Handy Euro Election Scorecard for voting tomorrow

Handy Euro Election scorecard from Another Angry Voice - see his blog for more details LINK

Make Willesden Green helps reinvigorate local democracy

Shahrar Ali, Alex Colas and Martin Francis - Willesden Green, Saturday (I've forgotten the joke...)

By chance Make Willesden Green and Brent Green Party were the only campaigners outside Willesden Green Sainsbury's on Saturday where this picture was taken.

A passerby stopped me to say how glad she was to have a real choice on the ballot paper this time round and promised that her three votes will be dividided between votes for the two Green candidates and a vote for Alex Colas. She was not the first person to signal this intention and it is clear on the Willesden Green streets that Alex is winning the poster war.

Make Willesden Green invited us to their picnic on Villiers road that was held to celebrate the completion of canvassing and to thank the 24 or so local supporters who have been working for the campaign.

Alex Colas generously acknowledged the contribition I had made to the Willesden Green Library, Willesden Bookshop and Gladstone Park Primary school campaigns. Make Willesden Green had emerged from those campaigns as a way of local residents using the strength they had gained from those struggles to attempt to reclaim a voice in their community and to hold the council to account.

A former Labour Party member told me how much she had enjoyed working with Make Willesden Green. She had left the Labour Party because 'I could not stomach the idea of campaigning for  Dawn Butler'.

Whatever the outcome of Thursday there is no doubt that Make Willesden Green has already gained a victory of sorts in showing that an independent, broadly based grouping, can mount a highly professional and impassioned campaign.

They have contributed much to reinvigorating local democracy and giving the community a positive focus.

Brent Greens call for independent investigation into Brent Council revelations

Brent Green Party issued the following statement this morning:

Brent Green Party is deeply concerned about recent revelations concerning the Corporate Management Team at Brent Council. We call on for an independent investigation of:

1. Corporate Management Team officers being paid through their private companies rather than normal pay roll
2. The contractual arrangements for CMT officers and interim appointments
3. Previous employment and business connections between senior offices appointed by Brent Council on an interim basis
4. The working culture of the Human Resources department
5. Brent Council's Whistle Blowing Policy to ensure that it adequately protects whistle-blowers from harassment and retribution

We further call on Council election candidates to pledge to press for this investigation if elected on Thursday.

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Truce called as election opponents unite against UKIP's racism

 

Supporters of the various parties and campaigns fightinfgthe elections in Brent took time off this afternoon to unite against the racist and Islamophobic views of Heino Vockrod, UKUP candidate for Dudden Hill, revealed by the Kilburn Times LINK 

Labour leader Muhammed Butt, was joined by Pete Murry of the Green Party, Sarah Cox of SWP and TUSC, Alex Colas of Make Willesden Green, and L:ucy Cox of TUSC.

Leaflets urged residents to use their vote to keep out UKIP in the upcoming local and European elections.

Cllr Butt with the welcome message at Neasden Shopping Centre