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From The Socialist newspaper, 15 January 2020
Stop gentrification in Newham: "We are here, you have consulted us and we're not going anywhere!"
photo NotFromUtrecht/CC (Click to enlarge)
Lois Austin, East London Socialist Party
Over 100 Newham, east London residents and market traders crowded into a church hall on Green Street to hear Labour Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz explain plans to 'regenerate' Queen's Market. The fear though, of all at the meeting, was that what we will actually get is gentrification.
The market is a stone's throw from the new development of expensive flats built on West Ham's old Boleyn football ground. We don't want another Rathbone street market, nearby in Canning Town, where the market is reduced to a handful of stalls surrounded by flats and restaurants locals can't afford.
Land grab
Newham is already victim to the big business land grab happening all over London. The traders, their stalls and the vital service of providing decent cheap food must stay.
The mayor let slip that there will be £45.3 million cuts in the borough, and that the future of the elderly sheltered accommodation, Hamara Ghar, opposite the market, is up for 'consultation'. Some of the residents were in the room. They said: 'we are here, you have consulted us and we are telling you we don't want to go anywhere!'
Socialist Party members responded to all this by saying, Newham is already on its knees. There are people sleeping in the parks and children living in basements and garages. Where will your axe fall, because this borough cannot take another blow?
The mayor - elected 20 months ago on a ticket of standing up for Newham and being different from her arch-Blairite predecessor Robin Wales - said: 'Newham council will not break the law; we have to set a legal budget.'
She blamed the old administration for failing to put up council tax, and made it clear she will. The audience responded by saying we don't want that either.
The current tranche of Labour councillors have been in power for 20 months. They have done a few good things, like employ 43 youth workers more than any other borough.
But there is no big visible improvement in living conditions. In fact things have got worse.
The mayor and council were given no grace by locals at the meeting. Gentrification of Queen's Market and closure of Hamara Ghar will be fought if they attempt it.
We warned the mayor that we will be protesting against her just like we did with Robin Wales. The mayor told us she was different from the old administration, she said she was a fighter.
If that is the case, then set a no-cuts budget. Socialist Party members will fight for that.
- Save Hamara Ghar and Queen's Market
- No to gentrification
- Give working-class people democratic control of our communities
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In The Socialist 15 January 2020:
What we think
Labour leadership race: Reverse Unison's undemocratic nomination of Blairite Starmer
News
Low Pay, Long Hours. Bosses rip us off. Organise the fightback now!
No free ride for the airline bosses - nationalise Flybe now!
Workplace news
Hackney school bus workers win pay increase following strikes
Northern Ireland: Thousands of nurses continue to strike for better pay
Westex Carpet strike reaches two month mark
London bus drivers ballot to strike
Union lawyer arrested on security guards' picket line
Campaigns
We need socialists in London's City Hall
Stop gentrification in Newham: "We are here, you have consulted us and we're not going anywhere!"
Massive Scottish independence demo marks new stage in struggle
Young people who voted for Corbyn's manifesto will now ask... How can we win those ideas?
London: Protesters return to oppose Middle East war
Cladding scandal: Government steps up defence of landlords
Nottingham: Youth protest against Barclays £64 million fossil-fuel investments
Socialist Party national committee meeting
International socialist news and analysis
Renewed protests shake Iranian leaders
France: Strike wave over pensions - Macron government in retreat
Readers' opinion
Sustainable food production and the need for socialism
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