Calls to support demonstration at Israeli Embassy on Saturday

As the Israeli army mobilises close to the Gaza strip Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Brent Stop the War are urging supporters to join the demonstation outside the Israeli Embassy in London at 2pm on Saturday.

The Palestione Solidarity Campaign said

Palestinians are currently facing a horrific escalation of racism and violence as the Israeli State pursues a strategy of collective punishment following the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers (read PSC's statement>).   Today we learnt of the abduction and brutal death of a Palestinian teen – 17 year old Mohammed Abu Khdair in what has been described in the press as a ‘revenge’ attack by Israeli terrorists.   Mohammed’s body was found in Jerusalem after a day and evening of Israeli protests that turned into mobs streaming through the streets of the Old City and east Jerusalem chanting ‘Death to Arabs’. Palestinians were pulled from their cars and beaten.   Palestinians protesting against Mohammed’s death on Wednesday were met by rubber bullets and tear gas from Israeli police, with a Palestinian TV crew and protesters injured.   The Israeli leaders incited the mobs, including Netanyahu, by their calls for ‘vengeance’ against ‘human animals’, and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon talked about “settling the score”.   Calls for justice for Mohammed’s murder and restraint from our government, are woefully inadequate, given the current situation. The British government must clearly condemn Israel's incitement to hatred and violence. They must take action to end Israel’s crimes, violence, occupation, racism and apartheid – and end its war on Palestinians.

Greens are backing the Great Public Sector Strike on July 10th

The Green Party will be supporting the strike of public sector workers taking place next week on Thursday July 10th. Six public sector unions and more than a million workers will be on strike over fair pay and pensions.

The Green Party is strongly supportive of the public sector and the millions of its workers who contribute positively to society as fire fighters, teachers, teaching assistants, council workers and in many other roles.

Government attacks in the form of worsening conditions of services, a virtual pay cut and rise in pension age have been accompanied by privatisation and a substantial cut in local government funding.

This is not just an attack on workers and local government but part of the Government's agenda to roll back the welfare state and the post-war settlement.

Green Party members will be joining picket lines, marches and rallies next Thursday.

In Brent there will be a picket line and demonstration outside the Civic Centre before workers travel to the Central London demonstration which will assemble at Portland Place.

North West London United against return of fascist group to Cricklewood

Racists and Fascists are once again targeting Brent. The South East Alliance have said they are returning to Cricklewood Broadway on July 19th after the local community mobilised against them a few weeks ago.

The group are pretending that they are protesting about a Muslim Brotherthood office above a shop despite the fact that the police said the occupants have left, and in any case they were not the Muslim Brotherhood itself.

The real reason is that the racists can't stand the fact that not only is Brent multi-cultural but that the community gets on well together most of the time and people are positive about being part of a diverse neighbourhood. They are prepared to stand up and defend their neighbours and their neighbourhood.

The SE Alliance come from outside the area in order to stir up racial and anti-Muslim prejudice. An adhoc group has been formed called North West London United to oppose them on July 19th. NW London United aims to bring all members of the community together to tell the South East Alliance that they are not wanted here.

North West London United has prepared a statement that they ask people and I have been happy to do so:

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The South East Alliance (SEA), a group of racist, Islamophobic thugs is threatening to return to Cricklewood on Saturday July 19^th. This group, made up of remnants of the Essex branch of the EDL, includes known fascists and has links to Ulster loyalists. They say they are demonstrating against the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood, but since that organisation moved to Austria in April before the SEA came to Cricklewood on 14^th June, they clearly intend simply to bring their message of hatred to disrupt Cricklewood’s vibrant multicultural community.

In Cricklewood, as in the whole of North West London, we are proud of our diversity. Here people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour, language or place of birth. We will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united on June 14^th to show the SEA that there is no place here for their racism and Islamophobia. We ask you to join us on 19^th July to do the same again.

Please add your name to this statement either by signing below or by emailing

nwlondonunited@riseup.net

London Councils warns funding cuts will hit rising school standards in the capital

Government changes to education funding will undermine rising school standards in the capital, according to new analysis. 

The Department for Education is consulting on changes to the Education Services Grant (ESG), which funds a raft of critical services such as school improvement, education welfare services and supporting pupils with special educational needs. The consultation includes an intention to cut the ESG by at least 20 per cent in the next year.

London Councils, which represents London’s 33 local authorities, in its consultation response expressed concern that the proposed changes risk undoing the fabric that has delivered unrivalled and continued success in London to raise school standards and improve children’s outcomes. 

Through the London Challenge scheme, involving councils and schools working in partnership, London’s schools have been transformed from amongst the worst in England and Wales in 2003, to the best-performing today, even when taking deprivation into account. 

The proposed reduction of funding, amounting to £24 million in 2015/16, will limit the ability of local authorities to deliver school improvement services.

London Councils’ analysis notes the proposed changes outline a government vision that seeks to limit the local authority role in school improvement to support all schools. This is inconsistent with how parents see the council role, how Ofsted see the council role, and even how the government itself has said it sees the council role.

London Councils’ analysis also outlines a number of changes that could impact support available to pupils and to improve the quality of education in the capital:

• The proposed funding does not recognise the higher costs in London to deliver services. Ignoring the higher staff and delivery costs in London means ESG funding will not go as far to support schools and children in the capital as it would for other regions in England.  London Councils is calling on the Department for Education to include an “Area Cost Adjustment” for the capital that will reflect its higher costs.
• London has experienced the largest growth in the number of pupils with special education need (SEN) statements in England. Demand increased by seven per cent between 2009 and 2013 in London, compared to two per cent nationally. A reduction in funding for support services delivered through ESG for these children would go against rising demand. London Councils is urging Government to ensure that adequate funding is provided to reflect the growing numbers of pupils with SEN.
• Academies will continue to enjoy extra funding, amounting to £54 million nationally, in comparison to local authority maintained schools for the foreseeable future. The DfE has set out an intention to move towards equal levels of funding; London Councils calls on the government to speed up this process and set out a transparent timetable to put into effect. 

Mayor Jules Pipe, London Councils, said: 

London local government is determined that efficient and high quality education is delivered across London and has led the way in ensuring school and pupil outcomes continue to improve – the capital’s schools are now the best performing in England and Wales.

Parents, Ofsted and the law all see a local government role in supporting rising education standards.

The changes in the government’s consultation sit awkwardly with this and will result in confusion for parents about who is responsible for tackling performance issues in all local schools.

The Department for Education must ensure any changes are consistent and do not unfairly affect London parents, who are already worried about the looming school places crisis.