Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

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

Just saw a resignation from a Labour councillor in Cambridge but she actually runs Healthwatch Lambeth. Not quite Lambeth Labour but close.
I'm going to post her statement, out of interest - though as you implied perhaps this is more of a Hamas/Israel conflict: news and discussion issue
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, after much soul searching and tears, I have resigned the Labour party whip on Cambridge City Council alongside resigning from my Executive position leading the council’s Communities portfolio and my Labour party membership.

This comes after several months struggling to remain in a party which no longer reflects my values under Keir Starmer’s leadership. In recent times, it has become increasingly unconscionable to remain in a party which has lurched so far to the right, that it is hard to distinguish itself as a party of genuine opposition. From refusing to support removing the two-child benefits cap, to failing to support trade unions, nor standing up for asylum seekers, back tracking on climate action and failing to hold the government to account on the cost-of-living crisis where seriously vulnerable people are encountering unimaginable hardship-with 1 in 4 children right now going to bed hungry in this country.

However, the final straw for me, was the appalling comments made this week by the leadership of the Labour party, encouraging collective punishment towards the Palestinian people by condoning the indiscriminate withholding of water and energy supplies in Gaza, which is itself illegal under international law and potentially constitutes war crimes. This is not only extremely dangerous but completely inhumane. This was also combined with the national Labour party issuing instructions to elected representatives not to attend Palestinian solidarity rally’s last weekend, which I thought was both disgraceful and wrong.
I believe politicians have a responsibility to act with humanity and decency. Since the comments made have not been revoked in recent days, I believe it is untenable to remain in a party which espouses such callousness.

In addition, I have been horrified by the dismissal of concerns raised by Labour Muslim colleagues across the country in recent days to the leadership of the Labour party, which I truly believe would not happen if it were a different protected group at issue.

I intend to sit as an independent councillor, representing the interests of the people of Romsey, as an independent voice. I’d like to thank all those who voted for me and renew my commitment to continuing to serve you and I hope you understand my reasons for taking this course of action. I will continue for the remainder of my term, standing up for those most disadvantaged in our city, championing local issues in Romsey and will seek to always advocate for those who need support.

I’d like to thank our leader Mike Davey and the wonderful group of local Labour councillors who have been such strong sources of friendship and support during my time as a Labour councillor. I have only the highest admiration and praise for each of my local labour colleagues across the city including my fellow Romsey councillors and Romsey labour which is full of principled and decent activists.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by events in the Middle East.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was wondering if any Labour councillors in Lambeth or Southwark will be feeling like this?

Edit: For the record Cambridge is Labour 26 Lib Dem 10 Green 4 Tory 1 Independent 1 (now)
The allowance for being a councillor is £6,093 p.a. which wouldn't entice me to stay on. But quite possibly the person concerned is living in Cambridge, in which case at least the councillors allowance would pay for a season ticket (£5428,99)
 
Last edited:
That is what I was wondering. I suspect in Lambeth anyway the party whips and leadership probably will keep a lid on that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CH1
More on the Made in Lambeth right wing takeover.

"The group had become more industrious in 2017, when McSweeney took over as director. Previously Reed’s chief of staff at Lambeth council in south London, where they fought to wrest control of the local authority from the hard left, McSweeney had built a reputation as a formidable organiser.

Labour Together insiders recall him running a hi-tech political strategy operation. He also relied on advice from David Evans, the party’s general secretary since 2021 and another Lambeth council veteran."
 
I thought I would flag this up:
LAMBETH OPEN SPACE EVENT

If there’s no health without mental health then,


How can we work together to enable people who experience mental unwellness in Lambeth to live full lives?

Is this question important to you or someone you care about?

Would you like to get together with others in Lambeth to work on solutions?

If so, please come to an Open Space event

Thursday November 23rd 09:45-16:30hrs, St Matthew’s Church, Brixton

(the venue is fully accessible)​

What will happen at the Open Space event?

  • People from across Lambeth communities with diverse experiences and perspectives of mental health and services and a desire to see change will come together to find solutions to the question
  • What is discussed will be set and led by the people who come on the day –please arrive promptly!
  • There will be lots of opportunity to discuss what matters to you; your passion and experience will be at the heart of the day
  • There will be delicious food
  • At the end of the day what people prioritise will be the priorities for action
  • The event will be facilitated by experienced Open Space event organisers Public Service Works
There is no charge for the event

Please book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-can-we-work-together-to-enable-people-who-experience-mental-unwellness-tickets-748299713587



Or by email or phone to Beth Towle beth.towle@selondonics.nhs.uk or 020 8176 0444.

Questions

Q: Is this event for me?

