10 Recorder, Thursday June 19, 2014 LETTERS AND COMMENT

I SOCIAL DIVERSITY I iwitness24 PICTURE OF THE WEEK post at Westminster at the residents’ expense, whatever Mix of cultures their party. That the electorate should enriches life tolerate it is another matter entirely, but my comments How lucky I am to live in were not party political, nor such a diverse area. On an attack on Mr Streeting Saturday, June 7, I attended as an individual, which was the Kabaddi Games in not clear from Mr Smith’s Goodmayes. The weather response. was fantastic, as was the Pádraig Floyd atmosphere. No end of Sikh Elmstead Road View from residents were only too Seven Kings happy to explain the rules of the game to me. It is very the House much a Punjabi game and I AREA COMMITTEES the crowd were very excited supporting their teams. Cost can be cut Lee Scott One of the highlights was MP for Ilford North the children’s team. Their in other ways f speculation around enthusiasm was wonderful With regard to the Labour the town hall is correct, and I was delighted to see Party agenda to scrap area Ithe new Labour-run that this tradition wasn’t committee meetings, I would administration of going to disappear. like to suggest that they do Redbridge Council is On Sunday, June 8, I not use “a sledge hammer planning to scrap the area went to the Al-Noor Family to crack a nut”! There are committee system. If this Funday. The event is key other options that should were to happen, I would be in Al-Noor’s fundraising be considered for reducing very disappointed but not strategy for Islamic Relief Tony Webb took this to Egypt and the Nile? around Redbridge. cost, but not least because at all surprised. and Orphans In Need. picture of two Egyptian Tony is one of several We’d love to see more, so I can recall that it was The charities focus on geese on a wildlife raft in iwitness contributors who why not sign up to london. Area committees give they who insisted on these education and training, South Park, Ilford, with regularly send us their iwitness24.co.uk and start residents the chance to meetings in the first place. provision of clean water, the caption: “Which way images of wildlife in and sharing your pictures? speak on local issues that I think the principle of health and nutrition, concern them and to meet community engagement is etc. All monies raised and hear directly from paramount and, while cost goes towards helping the their ward councillors. North Labour members Ken Turner and numbers taking part charitable work that the Al- I CLLR STREETING People can also comment chose Wes Streeting to Worcester Gardens is important, I do not think Noor foundation does in the on agenda items and make Cranbrook they should be dropping the community. be our parliamentary Criticisms show suggestions of possible idea altogether. So I would, Again the weather was candidate by a significant topics for future meetings. for example, suggest that fantastic, with a variety of margin – precisely because Tories afraid Area committees can they cut the number of area stalls, exciting rides, good of his life experience. debate and decide on Some of your readers seem That attack was meetings from seven to two food and much more. He has spent his neighbourhood roads, to have short memories meetings held on the basis I enjoyed a wonderful professional career working recreational and open when launching personal not in my name of Ilford North meetings weekend thanks to people outside politics for a range space issues and scrutinise attacks against Labour I would like to point alternating with Ilford who allowed me to share of charities focused on the effectiveness of deputy leader Cllr Wes out that, though Mr South meetings where the their culture and my life is supporting people from local service delivery. Streeting. Smith rightly reprised constituency councillors much richer for it. disadvantaged backgrounds In addition, to help Ilford North has a history my concerns about Wes and MPs can be held Cllr Barbara White to access education. provide funding support of electing local councillors Streeting sitting on the accountable and consult on Goodmayes There aren’t many people for community groups, in Parliament from working- to the House of Commons. fence about his Westminster key local community issues they have an annual Linda Perham was a sitting career, I do not wish to be rather than routine council class families like Wes. discretionary budget. councillor when she was associated with the other agendas. I POLITICAL DEBATE Even fewer, I suspect, elected in 1997 and chose to comments made in that If even this is Over the years, Labour are those who worked at stand down following the letter. unaffordable, then the has proclaimed vociferous Personal slurs McDonald’s to fund their general election. I made no reference to politicians can attend support for bringing key way through college. Does Current MP Lee Scott was Mr Streeting’s educational voluntarily to engage with decision making as close are unmerited this count as a “proper job” selected as the Conservative achievements, nor his lack their constituents and to local people as possible. Over the last few weeks for Mrs Fynn? parliamentary candidate of what Mr Smith calls earn voter support through The sad reality is that it has become very clear The Tories may wish to just months after the local a “proper job”. I applaud regular engagement, even once Labour takes power, that the Tories plan to fight the next election in election and was a serving those who dedicate their if MPs are unable to attend the knee-jerk reaction respond to their recent the gutter, but we have no Cabinet member when time to charitable causes each time. After all, there is to centralise political defeat by launching intention of joining them elected to the Commons in and have many friends are a number of other authority. For Labour, increasingly personalised there. The people of Ilford 2005. He chose to stay on the and family with Oxbridge community individuals the fact that they do not attacks against Labour North deserve a better council to see out his term. degrees for whom such an involved on a voluntary have absolute political people ahead of the general standard of political debate. I am sure Cllr Streeting award presents no major basis. I wonder how control of each and every election. Annajoy David will take heart from these obstacle. many other people would Redbridge area committee In response to Pauline Chairman attacks as a sign that the It is outrageous that agree that it is a better makes these expendable. Fynn’s letter last week, I’d Ilford North Tories are worried. They any politician thinks s/he I do not want our like to point out that Ilford Labour Party should be. can hedge their bets on a I Turn to facing page residents to be fobbed off with phoney political consultation and debate. Spiritual life The suggestion that electronic chit-chat via the internet is a substitute for reedom for regime to speak their often we feel imprisoned. designed for. discussions between real hostages”, “press mind or just the first day Harmful addictions His death on the cross people at real meetings ‘Ffreedom under of your holiday. and resurrection three is self-serving nonsense. threat”, “free at last – and behavioural patterns days later broke the If the abolition takes how I finally stopped We want to be in charge can ruin relationships power of sin over us place, I promise I will do smoking”. We all love a of our own lives, express and wreck lives. The and enables us to break all in my power, working freedom story. our opinions freely and Bible calls this “sin” – through to a life of with neighbourhood make choices about the doing, saying or thinking There is something freedom and fulfilment. groups, residents and things we want to do. things that go against liberating and interested councillors, to God’s plan for living. “If the Son sets you exhilarating about But, for many, true provide a structure for an free, you will be free freedom, whether it’s freedom seems out of The good news is that alternative area forum indeed.” John 8v36 the release of those reach. We like to be in Jesus came to rescue us that will keep in place The Rev Stephen imprisoned unjustly, the control but too often we from sin – to give us a Why not come to Jesus the opportunity for local Derbyshire opportunity for those feel out of control. We’d fresh start and the life and start a new life of people to have their say. City Gates Christian Centre, Ilford living under a repressive love to be free, but too of freedom that we were freedom? Letters to the Editor, may be edited for legal or space reasons and can be sent by email to [email protected] (always include your postal address), fax 020 847 3801 or by post to Letters, Ilford Recorder, 539 High Road, Ilford IG1 1UD