Check out this BBC report about a serving Police Officer who was cheated out of his pension but managed to win £135,000 compensation from the Ombudsman for his fund’s failure to properly warn him about risks. The Police Officer had been “persuade…Read more…
Being Scrutinised at Scrunty
Recently as Cabinet member for Housing Services I was called to answer questions by the Newham Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
This is a statutory committee of Newham Councillors whose role is to hold the Councils Executive members to account and mak…Read more…
Go Get Him Girls!
Boris Johnson’s worse nightmare. This is a great piece of contemporary political art in Southend, Essex. Hat tip Colin Nickless. Read more…
“Why Labour must adopt the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism”
I agree with UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, in this article published yesterday in the NewStatesman where he calls for the Labour Party to adopt the “full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism including all the examples”
As an experience…Read more…
Forest Gate North “Great Get Together” Bank Holiday Monday – 27 Aug
“This looks fun! Forest Gate North are having a Great get Together Summer Social on Bank Holiday 27th Aug on Wansted Flats opposite Golden Fleece pub E12 5DB.
Bring Food and Drink. Lots of prizes and activities”
Hat Tip Andy Diagram. Read more…
Suspend Boris Johnson
I usually think that as a Labour Party activist it is a bit pointless for me to sign petitions calling for political opponents to resign over something they have said, no matter how stupid or offensive. However, Boris Johnson’s vile racism and islamoph…Read more…
Dappled Sunshine Walk in Bush Wood
Off message but on Sunday we were supposed to go on a run around Wanstead Flats and Park but it was so hot that we walked instead for a hour or so.
Picture is from Bush Wood (with a little help from Google photo assistant).
I just love the greenery a…Read more…
Decent Life Chances For Everyone
The Social Mobility Tsar Should Aim To Get Decent Life Chances For Everyone”Today, we have more families than ever reliant on food banks and charities tell us that holiday hunger for kids is rife
Recently, the Social Mobility Commission chief, Dame Ma…Read more…
“Fix the Glitch Report”
A new update by Glitch UK on how Social Media can protect freedom of speech and tackle the appalling abuse on their platforms.
ConclusionThe bottom line is that social media companies need to take greater responsibility for the activities that occur o…Read more…
“Are YOU fond of Cycling? If so WHY NOT CYCLE FOR THE KING…Bad Teeth No Bar”
I have asked London Cycling Campaign on twitter whether a more modern version of this (1915) appeal be something they would support?
One response I got back expressed concern at the lack of concern about cyclists bad teeth.
Hat tip War Art on tw…Read more…
Angela Rayner’s UNISON story
If you ever wondered what UNISON and the trade union movement does…watch this video. Well worth 2 minutes and 53 seconds of your time.Read more…
Town Hall Fest – Hackney and Havering
Okay, this is probably more than a little sad but last week I went to a meeting of East London Housing Partnership at Hackney Town Hall (top) and today at Havering Town Hall (bottom) for our “One Source” Shared Service committee..
Both are lovel…Read more…
“Newham at forefront of Housing Crisis”
Hat tip Newham Recorder for a pretty full on report on the housing crisis in our borough.
The new mayor of Newham has slammed the loss of nearly 10,000 council homes under Right to Buy since the 1980s – saying the policy has exacerbated the bitter hou…Read more…
First Time UNISON National Delegate Conference Report #UNDC18
First Time National Delegate Conference Report (Guess who is author of below in picture of my branch delegation celebrating the 25th anniversary of UNISON at the conference. Hint.Not me).
“Ahead of attending the conference I went on the ‘Going to Conf…Read more…
Community Wealth Building Seminar for Labour Councillors 21 July 2018
This well attended seminar sponsored by APSE was excellent. Held in the UNISON centre (HQ) in Euston Road, London.
Speakers Paul O’Brien and Mo Baines, APSE; Neil McInroy CLES, Cllr Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council and Cllr Asima S…Read more…
Decent pension provision is not dying out – it’s being murdered
A headline in last Friday’s “Professional Pensions” was “DB surplus hits record high of £382bn on best estimate basis, says First Actuarial”
It is becoming increasingly clear that the the huge decline in decent pension provision in the UK (employ…Read more…
Wanstead Flats Fire July 2018
Pictures taken last weekend from the top of a 308 bus showing the recent fires (from the week before). It was probably the worst fire I can remember in 30 years.
A scary time for many local residents who live adjacent to the flats and it caused massiv…Read more…
July 19th – Pension Board, LAPFF AGM, UNISON HAB, West Ham Labour GC (Sarah Jones MP Shadow Minister Housing)
Belated report on a busy Labour movement day last Thursday 19 July.
I started the day with a quarterly meeting of the London Borough Tower Hamlets Pension Board as an UNISON appointed representative.
The £billion plus fund is doing well and we are pl…Read more…
Race, gender, class in the “Mother of Parliaments”
Recently I went to a late afternoon event in the House of Commons then afterwards had a drink (or three) with a colleague in a nearby pub.
The pub and road outside became full with drinkers enjoying the end of the workday and the glorious sunshine.
What have the Trade Unions done for us?
A great update by the TUC. Watch the inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7tvauOJMHoRead more…