Brent General Election Results & Queens Park By-Election result. Shama Tatler loses in Chingford and Woodford Green

 

Dawn Butler (Brent East) and Barry Gardiner (Brent West) have been elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) after winning seats in yesterday's General Election.

The turnout for Brent East was 49.06% and the turnout for Brent West was 51.95%.”

Brent East

Dawn Butler, Labour Party, has been elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent East.

The results in order of votes for each candidate are:

• Dawn Butler, Labour Party (19,370 votes ELECTED)
• Jamila Robertson, Conservative Party (6,323 votes)
• Nida Alfulaij, Green Party (3,729 votes)
• Jonny Singh, Liberal Democrat (2,635 votes)
• Zbigniew Kowalczyk, Reform UK (2,024 votes)
• Aadil Shaikh, Independent (1,846 votes)
• James Mutimer, Workers Party (1,052 votes)
• Amin Moafi, Independent (654 votes)
• Jenner Clarence Joseph Folwell, Independent (169 votes)

Brent West

Barry Gardiner, Labour Party, has been elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent West.

The results in order of votes for each candidate are:

• Barry Strachan Gardiner, Labour Party (17,258 votes ELECTED)
• Sushil Gangadhar Rapatwar, Conservative Party (13,465 votes)
• Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat (3,013 votes)
• Baston Anthony De’Medici-Jaguar, Green Party (2,805 votes)
• Nadia Klok, Workers Party (2,774 votes)
• Ian Collier, Reform UK (2,061 votes)

Queen’s Park and Maida Vale constituency

Turnout: 38,618

Total votes cast: 51.11%

Surname	First names	Party	Votes
Baxter	Helen June	Liberal Democrats	3,417
Carter - Begbie	Angela Michelle	Reform UK	2,106
Dharamsi	Abdulla Janmohamed	Independent	601
Gould	Georgia	Labour Party	20,126 (ELECTED)
Hersi	Samia	The Conservative Party	5,088
Lichtenstein	Vivien Aviva	Green Party	5,213
Menabde	Irakli	Workers Party	1,792

QUEENS PARK COUNCIL BY-ELECTION

Leslie Anne Smith, Labour Party (3,038 votes ELECTED)

Virginia Leslie Bonham Carter, Liberal Democrat  (1,462 votes)

Ricardo William Davies, Green Party (1,329 votes)

Emily Julia Sheffield,  Conservative Party (1,138 votes)

CHINGFORD AND WOODFORD GREEN

Of interest as Cllr Shama Tatler was standing after the removal of the Labour candidate. In the event just 79 votes separated Tatler and the former candidate Faiza Shaheen who stood as an independent. Tory Ian Duncan Smith held the seat.

SEE LINK 

 

Final Boundary Commission constituences published. Brent wards will be covered by a total of 4 MPs. Brent East returns.

 

 

The Boundary Commission has published its final recommendations today. Brent East, formerly Ken Livingstone's seat, is back and largely covers the current Brent Central while Brent West covers the current Brent North.

Harlesden and Kensal Green,  Kilburn and Queens Park become the minority Brent wards in the Queens Park and Maida Vale constituency. The Camden side of Kilburn is in another constituency, Hampstead and Highgate.

Poor Queensbury, often seen as a bit semi-detached, is on its own in Harrow East.

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Hundreds rally to support of popular Harrow councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick, threated with expulsion by the Labour Party.

 

Pamela Fitzpatrick campaigned to save Belmont Health Centre from closure in 2019 (more HERE)

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition LINK in a single day in support of a popular Harrow Labour councillor.

 

The petition in support of Labour Councillor for Headstone South, Pamela Fitzpatrick, was launched by local Labour members when she was threatened with expulsion from Labour this week. The bizarre reason for expulsion was for giving an interview to a publication (Socialist Appeal) in May 2020, support for which was banned by Labour more than a year later in July 2021.  A similar move  based on of what appears to be retrospective guilt by association, has been made against Pete Firmin of Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party .

 

The petition attracted a huge response when it was shared on Wednesday 25 August and is still growing. It can be signed HERE .

 

Today  Fitzpatrick announced on Twitter: 

 

In respect of the Labour Party threat to auto exclude me from the party for giving an interview in 2020 to Socialist Appeal. I have now instructed Solicitors who have today written to the Labour party to put them on notice of potential legal proceedings.

