Picture from early on this evening at the UNISON centre with my social media comrade, Dave Osland, enjoying some beers to celebrate another freedom of expression legal victory at the Royal Court of Justice.
Further details on the case …Read more…
London Loop Walk: Section 7 – Kingston Bridge to The Causeway
Off message. I am trying to catch up on my walking posts. Following the May 5 election I went on a walking weekend with Gill to get away from politics and enjoy my “hinterland”. We have been trying to complete the London Loop since las…Read more…
Cathy come home: 50th anniversity tonight on BBC4
“In 1966 the powerful Cathy Come Home shone a light on the desperate housing problems gripping Britain at the time. When the programme first aired, the extent of the crisis shocked the nation – 3 million people were living in slums or stuck in a brutal private renting market. It was a far cry from…Read more…
Sunday Night Live: 30 July 2016 Social Movements – The end of politics as we know it?
“Prior to our pause for the August break, come join us at our Sunday Night Live Summer Salon where we’ll be discussing the rise social movements, implications for politics and political parties.
The fastest growing political movements across the left and right the world over are those who…Read more…
TUC found that between 2007 and 2015 in the UK, real wages fell by 10.4%, the joint lowest in OECD countries
I think this is one of the real reasons for Brexit. No wonder so many people feel angry and betrayed in the face of such a massive cut in wages.
Employment may be relatively high but evidently most of these jobs are insecure and have rotten…Read more…
50 councils face residents’ objections to LOBO loans
Check out MJ article (Municipal Journal – you need to have a paid account unfortunately) on the up to 50 objections by residents in different Councils (including Newham) at the use of “controversial Lender Option Borrower Option (LOBO) loans,
National Paralympic Day & Liberty Festival: Sunday 3 Sept Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Hat tip Peter Daley. Read more…
UNISON Consultation on Labour Party Leadership contest
All eligible Unison members who pay the political levy (known as Labour Link or APF) should have got this email. Let our National Labour Link Committee know your views about who to support (I am also on the Committee).
Your chance to …Read more…
Michelle Obama speech
I am not the greatest fan of Hilary Clinton nor the USA Democratic Party but this speech yesterday by Michelle Obama to the Democratic National Convention is just incredible and well, well worth 15 minutes of your life to watch. Much to my s…Read more…
Reception for Councillor Anam Islam
The picture is from the reception held this evening in the Palm Tree, Romford Road to honour the recent election of my good political comrade (and friend) Anam Islam, as a Councillor for Forest Gate North.
I was invited with other Coun…Read more…
“Sports Direct” 21st Centuray Workhouse employer & unacceptable face of capitalism
The press has been full of headlines about vile UK retailer “Sports Direct” as being a “workhouse employer” who treats its workers like dirt.
Where women give birth in its toilets and fleets of “999” ambulances have to be sent out to aid wo…Read more…
Olympic Triathlon in Newham 2016 for UNISON “there for you” and Greek Solidarity Campaign
I have finally got my act together and am planning to complete an Olympic distance Triathlon with fellow West Ham Labour Councillor, Terry Paul, in Newham on Sunday 18 September 2016. We will invite all other Newham Councillors (and anyone else) to tak…Read more…
Labour Leadership Elections 2016: UNISON members
I am starting to get enquiries from UNISON members at my branch about whether or not they are eligible to vote in the leadership elections.
It is somewhat “complicated”.
There is a really useful page on the UNISON website here
“The Labour Party is…Read more…
Cameron’s premiership saw least housebuilding since 1923
“David Cameron had the worst housebuilding record of any Prime Minister since 1923. An average of 123,560 houses were built in England and Wales during each year of his premiership, according to data released by the independent House of Commons library…Read more…
£238 million reasons to stop Barclays Bank LOBO cheats ripping off Newham Residents
This was the written question I put to the Newham Deputy Mayor and Cabinet member for Finance, Lester Hudson, at the Full Council meeting last week
To the Executive Advisor on Finance, Cllr Lester Hudson
“Last week 3 more employees of Barclays Bank w…Read more…
Employment Tribunal Fees Review
Checkout this report by employment law expert Daniel Barnett. Workers should not fool themselves that the law protects them at work.
Despite our faults, trade unions are the only real defenders of your rights at work. To get any chance of …Read more…
Newham Co-op Party AGM 2016 (Rerun)
Back this evening from a rerun of the Newham Co-operative Party AGM. Due to “irregularities” at the AGM in January the AGM was rerun with Co-op Party officials chairing the meeting.
I was really pleased that longstanding Co-op Party stalwart, Gill Hay…Read more…
London Recruits – The young Londoners who undertook secret missions against South Africa’s apartheid regime
At a time when ANC membership was banned, its activists executed or imprisoned, exiled leader Oliver Tambo lit the fuse on a plan that saw young women and men travel to South Africa disguised as honeymooning couples, tourists and business trippers.
Who is this thug? Manchester City Centre 3.50am Sunday 10 July
I haven’t done this type of thing before on blogger but this yob is wanted by Police to “assist” them in their enquirers following the serious and unprovoked assault on the partner of a friend of mine. This could have been a murder investigation.
“Pol…Read more…
Protect your LGPS pension – sign the petition
UNISON pensions team
July 2016
Protect your pension – sign the petition!
Dear John Nearly 85,000 people like you have already signed the LGPS parliamentary…Read more…