WEMBLEY MATTERS News and views on local politics, the environment, climate change, culture and local history
There appears to be a problem with the Brent Council website Find Your Polling Station LINK
A resident fills in their postcode for Gorefield House
This is the actual location of Hornbill House
Best to double check when using the site.
A joint Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Hustings amd Wembley Muslim Centre Hustings was held yesterday. Only the Green Party and Workers Party candidates accepted an invitation to attend. The Labour candidate, Barry Gardiner, provided a written statement that was read out.
Recordings below.
Introduction https://youtu.be/0k16LRrQafo?si=Vp8RyeltAyyM8sv8
Questions https://youtu.be/aRjLZxH_c94?si=ZV51opzCQDeZe7_6
Further Questions https://youtu.be/NftLdUe49As?si=U978FsrGTnMmriOa
IJAN Perspective https://youtu.be/5jJBPTtJIRQ?si=I9sNVbdlYdrH85HA
At Monday's Reggae Tree meeting in Harlesden I spoke about the hurricane heading towards Grenada and Carriacou and the danger it represented, particularly for low lying Carriacou.
The disaster has struck and appeals are being launched by Grenadians in London to find relatives to ensure they are safe, as well as organising practical help as above.
As I said, it brings the reality of climate change to our shores.
If you’re unsure about GoFund me’s or where to donate. The below bank details are provided by the high commissioner Learn more https://grenada-highcommission.co.uk/grenada-highcommission-blog/2024/07/03/grenada-disaster-relief-fund-activated/ Grenada Disaster Relief Fund Account Name: Grenada Disaster Relief Fund Account number: 00584503 Sort Code: 30-92-83
Outside the school (Credit: Pete Firmin)
Parents, staff, Brent Trades Council and members of the community, as well as Labour candidate for Brent West, Barry Gardiner, were on the picket line for Byron Court Primary School again today - but this time with a difference.
They were joined by a big red traditional London bus to take a trip to Westminster to show the DfE and the incoming government that they mean business in their fight against a forced takeover by Harris Federation.
Spirits high and determination clear on the tops deck (Credit Jenny Cooper)
In the rain in Parliament Square (Credit: Pete Firmin)
Parent campaigner Matt Paul said:
Wow - what an incredible show of unity and fighting spirit today with our very special ‘Byron bus' taking staff, kids and parents, supporters (including the NEU Assistant General Secretary) down to Westminster! Barry Gardiner joined the morning picket and encouraged us to keep fighting before waving us off.
The bus was rocking away with chanting, singalongs (including far too much Taylor Swift), and plenty of support from other cars and passers-by. A quick stop in Westminster Square opposite Parliament first, then on to the Department for Education where we made sure they heard us. A brilliant, powerful and emotional day that I won't ever forget.
Beneath the Reggae Tree outside Hawkeye Records, Craven Park, Harlesden
Yesterday's International Reggae Day celebration in Harlesden took on an international dimension as well as delving deep into the local history of Black Music on this corner of Brent, 'Harlesbridge', combining Harlesden and Stonebridge.
Linking the struggle against South African apartheid with Jamaica, Ghana and the diaspora in England, Kwaku claimed that reggae helped give South Africans the energy to fight for equality (You can hear the great Reggae Mandela album HERE) while Ghana has linked with Jamaica and the UK through their joint concern for the environment through planting of a symbolic Reggae Tree in Accra.:
The Reggae Tree is a symbolic nod to International Reggae Day's Tree Planting Challenge, which is endorsed by Eco-Conscious Citizens. The environmental group's partner organisation, BBM/BMC, planted The Reggae Tree in London in 2018. It's sited in Harlesden, the north-west London area that is the capital of reggae in Britain. |
Sonny Roberts with his daughter Cleon
Speaking against the background of a huge and noisy Craven Park traffic jam, the Cleon Roberts, daughter of Jamaican record producer Sonny Roberts LINK Reggae Ambassador, Diane Shrouder-Johnson, spoke of the importance of Harlesden as the capital of reggae and Black Music, developed during the 50s, 60s and 70s to the present with record shops, selling of records from the backs of cars, and studios tucked away amidst a spirit of creativity and entrepreneurship.
Yesterday also saw a special exhibition at Harlesden Library of the Brent Reggae Albums Covers Exhibition which is on until October with curator talks on Monday 12th August, Monday 2nd September and Monday 14th October.
Kwaku gave a well-informed and humourous commentary on the album covers and the music, artists and producers involved.
Cllr Rita Begum (Kilburn ward) asked a question LINK of Brent Council leader, Muhammed Butt, for the July 8th Brent Full Council Meeting on the plight of the homeless in the borough.
In his response Butt outlines the increasing cost of placements of the homeless in temporary private rented accommodation as well as the rise in the number of people and families presenting as homeless at the Civic Centre.
He cites the limited action that the council has been able to take and goes on to introduce a new campaign that the council will undertake called 'Find a Place You Can Afford':
In addition, the council is set to launch a new communications campaign which aims to raise awareness of the deepening homelessness emergency in Brent and the practical realities and life changing consequences this has for homeless households.
The Find a place you can afford campaign will seek to break the perceived link between homelessness and social housing. For the overwhelming majority of people, becoming homeless does not mean they have a better chance of securing a council home.
For most homeless households the most likely sustainable solution to their homelessness will be to find a place they can afford in the private rented sector in a more affordable part of the UK. The council’s communications will seek to encourage the growing number of homeless households to realise more quickly that, for the vast majority, their future housing options are all in the private rented sector in an area they can afford.
Amid all the rising tower blocks of high spec flats in Wembley, Alperton and elsewhere in the borough, the council is admitting that it cannot help those waiting for accommodation on the housing list. Their advice could be seen as ruthlessly honest in refusing to give homeless families any hope of staying near extended family, social netweeks and local schools in Brent.
It is rather similar to Norman Tebbit's advice to the workless to 'get on your bike' to find work elsewhere.
Others may see it as another step on the gentrification road.
There has been only one General Election Hustings in Brent East so far in the campaign. St Raphael's Voice invited all candidates to attend but Labour, Conservatives and Reform did not accept. Martin Francis substituted for Nida Al-Fulaij the Green Party candidate.
St Raphael's Voice recorded the event on video so that answers could be shared with the wider community.
