Check out this BBC report on the shocking public shooting and resulting murder of 19 year old Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, in Myanmar clearly by security forces belonging to the Army junta that has seized power and over thrown a democratically elected gov…Read more…
You can put pressure on the government -Give all key workers a pay rise
Early Voting in Newham for Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan (and campaign begins to step up).
Check out this “early voting” video by the Labour Party promoting postal vote registration in Newham. “Early voting can help double the Labour vote”.
Yesterday there was a meeting of Newham Labour Union activists, where it was agreed to hold regu…Read more…
UNISON Greater London Region Housing Associations Branch AGM 2021
Last year our physical AGM was cancelled at the very last moment due to the first lockdown. This year we will have a virtual meeting. Keynote speakers are being arranged and a free meal voucher for all members who join us.
Email AGM.Admin@…Read more…
Newham Voting for Change – on Revive FM
“Newham Voting for Change activist Josephine Grahl was interviewed today (Monday) on community radio station Revive FM.
She talked to Simon Rush about the reasons for the referendum, the advantages of the committee structure, and the way the…Read more…
An established team for the UNISON Community Service Group
UNISON Branches have until Friday March 5 2021 to nominate NEC candidates. Below is our nomination request:-
Your branch is entitled to nominate candidates to the two Community seats for this year’s National Executive Council elections. We’r…Read more…
Having a dialogue with West Ham residents
This morning there was a Newham wide Labour telecanvassing session using the Labour Party “dialogue” software to call residents about their views about Covid and the forthcoming local elections in May.
I don’t particularly like telecanvass…Read more…
Stop Press: “Government exit payment rethink will bring relief to millions of public sector workers”
This is great news for Council staff facing job cuts due to Covid and a victory for UNISON (and common sense)
Flawed regulations threatened to blight the retirement of staffResponding to the government announcement today (Friday) that it is revo…Read more…
Lyn Brown MP on Cladding Scandal in West Ham (and elsewhere)
West Ham MP Lyn Brown “tells it as it is” on the completely inadequate government response to this scandal.
My view is that it is not just dangerous cladding but the Grenfell investigations have found widespread shoddy and unsafe building defects…Read more…
“Nursing homes are high risk. Investors should treat them that way”
Even before reading this shocking article in “Responsible Investor” I had asked Newham Council Pension officers to assess what exposure the fund has to investments in residential and home care companies.
“Investors have been doing the groundwork on ESG…Read more…
Team London for Members 4 UNISON NEC 2021
We are standing to• Represent every one of the 130,000 UNISON members across London• Amplify the voices of our members from every service group and sector – community, utilities, higher education, health and local government• Ensure UNISON is a …Read more…
“The case for rent controls”
I was asked to put the case for rent controls in the latest edition of the Labour Housing Group newsletter here. See below and also in the link the case AGAINST rent controls as well.
“Here are two articles about rent controls. John Gray, forme…Read more…
Socialism and Patriotism in a time of crisis
Recently the Labour Leader, Keir Starmer has faced some criticism following a leaked report recommending that the Party focuses on “flag and patriotism” to win back voters.
The former chair of the Fabians, Paul Richards has written a topical article …Read more…
A Short History of Trade Unions
If you ever wondered about the history of trade unions then I recommend this 5 minute 46 second introduction on YouTube.
Part of my TUC Employment law course work.
Update: Check out a very good analysis of the more recent history and possib…Read more…
Best of the Handforth Parish Council Planning & Environment Committee
Of course in the past 10 months since lockdown no Newham Council or Labour Party meeting has been anything like this 🙂
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-55946252
Branches vote unanimously to get rid of Executive Mayoral model in Newham
This evening I went to West Ham (as Cllr) and Forest Gate North (as member) branch Labour Party meetings and both voted unanimously for this motion (one abstention)
“This Branch notes that: The Newham Governance Referendum on 6thMay 2…Read more…
UNISON Community Live 2021: 16 – 20 March 2021
Hat tip “live” photo of activists enjoying themselves in a previous UNISON Community (members who work for Housing Associations and the voluntary sector) conference. Hopefully next year but in the meanwhile…
“Community Live will be held between 16-20…Read more…
Class and Social Economic Diversity in UK financial and professional services
It is fascinating to see that a new taskforce commissioned by HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and involving the City of London Corporation, has been established to boost socio-economic diversity…Read more…
View from my Ward
“There was a settlement here in the Saxon times and it used to have one of the largest Cistercian abbeys in England.
There is a wide mix of social housing, privately rented and home owners. Two of the best parks in East London, the Greenway path…Read more…
West Ham to Victoria Park via Olympic Park circular lockdown walk
Following last weekends enjoyable walk to Valentines Park in Ilford, Gill and I decided to go in another direction to Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets.
We started off at the Memorial Recreation Park, E15 (the original home of West Ham FC?) t…Read more…