Labour have been hanging out with some interesting people recently. At the Labour Asians Society fundraising dinner on Thursday, the convicted fraudster and former businessman Mazhar Hayat Raja turned up to show his support, posing with the host and Labour MP Seema Malhotra on X. Other Labour MPs who attended included Wes Streeting, Ruth Cadbury and Virendra Sharma. To be fair, Labour are trying to cosy up to businessmen…
Amazing houseful fundraising dinner by @SeemaMalhotra1 & #hounslowlabour attended by @wesstreeting @Shansview @RuthCadbury @VirendraSharma @LeonieC @Cllrsamiach @SalmanShaheen @UKLabour @LBofHounslow @labourpress @LabourList @labtowin pic.twitter.com/yusDh6su15
— Labour Asians Society (@Labouras2024) February 2, 2024
Former businessman Raja was convicted in 2008 for a £2.5 million tax scam, pocketing tax and National Insurance and serving a six year sentence in jail. He was set to be released early if he repaid £1.7 million, though chose to do the full time in the clink instead. Perhaps to use the funds to donate to the party?
London Labour MPs Seema Malhotra, Jon Cruddas, and Siobhain McDonagh have hit out at Sadiq Khan’s plan to expand the ULEZ to cover the whole of Greater London, set to be implemented on 29th August. According to LBC, the three MPs have broken cover to attack the money-grabbing scheme – drivers of cars which don’t meet emissions standards will have to pay £12.50 just to switch on their engines – over fears it will disproportionately affect lower-income workers and weaken the local economy. Just yesterday, it was reported that nearly every Home Counties council said it would refuse to play ball over the scheme…
Now Labour’s own MPs are openly turning against it. Seema Malhotra, Labour’s Shadow Business and Consumers Minister, said this morning:
“Whilst I share the goal of reducing pollution and increasing air quality, I am very concerned about the economic impact the current roll-out plans will have on residents and small businesses… [the plans will have] a disproportionate effect on lower income families and the self-employed who use their vehicle for work.”
Jon Cruddas added he was “deeply disappointed” the scheme was going ahead, with Siobhain McDonagh also opposing it. Sadiq, meanwhile, is pressing ahead, claiming the plan will save lives. When quizzed on the policy last month, Sir Keir himself gave the Mayor his full backing. ULEZ if you want to…
Greg Hands on McDonnell's Red Book though: "Does he always carry it with him?" #Newsnight pic.twitter.com/YstVXMuAR4
— Ben (@Jamin2g) November 25, 2015
Seema Malhotra was on Newsnight last night, where she was quizzed about John McDonnell’s bizarre decision to quote from the writings of the venerable Chairman Mao. Seema, who serves as McDonnell’s deputy in the treasury team, was forced to concede that she wasn’t even consulted by the shadow chancellor about whether or not it was a good idea to quote from the writings of one of history’s most prolific mass murderers. Not like Labour to roll out an idea that hasn’t been properly reviewed. It’s the Edstone all over again…
However Guido is unsurprised despot McDonnell didn’t consult his minions before making the decision. Mao would most certainly approve…
“We’ll end the scandal of unpaid internships,” Labour vowed before the election, so it is lucky for their tight-fisted MPs that they didn’t win. Last month Guido revealed Angela Eagle’s unpaid internship hypocrisy. Now Seema Malhotra is looking for a “volunteer” to “work in her busy Westminster and Constituency offices for four days a week“. The successful candidate will be expected to do “Day to day office administration, Database management, Assisting with diary management and events” and “work enthusiastically as part of a small team“. And what is she paying? “Reasonable lunch and travel expenses“. Guido will let readers make up their own minds about whether that sounds like a real job…
This is, of course, the same Seema Malhotra who employed her staff on zero hours contracts at the height of Labour’s campaign against the “epidemic“. Do as we say, not as we do…
