It’s time to get radical if we are to address the vast challenges facing Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Let’s start by understanding the scale of the problems facing us. In my New Year blog,…Read more…
Liverpool University agrees to apply for living wage status
University’s move comes just days after University of Manchester becomes 5,000th living wage employer
The article Liverpool University agrees to apply for living wage status first appeared on the…Read more…
Affordable Housing Conference – “A Bold Plan for Local Authority to Deliver it’s own Housing”
My speech today at this “Affordable Housing” conference in central London.
“Thank you. As I think I am the only politician speaking today, I hope you will find our perspective of what we are doing in Newham of interest.
First the bad stuff, whi…Read more…
‘Groundbreaking’ agreement
Dudley Council has become the latest local council in the West Midlands to use its influence to support local construction workers by signing up to Unite’s Construction Charter. Unite’s…Read more…
Manufacturing jobs crisis
Unite warned of a deepening jobs crisis in UK manufacturing as the latest jobs figures showed 24,000 jobs had been in lost in the sector in the six months June to December 2018. The warning…Read more…
It’s time to talk about peace, not separation
The late Amos Oz had a very appealing way of describing his vision for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “I don’t believe in a sudden burst of mutual love between Israel and Palestine,” he…Read more…
Wage growth, but only for the few
Recent reports on wage growth disguise the fact that only high earners are benefitting.Read more…
Alexandra Lake Wanstead Flats
Photo from run on Sunday (stylised). The Lake was named after the wife of King Edward VII and dug in 1905/06 to improve drainage and provide work for “unemployed men under the control of the West Ham Distress Committee”.Read more…
“A state for some of its citizens”
Netanyahu inadvertently shows why a key IHRA “example” is false Netanyahu’s disagreement with an Israeli actress has created something of … MoreRead more…
Lanarkshire college earns living wage accreditation
Announcement comes as Manchester University becomes 5000th living wage employer and UNISON names and shames colleges over pay
The article Lanarkshire college earns living wage accreditation first…Read more…
‘Recognise our responsibility’
On Saturday (March 16), millions of people took to the streets across the globe in solidarity with those facing fear and hate in our communities from a growing and dangerous far right. And we…Read more…
‘Disgraceful action’
Unite the union has today (March 18) confirmed that its membership at Lothian buses is holding a consultative ballot on potential industrial action. The moves follows Lothian Buses management…Read more…
Living standards ‘cut to the bone’
Workers employed by both Mears and Mitie undertaking housing maintenance work for Crawley council are gearing up for industrial action after nearly a decade of pay cuts, which has seen their earnings…Read more…
‘We must save Honda’
The UK is in the grip of a manufacturing emergency which will accelerate, leaving tens of thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, unless the Honda plant in Swindon is saved, Unite warned today…Read more…
United against Terror #Christchurch #Pittsburg #Manchester
Yesterday, following the fascist massacre of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Newham Labour Movement family and friends, came together at a vigil outside Stratford Station. All of us were “United Against Terror”.
Newham Mayor,…Read more…
What business are asset managers in?
Another issue I am starting to look at in more detail is the overlap between stock-lending, shorting and other activity. I was recently pointed in the direction of some of BlackRock’s literature on stock-lending and it fed my sense that at least parts …Read more…
Review: How to Cure a Fanatic, by Amos Oz
This tiny little book, which you can read in under an hour, is a reminder of how much Amos Oz is missed today. The book consists of two short speeches he gave in Germany in…Read more…
Outsourcing hell – continued
If anyone were in anyone doubt that the outsourcing sector is in big trouble, Friday saw Interserve’s precarious position finally resolved. The major shareholder – US hedge fund Coltrane Asset Management – voted against the proposed debt-for-equity swa…Read more…
A year since Rokhsana Fiaz elected was as Labour Party Candidate for Newham Mayoral Contest 2018
What a great picture. I believe taken after 3pm that day when the Labour Party informed Rokshana that she had been elected by Labour Party member in Newham to be our candidate in the Newham directly elected Mayoral elections on 2018.
Bizarrely, I was …Read more…
The Cavendish Square conundrum
Swindon Borough Council has recently bought some land at Cavendish Square for more than £3 million. This was land that … MoreRead more…