Tongue in cheek look at, what appears, to be the latest gaffe from the Tower Hamlets Labour Group. #TowerGate? A modern-day whodunnit, with a twist at the end.
UPDATE: With updated information at the end, with the ‘Big Reveal’, to our whodunnit on the Press Release. #Popcorn
- Labour we have a Maths Problem
- Further Questions for Tower Hamlets Council Planning Authority & Possible Redemption for the Tower Hamlets Labour Group
- Definitions
- We should have got more from the Developer
- Why did the planning authority (the officers) recommend the deal?
- Why didn’t the planning committee pick up these issues?
- Why didn’t the committee chair pick up these issues in advance?
- Can Tower Hamlets Labour Group redeem itself?
- The ‘Big Reveal’ to our whodunnit.
Definitions
Labour Group: collective of Labour Councillors in any given local authority. In terms of Tower Hamlets council, this is the Tower Hamlets Labour Group.
Local Labour Party: Also known as CLPs (Constituency Labour Party). In terms of Tower Hamlets, we have two CLPs. Bethnal Green and Bow CLP and Poplar and Limehouse CLP
After #OhidGate, do we now have #TowerGate?
It appears the Tower Hamlets Labour Group has still not recovered from the election of 2022. With one self-inflicted blow after the other. It’s like the universe is conspiring to make them look like a bunch of bumbling clowns. First, they try to sneak Councillor Ohid Ahmed into the Labour Party, and it blows up in their faces faster than you can say “ineptitude.” And now, they’re back with a vengeance, unleashing what can only be described as #TowerGate on an unsuspecting public.
But wait, it gets even crazier. The Tower Hamlets Labour Group just released a statement to the media that has local members scratching their heads and muttering, three letters in the alphabet, “WTF.” It’s like they’re trying to outdo themselves in the bizarre department. And let me tell you, they’re succeeding.
The members are buzzing with talk about this strange press release, which seems to have come out of nowhere. They’re calling it everything from “unprofessional” to “desperate.” Some are even wondering if the whole thing is some sort of elaborate prank.
Below is a selection of the discussion by members of the local Labour Party over the ‘strange’ press release to the media published by the Tower Hamlets Labour Group.
Press Release on Thursday 11th May 2023: More questions than answers.
Out of the blue, The local Labour Group has just dropped a bombshell press release that’s got everyone scratching their heads and muttering.
According to the release, the Aspire group of councillors gave the green light to a Canary Wharf development without securing any planning gain for social housing. But here’s the thing: nobody knew anything about it until now. And the release doesn’t even ask the Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to intervene. What gives?
Curiouser and curiouser, I dug into the meeting minutes to see what the fuss was all about. And you know what I found? Absolutely nothing. The only reference to any discussion of the decision was a passing mention buried deep in the minutes.
Following the points raised by the Officers, the Committee debated the application and noted:
· Concerns with the lack of registered speakers in attendance.
· Concerns with the lack of 3d images to accompany the report
Minutes of the planning decision
I just couldn’t resist getting involved, so I left a comment on the local Labour Party forum asking why the meeting minutes didn’t seem to match up with the explosive press release from the Labour Group. And then I sat back and waited for the fireworks to start.
But here’s the thing: nothing happened. No response, no clarification, no nothing. It’s like my comment disappeared into the void. What the hell is going on here? Are they trying to silence me? Or is it just more of the same incompetence that seems to be the hallmark of the Tower Hamlets Labour Group?
So I left it there and carried on with other things.
“The trickiest thing is the nature of man, apparent in everything.”
Aristophanes
Deconstruction of the Press Release on Friday 12th May 2023: Or how to lose friends and alienate people.
And then, just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier, Andrew Wood swoops in with a Twitter take down that goes viral faster than you can say “political incompetence.”
Naturally, local members were freaking out and ringing up Executive Officers of the Labour Group left and right, demanding answers. But here’s the kicker: nobody seems to know anything. It’s like the entire Labour Group has collectively suffered a bout of amnesia. Nobody knows who put out the press release, and nobody can remember what actually happened at the planning meeting.
Long-standing members were commenting that they’d never seen anything like it. And you know what? I believe them. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Tower Hamlets Labour, it’s that they’re never boring.