 

Elected as a councillor for Headstone South in 2014 and re-elected with an increased majority in 2018,  Pamela also stood to be Labour MP for Harrow East in the 2019 General Election, attracting hundreds of volunteers who came to Harrow from across and beyond London to canvass for her. In an effort to defeat Bob Blackman, the Green Party candidate Emma Wallace stood down and demonstrated her respect for her opponent saying,  ‘Whilst there are a number of differences between the Labour party and the Green Party, we believe Pamela Fitzpatrick is a progressive voice, one that is committed to working with the local Harrow East community and standing up for all their best interests.’

 

Pamela Fitzpatrick was  recently elected to Labour’s Women’s Committee and is well known nationally across the Labour movement. Her interview to Socialist Appeal in May 2020 was given when she stood to be General Secretary for Labour.

 

In addition to her political work, she set up Harrow Law Centre and continues to work there supporting people in often desperate situations.  LINK

 

Cllr Maxine Henson, councillor for Roxbourne ward in South Harrow, said:

 

Pamela is a very caring and hardworking councillor who has done a lot for her community. It would be a great loss for residents and the Labour Party if she were to be expelled.

 

Cllr Fitzpatrick is not the only member at risk from Labour’s recent rule changes banning support for groups deemed to be ‘left’. Respected British director Ken Loach, who has spent decades making films exposing social injustice and campaigning, was also recently controversially expelled by the Labour Party in similar circumstances.

 

THIS IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE PETITION

This petition was started by members of Harrow West Constituency Labour Party (CLP)

We understand that Pamela Fitzpatrick, a member of our CLP and Labour Councillor for the Headstone South ward in the London Borough of Harrow, has been threatened with "auto-exclusion" from membership of the Labour Party by the party's Compliance Unit on the grounds that she is allegedly a supporter of Socialist Appeal, an organisation that was proscribed by Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) in July 2021.

The Compliance Unit's evidence for Pamela being a "supporter" of Socialist Appeal is, in its entirety, that she gave an interview to Socialist Appeal in May 2020. This is not a valid basis for exclusion, for two reasons.

First, the conduct that may amount to "support" for a proscribed organisation, as defined by the NEC, is clearly set out in the updated Labour Party Complaints Policy (https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Labour-Party-Complaints-Policy.pdf Pamela is not alleged to have done any of these things listed there. Giving an interview to Socialist Appeal does not amount to any of those things. Therefore the Compliance Unit has provided no evidence that Pamela has supported Socialist Appeal as defined by the NEC.

Second, the interview took place more than a year before the NEC made the decision to proscribe Socialist Appeal. Anything a member is alleged to have done at a time when an organisation is not proscribed cannot possibly be a basis for auto-exclusion on grounds of support for that organisation.

Pamela's conduct did not amount to supporting Socialist Appeal as defined by NEC, and even if it had, it took place at a time when Socialist Appeal was not proscribed. Therefore there are no grounds on which to auto-exclude Pamela from membership of the Labour Party. The Compliance Unit's purported action against her is contrary to Labour Party rules, the decision of the NEC and the principles of natural justice.

In the light of the above, we urge the Compliance Unit to immediately cease its purported action against Pamela and confirm in writing that she will not be auto-excluded from Labour membership.

Green Party withdraws nomination for Harrow East

Emma Wallace, the Green Party candidate for the marginal Harrow East constituency has withdrawn her nomination. The controversial Conservative and Modi supporter, Robert Blackman, is the Conservative candidate in a three way contest with Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour and Adam Bernard, Liberal Democrat.

This is tonight's statement from Emma:

The reasons I have chosen to stand down in Harrow East include this being a unique, snap General Election where tactical candidacy withdrawal in a number of constituencies has been necessary. This is not part of the 'Unite to remain' Green Party, Lib Dem and Plaid Cymru electoral pact. As Harrow East has been identified as one of the 44 key marginals, with only 1700 between the current Conservative incumbent and Labour in the last election, I do not want to split the left vote further. With Nigel Farage announcing the withdrawal of half of his Brexit Party candidates to ensure a Conservative majority, it is even more important that the left work together to prevent the hard right takeover of government. 

Bob Blackman's divisive stance and appalling record of voting, including the rejection of measures to tackle climate change, being against gay and human rights, not supporting fair increases in welfare benefits and voting for reducing central funding for local government, with Harrow being one of the worst cut areas, we believe we give voters the best opportunity to vote against him through the withdrawal of Green candidacy. 

