Michael Desmond, at The Blogs

Jan 31, 2022, 6:22 PM

Lessons to learn from Holocaust Memorial Day

Laying flowers at the Holocaust Memorial outside the Town Hall (l to r) Chief Executive, Mark Carroll, Mayor Phil Glanville, Speaker, Cllr Michael Desmond, Deputy Lieutenant (the Queen’s representative) Stephen Howlett, CBE and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble.

Hackney has the second-largest Jewish community in the UK, primarily Charedi, but with others from all communities, including a flourishing Progressive and Liberal Congregation in Stoke Newington, with a dynamic new Rabbi from Kansas, whose induction I attended. Due to Covid, we were unable to...

Apr 28, 2021, 7:57 PM

Go east, young Jewish men and women!

I’ve just been elected Speaker (civic Mayor) of Hackney for 2021/22, my second term of office, a great honour for me and my family. Distinguished predecessors include Herbert Morrison – Peter Mandelson’s grandfather, Sir Lou Sherman, Stanley Clinton-Davis (now Lord Clinton-Davis) and my old friend...

Nov 17, 2020, 2:42 PM

Let’s salute Luke

Elections for Labour’s NEC are not always considered as exciting as the vote-off from I’m a Celebrity, however, recent elections for what is sometimes dubbed ‘the soul of the Labour Party,’ have been an exception; it brought the return of Luke Akehurst, a former colleague...

Jul 30, 2020, 12:11 PM

Flushed down the toilet….by cyber bullies

Keir Starmer (Photo credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire via Jewish News)

Sir Keir Starmer has made a good start, showing zero tolerance to antisemitism and, as promised, settling with the brave whistle-blowers who took a stand. Labour has also taken a stand on cyber bullying, rightly wanting to strengthen legislation and ensure Twitter, Facebook and other...

Apr 2, 2020, 12:51 PM

A glimmer of hope in dark times

(left to right) Rebecca Long-Bailey, Jess Phillips, Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy and Keir Starmer during the Labour leadership husting in January (Photo credit: Danny Lawson/PA Wire via Jewish News)

These are dark days, the horrendous coronavirus pandemic has changed the world, made many of us reflect on what is important in life and, of course, sadly led to many deaths and families in mourning. There are few consolations in what is a dire and...

Sep 4, 2019, 4:08 PM

Why I remain in the Labour Party

Original copy of YJAR’s anti-racist newspaper from 1979, which Michael edited (Jewish News)

The Jewish community has shown commendable backbone fighting a resurgence of antisemitism, particularly on social media. Things that might have been thought of fleetingly are often now tweeted or placed on Facebook, so-called bar room philosophers do not need to be near a bar to...

Jan 24, 2019, 12:14 PM

#HMD: Why town halls should commemorate the Holocaust

Councils the length and breadth of the country from Exeter to Swansea, arrange ceremonies or events each Holocaust Memorial Day. Many include readings and presentations given by local schoolchildren from all backgrounds, which help to educate them about the past, with a view to avoiding...

Nov 23, 2018, 2:28 PM

Peace in our Brexit time

Things are not quite as they were in der heim, nor, for that matter, in the villages, settlements and outposts our ancient forebears spent Bereshis meandering through. As we approach Chanukah and a gender-neutral Santa Cohen collects gelt to be delivered to worthy recipients, it...

Sep 7, 2018, 3:16 PM

Local Labour Parties must understand Israel, respect Zionism and promote peace

Local Labour Party’s need to understand Israel and respect Zionism – as well as promoting peace. The decision of Labour’s NEC to adopt the full IHRA definition is welcome – it does not – in anyway, restrict legitimate criticism of Israel – essential given the...

Aug 23, 2018, 2:21 PM

Why religious fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong

In days of yore, when an Ambassador Bowling Alley stood proudly in Edgware High Street, a huge Classic cinema dominated Hendon Central and Orange Hill and Spur Road were schools, not fading memories, things were different in North West London’s Jewish community. The Northern Line...

About Me

Michael went to school in Colindale and Edgware, before moving to Clapton, Hackney, he is the second longest serving councillor on Hackney Council, was civic Mayor in 2013/14 and stood in the 2015 and 2017 General Elections for Labour in Faversham and Mid Kent.