Even if you think Mayor Johnson was right to dump the extension of the DLR to Dagenham Dock, spare a thought for those the decision will hurt most. Yesterday's World Tonight carried a report (16 minutes in) from the borough of Barking and Dagenham highlighting the plight of low-skilled workers finding themselves either out of a job or making do with a worse one.
The leader of the opposition BNP group on the Council cannot, of course, resist scapegoating immigrants and racialising his argument about underinvestment in training and education, but you can see why it has purchase with voters. That's what Labour is up against locally, and why it's so vital that it finds the right response. The DLR extension was to be part of a large regeneration project. No wonder the Council and Jon Cruddas are fighting it. I hope they win.
