Labour's Brent Central ups and downs

I'm a little behind with the Brent Central Labour nominations as busy burning my bridges - or at least my energy bills, yesterday.

The hot news, or the news causing some heat, is that Janice Long ordered a recount at Harlesden after Zaffar van Kalwala lost to Bobby Thomas by only one vote. Following the recount she awarded the male nomination to Zaffar.

Meanwhile Dollis Hill ward nominated  Dawn Butler as the female candidate and Liaquat Ali as the male. Word is that this result also had a one vote margin, while there are rumours of a recount at Willesden Green.(See comments)

The position so far (subject to recounts):
.

Ward	Female nomination	Male Nomination
Tokyngton	Dawn Butler	Zaffar Van Kalwala
Stonebridge	Butler	Kalwala
Harlesden	Butler	Kalwala
Willesden Green	Sabina Khan	Imran Ahmed
Kensal Green	Khan	Parmijit Dhanda
Dollis Hill	Butler	Liaquat Ali
Mapesbury (Nov 6th)
Dudden Hill (Nov 7th)
Welsh Harp (Nov 7th)

Protesters light Bonfire of Austerity on Westminster Bridge

In a demonstration organised by the People's Assembly Against Austerity several hundred people marched across Westminster Bridge this evening, stopping to light a symbolic bonfire, burning an effigy of David Cameron (or a Big 6 energy boss - it wasn't clear)  and dozens of  energy bills.

Wrap Up London Brent- Windermere drop-off for coats

Last year, building on the success of the inaugural campaign in 2011, Wrap Up London collected and distributed 8,520 coats to 68 different shelters and refuges, to keep London's most vulnerable warm during winter. This year the targets and reach of the campaign have grown.  

Wrap Up London said:

This year we are aiming to distribute over 10,000 coats to over 100 charitable organisations across Greater London.   

We will be distributing to a wide range of organisations in London including homeless shelters, women's refuges, youth centres, refugee support groups, care homes, centres for the elderly, and food banks. 

In Brent  take your unwanted coats to the Windermere pub, next to South Kenton Station (Overground and Bakerloo), 13th-15th November and have a jar at the same time:

Copland to become an Ark academy in September 2014

Copland staff were officially informed today that their school would become an Ark academy in  September 2014. They were told that they would receive a letter about the resultant restructuring later today but this was later changed because the trade unions had not yet been informed. Instead they will receive letters later this month.

Rather late in the day to observe the correct procedures...

More Labour Brent Central nomination results

Parmijit Dhanda and Sabina Khan were nominated by Kensal Green ward as PPCs for Brent Central and Dawn Butler tweeted that she had one Harlesden with a big majority. Zaffar van Kalwala lost the male Harlesden nomination by one vote to Bobby Thomas who is currently Mayor of Brent.

Council Tax, Railways, Energy - Focus for action tomorrow

The People's Assembly is calling protests across the country to mark the 'Bonfire of Austerity' tomorrow, November 5th.

There will be a demonstration outside Willesden Magistrates Court at 9am tomorrow to protest at Labour controlled Brent Council's decisions to issue courts summonses to some 12,000 people who have not paid their Council Tax. These are often people already on low incomes who have had to pay a portion of their Council Tax for the first time this year due to changes in the Council Tax benefit system which is now administered by local councils.

Cllr Muhammed Butt was on the London section of Sunday Politics yesterday defending the Council's decision. He said that Council officers will be present at court to help those who have been summoned.

His appearance can be seen here at 53mins LINK

The Campaign for Renationalisation of the railways will be leafleting at Ealing Broadway station from 5.30pm until 7pm.

The London focus in the evening includes Anonymous in Trafalgar Square and Block the Bridge at Westminster Bridge:

Block Westminster Bridge – Assemble at Jubilee Gardens at 6pm, contact office@thepeoplesassemblyorg.uk/ Facebook

Bring your energy bills: we will be burning our energy bills on the bridge to highlight the massive rise in energy prices which have left people choosing between heating and eating.

Let us Breathe!!! The Harlesden incinerator video

'Let us breathe!' Kids plea at Harlesden Incinerator protest

Between 250 and 300 residents and their supporters from the Labour and Green parties massed on the narrow Channel Gate Road, which is flanked by streets of terraced railway cottages, near Willesden Junction this morning to greet councillors on the Ealing Council planning committee.

As we stood there heavy trucks trundled by at regular intervals, sometimes 2 or 3 nose to tail, making the crowd wonder just what kind of hell they will face in the future if the new plant is built in addition to the Powerday facility which already causes them much suffering.

Their message was clear - we want clean air to breathe and safe and pollution free streets for our children. The protesters were able to put their case to the councillors and will be attending the Planning Committee at Ealing Town Hall on Wednesday November 6th, assembling outside from 6.30pm. The application will be first on the agenda at 7pm.