Cricklewood community, religious leaders & councillors unite against nazi threat

The community mobilising against the racists

The SEA on their last outing to Cricklewood

Residents, community associations, faith groups, trade unions and local politicians have united against a demonstration due to be held by an openly nazi group in Cricklewood this weekend.  

 The Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden and Deputy Bishop of London, the North West Islamic Cultural Centre,  Rabbi Aaron Goldstein of the Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue, Brent Trades Council, Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, Andrew Dismore, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden and Shahrar Ali of Brent Green Party are among those who have signed a statement initiated by North West London United calling on people to oppose the fascist march on Saturday July 19^th, and show them that there is no place for racism in our multicultural community.  

The Brent Labour Group has changed the date of its budget meeting to enable councillors to attend.

The South East Alliance (an offshoot of the Essex branch of the English Defence League) includes Hitler-worshippers and has links to Ulster Loyalist groups. They are vurulently anti-Muslim. They have declared their intention to march to 113 Cricklewood Broadway, which they claim is the UK headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Metropolitan Police have said that the present occupants have no connection with the Brotherhood.

North West London United is asking everyone who is opposed to SEA’s message of hate to join in a peaceful demonstration this Saturday at 12 noon on Cricklewood Broadway. 

 A spokesperson for North West London United said

Cricklewood is one of the most multicultural areas in the UK and we are proud of our diversity. The intention of this fascist group is to provoke hatred and division, something that has no place in our community. A big presence of local residents to oppose the fascist march on Saturday will send a clear signal that their violent racism is not welcome here.

The full list of signatories so far is HERE

Will Sir Bernard give us the latest on Met's Kensal Rise fraud investigation?

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is visiting Brent on Wednesday. The visit is advertised as a chance to 'talk to him, listen to his vision for London and share your thoughts and ideas'.

The meeting is from 6.30pm-7.30pm (doors open 6pm) on July 16th at Alperton Community School, Stanley Avenue, Wembley.

In the absence of any other commmunication from the Met perhaps he can tell us how the investigation into the fraudulent emails in support the Kensal Rise Library development is going?

Urgent call from Gaza civil society: Act now!

Communicated via Unison Active

'We Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip call on conscientious people all over the world to act, protest and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.

    With the world turning their backs on us once again, for the last four days we in Gaza have been left to face massacre after massacre. As you read these words, over 120 Palestinians are dead now, including 25 children. Over 1,000 have been injured including countless horrifying injuries that will limit lives forever –- more than two thirds of the injured are women and children.

Diminishing democracy in Brent - an update

At the time of the local elections the Brent Green Party called for an independent investigation into the following issues in Brent Council:

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

To which a reader added:
6. Instances of council policies, procedures, standing orders, scheme of delegation etc being circumvented.

Secondly, there is the important issue of the appointment of Chief Executive.  Christine Gilbert's acting role was extended by the Brent Executive  until after the local elections on the recommendation of Fiona Ledden, Head of Legal and Procurement. The report stated:

The recruitment process for a new permanent  Chief Executive should be delayed because the current recruitment process for  three other CEs in London boroughs would limit the quality of candidates, to allow the restructuring of council senior management to go ahead smoothly, and  to ensure continuity and reputation management over the move to the Civic Centre and the 2014 local elections.

No independent investigation has been launched by the new Labour administration and no open recruitment process has started for a permanent Chief Executive.

Green Party speaks out on Gaza and opposes Israeli ground attack

 There was a huge protest last night last night against Israel's actions in Gaza

GREEN Party MP, Caroline Lucas, has today written to the Foreign Secretary to urge him to step up action to secure an end to the latest escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, and to oppose any attempt by the Israel military to launch a ground attack in Gaza. Lucas has also called on the Government to do more to work towards securing a lasting and just peace in the region, based on a two state solution, and to urgently address ongoing human rights violations. 

Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: 

"This latest surge in violence was triggered by the horrific murders of four teenage boys. Unless the international community speaks with one voice to demand a cease fire, yet more parents will lose their sons, more children will lose their parents and more families will be torn apart by grief. 

"The Palestinian death toll is rising rapidly and Israel needs be held fully to account for its use of missiles in densely populated neighbourhoods, a policy which breaches international human rights standards. The collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unacceptable, and so too is the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas fighters. I condemn the use of violence on both sides." 