Whilst there are a number of differences between the Labour party and the Green party, we believe Pamela Fitzpatrick is a progressive voice, one that is committed to working with the local Harrow East community and standing up for all their best interests. We hope to work with her towards securing proportional representation and the implementation of a Green New Deal. Until we have a fair electoral system, where individual votes truly represent what people vote for, we are required to participate in such tactical practices.

Emma Wallace
Harrow Green Party

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The 2017 Result:

Bob Blackman MP condemned over invite to anti-Muslim Hindu nationalist Tapan Ghosh

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East has been condemned for hosting a visit by Hindu nationalist Tapan Ghosh to the House of Commons last week. (See previous post)

According to Middle East Eye LINK : 

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain,  said it was "astounding" that Ghosh was "welcomed with open arms" to parliament given that he "trades in propagating hatred against Muslims in India.

It added: "Ghosh is a founder of a far-right party in that country and in this year we have heard of shocking murders against Muslims, very often linked to the kind of anti-Muslim rhetoric emanating from people like Ghosh.

"If we are to tackle extremism as the government has stated it wants to, then we should not see it emanating on its own doorstep and apparently condoned by its own MPs."

TellMAMA the organisation that monitors anti-Muslim attacks made the following demands LINK:

We are calling for the following:

·       That Parliament’s Sergeant-at-Arms open up a formal investigation into how Ghosh came to be in Parliament and that some serious questions be asked of Bob Blackman MP. The investigation should then be published as a learning tool for other MP’s.

·       That Blackman be removed from the DCLG Committee that he sits on, until he can explain his actions and apologise for hosting an anti-Muslim extremist in our country’s Parliament.

·       That all MP’s and their offices receive a notice from the Sergeant-at-Arms regarding undertaking due diligence checks on speakers whom they invite in.

·       That Blackman contact us and meet with a Rohingya refugee, to listen first hand at the appalling genocide that has been conducted against this defenceless people by Burma’s military junta, which itself has been legitimised by Aung Saan Su Kyi.

At a local level Harrow East Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Harrow East, Adam Bernard,  condemned the invitation as 'unacceptable and dangerous'  LINK:

“An area as religiously diverse as Harrow East deserves better than an MP who invites hatemongers to inflame tensions between communities.

“Mr Blackman needs to realise that his job is to represent people from all communities and of all faiths and nationalities.

 “If he can’t get the hang of that, perhaps he should consider a change of career?“

In a tweet, Navin Shah, Labour AM for Brent and Harrow said:

 “Hardly surprising to see Bob Blackman rubbing shoulders with Tapan Ghosh &Tommy Robinson. Most appalling & disgusting. Deserves condemnation“.

Emma Wallace, The Green Party's General Election candidiate in 2017 said:

'Whilst I am saddened to read that the MP for Harrow East hosted such a divisive figure in parliament I am not particularly surprised.  As we have seen previously with Mr Blackman, he seems more concerned to court certain electorate groups that will keep him in power, rather than represent his diverse constitutents. At a time when the UK appears increasingly divided, with religious hate crime has increasing considerably it seems particularly important that MPs try to unite and form cohesive communities rather than divide.  It is unacceptable that Tapan Ghosh was invited to Parliament, there should be no platform for him to spread his false or harmful views in this country or anywhere else.'

 Meanwhile the Home Office moved to distance Home Secretary Amber Rudd from Ghosh:

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Secretary fundamentally disagrees with Mr Ghosh’s views on Islam.

“The Home Secretary accepted an invitation from the Hindu Forum of Britain to attend an event in Parliament last week to celebrate Diwali. She did not speak to Mr Ghosh and was not present when he spoke.”

There is this Hope Not Hate petition people can sign to condemn Bob Blackman for hosting Mr Ghosh:

We condemn MPs for hosting Tapan Ghosh in Parliament '

Harrow Green Party announces its General Election candidates

After a secret ballot amongst Harrow Green party members the following candidates have been chosen to stand for election on 8th June in the parliamentary elections:

Harrow West - Rowan Langley

Rowan will be standing in this constituency for the third time in succession. He is keen to ensure that the Green Party is visible as much as possible and hopes to continue to offer voters in Harrow the chance to vote Green. 

Rowan is a local resident, but also has business clients in the area for his electrician's business. It his through his work that he has seen some of the hidden poverty, which he would like to target via the provision of improved rental housing for those on low incomes.

