We hear concerns about the Harrow Tories bringing in visitors from certain Asian communities who seem to be more interested in retaining their loyalty based positions, awarded to them at the Commons, Lords or at the Conservative friends of this or that.
The concern is about the message of this campaign strategy: the expectations that the Asian voters have no mind of their own and need these visitors – not known or respected locally – to tell them how to vote by the implications of their presence, including photo opportunities.
Sadiq Khan’s welcome by Harrow Labour was different because he is London mayor and was a victim of highly racist mayoral campaign ever launched by Tories – he is a telling example of survival.
The Harrow Asian voters, like others, have to take into account Theresa May’s manifesto and the resulting bitter community feelings of being ill treated.
Theresa May has sweet-talked voters by promising to stand up for working people, only to unveil a manifesto that will do the exact opposite – for example, workers’ rights reforms could leave families £2,300 worse off by 2020.
She places three new burdens on older people: (a) scrapping the ‘triple lock’ on state pensions, (b) means testing Winter Fuel Payments – hitting 10 million pensioners (c) forcing those who need social care to pay for it using their home – ‘dementia tax’ social care plans.
Genuine fear amongst some people with elderly parents that they are going to end up homeless when their parents die.
Furthermore, many say that Theresa May’s Tory manifesto and “hard” Brexit rhetoric are a “dog whistle” to UKIP voters – attractions include a crackdown on migrant rights and opposition to the free movement of labour, as well as that  EU nationals in Britain and even child refugees are being used as bargaining chips for future negotiations with Europe.
Leaving Brexit in the hands of Theresa May alone is highly risky and could have damaging implications for the generations to come.

Most residents would welcome the opportunity of having a Harrow East MP who could care about life – human and animal both – and public money.
London assembly member Navin Shah (Lab) from Harrow is running a people-powered campaign to win in Harrow East.
Keen on social justice and unity, Mr Shah (photo) said, “I will continue to take a strong stand against Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism and other forms of hate.  I will work with all communities and all faiths to promote a united Harrow”.
Contrary to Mr Shah’s commitment, Harrow East Tory candidate Bob Blackman is well known for his divisive politics as well as negative stand towards matters relating to social care, human rights and animal rights.
In the Commons, Mr Blackman voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants, and for mass surveillance of people’s communications. He voted against raising welfare benefits, and against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability. He also voted against equal gay rights i.e. making  discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal.
Regarding the care for public money, Mr Blackman was questioned about employing his wife at his MP office with no regards to equal opportunities and that public taxes are paying for the wife and husband decides whether she is worth £35,000 or £45,000!
The Mirror reported that Bob Blackman MP was ordered to repay more than £1,000 in wrongly-claimed mileage.
Mr Shah, who  gained the London assembly seat from Bob Blackman some years back, has clean public life with no controversies about his public positions.
Mr Blackman is all for bringing back fox hunting, overturning Labour’s 2004 ban.
Fox hunters from the Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and South Berks Hunt (VAGSBH), who have backed Mr Blackman before, are campaigning, and Theresa May agreeing, to get the hunting ban repealed.
Mr Blackman has said he would support a repeal of the hunting ban.
Many say Tory classism takes us back to 1870’s when gentry rode around the countryside on horse back hunting foxes for pleasure.
It can only be good that Mr Shah is against cruelty to animal, including fox hunting, and said he will strongly oppose bring back fox hunting.

