Graffiti on the railway bridge linking Kendal Road and Gladstone Park
Ariel view of the bridge
Local residents spotted fascist graffiti today on the Kendal Road railway bridge that crosses over into Gladstone Park.
This follows an earlier episode when racist and fascist graffiti was found near Jewish homes in the area. LINK
That graffiti was removed by loacl people in a clean up and similar action will be taken regarding the swastika above. On Tuesday evening at 5pm local people and anti-racist actvists will don rubber gloves and bring paint and brushes to get rid of this unwelcome sign of the presence of fascist sympathisers in our midst. Meet at the bridge.
An organiser of the 'paint out' said:
Our community is
saddened and angered that fascist graffiti has again appeared in our
happy multicultural area. We are going to paint it out in a show of our
strength. We won’t be divided by hate!
These stickers have also appeared in the area:
The NSZ (Narodowe Siły Zbrojne - National Armed Forces) was an anti-Nazi and Anti-Soviet Polish resistance movement often accused of anti-Semitism although that has been challenged as Soviet propaganda. After a split in the organisation in 1944 NSZ-ZJ (the Lizard Union) was formed which appeares to have been a more extremist wing. LINK
Universal Credit, the controversial new integrated benefit system, is being rolled out in Brent. This is the Council' announcement:
The government's long-awaited Universal Credit is being rolled out in Brent from November 2018 on the following dates:
21 November 2018 for Harlesden Job Centre
5 December 2018 for Wembley Job Centre
This means that residents with a change in circumstances or
those moving into Brent making a claim for the first time will have to
apply for Universal Credit instead of the benefits listed below:
Housing Benefit
Job Seeker's Allowance (income based)
Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
Income Support
Working Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
The six benefits above will be merged into one single payment -
Universal Credit. Unlike many of the existing benefits, Universal Credit
will be paid once a month, rather than weekly, fortnightly or four
weekly as housing benefit is traditionally paid, and will be paid
directly into the claimant's bank account in arrears. This is a change
for many residents who currently have their housing benefit paid direct
to their landlord.
The government wants all Universal Credit
claims to be both made and updated online. If residents do not have
access to the internet, they will be able to visit one of the above Job
Centres for assistance. Each Job Centre will have a front of house team
specifically set up to help and assist residents to make and maintain
their Universal Credit claims online.
To make an application
for Universal Credit, residents will need to apply directly to the
Department for Work and Pensions via their website https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit There is also a free helpline available for those that need any extra support: 0800 328 5644.
Councillor Eleanor Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform said:
These are huge changes, particularly for residents who are already
struggling to get by. The first port of call for formal advice is the
DWP, who are implementing the changes. However, I want to remind
residents that the council is here to help and you should contact us if
you're worried that you might be falling into rent arrears or if you
need support with your council tax.
Who in the Future will be Affected by
Universal Credit (UC)?
1. To date, of the 1 million households now on UC, the vast majority (except in
local pilot areas), have been the unemployed. However that is about to change.
From now on across the country all new or updated benefit claims (with a few
exceptions) including those in work who receive Tax Credits have to be made
through UC.
2.DWP also
plans to force everyone on benefits (including those on Working and Child Tax
Credits) to claim UC even if there has been no change in their circumstances.
DWP has refused to initiate transfers of Tax Credit claims on to a UC regime.
Instead people have to initiate UC applications, a fraught and costly process.
Testing forced transfers, called ‘managed migration’ by DWP, is due to start
for some Tax Credit recipients in July 2019.
3.Nationally,
DWP’s plans mean 3 in 4 of the planned total of 7 million families on UC, would
be in work. So of the estimated 16 million people nationally in families
receiving UC, around 12 million would be in working families.
Background
4. This note outlines the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) plans on UC as
at early November 2018. These plans have changed many times. DWP has said they
may change again if more problems with UC come to light.
5. UC has been criticised by welfare and other advice
agencies after cases of severe hardship came to light and a series of analyses
on the impact of UC especially after funding was cut. Arguably UC has become so
discredited that what its future should be and indeed whether it should have a
future is a matter for serious political debate.
Why have People found the UC Application Process so
Fraught?
6. Firstly the forms are very lengthy – running to tens of pages. Secondly DWP
want people to fill them in online. Even experienced advisers find the process;
setting up accounts, locating and scanning in all the documents which DWP
require to ‘verify’ a UC claim, often takes many hours, not counting
verification visits to DWP offices.
