As expected temple orientated Tory candidate Nitesh Hirani won Kenton East by-election.
He received 1,585 votes ahead of 1,328 votes for Labour’s Nishit Patel, 65 votes for Liberal Democrat Annabel Croft and 54 votes for UKIP’s Herbert Crossman.
The number of votes, 3051 i.e. 37% turnout, indicate good level of interest in this by-election which helped personalised votes.
The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) taking over campaign for Kenton East by-election, committing tremendous resources where Lizzie Lumley, Campaign Director for London, and Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East energetically worked for the party political gains – worked.
MP Bob Blackman’s reported divisive card that he speaks on behalf of his “Gujarati”/ “Hindu” constituents in international disputes as well as his individualised letters to certain residents – also worked.
It does not look that Tory interest is in the local residents or issues but obviously to use this  favourable outcome of the by-election as a national barometer to rubbish Labour leadership and use it to point score at the United Kingdom local elections next month, and general election in June.

It is unbelievable that Tory high ranking officer Lizzie Lumley, Campaign Director for London, didn’t know Theresa May’s political reversal about early poll.
Therefore, no surprise that the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has taken over campaign for Kenton East by-election, committing tremendous resources where Lizzie Lumley and Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East are energetically driving the campaign for the party political gains.
We have previously reported Bob Blackman’s divisive statement that he speaks on behalf of his “Gujarati”/ “Hindu” constituents in international disputes, as well as his individualised letters to certain residents.
How does all this help Kenton East residents or issues?
Moreover, if elected, inexperienced Tory candidate quietly sitting in the opposition Tory group on the council, tightly controlled by its vindictive leadership, is most likely to be ineffective in representing Kenton East.
Tory group has lost the councils in 2010 and 2014 and three by-elections, under Cllr Hall’s leadership.

Nothing unusual about political party headquarters supporting a constituency by-election, but it is highly usual to almost take over campaign for a ward by-election as the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) has done in the case of Kenton East by-election.
Both Lizzie Lumley, Tory Campaign Director for London, and Bob Blackman MP for Harrow East are energetically driving the campaign for the party political gains.

We have previously reported Bob Blackman’s  divisive statement that he speaks on behalf of his “Gujarati”/ “Hindu” constituents in international disputes, as well as his individualised letters to certain residents.
The CCHQ interest is obviously to use a favourable outcome of the Kenton East by-election to rubbish Labour leadership and point score at the United Kingdom local elections next month.
How does this, along with the following, help Kenton East residents or issues?
If elected, inexperienced Tory candidate sitting in the opposition Tory group on the council, tightly controlled by its vindictive leadership, is most likely to be ineffective in representing Kenton East.
Tory group has lost the councils in 2010 and 2014 and three by-elections, under Cllr Hall’s leadership.
People rightly say that the opposition Tory  group under its politically immature leadership can’t be taken seriously, for example the group failed to present a shadow budget at the Council meeting to enrich the financial decision making – they owed this to the residents…. read more by clicking here
Added to this is Cllr Hall’s concerning conduct at the council meetings and childish social media encounters.

Although the Labour candidate has been far more interested in the local residents, issues and could represent the wider community much more effectively as being a part of the council administration, Tories might win Kenton East by-election on 20 April for different reasons:

• the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) is playing an active part in the campaign, including telephone canvassing and forcefully directing the Conservative friends of the Asian countries to participate in the by-election campaign – the CCHQ interest is obviously to use a favourable outcome of the by-election to politicise Jeremy Corbyn factor
• divisive statement by Bob Blackman, Tory MP for Harrow East, that he speaks on behalf of his “Gujarati”/ “Hindu” constituents, though resented , could influence the voting as could his individualised letter of support to the Kenton East residents
• though the Tory candidate for the by-election has no track record of any wider community work, he is well placed within the temple structures
• rather bitter Belmont sitting Tory councillor who was moved to Kenton East for the 2018 council election (photo), seemingly to give way to a Harrow West refused Tory activist – is keen to use his temple experience to show who is who as well as to pave the way for his success in 2018
• following the Harrow West Tories crushing defeat at the Roxbourne by-election few weeks back, the rival Harrow East Tories are keen to show their muscles to impress the opposition Tory group on the council which has not been taken seriously under Cllr Hall’s leadership
Tory share of votes was 35.7% compared with Labour’s 46.6% at the council election in 2014.
While Tories might succeed in the political play, how does this help Kenton East residents and issues?

