After three years of hard work Barking and Dagenham Council have managed to beat six other London boroughs in the bid to bring London's three iconic markets to the area. In the end, a site at Barking Reach was agreed as the preferred location for the City of London Corporation's historic wholesale markets.

Jon Cruddas' June column for the Barking and Dagenham Post and Romford Recorder. Published the week commencing Monday 11 June.

I don't think I can ever recall a more divided Government than the current Tory one - with Cabinet members routinely stabbing each other in the front, and the back.

The Brexit debate does throw up strong emotions, but most people in communities like ours just want to get on with it.

Last week the Government announced their budget for the 2014/15 financial year. Dagenham and Rainham MP Jon Cruddas responded to the budget finding a lack of substance that would help people in Dagenham and Rainham.  

Jon Cruddas MP said “We needed a budget that would tackle the cost –of – living crisis which has left many people in Dagenham and Rainham worse off.  

I hear from my constituents in Dagenham and Rainham every day how they are struggling with increased energy, transport and housing costs.