West Ham CLP delegates posing with former NEC member Christine Shawcroft (picture via Newham Momentum)
It’s party conference time and it seems like half of Newham council has trekked up to Liverpool.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz had a prime slot to address conference on youth violence as a public health issue and various councillors have appeared on fringe platforms and in the media. Stratford’s Josh Garfield featured on BBC 2’s Victoria Derbyshire show and Canning Town councillor Rohit Dasgupta was interviewed on BBC Asian Network. East Ham North’s Daniel Blaney spoke at the Labour CND fringe meeting.
Other councillors attending either the official conference or Momentum’s parallel ‘The World Transformed’ gathering include James Beckles, Terry Paul, Susan Masters, John Gray, James Asser, Sasha Das Gupta, Shaban Mohammed, Hanif Abdulmuhit, Mohammed Muzibur Rahman and Suga Thekkeppurayil.
Despite the vast number of them, none of these councillors are actually delegates. West Ham CLP is represented by Tina Jess and Carel Buxton (pictured above), while East Ham has no official representation. It seems odd that a CLP for a seat with one of the largest Labour votes and majorities in the country doesn’t have a delegate. But that is a consequence of it being essentially non-functioning. Which is itself a consequence of Sir Robin’s approach to party management.
Hopefully, for the sake of ordinary party members, that is something that can quickly be put right.
forestgatedotnet 
Lets hope new mayor and all used thier own money to attend the conference, unlike the last mayor and his deputy.
Strange to me that in such a diverse community as West Ham, the local Labour Party sends two white middle class delegates.
These two women were voted in at GC to go to Liverpool. The vote eas open to any woman who felt that they would like to attend. West Ham CLP sent a motion in support of the Windrush generation.One of our delegates Tina Jess can be sern on tv seconding the motion.
What a defensive reply. Of course they were nominated and elected to go. That is the way it has always been. It’s just a pity that representatives that reflect our diverse population could not have been encouraged to stand and be supported.
Only one small thing to add James Asser is in addition to being a councillor also a NEC member, so he was in the heart of things 🙂
#Postcard from Liverpool#
Dear Martin
It was my first Labour party conference that have l attended and really had a great time talking and meeting with comrades from other CLPs also with the party hierarchy. I went to loads of fringe events and talked about real issues and socialist ideas that could be adopted in 21st century Britain. These ideas and issues are ones that could help me develop my skills to be the BEST ward councillor in CTN. I paid for the privilege to be at conference this was not a freebie. I also pay for the meeting in the Custom House and Canning Town Library so that branch meetings can be held.
In case you missed it Tina Jess delivered a very important and moving motion on windrush which was very well received by all members.
The question I would like to ask you is???? “If l am at the Labour Party Conference what does it have to do with you”. I was born in Canning Town and when to school in the area, worked and lived here and it has been a great privilege to be elected in this ward. I am answerable to my members and residents whom l am working extremely hard for despite being a new councillor.
I have been working with residents on many issues including homeless, ASBO, drug dealing, housing repairs, housing, street cleaning and racial harassment to name but a few issues. Also being the voice for the community and fighting for their voices to be heard within the council.
I am like many who fight for change and social injustice and these values made me want to stand to be a councillor in one of the poorest parts of Newham because sometimes “Lambs can become Lions”.
Wish you could be here.
Cllr Shaban Mohammed