Barry meets the Eco Warriors of Fryent Primary School

This week Barry visited Fryent Primary School to meet with their Eco Warriors. They discussed many aspects of climate emissions, biodiversity and air pollution.

As a result the children are now undertaking a project to establish the number of cars passing by their school every day so they can establish the data to demand the council take action against air pollution.

Barry also promised to pass on their request for more recycling points in the borough to deal with things like clothes, shoes and batteries. Barry has since sent a letter to Ms Kim Wright, Brent Council’s new Chief Executive raising the students’ concerns.

Coronation Celebrations in Brent North

The beginning of the month was marked by the coronation of King Charles III, and I enjoyed visiting several celebrations throughout our constituency including Elsley Primary School, Sudbury Town Residents’ Association Coronation Party, South Kenton and Preston Park Resident’s Association Street Party, the Lyon Park Avenue Street Party and the Mayor of Brent’s Coronation Lunch.

Celebrating Diwali with MMUK

Barry joined Maheshwari Mahasabha United Kingdom (MMUK) as the chief guest at the charity’s 15th Diwali gala dinner, held at Clay Oven Banqueting in Wembley.

MMUK has 450+ active families – the majority living in Brent North – who are active in raising money for charities that support underprivileged students in education and other social needs.

Lest we forget

For Barry, it is always a huge privilege to attend Brent’s Remembrance Sunday events. This year he attended the Royal British Legion Remembrance Service at St John the Evangelist Church in Wembley and the Borough Civic Remembrance Service and Parade at the Memorial Site in Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Barham Park.

We Shall Remember Them.

Stimulating debate at the library

Barry’s film about the disgraceful practice of fire and rehire was the featured Saturday night film at the Preston Community Library recently. Every day, workers across Britain are being threatened with the sack unless they accept new contracts with worse terms and conditions for doing the same job.

After showing the film, Barry took questions from the audience and there was a lively discussion about the state of British politics.

100 years of working class history

Barry spoke at Brent Trades Council’s celebration of the centenary of the Willesden Trades and Labour Hall’s constitution. The trades hall has played a key role in the political, economic and social history of Willesden and then Brent since the early 20th century, being a focal point for trade union meetings and strike committees as the unions grew in strength on the industrial estates of Park Royal, the North Circular Road and Cricklewood.

The iconic building, which is now in a state of disrepair, has witnessed the rich, working class, fighting back history of the borough and has hosted some of the greatest orators of the labour movement over many decades. Barry talked about how thrilled he was at the plans to restore and relaunch the hall and the adjacent London Apollo Club to serve as a labour and community centre again, at a time of increasing confidence and a definite sense of a revival of the trade unions.

Read more about the hall’s history in the Morning Star newspaper here

Developing leadership skills in primary pupils

Barry joined pupils at Mount Stewart school as they prepare to elect their new school council. He talked to them about what it means to be a leader and the importance of giving other people a voice. Barry explained what the children may want to include in their election speeches and offered to support our new school council with their manifesto.

The school has worked hard on developing leadership in its pupils, with 11 different, wide ranging roles open to children from Reception to Year 6 and over 200 children in a position of responsibility. 

There is a clear problem solving focus, with studentss producing costed and detailed plans to make a difference to the school. One pupil leader stated that “I have a voice now and I know that I have a right to be heard.”

Cutting the ribbon

Barry attended the official opening of the refurbished clubhouse and new playing pitch at Hendon FC back in July. The club plays just behind Silver Jubilee Park in Kingsbury

They forgot the scissors and the ribbon so the 9-year-old junior squad helped Barry cut the imaginary ribbon. All two fingers held carefully horizontal!

Summer of Solidarity

Barry also joined Brent South MP Dawn Butler, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan and ASLEF members on their picket line at the Willesden depot in early August.

These striking workers have not had a pay rise since 2019, while inflation is rocketing, yet the rail companies signed a deal with the government stopping them offering more than 2% unless the Transport Secretary agreed.

Barry called on then transport secretary Grant Shapps to lift the cap on rail workers’ pay.