Theresa May can’t get away saying that the NHS ‘incident’ (diminishing language) is part of a wider cyber-attack.
Cyber security, like other national security aspects, is government responsibility and it is obvious that the NHS IT system and data have not been effectively protected, because of the outdated hardware and software as well as inadequate security arrangements.
Disrupted NHS systems and computer lockout have serious implications for Northwick Park and other NHS outlets in Harrow, including the cancellations of appointments and hospital treatments.
While Harrow Tory MP candidates are busy in working out votes from certain communities, they have been silent about the NHS security crisis that is causing hardships for the NHS users in Harrow.
The attack was focused on a vulnerability found on Windows operating systems, targeted by majority viruses. The exploit used to cause the infection is known as EternalBlue and appears to have infiltrated the NHS Network via NHS computers running Windows XP which was released in 2001, and no longer supported by Microsoft as of April 8^th 2014.
The existence of the EternalBlue exploit was made public in April 2017. Microsoft had been aware of EternalBlue’s existence as a patch had been released for it in March 2017. The ransomware (known as WannaCry) used the EternalBlue exploit to infiltrate the NHS Network.
This leads to the following questions:
Does Theresa May’s government take the threat of cyber-attacks and exposed systems with exploits seriously?
Why the government had not done more to help NHS to update their computers?
As Microsoft had released a patch in March 2017, why the government mismanaged the handling of the NHS so badly that the computers had still not been patched as of May 2017?
Who is paying for the cost of the digital “clean-up”, the NHS or the government; either way the taxpayer is paying to clean up yet another mess by the government.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has stated that there is no evidence that patient data was affected. If this turns out to be incorrect, what rights will the general public have as remedy, and will they be told about the extent to which their personal data has been compromised?
In terms of the bigger picture, Theresa May has been trying to widen the scope of the powers available under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. If she cannot even control the actions of the NHS and protect computers from an exploit that had an available patch two months ago, then how can she guarantee protection of the data that her government is aggressively fighting to access, and that those accessing the data will act responsibly when the NHS has failed to do so?
If the exploit EternalBlue was first identified by the American National Security Agency, and Theresa May has such a special relationship with Trump, how is it that she was not informed of the exploit sooner? On the other hand, if she was informed, then how is it that in two months since the discovery of EternalBlue, Theresa May did nothing to secure vulnerabilities on NHS computers?

No need for personalised comments on Rebecca Lury story recently published by the Harrow Time.
Rebecca Lury (photo), brought up in Harrow, is Labour MP candidate for the Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency which covers both Harrow and Hillingdon.
This is a safest Tory seat held by Nick Hurd who is sitting with over 20,000 majority.
The “nasty” comments allege that Rebecca Lury has not been ‘transparent’ about her work and family life which other have said has nothing to do with her candidacy.
In contrast with Nick Hurd who is in a sort of hereditary seat and only pops up when there is an election, Rebecca Lury shows good understanding of matters of interest to the residents.
“Social care is in crisis in this country. I want to find a sustainable funding mechanism for finding care in this country, whilst protecting our local hospitals and health services” says Rebecca Lury.
On education, she said, “The Conservative cuts to school funding will have a devastating effect on local schools. I want to see all children given a chance to achieve their potential. And I will work with the local Council to protect the future of Pinner Wood School”.
Many say that the Tory  brand Theresa May in their presidential style election campaign has no value in Europe or merit for Brexit.  Also, that Mrs May called the snap election to save her Commons majority just in case CPS prosecutes any Tory MPs under investigation for alleged election irregularities.

Harrow West characteristic has significantly changed over the years.
While Labour MP candidate Gareth Thomas, seeking re-election, is local and has a long track record of interest in Harrow issues and services, Tory candidate is a posh outsider.
Hannah David and her fellow aristocratic Tories from the leafy areas who come to support her and claim helping “Theresa May deliver for Britain, through Brexit and beyond”, show no obvious interest in the plight of Harrow West.
Harrow West is symbolic of inner city deprivation in many ways – one such area is child poverty.
In Harrow, approximately, 6,100 children aged 0-5 years live in the 30% most deprived areas.
Child poverty levels in Harrow are 18.5% before housing costs (BHC) and rise to 28.7% after housing costs (AHC).  Poverty rises in some of the more deprived wards  in Harrow West – for example, Roxbourne has the highest percentage of child poverty levels with 28.5% BHC rising to 42% after AHC. Marlborough, Greenhill, West Harrow and Roxeth have the next highest child poverty levels in the borough.
Those attending food banks, CAB, registering unemployed, increase in temporary accommodation, rent arrears and debt all indicate pressures families face and can be barometers of poverty levels in Harrow.
Many of these pressures are because of the Tory government policies and practices like austerity measures, changes to benefits and welfare, and the universal credit?
Very interesting that Hannah David’s glossy political literature, photo opportunities and her visiting  Tory hierarchy are silent about factors leading to deprivation in Harrow.
They have no time or commitment to understand that although Harrow isn’t comparatively deprived at a borough average level, there are significant pockets of deprivation and inequality in the borough, mostly in Harrow West.
Tories crushing defeat at the recent Roxbourne by-election indicates what sort of representatives Harrow West residents don’t want.

