Mayor lost support of Newham Labour Party Branches and membership

This afternoon the last Newham Labour Party branch, Green Street East held its trigger ballot meeting and voted 32 to 5 for an open selection process for the next Newham Labour Mayoral candidate.

This means that a majority of Labour Party branches in Newham agree with an open selection and if you count the numbers in each branch an overwhelming number of individual Newham Labour Party members have also voted for an open contest.

In the two selection meetings I have attended (Forest Gate North and Co-op Party) supporters of the current Mayor have argued that this affirmation process was actually a "vote of no confidence" in him by Party members. He has since lost 11 out of 9 branches.

Tonight the West Ham Labour Party Women's Forum also held its trigger meeting and in the biggest meeting held in the current contest they voted decisively for an open selection as well by 46 No votes to 36 Yes.

I hope that since an overwhelming majority of branches and Labour Party members want this to happen it will happen. But..watch this space :)

Dear Robin (time to say goodbye or face an open election)

Dear Robin,

The results of the Mayoral Trigger Ballot have already shown that the Labour Party in Newham is deeply divided over the question of your automatic re-selection as mayoral candidate for the election of 2018. The majority of members taking part in the Trigger Ballot have voted ‘No’, including 10 wards, which is a resounding vote for democracy and shows that the party does not support your sole candidacy. The party wants an open and democratic selection process to commence immediately.

We request that, if you wish to continue to seek the nomination, you agree to take part in an open selection contest. This competition will be open to any member of the Labour Party in Newham, including ourselves which would produce a result that will be accepted by all members. 

We believe that a contested selection will unify the local party as all members will be involved, whether the winner will be yourself or someone else. We propose that the terms for the election be one member one vote (OMOV). Newham Labour Party members clearly want an open process, so we should replicate the process adopted for the selection of the Labour candidate for London Mayor.

We therefore call upon you to accept an open selection process, conducted under the terms of OMOV, so that the wishes of the party members can be clearly heard and the result accepted by all. In this way, the Labour Party in Newham will be able to pursue its mission of serving the community and improving the lives of all the residents of this borough.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Kay Scoresby & Cllr John Whitworth

"The Mayor does not have a Mandate from Members" The People have Spoken

Check out the latest from Newham Recorder following the vote last night in 4 Labour Party branches for an open selection process for the next Mayor.

The current mayor has now (in the speeches of his supporters at selection meetings) "lost the confidence" of a majority of Newham Labour Party branches and members.

One of the wards voted against him 36 to 3 in favour of an open selection!

An overwhelming majority of Labour Party members have also voted for change. "The people have spoken".

The only way for the current Mayor to regain a mandate is by an open selection process.

I will publish the open letter to Sir Robin Wales sent today by declared Mayoral candidates, Cllr Kay Scoresby and Cllr John Whitworth next.

Latest Newham trigger ballots swing results in favour of open selection process

The number of Labour wards in favour of an open selection process for the 2018 Newham mayoral race have taken the lead.

Four wards – Boleyn, Canning Town North, East Ham Central and Plaistow South – voted “no” in last night’s trigger ballots, meaning the “no” results now tally 10 while those who voted “yes” stand at nine.

This means that the majority of wards want to see several candidates put forward as Labour’s choice in the Mayor of Newham 2018 election rather than Sir Robin Wales being automatically reselected.

Green Street East, the remaining Labour ward which was due to vote on Sunday, will not be allowed to take part following a dispute over its registration process, the Recorder has been told.

A further 11 affiliated organisations, the majority of whom have already voted, have yet to declare their position which may affect the outcome of the result.

Newham Co-op Party voted “No” with the final result being Yes: 36 to No: 37

However a spokesperson for Trigger Democracy has “called upon Sir Robin Wales to announce his support for an open selection”.

They said: “It is clear following the four No votes last night that the mayor does not have a mandate from members to serve a fifth term.

“He would only get that if he won an open and democratic selection including other candidates.

“A decisive majority of wards and Labour memebrs, young and old, black, white and Asian, those from the left and those from the right of the party, new members and those who joined before Newham was even created, have clearly voted for choice and democracy.

“If Robin Wales is deemed to have been reselected on a technicality and refuses to take part in an open selection he will have lost the confidence of his local party members.”

Last night’s ward results were as follows: Boleyn: Yes 3, No 36; Canning Town North: Yes 17, No 21; East Ham Central: Yes 29, No 31; Plaistow South: Yes 12, No 19.

The voting process ends this weekend and a final result is expected on Monday".