The recent Ofsted inspection of the services for children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers confirms that most aspects of the service have improved since 2012 when it was only adequate (meeting minimum requirements).
The findings of the inspection carried out early this year look more positive considering that many other local authorities don’t do this well at the inspections.
Strengths
Inspectors have judged the children’s services as “good” overall since most children and young people have the support that they need when they need it. The response to children who need to be looked after is swift and child centred, inspectors report.
Inspectors found that a strong and energetic senior management team with a sense of direction is helping children to achieve good outcomes.
Their praise for the management and the commitment to performance management at all levels of the organisation, reflect positively on the management restructuring led by the chief executive Michael Lockwood.
Comparative weaknesses
Inspectors found that the experiences and progress of children  who need help and protection, require improvement i.e. the authority is not yet delivering good help and protection for children, young people and families.
The children do not have their needs fully assessed or receive services as quickly as they could and their reviews need improvements, the inspection assessed.
Inspectors also found that the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) is not yet demonstrating the characteristics of ‘good’ and requires improvement. (Harrow LSCB  has about 40 members from a number of disciplines: HMG).
They found that the limited performance information supplied by some partner agencies inhibits the board’s ability to monitor and understand the overall effectiveness of services and to challenge agencies when they fall short.
(This is an inbuilt weakness of a multi agency set up where agencies and professionals involved come from different working ethos and practices, defending their own corner. This presents  a big challenge to the board in terms of the coordination and quality assurance. Many analysts argue that the LSCB a waste of public money: HMG).
Children profile
Approximately 57,000 (53,000 in 2012) children and young people under the age of 18 years (23% of the total population) live in Harrow, of which 69% are from minority ethnic groups.
Approximately 15% of the children aged under 16 years are living in low-income families.
At 31 December 2016, 200 children were being looked after by the local authority, most live with foster families, some outside Harrow.

The voters question the seriousness of the Tory candidate for the Kenton East by-election on 20 April as well as the basis of Tory campaign – party or religion (photo).
Tory candidate Nitesh Hirani, headhunted for increasing Tory share of votes, has no track record of any socio-political interests in Harrow other than a local temple, confirmed by his introductory leaflet.
Moreover, his ‘plan’ in  the leaflet done by the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in central London who have no idea of the local issues, shows some bones that have no chance of having any meat – even if elected, he will only be subsumed in an ineffective opposition Tory group that is not taken seriously.
For example, how he could keep the council tax low when the Tory group has no real understanding of budget making and has failed to present a shadow budget.
The questionable  position of the Tory candidate is well supplemented by Bob Blackman MP (Con), nurtured by the same Harrow East Conservative Association, who continues to play divisive games, this time to influence the outcome of this by-election in Harrow East.
Mr Blackman’s visits to India and Indian high commissioner in London, helped by his assistant who is an Indian-held Kashmir activist, have dramatically increased and he has even colluded with the fake news regarding his activities.
Publicity seeking Mr Blackman claims that he speaks on behalf of “Hindus” – a “majority” of his constituents.
“What Mr Blackman says is insulting. Like anyone else, we are far more concerned about British issues like austerity measures, NHS crisis, adverse impact of Brexit and increased far right ideology. He has failed to represent our real concerns” said Jaiya Shah, chairman Harrow Council for Justice, who lives in the Harrow side of Kenton and is a long-standing active member of the community that Mr Blackman claims to represent.
All this does not present a positive picture of Tory politics in Harrow and raises a serious question about their electability.

Having heard different stories about the condition of some Harrow streets and areas, we wanted to test water and carried out sample check of the street conditions and area appeal, particularly in the wards neglected pre 2010 under Cllr Hall’s environment watch, resulting in shabby outlook.
The photographic evidence (video below) suggests that Harrow council has made impressive progress in uplifting the previously dull and depressing areas.
(Click the play button to play – fullscreen by clicking the fullscreen button – bottom right – last)

 

Overall, Harrow is now clean and tidy – most areas are almost litter-free.
In many cases, road surfaces and pavements have also been renewed, presenting pleasant and calm atmosphere.
Although Harrow environment has improved a lot since 2010, there are challenges like the random fly-tipping and condition of streets in some parts of South Harrow.