Former councillor, Andrew Baikie enquired as to why it was that Newham council tax payers have suffered a 20% hike in council tax payments over the last four years, (with the implication that the same will happen over the next four years.

Fifty years ago, the Royal Docks were undergoing a massive change. New technology in the shape of containerisation meant that jobs in Newham were moving eastwards to Tilbury.

The former Chair of this august body is now, not only a councillor, but has been elevated to the role of Deputy Cabinet Member and Bag-Carrier-In-Chief for She who must be obeyed; he has his sights set upon even higher office as we have seen elsewhere.

We understand that Cllr Shantu Ferdous is taking Newham Council to court!

In order to vote in an election you have to be registered to vote at an address that is your permanent (or sometimes, temporary) home. It is an offence to mislead or falsely declare your residence.

We’re all in favour of different wings of the party talking to one another. Here we see ex-Corbynite Rokhsana Fiaz and “very good friend” the new Corbynite MP for Ilford South engaging in conversation at a Labour Party BBQ. Strange. The Mayor of Newham is there, the Leader of Redbridge isn’t.

The composition of the council has changed and there are concerns being expressed that this reflects a particular direction in which the mayor will seek to take the borough; specifically with regard to securing her third term in office.

If you thought that the promotion from nothing to deputy cabinet role within 48 hours was fast, it is nothing compared to what one of Newham’s newest councillors has planned.

On Wednesday 1st June, Mayor Fiaz was interviewed on the Today Programme.

Things move fast in the world of Newham politics. On May 5th, Pushpa Makwana was elected to the seat in the newly formed Plashet Ward. Shortly after, she was elected by her colleagues to the role of Chair of the Newham Labour Group.

Following the mayor’s unplanned commitment to rehouse over 200 families from the Victoria St building/Brimstone House at the 2022 AGM, it appears that the responsibility for effecting this promise has been dumped on the hapless Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Shaban Mohammed.

With all of the stink that has attached to Newham Labour over its recent history of antisemitism, you would think that they would seek to show that they want to clean house as quickly as possible.

We learn that councillors have approached the new head of Finance and Resources to find out where the tax/fuel rebate for residents is.

A couple of problems in the mayor’s office?

The gnomes have been at work and unearthed some interesting and frankly worrying history relating to the Mayor’s recently appointed Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources. The following piece comes from a memo from a council officer.

In what came across as a most embarrassing piece of self-congratulatory and self-serving prose, the Labour Group sought to justify its refusal to grant the opposition any seats on committees which might give them access to information which is embarrassing to the mayor.

Antisemitism in the Labour Party has been noted in Newham, but unfortunately, it is not restricted to Newham. Eighty-one percent of all the cases dealt with by the NEC related to antisemitism.

Amidst all of the on-line fora for every interest and group, we came across this entry for staff to comment upon their workplaces.

The avid followers of Newham Council on YouTube would have been a little disturbed to come across this notice regarding the AGM on 25th May.

Councillor Vaughan (in the Chair): “I call upon Councillor Islam to move this report.” Mayor makes her feelings known. (1.04:05)