Havering and Redbridge

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

Result last election:

Con - 38
Lab - 37
UKIP - 16
Grn - 6
Lib - 4

[Ashton Edwards]

HAVERING AND REDBRIDGE - Ashton Edwards
Canvass

Ashton Edwards will make sure to ask the local Labour candidates for the London Assembly to go out and canvass through the Havering and Redbridge Assembly constituency, speaking about plans for housing policy under a future Mayor of London John McDonnell. He’ll have a leaflet prepared to hand out with the points of the day. This day’s theme is focused on housing- which there is a lot of demand for in the constituency, but not much in terms of supply...

Making Homes Available: “Sadly, years of budget cuts and a growing population have combined to give London a real housing problem. The desire to appeal to those with more resources has seen social homes turned into luxury flats- and with nothing at all offered to those who need affordable housing but a bus ticket elsewhere. We need more homes at every level, and we need those homes to be available to Londoners, rather than overseas investors. As Mayor, John McDonnell is going to push for more housing in London for those that need it, using the resources of his office to expand social housing construction. He’ll fight for a fair share of government funds for London to pay for additional programs. And he’ll be a strong voice for programmes at the national level that see it easier and faster to build safe homes to house London’s growing population and more. As Mayor, John McDonnell is going to be a serious fighter for making homes available.”

Making Homes Affordable: “With housing prices soaring throughout the country, the best that the Tories can muster is figuring out how to build in the green belt, ignoring the needs of people throughout London who want to stay in the communities they’ve grown up in. As Mayor, John McDonnell will be a real ally in making sure that homes stay affordable through support for homebuyers and renters, but he’ll also do what he can to push back against speculation that sees the wealthiest overseas buying up properties in the name of investment. He’ll use the financial resources of his office to support those who are looking to buy a home or even keep the one they have- rather than just relying on bussing them out to new towns in the green belt or even further away from their work, their families, and their communities. By building more social housing, and getting all boroughs to work towards this broader plan, we’ll be able to keep housing prices from rising out of reach of most families in London. As Mayor, John McDonnell is going to be a serious fighter for making homes affordable.”

Making Homes Safe: “We know that some people don’t like how social housing looks- so they try to cover it up with cladding to look different. But we know now, sadly, that there is very much a human cost to this desire to hide working-class families out of sight. As Mayor, John McDonnell is going to fight for those who live in social housing- protecting them from unsafe policies that could very much cost them their lives. He’ll fight for true justice for the Grenfell victims. He’ll target those who own and rent out properties but whose quest for profit means lower standards, means unsafe environments where families are forced to live with poor sanitation, poor ventilation, and worse. And his plans on crime and policing will make sure that neighborhoods stay safe- so that those in social housing aren’t unfairly targeted and blamed for real problems in London. As Mayor, John McDonnell is going to be a serious fighter for making homes safe.”

The following leaflet is handed out, focused on the themes of the day. There is a picture (and captions identifying names) for John McDonnell, other Labour candidates for the London Assembly, and outlines of various local landmarks.

Making Homes Available

• As Mayor, John McDonnell will push for funding to build more homes in London communities, and implement a City-wide strategy to boost housing in all boroughs
• As Mayor, John McDonnell will use his office to keep people in their homes- rather than see them pushed out to cater to the elite few.
• As Mayor, John McDonnell will join the fight to make building homes easier to increase available housing in London.

Making Homes Affordable

• As Mayor, John McDonnell will provide support to renters to ensure that they’re not priced out of their homes.
• As Mayor, John McDonnell will join the fight in targeting property speculators- those that buy homes and leave them empty, making homes more expensive for everyone.
• As Mayor, John McDonnell will make sure that new homes built are made available to working-class Londoners.

Making Homes Safe

• As Mayor, John McDonnell will fight for justice for the victims of Grenfell, and help ensure that nothing like it can happen again.
• As Mayor, John McDonnell will help to take on those who rent out or sell substandard, unsafe homes just to make a quick profit.
• As Mayor, John McDonnell’s policies on tackling the causes of crime will make all communities safer- and keep those in social housing from taking unjust blame.

