Lambeth Council Watch - news and updates about the 'co-operative' council

[Southlondon]

Labours new boy is a Progress supporter. Was head of Scottish Labour students. Now works for the Labour party.

So a career politician. The New up and coming right of the party. Who can't wait for Corbyn to be got rid of.

Kind of depressing that with all the new young people who joined after Corbyn became leader all Lambeth can come up with is someone from the next generation of Blairites.

It’s quite simple really, despite Lambeth Labour hugely increasing its membership, the right wing of the party still outnumber and therefore out-vote the left. The left are fighting hard in the wards but do not have the numbers to win overall- yet. The best way to get a more responsive and leftwing Lambeth council is to join the Labour Party and help us get socialists selected to replace the incumbents, not to waste energy in the periferal parties such as the greens, who have zero chance of overturning the 58-5 Labour Party majority.

 

[CH1]

BusLanes Thornton round-up:

Lib Dem candidate is Matthew Bryant (see here).

My understanding is that Thornton Ward is not a target ward for the Greens, but on the other hand there is no agreement between Lib Dems and Greens to stand down for each other (as in Richmond for example). Pity. 250 votes might have helped the Greens in Coldharbour and would also help the Lib Dems in Thornton.

Labour news: there is still no replacement Labour candidate selected in Chuka's place for Streatham, so the cognoscenti worry that in the event of an emergency General Election they will have one "parachuted in".

As regards Thornton, Labour start off with a safety margin in the lead. I don't have a name for their candidate.

If there is an Independent TIG candidate they will have to stand will the only description on the ballot paper being "Independent" (and no logo obviously), though they would be entitled to put out leaflets etc up to the legal expenditure limit.

Can't speak for UKIP - though I was amazed at their leader Gerard Batten in the European Parliament this morning. He behaved like a neo Nazi brawler - which I guess is what he is. I bet most UKIP voters still think of UKIP as "Nigel's Party".

 

[BusLanes]

I would imagine ukip so stand as they did last time.

The green chap had stood a load of times so why not again? He seems like a local battler.

The Conservative chap did not do well last time so who knows if he'll bother again

 

[CH1]

I would imagine ukip so stand as they did last time.

The green chap had stood a load of times so why not again? He seems like a local battler.

The Conservative chap did not do well last time so who knows if he'll bother again

The Greens will definitely stand, as will the Conservatives.
It's all a matter of "honour" - as the ERG leep telling us.

 

[BusLanes]

The Greens will definitely stand, as will the Conservatives.
It's all a matter of "honour" - as the ERG leep telling us.

Oh quite and I would do the same. It's more that they'll struggle to make a go of it after the last one.

The Conservatives lost so much from 2018 share and the Greens went down a bit too so I would imagine that would be a demotivating experience for both of the guys.

 

[BusLanes]

Labour seem to have selected someone called Nanda Manley, according to local Labour twitterers

 

[CH1]

Labour seem to have selected someone called Nanda Manley, according to local Labour twitterers

Don't know who she is - but unusually for an aspiring local politician she has a couple of playlists up on Youtube:
Nanda Manley-Browne [one Soca, the first number is souped up Lord Kitchiner with vocoder). The second playlist conatins Christian Power anthems.

This being the case I guess she might be vulnerable on the gay rights front - though maybe not. There are several à la carte churches around here these days where dancing to power anthems is encouraged, and they helpfully stop off in gay clubs in Tel Aviv en route to holy sites in Jerusalem. Naming no names - though I can on request!

I will post the full candidates list later when I have access to my PC.

 

[editor]

More Lambeth shenanigans Controversial new Lambeth Town Hall project stumbles again

 

[brixtonblade]

More Lambeth shenanigans Controversial new Lambeth Town Hall project stumbles again

The point about libraries and childrens centres is bang on - drives me nuts.

 

[CH1]

More Lambeth shenanigans Controversial new Lambeth Town Hall project stumbles again

I would have thought they should re-consider the demolition of Olive Morris House.
They've recently discovered OMH is built above the Effra Storm Relief sewer and therefore requires special measures for demolition and remaking the foundations.
Not to mention the relocation of the electrical sub-station in the basement.

A truly entrepreneurial council leader would have done a land-swap and given MUSE the former children's centre in Brixton Water Lane - preferably with a planning permission for a 20 storey luxury residential tower!

 

[Gramsci]

More Lambeth shenanigans Controversial new Lambeth Town Hall project stumbles again

My issue is this New Labour Council has ideologically driven obsession to work with private enterprise, AKA bloodsucking property developers, and disposing of land/ property they own.

As in Pop these New Labour types get shafted every time and don't see it. Private enterprise is their to compete and make a profit and so no surprise when Council get worst end of the bargain. The average Council office isn't up to dealing with the bloodsuckers. Even if the bloodsuckers are masquerading as doing the community a favour as in Pop.

Disposing of land/property. This really winds me up. Lambeth owns a lot of and and property historically. One might think they would treat this as valuable asset. Instead they treat it as bargaining chip they can use like any private developer. Once they dispose of property/ land they will never be able to get new land / property in foreseeable future.

Its imo totally short sighted to get rid of property/ land portfolio. The Council , contrary to New Labour philosophy, is not a business.

