Lambeth Council Watch - news and updates about the 'co-operative' council
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Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Here is Cllr Jack Hopkins,the leader of the Council and Labour group, reflection on the Labour defeat:
"Thursday’s election result is a disaster for the people of Lambeth who have already suffered 10 years of austerity and pain from a cruel and uncaring Conservative Government.
After a decade of Tory cuts to our services, of the bedroom tax, of benefit sanctions and of the hostile environment, it’s hard to believe that things could be worse. But for our residents, who will be forced onto universal credit, who will see no help with the housing crisis or who face fear of another Windrush or of their treatment as EU citizens this result is a disaster.
And our capacity to rise to those challenges locally on behalf of our residents has now been made ten times harder.
It is clear from Tory pledges on funding for local government and schools that inner city boroughs like Lambeth will lose out.
And the economic shock which Brexit in whatever form will impact on Lambeth, the wider London economy of which we are a part, and the country at large, will affect everyone but of course the poorest will be hit hardest.
We must redouble our efforts to put people at the heart of everything we do, and to amass a coalition of businesses, organisations, communities and individuals to tackle the crisis in adult social care; the epidemic of violence affecting our young people and the lack of access to opportunities for local people.
Secondly this has been a disaster for the Labour Party. Much speculation is raging about why the offer from the Labour Party was so roundly rejected by the electorate.
We need to be honest about why people didn’t vote for Labour this time in such numbers. Whether it was their view on the leadership or Jeremy Corbyn himself; an absence of electoral strategy with a complete absence of targeting; a manifesto packed with promises but with no coherent narrative giving trust that it was deliverable or desirable; or Brexit and the Party’s unclear and triangulated position.
Frankly we don’t actually know. We must reflect on what we heard on the doorstep and also go back out to the electorate and ask why they voted for us or why they didn’t in each and every one of the seats up and down the country.
What I do know is that the Labour Party is at its strongest when it is of and for the people, when local Labour Parties play a part in their communities and those communities play a part in their local Labour Parties. Too many times in Lambeth, Labour Party branches have spent their evenings debating the rights and wrongs of the Maduro regime in Venezuela or other issues totally disconnected from our communities; all too rarely are they discussing the challenges of serious violence affecting young people or issues that matter to our residents.
Councillors will continue to be part of and in some cases lead those discussions in the community either organising or tying into the conversations the public are having already. The Party needs to do the same.
Jeremy Corbyn’s assertion that “we won the argument” demonstrates the sort of centralising and patronising “we know best” approach which has characterised his time at the helm. The rhetoric around empowering the membership and being grassroots has failed to be delivered in practice. If control over the party and the political processes is allowed to trump the needs, wishes and aspirations of the electorate then the Labour Party will continue to remain unattractive to those we seek to serve and we will continue to lose elections.
As councillors, our aim and promise is to always be on the side of our residents. Too often in the election, it felt like our movement was instead asking voters “are you on our side?”, and if they said they weren’t then they were told they were in the wrong.
It is clear that Jeremy Corbyn should step down as leader. This is his second loss to the worst Tory Government in living memory. I don’t think anyone doubts Jeremy’s convictions, but this is the party’s worst result since the 1930s. I make no judgement on what comes next, except to say that we must have a leadership which recognises that local government and politics done at the grass roots, reflective of the challenges local communities face, must be prioritised and valued.
It is also clear that we cannot rest on our laurels or engage in a naval gazing exercise for a year on the leadership of the Party. Right across the country Labour still governs in Town Halls and City Halls, with crucial local elections in May 2020 not just here in London for Sadiq Khan but in every region of England and Wales. And those leadership candidates need to speak to the country and not just the Labour Party internally. We must recognise that we need power in order to deliver our agenda and that requires the right principles and values, but also a degree of pragmatism which accepts that a one-size-fits-all approach to the whole country will not work.
