For those of you who think that a council suffering from severe budget strains; with perhaps the highest child poverty rate in the country; that has had its streets turned into a waste disposal area; and that has one of the highest housing lists in England, might focus its efforts on some of the problems that bedevil its residents, this may come as a surprise.

Our archival gnomes have been at it again. The statutory guidance relating to the relationship between the mayor and executive and the overview and scrutiny functions is clear. (see 11.c.)

For over a year a short audio recording, purporting to be of a Newham councillor has been doing the rounds.

We have not uplifted this audio recording, though we may. The speaker clearly appears to be saying the following, "you know, the only other option we've got left is to gas them, what Hitler did...".

Councillor Mushtaq Hussain Mughal is the Chair of Newham Labour Group. Not one of the best by all accounts. Cllr Moghal is a Momentum member and a neophyte on the council.

We decided to give this over to the voice of one of our readers, without comment.

Muslim woman councillor quits Labour to escape “Oppression and discrimination” by colleagues. Right’s NEC candidate: “Excellent news”

A list of Newham Councillor Landlords. This list of Multiple Property Owners is taken from the Register of Interests on the LB Newham website.

The ability to look both ways at once is a difficult art, but one that seems to have been mastered by Councillor Terence Paul.

There is just the slightest suggestion that a number of Newham councillors have over-egged their academic history.

Alan (school-boy) Griffiths has had a bit of a wandering political career.

Ok. We know that this is not high politics……but we feel that we should investigate the miraculous reappearance Cllr Mas Patel’s hair.

It’s good to see that Newham Labour is doing its bit to rehabilitate offenders.

Back in 2003 Ms Khan was living in Cambridgeshire. By some accident she made a fraudulent housing benefit claim, acquiring over £2000 in benefits whilst she owned a property in London.

The Overview and Scrutiny Commission is a statutory body charged with the independent scrutiny of actions by the executive (the Mayor and Cabinet). As such it should be free from political interference.

Whilst Mayor Fiaz seeks to feather nest her future outside Newham by cosying up to the new Labour leader, Keir Starmer, the legacy of Corbynism continues to infect the local parties.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named attracted some criticism for the number of people on the Mayoral payroll.

It came as something of a surprise to learn that one of his critics, who happens to be his successor, has herself amassed a substantial payroll vote. Mayor Fiaz, having pledged to cut the cost of the payroll vote, has overseen two pay rises to those lucky councillors who are on it. It’s good to know that the art of hypocrisy is still alive and well.