Ilford South Labour Party

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.