“If you don’t do politics, politricks will do you” — Benjamin Zephaniah
Blog by Krissie Nicolson Co-Director East End Trades Guild.
Last week, the Shoreditch Town Hall council chamber was ablaze with people power. Accompanied by the joyful energy of the Pantonic Steel Band, members of the Guild, customers, and residents gathered to ensure the people are the winners in today’s election!
Our co-chairs spoke warmly about why they are a part of the Guild “I run Sip and Sew On. I joined the Guild because it can get lonely running a business. You can’t do it alone, so it’s important to be part of a community and have that bond with others in the struggle and to access opportunities together,” Lois Anyait co-chair with Demitri Kerlew – London Trades Guild CLT, Ann – Marie Griffiths – Caribbean Kitchen, Harriet Jones – Orlando Frames, Joe Sharpe from Zhero and Sebastian Quinn – Len’s mentee, who kept the candidates in check as timekeeper!
Thanks to all the people who showed up to be the change, both candidates committed to Yes to a CLT, Yes to social value, Yes to community wealth, and Yes to meet with us again their first 100 days! Now we must collectively show up and vote.
Polling stations are open until 10pm. Find your nearest one here. If you’re still unsure who to vote for after reading the verbatim responses from the main candidates below, check out the party manifestos of the two front-runners here in alphabetical order;
See which one aligns most strongly with our people’s manifesto proposals for the new economy – a site for Community Land Trust, Social Value Leases and Community Wealth Building!
The People’s Manifesto
We heard sobering testimony from Len Maloney’s apprentices, Yosief, Bilal and Darnell alongside the Save Ridley Road traders and supporters, DC, Wes and Lennox. They stood together shoulder to shoulder in solidarity against the “erosion” of our neighbourhoods, reminding us why we fight.
Watch the video taken by Christine Preisig below to hear their powerful words directly, followed by the candidates’ verbatim responses to our proposals:
The Big Ask: 30,000 Sq. Ft. for the Community
The Question (Bilal): “If elected, will you commit to helping us identify and secure 30,000 square feet of work and play space… to compensate for the destruction of social value caused by JC Motors’ eviction… and to prevent spaces like Ridley Road from suffering the effects of sell-offs and rent hikes in Hackney—identifying at least one site for our CLT by April 2028?”
Zoë Garbett (Green)
“Thank you. They were absolutely beautiful presentations from all of you. Really hit me in the heart just how important these businesses are. I’ve spent a lot of time with Len over the last couple of years in my role on the London Assembly… I love this ask. I will commit to the ask, yes.
We want to do a review of who owns Hackney. Who owns the building? Who owns the land? These empty spaces we see—let’s get those back into community use. Let’s put pressure on people to use these spaces for the community. I didn’t know Len’s Arch had been empty for that long. I think that’s absolutely shocking… they’d rather have it empty. This ownership gives people that longevity to be able to buy stock and provide for their families.”
Caroline Woodley (Labour)
“I’m already working with you, and it sounds like it needs a big rocket behind it to try and actually achieve it. It’s obviously frustrating to think that Len’s been in this limbo all this time… it certainly gives me greater commitment to sort of start again in the new administration to try and resolve this.
There are something like 700 assets that we manage in Hackney. Almost 400 are dedicated to our volunteering community sectors. There is no harm in looking at some of those assets with a body like the East End Trades Guild to see what opportunities there are. Regarding Ridley Road, the council has already taken over the top floor of the shopping village and some basement area to ensure storage space.”
Community Wealth & Procurement
The Demand (Anne-Marie, Caribbean Kitchen): “Small businesses are being squeezed out of contracts by huge corporations. We are demanding an even distribution of wealth and mandatory subcontracting to viable local suppliers”
Caroline Woodley: “We do prioritise local businesses as part of our commissioning. We prioritise social value, we’re going up from 15% to 20% in that balance of scale. We don’t always go for the cheapest company. We go for those that will employ locally, offer London Living Wage, and offer apprenticeships. One of our manifesto pledges is for micro-businesses can sign up for a business rate discount.”
Zoë Garbett: “Before I was a politician, I worked in the NHS and local authorities in procurement. In times of austerity, it’s the planning, licensing, and procurement laws that we need to make work for our communities. I made the NHS understand that the voluntary sector and small businesses could be trusted. I commit to this—looking at how those contracts can be used to make sure they’re paying people properly and keeping that wealth in Hackney.”
Social Value Leases
The Question (Lois, Sip And Sew On): “Will you work with us to implement social value leases (offsetting rent with social value) in a percentage of your own stock and campaign with us for Places for London to do the same?”
Zoë Garbett “I worked with a Conservative assembly member to do a social value investigation in City Hall. It made recommendations around how we can value existing social value rather than when a development happens and they ‘invent’ new social value. So yes, I do commit to the ask.”
Caroline Woodley“I’ve already mentioned social value a few times, so I’ll expand on my commitment to that. I want to look at the Islington model, because 100% is a lot—I’m curious to know how that is actually sustainable. But I’m sure there are ways to improve what we’re already doing. We think of Hackney as the ‘people’s borough,’ and we don’t want people to be displaced.”
The 100-Day Commitment
The Question: Harriet – “We feel that a constructive working relationship with the next Mayor of Hackney is essential to meaningful impact. Will you meet with us in the first 100 days to discuss progress?” Ann Marie “And if you win, we are inviting you to Caribbean Kitchen to eat all the jerk chicken you can manage!”
Caroline Woodley: “That’s definitely the best offer of the whole campaign. Definitely within the first 100 days to be held to account and to meet with all of you.”
Zoë Garbett: “I’ve committed to publishing the mayor’s diary so you can see who I’m meeting with. We don’t take money from vested interests. Yes, please, I’d love to come.”
The evening was rounded off in song led by Alex Etchart, a local British Uruguayan performer, composer, director, and facilitator for music theatre and film. Together we sang Gonna Lift My Brother Up!
Building Power in Newham
And that’s not all! We also found time to convene with allies in Newham, where the proposed site for our CLT (as promised by the Mayor of London) is located at the Royal Docks.
Together with Power to Prosper, Money A&E, RESOLVE Collective, YES Make, and Tipping Point East, we met with Forhad Hussain (Labour) and Areeq Chowdhury (Green) to compel them to work with us on our manifesto.
The result? We won firm commitments to meet again within their first 100 days to develop our manifesto goals in Newham, too!
Let’s lift each other by showing up today before 10pm to cast a vote for social and economic justice for all! Find your nearest polling station here.
⚠️ REMEMBER YOUR ID
You cannot vote without a valid physical photo ID. Digital photos on your phone or photocopies will be rejected—it must be the original.
Accepted forms of ID include:
Passports & Driving Licences
Oyster 60+ Cards & Freedom Passes
Blue Badges
Note: Expired ID is okay as long as the photo still looks like you!
