The Panglossian

It seems that, to one councillor at least, this last year, under Mayor Fiaz “All of this is for the very best … for it is impossible but things should be as they are, for everything is for the best”.

In an essay on Substack, The Plaistovian, Cllr Morris eulogises about the current state of Newham. Rather like Candide’s eminent tutor, Morris has set out to “prove wonderfully that ... in this best of all possible worlds… the baron’s castle was the most beautiful of castles and Madam the best of all mayoresses”. Sorry, “baronesses”.

Newham, it seems is a paragon of local government efficiency and service delivery is sublime. You might be forgiven for suspecting that we have overstated the gushing prose that Cllr Morris has to offer. But you can read it for yourself here.

We are led to believe that “The Litter Capital of Britain” is cleaner, because Newham has won awards. After seven years and the worst possible rating for housing services, housing servces are “turning a corner”. Morris is a fan of LTNs etc. He is delighted that there are so many of them. Unfortunately, the people who vote in local elections are not quite as keen as him.

Such was the effusive nature of his prose that it led one of our correspondents to ask “what planet is he on?”

He concludes with a list of awards that the borough has won. He was perhaps blind to the irony. He has listed awards that allow councillors to slap one-another on the back. They do little to nothing for the residents of the borough.

Labour’s local unpopularity is due in no small measure to the decisions taken by the current mayor and council. With tax rises that have exceeded the statutory maximum, filthy streets, a fear of crime and a council that refuses to listen when residents do not agree with them.