Waltham Forest Labour Party

Council Leader Chris Robbins finally bobs off UPDATED

November 14, 2016 Cllr. Chris Robbins, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

Several well-placed Town Hall sources tell me that, yes, it is finally true: Council Leader Chris Robbins is standing down, perhaps by Christmas, certainly by next May. Robbins has always been nervous around selection time, looming now, but in the past, he was at least able partly to control the process. However, with the influx of new members, Waltham Forest Labour is now a rather different kettle of fish. It is a reasonable assumption that most of the recruits are left-leaning, if not actually Corbynistas, and few will have much time for Robbins’ top-down’ style of managing colle... »

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‘In Calais with Stella Creasy’

September 8, 2016 John Cryer MP, Stella Creasy MP, Uncategorized, Waltham Forest Labour Party

There is a long article in today’s New Statesman about Dr. Stella Creasy’s recent visit to the Calais refugee camp: http://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2016/09/calais-stella-creasy-how-politicians-are-trying-change-refugee-policy For sure, there will be the usual accusations that this is another example of her penchant for grandstanding. But I doubt if such comment is fair. Dr. Creasy has her failings, as I have suggested before, not least her silence on a whole slew of local Town Hall scandals. But no-one can reasonably contest her strong commitment to helping the less well o... »

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Save Highams Park’s Library campaign – resident groups demolish LBWF’s business case

July 12, 2016 Waltham Forest Labour Party

Oliver Shykles writes as follows: ‘I chair the Highams Park Forum which is working together with the Highams Park Planning Group and The Highams Park Society to protest against LBWF proposals which could drastically affect library provision in Highams Park. At the time of writing, 3,956 people involved with Highams Park have signed a detailed petition against the Council’s scheme, while 1,117 people involved with Highams Park have joined a Save Highams Park’s Library Facebook Group. Over 200 residents attended a spring clean and protest outside their library last Saturday (im... »

Cllr. Liaquat Ali boobs again

July 4, 2016 Cllr. Liaquat Ali, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Uncategorized, Waltham Forest Labour Party

The Waltham Forest Guardian today quotes Cllr. Liaquat Ali pontificating about community safety: ‘“Our sense of community and of belonging, and the need to always treat others with respect, helps to make Waltham Forest such a great place to call home. We’ve been shocked and saddened to see the various news reports that have emerged in the aftermath of the EU Referendum result, indicating a rise in incidents of hate crime in some areas.This is not a trend we’ve experienced in Waltham Forest. But, we remain vigilant and continue to actively promote community cohesion, signpost support serv... »

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Waltham Forest Labour and democratic debate in the neighbourhoods

June 20, 2016 the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

Some years ago, the average resident of Cann Hall (where I live) who aspired to have a say in how the neighbourhood developed could do so via the local ward forum, and also the Leytonstone Community Council (which embraced Cathall and Leytonstone wards, as well). Both bodies had official status, were serviced by LBWF officers, and received finance from the Town Hall to support modest measures of amelioration. But, crucially, they were also independently chaired, and not in thrall to councillors; had agendas which were determined bi-laterally (i.e. fashioned by the chair, vice-chair, and office... »

Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman resigns the Labour Whip

June 15, 2016 Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman, the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

Word reaches me that Cllr. Tim Bennett-Goodman has resigned the Labour Whip, for reasons spelt out in his letter, below. It is a sad day for the Labour Party. Prior to becoming a councillor, Tim Bennett-Goodman had a long history of community-based activity in Waltham Forest, and was widely recognised for both his integrity and his commitment to improving the area. It says much about the current state of the Labour Party that he no longer feels comfortable in its ranks. ’14 June 2016 Dear Paul Resignation of Party Whip Thank you for acknowledging and accepting my resignation. It as with ... »

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John Cryer MP’s lacklustre Parliamentary record UPDATED

May 9, 2016 John Cryer MP, Waltham Forest Labour Party

I have periodically joked that, so rarely is John Cryer seen or heard locally, he must love his sleep. Now the website They Work For You provides some hard data to chew upon, and largely confirms my suspicions: Mr. Cryer’s Parliamentary record is indeed lacklustre. The bare bones are as follows. Mr. Cryer, it turns out: ‘Has spoken in 15 debates in the last year — well below average amongst MPs. Has received answers to 4 written questions in the last year — below average amongst MPs. Replied with 2 or 3 weeks to a low number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2014, according to ... »

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Academies, George Tomlinson Primary, and LBWF Interim Director of School Standards Rosalind Turner UPDATED

April 24, 2016 Academies, George Tomlinson, LBWF, Waltham Forest Labour Party, Waltham Forest Schools

Earlier this week, a reliable contact in the Town Hall rang me to say that some Labour councillors seemed spooked by the stance being taken by LBWF’s Interim Director of School Standards, Rosalind Turner, and more generally were nervous about what they perceived as the ‘academisation’ of Waltham Forest schools. Indeed, my contact told me, the rumour circulating was that Cabinet member Cllr. Mark Rusling had actually resigned over the issue, before temporarily rescinding his decision because of the scandal enveloping Cllr. Khan (for which see previous posts). A couple of days later, the followi... »

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LBWF councillors through the prism of their register of interest forms

March 23, 2016 LBWF, register of interests, Waltham Forest Labour Party

The LBWF councillor code of conduct requires each member to answer questions on a register of interest form at the beginning of their term of office, and then update as necessary, with the results being published on the authority’s website. In 2012, the Waltham Forest Guardian reported that councillors were finding this requirement challenging. Some had missed out crucial details, with, for example, the Leader, Chris Robbins, neglecting to mention his family home. Others – incredibly – overlooked their party membership. A few had simply failed to keep their forms up to date. The full sto... »

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Cllr. Johar Khan ‘suspended pending the result of an investigation’

December 2, 2015 Cllr. Johar Khan, E11 BID Co., the Labour Party in Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Labour Party

I have written before about Cllr. Johar Khan, noting in particular his puzzling relationship with the by now notorious E11 BID Co.. This afternoon, the Waltham Forest Guardian reports ‘A Labour Party spokesman’ as saying: ‘“We can confirm Cllr Khan has been suspended pending the result of an investigation.”’ Coincidentally, in the last few days, I have received an anonymous letter about Cllr. Khan, which also alleges that the local Labour Party is involved in a cover up. I am aware that Cllr. Khan has some political enemies, for instance those who have not forgiven him ... »

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