically diverse, dynamic but poorest boroughs - and bring a strong track record of policy development and delivery. I also bring three decades worth of advocacy, campaigning and organising experience in the party and in local communities.  I’ve led UK-wide, European and international campaigns including a Global Week of Action for Oxfam’s ‘Robin Hood Tax’, a worldwide movement of people committed to reducing poverty and tackling climate change by taxing financial transactions.   As the ALC Executive member representing the London region, I will bring all these skills to bear as our party prepares for London Mayoral and Assembly elections in 2016, which winning decisively has to be our key priority.   We need to ensure that with a Labour Mayor, we work to tackle London’s challenges, a global city whose population is set to grow to ten million.  Labour Councillors in London, as elsewhere, are at the forefront of the battle against the reckless cuts to local authority budgets by the Tories. But we are also contending with unique problems and demands: an acute housing crisis; skyrocketing rents; and a generation of Londoners for whom the cost of living doesn’t match their real income. We need more investment in transport and the skills agenda to help our businesses and people to thrive. London’s economic prosperity, projected to grow in the midst of a wider climate of austerity, has to benefit all Londoners. All these issues and more also mean that as Labour councillors we need to play a crucial role in shaping Labour’s offer to people across our country with the new Leader and Deputy Leader. How we reshape doing the business of politics in our communities, on the doorstep and online needs to respond to the massive challenges facing our party and our country as we build a winning movement ready for 2020.     As your Executive Committee representative I am committed to ensuring that London Councillors are at the forefront of that. I will also work to ensure that the Association of Labour Councillors continues to punch its weight within the Party, be it through building on the work of Labour’s Local Government Innovation Taskforce; or ensuring that Councillors are at the heart of driving the devolution agenda so that there is better involvement, better decisions and better outcomes for our communities at local level.   I will also make it my priority to improve the training and support that the Association of Labour Councillors offers to our growing diversity of amazing member talent.  That's why, if you are still considering who to vote for as your first preference, I hope I can count on your support. Of course, I'd be delighted to talk with you, so feel free to contact me if you would like to find out more about why I am standing and my plans. I’d love to hear from you! Yours sincerely, Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz OBE Custom House ward, London Borough of Newham: @rokhsanafiaz P.S. Remember, the deadline for returning your ballot paper or voting online ismidday on the 10th September.    A bit more about my work as a Councillor:  Children and Young Peoples Scrutiny Commission (Deputy Chair) Overview & Scrutiny Committee  Budget Working Group  Audit Board  Strategic Development Committee

Select Committee on Future for Housing Associations - Have your say

My UNISON branch Greater London Housing Associations and the national UNISON Community Service Group Executive are asking members to make submissions to the Parliamentary Select Committee investigation into the future of Housing Associations. See below. 

I posted here my thoughts on the problems facing the sector. I have since found that Newham has the most expensive Housing Association rents in the country despite having the lowest wages in the capital. Why?

(SGE) "MP's are holding an inquiry into the viability and sustainability of housing associations. This inquiry looks at the proposed extension of Right to Buy and how this and a number of other government measures may impact on the ability of housing associations to build and develop.  
 
The National Community Service Group will be submitting a response, however our response will be stronger if branches and activists also respond using the links below.  
 
Could you please send a copy of your response to cvsector@unison.co.uk
 
Please note the deadline is 28 August 2015
 
For more information on the inquiry please click on:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/news-parliament-2015/housing-association-sector-right-to-buy-inquiry-launch/

To submit your response please click on:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/communities-and-local-government-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/housing-association-sector-and-right-to-buy/commons-written-submission-form/
 
(HAB) Dear Branch activists,

As you may be aware the Conservative party promised to extend Right to Buy to Housing Associations. The Communities and Local Government Select Committee will be hearing evidence for and against this proposal and as the trade union representing Housing Associations workers UNISON would like to get the views of its members and activists in order to submit evidence to the committee.

If you have a view, please reply to this email on or before Friday 21st August saying whether you oppose extending Right to Buy to Housing Associations and what impact you feel this would have.

UNISON Housing Associations Branch.

(hat tip Photo to top trouble maker comrade Paul McCabe)

Londoners' walk up Place Fell

Off message but last week I was on holiday in the Lake District and went for a superb 8.5 mile walk up and down Place Fell then alongside Ullswater. The weather was unusually kind, warm and sunny (unlike some of the other days - there is a reason why there are so many lakes here!).

