Oona King has been out canvassing in Chadwell Heath in support of Wes Streeting, the Labour candidate for the forthcoming by-election. Onna was the Labour MP for Bethnal Green & Bow between 1997 & 2005 and continues to maintain a high profile in the Labour Party & the media. She joined local MP Mike Gapes, Councillors and Wes as they met local residents.
Wes Streeting, seen here with Mike Gapes M.P., has been selected by Labour to be its candidate in the Chadwell by election on July 8th.
Wes has just come to the end of his term as the full time elected president of the National Union of Students, representing more than 7 million students in colleges and universities across the U.K.
He has also been a governor of the University of Cambridge and a board member of a number of national higher education sector agencies. Most recently he has been campaigning in marginal seats across the country in the general election.
Chadwell Resident Wes said:-
‘It is sad that Mark Gittens had to stand down as a councillor due to a technicality after topping the poll in Chadwell in the recent elections.
My term of office as NUS president comes to an end this week, and I am pleased to have been selected to give something back to the community in which I have lived for 9 years. I have the national experience to be a local champion for Chadwell’s residents.
The current Council is run by the Conservatives in coalition with the LibDems and has neglected Chadwell for many years. Now your new Labour Team is up and running with advice surgeries dealing with your problems. I want to be part of that Team and make a real difference.’
The Labour Group on Redbridge Council held its first meeting on Sunday 16th May when the election of officers was the main business. Elaine Norman stepped down as Leader of the Group leaving the way open for a new team.
Bob Littlewood and Balvinder Saund, both representing Seven Kings Ward, were elected Leader & Deputy Leader of the Group. Helen Coomb, elected in Clementswood, is the new Chair while Ross Hatfull, representing Valentines, is Secretary to the Group. Bert Jones, elected in Goodmayes, becomes Treasurer, Baldesh Nijjar, from Chadwell, is Press Secretary & Mike Figg from Aldborough is the Whip.
Balvinder commented:
We are very priviledged to have a team of experienced committed Councillors and an intake of new Councillors buzzing with enthusiasm and skills and various interests, who will help strengthen the Labour Group to work towards the pledges made to the voters. Unity and the diversity of the group will be a powerful force to scrutinise the Tory/Lib-Dem Cabinet’s work and hold the new administration to account on behalf of all the residents of the Borough. We are grateful to the outgoing Leader of the Group, Councillor Elaine Norman and Chair of the Group, Councillor Dev Sharma who helped towards the increase of Labour Councillors on the Council. We look forward to working with the new team to defend our front-line services.
Labour candidates recieived over 4,000 votes more than the Tories in the recent local elections in Redbridge, and yet the Tories remain in power at the Town Hall in coalition with a tiny group of Lib Dems.
In Ilford South Labour has made further gains, virtually wiping out the LibDem presence by taking Chadwell for the first time and regaining seats from them in Clementswood & Goodmayes. Labour gained two seats from the Conservatives in Mayfield & Cranbrook has a Labour Councillor for the first time.
Labour took Tory seats in Aldborough and Clayhall in Ilford North as a result of some tremendous local campaigning. We said goodbye to the BNP and were a step away from taking seats in Hainault, also in Ilford North ward.
Heavy support for Labour in Wanstead and Snaresbrook contributed to a great result for John Cryer MP in the parliamentary election in Leyton & Wanstead.
Bob Littlewood, Leader of the Labour Group said:
In terms of votes, we won this election.
The little LibDem group have not yet told us which Conservative policies make teaming up with them so attractive.Did LibDem voters want a Tory Council?
We will fight inside and outside the Town Hall to promote the policies which “won” the election in Redbridge - on school places, on affordable housing, on giving residents a stronger voice, defending Sure Start, improving transport and decent care services. After all, this is what most Redbridge people voted for.
Mark Gittens, who was elected to represent Chadwell ward has been forced to resign as a Councillor because he is a teacher in a Redbridge school.
Local teachers are ineligible to stand for election to the local authority for which they work.
Bob Littlewood, newly elected Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors on Redbridge Council, commented:
“I am sure that I speak for the Labour Group and the Party in Redbridge in expressing great sympathy with Mark. We thought we had Redbridge’s first black Councillor and someone with ongoing experience of work in the community.
A number of people failed to realise that Mark was not eligible to stand before the election. We made an innocent mistake.”
The date of the by-election is to be announced.
The results of the General Election 2010 are disappointing for Labour nationally, but neither do they show any wish to go back to the bad old days of the Tory governments of the 1980’s & 90’s. Nor have voters been convinced by the Liberal Democrats. Here in Ilford South, voters have shown their confidence in their Labour MP by re-electing Mike Gapes with an increased majority, at the expense of both Tories & Liberals. Thanks to all the Labour Party members & supporters who have put in so much hard work to make the local campaign a success. And thank you to the people of Ilford South who turned out to vote in their tens of thousands yesterday and showed their support for their Labour MP. For full details of the result visit the BBC website.
The local council results have just been announced with the Labour Party gaining seats from both Tories & Liberals. The Conservatives have lost the London Borough of Redbridge to “No Overall Control”. The final result gives the Tories 30 seats, Labour 26 & Liberal Democrats 7. Of the 27 council seats in the area of Ilford South, 24 are now held by Labour. Full details can be found on “Redbridge i”.
