A touching tribute from a resident to former Labour Stratford Councillor Sabia Kamali, who unfortunately lost her seat in last month’s elections. She was one of the most talented and dedicated Councillors I’ve ever met. I’m confident this is just…Read more…
🌙 Rough Sleeper Count: A Midnight Snapshot of Life on Our Streets
Last Thursday evening, just before midnight, our Newham Council teams gathered once again for the latest bi‑monthly count of people sleeping rough across the borough. From midnight until 3am, staff and volunteers fanned out across known locations…Read more…
Newham Cabinet Announcement – Proud to be called to serve
Yesterday evening, I was honoured to be appointed by newly elected Executive Mayor, Forhad Hussain, as his Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing. I’m grateful to Forhad for his trust and confidence, and I’m excited to work alongside him…Read more…
Love E15 Community Litter Pick
This morning, my West Ham Councillor colleague John Whitworth and local resident (and West Ham candidate) Adjoa Kwarteng joined residents for a ward litter pick, organised by https://www.instagram.com/lovelondone15/. “Love E15 is a grassroot…Read more…
West Ham & Stratford Neighbourhood Forum 3 March 2026
Last week I attended our local Neighbourhood Forum at Stratford Library with my West Ham Councillor colleague, John Whitworth, and fellow Labour candidate for the May 7 elections, Adjoa Kwarteng. The forum gave local Police and Council offic…Read more…
Out and about in East Ham South
Last Sunday I joined Labour colleagues and East Ham MP Stephen Timms in this ward for a street surgery. It went well and during the canvass I reported via the Love Clean Streets app https://lovecleanstreets.info/eets an abandoned fridge freez…Read more…
“Labour is delivering for Newham” – Council Budget meeting 26.2.26
At Thursday’s annual budget meeting I was pleased to second the motion approving the Housing Revenue Account for the coming year. My three‑minute contribution is at 1 hour 9 minutes in the recording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY0ulkhVJy8. T…Read more…
Newham Bi Monthly Rough Sleeping Count Jan 26
Yesterday, I joined Newham staff and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of residents sleeping on the streets in Newham. We met at the Newham Dockside office at 11 p.m., and after an extensive briefing, we headed to various known “ro…Read more…
Newham Full Council Meeting 10.11.25 – Motion on Housing
A photo collage of myself speaking against a Green motion on housing and in favour of an amendment by my ward colleague, John Whitworth. I was to the point that while I recognise that political debate can be rough, the sheer hypocrisy of the Newha…Read more…
National Rough Sleeping Count: Newham October 2025
On Tuesday evening at 11pm I went to the Newham Dockside headquarters with fellow volunteers and outreach workers for a briefing by Council officers on this years National Rough Sleeping Count in Newham. Every year there is a national count …Read more…
Newham Street Count – September 25
Picture from last Thursday’s Rough Sleeper count. We were a mix of Newham and voluntary sector officers and Councillors. We met at the Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing then we’re split up into teams of 2 or 3 and sent out to di…Read more…
West Ham and Manor Park Street Surgery
Last Saturday I joined my West Hammer comrades John & Varghese for our ward street surgery. We went to the historic heart of the ward – Church Street. As a local Councillor, I picked up case work on housing repairs – individual and commu…Read more…
Newham Rough Sleeper Count May 2025
Last night I joined the team going out from Newham Dockside Building to start the bi monthly count from midnight util 3am of rough sleepers in Newham, East London. The team is made up of Council officers, stakeholders and local Councillors. …Read more…
My Municipal Week- Full Council, Rough Sleeping Count & Spring Litter pick
A fairly busy week. On Monday I attended the Full Council meeting at Stratford Town Hall. I asked a question on the role of social economic class in reducing inequality in Newham and also moved an amendment on an opposition motion regarding Priva…Read more…
Ajitha’s Last Count
Picture is from last night just before midnight at Newham Dockside. We were just about to go out and take part in the bi-monthly Rough Sleeping Count. It was also the “Last Count” to be organised by Newham “Population Manager”, Ajitha Sajeev, who had b…Read more…
Rough Sleeper Street Count 2024
Picture is from around 11.45pm last night of 2 teams about to leave the Council offices in Dockside to go out and count rough sleepers in Newham. At least 4 other teams had already left for the midnight start. Today was a national annual count da…Read more…
Speech to Newham Council on Temporary Accommodation Crisis
Below are my notes for my speech yesterday evening. The motion was passed unanimously with cross party support. You can see the actual contents of the motion here mgov.newham.gov.uk/documents/s175786/Motions report.pdf which was seconde…Read more…
“Newham seeks EFS to stave off section 114 – but says only funding reform will prevent ‘exceptional becoming normal’
Important article in Room151 blog not only for Newham but also for many, many other Councils facing section 114 notices (a form of municipal insolvency and/or technical bankruptcy).My understanding is EFS is not an increase in Government funding …Read more…
A West Ham Labour doorstep
Picture collage of today’s doorstep with my West Ham ward Councillor colleague John Whitworth and our super local activist, Varghese. It did not start well since the Labour Party canvass software (contact creator) was not working and we could not…Read more…
Newham Council Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission
At start of @NewhamLondon Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission in #EastHam Town Hall. On hottest day of year…. We lost all those joining virtually due to sound issue but rest of scrutiny was positive and pretty constructive. …Read more…