Blog 526 23rd April 2026

This turned out to be a very health week.

Starting on Thursday I had an annual update with a nurse in the Wellesley Road surgery in Chiswick. I was diagnosed a year or two ago with a lung condition, though in truth it has caused me no problems at all. Last year the nurse made me blow into various devices but she couldn't find anything interesting, other than possible asthma. Did I want an inhaler? Well no, because I couldn't see any point. This year she didn't do much in the way of tests because if anything my breathing has improved due to less weight and more cycling etc.

So I went on to the Green Party campaign launch at the Crown and Anchor on Chiswick High Road. Years ago it was run by friends and neighbours of mine who renamed it Shackology., for obscure reasons! We went there a few times and the food was good, but the new approach must not have taken off and it went back to be the Crown and Anchor. The worrying thing is that all this happened 19 years ago, proof that time flies if you're having fun.

So, that's all (or nearly) our Green candidates getting ready to take Hounslow by the horns. A very good evening, getting to know some of these better: some are new to the party and more of them new to me, so this was good.

On Friday we were out knocking doors in Brentford West. We met a particularly pleasant woman near Lidl who gave both me and Rashid a rather wonderful exotic sweet. It's never bad to hear of problems where they are causing upset and she wrote to me later with two separate problems. We proceeded along Half Acre and Windmill Road and it was a pleasant couple of hours - nice people, good chats. You forget that people actually like to share with their councillors when you invite them. For several years I have been in effect a lone councillor and you get out of the habit, but it is good to get back in it. Good outcome will be 2 active councillors in Brentford West after May 7th (including me!) and preferably my Green colleague Rashid. If we are elected, we will keep each other on our toes!

Then we were up to the College in Isleworth. This was a Hustings session organised by the redoubtable community group OWGRA. 2 Libs, 3 Conservatives, 3 Labour and 1 Green. Quite a challenge for Sara, our single candidate in Osterley and Spring Grove Ward. She should have been up against 11 opposing candidates, but the 3 valiant Reformer candidates bottled out of this test, which seems to be par for the course for them.

Perhaps they were part of this group and had forgotten to don their wolf clothing that they use to look tough on line.

I did suggest 3 tubs of lard might be substitutes as provided for Roy Hattersley on Have I got News for You

It was especially tough on Sara because most of the questions were addressed at a single representative of each party. So Labour chose between 3 experienced councillors from Labour, 3 (novices) from Conservative, 2 LDs and just 1 Green candidate. Sara answered well, despite having more than any other.

I managed to get in an audience question "The current dominant party almost immediately abandoned several of their manifesto promises, like reducing flytipping by 25%, reducing C02 emissions halfway towards net zero by 2026 and building 1000 council houses and buying 1000 existing homes for social rent. Convince us that this time manifesto pledges will be respected". That was aimed at all parties, looking forward, but the chair decided perfectly reasonably it was aimed at Labour. My old pal Tony Louki took this on but answered a different question, not about the future but about how it had been hard in this administration.

For those who've been paying attention, whilst I was still on Cabinet flytipping reduced 22% in the first year but since I stepped down it has been going up again (as no doubt the income from intimidating fines for non-flytipping has too). Of course these two (or three) changes may not be connected!

I bit my tongue on the other question I had prepared: "Are you happy to be representing a party where half the councillors are related to each other and a lot of them have been convicted of serious crimes or showing entitlement to park their Lamborghinis in disabled bays". I know many of the Labour councillors are honourable enough, so don't want to challenge them too sharply. But I'm afraid they are propping up a regime which I think needs changing!

After that it was my weekend at Goodwood. I might have cancelled it (as I have my plan to go to Donington just before the election) but Goodwood Members Meeting involves a very heavy investment in making the Duke of Richmond and Gordon even richer so wasting that would go against my skinflint nature (and it is my favourite meeting).

So I was in Sussex from lunchtime on Saturday and spent the time watching some excellent racing and wandering around the paddocks where the cars are prepared.

Hudson, of course had a factory in Brentford, where B&Q now rules. But they didn't come until 1925 and this car is from 1917 so I have to declare this one a ringer.

Another Hounslow marque was there in abundance - Frazer Nash. Every one of these was made in Isleworth, where Frazer Nash Close now lives, with the blocks named after FN legends

And of course, Aston Martins were once made in Feltham. Plenty of them around but no pics. My second faourite old car is the 1911 FIAT with its very Green 4 cyclinder economy engine with a very modest 28.4 litre engine. It is known as the Beast of Turin.

