Explore cases
Equality & Human rights
Employment & Discrimination
Government & Civil Liberties
Justice for Oladeji Omishore - funding a judicial review of the IOPC
Help stop climate-wrecking gas caverns in Larne Lough
Save university pensions, and save the planet
Need funding?
People's Petition to Restore Democracy in London Borough of Newham
by DEMOCRACY NEWHAM LIMITED
Lawyers: Rahman & Co Solicitors
DEMOCRACY NEWHAM LIMITED
Case Owner
Democracy Newham Ltd ("DNL") a non-profit organisation, a group of local residents joined together started the People's Petition to implement the long-needed Governane Leader & Cabinet model in Newham
pledged of £20,000 stretch target from 89 pledges
This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)
About the case About
Case updates 1 Updates 1
Latest: Feb. 3, 2021
The Court Case Outcome
Update on People's Petition to Restore Democracy in London Borough of Newham
First of all apologies for bit delayed update as we were taking the full legal review of the judgm…
The campaign to restore the real democracy in the London Borough of Newham by calling for a Refrundum through Newham's People Petition to choose the alternative governance model of Leader and Cabinet Model. 12,422 People came together and signed the people's petition to implement the required statutory change.
Currently, Newham has a directly elected Mayoral system since 2002 (TOO LONG), where most of the executive powers are exercised by ONLY one person...Hence Little Accountability.
Democracy Newham Ltd ("DNL") a non-profit organisation saw the need of this long due change and a group of local residents joined together started the People's Petition for the sole purpose of seeing a democratically elected Leader and Cabinet Model installed in London Borough of Newham in place of the existing MAYOR.
It was indeed a huge task, to begin with, but nothing is impossible when people come together. Within just weeks, 12,422 Newham Residents signed a valid People's Petition as directed by the Newham Council and submitted to the council in person on 18th September 2020. Unfortunately, rather than accepting and supporting the local residents, the Council decided NOT to accept people's petition as Valid, hiding behind the statutory technical reasons and loopholes. Five days later, on 24th September 2020 Newham Council published the Pubic Notice declaring the petition Invalid. Clearly denying the people's democratic right and going against Council's well-advertised slogan "People at the heart of everything we do". Are they???
DNL saw this as a clear breach of people's basic fundamental democratic rights, asked the Newham council to withdraw their drastic and hasty decision taken against the 12,422 Newham Residents. But their request was denied. Consequently, DNL sought professional legal advice which turned out to be in people's favour. DNL was advised to launch JUDICIAL REVIEW against the Council's decision in the Royal Court of Justice.
The JR was filed on 19th October 2020. The first step of Victory came along in the very first hearing where the Judge His Hon. Mr Junstice Chamberlain ORDERED DNL's view as well-conceived with merit and that the case will be heard clearly warranting a degree of expedition , so that the referendum is held on 6 May 2021. Further case directions to both parties were given. The case is likely to be concluded in November 2020.
In order to protect the People's democratic rights, DNL is repressed by one of UK's Top leading Public law and Election/Referendum law specialist Barrister Mr Francis Hoar (https://fieldcourt.co.uk/barrister/francis-hoar/). Francis is known for his efforts to safeguard the basic human and democratic rights. While DNL is very confident that People will Win this case but this is only possible with your kind support and financial help. We will keep you posted as case progresses.
The initial estimate of our Legal Costs are in the range of £20,000, PLEASE DONATE GENEROUSLY
WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
Recent contributions
Saima pledged £25
Match Saima's pledge of £25
Strongly support the Initiative, to have a Accountable Democratic Form of Governance. Really Sad, that it has to go to Legal challenge People's say should be at the Heart and Local Council shall have considered the will of majority of the Newham residents Wish all the best
Roy pledged £10
Match Roy's pledge of £10
We need to win
Mehmood pledged £600
Match Mehmood's pledge of £600
Let's get this done, I stand with the people of Newham
Support the case
I will pledge £10 I will pledge £25 I will pledge £35 I will pledge £50 I will pledge £100 I will pledge £200
Be a promoter
Your share on Facebook could raise £26 for the case
I'll share on Facebook
First of all apologies for bit delayed update as we were taking the full legal review of the judgment. Please see below our statement following the dismissal of our legal challenge in the High Court to uphold the People's petition signed by 12,422 Newham ordinary residents:
"The High Court accepted this that Democracy Newham Ltd (DNL) had raised an arguable case before the court, DNL is disappointed by the outcome but accept the judgment of the High Court.
We are proud to have represented 12,422 residents of Newham who are unhappy with the Directly Elected Mayor model of governance and that our campaign triggered the council to finally setting a date for the referendum in May 2021.
We are aware of thousands of residents who are unhappy with the current cohort of feeble-minded politicians supporting unfair policies and taxes in Newham. There are now more elected members with special responsibility allowances than ever before despite the Mayor's manifesto promise to reduce them. This "payroll vote" stops the necessary checks and balances and frustrates transparent governance. The local governance is in disarray with Newham being one of the poorest boroughs in the country with the highest rate of Covid infections and deaths, people are being imposed with new undesired Parking Tax during the most difficult times and finally with the continuation of increased council tax reaching up to 20% increase and topping the parking fines table in the UK by charging £10.6 Million Pounds. People simply had enough of this Mayor and want to get rid of a directly elected mayoralty where all the executive powers are used in one hand with almost no accountability.
We will continue the fight against the directly elected mayoral model and encourage residents to vote against this model in the referendum on 6 May 2021. We need a democratic and accountable council for the citizens of Newham.
We are still waiting for the Court judgement regarding legal costs liability, hpoing to be handed out soon.
We thank all those who supported us on this journey."
The full Judgement is available through this link below:
https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2021/150.html
There are no public comments on this case page.
The Justice Platform Ltd is registered as a company in England and Wales, company number 09534141