It seems that within a few hours, Cllr Zulfiqar Ali is about to become the statutory Deputy Mayor. We noted on a previous occasion that the mayor might have reason to reconsider Cllr Ali for such important portfolios. 

We could see both a low turnout from Labour voters in Plaistow South and defections from Labour to Reform amongst those who cast their ballots. If this happens, the ultimate beneficiaries are likely to be the Newham Independents.

In a masterpiece of spin, the cabinet member responsible, Cllr McLean is quoted in the Recorder apparently seeing a 50% cut in funding as a positive thing.

The only real winners from Fiaz’s inaction will be Labour’s opponents in Newham, who will find ample ammunition. For the rest of us, the outcome is far bleaker: fewer services, higher costs, and a borough left poorer by the Mayor’s failure to face reality.

For Cllr Shaban Mohammed, the only path to survival may be to flip the script go public with the who, what, when and why of Newham’s housing collapse, and force the mayor to wear the mess herself.

With less than a week before nominations close in the Plaistow South byelection, the following candidates have been announced.

Observers have been swift to suggest that Labour still seems to be incapable of organising the convivial consumption of alcohol within the confines of a manufacturing plant owned by Truman or Carling.

What began as an internal falling out between Newham’s two top women has now spilled over into the pages of Private Eye, which has reported on the rather awkward consequences of their feud. In the process, Private Eye even gave a nod to our own humble blog for keeping tabs on the drama.

We are told that the cabinet has jointly written to the Standards Board with a complaint against Mayor Fiaz.

This has been an issue for two years, yet no action has been taken. It took until May this year to agree upon a consultation about closure.

One of the frequent complaints we heard when Mayor Fiaz was new in office was her refusal to make decisions. It seems that this problem has not gone away.

Members of the Labour Party report that the deadline for submitting applications to join the list of candidates for 2026 has been extended to the 4th August. Gone, it seems, are the days when there were three or four applicants for every available position.

In what was once the flagship borough driving improvement in private sector lettings, the BBC state that “In part of Newham, where there are only 75 licensed properties, he found more than 700 possible HMOs.”

Is it time for Cllr Virdee to consider his position?

It was announced on Wednesday 30th July that Cllr Neil Wilson had died whilst with family in Scotland.

Nor did they follow up with a question asking whether she was interviewed. Nor did they ask either her or the Labour Party, asking why she was unsuccessful.

We could offer the following answers; she did, she was, and because she has been an unmitigated disaster for the borough and the Labour Party.

In the 2024 general election Reform took roughly 5000 votes across the three constituencies. They didn’t stand a candidate in the 2022 mayoral election and only stood two candidates for council, in Custom House and Wall End taking 93 and 103 votes respectively with very little evidence of any campaigning.

He was one of a number of young Muslims who left Labour in the wake of the 2003 Iraq invasion and joined the Respect Party.

In terms of his personality, if elected he will breathe fresh air into the fourth floor. Hussain, however is viewed as likeable, intelligent and willing to listen.

The news Newham has been waiting for is finally here: Forhad Hussain has been chosen as Labour’s candidate for the 2026 mayoral election.

It seems that sitting Labour councillors have been told that if they want to stand as candidates at the next election they had better agree to the payout. What secrets are so bad that they’re worth £239,000? 

If Newham Labour councillors vote this through on Thursday, they may well be voting to hand over 5 or 6 more council seats to opposition parties — and potentially the Mayoralty itself — in 2026.

We could be seeing Mayor Mehmood Mirza in May 2026, if Labour councillors vote “Yes” on Thursday.

Having announced to the Labour Group that the decision about the mayoral candidate would be shared on July 5th , we discover that Labour are behind schedule again.