Off message but great walk two Sundays ago in Kent even though we got hopelessly lost. We drove to and parked at the National trust owned moated Manor House at Ightham Mote. Which dates from the 13th century and is justifiably described as “the m…Read more…
Newham Holocaust Memorial Day : Torn from Home
A really moving ceremony. Well done to all involved. I was so proud of all the confident and articulate young people who came up to speak and the great music that they played. Hat tip pictures and copy below to Newham Council Website/Facebook page
&nbs…Read more…
Dinner with John McDonnell – Thursday 7th March 2019
An evening with John McDonnell MP
West Ham CLP fundraiser/social – Thursday 7th MarchDear Member
We’d like to invite you to a really special CLP event – a fundraising dinner with John McDonnell MP, at the invitation of our MP Lyn Brown. J…Read more…
My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose – Karen Matheson
Its Burns night. Enjoy!
O my Luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June:
O my Luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still,…Read more…
Newham Council Extraordinary Meeting on Repairs & Maintenance Service (RMS)
This is my speech to the crowded meeting on Tuesday where I moved a report with recommendations on why we had a £9 million overspend on RMS, what we did about it and what we are doing to make sure this never happens again.
“Thank you all for attending…Read more…
Be Really Shocked about Homelessness in Newham
“A fairly shocking housing stat I’ve come across as background to a feature: There are 7,515 children in temporary accommodation within the 36km² which makes up Newham, east London.
This compares to 4,920 across the 40,000km² which makes up the e…Read more…
Severe Weather Emergency Provision or Protocol: What is SWEP?
“Homelessness is an emergency whatever the weather but in winter and freezing weather, people are in even greater danger. Hannah Faulkner, Head of Pan-London Rough Sleeper Services at St Mungo’s explains how we help bring people in from the cold during…Read more…
Newham Peoples Budget Forum – East Ham
Picture collage from this evenings consultation forum at Newham Town Hall. Which I thought went very well. I chaired the meeting due to last minute illness. The Mayor, Cabinet lead for Finance and officers did excellent presentations. Residents gave lo…Read more…
Right to Buy: Wrong for London
“Dear John
Tomorrow I’m publishing a new report which reveals the extent to which former council homes sold through the Right to Buy are now being rented out by private landlords. In advance of its publication I wanted to share some of the individual b…Read more…
UNISON NEC elections 2019: Black Member’s Conference
Great picture from a chilly Llandudno, North Wales this morning. UNISON black members conference is taking place here. Members were out leafleting delegates as they arrived for conference.
NEC branch nominations last until 15 February. Read more…
Malvern Hills New Year Walks 2019. Joy & Sadness
Mostly off message but Gill and spent new year in Great Malvern, Worcestershire. We had never been here before but I had seen the historical railway poster (see bottom right) and thought it might be a good place to go walking.
It turned out to be a fa…Read more…
Nominate John & Denise for UNISON NEC Community seats 2019
The UNISON National Executive Council (NEC) is our union parliament which oversees the running of the union in between our annual National Conference, which are held each year in in June. UNISON members vote every 2 years by postal ballot to thei…Read more…
Campaigning for a Fairer private rented sector
This is a model housing motion from London Labour Housing Group. It makes perfect sense to me. I have submitted to West Ham GC as a UNISON delegate.
“This conference notes:
1.That the number of households in London who rent from private la…Read more…
Newham RMS report to Extraordinary Council meeting 22 January 2019
“*Stop Press* Papers for next week’s Extraordinary Full Council at 7.30pm Stratford Town Hall – open to all Newham London residents and public. All welcome. You’ll find out what really happened in the council’s Highways Repairs & Maintenance which …Read more…
NEC Elections 2019: Community General Seat & Female Seat Nomination Request (2)
John Gray & Denise Thomas
RMS 3083288 RMS 8688788
further to https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2019/01/unison-nec-elections-2019-nominate-john_8.html
If you are a Community UNISON member please ask your branch to nominate us. They have all been…Read more…
UNISON Membership Services – latest deals and offers
These are the info and links to the newest deals from UNISON Membership Service Providers. I always check these links before I buy any service. Sometimes they not the most competitive but usually they are and you can be reassured that they have been v…Read more…
“Delivering Municipal Socialism” Cllr Clare Coghill – Newham Fabians
“Dear all please note the postponed Newham Fabians talk by Cllr Clare Coghill, Leader of Waltham Forest Council has been rescheduled for 05th March 2019 now. We hope to see many of you there”
Secretary Cllr Rohit Dasgupta. Read more…
People’s Budget Forums
“Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and her Cabinet members have listened to the views of residents and put forward proposals for how Newham Council intends to spend money on what people say is important.
Join us at our next People’s Budget Forums to find out more a…Read more…
Exiting the EU – Defending our rights and securing our public services
Hat tip http://classonline.org.uk/blog/item/exiting-the-eu-defending-our-rights-and-securing-our-public-services. For workers in public services, Brexit is a hot topic. Colleagues in the hospital where I work often ask me, ‘what on earth is …Read more…
Newham People’s Budget Forums
Hat tip Newham Council – Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz and her Cabinet members have listened to the views of residents and put forward proposals for how Newham Council intends to spend money on what people say is important.
join us at one of our Newha…Read more…