While I was getting ready to start the walk near the Patterdale hotel car park a local bus dropped off a bearded middle-aged man who was dressed as an Orthodox Jew with a prayer scarf (Tallit) under his black suit jacket, white shirt and black trousers but wearing walking boots and carrying a small rucksack on his back.

He asked the driver some directions then went in the opposite direction to me. The walk started off very flat as you go towards the imposing bulk of Place Fell which is 2154 ft or 657m in modern money. At Side Farm you turn right and start the long slog up hill. It was now very warm but with a refreshing breeze. The higher you go the better the views.

After about 45 minutes at Boredale Hause, which is site of an ancient abandoned chapel, I saw the unusually dressed walker again now wearing a skull cap who was climbing the same mountain. He walked off ahead and climbed steadily. He must have been boiling hot wearing the black suit. I was in shorts and a breathable shirt and was drenched in sweat. I could see him stop to recover his breath ahead but he always kept his coat on.

I eventually caught up with him near the summit and had a chat. I had to ask him was he hot climbing up the mountain dressed in black? He just grinned and replied it was warm work. I asked him was he here for any particular reason? He said it was a long story which he had already shared with many people. Hearing this I had to ask him to tell me, not sure what his story will be. I was not expecting him to say it was all because of "Virgin trains".

 He explained that Virgin had an offer earlier this year of a train ticket anywhere for only £11. He had taken up this offer and had booked a day off work today, travelled from London Euston this morning to Penrith and then taken a bus from Penrith to Patterdale in order to climb Place Fell. After climbing the mountain he had to get down in order to catch the bus back to Penrith and the timed train back to Euston.

 I asked why Place Fell and he said he had been here many years ago but did not know the area that well but he had read all the guide books about the Lake District and felt he had to visit. He lived in Barnet and worked in Hatton Garden in the City of London but he loved reading about mountains and looking at maps. He then went and pointed out the names of all the mountains and view points we could see from near the summit - Boredale valley, Martindale Fells, the long ridge of High Street with its Roman road, Helvellyn, Gowbarrow Fell and Ullswater. He knew all their heights and history. He admitted his knowledge was purely down to his love of reading guidebooks.

At the summit we took pictures of each other with cameras at the cairn. He stopped briefly for a bite to eat and actually took off his black jacket for a while. He then put it back on and turned back to retrace his tracks and make his way down the mountain, to get his bus back to Penrith and the train back home to London. I thought that I loved walking in mountains but I felt humbled by such dedication and thankful for being lucky enough to spend more than one day here.

 I carried on down the other side of Place Fell and walked back to Patterdale alongside the stunningly beautiful lakeside footpath alongside Ullswater.  I wish my fellow London walker had been able to enjoy these views as well. 

Social Rents in Newham are the highest in country

UPDATE: I have seen an email circulated that these figures only refer to rents charged by private registered social housing landlords (not council housing). This is even more strange. Why does Newham have the highest RSL rents in the country? What controls do we have as a Council over RSL rents? What are average rents for Council owned properties? What is the impact does the Council controlled RSL "Local Space" or the former Olympic athletes accommodation in East Village? I will update my Cllrs enquiry once I get a full reply.

"Figures showing the borough has the least affordable social housing in the country have prompted calls for action from campaigners and MP Stephen Timms.

Newham came top of 338 locations with an average rent of £128.89 a week, the Office for National Statistics data covering England and Wales revealed, but the borough was bottom when it came to pay in the capital, with average gross weekly salaries of £111.10".

I was genuinely shocked to see this report in the Newham Recorder last week. I'll raise a Councillors members enquiry to find out why the Council thinks our rents are so high.  Newham is still a relatively low cost housing area in London? Are Housing associations rents to blame? Or are the so called "affordable" (80% average of market) rents for many new Council tenants?

