A Council By election has been called for Thursday 3 December 2015 in Boleyn Ward, Newham following the very sad and unexpected death of my colleague, Councillor Charity Fiberesima.
It is a “Women only” short list (the other 2 Councillors…Read more…
Lively Public Sector Pension Fringe #Lab15
This report is late but the affordability of public sector pensions schemes keeps coming up. Picture is of me taking part in my latest verbal duel with Michael Johnson (pink shirt on-the-right) on public sector pensions at the CIPFA fringe during the L…Read more…
Children tax credit reprive – Gawd bless yer Britney Spears!
Well done to the House of Lord tonight for blocking attempts by multi-millionaire “Old Etonian” and future Baronet, Gideon “Mockney” Osborne, to take children tax credits from millions of low paid working (strivers) British families.
I saw him being i…Read more…
Torbay Council to have referendum on Executive Mayoral system
This is interesting to anyone concerned with local authority governance. According to this report just under 1,000 people in Torbay took part in a consultation process, where they rejected the mayoral system in support of a new committee system involv…Read more…
Letter to the “Workers Party” on the theft of Workers Tax Credits
Picture is from this mornings programme on the BBC “Andrew Marr” Show where I saw a confident Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, pretty much destroy Tory Education Minister, Nicky Morgan, rather desperate attempts to justify the Government’s proposals to rob £1000’s from hardworking British…Read more…
The West Ham 3 Johns at work – Punk John, Chic John and ? John
Busy Saturday. First, was Councillor Surgery at Brasset Point Tenants & Residents Room (had a tricky planning “Stop Notice” issue); then memorial tribute to PC Nina MacKay followed by ward “walkabout” in Dirleton Road E15 with concerned residents (…Read more…
PC Nina Mackay 24 October 2015
This morning I was present at a memorial tribute to murdered PC Nina Mackay. The 25 year old was stabbed while trying to arrest a wanted man at a flat in Arthingworth Street, West Ham ward on October 24, 1997.
Local Police Officers and members from th…Read more…
Remember to put your clocks back this weekend?
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend! In accordance to Government edict at 02:00 on Sunday you should turn all your clocks back to 25 October 1865 to reflect the society they want to create.
Please note that in accordance with this …Read more…
Vote Dave Prentis for UNISON General Secretary
“NOMINATION NEWS
A whopping 230 branches have agreed to nominate Dave!
What a fantastic show of support – thank you to each and every one for making this happen.
Eighteen branches have had their nomination forms rejected but they still have until F…Read more…
UNISON signs Recognition agreement with Outward
A good news story. Joint UNISON convenors, Adam Zadaane and Wendy Lavington are seen in photo with Outward CEO Peter Little (centre) about to sign a trade union recognition agreement with my UNISON branch.
In my personal view any employer that re…Read more…
Sunday Night Live: Corbyn and the (new) Labour Landscape
This looks interesting. 5-6.30pm next Sunday 25 October 2015 at Stratford Picture House Bar, London, E15 (5 mins from Stratford Station). I wonder if the West Ham Corbynistas Fashion Gurus will be present? Read more…
#ToryChildrenBooks
Brill. Read more…
#ToryChildrenBooks
Brill. Read more…
One-Party Councils, Accountablity & Corruption
Below is an email that I have sent to Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS) in response to a recent report she circulated to I believe all local Councillors in England. The report is called “The Cost of One-Party Councils:…Read more…
Our Tory Housing Future
Please read (and then weep) this examination of the new Tory Housing and Planning Bill on the blog Red Brick. In housing, as with the cuts in child tax credits, I don’t think that people “get” just how right wing and extremist this Government is behavi…Read more…
Trade Union Bill: Parliamentary Lobby – 2 November 2015
I have just sent my MP, Lyn Brown, a message via the UNISON website asking to meet and lobby her over the Conservative anti-trade bill at the TUC event being organised for Monday 2 November.
If you have a Labour MP (who are opposed to the bill) y…Read more…
Workers’ Capital in the 21st Century: ShareAction Annual Lecture withSharan Burrow
The keynote speaker at this years ShareAction annual lecture in the historic Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London was the General Sectetary of the International Trade Union Confideration, Sharan Burrow. The ITUC is the global version of the Briti…Read more…
West Ham TULO sets up Anti-Austerity Campaign Group
Last week trade union affiliates and activists to West Ham Labour Party were invited to a meeting organised by Kim Silver, who is its trade union liaison officer. At the meeting was also Peter Smith, who is secretary to the Newham joint trade union committee.
West Ham trade union activists…Read more…
Osborne plays a deceiving game
Hat tip to Bob S for his link to Facebook site “Fight Propaganda” who have dissected George Osborne’s speech at the Tory Party Conference last week. Check the references below.
“With scores of economists indicating through open letters that Osborne …Read more…
Real Debt fringe: Austerity, Private debt & the next Global Crash – TUC Congress 2015
I am slowly catching up on events that I haven’t managed to post upon yet for various reasons.
This “Real Debt” fringe took place at the TUC Congress last month. It was sponsored by Unison.
Clare Williams, the Northern Region convener chaired and spea…Read more…