[Michael Smythe]

[Michael Smythe]

Michael Smythe, MP for Chelsea and Fulham and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, was in Havering and Redbridge today to deliver a public speech on behalf of Justine Greening and the local Conservative Candidates for the London Council. His speech focused on Justine’s promise for more housing to be built in London.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure both to be back home and to address you tonight. Our Conservative Party candidates across London and, especially, Justine have been hard at work, I assure you, preparing to fight and win this election and I was only too honoured to have been asked to come and lend my support to them tonight.

One of the key elements of Justine’s platform has been to put an end to the housing crisis in London through investments in building new homes in every region. As you know, the constituency of Havering and Redbridge is in a unique position in London; your high quality schools, proximity to the heart of London, and vast green spaces make Havering and Redbridge an extraordinarily attractive place to move. However, there is a shortage of homes and the London Council is losing out on valuable opportunities to garner additional annual income which can then be devoted to the many important social services that make this part of London so great.

Justine’s plan to see 200,000 new homes built in London is crucial and, with the assistance of the national government, it is entirely realistic. And what’s more, unlike the Labour Party’s hard-left candidate, we will ensure that a proportionate amount of those homes are in high-desirability areas like this one. By contrast, John McDonnell will only build low-income council houses; he’ll build them cheaply, and he’ll rent them cheaply, and he will do it right here in your backyards. That means lower property values over time; it means occupying high-value real estate with low-revenue properties; it means creating the largest wealth gaps in the same neighbourhoods. We do not wish to see Marxist social engineering in our neighbourhoods; we do not wish to see the land which is in high demand being taken up by the state to be turned into council estates; and we do not wish to see your property, your net worth, devalued. Only the Conservatives will protect your investments by investing in projects that raise the value of your home, not lower it.

By creating the conditions necessary for a growing, thriving real estate market in London, Justine Greening will not only lead the way to supplying a great demand, but will be a part of a national effort to curb growing housing prices. It’s simple economics, really: right now, the supply of houses in certain sectors of the market is low and the demand is high. That means prices rise. Justine and her team of councillors and candidates have, rightly, understood that a significant portion of the market demand for houses isn’t in low-value homes or council estates, but in upper-market houses. That’s why her plan, to build a variety of homes in a variety of locations across London, is the most sensible one and will have the most positive impact on the housing market not only in London, but across the UK.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t wish to keep you much longer. We do have some of the local candidates here and Ms. Greening herself and they have told me that they would be extremely happy to speak to you individually tonight. I would like to conclude by saying this: when it comes to infrastructure planning and spending, it is far better that the plan have long-reaching positive outcomes. Our plan, to facilitate the building of 200,000 homes of different values, with different target markets in mind, and in different regions, is a long-term strategy. It will help fight the quickly-rising price of buying a home and becoming self-sustainable; it will not put low-value homes in the backyards of high-value ones; and it will, most of all, maintain the diversity that is so cherished among the various boroughs of London. Our plan, her plan, is one which I believe will usher in a new and vibrant era in London’s real-estate market and, if I may be so bold, in its overall culture as well. It is, therefore, no surprise that I commend the plan, and the candidates who stand behind it, to you all.

Thank you.

[Dr. James Webster]

Faiza Shaheen (NPC) - Havering and Redbridge
Canvass

Faiza Shaheen, Assembly candidate for Havering and Redbridge, will canvas for her candidacy for the London Assembly and for Mayoral Candidate John McDonnell. Speaking about Labour’s plans for how to improve economic opportunities and wages in London


A Mayor who fights for you: We need a mayor ready to level up London. One who will fight to improve the lives of all Londoners. Josh McDonnell and the Labour party will make bold and responsible investment in TfL to provide better transport throughout London. Which will allow all areas of London to enjoy the economic benefits of our truly global city. Josh McDonnell will lobby Westminster to make sure that London gets its fair share. We only receive one pound for every two pounds we are taxed. That is not a fair arrangement for London. That money can be invested in: housing, transport, addressing inequality in London. Josh McDonnell will fight for devolution on a number of local tax issues to allow London to have a greater say over our finances. London needs a mayor that will fight for all of us, and Josh McDonnell will.
Improving Wages: 875,000 Londoners earn less than a living wage. This is unacceptable, we have to do more to encourage businesses to pay workers a living wage. We need a mayor ready to take action. John McDonnell is that mayor and if we elect him as mayor we will continue to see improvements in wages. The Labour Party and John McDonnell will work with the Living Wage Foundation to continue to expand the accredited businesses that have adopted it. He will continue to offer incentives for businesses that adopt the living wage. People who work in the city and contribute to its success should be able to live in this city, and that starts by providing a true living wage to people who work in London. John McDonnell will continue to have TfL and GLA to lead by example.
Responsible Management: The Labour party has set up London to have the first major city Public transport system to run a profit. We are only a few years away from making that a reality. The only Tory mayor, ran massive deficits in the budget and set up Transport for London for failure. The two terms of Johnson nearly accrued twice as much debt than both Khan and Livingston combined. It was only through Labour’s hard work that we prevented TfL from having to make massive cuts. Which when you consider that David Cameron’s cabinet cut TfL’s budget by 700 million pounds. Justine Greening was in the Cabinet at the time and is complicit in those cuts. She didn’t fight for London then. How can we trust she’ll fight for London now? John McDonnel has always campaigned for London and fought for this city's funding. As Mayor he will continue Labour’s history of responsible management of the TfL’s budget.