Good that the Harrow Times forced Theresa May to appear at the TV debate on June 2, joining Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
As we predicted her Harrow visit, Theresa May visited Dhamecha Lohana Centre in South Harrow today to reinforce targeting certain Asian community for votes.
Speaking in Harrow today, Theresa May, a Tory brand name for their presidential style election campaign, repeated “strong and stable” idiom along with usual divisiveness and scaremongering, “migration levels were having an impact on public services and low-paid workers” – immigration will definitely be in the 2017 Tory manifesto, due to be published next week.
Theresa May made that promise in 2010 and made the same promise in 2015, but didn’t get anywhere near it on any occasion at all. She, as home secretary, missed her targets for six years in a row.
Therefore, it is difficult to ignore the argument that since the financial crisis, migrants and refugees have repeatedly been blamed for the effects of economic stagnation and austerity. While in fact, migrants play an indispensable role in society and the economy, staffing crucial public services and contributing through the tax system.
The Harrow Times challenged Mrs May why she would not take part in the planned televised debates alongside other party leaders.
Theresa May obviously showed no interest in Harrow issues like the Tory government inflicted crisis that has serious  implications for Harrow in NHS, schools and police – for example, the impact of £400m cut in London police funding, £15m cut to Harrow schools and lowest level  of NHS funding per person in Harrow, threatening the local hospital and walk-in health centres; for example, the hospitals have to seek funding approval, sometimes unsuccessfully, from the starving Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group for many treatments/ operations.
Equally no interest  that Harrow East which fully supported the most racist campaign against Sadiq Khan, is still indulged in divisive play  – Harrow never had such a divisive MP like Bob Blackman before.
He was elected to represent all his constituents on equal footing but  having calculated his votes, he takes sides in otherwise harmonious communities – his ploy has been rejected by the leaders of the community concerned.

Harrow East and Harrow West constituencies

Labour candidates for the constituencies are from Harrow and have a long track record of interest in local issues and services – both were Harrow Councillors.
Gareth Thomas is seeking re-election from Harrow West.  Navin Shah, a London Assembly member for Brent and Harrow, is contesting the Harrow East seat, challenging Bob Blackman who he defeated at a previous London Assembly election.
The Labour candidates are committed to deal with the Tory government inflicted crisis that has serious  implications for Harrow in NHS, schools and police – like the impact of 400m cut in London police funding, 15m cut to Harrow schools and lowest level  of NHS funding per person in Harrow, threatening the local hospital and walk-in health centres; for example, the hospitals have to seek funding approval, sometimes unsuccessfully, from the starving Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group for many treatments/ operations.
At the national level, the Labour has pledged for creating more jobs, building new homes, stronger employment rights, a new national education service to benefit all, increased local and regional democracy, as well as to ensure that the human rights of all citizens are respected so that all are protected from discrimination/ prejudice.
On the other hand, the Tory candidates for the constituencies are from outside Harrow, and have little to offer which could benefit all in Harrow.
Bob Blackman (photo) , for Harrow East, prints a log of his attendance as MP at socio-cultural events and at his so called ’street surgeries’ which are no more than political door knocking by Tory party members for which he most probably claims mileage ( Mirror reported that the MP was ordered to repay more than £1,000 in wrongly-claimed mileage).
He talks about national matters like the employment figures, living wage and school expansion programme as if these are his doings!
Hannah David, for Harrow West, almost deserted Harrow after 2015 defeat, except that  “Hannah was delighted to rally the troops today in support of Conservative Mayoral Candidate, Zac Goldsmith” – the Goldsmith campaign was worst racist campaign in recent times. It is the experience like this type of negativity that made the clergy to sermon against divisiveness.
Hannah David has nothing really to offer except to send “Theresa May back to Downing Street”.
Also, Hannah David’s Asiatic image is over-shadowed by the Harrow East Tories divisive politics (1) (2) .
Added to all this, an ineffective Tory opposition group on the council does not give  a positive picture of Tory politics in Harrow.
At the national level, Brexit set to dominate the Tory election campaign strategy – for example, guarantees to end free movement of EU citizens, to leave the European single market and to end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, broadly matching UKIP agenda.
Very interesting that far right are attracted to UKIP and now UKIP voters are attracted to Tories as confirmed by the council election 2017 results.
Theresa May’s claim that she will be strengthened in the Brexit talks by a general election victory has been dismissed as nonsense by the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, who has condemned the prime minister as a “political opportunist”.