 

[Gramsci]

Having said this Is think its good that Council haven't "disposed" of International House.

I think at some levels in Council just disposing of stuff was not going down well in sections of community.

And this keeping International House was a response to that.

 

[editor]

Meeting Sunday Estate demolition public meeting, Sun 24th March, 3pm, Prince Regent pub, SE24

 

[CH1]

For reference - full candidate list for Thornton By-election 11th April

 

[BusLanes]

For reference - full candidate list for Thornton By-election 11th April
View attachment 164967

WEP have said something on Facebook about Thornton at long last.

They've been inexplicably quiet given they have an office in Brixton and stood last time as well.

 

[BusLanes]

So via the good offices of Twitter, I see that Scott Ainslie seems to have been selected for 1st place in the Green List for London region Euros - which, if they are held, probably means he becomes a MEP.

No idea if this means he has to quit as a councillor and I would imagine if he doesn't, he wouldn't due to Brexit likely still happening.

 

[editor]

So via the good offices of Twitter, I see that Scott Ainslie seems to have been selected for 1st place in the Green List for London region Euros - which, if they are held, probably means he becomes a MEP.

No idea if this means he has to quit as a councillor and I would imagine if he doesn't, he wouldn't due to Brexit likely still happening.

He seems a decent sort.

 

[BusLanes]

He seems a decent sort.

He has quite a presence too, which helps people remember him. He's an actor if I recall correctly

 

[BusLanes]

Loads of Vote Labour leaflets tacked up around Clapham Park estates this morning

I didn't realise that this was allowed in Lambeth elections!

 

[CH1]

Loads of Vote Labour leaflets tacked up around Clapham Park estates this morning
I didn't realise that this was allowed in Lambeth elections!

In the good old days voting in places like that was infrequent. Quite likely some voters thought they had voted just by being canvassed - or by sticking a Labour bill in the window.

The other thing was many Labour Party ward members used to stick up a poster at the first whiff of the election then decamp to the Dordogne to avoid having to canvass (or vote).

The scene you describe (please don't post pictures!) seems to suggest that Labour have got the wind up. Unfortunately for them election night drinks in the Crown and Sceptre won't have the range and quality we were used to from Mr Martin's Brexiteer hostelry.

 

[CH1]

Loads of Vote Labour leaflets tacked up around Clapham Park estates this morning
I didn't realise that this was allowed in Lambeth elections!

It's obviously been hotting up.

Militant Liberals have been on the go in Thornton. A least one veteran former councillor in support - plus the MP for Carshalton.

 

[BusLanes]

From Twitter there seems to be plenty of Labour out too

 

[BusLanes]

Well election day awaits and I assume the usual Labour flood of activists. Think it'll be close though as it's been worked hard.

I would imagine everyone is thoroughly sick of canvassers now though!

 

[editor]

Please sign! Petition to Save Cherry Tree Children’s Centre and Nursery in Lambeth goes online

 

[ViolentPanda]

My issue is this New Labour Council has ideologically driven obsession to work with private enterprise, AKA bloodsucking property developers, and disposing of land/ property they own.

As in Pop these New Labour types get shafted every time and don't see it. Private enterprise is their to compete and make a profit and so no surprise when Council get worst end of the bargain. The average Council office isn't up to dealing with the bloodsuckers. Even if the bloodsuckers are masquerading as doing the community a favour as in Pop.

Disposing of land/property. This really winds me up. Lambeth owns a lot of and and property historically. One might think they would treat this as valuable asset. Instead they treat it as bargaining chip they can use like any private developer. Once they dispose of property/ land they will never be able to get new land / property in foreseeable future.

Its imo totally short sighted to get rid of property/ land portfolio. The Council , contrary to New Labour philosophy, is not a business.

I think you're missing an important part of the equation re the transfer of public assets to private pockets, which is the "revolving door" factor - the deriving of future personal benefits by Cllrs and council officers from their dealings with private developers, aka "the Southwark Disease".

 

[ViolentPanda]

He seems a decent sort.

He is. Him and Tim Briggs (yes, the Tory!) have done a lot regarding trying to put brakes on Lambeth Labour's "regeneration" schemes.

 

[ViolentPanda]

It's obviously been hotting up.

Militant Liberals have been on the go in Thornton. A least one veteran former councillor in support - plus the MP for Carshalton.
View attachment 167145
View attachment 167144

You'd probably have benefitted from NOT having Tom Brake in the line-up. I've met him. Definitely on the Cable-ite right of the party.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Well election day awaits and I assume the usual Labour flood of activists. Think it'll be close though as it's been worked hard.

I would imagine everyone is thoroughly sick of canvassers now though!

Especially as in Thornton ward, that means the possibility of Ed "Gruesome" Davie's gurning phizzog on your doorstep.

 

[CH1]

You'd probably have benefitted from NOT having Tom Brake in the line-up. I've met him. Definitely on the Cable-ite right of the party.

He is a Church Commissioner. Should go down a storm at St Thomas's Telford Park!

 

[ViolentPanda]

He is a Church Commissioner. Should go down a storm at St Thomas's Telford Park!

Which says quite a lot about the state of the C of E's various institutions, and little good!