7. DWP’s own research found barely half could complete the
process without help. One in 4 claimants were not able to claim at all without
help. Many have found applying for UC more difficult than applying for Tax
Credits.
The UC application process is most intimidating and unsuitable for those with
poor language, writing or IT skills.
The process especially frightens those with mental health problems eg anxiety,
as DWP’s own research shows.
8. Thirdly the risks, if things go wrong, have been
largely put on to the applicant. Imposing on applicants financial penalties
arising from the complex UC application process, is unreasonable given the
widely known problems people have faced in completing UC applications to DWP’s
satisfaction. Government November 2018 changes have reduced, but not removed,
risks imposed on people when those on Tax Credits are forced to apply for UC.
9. If people do not successfully apply within 1 month of a
DWP deadline they risk losing ‘Transitional Protection’ which protects, for a
while, their money if UC pays less than they get with Tax Credits. Further DWP
only allow UC claims to be backdated by one month – less than the 3 months
allowed for backdating of some benefit claims.
Do Tax Credit Recipients lose Money?
10. First of all, UC claimants face gaps in payment imposed by DWP in two
stages. The UC system builds in a gap in payments, reduced in the 2018 Budget
to a minimum of 3 weeks, after applying for UC. On top of that gap 1 in 5
claimants have faced on average a 4 week delay by DWP (ie on top of the 3 week
gap) in receiving some or all of their money. DWP do not expect the % facing
additional delays in some UC payment to be reduced during 2018.
11. Indeed there may well a big rise in the current UC
claim processing delays by DWP under the strain of a six-fold increase in the
rate of new UC claims planned by DWP for 2020 plus the more complicated
circumstances of future UC claims with working income and child care costs,
(unlike the mainly simpler unemployed cases so far).
12. Secondly amounts paid under UC differ from what
working families get on Tax Credits. Some would get more money under UC. But
overall working families face a net loss on average of about £250 a year on UC,
after the 2018 Budget measures notably the higher work allowances. The Budget
reduced, but did not end the losses.
13. UC losses are bigger for (mainly female) single
parents, and disabled people loss of Severe Disability Premium.
UC hits women more. The combined impact of tax and benefit changes hits women 7
times as severely as men.
14. UC’s Minimum Income Floor has adverse impacts for many
self-employed people eg taxi drivers, often BME.
15. Tax and benefit measures in the 2018 Budget only
partially offset the overall losses since Summer 2015 from for instance the
benefit freeze. Overall tax and benefit changes reduce income just for the
lower income groups.
Does UC Contribute to a More Hostile Environment for
Workers?
16. As well as financial losses, UC can intrude into peoples’ lives. Under the
UC regime, workers can be pressed by DWP to job search to increase hours or
earnings. This is worse for some eg single parents with child care duties.
17. For the first time workers are now at risk of
‘sanctions’ – loss of benefit. UK has the 2nd most demanding set of
‘benefit conditionality’ terms out of 39 countries. Under UC sanctions are 4
times more frequent than pre-UC.
18. Insisting everyone has to apply for UC online is not
user friendly, especially for those nervous of computers.
Is Universal Credit Actually Simpler?
19. One advantage claimed for UC is ‘simplification’ with 6 benefits rolled up
into 1. The comparison is misleading: no one person ever receives all 6
benefits simultaneously. It is also partial: UC does not include some benefits.
The difficulty of making UC claims shows that any ‘simplification’ is not
usually to the advantage of applicants.
20. Other aspects of ‘simplification’ may not help people.
Paying UC as one payment may be convenient for DWP, but it means women will
lose out when all money goes to one person, the higher earner, usually male. At
the moment Child Tax Credit and the childcare element of Working Tax Credit
typically go to the woman in a family.
Women with no direct access to money find it more difficult to leave when
facing domestic abuse or violence.
Are there Other Benefits of UC?
21. DWP has claimed UC increases work incentives. That is so, but to a very
limited extent. For the (1 in 3) people in work facing the highest effective
tax rates they are cut from slightly over 90% to 85% with UC. The evidence is
such incentives have little effect. Using sanctions implicitly admits that the
work incentives are not effective.
22. DWP has argued that benefit take-up will rise under
UC. But the user–unfriendly nature of UC, its toxic reputation and what an
official report calls DWP’s ‘culture of indifference’, reduce the chances of
higher take-up.