Average weekly social housing rent as a % of 10th percentile gross weekly salary: The 10 highest and lowest areas, England & Wales, 2014
	Local authority code	Local authority name	Weekly average social housing rent as a % of 10th percentile gross weekly salary: The 10 highest and lowest areas
	W06000001	Isle of Anglesey	43.73
	W06000010	Carmarthenshire	47.55
	E09000019	Islington	48.06
	W06000006	Wrexham	48.25
	E07000120	Hyndburn	49.79
	E07000122	Pendle	50.81
	E06000047	County Durham	51.35
	E07000140	South Holland	52.35
	E09000013	Hammersmith and Fulham	52.87
	E07000172	Broxtowe	52.88
	E09000002	Barking and Dagenham	102.47
	E07000239	Wyre Forest	103.27
	E07000065	Wealden	104.54
	E07000070	Chelmsford	107.80
	E07000069	Castle Point	110.63
	E07000179	South Oxfordshire	111.26
	E07000144	Broadland	111.57
	E07000037	High Peak	112.81
	E09000025	Newham	116.01
	E07000207	Elmbridge	122.93
	Source: Office for National Statistics, Stats Wales and Valuation Office Agency

TUC National Rally & March on the Tory Conference 4 October 2015

"Sunday 4 October –  “No to austerity, yes to workers’ rights”

"On Sunday 4 October, the Conservative party will open their annual conference in Manchester. After five years of austerity, falling living standards, pay freezes and huge cuts to public services, a new parliament won’t offer a fresh start to working people and their families. The Conservatives’ new plan is an old plan - back to the future with  more of the same.

We were told that austerity measures were a necessary, short, sharp dose of medicine . But five years later, the prescription is the still same. More plans to privatise public services, like the NHS. The government telling hardworking people, like midwives, teachers and transport workers, that they must work harder and longer. Public servants’ pay frozen for 4 more years.  Threats to jobs in the public sector. Plans to sell off social housing. Cutting tax credits, disability benefits and help with the rent. Unfair targeting of young people.

Trade  unions have a proud tradition of standing up for workers, their families and the services everyone uses. So now the government is threatening the right to strike.

In  the trade union bill, they propose to make it harder for unions to take strike action to oppose their cuts. They want to make it harder for workers to speak out - allowing employers to use agency workers to break strikes and putting huge restrictions on pickets and protests. In short, they want to silence millions of union members and threaten their right to strike.

So we all need to speak out now. March in Manchester on Sunday 4 October and tell the Conservatives  that we say “No!” to austerity. And tell them that workers need a voice. That trade unions give workers a voice. And that instead of austerity, it’s a resounding “Yes!” to workers’ rights".

hat tip https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/why-are-we-marching

Murad Qureshi AM on West Ham and the Olympic Stadium

It is the last chance tonight to watch the BBC investigation "When the Hammers struck Gold" on iPlayer.  The programme was first shown on August 6th and alleged that the UK taxplayer has been ripped off in the deal over the use of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and the private owners of West Ham FC have made a fortune out of it.

"It's costing taxpayers hundreds of millions to convert the Olympic Stadium into a home fit for West Ham Football Club. With the amount spiralling, BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan investigates a deal that is shrouded in secrecy, and that could make the club owners even richer while leaving us to foot the bill".

This clip is from the programme and shows London Assembly member, Murad Qureshi, being interviewed about the secret deal between the London Mayor and West Ham FC. Murad quite rightly questions why the deal has to be secret when a similar arrangement with Manchester Council and Manchester City FC over the Commonwealth Games Stadium was open and transparent.

Murad is standing to be the Labour Candidate for the GLA seat "City and London". He has the support of Greater London UNISON and his stance over the Olympic Stadium shows he is very capable of holding the Mayor to account. 

UNISON Capital Stewards Website

I have just signed into the new UNISON website for Capital Stewards and will start posting some links and articiles over the next few days. The site is currently only for UNISON activists and is password protected. If you are a UNISON pension trustee or Local Government Pension scheme Committee or Board member, you can apply for access via your UNISON regional contact.

This is the introduciton on the site "Capital Stewards has been designed as a knowledge and campaigning unit for trade union activists. Here you will find materials, films and news that will help you understand the world of pension funds, investing and broader economic ideas. Around the world pension funds and their representatives are making investments and engaging on a wide range of issues from worker's rights and pay to the environment".

The Youtube video "its our Money - the Power of Pension Funds" explains more about capital stewardship.

Hat tip Mr Meech

Why trade unionists are saying #YesWeKhan

This post was published yesterday on Left Foot Forward.

"Sadiq Khan's mayoral manifesto shows his commitment to helping working people

While there are a number of good candidates standing to be the Labour Mayoral Candidate in 2016, there is one outstanding contender for the wider Labour family to consider voting for. That is former shadow minister for London, Sadiq Khan MP.