PS: Breaking news from Barking & Dagenham. The BNP have been wiped off the council with Labour making a clean sweep. Labour 51 seats, fascists 0. The BNP previously held 12 seats on the council. Congratulations to the Labour Party in Barking & Dagenham and thanks to all those from other parties or none who have fought against the BNP.
The election on May 6th is a choice locally and nationally between Labour experience and competence and risky and untried novices. The choice is between Labour fairness or Tory tax cuts for the rich. Only Labour stands for the many not the few. Only Labour will work to sustain the recovery based on policies of fairness and international co-operation.
Labour has a proud record of achievement since 1997. Labour showed resilience and strength in the face of the huge pressures of global economic disaster caused by the bankers and speculators. Labour’s team have rightly won international praise for what they have done in providing leadership to the G20 countries.
Labour is working closely with European partners to combat climate change and other threats including international terrorism. The Tories (and UKIP) would put all that at risk . The Cameron/Osborne Tory party is run by Bullingdon Club millionaires and funded by tax avoiding non-resident Lord Ashcroft. It is still the “nasty party” . The Lib Dem leader Clegg is a novice who has called for “savage cuts” across the board including cutting Health spending. The Liberals cannot be trusted. In Redbridge they put the Tories into power and fought campaigns based on lies, smears and division. The Tory candidate for Ilford South lives in Haringey and the Lib Dems are in such disarray that they only just selected their candidate - a Councillor from South London - last month.
I have been proud to serve as your Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament. Over the last eighteen years, with the help of my small team of staff in Ilford and Westminster, we have helped tens of thousands of people. I have also campaigned hard to defend our community from the damage caused by the Thatcher/Major Tories nationally and the Tory Council in Redbridge which closed Seven Kings Library and Ilford Swimming Pool. I have led the campaign to Save King George Hospital. I fought to bring new investment, schools and Sure Start Children’s Centres, to get lottery funding to restore Valentines Park and Mansion and for Crossrail.
I need people to support my campaign in whatever way you can. It could be by coming along to help with canvassing or delivering. It could be by as little as displaying a poster in your window. These are available if you contact me. If you want to help in any way please ring 020 8911 0899 or make contact by returning an e mail or visiting my Website www.mikegapes.org.uk.
Monday March 8th is the deadline for the public consultation on the health authorities proposals for North East London, including the closure of Accident & Emergency and other services at King George Hospital.
What can you do NOW?
1. Take part in the consultation, which runs until March 8 2010. Fill in the questionnaire on the Website www.healthfornel.nhs.uk.
2. Write in protest to Freepost RSAE RCET ATJY, Health for North East London, Harrow, HA1 2QG.
3. Call them with your views on 0808 238 5416 ( it is a free line).
4. Sign Mike Gapes M.P’s new petition on line at www.savekinggeorgehospital.org.uk or by requesting forms from his Constituency Office at 6 Mildmay Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1DT, Tel: 020 8911 0899. Forms need to be returned by Monday 8th March.
5. If you can manage it, we are encouraging everyone to ask for some forms and get their friends and neighbours to sign. Just remember we need them back by March 8th
Despite poor weather on 13th. February hundreds of supporters of the campaign to keep King George Hospital turned out to march from the Hospital to the Town Hall.
Ilford South Labour Party members were prominent on the march and the overall organiser Andy Walker is a member of Seven Kings Branch Labour Party.
At the Town Hall there were speeches from local M.P’s including our own Mike Gapes and Margaret Hodge from Barking.
Among our photos here we see Mike Gapes M.P. at the start of the march, crowds outside the Town Hall, Cllr Stuart Bellwood and Aziz Choudhry Labour candidate for Valentines in the May council elections in demonstrating mood, and Cllr Javed with Ilford South Labour Party Chair Helen Coomb and her sister Catherine on the march.
The Campaign goes on with another rally planned for 17 April. This time the idea is to get the local faith groups, who have all been keen supporters of the hospital to take the lead. Andy Walker is again the Organiser, watch out for more details.
In the meantime remember to sign Mike’s petition on his website, or if you want to get your friends and neighbours to sign, ask for paper copies ( phone 020 8911 0899) and return them to Mike’s Constituency Office at: 6 Mildmay Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1DT.
Also remember you have until 8 March to participate in the consultation on health services in North East London. Go to www.healthfornel.nhs.uk or use the freephone 0808 238 5416.
This item is with apologies to anyone who knows all this information, but even long term Labour Party Members sometimes ask about the Co-operative Party!
For over 90 years the Co-operative Party has stood for giving economic and political power to everyone in our society. It stands for:-
Internationally they stand for:-
The Co-operative Party works in a long term agreement with the Labour Party. It sponsors the constituencies of Members of Parliament who are members. Our own M.P. Mike Gapes is a ‘Labour and Co-operative M.P’. There is a branch that meets in Redbridge. You do not have to be a Labour Party Member to join the Co-op Party, but many Labour Party members have membership of both parties. If you agree with these principles find out more and join.
Find out more:-
From www. Party.coop.
From www.Thefeelingsmutual.org.uk
By writing or phoning to the Co-operative Party, 77 Weston Street, London, SE1 3SD. Tel: 020 7367 4150.
By writing to the local secretary Roy Emmett 63 Brocket Way, Chigwell, IG7 4ER.
Whilst you are about it the Co-operative Group has taken over Somerfield. There are now many more places locally where you can get a dividend on your purchases. If you are not a member find out more now.
Visit the Co-operative Group Website www.co-operative.coop
Labour Party News