23. The DWP says that UC will reduce fraud and error. The
NAO report refers to ‘a lack of evidence’ on this claim.
Conclusions
24. Government UC plans will increasingly affect people in work. Recent changes
to UC have reduced the delays and the financial costs for workers, but not
eliminated them. Reducing delays and more funding are not enough to make UC
suitable. It is very user-unfriendly and intrudes oppressively into peoples’
lives. A harsh UC regime drives people into taking unsatisfactory work, putting
downward pressure on work T&Cs – a core union concern.
25. There is a very strong case for Trade Unions to call
on political parties to back ‘Stop and Scrap UC’ and, so long as UC continues,
urging councils to minimise the impacts. Some Boroughs have set up information,
advice and advocacy services eg Tower Hamlets, and others have committed to not
evict tenants in arrears as a result of UC.
26. Pushing more people on to UC should be immediately
halted, whilst a fundamental review considers the options.
I joined workers, supporters and users from SufraNWLondon foodbank this afternoon as they collected food donations at Asda, Wembley Park and then pushed food bins and carrying trays of food started transporting them to the foodbank on St Rapahel's Estate.
Why were they setting out on walking that distance?
Sufra's van, used for transporting food from collection points all over the borough, has broken down and is a write-off. They urgently need a new van but the cost is about £20,000. An on-line appeal has raised about £8,000 so far so the walk was aimed at publicising the appeal and at the same time make the point of why the new van is so desperately needed.
At Brent Civic Centre the leader of Brent Council came out to meet the 'One Tonne' marchers. He said he would spend Monday exploring ways of helping the van appeal.
If you would like to donate on line, please follow this LINK
Brent Libraries are putting on a good variety of events this month, but
this is about two at Kingsbury Library (see poster), and especially the first talk,
which I am looking forward to.
I was pleased to read two articles in the “Kilburn Times” (1st
November), which drew attention to the part played, on the British side, by
Indian and Somali soldiers during the First World War. Many of us have grown up
with a view of history which fails to acknowledge the contribution made by
those not of a typically “British” background, and are only now learning the
full picture. Richard King’s illustrated talk on Thursday 15th
November (2-3pm) is another example of this, from the Second World War.
Most of you
reading this will have heard of the Polish War Memorial, but it is more
than just the name of a roundabout on the A40, mentioned in travel bulletins on
the radio. It is the reminder of a close link between Britain and Poland which
goes back to the dark days of 1939 and 1940.
Although the
prospect of war with Nazi Germany had been growing for several years, it was
Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 which triggered World War Two.
Although their country was soon overrun, some of Poland's pilots managed to
escape, and make their way to France, then Britain.
At first
there was some political resistance – they were “foreigners”, they spoke little
or no English. However, by June 1940 they were accepted as volunteers into the
RAF, and organised into their own squadrons. 303 (Polish) Squadron, based at
Northolt aerodrome, was one of the first of these.
Pilots of
303 (Polish) Squadron in October 1940 (courtesy of
the RAF Museum)
It soon
became apparent that the skills and combat experience which the pilots had
brought with them matched, or even exceeded, that of their British and
Commonwealth comrades. Many of the fighter pilots who defended the skies over
West London, and beyond, from Luftwaffe bombers during the Battle of Britain
were Poles, and a number of them died in the conflict. That is a story which
deserves to be known, and will be told at Kingsbury Library on 15th
November.
Philip Grant.
The Facebook Page for Willesden Jewish cemetery which records the heritage project there can be found HERE
Regular readers of the blog will know I am opposed to academisation of schools on principle. I see them as backdoor privatisation and undemocratic. However, credit where credit is due, I am impressed by the campaign by Wembley Ark Academy's student campaign on the London living Wage. This is from the school's website LINK:
Ark Academy students face FA over low pay at Wembley Stadium
Ark
Academy students made national news on 8th November when they delivered
a sack of 500 letters to the Football Association, calling for a pay
rise for workers on low wages.
In a meeting at FA headquarters, students Zainab Ahmed and Hadeal
Abdelatti pressed the FA to pay the London Living Wage of £10.50 an hour
to cooks, cleaners and stewards employed by third-party contractors.
They handed over a petition which Ark Academy students wrote in form
time.
The FA agreed this year to raise hundreds of its own employees to the
London Living Wage. But it stopped short of lifting 2,000 contract
workers off the minimum wage.
Zainab told FA executive James MacDougall she visited classes to
collect petitions. Numerous students told her their relatives work at
the stadium on low pay.