"Second councillor puts name forward as potential 2018 Newham mayoral candidate"

Newham Recorder "A second councillor has said she will stand as Labour’s 2018 Newham mayoral candidate if there is an open selection process for election.

Cllr Kay Scoresby, of Canning Town North ward, said she believed “it is about time we have a woman” [as Newham Mayor] and said she had been encouraged to stand by both Labour and non-Labour members in the Newham community.

Her announcement comes ahead of four key votes tonight in the borough to decide whether or not Sir Robin Wales is automatically re-selected as Labour’s next mayoral candidate in an affirmative nomination process known as a trigger ballot.

Speaking exclusively to the Recorder, Cllr Scoresby said: “If people vote no – and I sincerely hope they do – then they will have an open process where Sir Robin can join in. At the moment it is a one-horse race.

“My style [of leadership] would be very collaborative. One of the first things I would do is to have a big conversation with all of our stakeholders.

She added: “We have some fantastic charities in the borough that have been overlooked in the work that they do.”

Cllr Scorebsy advocated “proactive” working with health officials, schools and community group and said she wanted to restore the early years provision that was based on council-run, registered children’s centres before it was cancelled last September.

She said that if elected, she would also speak to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, about tackling the borough’s housing crisis at the “planning and development stage”.

“50 per cent of the land is used by the council. We should be looking at how we utilise that with people,” she said.

The teacher and married mum-of-three, who has been a councillor for more than 10 years, made her announcement earlier today. It follows on from Cllr John Whitworth’s declaration to run less than three weeks ago.

He said: “I welcome Cllr Scoresby’s entry into the contest as I believe the trigger ballot process should result in Labour Party members being given a choice for their candidate for mayor.

“I hope her standing will encourage other Labour members to also put themselves and their vision for Newham forward.”

A spokesperson for Sir Robin Wales was approached for a reply but declined to comment.

The wards set to vote later are Boleyn, Canning Town North, East Ham Central and Plaistow South.

In Tuesday’s trigger ballot vote in West Ham ward, 20 members voted “no” and eight voted “yes”. Green Street East is expected to take place on Sunday although this is yet to be confirmed.

At present the “yes” votes still lead with nine wards in favour of keeping Sir Robin as the selected Labour candidate for Mayor of Newham, with six wards voting “no” and one affiliated organisation, the Newham Co-op Party, also voting “no”.

A further 11 affiliated organisations are also in the process of voting and have yet to declare.

Fabians Relaunch in Newham (better late than ...)

"We are pleased to announce two meetings of Newham Fabian Society.  All Fabian members welcome.

December Social

Tuesday 6 December at 7PM

With Guest Speaker Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham. 

Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue London E12 6SG.

Annual General Meeeting

Wednesday 11 January 2017 at 7PM

Guest speaker:  Andrew Harrop, General Secretary of the Fabian Society

Trinity Community Centre, East Avenue London E12 6SG.

Further details from Tahmina Rahman,

Secretary, Newham Fabians

I think this is the first meeting of the Newham Fabians for several years.

You can join the National Fabians here http://www.fabians.org.uk/members/join/ but I am a member of the Newham Fabians for £7 per year.

Not sure what I have signed up to with my £7 and what it entitles?

Anyone know?

(Picture of a #MayorWhitworth look-a-likey at the last Newham Fabian event)

West Ham Labour Branch votes 20-8 for change at Newham Town Hall

Great result tonight from West Ham Labour Party Ward meeting. 

20-8 vote in favour of change

I now think that the popular vote of members is for change but we will see.

Members voted for an open selection process for the next candidate to stand in the elections in 2018.

The current Mayor would be automatically shortlisted to be a candidate in any road.

I think it is about time we had an alternative choice and open process. 

West Ham Labour Party Christmas Quiz & Social - Friday 9 December 2016

It’s our festive fixture –  the Xmas Social and Quiz with our Quiz Masters Dianne and Conor. 7.30pm (for 8pm start), Friday 9 December, Vicarage Lane Centre, E15 4HW.

Come along and meet fellow West Ham members. No need to come as a team but do bring some food to share.

"Newham trigger ballot results tighten but Sir Robin Wales maintains race lead"

See the latest report from the Newham Recorder on the trigger ballot. 

I do think that it is a genuine shame that Cllr Clive Furness when expressing his views about the Mayor does not declare that he is a full time paid employee of the current Mayor. 

Thinking about it all the 22 paid Councillor "advisors" to the Mayor are employees on zero hour contracts? 

"Attempts to unseat Sir Robin Wales as Labour’s automatic candidate for the borough’s 2018 mayoral elections have edged closer.