In my view, as a grassroots party activist Sadiq is the best overall Labour choice; and as a friend and supporter of London trade unions and workers he is second to none.

He has a consistent and long standing record of being there for the wider Labour movement. It’s not just that he turns up to speak and give credence at our union events and campaign launches, he has also shown a genuine commitment to meeting ordinary trade union members and understanding their issues and concerns.

This has included lunchtime debates on the NHS with UNISON nurses and support staff in London hospital canteens, meetings with Unite hotel workers about fair pay and talking to young GMB members on his plans to tackle the housing crisis.

It’s not just talk. It’s about values. Sadiq has the most pro-worker mayoral manifesto of any candidate. A workers’ agenda that will appeal to trade union members and those who are not (yet) members. He knows that contrary to the myth, London’s streets are not paved with gold.

Hundreds of thousands of London workers live in poverty on the national minimum wage rate, while even many of those on good salaries find it difficult to meet London’s distorted housing and transport costs.
If he becomes mayor of London, Sadiq pledges:

• Thousands of new social and affordable homes, with a New Homes team at City hall to build really affordable homes for renters and first time buyers. He will help get better standards in the private rented sector, setting up a London-wide not-for-profit lettings agency and ‘naming & shaming’ rogue landlords.

• Making London a truly ‘Living Wage City’, with a real London Living Wage that reflects the government’s cuts to tax credits, and no public contracts for employers who pay poverty wages.  

• Freezing TfL fares and cutting bus fares, to make transport costs fairer and more affordable. All London bus drivers will be moved on to a single unified rate of pay. 

•  To tackle health inequalities and stop Londoners being poisoned by air pollution. 

• To properly consult with GLA and agency unions and set up a fairness team to raise standards across the city for pay and conditions, and deliver more apprenticeships and opportunities for Londoners. No employers who ‘blacklist’ union members will get public contracts. 

• Work across all London bodies, voluntary and private sector to tackle all forms of discrimination. 

 It’s about time we had a London mayor who is from an ethnic minority, and who represents a new generation of Londoners. But Sadiq offers so much more than that – he is planning to improve the lot of all workers and trade unionists in our capital.

What is good for workers is also good for London, and for all Londoners. We need a mayoral candidate who has these values, this commitment and can deliver.

This is a message that I hope will be foremost in their minds of all the London Labour movement as they fill out their ballot forms later this month.

John Gray is chair of the Greater London UNISON Labour Link Committee and a UNISON NEC member. He writes in a personal capacity. Follow him on Twitter"

Overview & Scrunity "Call in" expenditure on Newham "Special Purpose Vehicle"

I was very pleased to hear this evening that members of Newham Council Overview & Scrutiny Committee had agreed to "call in" the Executive Mayor's decision to spend up to £500,000 on developing a  "Special Purpose Vehicle" (SPV) for the Newham Staff Pension fund.  This decision to spend the money was made without the agreement of the Investment & Accounts Committee.

I have raised concerns about this proposal here, "Professional Pensions" have questioned whether it is costing too much here and a "leading financial figure" described it as "bloody dangerous" here.

Many thanks to Cllr Nazeer for requesting the "Call in".

"Dear Members of Overview and Scrutiny.

I am writing to request that you support my application to "call in" the decision by the Executive at the Cabinet Meeting on Thursday 23^rd July 2015 (item 5) to spend up to £500,000 of public money on setting up an “Alternative Asset backed Financing for the Newham Pension Fund”.

I believe that this is the wrong sequencing for this decision because the proposal has not been consulted upon and agreed beforehand with the Newham Council Investment & Accounts Committee. As a member of this committee I am concerned that this proposal may not be in the best interests of the Council nor the staff Pension fund and we might waste this £500,000 if the Committee decide that this proposal is not appropriate. I understand that the alternative asset proposal has significant risks attached to it which I feel merit proper scrutiny. 

It is inappropriate in principal for any such proposal to go ahead without the agreement of the Investment and Accounts committee beforehand.

I request that the Overview & Scrutiny(O&S) should examine the arguments and consider making a recommendation back to the Executive that no further expenditure of public funds is made until the Investment and Accounts committee have had a chance to fully consider the proposal and are made aware of all  the possible costs and benefits of the scheme".

Cllr Farah Nazeer.