Tomorrow we will start delivering these “thank you” leaflets to West Ham Ward residents after the recent local election.
It is a definite honour to be elected to serve our residents – and in the next 4 years we need to earn this trust. Read more…
West Ham Ward declaration 2022
After a long day yesterday, Charlene, John Whitworth and myself were re-elected as Labour Councillors to Newham Council.
A huge honour and privilege. Many thanks to residents for voting for us so overwhelmingly and to ward activists for hel…Read more…
Nominated as Labour & Co-operative Candidate for West Ham Ward, Newham London
Yesterday was our Newham Labour 2022 campaign launch and I am now also officially nominated as a Labour and Co-operative Candidate for West Ham Ward.
While I wish that local ward members had made this decision (as they had overwhelmingly s…Read more…
Labour Canvass – Maud Gardens then Olympic Park (a plaque to the Pentonville Five?)
This morning I went on a Labour canvass in my ward, West Ham with my fellow Councillor John Whitworth and local activist Asheem Singh.
We went to Maud Gardens which is a small low rise housing estate. We picked up a lot of case work and …Read more…
West Ham Ward doorstep 15.1.22 (Yes, they all hate Boris)
This afternoon we were out “on the knocker” with our local MP Lyn Brown (and Cara – the Labour attack dog).
We had 98 contacts, who were not only overwhelmingly Labour but I can honestly report that I have never heard so much anti-tory comments …Read more…
New Year’s day morning 1890 – Remembering the 26 Children
This morning a small group of Councillors and local historians met in West Ham Cemetery at the memorial to the 26 young boys (see below) who suffocated to death following a fire at the nearby children’s Workhouse.
Author John Walker,…Read more…
Happy Diwali – Festival of Lights
This evening my ward Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and I, continued our street surgeries in West Ham ward while enjoying the the spectacular firework displays.
Some very interesting conversations with residents, such as whether we will ca…Read more…
Street Canvass: West Ham Ward 28.10.21
This collage is from yesterday’s street surgery in West Ham ward. My Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and myself ,was joined by Junaid and Ash (who is a new member of our ward). For the first time ever, in my experience, all 4 of us had access to t…Read more…
Street Surgery in West Ham 21.10.21
Out campaigning with my West Ham Ward colleague, Cllr John Whitworth, who has mastered the Labour doorstep app on his phone. Another very positive response for Labour. We will be chasing highways about weeds on footways!
West Ham Ward Surgery Doorstep
This evening I went on a ward doorstep Councillor surgery with my colleague, Cllr John Whitworth. We were joined by our GLA Assembly member Unmesh Desai.
Pretty positive response for Labour. We had 49 contacts (using Labour doorstep app)….Read more…
The Newham Mayoral Referendum: history and origins by Cllr John Whitworth.
A great article by my West Ham Labour Councillor colleague, John Whitworth, on the Newham Mayoral Referendum.
https://newhamforchange.org/home/the-newham-mayoral-referendum/
Not only a historical record but I in particular, agre…Read more…
“We’re voting for change” in the way we do things in Newham Council
Picture from Saturday’s leafleting of East Ham High Street with my West Ham ward Councillor Colleague, John Whitworth (and Newham Council Scrutiny Committee Chair).
On Thursday May 6 Newham residents will also be able to vote in a referendum on the f…Read more…
“May 6th: A day to shape Newham’s future”
Check out this article by Newham Councillor and Chair of Scrutiny, John Whitworth, on why residents should vote for change in the Mayoral referendum on May 6th. Hat tip Newham Voices
“May 6th is the date, not only for the election of the London Mayor…Read more…
Fire Brigade & West Ham Councillors remember Blitz heroes
This afternoon I met Newham Fire Brigade Commander, Terry Gooding, at the plaque outside 163 Plaistow Road, West Ham Ward, Newham, London, E15 3ET to remember the 6 firefighters who were killed near this spot by enemy bombing 80 years ago.
5 of the 6…Read more…
An Awful New Year Day Calamity
This morning my Councillor colleague, John Whitworth and I, went to West Ham Cemetery to lay some flowers at the memorial to 26 boys who died in a fire exactly 131 years ago. The boys lived in a massive workhouse for children nearby in Forest …Read more…
Remembrance Sunday – Remembering the Fallen and the Claxton Family
This morning at 11am I was at East London Cemetery with my West Ham ward colleague, Cllr John Whitworth, to lay a wreath to remember the fallen.
Usually we would have attended the Remembrance Day Service at the West Ham All Saints Ch…Read more…
Socialist & Labour West Ham Cllr George Coe 1870-1910 “He tried to leave the world a little better than he found it”
During the summer I had a wonderful email from Plaistow resident and local historian, Alan Regin, connected to a post I wrote on this blog following the general election in 2015.
On election day 2015 an UNISON colleague of mine was acting …Read more…
Newham Rough Sleeper (Mini) Street Count June 2020
Pictures from last night’s Newham Rough Sleeping (mini) Street count with Councillors, Council officers and 3rd sector partners going out during the night to count how many rough sleepers there are. Usually this is done every two months.
Due to C…Read more…
West Ham Ward Councillor Surgery Saturday 6 June 10am to 11am
My next Newham London, West Ham ward, virtual Councillor surgery is tomorrow (Saturday 6 June) from 10am to 11am. Please email John.Gray@Newham.Gov.uk and I will contact your by phone, or by Zoom, or by Skype or by GoToMeeting or by Teams.
You ca…Read more…
Newham Councillors on Tour
This morning I went on a visit to a regeneration site in Norwich with the Deputy Lead for Housing Services, Cllr Shaban Mohammed and the Chair of Regeneration and Housing Scrutiny, Cllr John Whitworth.
It was a really fascinating (and potentially impo…Read more…