Here in Lambeth we won all three seats and I am hugely proud of our candidates Helen Hayes MP, Bell Addy-Ribeiro MP and Florence Eshalomi MP, as well as the hundreds of Lambeth Labour activists who made sure Lambeth would be properly represented by three women who reflect the diversity and progressive politics that Lambeth residents want.
However in each seat there was a reduction in the majorities which shows us that we can never be complacent, and that our mandates to govern and represent must be renewed every day, every week and every month.
The results tells me that despite the national picture, our residents in Lambeth still trust the Lambeth Labour brand and were prepared to come out and vote for us. The fact that we are a campaigning and engaging Lambeth Labour Party with a popular programme of delivery and improvement for the Borough has in no small part meant that people still see Lambeth Labour as being on their side.
So the challenge for us in Lambeth is to ensure we are part of and representative of Lambeth, that we are connected in deep ways to civil society and our communities. We form an administration in Lambeth because our Councillors bring the issues that people really care about into the town hall so we can address what really matters to people.
Our borough faces at least another 5 years of Tory misrule so we must remain united and on the side of residents, focused on the issues that matter to them, not locked in another internal Party debate.
Yours in Solidarity,
Cllr Jack Hopkins
Leader of Lambeth Labour Group"
"Thursday’s election result is a disaster for the people of Lambeth who have already suffered 10 years of austerity and pain from a cruel and uncaring Conservative Government.
After a decade of Tory cuts to our services, of the bedroom tax, of benefit sanctions and of the hostile environment, it’s hard to believe that things could be worse. But for our residents, who will be forced onto universal credit, who will see no help with the housing crisis or who face fear of another Windrush or of their treatment as EU citizens this result is a disaster.
And our capacity to rise to those challenges locally on behalf of our residents has now been made ten times harder.
It is clear from Tory pledges on funding for local government and schools that inner city boroughs like Lambeth will lose out.
And the economic shock which Brexit in whatever form will impact on Lambeth, the wider London economy of which we are a part, and the country at large, will affect everyone but of course the poorest will be hit hardest.
We must redouble our efforts to put people at the heart of everything we do, and to amass a coalition of businesses, organisations, communities and individuals to tackle the crisis in adult social care; the epidemic of violence affecting our young people and the lack of access to opportunities for local people.
Secondly this has been a disaster for the Labour Party. Much speculation is raging about why the offer from the Labour Party was so roundly rejected by the electorate.
We need to be honest about why people didn’t vote for Labour this time in such numbers. Whether it was their view on the leadership or Jeremy Corbyn himself; an absence of electoral strategy with a complete absence of targeting; a manifesto packed with promises but with no coherent narrative giving trust that it was deliverable or desirable; or Brexit and the Party’s unclear and triangulated position.
Frankly we don’t actually know. We must reflect on what we heard on the doorstep and also go back out to the electorate and ask why they voted for us or why they didn’t in each and every one of the seats up and down the country.
What I do know is that the Labour Party is at its strongest when it is of and for the people, when local Labour Parties play a part in their communities and those communities play a part in their local Labour Parties. Too many times in Lambeth, Labour Party branches have spent their evenings debating the rights and wrongs of the Maduro regime in Venezuela or other issues totally disconnected from our communities; all too rarely are they discussing the challenges of serious violence affecting young people or issues that matter to our residents.
Councillors will continue to be part of and in some cases lead those discussions in the community either organising or tying into the conversations the public are having already. The Party needs to do the same.
Jeremy Corbyn’s assertion that “we won the argument” demonstrates the sort of centralising and patronising “we know best” approach which has characterised his time at the helm. The rhetoric around empowering the membership and being grassroots has failed to be delivered in practice. If control over the party and the political processes is allowed to trump the needs, wishes and aspirations of the electorate then the Labour Party will continue to remain unattractive to those we seek to serve and we will continue to lose elections.
