A Labour Party branch in the City of London, really - no? Who'd have thought? Well, it's true. Any avid reader of this blog could not possible be under any misconceptions. The Labour Party is alive and prospering under the noses and in the faces of the financial establishment. Membership is up by over 2/3rds compared to a year ago - accounting for just over 1% of the residential electorate of some 8,000. That's double the proportion of Labour members nationally to the total electorate, which is currently around 0.5%
Local activists like to think that it is due to making themselves known in the commnity. Two years ago when the branch was a mere shadow of its current self, a small slate of local candidates was sworn in as Freeman of the City of London - as is their right under the City of London Act 2002. There is an account of their exploits in Tribune here.
So what better opportunity to rally support for Labour's newly evolving policies towards the City of London and the financial sector than join the TUC March for jobs on 26 March behind a banner? Unfortunately, banner makers are in short supply, and the banners themselves are not cheap. Fortunately, Unison - the trade union, has donated two pennants to any Constituency Labour Party that has requested them. But how to stand out in the crowd?
A member recalled seeing cloth letters on bunting at a World Mental Health Day event in Hackney last autumn made by a local charity. It turned out to be Peter Bedford Housing Association based in Dalston. It has a soft furnishings section at its Stamford Works run by Patsy Hibbert (pictured left above). So with the vital assistance of her, cutter Errol Headley-Hall and seamstress Kalsoom Bibi Kha (pictured right above), City of London Labour Party now has a customised pennant behind which to rally to show solidarity on 26 March.
(Photo: courtesy of Beatrice Akulia)
If you are quick you could have one too. Just ring 020 7923 9255 and ask for Patsy or Soft Furnishing.