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.