As councillors, our aim and promise is to always be on the side of our residents. Too often in the election, it felt like our movement was instead asking voters “are you on our side?”, and if they said they weren’t then they were told they were in the wrong.
It is clear that Jeremy Corbyn should step down as leader. This is his second loss to the worst Tory Government in living memory. I don’t think anyone doubts Jeremy’s convictions, but this is the party’s worst result since the 1930s. I make no judgement on what comes next, except to say that we must have a leadership which recognises that local government and politics done at the grass roots, reflective of the challenges local communities face, must be prioritised and valued.
It is also clear that we cannot rest on our laurels or engage in a naval gazing exercise for a year on the leadership of the Party. Right across the country Labour still governs in Town Halls and City Halls, with crucial local elections in May 2020 not just here in London for Sadiq Khan but in every region of England and Wales. And those leadership candidates need to speak to the country and not just the Labour Party internally. We must recognise that we need power in order to deliver our agenda and that requires the right principles and values, but also a degree of pragmatism which accepts that a one-size-fits-all approach to the whole country will not work.
Here in Lambeth we won all three seats and I am hugely proud of our candidates Helen Hayes MP, Bell Addy-Ribeiro MP and Florence Eshalomi MP, as well as the hundreds of Lambeth Labour activists who made sure Lambeth would be properly represented by three women who reflect the diversity and progressive politics that Lambeth residents want.
However in each seat there was a reduction in the majorities which shows us that we can never be complacent, and that our mandates to govern and represent must be renewed every day, every week and every month.
The results tells me that despite the national picture, our residents in Lambeth still trust the Lambeth Labour brand and were prepared to come out and vote for us. The fact that we are a campaigning and engaging Lambeth Labour Party with a popular programme of delivery and improvement for the Borough has in no small part meant that people still see Lambeth Labour as being on their side.
So the challenge for us in Lambeth is to ensure we are part of and representative of Lambeth, that we are connected in deep ways to civil society and our communities. We form an administration in Lambeth because our Councillors bring the issues that people really care about into the town hall so we can address what really matters to people.
Our borough faces at least another 5 years of Tory misrule so we must remain united and on the side of residents, focused on the issues that matter to them, not locked in another internal Party debate.
Yours in Solidarity,
Cllr Jack Hopkins
Leader of Lambeth Labour Group"
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
lasted missive from the Leader.
"
"
I hope you had a lovely Christmas break and a great start to the new decade!
Now, more than ever, is the time for Lambeth Labour to pull together and show unity against Boris Johnson’s Tories. The Conservative government are certain to mount an assault on Labour councils like ours, diverting money to their new support bases in the midlands and the north.
At the same time, we continue to face enormous challenges coming from a decade of austerity: increasing demand in adult and disabled social care; a homeless and housing crisis; more children coming into the system either because they need our protection or because where they are growing up in is not as good as it needs to be; a climate that in some parts of the world has already moved past the brink of catastrophe. We know that to tackle these we need properly funded, well-resourced and truly supported councils as well as a strong community, powerful voluntary, faith and community organisations and a spirit of solidarity that binds us.
Undoubtedly, many of us will be focused on the Leadership and Deputy Leadership elections over the coming months. But I would urge every member to give equal energy and attention to reconnecting with our residents here in Lambeth – preparing to help make the change we want to see, and readying ourselves to re-elect Sadiq Khan as our Labour Mayor of London and a Labour majority on the London Assembly.
Yours in Solidarity,
Cllr Jack Hopkins
Leader of Lambeth Labour Group
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
I went to the launch of Clive Lewis's camapaign to be national Labout party leader, which was held at the Black Cultural Archives Friday morning 9th Jan.
Nothing at all has been reported about this - except his off the cuff response to a reporter's question about the Harry, Megan and the royal family.
Notable attendees at the launch included Peter Tatchell, Paul Mason and Ann Pettifor in the audience. The event was in a meeting room upstairs in the BCA, seating for 40, but about 60 there. Clive Lewis was introduced by a woman compere, who also called the questioners in the Q and A after the speech.
