21 October (Part 1) - Ladies and Gentlemen of Erith & Thamesmead; your next MP
Falling back on a perhaps overused expression, Teresa Pearce the excellent
constituency MP for Erith & Thamesmead who is standing down at what must surely
be the imminent General Election, will be a very hard act to follow. As I
understand it a number of people have put their names forward for the selection
process including Momentum backed Commies - well at least that is what I was
told. We really don’t want that sort of nonsense around here.
I only recognise two of the long listed names both of whom have Councillor experience in
Bexley. One is Mabel Ogundayo currently representing Thamesmead East.
Mabel came to my notice very early on in her Councillor career when she was
singled out by a number of Conservative Councillors and criticised for
her youth, her alleged lack of education and her alleged failure to recognise
that the Children’s Care Services in Bexley were no longer as abysmal as they used to be.
Whilst the more reasonable Tories soon gave up on attacking youthfulness the
frequently obnoxious Philip Read (West Heath) continued with
his attempts to humiliate; he never really gave up on
his
mission to insult Mabel Ogundayo. Mabel has risen above his misogyny.
In one respect at least Councillor Ogundayo is following in Teresa Pearce’s footsteps
who also began her political career in Bexley’s Council Chamber but given
the pressure and stress that MPs suffer these days I have some misgivings about
encouraging such a path. On the other hand history suggests I need the support of a good MP to
keep me out of jail; Teresa is still battling injustices on my behalf, so I must
wish Mabel all the best with her ambitions.
She has made a very nice little promotional video. For ten years post-retirement
I became involved in video production and I can tell you that this one is head and
shoulders above the crap (sorry) we usually see from politicians.
Mabel Ogundayo, long listed by Labour for the MP vacancy in Erith & Thamesmead constituency.