Hurriedly put together, Tory campaign is jittery.
Very difficult for Bob Blackman to put aside his defeat by Navin Shah who is third term re-elected London assembly member for Brent and Harrow – was first elected in 2008 beating Tory member Bob Blackman.
Also, the Hindu card played by Tories at the last general election is not likely to help their campaign this time as the Labour candidate Navin Shah, an accomplished politician, is a prominent part of and well known in the “Hindu”/ “Gujarati” community that has been targeted by Tories.

Mr Shah (photo) is previous Harrow councillor and the leader of the council.
Navin Shah might not have the same access to the temple membership telephone list but he played crucial part in building these temples in Harrow and around.
Referring to 2015 Harrow East Tory campaign, fortnightly columnist at Hindustan Times Sunny Hundal‏ tweeted, “This is astonishing. Tory MP in London playing Hindu divide-and-rule caste politics with leaflets for Hindus. Nasty”.
Thousands of leaflets were distributed urging people to vote Tory so that legislation outlawing caste discrimination could be blocked.
Inclusion or equal opportunities is not an obvious part of Mr Blackman politics – for example:
Black members of the Tory party reported Mr Blackman, the local London Assembly member and leader of the Tory group on Brent council at the time, of treating them in an “insensitive and unsympathetic” way.
The MP was questioned about employing his wife with no regards to equal opportunities.
Describing the Harrow Tories’ “unashamedly religiously divisive” tactics at the last general election, the then Labour candidate for Harrow East Uma Kumaran said they “really brought the worst politics of the sub-continent into our general election campaign”.
“Sinking to those depths certainly left divisions in Harrow – you can’t claim to represent everyone if that’s how you win” she stated.

Bob Blackman: sitting Tory MP for Harrow East.  Major concern: ‘could he be trusted’, because of:
Divisive politics – he was elected to represent all his constituents on equal footing but being insecure in the marginal constituency and having calculated his votes, he takes sides in otherwise harmonious communities – his ploy has been rejected by the leaders of the community concerned.
Mirror reported that the MP was ordered to repay more than £1,000 in wrongly-claimed mileage.
The MP was questioned about employing his wife with no regards to equal opportunities.
All this, along with an ineffective Tory opposition group on the council, does not give a positive picture of Tory politics in Harrow.
Navin Shah: a community orientated local Labour candidate who is well committed to equal opportunities and has long track record of serving and representing all.
He is third term re-elected London assembly member for Brent and Harrow – was first elected in 2008 beating Tory member Bob Blackman. He is previous Harrow councillor and the leader of the council.
Mr Shah’s particular interests are planning, regeneration, housing, environment and community cohesion.
Mr Shah, a campaigner for step-free access to local stations, welcomed the London Mayor announcement that Harrow-on-the-Hill station will be made step-free, after former mayor Boris Johnson halted the plans.
Adam Bernard: a Liberal Democrat campaigner for 20 years who was born and brought up in Edgware, and now lives in Harrow. He is a researcher at Queen Mary University of London.
He says that if elected, he will represent everyone living in Harrow East. He opposes government cuts that are threatening Harrow’s schools, hospitals, and social care.
“Above all I will always listen to the people of Harrow East and make every decision with their best interests at heart” he said.