I am very out of touch with Lambeth councillors these days, but I did see Mahamad Hashi and Mohammed Jaser - both Stockwell ward, and both asked questions at the end.
I did not recognise any other Lambeth councillors there.
Mr Lewis started by saying he was the son of a Windrush generation immigrant from Grenada, who ended up working in a factory in Northampton and was a strong socialist - which value father had passed on to son.
Lewis thought the BCA was iconic in representing the history of black people who had come to Britain. Brixton was also iconic in that many black people had settled here, and black migrants as well as working class people generally and gays and lesbians were all minorities who were part of the labour heritage of struggle.
Clive Lewis thinks that Labour is over-exercised with factionalism. He wants to change politics so a progressive coalition could change the way democracy works. He admitted there was a constitutional reason in the Labour party which stops this - namely standing down candidates to help people from another party is currently unconstitutional.
He wanted proportional representation and the possibility of alliance/coalition with the Greens and the Lib Dems.
He said that social democratic parties across Europe were in trouble from Pasok in Greece to the SPD in Germany. The only exception seems to be the present socialist government in Portugal, which has managed to end austerity without antagonising the European Central Bank etc.
Clive Lewis still thinks Brexit is a mistake, but agrees it is going to happen. Labour has to oppose the worst effects.
He is not opposed to another referendum in Scotland. He was scornful of Labour ideologues who claim they can retake Scotland for Labour by pointing out the political class errors of the Scottish Nationalists.
In line with this, Lewis believes in greater decentralisation of England - and the Labour Party.
He said it was absurd for the Labour party's central apparatus to think that constituencies in the north and the Midlands would drop into line with the views of Labour HQ once in a while when a General Election occurred.
He also thought the Lib Dems had got right out of line. They performed best from the centre left - Charles Kennedy had been someone Clive Lewis's type of Labour could have done business with. On the other hand Jo Swinson's campaign had had no regard for the fact the Lib Dems had blood on their hands - as he said - due to being in coalition with the Tories.
Difficult to remember al l of the detail - but I thought he read his speech well, and responded to questions very fluently.
The only question reported on TV was this issue with the royal family, which he again said led to a question of reform - which should be put to referendum.
I should declare an interest here. I am currently a Green Party member, and on the Compass mailing list.
I got notification the day before of this Clive Lewis launch meeting, but Momentum members I knew knew nothing about it.
I should also say I was curious to see how such an event was conducted at the Black Cultural Archives.
Nothing at all has been reported about this - except his off the cuff response to a reporter's question about the Harry, Megan and the royal family.
Notable attendees at the launch included Peter Tatchell, Paul Mason and Ann Pettifor in the audience. The event was in a meeting room upstairs in the BCA, seating for 40, but about 60 there. Clive Lewis was introduced by a woman compere, who also called the questioners in the Q and A after the speech.
I am very out of touch with Lambeth councillors these days, but I did see Mahamad Hashi and Mohammed Jaser - both Stockwell ward, and both asked questions at the end.
I did not recognise any other Lambeth councillors there.
Mr Lewis started by saying he was the son of a Windrush generation immigrant from Grenada, who ended up working in a factory in Northampton and was a strong socialist - which value father had passed on to son.
Lewis thought the BCA was iconic in representing the history of black people who had come to Britain. Brixton was also iconic in that many black people had settled here, and black migrants as well as working class people generally and gays and lesbians were all minorities who were part of the labour heritage of struggle.
Clive Lewis thinks that Labour is over-exercised with factionalism. He wants to change politics so a progressive coalition could change the way democracy works. He admitted there was a constitutional reason in the Labour party which stops this - namely standing down candidates to help people from another party is currently unconstitutional.
He wanted proportional representation and the possibility of alliance/coalition with the Greens and the Lib Dems.