My absolute favourite is the 1905 Darracq 200 HP GP racer. It has only 2 gears and a dodgy clutch, is fastest in qualifying, drops to 10th off the grid as it gets going, then blast through the field. Last year it won the first heat and was about to take the lead at the last corner of the second heat when this happened. Driver was OK and they went down to Halfords and got some spares, but it didn't get to Goodwood.

A fab Saturday, and I was off to my hotel in the South Downs. But when I got there I was feeling unwell. Poor breathing and didn't sleep well so went on 111 on Sunday lunchtime. They said A&E. I found a medical centre and they took some tests then ambulanced me A&E in Chichester. When it got to 8 in the evening I gave up and discharged myself. I was OK and walked about 2 miles to where my car was then drove home. Got onto GP's superb online system a 7.30 on Monday am. Nurse rang me about 8.30 and sent me to A&E. Lots of more tests and whilst I am not still a teenager (shocking for my readers) they didn't find much wrong with me. Sent me home but come back on Wed. Then it was MRI and doctor finally gave me a prescription for jabs to do at home - and come back Friday. I'm mainly OK but have a pain in my shoulder now so taking it easy. mostly.

In the middle of this, though, I wasn't going to let down Hounslow Citizens with whom I had a pre-meeting a couple of weeks ago. This was a session with the pajandrums of the Council. Leader of the Labour tribe, Shantanu Rajawat (about 45 cllrs left the last time I looked) Peter Thompson with the marauding hordes (approx 10) of the Tory Tribe. I looked round for my own tribe and despite lifting the cushions etc I could only find me. The Citizens had 3 'asks': housing, real living wage, space for community groups. Not surprisingly all the panjandrums quickly swore on the Bible that they would do all that. I pointed out I was not confident at this stage Green will have the majority needed to make all those things (or any of them!) happen but if elected I will continue to do my level best to make them happen.

Looking back over 11 years, we made a bit of progress on housing - mainly via Lampton when it had support from Steve Curran and me. Private rental has some new legislation which I don't entirely understand about licensing, but that is one to get to after the election, while 'warm homes' is a crucial priority for greens - both because we want people to be warm in their homes, and prevent them being cooked when they go outside.

Hounslow has always talked a good story on the real living wage, rather than the nuspeak 'living wage; introduced by Osborne and accepted by Labour. For those who haven't checked recently London 'real' living wage is £14.80 per hour. The minimum wage (aka "national living wage" but is no such thing) is £12.71. So short of maybe £75 a week compared to what you need to live OK. I was shocked to hear Lampton is not registered even though it was always committed to it. I have been hassling them and will be prioritising that after the election (better if I survive!)

Community space has always been impossible. Over the years I have tried to get spaces for a dance troupe, a boxing club, a skatepark, a car park/park, a charity shop, a rowing centre. None of them has happened, despite promises made to me and sometimes to community groups. One was provided for a cycling place but evicted at a week's notice 4 years ago to make space for young people housing. It remains derelict 4 years on. Shantanu committed to providing space for a church in Feltham within a month, rather than the 2 months they asked for. I hope that was sincere.

Whatever happens, it was an inspiring meeting and gives us all plenty of food for thought (and need for true delivery beyond promises. The very best bit was the commitment asked and given (by me, at least) to carry on dialogue, whatever the election brings.

With my health scare (I am not scared really but frustrated) I spent most of Monday and a lot of Wednesday in West Middlesex. Just sitting there with little to do apart from reading a book or messages, you understand the strengths and weaknesses of the NHS (or a bit of it). Virtually every member of staff has been lovely - caring, dedicated, competent. Some of the ways they work seem a bit wasteful to an innocent like me. I come out reassured every time, and I love to see the relationship with most patients.

I was pleased they put this up on their screen. Of course, far from ideal but it's important that they are managing and communicating, warts and all. When I had a real job we used to remember - you manage what you measure. If I carry on as councillor I will remember that nostrum and try to see the council always mindful of it.

A bit of a weird week, Of course, a bit of casework continues, and I am eager for my answer from the members team to the question about how much casework we are all doing. They are a bit slow answering but this should be out there, now of all times!