Compass Shapes the Politics to Come

Introducing the conference's closing session

Yesterday I spent the day at a national conference hosted by Compass, the democratic left pressure group upon whose board I sit.

Over one thousand people of centre left persuasion gathered in the incredible Westminster Methodist Hall – home to many an historic meeting of the Suffragettes, Gandhi and the Labour Representation Committee – to discuss the future of the centre left in Britain and to remember the late Right Honourable Robin Cook MP, who was so cruelly and suddenly taken from us last summer. Last year’s Compass Summer Conference was the last major event at which Robin spoke and we wanted to celebrate his life and the contribution he made to Compass. If Robin was still alive, there is no doubt that he would have been the driving force behind Compass in Parliament Continue reading “Compass Shapes the Politics to Come”

Talking Women and Politics with Meg Munn MP

Talking Women with Meg Munn MP

After a month spent settling into my new role, I took some time out of my local Councillor schedule to attend an informal Westminster tea and coffee session with Meg Munn MP (pictured next to me in the centre), the Deputy Minister for Women at the new Department for Housing, Local Government and Communities.

I joined five other “young” (do I still count as young?!) people, working in and around British politics, for a really good discussion about women and politics. How can we get more women interested in local politics? Could electing more female councillors be a way to attract more women into Parliament? Continue reading “Talking Women and Politics with Meg Munn MP”

Waltham Forest Council’s Vision for Race Equality

Myself and Councillor Afzal Akram with Council Chief Executive Jacquie Dean

Councillor Afzal Akram, the new Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety (pictured above right), and I attended the launch of Waltham Forest Council’s new Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) staff forum today.

The Event, which took place at Waltham Forest Assembly Hall in Forest Rd, Walthamstow, saw over two hundred staff of BME origin come together for their new staff forum’s inaugural meeting Continue reading “Waltham Forest Council’s Vision for Race Equality”

Noor Ul Islam Mosque’s Healthy Hearts Campaign

With Cllr Faiz Yunis, Sr Sandy Guptha and Mosque Head Yusuf

On Sunday, Forest ward Councillor Faiz Yunis (pictured above first left) and I attended a seminar at our local mosque, the Noor Ul Islam Trust, to discuss health issues affecting our South Asian community.

Coronary Heart Disease is a serious illness affecting thousands of South Asian people around the world. Indeed, many health experts believe the current situation is fast becoming an epidemic Continue reading “Noor Ul Islam Mosque’s Healthy Hearts Campaign”