Expelled "Self styled Tory" right about Southall

I was expelled from the Conservative Party for raising this issue about Southall. There are no votes for the Tories in Southall so they choose to ignore the plight. Labour have no interest in resolving this issue as poverty and lack of aspiration means they keep their voters. It looks like just little old me is willing to talk about this issue from a Ealing Political perspective. I shall continue to fight to have this awful human tragedy resolved.

An article in the Indian Times;

Broken London Dreams: UK to clear slums with illegal Indians

LONDON: Britain is setting up a taskforce to close and clear thousands of illegal extensions to houses in places such as Southall, where many illegal immigrants from India and elsewhere live in slum-like conditions at high rents.

Among the measures planned is “closer working with organisations such as the Indian High Commission to help those wanting to return home”, official sources here said.

The first meeting to tackle the issue by taking action against criminal landlords and removing illegal immigrants was scheduled today between Housing minister Grant Shapps and Immigration minister Damian Green.

For many Indian citizens who brave hazardous journeys across continents and wily human traffickers with hopes of a better life, their ‘London dream’ often turns into a veritable nightmare, and are reduced to living in slum-like conditions here.

The unhealthy, cramped conditions in which the illegal Indians live have often hit the headlines, with reports that many who destroyed their Indian passports to prevent deportation were trying to re-establishing their identity and obtain new travel documents from the Indian high commission to return home.

Termed ‘beds in sheds’ and ‘modern day shanty towns’ in news discourse, the slum-like living conditions are rented out for extortionate rents by ruthless landlords, many of them reported to be of Indian origin.

The ‘modern day shanty towns’, often visible on websites such as Google Earth, are plagued with rats, cockroaches and are considered potential death traps with dodgy wiring and poor sanitation.

Among the measures top on the agenda is closer coordination with the Indian high commission to help those illegal immigrants seeking to return home. ocal councils are being encouraged to make greater use of legal powers across planning, fire safety, housing and environmental health.

Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: “It is a scandal that these back garden slums exist to exploit people, many of whom are prepared to return voluntarily to their home country but instead find themselves trapped into paying extortionate rents to live in these cramped conditions”.

He added: “I want to see a crackdown on these criminal landlords.

“So today we are launching a national taskforce, made up of the police, local councils, the UK Border Agency and HM Revenue and Customs to close down these ‘beds in sheds’, help those living there to be reunited with their families and ensure their so-called landlords feel the full force of the law.”

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: “Those with no right to be in the UK must leave the country. If they volunteer to leave, we will help. If they refuse, we will enforce their removal. “The UK Border Agency will do whatever is necessary, working with local authorities and the police, to clear up this problem and enforce our laws against those who are in the UK illegally and the employers who exploit them”.

While Indian professionals and entrepreneurs take over UK companies and buy properties in London and elsewhere in large numbers, this neither world of the ‘India story’ provides a different picture.

On any day, you can see the illegal Indians huddled together in parts of London and towns with significant presence of Indian origin people, such as Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester. In popular parlance, the illegal Indians are pejoratively called ‘faujis’.

Savyasaachi Jain, noted film-maker who produced the acclaimed documentary titled ‘Door Kinare’ (Shores Far Away), highlighting the plight of illegal Indian immigrants, told PTI that those who had their dreams shattered wanted to warn others “not to be mad” to try and come here.

He said: “When I was making my film, I met many men who were destitute. They were living on the fringes of British society, homeless and sleeping rough. They weren’t making any progress here, and neither were they able to go back – to return home without having been successful would mean a huge loss of face, apart from the loss of the amount invested in travel.”

He added: “It’s a very desperate and stressful situation, and drug and alcohol abuse is common. These people are not criminals, they are enterprising young men who set out to make their fortune. But in this country they have no social capital, nobody to turn to. They don’t have the support networks that they would have in their villages back home.”

Cllr David Millican; A weak and indecisive Conservative Leader

In the Ealing Gazette, Cllr David Millican said “He [CLLR DENNEHY] is absolutely not saying the truth. No way did I approve the blog before he posted it. He was suspended very quickly and has now been expelled from the party. What he said was completely wrong and I agree with everything said in our statement.”

He is not lying in the above statement. But it is a fancy use of language. Let me explain.

I never asked or showed Cllr Millican my blog before posting it. I posted it on the 13th March 2012. HE READ  IT AND APPROVED IT ON THE 14TH MARCH. THE DAY AFTER ITS LAUNCH – FACT.

HE CAN MANIPULATE WORDS BUT THE TRUTH REMAINS — HE HAD NO ISSUE WITH MY POST.

I made it clear, if I am expelled I will defend my character. Yesterday’s initial headline in the Gazette online was my worst fear. Thankfully they agreed to amend the title so have huge respect for the Gazette’s editor.

