Today Joel launched his campaign to become the Labour Party Candidate for Croydon East. He is secretary to the Greater London UNISON Labour Link committee, which I chair but I have known him since he joined my UNISON branch as a Mental Health Support w…Read more…
“Despised…Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class”
I met up last week with a UNISON member and former work colleague. We meet 3-4 times a year for a meal and chat about politics and trade unions. He sent me this book by Paul Embery and we are planning to discuss it next time we meet. I will post …Read more…
Sundon Hills Walk – Chiltern Society & OS maps
On Sunday Gill and I stopped off at Upper Sundon, Bedfordshire on way back from North Wales to London for a 4 mile walk to break up the journey. How many times have we just made long journeys from A-B without stopping off. A fabulous, peacef…Read more…
‘How can we put an end to greenwashing? LAPFF & Smith Institute Fringe at Labour Conference 2023
This is my presentation to this fringe. Hat tip Paul Hunter from PRIC for excellent speech notes. “Thank you Clive. I am delighted to be here in Liverpool and looking forward to today’s discussion. I am John Gray, I’m councillor in Newham, I’m ch…Read more…
UNISON National Labour Link elections – ballot closes at 5pm on Friday 20 October 2023.
All UNISON Labour Link members should have received an email for regional seats (if contested and some seats were not) :-From: Civica Election Services <takepart@cesvotes.com
Subject: UNISON National Labour Link Committee
Elections 2023-2025I…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2023 – Monday
Day 3 of conference for me started with another morning run along the Mersey and back (3.4 miles different direction from yesterday).I met on route an influential Council leader who berated me for running so late in the day. He had gone for his run tha…Read more…
Labour Party conference 2023 – Sunday
Today started off with a gentle 2.5 mile jog along the Mersey then back again. At 12.30 I took part in a well attended, lively panel organised by the Local Authority Pension Fund Forum on “Green washing” which I will post on later. I a…Read more…
Labour Party Conference 2023 – Saturday
Today, after my Newham Councillor surgery, I travelled to Liverpool for the 2023 Labour Party conference. I had to go into the conference office (yet again) to pick up my credentials since they had not arrived by post. Since this is my 3rd L…Read more…
Husband’s moving tribute to ex Newham mayor Marie Collier
Hat tip Newham Recorder about the marvellous service I attended today to honour and remember former Councillor and Civic Mayor, Marie Collier. Definitely a life well lived. “Tributes have been paid to a former mayor and long-serving Newham c…Read more…
Denise Thomas & John Gray Community NEC Report Oct 2023
NEC Meeting 14 July 2023This was the first National Executive Council to be held after National Conference. We had met briefly there to elect the Presidential Team. President is Libby Nolan and Vice Presidents Steve North & Julia Maluke were narro…Read more…
How can we put an end to greenwashing? Labour Party Conference fringe meeting – Sunday 8 October, 12.30-1.30 Room 25, Liverpool ACC
CHAIR
· Clive Betts MP, Chair Parliament Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Committee
SPEAKERS
· Baroness Blake of Leeds, Lords Spokesperson
Energy and Net Zero…Read more…
Affordable Homes for Key Workers: TUC Congress 2023 Composite 07
This is the speech I made as a UNISON delegate at last months TUC Congress about “Affordable Homes for Key Workers”. President, Congress, John Gray, from UNISON speaking in support of Composite 7. This motion highlights the profound imp…Read more…
The rural poverty that caused the first bankrupt “Council” & the final home of the Welsh Socialist founder of the NHS, Nye Bevan
Back from a great 6.8 mile circular walk with Gill around Cholesbury Hill fort, Grim Ditch and The Ridgeway, courtesy of the Chilterns Society and Ordnance Survey app. Very quiet and peaceful. Lots of gentle ups and downs with nothing that strenuo…Read more…
The 6 million Brits who are members of the Local Government Pensions scheme should read this…
Hat tip to Chair of Barnet LGPS committee Simon Radford and the Fabian Society. A little Dry – Local government pension fund reform may not be exciting, but the consequences of failure could be significant, argues Simon RadfordIn the mid-1980s, T…Read more…
The EastEnders Effect. Episode 28: Representation in the East End
It is a bit long but a fascinating interview by my Councillor constituent Ade Adeyemi of my UNISON comrade, Joseph Ogundemuren. He speaks from the heart of growing up, born and bred, as a working class black male in East London from immigrant parents. …Read more…
Hatfield Forest Walk
Off message but on Sunday Gill and I went for a 6.8 mile circular walk around Hatfield Forest courticy of Ordnance Survey and Country walking magazine. Hatfield Forest is a marvellous ancient estate full of history and the National Trust look after it …Read more…
Urgent: UNISON Energy support fund for low paid members start tomorrow Wednesday 27 Sept 08.30am & 5pm – up to £200 (used to be called winter fuel grants)
Important informationThe Energy Support Fund will open on 27 September, with grants of £200 available to support low income members with their energy costs.Due to finite funds, we can only accept 2,000 applications. 1,000 will be released at 8.30…Read more…
Lobby of Tower Hamlets Pension Committee over Clarion & Riverside breaking promises
This evening I went to make a submission to Tower Hamlets Council Pension Committee with a UNISON colleague, Julie. Both of us use to work for Tower Hamlets Council as housing officers. Julie worked in the Isle of Dogs and worked in Bow. In 2005 …Read more…
Elect Anu Prashar – the members choice for UNISON Labour Link London election
Great endorsement by Eddie of Anu. Electronic ballot papers arrived by email last week and so did hard copies by Royal Mail to your home address. Please vote by either method (not of course in both) for Anu and the candidates below outside London …Read more…
“On the knocker” in West Ham (with a little bit of help from UNISON/Hackney)
This morning I had my councillor surgery in Vicarage Lane Community centre in West Ham ward, Newham. One constituent who came, lived close to the centre, with a list of repair issues. I was able to go with her, back to her home in order to identify rep…Read more…