“Earlier today, former deputy leader and chair of a number of committees, including development… called me to express his anger and embarrassment about the incorrect press release. He has stated he does not recall this kind of error ever happened during his 4 terms tenure as a member of the council.
He believes those who are councillors now do not put enough time to read agendas. Each committee produces on each item a comprehensive explanation. Reading an agenda with due consideration will enable members not just understanding of the subject, but also a decisive opinion as to what action needed.A member and former Deputy Leader of Tower Hamlets Council
The council officers present each agenda and elaborate in detail, leaving no room to misunderstand a little. The officers encourage members should they have any confusion or not understand any part of the subject to clarify, otherwise to accept their recommendations. If they want to differ to the officer’s recommendation, (apply only in any quasi judicial body) the members need to put their reason so that the committee clerk can record their opposition, abstention etc.”
“Politics, these days, is no occupation
Aristophanes
for an educated man, a man of character.
Ignorance and total lousiness are better.”
Whodunnit!: And finally, the spelling mistake…
Picture this: a dark and mysterious scandal looms over the Tower Hamlets Labour Group like a thick fog. A collective wall of silence surrounds the Executive, leaving the community wondering who’s behind it all. But like a determined detective, members of the local Labour Party refused to let the truth remain hidden.
As they pieced together the clues, a consensus slowly emerged. And then, just like that, a phone call came through to me – a member informing me of the collective Inspector Poirot moment.
The tension was palpable as they recounted the collective findings, each detail more shocking than the last. It was like we were living in a real-life whodunnit. I’ll quote their findings verbatim:
“Well, you see, it’s the spelling mistake. No one with a decent education will spell Bethnal Green as Bethnel Green, so it’s not the paid Labour Group advisor. So it narrows it down to a field of two, and it’s definitely not the guy who represented Bethnal Green ward for two decades.”
Member of the Tower Hamlets Labour Party
With leadership like this: the Tower Hamlets Labour Group is in for a rough ride. With events like this unfolding in quick succession, it’s anyone’s guess what’ll happen next. One thing’s for sure, though: we will all be watching with popcorn at the ready.
“Open your mind before your mouth”
Aristophanes
UPDATE: Latest Developments & The Big Reveal
Just when I thought I was gonna be kickin’ back and relaxin’, my funny little commentary goes and sets off a massive firestorm in the #Endz. I mean, we’re talkin’ a full-blown coordinated political attack on social media. Who knew my wit could ruffle so many feathers? #Bidrohi, folks!
First, of all, thank you to all the Labour members and local residents who have contacted me. Demonstrating once again, that grassroots collective approach is the best in coming up with solutions for all, the politics of the many not the few. Second, below is a summary of your contributions to the piece. Which has more or less has become a co-production, and a possible way forward on discussing and agitating for the change we all want.
Labour we have a Maths Problem
Andrew Wood strikes again, demonstrating this time that the much mentioned press release had basic maths errors in calculating percentages.
The press release had been making the rounds, touting numbers. But as Andrew dug deeper, he found that the numbers just didn’t add up. It was like someone had taken a calculator to the figures and then promptly thrown it out the window.
But Andrew wasn’t deterred. He dug in his heels and set about uncovering the truth, no matter where it led him. And in the end, he emerged victorious, holding the faulty maths up for all to see.
Further Questions for Tower Hamlets Council Planning Authority & Possible Redemption for the Tower Hamlets Labour Group
Big thank you to the former Labour councillor who contacted me as well as members and residents. The planning decision throws up a lot of questions that need to be answered. Below are the questions raised, and the solutions offered.
Definitions
Planning Authority: is the local government body that is empowered by law to exercise urban planning functions for a particular area. In this instance, the planning department at Tower Hamlets Council that writes the reports for the committee as well as recommendations.
Planning Committee: Planning Committee is a committee of elected councillors. Sitting in public, which decides whether planning permission should be granted for a planning application. It is separate from the planning authority, therefore can refuse or amend officers (from the Planning Authority) recommendations.