The following leaflet is handed out, focused on the themes of the day. There is a picture (and captions identifying names) for Labour candidates in the area and outlines of various local landmarks.

A Mayor who fights for you:
As Mayor, John McDonnell will invest in London’s transport system improving it throughout London.
As Mayor, John McDonnell will work to end the tax spending disparity. London should not receive 1 pound for every two pounds we give in taxes.
As Mayor, John McDonnell will fight for further devolution of local taxes to give London a greater say over our finances.

Improving Wages:
As Mayor, John McDonnell will fight for a living wage for all workers in London.
As Mayor, John McDonnell will continue to work with the living wage foundation to expand the number of accredited businesses.
As Mayor, John McDonnell will work to improve wages for all workers in London.

Responsible Management:
As Mayor, only John McDonnell will manage the Transport for London responsibly
As Mayor, John McDonnell will continue Labour’s progress to get TfL’s budget to a surplus.
As Mayor, John McDonnell will fight for all of London as he has through his whole career.

[Heather Whitmore]

Justine Greening and local candidates were in Havering and Redbridge, together with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Michael Smythe, to speak to constituents. They brought with them leaflets to be handed out.


World Class Social Services - “Britain has long led the way when it comes to social services and when people look to Britain, they inevitably look to London. While the last few years have been difficult, the financial constraints of the 2008-recession are finally beyond us, and we can start to invest once again to ensure that our NHS and Education systems are the cream of the crop. Sadly, Havering and Redbridge has been left behind by two successive Labour governments, and our LEA ranks well behind the national average. Justine will not only invest in education across London, but she will work hard to ensure that the national government takes the necessary steps to ensure places just like Havering and Redbridge are given the service they expect.”

Promoting Equality - “As a national minister, Justine found every opportunity to promote equality and the empowerment of young women. She will take that same attitude and spirit with her to City Hall, and ensure that every opportunity is made available to the extraordinary women who make London so special. Whether it is by hosting all-women’s panel discussions on hot-topic issues, or creating legislative and administrative changes, Justine will prioritize women-specific issues and never stop fighting against sexism, and practices discriminatory toward women. It is only by rooting out inherent prejudices and social biases that we can form cohesive societies.”

Keeping You Connected - “Whether it is to get to work or to experience the vibrant culture of Britain’s capital, public transit is massively important for Londoners. Justine and her team will begin the process to keep the underground running 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will ensure that you can stay connected by having a 4G and 5G connection on all tube platforms.”

They will hand out pamphlets, offering the voter more information on the candidate’s platform and directing them to a website with biographical details and policy priorities.

The Pamphlet

On the front is a picture of Justine Greening with the local candidate. A title reads “All of London’s Communities Matter” and a subtitle reads “Justine Greening for Mayor of London.” On the back of the pamphlet, is written the following:
Justine Greening and [Local Candidate] will fight hard for Havering and Redbridge. Together, we can achieve a better London for ALL of its inhabitants by…
Building 200 new homes across London with various values, and various target markets.
Investing in London’s schools and healthcare facilities to restore its position as the best city in the world to live.
Keeping our streets safe by investing in the police services, crime prevention programmes, and neighborhood watch.
Making London an inclusive place to live by promoting diversity of religion, race, sexual orientation, and gender, and making London’s public spaces more friendly to diverse peoples.
Attracting the world’s business back to London once Britain leaves the European Union.
Keeping you connected with 4G and 5G on all tube platforms, and opening the underground 24/7.