MacDougall argued that the FA is a national organisation and therefore Brent-based activists have little say.
Hadeal struck back, saying people earning the minimum wage cannot
afford the London cost of living. She said the FA has a historic
opportunity to set an example among major employers.
MacDougall disclosed that 2,000 of the FA’s 6,000 workers live in Brent.
The students will meet again with the FA in January.
The police appeal below illustrates how racists feel increasinglyconfident to air their prejudice even in diverse areas such as Wembley. This is happening against the background of the Trump presidency and the election of extreme right-wing parties into government in Europe and more recently in Brazil.
At the same time Brexit has fed a narrow nationalism often spilling over into racist and Islamophobic incidents and here in Brent we have seen anti-semitic graffiti in Dollis Hill. Elsewhere supporters of 'Tommy Robinson' and the Football Lads Alliance have taken to the streets to spread division.
That is why it is important to come togaeher as a community and show that we will stand together and not be divided by these forces.
Local activists from different groups came together at WembleyPark station yesterday evening to leaflet for the November 17th National Unity March Against Racism and Fascism. We received a sympathetic response and other leafleting sessions will be held across North West London before the event.
The
demonstration assembles at 12 noon on Saturday 17 November outside BBC
Broadcasting House, Portland Place, LONDON W1A 1AA. It is called by
Stand Up to Racism, Unite Against Fascism and the Trades Union Congress
and is supported by Love Music Hate Racism and almost every trade union.
Join the demonstartion to show the racists that there are many, many more of us
than them.
Police are appealing for assistance in identifying a man who racially abused a mother and her child on a London bus.
At
around 17:20hrs on Saturday 16 June, the 49-year-old woman boarded a
southbound Number 18 bus in Wembley along with her 11-year-old son.*
While
on board the bus, a man, who had got on at the same stop, become
abusive towards the woman and the boy. Over a period of around ten
minutes, the man verbally abused the pair, using extremely abusive
language and racial slurs.
Police are appealing for assistance in
tracing a man in connection with the incident. The image of the man
has been circulated to local officers, but, having been unable to trace
him, police are asking for assistance from members of the public or
for the man himself to come forward.
Anyone with information can
call PC Mike Willcox of the Safer Transport team at Brent on 020 8733
3809. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
* Note from Martin Francis: I have since heard via social media that the boy was 8 years old not 11.
Should this (retention of present building) and 'build around it') be Option 3
On his way out of the St Gabriel's Hall consultation on the Queensbury development a resident said, 'They call it a consultation but it's not really much of a choice. The two options are very similar.'
As you can see the main difference is the roof, dormer windows and the shape of the bays- the actual layout inside is the same for both options.
Others I spoke to thought the designs 'weren't terrible' but were typical modern buildings that are in no way a match for the character of what they are replacing.
When it comes to the pub there was little more than a floor plan and an artists's impression.(above) The function room would be next to the bar and managed by the pub. Apparently Brent Council thought they did not have the resources to manage such a small unit as a community room. The function room would have its own outside area, making it suitable for children's activities such as Busy Rascals, and its own external entrance.
The developers argued that taking into account the bar, the function room, the outside area and the basements to both rooms, the total area was more than the present pub.
The developers said that a lease agreement has been made with the publican of the Queensbury although it wasn't clear to me whether this meant the publican supported the particular designs being exhibited for the site.
I was concerned that the plans showed the existence of 'poor doors' - separate entrances for private and social/affordable flats. The developers argued that there was a common entrance from the street (top left) but I pointed out there were separate entrances once inside the development (in the plan top left, next to the blue line of the pub and on the right, below the two green rectangles which represent outdoor space. They said this was necessary for the convenience of what will be two separate management companies/agencies. The outdoor space will be communal.
Of the 48 flats 10 will be social rent and 5 affordable rent. The developers said the actual rent level was a matter for Brent Council or the agency letting on their behalf. Of the total number of flats 70% will be rented and 30% shared ownership. The developer said that 35% of all habitable rooms were at social /affordable rent. This is because of the 3 bedroomed social rent flats included in the scheme.
The Feedback form asked attendees for personal details (name. phone, address, email) and there were just 2 questions: 'How did you hear about this exhibition?' and 'Which design option do you prefer?' plus space to say why you prefer the design option. If you missed the consultation you can still write or email:
Initial reaction on Twitter was not very impressed by the design:
