"What a Jerk"

I promised myself I would avoid any more story's about Clyde Loake's activities, mostly because he gets more press on my blogspot, than he been able to achieve in total elsewhere in his so far lack lustre campaign for the Northampton South seat. But his latest antics are just too bizarre to be passed over without comment.

I am sure you may have read elsewhere that last week Clyde "went national" in the press to defend the stance of his council as they "raided" an Afro Caribbean restaurant, the "Bamboo Joint"in Leytonstone High Street.

7 Police officers in stab vests and 3 councils officials paid an early morning visit to this most dangerous of establishments and ordered it's owners to close within three days.

Their crime? well having reapplied for planning permission after a refit and despite having already traded for 3 years in the premises, they fell foul of the Councils new by law of selling "junk food" within 400 metres of a school or 200 metres of a park. The "junk food" they sell includes stewed cabbage, spinach, aki and salt fish, steamed fish, ox tail, soups, rice and peas, yam and bananas, curried goat and curried chicken and of course jerk chicken. Nothing is deep fried.

As part of the councils war on child obesity this "big brother" attitude towards local families means that the restaurant will now close , it's staff will be made redundant and it's owners business will go to the wall. . So whats Clyde's view? any chance of a change of heart or an acknowledgement that in a time of recession local jobs might be worth protecting? No chance, he just told the news crews that" 'This fast food outlet has not got planning permission and has absolutely no chance of getting it, because of its proximity to a park and a school, so we're closing it down." What a hero, I hope he is thoroughly proud of himself.

The restaurant has had problems in the past with it's Hygiene certificate, however the recent refit brought the standard up to the Councils requirements, So for them to sit back and allow the owners to invest in bringing the restuarant up to standard and then close it under this ridiculous bylaw is just cruel and unnecasary.

So will the children of Waltham Forest be any safer or healthier? No of course not. The primary school children Clyde is so keen to protect are not allowed out at Lunchtimes anyway, but can still buy full fat ice cream from the van outside the school gates at hometime, or crisps and chocalate bars from the local shops.

Like children all over Britain their obesity risk has more to do with the fats in processed foods eaten at home, and maybe a lack of exercise than it does in sourcing illicit rice and peas from the Bamboo Joint. And considering the closed down restaurant is surrounded by Pizza Parlours, Burger joints and Fish and Chip Shops the Council's policy is pointless.

Furthermore it is damaging the reputation of Local Government, which should be there to educate and provide for local communities, before turning to it's regulatory powers and authority to penalise.

But this story is growing and growing, and so is the resistance. The local Afro Caribbean community are, as you would expect, outraged at this attack on their culture and on a fellow member of the community. They have campaigned outside the store as well as recording "You Tube" protest videos against the Council such as the one below. They also believe their community has been victimised and have wondered if the Council would have acted in the same heavy handed way if the shop was owned by MacDonald's or one of the other multi national chains? They describe our Clyde as an opportunist, who is out of touch with the community, and who could argue?

So what next? Well I for one will be making sure that every restaurant owner in Northampton knows exactly where Mr Loake's stands in respect of supporting local business, just in case he trys to promote his Barmy scheme here. And considering that Northampton has more Parks and Open Spaces than any other District Council area and that most of the restaurants and take aways on the town's arterial routes are within 400m of a local school or park then he will be a busy man.

But one last thought on this whole sorry affair, who gave the permission for seven police officers to be involved in this over the top reactionary farce in the first place? and was it a good use of their time? It reminds me of the time I got stopped at Chigao airport and searched and cautioned by the USA national fruit police for carrying an unlicenced apple!

Watch out Northampton, Big Brother has his eye on you, and no Balti Hut is safe.

CLYDE LOAKES DIRECT- No Fee No Win- 100% complication assured

"Have you or someone you know been expelled from the Labour party when it wasn’t their fault? Or is your local Party suffering through the negligence or interference of regional party staff? The hole left behind in your party by those who have departed can sometimes be difficult to fill, but now with “CLYDE LOAKES DIRECT” we can offer you a full replacement “NEC approved” candidate on a full “no fee no win” basis, and we make sure that you get 100% of the complications. Our service has been developed over a number of years, here are some recent testimonies"

In 2003 Cllr Tony Buckley was Labour Leader of Waltham Forest Council when he received a letter from the General Secretary telling him to “Stand down” The Labour Group were annoyed at this “Top Down” instruction and interference in local matters so they re-elected him once more. The Party then suspended him, two days after his mother died and barred him from holding public office. His local Party condemned the move and stated clearly that he had not broken any party rule and they praised his hard work and achievements. Days later with the deputy leader in hospital undergoing surgery junior cabinet member Clyde Loakes made himself available to the group as it’s saviour and new prospective leader. In fact a “special deal” was arranged so that his leadership election took place in full council chamber rather than waiting for the formality of a Party Group meeting where the full details could be discussed and other candidates could have stood or reaffirmed support for Buckley. Cllrs prior to the council meeting were “Persuaded” to vote him in. One source tells us

“The word persuade is perhaps a kind one. It involved the circulation of an entirely untrue rumour that the whole Labour group/party would be suspended if this was not done”

Although Cllr Buckley had broken no party rules the investigation that followed was able to benefit greatly from Clyde’s knowledge when he told the inquiry “It was clear that the majority of the group wanted him to challenge the request to stand down” and in conclusion “I believe that it would be in the groups best interest if Cllr Buckley is expelled from the Party. His re admittance into the party with whatever strings attached would be seen as a rallying point for his supporters” Only two councillors stood up against this bullying and refused to back Loakes coronation, both were subsequently blocked by the regional party from being on the “panel” for candidates at the 2006 local elections. One of them had the highest vote of any Labour Councillor in their constituency (naturally with his departure and all in the in fighting the seat was lost at the next election)

So do these “ambulance chasing” tactics sound familiar? And was it therefore no surprise when he appeared to fill the vacancy left by my departure from Labours ranks in 2007 after my enforced expulsion? In fact the details relayed to me from a friend in London are very similar to those continuing to trouble the Northampton South Party to this very day, dissenting voices kept off future panels of suitable candidates, dissent in the Labour Group, Regional involvement in local investigations, and Constituency Party’s passing resolutions which are ignored by the NEC.

History it seems is repeating itself.

My source told me “I hate to see a once proud party being taken over by careerists while democratic process is just shoved aside".

I couldn’t agree more, in fact I would broaden the concerns I hold to include all of the main three political parties, full of careerists and more at home selling accident mitigation and insurance than truly representing the electorates they should serve.

Et tu Brut'e ?

News reaches me from Waltham Forest that a Coup D'etat is underway in this most troubled of London Boroughs (See below "Poplar or Popularist") It seems that the Labour Leader and so far publicity shy Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton South is giving up the day job to spend more time with his new constituency.

The Local Waltham Forest Guardian are saying that "Sources close to the authority’s Labour and Lib Dem-run administration have revealed that Cllr Loakes will not contest the leadership" at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4183061.WALTHAM_FOREST__Loakes_to_stand_down_in_May/

Clyde has no words of confirmation on the subject but three of his colleagues already seem to be lined up as favourites to succeed him.

This may be the cunning plan Clyde spoke of to the Local Government Chronicle less than a month ago when he refused to tell LGC when he plans to step down as council leader to concentrate on his Parliamentary ambitions. He told them "I have a plan, that's all you need to know." Then he insisted that he can do both jobs by stating "I'm managing okay thank you very much." Now though, less than a month later things seem to have changed dramatically?

You can only but wonder if the ongoing inquiry over "missing" regeneration funds (see here) has finally taken it's toll? in the report again in the WF Guardian his Labour Collegues were less than impressed with the whole affair and were "so concerned about the BNI/NRF fiasco that they have passed a strongly worded resolution calling for misused money to be paid back by the council."

I wonder how many of these "concerned" colleagues will be campaigning for a fresh start for Waltham Forest?

So did he jump? or was he pushed? and what more is to come from an inquiry and a police investigation already being closely followed by Local MP's Harry Cohen (Lab) and Ian Duncan Smith (Con) together with government advisor Lord Toby Harris (Lab)

And will he have a constituency party left in Northampton left by the time he has cleared his town hall desk, or will the NEC have suspended them all?

What a Bl**dy mess, and no sign of any of it abating.

I ought to gloat but there is still a large part of me that is very sad at how the Local Party and it's members has been treated and also how the regional and national party's have stormed in with their size nines and walked all over local democracy and replaced it with what?

