The West Ham and Beckton Campaign is Getting Personal

Newham Independents have hit the election campaign running. They have been the first to announce their candidates and appear to have embraced the forthcoming ballot with an enthusiasm, not shared by the other parties. You may disagree with their politics, but they are without doubt the most amusing, (in a brutal sort of way), and energetic of the current parties on offer.

They have made former councillor, James Asser their principal target, and have focused on his record as a cabinet member and a member of Labour’s NEC.

The Independents accuse Asser of running away from the public.

We are told that Asser did indeed cancel his scheduled launch, but that this was followed up by a confidential email to the party faithful who were invited to a launch far from the risk of meeting canvassers from other parties. We’re not sure how many of the public Asser got to meet.

We count two MPs, two wannabe MPs, a GLA member, a Mayor and eight (tbc) councillors. That leaves ordinary members in something of a minority and you do have to ask, “where is the Newham Labour Party?”.

Asser’s unwillingness to meet with local voters might account for his appearance on the streets of Colchester.

We end with a post that has shades of Private Eye that might resonate with what’s left of the local Labour Party, featuring the duo imposed by Labour’s NEC, on which they both sat.