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…
“This monstrous glowing orb makes a mockery of east London’s Olympic legacy” Lyn Brown MP
When London bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, we were driven not just by sporting desire, but by a vision for a regenerated east London after decades of deindustrialisation and deprivation. We were promised not just new infrastructur…Read more…
Labour and TUC call for ‘fire and rehire’ ban as part of new work vision
End of lockdown a chance for people to reassert control, say Frances O’Grady and Angela Rayner
People will have an opportunity to wrest back control over their working lives when the country emerges from the pandemic, but the government must do m…Read more…
“Social housing report calls for massive overhaul of tenants’ rights Renters need better deal to prevent another Grenfell disaster, says the Social Housing Commission”
Completely agree. Tenants have no collective voice, little power and very mixed protection. While the public sector is not at all perfect the private sector needs complete fundamental reform. “Sweeping new powers must be given to social tena…Read more…
“Punk Corbyn” West Ham delegate at Labour Party Conference 2017
My fellow ward Councillor, John Whitworth, was our elected West Ham CLP delegate for our National Labour Party Conference this year. Check out this page for his detailed report on conference as our CLP…Read more…
Labour NEC asked to inquire into Newham mayoral ‘trigger ballot’
On the whole a fair article but it does not report on the complaints of many members that this ballot was rigged.
The Guardian Dave Hill on London “Nearly 50 party members in the east London borough want their national ruling body to examine claims …Read more…
“It’s a man’s world” Mayoral Elections
Not sure that blaming trade unions for an Executive Mayor macho culture is fair? Especially in unions such as Unison whose membership, officers and activist base are predominately female but this article does makes some valid points.
“The Guardian’s Helen Pidd asks why mayoral elections,…Read more…
“The loans that have left councils impoverished and saddled with debt”
Check out this article on Friday in The Guardian about Housing Associations and Councils which have been ripped off by the Banks over the toxic LOBO loans they were miss-sold. I have an obvious interest and concern in both organisations.
This is a nat…Read more…
“UK’s housing crisis will only be made worse by this bill”
This letter was publised in The Guardian today.
The housing and planning bill currently before parliament will make the housing crisis worse. It sets out to reduce the number of genuinely affordable homes, and encourage even more property specu…Read more…
The West Ham 3 Johns at work – Punk John, Chic John and ? John
Busy Saturday. First, was Councillor Surgery at Brasset Point Tenants & Residents Room (had a tricky planning “Stop Notice” issue); then memorial tribute to PC Nina MacKay followed by ward “walkabout” in Dirleton Road E15 with concerned residents (…Read more…
West Ham Corbynistas Fashion Gurus
This brilliant photo was today featured in The Guardian’s fashion page “Get the Jeremy Corbyn look”. My fellow West Ham ward Councillor, John Whitworth, (left) is shown standing next to former Newham Councillor (and Labour Party activist) John Sa…Read more…
“Unison has done so much for working women”
UNISON’s President Wendy Nichols has responded below to a bizarre (and “untrue”) attack on the union in the Guardian last week.
When I think of all the very strong and influential women in UNISON the idea that they are being “side lined” is fran…Read more…
Leftier than thou
Lovely. hat tip Guardian Read more…
The “undoing of Ed Miliband”? History will tell and why we really lost the election
This article here is a media hatchet job. Typical Guardian sneers and bile.
The truth is that we were never going to win. The defeat in 2010 was so massive that it would take more than 5 years to overcome.
Credit to Ed for keeping the Party togethe…Read more…