Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating in West Ham and Beckton 🪔

Lovely to join the Bangladeshi Italian Association UK this evening for their celebration of education and success in GCSE’s and A levels.

Trade unionist, activist, pioneer. Frank Bailey spent his life fighting injustice. As London’s first black firefighter he paved a path for all who followed & right up until he died he was encouraging black firefighters. At his funeral 80 firefighters formed a guard of honour.

Lovely to join the Rev Amy and Cllr Rohit Dasgupta for the St Luke’s, Canning Town, 150th anniversary celebrations. 🎉

Today I visited the new Neighbourhood Health Hub at the University of East London. The Hub will provide services including diagnostic tests and primary care which has been long-called for. Thank you, @wesstreeting and @UEL_News for delivering this important resource for Newham.

Keep Britain Tidy do great work campaigning against litter in the UK. Their campaign to reduce litter from cigarettes butts - the country’s most littered item - has reduced cigarette litter by 17%. If you smoke make sure you bin your butt! 🚬🚯

Today we welcomed Ruslan Stefanchuk Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament to Westminster It was good to meet him & talk about our local Ukrainian community;one of the largest in the UK who are building a future as part of our vibrant borough & a strong Anglo-Ukrainian friendship🇺🇦🇬🇧

Yesterday I attended the official opening of the West Ham Foundry, a new home to @WHUFoundation’s work in our community. It was wonderful to see this long awaited project open and already full of local people enjoying the space, , pitch and brand new cafe. ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️

This week is National Hate Crime Awareness week. West Ham & Beckton’s diversity makes it a great place to live and represent, hatred tries to destroy that. We must commit to the fight against hate for all our communities, this week and beyond. #nationalhatecrimeawarenessweek

I was able to attend a session delivered by SEN SPORTS. I’d be keen to see more clubs like this is Newham. The session was fun and engaging and truly inclusive. I am glad that @AccessSport is funding offers like this for the children and parents in our community.

Josie Woods got her break aged 16. A dancer & choreographer she toured the UK music halls and appeared at the Palladium In 1997 her work was featured in the BBC documentary Black Britain. She’s named on 2021’s black tube map Read more https://t.co/F5lTIUTyoy #BlackHistoryMonth

Sainsbury’s is a big employer in West Ham & Beckton with their Beckton store employing 600 staff. It is also Sainsbury’s biggest online delivery hub serving Newham & Barking At Labour conference I caught up with Sainsbury’s team on their stand made of a gigantic shopping basket!

Today is World Mental Health Day. Please reach out for support with your mental health or wellbeing, here are a selection of the many numbers that you could call. Day or night there will be a service open and available to listen, you do not have to struggle alone.

The first stage of the agreement to secure a ceasefire is a hopeful turning point, but we must remain committed to the long journey ahead.

On World Homelessness day, the Government has announced that Newham will receive £880,266 to help people facing homelessness or sleeping rough. I have seen how this money is desperately needed now and I know it will be used well to help some of our most vulnerable residents.

One of the last projects I signed off at the Council was upgrading #BecktonCorridor I visited the finished work. Team has done a great job improving a well-used route 🐿️New footway & cycle path 🐿️New lighting & CCTV 🐿️New signage 🐿️New fitness equipment 🐿️Trees & bushes trimmed

The food and drink industry has always been an important part of the local economy in West Ham & Beckton and it is still an important local industry I caught up with the organisation for food and drink manufacturers, The Food & Drink Federation, last week to discuss the industry

I recently met with students from Oasis Academy Silvertown. We spoke about the development of the area and its impact on them, especially about feeling safer travelling to and from school. They were passionate and engaged and it was great to hear their perspectives.

My statement on the second anniversary of the 7 October attacks.

I met Women’s Aid at Labour conference & heard about the children who’ve been put at risk or killed by domestic abusers. I support their campaign to ensure agencies & courts put children’s safety first when looking at access, to ensure they’re protected from domestic abusers.