If you thought that the promotion from nothing to deputy cabinet role within 48 hours was fast, it is nothing compared to what one of Newham’s newest councillors has planned.

Things move fast in the world of Newham politics. On May 5th, Pushpa Makwana was elected to the seat in the newly formed Plashet Ward. Shortly after, she was elected by her colleagues to the role of Chair of the Newham Labour Group.

Following the mayor’s unplanned commitment to rehouse over 200 families from the Victoria St building/Brimstone House at the 2022 AGM, it appears that the responsibility for effecting this promise has been dumped on the hapless Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Shaban Mohammed.

We learn that councillors have approached the new head of Finance and Resources to find out where the tax/fuel rebate for residents is.

The gnomes have been at work and unearthed some interesting and frankly worrying history relating to the Mayor’s recently appointed Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources. The following piece comes from a memo from a council officer.

The avid followers of Newham Council on YouTube would have been a little disturbed to come across this notice regarding the AGM on 25th May.

Councillor Vaughan (in the Chair): “I call upon Councillor Islam to move this report.” Mayor makes her feelings known. (1.04:05)

The mayor, and it appears, some Newham councillors recently met with local councillors from Israel. From such accounts as there are, it seems that it was a positive meeting.

The London Borough of Newham has discarded the self-imposed shackles of politically correct language.

It seems, or so we are told, that the mayor’s new financial tzar has found a way to solve all of her money problems.

It’s simple really. Just sell everything.

“A culture of Trust and Openness”. Does anyone remember those words. It was five years ago and much has happened since, but this seems to be yet another of Mayor Fiaz’s promises that bit the dust.

At the Labour Group meeting on 16/05/22, Mayor Fiaz shared that Newham will be getting some help and support from the Labour Party.

Newham’s newest and only opposition councillors have raised serious questions in a letter to the monitoring officer.

It seems that Ms Fiaz has developed a bit of a reputation for bullying.

We learn that there has been a falling out at the top of Mayor Fiaz’s administration.

Pushpa Makwana appeared to have weathered the political storm over her posting about the ritual slaughtering of sheep, although we understand that the decision to include her as a candidate was not universally welcomed by her colleagues.

James Asser gets the plum job and the title, Deputy Mayor. This is despite his very lack-lustre performance in his previous role where he alienated parents and the supporters of the City Farm; and everyone who owns a car; shopkeepers in East Ham and Green St; and residents and motorists on Browning Road.

Now that we have seen that the cabinet has been announced, let’s take a look at which oppressed and under-represented groups have made good.

It must sound like the most boring committee on the council, still the Audit Committee retains an important safeguarding role for the reputation of the council and the spending of public money.

New councillors and indeed, the new Chief Exec should be forewarned.