Newham Fabians AGM 2011

Picture is from Newham Fabians AGM which took place at the Town Hall in East Ham on Monday evening. The Fabians are an independent socialist society affiliated to the Labour Party. 

The Guest speaker was local MP Stephen Timms (main picture).  He spoke about the role of the Fabians in the current climate.

I missed most of the meeting due to a clash.  When I came in there was a robust but comradely debate going on about possible past mistakes and the future direction of the Party.  Very Fabian!  Stephen then had to leave in order to go to the House of Commons to vote against the Tories (to loud cheers from one and all).

It had been a very positive and constructive Labour Movement meeting.  A local MP, Councillors, trade unionists, (a former MEP) and Party activists meeting up together to exchange views and progress Labour politics.

Many thanks to Tower Hamlets Labour Party activist and photographer, Dan MCCurry, for the excellent photos.  They really bring the event to life. Check out his "Newham Fabians" FaceBook album here.

It's Grim Down Sarf: SERTUC Cuts Watch

SERTUC (South Eastern Region Trade Union Congress) are publishing a monthly guide to the cuts facing our region.  There has been concern that some people think that the "cuts" will only impact on "the North".  When in reality:-

- "The highest change in long-term youth unemployment in UK is in Medway in the South East - up 158% compared to next highest West Lothian up 120%, with Wandsworth in London the 6th highest increase, and Peterborough in the East of England in 13th place (out of 231 authorities)

- Lewisham and Hackney in London have the highest claimant to jobs ratios in the UK, with 7 other London boroughs in the top 20 (out of 206) Many of the authorities with the highest percentage of public sector jobs are in the SERTUC region, including Oxford, Cambridge, Canterbury and Hastings at over 40%, and 45 others above the national average of 26.9%

- 20 of the 62 authorities to already receive a larger than average cut to their grant allocation for 2010 were in the SERTUC region

- 500,000 people in the South East sub-region live in areas that rank within the 20% most deprived in the country

- the South East England Development Agency estimated (in August 2010) 100,000 job losses following the public sector cuts (74,000 public sector, 26,000 consequent private sector losses)-

- London has the second highest unemployment rate at 9.3% (North East 9.4%)".

By coincidence I got an email from the Fabians (I am a member) inviting me to a Policy Network meeting on Monday called "Southern Discomfort Again" about the failure of Labour to attract support in the South of England during the last election.

Promoting UNISON in Labour: Vote Ed Miliband for Leader

This evening I received an automated telephone message from UNISON Labour Link. The message encouraged me to vote for Ed Miliband to be the next Labour Party leader as the person best to save services and protect jobs.

It also asked my current voting intentions and asked if I was a member of the Labour Party (and if not do I want to join).

I think this is a very constructive way for a union's political fund to engage with member's and also let them know who their democratically elected lay leadership think is best for the job.

Yesterday I received by post ballot papers via UNISON and the Fabians - today I got another ballot paper from the Labour Housing Group (LHG).  This makes 4 ballot paper's for the national Party leadership(Labour Party, Fabians, UNISON and LHG) and 5 for London Mayor (London Labour Party member; Co-operative Party, Fabians and UNISON Labour Link).  I think this is it?

The LHG ballot paper makes me remember to do something about contacting Labour "housing people" locally about seeing if we can form a London branch of the Labour Housing Group.  We need a stronger Labour Party voice on all forms of housing in London.  We cannot let the hardline right win the battle of ideas on this core progressive issue.