MONDAY evening’s Newham Council meeting was yet another damning indictment of how the political class is utterly disengaged from the poor and most vulnerable in Britain, writes Joana Ramiro.

The meeting itself lasted barely more than an hour, casting doubts over the efficiency of local authorities in tackling serious issues. 

Can you truly solve homelessness in 60 minutes?

Then there was the utter travesty of holding the meeting closed to public engagement — in a building built for and heavily adorned with the word … public. 

But nothing was more abhorrent than the swift exit of Newham’s 60 Labour councillors from the premises.

They avoided protesters, running into their lovely cars — Mini Coopers and Mercedes Benz seemingly less than a couple of years old — driving through the masses grimacing. 

Some cursed the samba band, others danced to the rhythm, laughing at the people fighting homelessness.

It was a cruel, disgusting show.

“We are the public and they represent us,” said a protesters complaining about the lack of access to the council meeting. 

After Monday night, one was left to wonder who they really represent.