Who needs an opposition when your own side can make more trouble for you than all the rest combined?

London Labour, Poplar or Popularistic? and how the poor still suffer

Clyde Loake's (Labours Candidate for Northampton South) well publicised local difficulties as Leader of the Council in Waltham Forest are well documented on the web and have led some to surmise that his lack of campaigning activity to date in Northampton is maybe down to the national party holding him back and keeping him out of the picture until the matter is concluded?

If you haven't caught the gist of the story you can do so here:

http://www.lordtobyharris.org.uk/will-waltham-forest-labour-group-finally-take-proper-action-to-deal-with-the-neighbourhood-renewal-fund-scandal/

and here:

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/3943112.WALTHAM_FOREST__Council_cohesion_spending_reported_to_police/

But this incredible inquiry into funds for the poor allegedly being mismanaged by Labour Councillors made me think how very far away from Labours original ideals the party has come in its 109 year history.

Some of you may recall the history of the proud London Labour Councillors of Poplar. This newly-elected, post world war 1 Labour Council built houses; expanded provision of libraries, parks, swimming pools and wash-houses; established a TB officer and dispensary; improved street lighting and cleansing; distributed free milk; and brought electricity to the area. The council instituted a minimum wage of £4 per week for its own employees, with equal pay for men and women.

And then in 1921 they were imprisoned for promoting public works to create employment and setting an illegal rate of 4/4d for the poor in Poplar against the wider rate of 6/10d in outer London.

Five women Councillors were sent to Holloway prison; 25 men to Brixton. The picture below shows Cllr Minnie Lansbury (daughter in law of George) on her way to be arrested


Prison conditions were appalling, but outraged protests soon yielded improvements. On 11 September, the Councillors were given permission to meet. They did so a total of 32 times in prison, with, from 27 September, the women Councillors brought from Holloway to Brixton to join the meetings. They discussed prison conditions, Borough business and winning their release. Demonstrations were held outside the two prisons on most evenings.

On 21 September, public pressure led the government to release Nellie Cressall, who was six months pregnant. Embattled Ministers conjured up the 'Official Solicitor' to order Nellie's release. This little-known functionary seems to appear only to get governments out of the tight spots they are forced into by working-class struggle. He was to appear again in 1972 to release the Pentonville Five, dockers imprisoned for opposing anti-union laws.

Eventually all were released again under some conveniently found ancient act of law and the Daily Herald described their homecoming:

'Joyful reunions inside their homes and joyful demonstrations without, the Councillors must have felt a sense of triumph that compensated for the bitterness of the past few weeks.

'In the crowd that followed the band round the streets faces were smiling as they seldom smile ordinarily in that poor borough.

'Men took off their caps and waved them in the air, women shouted and laughed, and the children made sympathetic noises. The whole babel was a spontaneous outburst of working-class sympathy with its self-sacrificing champions.'

Minnie Lansbury however did not celebrate for long, she died on 1st January 1922 of pneumonia as a direct result of her prison treatment

Poplar Council's fight casts a light of inspiration on the potential of direct action and mobilisation; but also a shadow of shame on Labour Councils since then which have failed to show the same courage.

I wonder what the then good folk of Poplar would make now of the alleged missing £250,000 from the BNI fund? Money for the poor which dissapeared under the stewardship of Labour Councillors? Probably the same as the good folk of Waltham Forest do now according to their comments in the local newspaper.

Meanwhile word reaches me of more alleged wrongdoings at another London Council by a London Council Leader, this time in the early 1990's The information involved a Mrs S Porter. (and it's not Dame Shirley) and the unsolicited and anonymous 300 page bundle of papers which arrived on my doormat the other week kept me amused for hours. It has probably been circulated elsewhere, given the intent stated in the accompanying letter, and I hazard to guess may lead to further questions being asked in the future as to how London's Labour Party together with the NEC really does conduct it's "internal" business.

How I wish the ideals of those elected to office today lived up to those of our early predecessors.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Ud3-s6z8UiI/SbF7OfF0_RI/AAAAAAAAAGA/3qEQI-rq6nU/s1600-h/minnie+Lansbury+on+her+way+to+arrest+1921.jpg

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