We should have got more from the Developer
According to information received, it is customary for the provision of social housing outside a development site to be set at 50%, a figure notably higher than the 35% for on-site provision. This discrepancy is explained by the variance in land prices, which tend to be higher for on-site properties located in areas such as Canary Wharf, and lower for off-site dwellings situated outside these prime locales. Consequently, should the planning authority wish to adhere to established policy and demand a financial contribution from developers, it would be prudent to seek a greater sum than the £47.9 million currently accepted. A preliminary estimate suggests that a figure of £80 million or higher may be more appropriate.
Why did the planning authority (the officers) recommend the deal?
A pertinent inquiry arises: during the prior Labour administration, rather than entrusting viability assessments to third-party contractors, an internal team was recruited, thereby circumventing conflicts of interest while cultivating institutional acumen in confronting developers. This was a custom embraced by Islington Council, renowned for its proclivity in challenging developers and securing superior agreements, even through litigation if necessary.
It behoves elected officials of every political stripe to investigate whether the above practice still obtains, as well as the granular rationales undergirding officers’ recommendations for the agreement.
Why didn’t the planning committee pick up these issues?
Tower Hamlets Council’s planning committees have been plagued by structural deficiencies, as elected officials lacking professional expertise are compelled to make rulings on intricate planning issues in a compressed timeframe. During my tenure as a councillor between 2018 and 2022, I was informed a mere hour of training was given as preparation for serving on these committees.
A Labour Party member who works for the planning advocacy organization Just Space approached Tower Hamlets Council with an offer of free of charge, complimentary training for committee members, but the proposal was declined under the previous Labour administration. It may be worthwhile for the council to reconsider and accept this generous offer.
Why didn’t the committee chair pick up these issues in advance?
In order to ensure seamless operation of planning committees in navigating intricate affairs, a robust chairmanship is indispensable. Nevertheless, the underlying frameworks presuppose a certain degree of social capital among the participants, which is intrinsically tied to their access to physical capital.
Considering that Tower Hamlets is beset with a poverty rate of 40% among households, and a desire to solicit input from diverse cross-sections of the borough, it behoves Tower Hamlets Council to adhere to prudent employment practices. To this end, an appraisal of committee chairs ought to be conducted, accompanied by reasonable accommodations. As required, Democratic Services officers may furnish additional support to committee chairs.
Can Tower Hamlets Labour Group redeem themselves?
The Tower Hamlets Labour Group have the option to correspond with Mayor Sadiq Khan and advocate for the rejection of the application. Contending that although the decision conforms to London Plan policy H16 point 9, which mandates a monetary contribution in lieu of on-site provision for shared living accommodation. The planning application should be refused, due to the inadequate financial contribution. The matter will then be sent back to the planning committee in Tower Hamlets Council, allowing them to render a verdict on the matter, but with more time and get a better deal.
Alternatively, the Tower Hamlets Labour Group may persist with their present course, one year following their electoral defeat, opting to deny reality and gaslight any non-conformists.
And finally the ‘Big Reveal!’
Alright, listen up folks, I’ve got some juicy news that’s been brewing in the East End. Our super sleuths have been digging deep, scouring every nook and cranny of social media forums like a pack of hungry wolves on the prowl. And what did they find, you ask? Brace yourselves, because this is big.
It turns out that in the entire Tower Hamlets Labour community, there are only TWO individuals who can’t seem to spell Bethnal Green correctly. That’s right, you heard me – TWO! One of them is a retired first generation migrant, a non-active member who hasn’t been seen in action for a solid three years.
The other is a former cabinet member under Mayor John Biggs, current councillor and Labour Group executive member. And get this: they’re the ones responsible for putting out a shoddy press release with the wrong spelling, wrong calculation for all the world to see. Can you imagine the embarrassment?
Now, I don’t know about you, but this sounds like a scandal to me. I mean, we’re talking about one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in London here. If you can’t even spell its name right, what does that say about your commitment to the cause? It’s enough to make your head spin, folks. But hey, that’s just the current leadership of the Tower Hamlets Labour Group for you – always full of surprises.
But hey, I’m not one to tell you what to think. You can decide for yourself which one of these individuals is to blame. Stay tuned, folks, ’cause you never know what we’ll dig up next.
“You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.”
Aristophanes
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