I have lived here all my life and growing up on the View has definitely had its challenges. Before Cllr Barns got involved the kids here had nothing to do but hang around the streets he has been behind us getting a sports area for the young people to use giving us something to do.

I am only too happy to now back him as he tries to get voted in as an Independent Councillor. In reply to earlier comments about his age I can only talk as I find and Cllr Barns has more understanding of what young people need then most adults I talk to. He is a family man with teenage grandchildren who also live in the borough and he is fully aware of the problems young people are having to deal with and is first to come up with suggestions to help. He also worked with young adults for many years so has lots of experience talking to us.

I have looked at the labour candidates put forward on Thames Ward but they have no families of their own, as far as I can see, so how can in the case of Poulton and Geddes they confess to having an understanding of the youth on their wards.

To think that I would have put forward my views on a website like this is a testiment to how strongly I feel Cllr Barns has worked hard for the young people on Thames View and why I will be backing him.

I agree with your comment Labour does need to reconnect with the public and be more proactive but you seem to forget Cllr Barns and Mr Wade are NOT LABOUR CANDIDATES they are INDEPENDENTS so how they run there affairs is not Labours concern.

So I suggest you take your advise back to your Labour party and Margaret Hodge and leave CLLr Barns and The Independents to run themselves.

I for one am pleased as to how Cllr Barns runs his surgeries and is available by phone as you dont mention that you live on Thames View it seems rich you wish to constantly put them down.

this is hardly taking the mick, nor is it ageist. I am talking about the FUTURE.

experience does come with age but it depends how you use your experience.
Not all people can work beyond 65, some have health problems, some are just happy to stop working and some are very active.

Mrs Hodge falls into the latter category as she has put in an enormous amount of work into the borough over the last 5 years and more.

waiting indoors for people to phone you with problems or holding a surgery are no longer good enough. labour needs to reconnect with the public in a more proactive way and my view is that these two are unable to do this.

the public will decide and i am certain that they will make the right choice on thames which is labour

Of all people these two should know what a stitch up is, i.e: the deselection farce.

What goes around, comes around.

It is also intresting that the man who took cameron geddes deputy leadership now wants to take him on again in thames. was that fair that the deputy leader got deselected by the labour group despite by widespread agreement done a good job.

terry wade was quick to challenge him them for his own gain. would he have resigned from the party if he had not been voted as deputy leader? I dont think so.

I would imagine that cameron has a significant advantage this time because terry wade has no back up.He will have to do it himself and that is not one of his strengths.

Not a good choice of running mate for cllr barnes, his popularity will need to cover both of them for sure because popular is not a word associated with terry wade.

Cameron Geddes made it to deputy Leader last time he was on the council and only lost heart with the party after bullying from some of the seating councillors. Believes the party has now grown up and understands it needs to work hard to win the council again.

Maureen Worby isn’t PCT executive member, she is the Chair of the PCT which over the last 4 years have transformed the health services in the borough by being the first PCT to have doctors open late and weekends in the country, 9 new health centre (more then any other part of the country), 2 walk in Centre and the new Barking Community Hospital with another 2 planned on Thames and Dagenham East. Plus funding the FREE swimming (under 16), gym (over 60’s) & Youth cards in the borough with the council.

I believe both are a credit to the party and the residents of the borough.

If cameron geddes and maureen worby are standing to get some money (i dont know their financial circumstances so i cant comment) it then surely follows that terry wade and Cllr Barnes are also standing for the money.

You would not think that they need it either though as both claim state pensions, private pensions and income from the council and employment respectively.

You would think that these two pensioners cannot be the future for this borough though. Come may 7th though they will be able to retire in peace knowing that they have given it a final go, all be it an unsuccessful one.

Good luck to them though, because they will need it.