A:
If you want to help answer the question, How can we work together to enable people who experience mental unwellness in Lambeth to live full lives? then you are welcome. People from any part of Lambeth and from any community or background with experience of mental ill health, or of seeking treatment for mental unwellness are warmly invited. We need your perspectives and ideas.



Q: Who is organising and hosting the event?

A:
The Lambeth Living Well Collaborative is organising and hosting the event. We are an informal group of people who use or need mental health services, carers, local NHS including mental health services and GPs, housing support agencies, voluntary agencies and Lambeth Council. The goals of the Lambeth Living Well Collaborative are that people with mental ill health recover and stay well, make their own choices especially about treatment and care, and participate on an equal footing in life with others, free from discrimination. We want local people to have more of a say in what happens in Lambeth to people who are mentally unwell especially what they need to live well in the borough.

Q: What is an Open Space event?

A:
an Open Space event is a way of enabling everyone who comes to take part and contribute to answering an important question in a way that suits them. The question is developed in advance by local people and what is discussed on the day is decided at the start of the event by the people who come. There is much listening and talking but there are no speeches, no hierarchies and no feedback! The process encourages people to be led by their own experience and their desire for change to find creative solutions. It may sound unstructured but an Open Space event is carefully designed to make sure everyone from any walk of life with passion and experience of the question to be part of finding solutions.

For more information see Working in Open Space | publicserviceworks & https://www.involve.org.uk/resource/open-space-technology

Q: Who will run the Lambeth Open Space event?

A: The Lambeth event will be facilitated by Public Service Works who have great experience in running Open Space events. Find out more here Home | publicserviceworks

Q: What will happen after the Lambeth Open Space event?

A:
A report of the event will be produced on the day. This will include the priorities people agree on the day. The next week we shall hold a follow up meeting to decide how to take forward the priorities. All are welcome to attend this meeting and to be part of the Lambeth Living Well Collaborative’s commitment that people with mental unwellness in Lambeth shall lead full lives.

Sorry about the formatting - it was sent to me as a docx which is not compatible with Urban75.
This is of course Community Care - and I put it in this thread because Lambeth Council are involved in funding it and providing settings (e.g. Mosaic Clubhouse)
 
Annie Gallop, councillor in Myatts Field seems to be running for selection in a new constituency near Reading. She's said as much on Twitter this morning
 
Yes and Starmer. Be interested to read the Sunday Times piece.

Help yourself:

"Morgan McSweeney, 46, spent much of Jeremy Corbyn’s reign researching how moderates might regain control of Labour and turn it into a party of government — but failed to declare donations that paid for it ..."

The secretive guru who plotted Keir Starmer’s path to power with undeclared cash


%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F10398140-6482-11ee-92b7-341e89720b32.jpg


(Source: Sunday Times)

"The proposer was Morgan McSweeney, who ran a secretive group called Labour Together. McSweeney had spent much of Corbyn’s reign conducting research on how to regain control of the party for the moderates and, in his eyes, turn it into a party of government again ...

It conducted clandestine research and polling on Labour’s half a million members which might one day be useful to a moderate leadership candidate ...
"
 
Kevin Craig - long serving Lambeth Labour councillor is currently offering his PR assessment of the government reshuffle on Michael Portillo's GB News show, He was introduced as PLMR Communications, not Lambeth Labour.
I have to say he is looking awfully like Edward Du Cann - and Michael Portillo's hair dye looks very odd.
 
He didn't stand again in 2022 tho. I think he's doing a lot of this kind of TV appearance post council. Sort of makes sense given his business of political communications.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CH1
From 2014:

A Lambeth Cllr and Agent for Kate Hoey MP has come under criticism from the National Audit Office [NAO] over payments made to his private company from a Stockwell school.

Craig founded the private company Political Lobbying and Media Relations Limited [PLMR] in 2006. He is also a Director of the Durand Academy Trust. In November 2012 the contract between Durand and PLMR was worth ‘a fixed monthly fee of £20,000 (excluding VAT) plus reasonable expenses.’
 
Why are you watching GB News?
Its about 6 hours ago now - but I flick over different channels particularly 231,232,233,235 and 236 (GB News) when I'm bored or the adverts come on.
I don't normally venture to 237 unless its Piers Morgan or possibly Julia Hartley Brewer.
I do take the Radio Times - but obviously this doesn't give the flavour of news channels minute by minute - but can be a useful pointer to interesting stuff on Sky Arts/Yesterday/PBS America.
But Sunday mornings are slow - unless you like those odd programmes where an assortment of multifaith pilgrims treck up Ben Nevis etc.

Do you fell I ought to abstain - or maybe go to confession?
 
Back
Top Bottom