This fantastic result was due to the extremely hard work of Mandy and Labour Party members in the constituency since she was selected as the candidate in 2010. There was a disappointing turnout on the day, down by more than 8% from 2008. Yet, in Havering & Redbridge, Labour achieved an astonishing increase of 39%, or nearly 14,000 votes.

By comparison, the Tories’ vote fell by 32%, losing 25,000 votes.

The Liberal Democrat vote was down by a devastating 48% to just 6,453 votes as they trailed in 5th behind UKIP and the London Residents Association. With less than 5% of the vote they have lost their deposit.

The elections for the GLA have left the Labour Party across London with 12 seats, Conservatives 9, Green Party 2 and Liberal Democrats 2. Boris Johnson was re-elected as London Mayor, but only after a much closer run race with Labour’s Ken Livingstone than anyone had been predicting.

May 3rd also saw Labour making huge gains in Council seats all over England, Scotland and Wales, with poor results for both the national coalition government parties.

Voters are making it clear to the Tory/Lib Dem parties that the austerity measures are hurting, but they’re not working. The recent budget gives tax breaks to the wealthiest but raises taxes for millions of families, proving the lie in the government’s “we’re all in it together” message.

It is now almost a year since the Care Quality Commission launched a full investigation into Queens and King George Hospitals. That first report found what many of us had been saying for a long time, that Queens could not cope, the standard of care was not up to scratch and maternity services at Queens, in particular, were poor. Since that time there are signs of improvements, but Mike Gapes feels that, as Member of Parliament, he is receiving far too many complaints of poor care especially of the elderly, and of poor food.

The Care Quality Commission is due to report back next month, and Mike needs to be fully prepared to know how to evaluate their findings. It is important that to know as much as possible about your experiences of care at Queens and King George.

Mike Gapes has thefefore joined with colleague M.P’s Margaret Hodge and Jon Cruddas in a publicity campaign launched in this weeks Dagenham Post and Ilford Recorder asking for news on your experiences, positive or otherwise.

Please get in touch if you have been in either hospital in the past few months. You can e mail Mike at mike.gapes.mp@parliament.uk, or write to the Constituency Office at 6 Mildmay Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1DT or telephone on 020 8911 0899.

Eddie Izzard was in Ilford on Thursday 15 March to promote the campaign to elect Ken Livingstone for Mayor and Mandy Richards for the GLA Assembly.

He joined our Team and mixed with shoppers in the High Road. Many wanted to talk about their issues of concern.

Locally in Redbridge, everyone is concerned about the rising rate of burglary, but whilst crime is rising Police numbers are falling.

Mandy Richards, the Havering and Redbridge Labour Candidate for the London Assembly, says:

‘Since Tory Mayor Boris Johnson started cutting police numbers, crime rates have risen alarmingly in Redbridge. We have lost 1700 police officers in London and Redbridge has seen residential burglary up by 14.6% and robbery against the person up 24%.

I will fight to reverse Boris Johnson’s cuts to Police Numbers. I believe in cutting crime, not experienced police officers’

Ken Livingstone is pledged:

• To increase police officer numbers by 1700.
• To reinstate sergeants to all 600 Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
• To stand up for London against Tory Government Cuts.
• Beef up more Safer Neighbourhood Teams to 9 Officers.

Our picture shows Eddie with the Labour Team outside the Town Hall.

Remember May 3rd is Election Day.

You will have three votes on 3 ballot papers. One is for Mayor, One is for the GLA Assembly Member for this area and One is for the Party you want to run the GLA. This third vote for the Party decides the number of candidates from each Party’s list that will make up the overall assembly.

ON THURSDAY MAY 3RD

• VOTE KEN LIVINGSTONE FOR MAYOR
• VOTE MANDY RICHARDS FOR THE GLA ASSEMBLY
• VOTE LABOUR FOR THE PARTY

If you want a poster to display or want to help in the campaign email us from this site or ring 020 8911 0899.

Or phone 07506 119600 or visit our other website www.redbridgelabour.org.uk

The slogan sums up Ken’s Case for a fairer London and will be at the forefront of Labour’s campaign as the election kicks off in earnest.

Ken Livingstone’s campaign pledges directly address the rising cost of living which is squeezing millions of Londoners. Ken has pledged to:-

• Cut fares by 7 per cent this year – saving the average Londoner £1,000 over 4 years.
• Reverse Boris Johnson’s Police cuts, and restore local sergeants.
• Help reduce rents, improve homes with a London non-profit lettings agency.
• Tackle heating bills – through insulation and an energy co-op to reduce prices and help households save over £150 per year.
• London Education Maintenance Allowance of up to £30 per week to help young people stay in education.
• Support for childcare with grants and interest free zones – and campaign against Tory cuts to childcare tax credits.

Boris Johnson has made Londoners worse off with year on year bus, tube and train fare hikes. Boris Johnson has failed to oppose his Governments attack on ordinary living standards.

VOTE LABOUR ON MAY 3RD

VOTE KEN LIVINGSTONE FOR MAYOR

VOTE MANDY RICHARDS FOR LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBER REPRESENTING HAVERING and REDBRIDGE

Our photos show Ken with the Seven Kings Councillors, Bob Littlewood, Balvinder Saund and Stuart Bellwood, with Goodmayes Councillor Barbara White and meeting residents on the doorstep with Mandy Richards the Labour GLA Candidate for Havering and Redbridge.

From the reaction we encountered support for Ken's policies was obviously high and we will be on more doorsteps explaining what a change of Mayor can do for London in the coming weeks.

If you want to know more about Ken's policies for London visit the website http://www.kenlivingstone.com.