This afternoon, Constituency Labour Party volunteers met up with Uma Kumaran MP in Forest Gate to collect copies of her latest Parliamentary Report.It was good to catch up with fellow members of our new CLP, which we hope will begin meeting and campaig…Read more…
My Local Government Week
Monday started with a street cleaning roundtable with Cabinet colleagues and senior officers to discuss improvement actions, followed by further meetings on the Council’s performance management. In the evening, I attended a meeting of Labour Grou…Read more…
Camden Families for Sagal – By election day
Late this afternoon, I joined hundreds of Labour Party activists at the UNISON headquarters on Euston Road to campaign in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election happening today. I was assigned as a board runner again—reluctantly, since I d…Read more…
Busy Labour Movement Day 1
Yesterday I was at UNISON’s National Centre in London (again, see my previous post), this time attending the UNISON Community Service Group Executive meeting as one of its elected NEC members.I attended the morning session and, after lunch, brief…Read more…
“On the knocker” for Sagal in Camden
On Saturday, after my Labour Councillor surgery in West Ham, I headed over to UNISON HQ to help campaign for Labour candidate Sagal in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.Sagal, the current Leader of Camden Council, was selected by local Labour Part…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2026 – Day 4 Wednesday
The final day of Conference started at 9.30am, so there was no opportunity for a run along the Mersey. Instead, it was the usual routine of in-room exercises, packing, breakfast, checking out of the hotel, dropping off luggage, and then rushing to get …Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2026 – Day 3 Tuesday
Day Three started with another run along the Mersey. As I passed the Liver Building, I found myself looking up at the famous Liver Birds, which I could just about make out from my bedroom in Holywell as a boy on a particularly clear day.Conferenc…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2026 – Day 2 Monday
Day Two of Conference started early with a 34-minute run along the Mersey and back. The weather was glorious, with blue skies and sunshine, a welcome contrast to the previous day’s soaking.Conference began at 10am, although we first had an early …Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2026 – Day 1 Sunday
Apologies for the belated posting.The first full day of conference began for me at 9am with an in-person UNISON Labour Link delegation meeting. At this meeting we agreed our speakers, discussed our positions on motions, and dealt with a range of …Read more…
On way to Labour Party Conference 2026 & London Regional Reception (Saturday)
Sorry for the late post, but on Saturday afternoon, after my ward surgery, I took the train from home to Liverpool as a UNISON Labour Link delegate for the Greater London Region. Along the way, I reported online what seemed to be a stolen Royal Ma…Read more…
On way to Labour Party Conference 2026 & London Regional Reception (Saturday)
Sorry for the late post, but on Saturday afternoon, after my ward surgery, I took the train from home to Liverpool as a UNISON Labour Link delegate for the Greater London Region. Along the way, I reported online what seemed to be a stolen Royal Ma…Read more…
Working Together for Better Housing in Newham
Recently I had the pleasure of welcoming landlords, managing agents, council officers and other guests to Newham’s latest Landlord Forum.As Cabinet Member for Housing and Statutory Deputy Mayor, I was delighted to open the event alongside Council…Read more…
Newham Quarterly update to Cabinet on Housing Services Improvement Programme – 15.9.26
This is my speech at the Newham Cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon at our Town Hall in East Ham. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRsXPuA7L_s 1 hr 3 mins 55 into meeting”Mayor, Cabinet I am pleased, with my cabinet colleague, Cllr Wils…Read more…
Palestinian Flag Raised at Newham Town Hall
On Tuesday, I attended a moving and significant flag-raising ceremony outside Newham Town Hall, marking Newham’s solidarity with the Palestinian people.The event was attended by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Husam Zomlot (ح…Read more…
Cousins meeting their new Cousin Ian
Last week, the Matthews family gathered to welcome our newly discovered paternal first cousin, Ian, and his partner, Julie. We enjoyed a meal together at the reopened Brookhouse Mill restaurant in Denbigh, North Wales. Ian is the natural son…Read more…
Keir Starmer standing down as MP
I imagine historians will be debating for years about how this all happened. While I understand and agree with his decision to resign as both PM and MP, as an interested observer, I can’t help but wonder what went so wrong and why.Read more…
Leadership you can reply on – Forhad Hussain- Mayor of Newham
Yesterday I collected the West Ham Ward “Thank You” cards that Adjoa, our volunteers and I will be delivering to residents across the ward. They are a small token of our appreciation for the support shown in electing Forhad as Executive Mayor and Adjoa…Read more…
Susan’s fundraiser for London’s Air Ambulance
My Councillor and Cabinet Colleague Susan is planning to walk next weekend 100km non stop along the Thames Path route. Please support this worthy cause.Susan Masters is raising money for London’s Air AmbulanceThames Path Ultra Challenge 2026 · 12 Septe…Read more…
Battle of Cable Street 90th Anniversary – Fight for the future – remember the past
Back from leave and looking forward to this event.This is a model motion for UNISON branches, and any other parts of the Labour Movement, to support the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street on 4 October 2026.I have submitted it to my br…Read more…
Northey Island & Maldon Walk
A brilliant 6.09‑mile circular walk from Maldon out to Northey Island today. Once you leave the busy waterfront it becomes wonderfully quiet — classic big‑skies Essex.We crossed the tidal causeway to Northey Island (only safe at low tide, closed …Read more…