Labour MP, Jon Cruddas, plots a new path centring around the Dignity of Labour

The Dignity of Labour by Jon Cruddas Published by Polity. Price £14.99 This book from Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas offers a fascinating analysis of where the Labour Party has been going wrong and how it needs to recreate and reposition itself at the heart of work. The Dignity of Labour is just that, looking at how the party has distanced itself from working people and their lives, not seeing work as the engine for change but as somethng increasingly periphery and irrelevant Written during the pandemic Cruddas detects a reawakening in the recognition of the value of work. So nurses, doctors, care workers, supermarket staff and bus drivers were suddenly seen as those doing the vital frontline work of society. The book chronicles the approaches of different post war governents, whilst always retaining a base in the writer's homeland experience in Dagenham and Barking. So there is the rise and fall of Fords in Dagenham, mirrored against the postwar Labour governments and their policies. The rise of populism born of disillusion with political representation, resulting in Brexit and the Trump presidency in the US. The Dagenham experience, though, also offers a beacon for revival. In the noughties, working class disilusionment saw the rise of the BNP, which at one point was poised to take the council. But there was a fightback, that saw the fascist party banished and a new resurgent area created, with Labour at its epicentre Labour held Dagenham and Rainham in 2019, despite it being a top Tory target, with 70% of its residents voting for Brexit. Cruddas argues thay the demise of work is much over stated. He decries those on the left who argue that automation will get rid of many jobs, signalling the way to a new world of work, involving networked youth and Universal Basic Income (UBI). He argues that UBI is a false panacea that could take even more control of their lives away from working people Cruddas adroitly points out that the furlough scheme can be seen as a dry run for UBI. Though, he does not look further at how the present government might adopt UBI, encompassing pensions and Universal Credit systems in the trade off. Cruddas argues that the Labour Party must re-embrace the work agenda, lookng to promote good work and good jobs. A re-engagement in the workplace and across communities, via a new work covenant. This would return security to workers and help overcome inequality. Cruddas has produced an excellent piece of scholary work, which covers a lot of ground in 190 pages. Some will get lost in parts that delve into Marxist theory and the like. But the central thrust is clear, namely the need for Labour to reposition itself at the heart of work and community. It is a book that should be debated across the party and wider Labour movement. There is much to discuss.

Resetting the clock on climate change

It is a sobering thought that the dip in carbon dioxide emissions last year, falling up to 17% due to the pandemic, meant the world was back to 2006 levels for the year. In 2006, Sir Nicholas Stern's prophetic report for the UK government advised that if we acted then crisis could be averted and to delay would cost more. Sir Nicholas's words were largely ignored, as humanity dashed on like lemmings approaching the cliff edge. The political class began to stir, resulting in the Paris agreement in 2015. But as Greta Thurnberg points out, they have then failed to deliver on those Paris promises. Time is running out. Covid has shown what a crisis really looks like and the mobilisation needed to counter it, The climate crisis is looming. The Covid pandemic offers an opportunity to take stock and reset the clock. Part of that process must involve fundamentally changing the way in which we live, not carrying on as before lurching ever closer to that precipice. Published - 27/4/2021 - Independent

Sparrows and Wanstead Park

The existence of the house sparrow is now under threat, with 60% of the population disappearing over recent decades. The loss of insects and increasing levels of nitrogen dioxide are thought to be contributing factors. The house sparrow used to be very popular around Wanstead during the 1970s. I remember seeing them in the garden, park and many other areas. It is now on the red list of endangered species. The house sparrow is one of 10 species being highlighted by the Endangered in Wanstead campaign (www.wnstd.com/the10) The campaign suggests putting out water and food for the birds, including mealworms and waxworms. This is particularly important from April to August, when the birds are breeding. Encouraging insects in the garden with wild areas and log piles are also recommended - no use of pesticides. Concrete surfaces and lighting at night are also not conducive to insect proliferation. There are still house sparrows around this area, so there is a real chance to improve the life prospects for this little bird. The house sparrow can be seen in parts of Wanstead Park, which is another fantastic place to see birds. There are the great spotted and green woodpeckers regularly seen about. The great spotted is seen in the woodland, often located hammering away on a tree, to attract a mate. The green woodpecker is seen on the ground, looking for ants in the grasslands. There are a huge variety of ducks that come through the park, including gadwall, shoveler, teal, wigeon, mallards and tufted. Two elegant goosanders visited on the Perch pond, earlier in the year. It is always a better day when a kingfisher makes an appearance, often just a flash of emerald blue as the small bird darts across the water. Though, you can be lucky and see one perched on a branch. Kingfishers have become more common place over recent years, particularly around the Roding and lakes. Birds of prey can also be seen circling over the park, with buzzards, kestrels and peregrines not uncommon. Wanstead Park is another fantastic area for bird watching but we all also need to do our bit to protect and encourage species, like the house sparrow, that are presently on the endangered list *For more information see:.https://wild.wanstead.org/endangered-house-sparrow

