Category: Campaigns

I Love Whipps Cross – Your Hospital Needs You!

Labour Party Members fight for Whipps Cross

Your Local Hospital Needs You!

Waltham Forest’s Labour party members were out in force all over the borough at the weekend, campaigning to keep the services of our local hospital, Whipps Cross, local.

I was born in Whipps Cross hospital. I feel extremely strongly that the financial problems it is currently facing should not mean that local people lose much needed services.

Waltham Forest is not a rich borough and many people do not own a car. If we are forced to travel miles to receive essential treatment, local health inequalities – already some of the worst in the country – are just going to get worse.

The Waltham Forest Labour Party is appealing to Patricia Hewitt to do what is right and deliver the health provision that our local people need.

Whipps Cross should remain a full general hospital! Continue reading “I Love Whipps Cross – Your Hospital Needs You!”

Barking and Dagenham say No to the BNP!

London Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron leads Barking's anti BNP protest

Congratulations to the Barking and Dagenham Alliance Against Racism and Facism for organising a well attended demonstration, at Barking and Dagenham Town Hall, to protest against the facist British National Party (BNP).

On Wednesday, I accompanied London’s Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron and Battle of Cable Street veteran Max Levitas to the protest, which was the second demonstration since the election of twelve BNP councillors, to Barking and Dagenham Council, back in May. The BNP are now Barking and Dagenham’s council’s official opposition party. Continue reading “Barking and Dagenham say No to the BNP!”

Save the Beaumont Sweet Shop!

Prem Maisuria handing me his petition

Over the past couple of months, I have been involved in the local campaign to help the confectioners run by Mr and Mrs Maisuria on the Beaumont Estate. Readers who’ve visited this site before, will remember the opening of the shop in April, which was attended by local MP, Harry Cohen and I.

Unfortunately, barely three months after that lovely day, Mr Maisuira’s business is being threatened with closure because of building work going on the Beaumont Estate, to give the area a much needed and welcome face lift. Access to the shop has been blocked off since early July and Mr and Mrs Maisuria are losing worrying amounts of takings Continue reading “Save the Beaumont Sweet Shop!”

The BRATSS go to Parliament!

Watch out parliament, we're coming!
Watch out Parliament, the BRATSS are coming!

This morning, I took a group of forty mums and kids from the Beaumont Estate, the majority of whom are active in the Beaumont Residents And Tenants Summer Scheme (BRATSS), to Parliament.

Apart from giving them the opportunity to have a nice day out, I also wanted to help them build their political confidence and go home feeling that Parliament really does belong to them. These families have a right to be heard re their summer scheme and all other important matters affecting them Continue reading “The BRATSS go to Parliament!”

Operation Black Vote!

With newly registered Agnes Mensah and her son

Waltham Forest’s MPs, councillors and local campaigners were out in force on Saturday asking local residents from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities to register to vote. Only one third of Londoners of African origin is on the electoral register, meaning that thousands of them may miss out on their chance to vote in May’s local elections. Operation Black Vote campaigners and a multitude of local campaigners and volunteers, were joined by MPs Neil Gerrard and Harry Cohen, Greater London Assembly Member Jennette Arnold, and local councillors.

I organised the drive as part of the ‘5 Million Strong’ campaign, which aims to register 5 million ethnic minority Londoners by the deadline of March the 13th. I am delighted that Operation Black Vote came to my borough. Continue reading “Operation Black Vote!”