Titbits – Labour tensions, cycling lessons and council beards revisited

◆ Susan Fajana-Thomas, one of Labour’s councillors, last month chided comrades for not attending a ‘Stand Up to Racism’ event. Is she aware of its links with the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), membership of which has been forbidden for Labour party members for many years? The SWP has faced accusations of failing to deal properly with claims of rape and sexual assault by senior figures in its ranks. Organisers have insisted Stand Up to Racism is not an SWP front.

◆ Is Councillor Simche Steinberger anti-cycling? Not a bit! On being accused of this at a recent council meeting, he hit back: “I have news for you: I’m actually going next week to train just down the road and learn how to ride a bike.” On your bike then, Simche!

◆ And finally, an apology. In last month’s ‘Titbits’ column we speculated about whether beard growth among male Labour councillors signalled their loyalty to Marx. It has since been pointed that the orthodox Jewish councillors in the Hackney Conservative group have the biggest beards.