Harrow East - Emma Wallace

 Emma decided to put herself forward for a second consecutive election as she is committed to ensuring there is a progressive and democratic voice in the borough of Harrow and ultimately, Westminster.  

Emma believes that the Green Party holds values and policies that would benefit our local community and would strongly advocate these as the parliamentary candidate.  She has been actively involved in Harrow Green Party for over two years, being the local party’s coordinator with the aim of developing the standing and impact of the Greens in the borough.  

Emma has supported key local campaigns, including protesting against the closure of local libraries, the closure of The Bridge and also against Harrow School’s sports hall development.

Labour and Tory MPs unite on concerns over Spurs at Wembley Stadium

Extract from the Planning Officers' Report

 

Barry Gardiner, MP for Brent North – Recognition of the significant regeneration in and around the area. Queried why there is a need for Tottenham Hotspur to play games at Wembley’s full capacity. Acknowledged economic benefits, but also the impact of vehicles on local residents and traffic and that an event day can be an unpleasant experience for local residents. The increase in the number of matches will prove a real strain on local living, and it is important that residents have their say. Concern that there can be violence associated with the crowd, and anti-social drinking in the street, lack of toilets and litter. Concern that standards of street cleaning has deteriorated and that the police do not have the resources to combat on-street drinking. Seeking further measures to mitigate existing number of event day impacts.

Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East – Concerns raised about the impact of parking at Stanmore, and the proposed additional events would amplify this. There will also be additional pressure on public transport. Match dates and kick off times can vary, often at short notice which can have severe impacts on his constituents. It is not clear how this will be mitigated. Suggestion that the concerts (which have the most impact on local residents) could be curtailed. Concern that this sets a precedent for Chelsea FC to use the stadium for a further three years.

Bob Blackman's record on environmental issues under scrutiny

Bob Blackman, former MP for Harrow East (he is now just a candidate) had his record put under scrutiny publicly last week  near St Anne's Shopping Centre, Harrow on the Hill, when a constituent erected a board displaying his responses to her letters on various environmental issues as well as the Robin Hood tax and TTIP.

It was a novel way to inform voters of his complacency in the face of residents' concerns.

Bob Blackman is a former leader of Brent Conservatives.

Boundary changes will mean 5 MPs representing Brent wards

Proposals today from the Boundary Commission for England and Wales could see the people of Brent represented by five different members of parliament.  In order to distribute the electorate of each constituency fairly the following changes are put forward:

• Kenton ward would join a new Harrow constituency , renamed from the old Harrow East constituency (Current MP Bob Blackman, Conservative)
• Fryent and Queesnbury wards would join a new Stanmore constituency, renamed from the old Harrow West constituency (Current MP Gareth Thomas (Labour)
• Brondesbury Park would be taken out of Hampstead and Kilburn, and put into Brent Central and the constituency would be  renamed Willesden. It will now include College Park and Old Oak wards from Hammersmith and Fulham. (Current MP Sarah Teather Liberal Democrat)
• Brent North would be renamed Wembley and Perivale and include Tokyngton ward and Perivale ward from the old Ealing North Constituency. (Current MP Barry Gardiner Labour)
•  Kilburn and Queens Park wards will remain in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency. Current MP Glenda Jackson Labour)

The proposals will have all the Brent political parties busy  trying to work out the impact on their vote. For older Brentonians the names will bring back memories of the two political entities that were merged to make Brent: Willesden and Wembley. 'Brent' disappears from the parliamentary political landscape.

Harrow Students Debate the Big Issues

I had a great time last week at a Question Time style hustings at Harrow College.  I was pitched against Bob Blackman, Conservative (who will resign as Conservative leader of Brent Council AFTER the election); Tony McNulty, Labour; Fred Leplatt, Respect; and Nahid Boethe (Lib Dem). There was a lively audience of 80-100 mainly first-time voters who questioned us on the economy, capitalism and climate change, Afghanistan, BNP, tuition fees and black and asian political leadership. 


Students were asked about their voting intentions before and after the debate. The results were encouraging. Voting intention before the debate in brackets:

Conservative 18% (20%)

Labour 23% (25%)

Liberal Democrat 9% (7%)

Green 23% (9%)

Respect 11%

Other 5% (9%)

Not voting – 7% (18%)

Don’t Know – 3.5% (9%)

The most important issues for the students, listed in order of priority, were: Education, HE Fees, Afghanistan and the Economy.

Harrow Observer report - Click on image to enlarge