At the end of 2021 I ended my 36 years in local government & came out of political retirement. Here’s my #Colchester 2022 review which turned out to be one helluva year. Solidarity & #HappyNewYear to all the wonderful new people I’ve got to know in the last twelve months. 1/14
JANUARY: A group of socialists visited Fratting Hall Farm, a former pacifist settlement nr. Colchester, founded during the Second World War in 1943. The painting of the barn which survives to this day was by local artist Roderick Barrett. History 👉 historyworkshop.org.uk/radical-object… 2/14
FEBRUARY: Attended a #JohnsonOut rally organised by Brighton Trades Council. The message on the placard was one the stark messages of the protestors. 📷 BH Griffiths.
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MARCH: During this month, in an act of imperialist aggression, Putin invaded further parts of Ukraine. A few weeks later I attended a Labour Movement protest against the invasion in London organised by @UkraineSol . 📷 BH Griffiths
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APRIL: 5/14 During April Labour campaigners worked to build the Labour vote. Their efforts were rewarded when the Tories lost control of Colchester Council & @MollyBloomfiel4 became our youngest councillor #ToriesOut . 📷 BH Griffiths 5/14
MAY: We held a prescient Union event at the New Inn to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Miners’ Strike, learn about mass working class action & raise cash for @orgreavejustice. @EvHelfteren told us about Colchester’s role in the victory. 6/14
JUNE: I was elected as the Chair of Colchester Labour Party. The first thing I did, as Chair, was to attend the Trades Council delegation to the RMT picket line. Hear Colchester RMT activists put their case 🎥 7/14
JULY: The PM Johnson resigned. I took to the Colchester Gazzete to catalogue how Will Quince, Colchester’s Tory MP, had been a notorious and persistent apologist for Johnson every inch of the way. 8/14.
AUGUST: 9/14 On 13 August Colchester’s Pride events were accompanied by the city’s first ever Gay Pride demonstration ending at First Site. Solidarity with all LGBTQ+ people 🏳️🌈 📷 BH Griffiths.
SEPTEMBER: I attended Labour Party conference and spoke to defend the rights of local Labour Parties to long list, short list & select their own candidates. Including Islington North! Here’s my speech 🎥 & here’s my report labourhub.org.uk/2022/10/03/lab… 10/14
OCTOBER: In October Afghan refugees were housed in a hotel in Marks Tey. North Essex Momentum put the case for the refugees and were extensively quoted in the Gazzete in article titled ‘Our concern should be for the refugees’. gazette-news.co.uk/news/23031041.… 11/14
NOVEMBER: In November I published an article in @LabourHub “The 1980s Left: the Brighton Labour Briefing legacy”. You can read it here. labourhub.org.uk/2022/11/07/the… 12/14
DECEMBER: The year of strikes approached its close with a festive visit to the CWU picket line on Christmas Eve. Here’s the video, 13/14
HAPPY NEW YEAR: #HappyNewYear 14/14
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