In a victory for common sense never mind simple decency, KPMG, the controversial auditing & management services provider have withdrawn as advisors to the Grenfell enquiry following an open letter to the FT and The Guardian on Sunday 7 January crit…Read more…
“Harry Constable – in his own words”
(I missed the launch of this book about the life of Harry at the Vic Turner remembrance event last month. While I never met Harry, I have more than a soft spot for the genuine working class trade union activists I have met with over the years and I sus…Read more…
“Newham mayor ‘trigger ballot’ to be re-run by Labour region” (and a possible new contender?)
See post below from former Guardian Journalist Dave Hill on his “On London” website. I see that Dave mentions Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz, as a possible contender.
“The process which led to Sir Robin Wales being endorsed to seek a fifth term as Lab…Read more…
Mill Green & Blackmore walk
Off message but did a fabulous 6.5 mile walk in Essex today (Pathfinder Essex walks). Cold and windy but blue skies and sunshine. Mill Green Common is only about 40 minutes from Forest Gate, East London by car (near Brentwood).
The start of the walk i…Read more…
“All we want is democracy for all” Newham Mayoral Trigger
In last weeks letter page of the “Newham Recorder”. Cllr John Whitworth argues that following the unfairness and wrongdoing in the previous flawed process there should be an open selection to be the Labour Candidate in the 2018 Newham Mayoral local ele…Read more…
Councillor Report 3.1.17 – “Could we become Haringey Development Vehicle (HDV) Two?”
This is my latest written report (previous one 7 December 2017).
Council Issues
Meeting with Senior Council officers
13 December. I met again with other concerned backbench Councillors senior officers at Newham Dockside to discuss and examine reports…Read more…
Rerun of Newham Mayoral Trigger for local elections 2018
I was really pleased to receive this email this evening even if I think that some of the information is unfortunately inaccurate, it is a welcome start to uniting the Party, doing the right thing and will indeed hopefully help deliver a successful camp…Read more…
West Ham Labour Party January 2018 update – want to get fit and lose weight? Go canvassing!
West Ham Labour Party January 2018 update
Dear Members
I hope that everyone had a refreshing break and are now ready to get involved and active in the local and national party.
West Hammers News
Newham Councillor Candidate’s selection meeting & …Read more…
Five ways to encourage new young activists?
I have been meaning to post on this challenging but important article by Carl Roper on the TUC website Stronger Unions for a while. It is about the urgent need to recruit young union members and turn them into activists.
This is a criti…Read more…
“Staff and parents protest against academy plans”
From Newham Recorder page 2 December 2017 see my previous post on the protest here. Apologises for the mangled english in my quote. Hopefully a typo. Read more…
Happy New Year (Blwyddyn Newydd Dda) 2018
May you find your pot of gold in 2018. Then of course, immediately distribute it amongst the masses 🙂
Why Local authorities need “honest serving” men and women with the tools to ensure effective scrutiny
I have just been re-reading an excellent hard hitting report published earlier this month by the Select Committee on Communities and Local Government.
The Select Committee examined the grossly inadequate scrutiny arrangements in many Local Authorities…Read more…
The Alwen Trail (& The Fairy Freckled Cow)
Picture collage from a lovely walk in North Wales last week. A 7.5 mile circular walk around the Alwen Dam and Denbigh moors. The dam was built in 1911 and flooded an ancient sheep farm valley in order to provide drinking water for Birkenhead in …Read more…
#We Were Many – A Philosophy Football Review of 2017
Protect the Protectors
This is an article written by our West Ham MP, Lyn Brown. Seen here at the memorial to PC Nina Mackay. Over the Christmas and New Year holiday not only will public service workers be looking after us 24/7 but many of them will face abuse and viol…Read more…
Democracy Rules…”Newham councillors welcome call to cancel trigger ballot result”
Latest in local newspaper about the “rigged” selection for Newham Mayor and call by local Councillors for an open and this time, democratic, selection process.
“Two councillors have welcomed mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales’ call for Labour to cancel t…Read more…
Rising housing costs forcing public service workers out of London
I missed the launch of this excellent report by UNISON last month. This is not just a crisis facing London but in high cost housing areas throughout the UK. I used the report for this motion and speech to the London Labour conference.
“UNISON la…Read more…
Kyffin Williams, ‘The Gathering, Farmers on Glyder Fach’
Top present this Christmas from my Mum was a 2018 calendar featuring the North Walian impressionist painter, Kyffin Williams. The “Gathering” is my favorite. Read more…
Merry Communist Christmas
Merry Crimbo comrades (hat tip stroppy)Read more…
Sir Robin Wales speaking at Forest Gate ward meeting 4th January 2018
Dear John Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Forest Gate North Labour Party.
Our next meeting is in January and will be a BIG EVENT. See details below:
Forest Gate North Branch Meeting
Speaker: Sir Robin Wales will be speak…Read more…