He said that social democratic parties across Europe were in trouble from Pasok in Greece to the SPD in Germany. The only exception seems to be the present socialist government in Portugal, which has managed to end austerity without antagonising the European Central Bank etc.
Clive Lewis still thinks Brexit is a mistake, but agrees it is going to happen. Labour has to oppose the worst effects.
He is not opposed to another referendum in Scotland. He was scornful of Labour ideologues who claim they can retake Scotland for Labour by pointing out the political class errors of the Scottish Nationalists.
In line with this, Lewis believes in greater decentralisation of England - and the Labour Party.
He said it was absurd for the Labour party's central apparatus to think that constituencies in the north and the Midlands would drop into line with the views of Labour HQ once in a while when a General Election occurred.
He also thought the Lib Dems had got right out of line. They performed best from the centre left - Charles Kennedy had been someone Clive Lewis's type of Labour could have done business with. On the other hand Jo Swinson's campaign had had no regard for the fact the Lib Dems had blood on their hands - as he said - due to being in coalition with the Tories.
Difficult to remember al l of the detail - but I thought he read his speech well, and responded to questions very fluently.
The only question reported on TV was this issue with the royal family, which he again said led to a question of reform - which should be put to referendum.
I should declare an interest here. I am currently a Green Party member, and on the Compass mailing list.
I got notification the day before of this Clive Lewis launch meeting, but Momentum members I knew knew nothing about it.
I should also say I was curious to see how such an event was conducted at the Black Cultural Archives.
editor
hiraethified
Latest news
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Green Party calls for immediate halt to regeneration work on the South Lambeth Estate
The Green Party has called for an immediate halt to major regeneration work taking place on the South Lambeth Estate, which began earlier this week.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
Update:
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Lambeth Greens give Lambeth Council a ‘B minus’ score on climate emergency anniversary
Lambeth Council have been awarded a disappointing “B minus” rating by Lambeth Green Party, who said that the council “urgently needs to up its efforts if it is to catch up and keep pace with …
www.brixtonbuzz.com
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
I hope that is a stock picture. Kate Hoey is now retired.Update:
Lambeth Greens give Lambeth Council a ‘B minus’ score on climate emergency anniversary
Lambeth Council have been awarded a disappointing “B minus” rating by Lambeth Green Party, who said that the council “urgently needs to up its efforts if it is to catch up and keep pace with …
editor
hiraethified
Lambeth sure know how to waste money
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Lambeth Council leaves Loughborough Park in disrepair while spending £612,000 on security for the empty community centre
Concerned at the worsening state of Loughborough Park, a small public space off Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, a local resident has been haranguing Lambeth Council to no avail. Dominating the park is…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
CH1
"Red Guard"(NLYL)
Why did they demolish the secret garden? Were they worried about use of public space without surveillance? In which case why did they build it in the first place?Lambeth sure know how to waste money
Lambeth Council leaves Loughborough Park in disrepair while spending £612,000 on security for the empty community centre
Concerned at the worsening state of Loughborough Park, a small public space off Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, a local resident has been haranguing Lambeth Council to no avail. Dominating the park is…
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Lambeth sure know how to waste money
Lambeth Council leaves Loughborough Park in disrepair while spending £612,000 on security for the empty community centre
Concerned at the worsening state of Loughborough Park, a small public space off Coldharbour Lane in Brixton, a local resident has been haranguing Lambeth Council to no avail. Dominating the park is…
I've emailed the MP Helen Hayes the following:
Can you raise with the Council :
1) Why the cost of security is so high?
2) Why are they spending this large sum instead of getting a new provider to use this community facility? Also the park needs investment. The money spent on security could have funded this.
3) How they are going to consult the local community on the future of the park and upgrading it?
4) How they are going to consult the community on a new organisation to take over and run the community facility?
editor
hiraethified
Lambeth flogging off homes again
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Lambeth Council to sell off home of Brixton basketball legend Jimmy Rogers
Lambeth council is set to sell the home of Brixton legend Jimmy Rogers, founder of the Brixton Topcats basketball team.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
Great idea, but....