Taking liberties

There seems to be an authoritarian wind blowing through the country at the moment. Momentum has been provided by the lockdown response caused by the pandemic. Unprecedented curbs on individual freedoms and liberties have been justified on the basis of keeping people safe. Laws stopping people assembling together inside or outside, not playing games etc. Only time will tell how effective these measures have been in curbing Covid-19. It will also be interesting to see how many of the measures have had little to do with stopping Covid but a lot to do with just controlling people. There has been a collective sound of relief over recent weeks, as some measures have been relaxed, with the easing of lockdown. Yet, at the same time as some restrictions go, it seems others are coming into effect, such as the idea of a vaccine passport. Many see this as the introduction of ID cards by the back door. A concept long rejected in this country as a fundamental restriction on liberty. In the case of the vaccine passport the argument in favour concerns providing safety, so opening up the likes of large sporting events to big numbers, but how about the discrimination and basic denial of liberties that come as well. Then, there is the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which will restrict the right to protest. Ironically, this has brought people out during these Covid times to protest against legislation that will halt the right to protest. Former Home Secretary David Blunkett warned that "banning protest would make us more like Putin's Russia than the UK." In the universities, there have been strange Orwellian moves from government in the name of free speech, effectively deciding who can and cannot be heard. These authoriitarian moves are dangerous for everyone. Dissatisfaction at whatever level should be able to be registered and respected not outlawed. This is a democratic country and the right to free speech, protest and assembly is very much part of that terrain. Policing is by consent, squeezing out the space to protest, putting the police in direct conflict with large dissenting parts of the population, threatens the breakdown of that settlement. It has been said before that the call for the sacrifice of liberties in exchange for security has been the cry of dictators down the ages. There has been a clear call for just such a sacrifice from government during the months of the pandemic, something people have been prepared to abide by for a short period for the common good. That time is now passing, so all restrictions need to be lifted. There also needs to be a wider sea change away from the inward looking restrictive authoritarian state that has for many years been developing in the shadows. The time has come to cry freedom and reclaim our liberties.

West Ham edge stay on course for Champion League qualification with 3-2 win over rivals Leicester

West Ham United kept up their challenge for a place in the top four with this hard fought win over Champion League rivals Leicester City. The home team quickly took control of the game, with loanee Jesse Lingard instrumental in most of their best creative moves. It was Lingard, who put the home team ahead on the half hour, sweeping home from the edge of the area a Vladimir Coufal cross. Then a minute before half time, Issa Diop sent a long ball from the back, which Jarrod Bowen took on, squaring the ball for Lingard to tap home. The Hammers looked total in command, when a few minutes into the second half Arthur Masuaku found Lingard, who put Tomas Soucek away. The big Czech into layed the ball on in the penalty area for Bowen to ram home. Diop headed home a Lingard cross but the goal was ruled out for offside. Then with 20 minutes to West Ham strangely let Leicester back into the game, ending up hanging on for victory. First, a careless pass back from Masuaku went straight to Kelechi Iheanacho, who fired home from the edge of the penalty area. Iheanacho then doubled his tally a minute into injury time, driving home a deflected Marc Albrighton cross. West Ham manager David Moyes was unhappy about how his team almost let the points slip, after conceding goals for the third time in a row, after taking a three goal lead. “I was disappointed at the way we finished the game. We could have been four goals up, said Moyes. “We seem to go three up and conceded goals – I don’t like that, we have to do something about it.” Moyes paid tribute to the impact Lingard has made at the club, since his arrival in January, lifting the play and the players. He also credited Mark Noble for his display, admitting that the experienced players really will be vital for the run in, if West Ham are to gain a European place. “We’ve got momentum and confidence in how we play ..but we can’t lose too many players,” said Moyes. Leicester’s display was slightly overshadowed by the absence of James Maddison, Hamza Choudhury and Ayoz Perez, who were dropped from the squad for breaking Covid-19 protocols. The three have not trained in the past week but will be back in contention for the FA Cup semi-final next weekend. “Somethings are bigger than football, we have to respect that and what the nation has gone through,” said Brendan Rodgers, the Leicester manager. Rodgers felt his team were too passive and were not aggressive enough.

Volunteering to help in the community is on the increase, the next stage is real empowerment

Something that has been amazing to behold over the past year has been the way in which people have come together in community to help out. There has been the excellent work of Tin in a Bin supporting local foodbanks, then the mutual aid groups supporting those in need of different types of help. One striking example of community action has been the effort to clear up the growing levels of rubbish around the place. There have been the regular litter picks in Wanstead, Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats. All well attended. Then there has been the work of the Friends of the River Roding, clearing up the river. At a recent mass clear up along the river, near Ilford, the group discovered sewage spewing into the waterway doing a huge amount of damage. As a result of their work, the problem is being addressed. There has been the effort of people across the borough to cultivate tree pits -1200 have been adopted this year. There seems to be a real empowerment going on across communities, as people really take control. This is a most welcome development and it must be greeted with the right response from those in national and local government. People will expect to be taken seriously and given a real say in the way things run in exchange for their efforts. They will not accept just being used as a cheap labour source. It has to be a genuine partnership approach. Real empowerment of people is the only way forward, the more who get involved the better. For too long people have been passive, alienated from what is going on around them, frustrated about what is being done to rather than for them. This breeds a resentment just to lash out, often at those simply trying to do their best in difficult circumstances. If as a result of this pandemic period there is a real awakening of the community spirit that can then be harnessed for the common good, it can only be good for society. The next stage is to give these groups more of a say in how things are run, creating a truly inclusive system of empowerment. It can certainly be done, if we all have the will.