NIG Announce Full Slate for Green St West

It seems that the Independent Group are dripping out the news to prolong the suspense, but we see that former Labour councillor, Idris Ibrahim will also go on the slate for Green St West.

Former councillor Ibrahim will add a significant weight to the ranks of the Independent Group, not only did he serve as a member of the council, but he has decades of experience in the trade union movement, specifically within the TGWU.

He has deep roots in the local community and we understand that, additionally, he is the secretary of the local mosque, on Upton Lane, undeniably one of the largest in Newham.

When he won a seat in 2014 he had some 2750 votes. In 2022, the highest scoring Labour candidate got 1876. This does suggest that he is able to pull in some personal votes and his position as a local charity trustee and his role at the Upton Lane Mosque will not go against him.

It has been noted that Ibrahim was one of the many applicants that were not deemed worthy of an interview by the Labour Party as potential candidates for the 2022 election. The Independent Group is currently hoovering up ex-Labour Party members. Is there a lesson in this?

Alongside him we see Tamim Chowdhury. We know little of Tamim yet, other than he is also a trade unionist and helps to run a local charity.

It would be interesting to compare the ratios of Labour and Independent candidates who have held office in their trade unions. The Independent Group are consciously shifting their focus to emphasise their working-class credentials, and portray Labour as the party of the chattering middle classes.

We anticipate a significant upswing in community activity in the new year as the Independent team seek to increase their profile in Green Street West.

As always, we wait to see what Labour’s response will be. Will they come out fighting or will we see a number of candidates seeking seats in safer wards? Either way, it looks very much like the opposition will be campaigning for two years before Labour even starts.

To sound a somewhat more cautionary note, Labour has been commendable in seeking to field a selection of candidates from across the ethnic and religious spectrum. Quite how successful this will be when the gloves come off and people are urged to vote along ethno-religious lines is anyone’s guess. Our suspicion is that ethno-religious appeals will be somewhat stronger than anything Labour currently has to offer in Green St.