Allegations of bullying and intimidation of Labour Councillors have emerged from within Newham’s Labour party.
The allegations relate to a letter which a local campaign team, Save Newham City Farm (SNCF), had sent individually to all Newham councillors on 19th January 2022.
The letter asked councillors to return a signed copy indicating if they were in support of the reopening of Newham City Farm, a much loved and valuable educational and community facility which was closed without any consultation in September 2021.
Councillors were advised in the letter that the results would be published and, that
with an election looming, residents had a right to know which councillors supported the farm’s reopening.
The deadline for responses is 5pm, 4 February 2022. To date three responses in support of the farm’s reopening have been received and one against though, in conversations with several more Councillors, they have unofficially given their personal backing to the campaign.
The campaign team have been led to believe that lack of formal responses returned is due to bullying and intimidation of Councillors by the Cabinet and the threat of expulsion from the Labour Party if they respond in support of reopening the farm.
Meanwhile, the campaign continues and on Tuesday 8th February 2022 at 4pm a herd of Newham Residents will flock to East Ham Town Hall to hold a protest in support of the reopening of Newham City Farm.
Protesters will be dressed in animal attire and will sing a specially-prepared campaign song to the theme tune of “Old MacDonald had a Farm”.
A deputation from the Save Newham City Farm Campaign Team will then address the Newham Council Cabinet Meeting being held at 5pm. At the meeting, the interim report on the community consultation regarding a Beckton Parks Masterplan, in which Newham City Farm site is included, will be presented to Cabinet.
Dave Green, Director of Save Newham City Farm Campaign Team said “The council have failed to enter into any meaningful dialogue with our group, which is frustrating given a petition of c50,000 supporting the reopening of the farm. Custom House is
the poorest ward in the borough and yet it has had its most valuable community asset closed without any consultation. The Council have now launched its Beckton Parks Masterplan, which covers the farm site. However, this was not publicised or promoted within the community by the Council. Instead, our team worked tirelessly to spread the word and we believe that this has resulted in one of the biggest responses ever received to a public consultation by Newham Council, adding further evidence of how high public opinion is running on this issue. The farm was used by some of the most vulnerable members of the community, and they have reported to

us that the difficulties that they found in responding to the digital consultation. We also have huge concerns around the equality impact assessment which was undertaken as a number of key groups weren’t even mentioned”
Jenny Mwangura, Chair of Save Newham City Farm Campaign Team said “I’ve lived in newham for 56 years and have never had any reason to believe that our labour council were anything other than trustworthy and acting in the best interests of residents. The things I have experienced and learned whilst working on the campaign are enough to give you nightmares. Councillors repeated actions on this issue demonstrate they care nothing for the people of Newham.”