Local News
Labour loses its majority on Newham Council
THE NEW Labour Mayor of Newham, Forhad Hussain, will have an interesting four years as he battles a Council without a Labour majority. In one sense, the composition of the Council does not matter, as the Executive Mayor has delegated powers to govern. The added bonus for Hussain is that in Newham, h...
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Lutfur Rahman triumphs in Tower Hamlets Mayor election
HE IS BACK. Lutfur Rahman has won a decisive victory in the election for Mayor of Tower Hamlets. He topped the poll with over 31,000 votes – winning his fourth mayoral election. The ringing endorsement from voters came as a Green surge saw the Party nearly beat Tower Hamlets Labour Party into thir...
Labour hangs on to Mayoralty in Newham
IT WAS the opposition that won it for Labour. Rokhsana Fiaz stood down as labour Executive Mayor after two four year terms, and Labour selected Forhad Hussain as their candidate. Forhad, a former Labour Councillor for Plaistow North ward, won the election against a divided opposition. This is no rin...
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Reform UK crushes all-comers to take Havering
HAVERING residents are in for a grim four years. Reform UK has swept away the other parties to take full control of the Council for the next four years. Traditionally Havering has been a Tory borough. Straddling London and south Essex, it is where the aspiring white middle classes go when they have ...
Starmer loses it for Hackney to the Green surge
LABOUR has ruled for 16 years, but today the Green surge has swept them out. The Green Party candidate for Mayor, Zoë Garbett, did not so much win the election for Mayor – she smashed it. Full result Zoë Garbett, Green Party, 35,720 (47.2%) Caroline Woodley, Labour Party, 26,865 (35.5%) Tareke G...
Contaminated fishcakes recalled by ASDA
PLASTIC and metal may have contaminated ASDA’s beer-battered cod fishcakes – and the product has been recalled from sale. The contaminants may be present as small pieces within the product. The affected product is the ASDA own-brand Beer Battered Cod Fishcake, which is sold in a 290g pack size b...
'They must be moved' - Barking family 'trapped' in flat where lift keeps failing
A family living on a council estate in Barking are "regularly trapped" because of dozens of lift failures and forced to carry their disabled daughter.
Hospital charity celebrates independence from NHS trust
The King George and Queen’s Hospitals Charity celebrates becoming independent from the trust.
Stratford arrest foils right wing extremist’s terror plan
HE THOUGHT he was buying a gun from fellow right-wing extremists. In fact, he was buying a gun from two undercover detectives – who were part of a joint investigation by London Counter Terrorism Police (CTP) and MI5. The two forces had been working together to track what Alfie Douglas Coleman, 21,...
UK's current terror threat level raised to 'severe' meaning 'attack is highly likely'
Reports have emerged suggesting that the UK's current threat level has increased from substantial to severe.
Spandau Ballet singer Ross Davidson sentenced to 14 years for rape and sexual assault
Ross Davidson has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being found guilty of a series of rapes and sexual assaults against six different women.
'My childhood changed forever because of my swimming coach's sexual abuse'
Former Becontree swimming coach Robert Spink has been jailed for historic child sexual abuse.
Nearly half of joggers reckon their run doesn't count unless they’ve tracked it
Nearly half of joggers reckon their run 'doesn't count’ unless they’ve tracked it on their fitness device, according to research.
Spring brings new life and wellbeing projects to Hainault garden
Pieter Rossouw outlines new spring projects at Forest Farm Peace Garden, supporting wellbeing, rewilding and community connection in Hainault.
New hope for women who suffer pain for years
AN ASTONISHING one in ten women in the UK suffer from “endometriosis” – a condition which sees cells like those which line the uterus grow in the pelvic region, outside the womb, or elsewhere in the body. The condition is almost always painful – sometimes agonisingly so. It will also lead to...
Check out Tower Hamlets College
7TH MAY is thought of as “polling day” across East London. But if you are too young to vote, and you’re thinking of studying at Tower Hamlets College, that’s also the day when you can go and find out more about the College. Tower Hamlets College, as the locals know it, is technically part of...
'Why making sure your voices are heard at City Hall matters to me'
Unmesh Desai shares how he speaks up for residents at City Hall, from community support after crises to holding the Mayor to account.
Real-world skills on show as Barking & Dagenham College students get competitive
Michael Frederick writes about Barking & Dagenham College students showcasing real‑world skills at ExCeL London’s HRC event, highlighting the power of competitions in further education.
£5,000 grant helps HIV positive Londoners feel less isolated
The Food Chain, the UK’s only HIV specialist nutrition charity, has received a £5,000 grant to support its Eating Together service.
Two people escape as flat balcony destroyed in 18-storey block fire in Barking
Two people escaped a fire that destroyed a flat balcony in a high-rise block in Barking.