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Lambeth Living Rent plans to protect tenants from skyrocketing rents
Lambeth Council has passed a Green Party motion aimed at protecting tenants from rocketing rents, although we’re not sure how it’s going to pan out in Brixton where greedy, ruthless dev…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
ChrisSouth
Well-Known Member
I think that if they were being sold, with the capital receipts invested in genuine social housing, then there's a case to be made for it. But I suspect this may not be the case.
Non investment of capital receipts, as well as the 'right to buy', is the shocking cause of today's housing crisis.
editor
hiraethified
Lambeth budget statement
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Lambeth announces budget “to tackle youth violence, combat climate change, and protect services”
Lambeth council have announced their budget “to tackle youth violence, combat climate change, and protect services.” We’ve reproduced it in full below and invite you to add your t…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
Lambeth want your opinion.
My opinion: the content is presented in such a horribly dry and text-heavy manner, most people are likely to be put off contributing anything, which rather negates the whole exercise.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
My opinion: the content is presented in such a horribly dry and text-heavy manner, most people are likely to be put off contributing anything, which rather negates the whole exercise.
Lambeth Council wants your opinion on a host of local issues, including affordable housing, the environment and traffic
Lambeth Council are inviting residents to contribute their feedback on a host of local issues, including housing, the environment and traffic. We’ve listed the current set of consultations be…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
See the council in action tonight! Who needs Netflix!
Watch Lambeth’s ‘historic’ online-only council meeting tonight, 7pm on Wednesday 22 April
Watch Lambeth’s ‘historic’ online-only council meeting tonight, 7pm on Wednesday 22 April
BusLanes
Pedestrian
Is anyone up to speed with the Council's coronavirus roading alterations? I saw the councillors all congratulating the council today about changes around Herne Hill but also on the boundary bit that Southwark controls. Assumedly it was Lambeth that did it but how does it work at intersections like this?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
See my photos on the LJ thread and the Brixton Liveable Neighborhood thread today.
editor
hiraethified
I'm very impressed with Streatham's MP, Bell-Ribeiro-Addy,
bit.ly
Streatham MP Bell-Ribeiro-Addy gives her support to striking medical couriers in TDL dispute
Streatham MP Bell-Ribeiro-Addy has expressed her support for medical couriers working for The Doctors’ Laboratory (TDL), who have voted to take strike action after the company launched a redundancy…
bit.ly
editor
hiraethified
Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy shows her worth again. 
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Streatham MP joins calls for urgent action to prevent rent debt and evictions crisis
As the coronavirus lockdown continues, Labour MPs have today called for urgent action to prevent a rent debt and evictions crisis. Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, along with fellow Labour MPs Apsan…
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
Really impressed with Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy. So much better than the clown she replaced.
Happening now
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Happening now
Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy joins colleagues to take the knee in Parliament, 9th June 2020
Bell Ribeiro-Addy joined Labour colleagues to take to one knee outside Parliament’s today in a symbolic show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
www.brixtonbuzz.com
editor
hiraethified
Wise words
www.brixtonbuzz.com
Tory decision to hike TfL fares and cut free travel for children is ‘a kick in the teeth’ for Londoners, says Labour council leader
The Labour leader of Lambeth Council, Jack Hopkins, has hit out at Boris Johnson’s Conservative government for demanding that TfL must raise fares above inflation and cut free travel for under-18s …
www.brixtonbuzz.com
nick
Pleomorphic Adenomas R us
Really impressed with Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy. So much better than the clown she replaced.
Happening now
Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy joins colleagues to take the knee in Parliament, 9th June 2020
Bell Ribeiro-Addy joined Labour colleagues to take to one knee outside Parliament’s today in a symbolic show of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protest movement.
I saw on the twitters that she is looking for a "parliamentary Assistant". Closing 19 June
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