Unmesh Desai, London Assembly Member, City & East

I recently visited the SKS Swaminarayan Temple in Green Street to join local councillors, Stephen Timms MP and the mayor of Newham to celebrate Diwali.

I was part of the panel at the 200-strong residents’ meeting convened by Royal Wharf Residents’ Association- one of the best organised I have been to in all my years in Newham politics.

Earlier this month, it was an honour to march with over a million others at Pride in London.

The Young Londoners Fund has been set up by City Hall in the wake of swingeing government cuts to youth services, to help children and young people to fulfil their potential- particularly those most at risk of getting caught up in crime.

I have written to our local borough commander, Sue Williams, following the recent tragic murders that have taken place in the borough, to ask for an update on the additional police support that is being put in place in the local community.

Over the past month, I have been speaking at Ramadan gatherings across east London and local people have rightly expressed their concerns about hate crime in the aftermath of the tragic terror attacks in Christchurch and Colombo.

I recently attended an event organised by the council to mark the 26th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

The Newham community’s ability to come together never fails to inspire me.

“We now need a global response to racist, right-wing ideology”. The words of New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, resonate around the globe in the aftermath of the Christchurch tragedy, which saw 50 people murdered by a right-wing terrorist at a local mosque.

Attending a remembrance event at Barking Town hall for Jodie Chesney brought home the tragic consequences of knife crime. I met with her family afterwards and their dignity in such circumstances was truly humbling.