Plan for 70 new public toilets at Tube and bus stations is refused

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tfl-tube-bus-new-public-toilets-stations-b1063011.html

The plan won support from Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, but was voted down by the Labour group

A plan to create more public toilets at Tube and bus stations across the capital has been rejected by City Hall, despite most London Assembly members voting in favour of it.

The £20 million proposal, put forward by Green Party members at City Hall, attracted support from the Assembly’s Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups – meaning a majority of Assembly Members (AMs) were behind it.

It was voted down by the Labour group however, preventing it from achieving the required two thirds of support among AMs.

London mayor Sadiq Khan said he would instead be willing to put funding aside for a feasibility study to explore the concept.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/tfl-tube-bus-new-public-toilets-stations-b1063011.html

Continue ReadingPlan for 70 new public toilets at Tube and bus stations is refused

The first fascists – and the first anti-fascists – in London 100 years ago

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/first-fascists-and-first-anti-fascists-london-100-years-ago

Historian ALFIO BERNABEI tells the remarkable story of how Sylvia Pankhurst and Silvio Corio railed against the fascist ‘camorra’ in Clerkenwell’s Little Italy in the aftermath of Mussolini’s seizure of power

Image thanks to Morning Star

IT WAS from their office near the British Museum at 98 Great Russell Street that 100 years ago the newly born branch of the Italian Fascist Party issued an invitation to a ball in the heart of London, the first such event in Britain.

The “Black Shirt Gala Ball” was to be held at the luxurious Cecil Hotel in the Strand on February 25 1923 “in aid of the fund for the fascista home in London.”

The eyecatching announcement in the Italian fascist weekly L’Eco d’Italia listed: DANCING from 8.30 P.M. (Evening Dress, Black Shirts for members of the Fascista Party), SUPPER at 10.30 P.M. and more DANCING TILL 3 A.M.

The wording made clear that the event was an official one organised “under the patronage of the Italian ambassador to the Court of St James, Marquis Della Torretta of the Princes of Lampedusa” with the Italian military and naval attaches in attendance.

Everything was going well for the fascists — except for a pioneering movement of opposition born in London that was using language equivalent to a call to arms.

This movement was formed by a group of Italian anti-fascists centred around Soho who had launched their own publication, a weekly called Il Comento.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/first-fascists-and-first-anti-fascists-london-100-years-ago

Continue ReadingThe first fascists – and the first anti-fascists – in London 100 years ago

Greens mark 50 years since birth of political movement to protect people and planet

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2023/02/24/greens-mark-50-years-since-birth-of-political-movement-to-protect-people-and-planet/

Green Party founders, leaders and parliamentarians will gather today to mark the 50h anniversary of the founding of the Green political movement in the UK [1] – and the first Green Party in Europe.

Around 40 past and present leaders of the Greens including Caroline Lucas MP, Green peer Natalie Bennett, founding members Lesley Whittaker, Michael Benfield and Freda Sanders, and Jean Lambert former MEP, will meet for the opening of the Green Party archive at the London School of Economics [2].

The event marks the 50th anniversary of the first public meeting of PEOPLE, in Coventry on 22 February 1973. PEOPLE became the Ecology Party in 1975, before eventually becoming the Green Party in 1985.

https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2023/02/24/greens-mark-50-years-since-birth-of-political-movement-to-protect-people-and-planet/

Continue ReadingGreens mark 50 years since birth of political movement to protect people and planet

Tony Blair snubbed by DCU for peace process honour due to his role over Iraq war

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/tony-blair-snubbed-by-dcu-for-peace-process-honour-due-to-his-role-over-iraq-war-42359792.html

Traitor Tony Blair receives the Congressional Gold Medal of Honour from George 'Dubya' Bush
Traitor Tony Blair receives the Congressional Gold Medal of Honour from George ‘Dubya’ Bush

Dublin City University (DCU) has rejected a proposal to award Tony Blair an honorary doctorate for his work on the Good Friday Agreement.

The former British prime minister had been proposed for the honour alongside Bertie Ahern.

However, the Sunday Independent understands the university’s governing authority rejected the nomination over fears it would lead to a backlash due to Mr Blair’s role over the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

“The decision was made that Mr Blair would be too controversial. They felt the Iraq war would bring too much negative attention to the university,” a source said.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/tony-blair-snubbed-by-dcu-for-peace-process-honour-due-to-his-role-over-iraq-war-42359792.html

Continue ReadingTony Blair snubbed by DCU for peace process honour due to his role over Iraq war

Labour bans CLPs from links with string of human rights/peace/health groups incl PSC, JVL, Corbyn’s PJP

Original article and image republished from The Swawkbox for non-Commerical use.

Email to CLPs warns them that any existing affiliations with groups campaigning for abortion rights, minority human rights, disarmament and a fully public NHS are cancelled

Image thanks to The Skwawkbox

The Labour party has banned local parties (CLPs) from affiliating with an array of groups supporting the human rights of ethnic minorities or campaigning for a public NHS, in yet another Stalinist move to limit members’ freedom of expression.

And local parties are being notified by email that any affiliations they already have in place are unilaterally cancelled – and that if a right-wing group is affiliated with the party nationally, they have no say over whether that group affiliates with them locally.

One such email reads:

Organisations that are nationally affiliated to the party are eligible to affiliate to any CLP provided they pay the appropriate fee and the CLP cannot debate or decide on their affiliations.

…The following affiliations are therefore no longer valid and the CLP may not renew its affiliation without approval from the NEC. To do so would breach party rules. These are:

Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Labour Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition, Republic, London Irish Abortion Rights Campaign, Jewish Voice for Labour, Somalis for Labour, Sikhs for Labour, All African Women’s Group, Health Campaigns Together, The Campaign against Climate Change Trades Union, Peace & Justice Project.

Yes, you read that right: a group campaigning for peace, human rights, women’s rights, disarmament and to protect the environment are not welcome in Keir Starmer’s Labour party and party member groups risk disciplinary action if they try to associate with them.

The news should come as no surprise in Starmer’s racist, pro-privatisation, pro-apartheid party where his promises to renationalise the NHS and public utilitiesprotect the climate and empower member rights and democracy were binned almost the instant he got his backside into Corbyn’s office and his claim to be on the side of domestic violence victims masks a shameless cover-up of abuse of them.

And of course, given recent appalling comments by the leadership and its agents, Jews who believe in the human rights of Palestinians are particularly unwelcome – and indeed are being disproportionately targeted by the regime in a campaign of blatant (but ignored by the media) antisemitism and discrimination.

Original article and image republished from The Swawkbox for non-Commerical use.

Continue ReadingLabour bans CLPs from links with string of human rights/peace/health groups incl PSC, JVL, Corbyn’s PJP