Greens support the Public Sector strike in Brent and Central London

Shahrar Ali (Green party) with pickets

Brent Green Party backs today's public sector strike

A message to all the public sector unions striking today

On behalf of the Green Party of England and Wales, we would like to express our solidarity with you in your struggle for decent, secure work and fair pay and working conditions.

We believe that public sector workers provide excellent and vital service to our country, and that our public services represent a very significant part of the true wealth of this nation.

The public sector in the UK has, for decades, been systematically attacked. Workers are bearing the brunt of this, and are being expected to pay the price for an economic crisis not of their making.

We recognise that going on strike is the option of last resort, and that the decisions to do so have not been taken lightly. We sincerely hope that this co-ordinated action succeeds in defending your jobs, pay, and working conditions.

With very best wishes,

Brent Green Party

Greens stand alongside unions in million strong public sector strike on Thursday

On July 10 the Green Party will stand alongside unions in the largest one-day strike over pay by public sector employees since 2010.

The Green Party have pledged to support the employees’ right to strike and to picket peacefully in order to assert their right to fair wages and proper treatment. Public sector employees are facing unprecedented financial hardship with part-time and female employees the most affected under the Government’s ideological austerity agenda.

The strike will see more than one million workers protesting the Government policy of frozen and restricted pay and will include workers from the PCS, The National Union of Teachers, Unison, and others.

Thousands of people around the country are forgoing a day’s pay to express their unhappiness with the Coalition Government’s economic attack on public sector employees.

Greens across the country will show their support:

Green MP, Caroline Lucas said:

"It is very clear that austerity isn't working. It's cruel and counterproductive. It should not be the most vulnerable who are paying the price of an economic crisis that was not of their making. People are struggling, the cost of living is rising and it's time the Government recognised the value of workers who provide us with crucial services every day.

"People have had enough, it is time for plan B and it's time for the Government to listen. On July 10, people from all over the country will stand together to make their voices heard loud and clear."

Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett said: 

 "This government's austerity agenda is making public sector employees, joined with benefit recipients, the increasing numbers of poorly paid, and insecure private sector employees, pay for the financial crisis that was not of their making.

“George Osborne is cutting the tax rate for multinational companies and inviting them to dodge even that reduced rate of taxes, and at the same time has slashed the real pay of the dinner ladies, the cleaners, and the local officers who keep our communities running. I'll be showing my support on Thursday by visiting picket lines around my local area of Camden before joining the march and rally in central London.

"We cannot continue to see soaring poverty and dependence on foodbanks in Britain; we need to make the minimum wage a living wage, and ensure local government employees have a chance of decent progression beyond that."

Green Party Trade Union Liaison Officer of GPEW national executive, Romayne Phoenix:

"The economic crisis was caused by the banks; how could it ever be fair - or effective - to fix it by cutting workers' pay? Our public services benefit the majority. This is about not letting those at the top blame the rest of us for problems we didn't cause."

Green MEP for South East, Keith Taylor:

“When the government decides to stop spending their time dismantling public services and oppressing the low paid and unemployed, and instead focusses on reigning in the power and wealth of the top 1%, then I'll have a shred of sympathy for them.

“Until then I am 100% behind the strikers and their efforts to defend our services, and seek decent terms and conditions for public sector workers.”

Kirklees Green Party Councillor, Andrew Cooper commented:

"I'll be joining staff on the Picket line in Huddersfield. Kirklees Jobs and services for local people have suffered greatly due to Coalition targeting of local government for cuts.”
 
 Dudley Councillor and Deputy Leader, Will Duckworth said:
 “I will be on the picket lines early in the morning and then going on the planned demonstration in Birmingham with Dudley Trades Union Council.  We need to fight the Government's attempts to destroy decent pay and pensions for normal working people.”

 The Group of London Green Party Councillors said:

“It can’t go on like this. We can't continue with rapacious cuts to the NHS, the closure of local children's centres, and mounting queues at foodbanks. The government must hear the public's message that cuts are hurting the people of Britain. An alternative economic strategy and an alternative future is possible and together with communities up and down the country we will be out promoting that message on Thursday.”

North West Green Party Representative, Laura Bannister commented:

“In the North West, members will be visiting and taking part in picket lines and supporting the mass rally in Manchester. We are also sending letters of solidarity to regional TU branches on behalf of the regional party"

As a member of the Green Party and the Green Party Trade Union Group, I will be supporting the picket of Brent Civic Centre and the Central London march.