TIMELINE

March 13th – I post blog.

March 14th –  My nemesis Cllr Manro, contacted Poppy Bradbury of the Ealing Gazette. He sought to capitalise on my comments for his own political gains. I respect that, I would have done the same thing!

Poppy phoned Cllr Millican that SAME day. David Millican claimed, and it was so reported, that he had not seen the blog.

Cllr Millican phoned me on that same Wednesday. He made it clear that he had been called by Poppy and that he believed I had apparently made a racist blog post. David made it clear that had I “gone off on a racist rant” I would be on my own. I respected that opnion, and still do.

I asked him to read my blog before he formed any decision.

Several hours later Cllr Millican calls me to say that whilst my comments “cut to the bone” I had not said anything he woud not be able to support. Cllr John Popham, the then Whip, also called me that afternoon to say that, if Cllr Manro referred me to the Standards Committee he would support me.

It was not until 24 hours later (Thursday 15th), and after a call from CCHQ, that Cllr Millican changed his mind, suspended me and requested I remove my blog. I complied, though was furious at the about face and total lack of process adopted.

THAT IS FACT.

I have been expelled from the Conservative Party for daring to point out that Southall has huge social problems that are being ignored by the Labour Party and now my own. It was widely accepted by my political betters that had I not published my piece during the Mayoral election I would not have been in trouble for my sentiments. I wrote, in strong words, an opinion that many people share. Southall has serious, serious, issues unique to it that are being ignored by the political leaders of Southall. I actually want to do something. Even if you disagree with me, we live in a society that embraces and encourages debate and opinion. To shut it down because it’s unpalatable to some is a crime against freedom.

What people don’t know or appreciate is that Cllr David Millican, Conservative Group Leader and his then Whip, Cllr John Popham, approved my blog!

Yes! They read it and had no issue with it. It was not until Boris Johnson’s election team berated Cllr Millican that he called me up and suspended me. He flip flopped. He’s a weak leader and I hope the Tories change him if they have any hope of success in 2014.

I am no Williiam Wilberforce but I am committed to getting all these illegal bedsits destroyed. A senior police officer said to me that what the Met Police feared the most was a human tradgedy in Southall. A shed with multiple occupants, illegally built and wired, will catch fire and there will be deaths, many deaths. I don’t want that so I refuse to let cultural niceties interfere with getting political will to make a change.

I became a Councillor to get things done! Call me a racist if you want. I know I’m not, my wife certainly does, my friends and family know I’m not, the Conservative Party knows I’m not and even Cllr Manro of Labour, the man that got this ball rolling, knows I am not. (We had a private conversation and it remains private).

Everything I wrote has been the subject of BBC documentaries or articles in the Daily Mail and Telegraph.

When I wrote it’s ‘a community that exploits it own’ this was a paraphrase of a young Punjab man trapped in Southall in an illegal bed shed, interviewed by the BBC on their “Our World” series. This poor chap (one of thousands) commented that there were many things he could accept, but the one thing he found the most difficult was “being exploited by his own people”. Watch the documentary, it’s 10 minutes in.

The Ealing Conservative Party has used me as an scape goat to explain why they lost Richard Barnes from the London General Assembly. I have no issue with the Conservative Party.

I have issue with the cowardice and weak leadership offered by Conservative Leader Cllr Millican. He attended my expulsion hearing and sat there, like a spineless jelly fish, not willing to admit that he had found nothing wrong with the opinion I had expressed.

I guess having approved it made him stay silent.

The first of many to be refurbished

About a year ago Cllr Nigel Sumner embarked on a battle to get Royal Mail to come and properly clean and refurbish the 30 Red Post boxes in our ward. After a year of frustration he sought my help. Being known for going to the top and never taking no, I valiantly accepted his request for help and began my campaign.

It took 4 days to get a result!

I went straight to the top. I emailed Royal mail’s CEO and also the Managing Director for Operations. I chased via the phone and demanded action.

An email exchange broke out between the CEO and her MD. At first there was reluctance, so I threatened to attend their office and meet the CEO in person. Within hours of my threat wheels were in motion. The MD contacted his Director of Operations and he then contacted me directly.

Within a week he had come to Hanger Hill ward, visited the boxes and agreed that they needed urgent work.

This picture is the first refurbished pillar box in the ward. We look forward to the others going ahead.

I am constantly disgusted at how the Labour Party claims to be the champion of the poor, but cares very little for them. I am attaching an email I sent today to the Leader of the Council Julian Bell and his Housing side kick Cllr Hitesh Tailor. It’s an appalling situation and one I want to highlight.

Dear Cllr Bell and Cllr Tailor,

I need immediate action taken for my resident Ms S. She has been cc’ed on this email.

She is a council tenant in a 2 bedroom flat with her 14 year old daughter. She is currently unemployed and on benefits. Her daughter attends a local school School.

