You spoke, we listened 🗣️👂Some of you living around the Wanstead Flats area recently told us about issues with anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, litter and general nuisance 🗑️So, we teamed up with our partners to speak to residents, carry out p…Read more…
Newham Housing Surgery at Stratford Library
This evening I attended the latest drop‑in Housing Surgery at Stratford Library alongside our Deputy Housing Cabinet Lead, Cllr Tonii Wilson, and local ward councillors.A wide range of Newham housing teams were present — Housing Liaison Officers, ASB, …Read more…
Too Hot to Work
Hat tip UNISON “UNISON has launched a campaign to demand that the UK government creates new laws that require employers to protect workers from excessive heat.The action, as part of the union’s Year of Green Activity, comes as a series of he…Read more…
The 3 John’s
2 weeks ago I met up with my former West Ham CLP comrades John Whitworth and John Saunders for a meal and chin wag in Stratford. Both of whom are long standing Labour Party members and former Newham Councillors (and both also have PHDs)John W is …Read more…
FORHAD’S FOCUS
As Cabinet Housing Member I am pleased with what has been done in Newham Housing Services since May 7 but there is still a long way to go. “Over the last few months, we’ve been continuing our work to tackle housing improvements and addressing the …Read more…
Belated thanks to Newham A&E — and two lessons learned the hard way
A belated but sincere thank you to the A&E staff at Newham General for treating me with kindness and respect during a visit two weeks ago. I had managed to injure myself in a particularly foolish way: having a fight with a jammed rod while tr…Read more…
🌙 July Rough Sleeping Count: A Night on the Streets With Newham’s Teams
Picture from the last months Count, just before midnight, as Newham Council teams headed out for July’s bi‑monthly Rough Sleeping Street Count. Every two months, Council rough sleeper officers, outreach workers, Councillors and volunteers come to…Read more…
Coggeshall Walk & historic Buildings 🚶♀️🌿
Last month, Gill and I enjoyed a lovely 4-mile circular walk around the historic village of Coggeshall in Essex. We started the day with breakfast in the town centre opposite the Chapel Inn before setting off to explore the surrounding countrysi…Read more…
Newham Labour Group “thank you” to 2026 Candidates & Organisers
Last month we had a genuinely lovely and informal evening bringing together candidates and organising staff from the May 2026 Council elections. It was exactly what everyone needed — good company, good humour, and some very good Italian food.Not …Read more…
West Ham walkabout – Vicarage Lane 22.7.26
Another late post from me — this time about last month’s walkabout in West Ham ward, starting outside the Vicarage Lane Community Centre and focusing on anti‑social behaviour concerns on both sides of the lane.The walkabout was organised and led …Read more…
London Labour Regional Conference 2026 – Delegate Reflections (as UNISON Labour Link)
Day 1 — Opening, Workshops, and FringesI arrived at the London Labour Regional Conference with the UNISON Labour Link delegation (and delegation leader), ready for 1.5 days of debates, workshops, and organising. Before the start we had a delegation mee…Read more…
Newham Power to Prosper Hub
Apologies for the lateness of this post — I’m well behind on social media updates — but I didn’t want to miss recording a very well‑attended and genuinely constructive meeting last month in Newham organised by Power to Proper.I was there on behalf of M…Read more…
Council Surgery in Canning Town Library & West Ham walkabout
Canning Town Library – Covering Cllr Mohammed’s SurgeryToday I returned to Canning Town Library to cover the Councillor surgery of my colleague Cllr Shaban Mohammed, who had kindly covered my West Ham Ward surgery recently.The session was scheduled for…Read more…
Breakfast with Monty
This morning I met my retired UNISON Housing colleague, Montrose Matty, for breakfast at a local Toby buffet. Naturally, we stuck to just coffee and some healthy veggies…..Read more…
Meeting up with Cousin Ian
Tonight I met up with my first cousin Ian and his wonderful wife Julia Ann for the very first time. He chose a cosy family Italian restaurant in Waterloo, LondonIan is the son of my late maternal uncle, Robert James (Jim) Matthews, and for variou…Read more…
Cliffe Pools – North Kent Walk
Sharing a picture from a wonderful recent walk around the Kent Thames Estuary. Just about 50-ish minutes by car from East London, it was so quiet and peaceful. The following day, we went in search of Pip and Magwitch.Read more…
The “King of the North” speaks to UNISON Labour Link Forum
Reflections from Labour Link Forum – A Week That Felt Like a Turning PointJust over a week ago, UNISON Labour Link delegates gathered in Manchester for our annual Forum — and we were privileged to welcome the man many call the King of the North, Andy B…Read more…
📢🌹 UNISON has endorsed Andy Burnham to become the next leader of the Labour Party.
I (and many others) spoke in support of Andy at today’s meeting, where we unanimously endorsed him as Leader.”The Labour Link Committee has selected its preferred successor to Keir Starmer, with UNISON – the UK’s largest trade union – backing And…Read more…
UNISON National Labour Link Forum pre meet & Campaigning for Bev In Manchester
The UNISON National Labour Link Forum this year was in Manchester. An interesting place to be politically at any time, but especially at this moment.I took the train on Wednesday evening after helping to chair LAPFF meetings and arrived late. On Thursd…Read more…
Celebrating the Life of Gilbert Constantine Clarke – RAF World War 2 Veteran/Windrush Pioneer/Musician/Community Elder
On Saturday morning I attended the funeral service for Mr Clarke in the main chamber of East Ham Town Hall. The chamber was full to the doors — a testament to the love, respect and gratitude felt for a man whose generation helped save Britain fro…Read more…