Miranda, Author at Miranda Grell

Save Leyton Kids’ Free Travel! Fight the Tory Cuts!

The BRATTS storm parliament

Juat another reminder that on Wednesday 14th February between 9am and 10am, the South Eastern Regional Trades Union Congress (SERTUC), will be holding a lobby outside the London Assembly’s annual budget setting meeting at London’s City Hall, 2 the Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA.

SERTUC has called for this action, in order to defend the Mayor of London’s funding for free bus travel for London’s under-18s, which is under serious attack from the London Assembly Tories.

At a pre-budget meeting on 30th January, the London Assembly Conservatives moved to abolish free bus and tram travel for all under-18s in full time education!

The Tories’ proposal is an absolutely disgraceful proposal, which would seriously disadvantage the many low income families living in Leyton ward. Continue reading “Save Leyton Kids’ Free Travel! Fight the Tory Cuts!”

The Politics of Regeneration

The Management Committee of pressure group Compass (www.compassonline.org.uk) (of which I’m a member) is often asked to give talks to groups wishing to learn more about Compass’ work.

Last week, I went to Parliament on Compass’ behalf, to give a talk to the influential Labour Finance and Industry Group (https://www.lfig.org), who act as an internal Labour party think tank on issues linked to finance and industry and produce some superb reports on a wide range of matters.

The Labour Finance and Industry Group was keen to have a brief overview on Compass’ view of ‘The Politics of Regeneration’.

I’ve posted a noddy version of my notes below. Continue reading “The Politics of Regeneration”

Councils need to be More Diverse

I really welcome this announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government that she has set a Commission to look at the balance of Women, Black and Minority Ethnic, and Young people going into local politics. Such work is long over due.

McDonnell Comes to Leyton

John McDonnell with his Leyton and Wansted CLP supporters

Leyton and Wanstead received a visit from John McDonnell MP (pictured second from right) on Wednesday night, as part of his nationwide tour campaigning for the Leadership of the Labour party.

John was warmly welcomed by Leyton and Wanstead Constituency Labour Party’s Chair Greg Eglin (pictured far left), CLP Treasurer Brian Madican (McDonnell’s biggest fan in the whole wide world! – pictured second from left), Leyton and Wanstead’s fab MP Harry Cohen (pictured centre) and our CLP Secretary Richard Wilkins (pictured far right). Continue reading “McDonnell Comes to Leyton”

I Love Whipps Cross! – Waltham Forest demonstrates to Save Whipps Cross Hospital

Crowd gathers at the Save Whipps Cross rally www.savewhippscross.org) organised a superb march and rally on Saturday, for local people to take to the streets and continue our borough’s campaign to keep Whipps Cross hospital a full, district general hospital.

Local residents from all parts of the borough joined all three of Waltham Forest’s MPs; Neil Gerrard, MP from Walthamstow, Harry Cohen, MP from Leyton and Wanstead, and Iain Duncan Smith, MP from Chingford and Woodford Green; Local Councillors from all three of the main political parties; and Waltham Forest’s London Assembly Member and Chair of the London Health Commission, Jennette Arnold Continue reading “I Love Whipps Cross! – Waltham Forest demonstrates to Save Whipps Cross Hospital”