Their flat is riddled with mold. It is in a disgusting state. I have attached photographs. I spent 1 hour in their home last night and I could smell and taste the mold. This is an appalling state to be living in and the Council has a clear duty to act immediately.

She tells me Ealing Housing has not been forthcoming. This flat is not fit for human habitation. I expect and demand an immediate response and action plan to get this matter sorted.

To add to the hardship of Ms S, since last October she has unselfishly allowed an acquaintance who turned up on her doorstep, homeless, with her 4 children to stay temporarily with her. That has now dragged on for 6 months.

Ealing Council refuses to accept any responsibility for this guest. They claim that as she was made homeless in Hillingdon therefore she is a matter for them. Hillingdon say she is an Ealing matter.

A few weeks ago a woman from Ealing Council, only known as V, carried out an assessment at the property. They never ever saw this assessment or heard back.

The children are aged 2, 6, 9 and 18. The guest has a dubious immigration status. Despite immigrating in [deleted] when she was 14 from [deleted] she does not have a clear immigration status. Despite this she does have an NI number. Her daughter, who’s 18, is in receipt of tax credits.

They need to be housed. I believe we have a duty to the children under section 20 of the Children’s Act.

Ms S cannot be permitted to live in a mold riddled flat with 5 children of all ages and sexes and two adults. They have 2 beds between them, 1 single and a double.

It is an appalling case of poverty. I expect immediate action.

Kind Regards,

Cllr Benjamin Dennehy

Cllr Mahfouz - Incompetent, to resign over waste affair?

It’s time to sack, or if any honour in Labour existed, for Cllr Mahfouz to resign. His incompetence is only over shadowed by his arrogance.

His management of the rubbish collection contract switch over has been abismal. He has presided over a shambles of a reorganisation. He has managed to affect every home in Ealing and has insulted tax payers with his glib arrogant response to this mess.

The Labour Party is known for spewing forth half truths, quarter truths and totals lies. Note, there is an established convention that we never call each other liars, even if we know they are. It’s an absurd english pleasantry that means lies go unchallenged. However having being labelled a racist for speaking truth about poverty, it’s best I adhere to this convention. I may be called a Toff and a philanthropist otherwise!

Half truth 1 – the Government has cut their funding by £85 million. Not so, it’s actually £55 million.

Haf Truth 2 – roads are cleaner under Labour. Actually standards have consistently declined since Labour took office in 2010.

Half truth 3 – the council is cash strapped and broke – actually they have found £5.5 million for a car park in Southall, £1 million for desks, £4.4 million for computers and they are going to give iPads to labour Party members of the Cabinet

Half truth 4 – It wasn’t the government hand out that that kept Council tax at 0% – it was actually!

Half truth 5 – Cllr Mahfouz is competent – we all know that is nonsense.

Do the decent thing Councillor Bassam, RESIGN.

Cllr Mahfouz - Outraged by untruths in Budget speeches

At last night’s full Council meeting Labour’s 2011/12 budget was revealed as a sham. £9.4 million pounds of Council Tax payer’s money was not spent in the previous year, meaning that the Albert Dane Centre, discounted taxi rides, Impact Theatre, sacking Park Rangers threatening to close libraries never should have happened!

Check out the budget here

The Labour Party has embarked on a campaign that if done by a private corporation would be tantamount to theft! They are taking taxes from you and not spending every penny on frontline services but holding back £9.4 million for their own vanity pet projects, like car parks in Southall and iPads for Cabinet members. It is a scandal!

To add further insult to injury they have another £43 million in cash reserves sitting in the bank. They are cutting services but banking huge sums. This is the very definition of incompetence and greed.

So many half-truths were told at last night’s meeting that even Labour started to doubt its own figures. Their fibber-in-chief Cllr Bassam Mahfouz even had the gall to complain that Cllr Dennehy made up an untrue fact when he claimed road repairs and maintenance is down. It is in fact true. They are spending less on roads than the last administration, ergo less spending and worse repairs.

He wasn’t so quick to point out his untrue facts when he repeats the continuing Labour con that they are being forced by the Government to cut spending by £85 million pounds. This is a false statement. The Government have cut funding, agreed, but only by £53 million. That means the difference, £32 million, is theirs and theirs alone.

But I am not sure we can actually blame the political leadership of Labour Party too much. My understanding is that they have no control over their officers, that they simply do as they are told and simply put on a brave face when defending the budget. Unnamed Labour sources have said that the Labour Party is frustrated at how officers run rings around them. Poor political leadership is to blame for this failure. The blame is all Cllr Bell’s.

I’ve met most of the Cabinet and believe me, it wouldn’t be hard to run rings around them.

All in all a bad night for Ealing but a great evening for democracy and transparency!