Two Labour branches and affiliated organisation Newham Co-op voted “no” in the latest round of the trigger ballot process this week, bringing the total number of wards pushing for an “open selection” election process to six.

However the Recorder understands a complaint has been formally lodged with the London chair and national chair of the Co-op party about “process and conduct plus missing ballot papers” at its vote on Monday.

But Chair of Newham Co-op Gill Hayes said the the person in question was being written to tomorrow to clarify that the process was in fact valid.

She said: “After investigation, it shows 73 ballots were issued and 73 ballots papers were returned.”

Stratford and Newtown ward voted Yes: 36 to No: 37 while Little Ilford ward voted Yes: 23 to No: 36.

Despite the wins, the “yes” votes still lead with nine wards in favour of keeping Sir Robin as the selected Labour candidate for Mayor of Newham.

Cllr Clive Furness, who represents Canning Town North, said he was supporting Sir Robin Wales for automatic re-selection.

“He has an excellent record and the drive to achieve more, we should focus on defending local people from the vicious attacks of the Tories and because when Labour spends time talking to itself we lose touch with our people,” he said.

A further six Labour wards are yet to vote and the majority of these are expected to take place next week.

West Ham, which votes on Tuesday, is expected to vote “no” but the other wards could go either way, the Recorder has been told.

Cllr John Whitworth, who has declared that he is “prepared to challenge” Sir Robin Wales as the 2018 Newham mayoral candidate should an open selection election process be triggered said next week’s votes would be “key - and really exciting”.

“As predicted, the argument for an open selection process did better this week with three straight wins, with two by massive majorities,” he said.

“It is becoming clear that it is the popular will of ordinary Newham party members that they want an open selection.

“It appears that other contenders are considering whether or not to declare.”

A further 11 affiliated organisations are also in the process of voting and have yet to declare.

A spokesperson for Trigger Democracy said: “From Stratford to Little Ilford, Labour members from all across Newham have been voting for democracy and choice.

“Trigger Democracy will carry on making its case as more wards meet next week.”

#CarefortheNHS - West Ham Labour campaign day for the NHS

Picture collage from yesterday. Members of West Ham Labour Party with our MP, Lyn Brown, in Stratford handing out leaflets and talking to the public about the funding crisis facing the NHS.

See photo of Newham Labour Mayoral Candidate (and stanch campaigner for the NHS) Cllr John Whitworth.

Some of the key facts about the crisis.

• Worst NHS deficits on record at £2.45 billion

• Around 3.9 million people are now on the English waiting list to start treatment

• 1.8 million people waited four or more hours in A&E last year - up over 400 per cent since 2010

• One in four patients have to wait a week or more to see or speak to a GP or nurse, or do not get an appointment at all

Hat tip some pictures to @WestHamLabour

Housing Associations and Charities that refuse to recognise Trade Unions are Human Rights Violators

This motion has been sent to the UNISON Community Conference next year by UNISON Housing Association branch. 

"This Community conference notes:-

That a number of UK Housing Associations and Charities do not recognise trade unions for collective bargaining.

Some of these employers are Union busters and have de-recognised trade unions, attacked union representatives and blacklisted union and safety activists.

The UN Charter of Human Rights, as well as International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, makes it clear that it is an absolute human right of all employees not only to join a trade union but also to be protected by collective bargaining agreements over jobs, pay, terms and conditions.

Any employer that refuses to recognise trade unions and is hostile to union activists and organisers is committing human rights violations and must be treated as such.

Major UK Housing Associations and Charities have and continue to receive huge amounts of public money either in direct support, grants, benefits, subsidies, donations or taxable relief.

UNISON wants to work in partnership with employers to improve employee relations which we genuinely believe will benefit our clients, customers and workers. However we will not tolerate human rights abuses.

This Conference resolves

To call upon our SGE and UNISON Labour Link to support a campaign for all UK Housing Associations and Charities to recognise trade unions for collective bargaining. This campaign may involve taking legal industrial action if necessary in accordance with UNISON rules.

If any UK Housing Association or Charity refuses to recognise trade unions for the purposes of collective bargaining and victimises or blacklists activists and organisers then we call upon the SGE and UNISON Labour link to support campaigns within our rules in favour of recognition and against such victimisation and blacklisting.

If any Housing Association or Charity refuses to respect the human rights of our members to collective bargaining and victimised or blacklists union activists then we should as a last resort call upon the general public, local authorities and the Government to make it clear to these organisations that due to their failure to observe basic international human rights, they will review whether they are fit and proper organisations that they should work with and have procurement, partnership and other commercial arrangements with".