|
|
 |
| |
Ken Livingstone |
Go out and vote, or risk letting in the
Tories – Ken
Election special: one week before
polling and Labour fear losing their flagship Town hall for
the first time in 34 years.
People are used to Labour holding power in town halls across
the capital, and some may not be very bothered about voting.
But many residents will be shocked to the core if they wake
up next week to find their local council in the hands of the
Tories or in chaos with no party in overall control.
People always grumble about their local councils. It’s
human nature and actually it has an important effect of helping
to hold politicians to account.
But now there are some key choices facing Camden and I believe
it is time for all people who want to protect the good things
about Camden to vote to keep them.
There is a lot to be proud about in Camden.
Camden has an excellent record on schools. It has the highest
level of funding for community groups in London. Unlike several
Tory boroughs, it has joined the Capital Standard scheme with
my office to set up a London-wide ‘enforcement academy’
to train officers to clean up our streets.
Camden Council works well with my administration to seek to
get the best for Camden residents.
Camden has shown its willingness to use the array of powers
available to it such as anti-social behaviour orders that help
local communities and the police make neighbourhoods safer and
more pleasant.
Only a few years ago people would have laughed at anyone predicting
that the Tories would be in power in the London Borough of Lambeth,
of all places. But they are – unfortunately in alliance
with the Lib Dems.
In Islington the Lib Dem-run council has taken an axe to the
voluntary sector, slashing community facilities. It has failed
to use the powers available to it to tackle crime and anti-social
behaviour. It is lagging way behind Camden on getting improved
security for residents through better CCTV.
Many thousands of Londoners voted for me for Mayor but also
used one of their votes for the Lib Dems in the London Assembly
elections at the same time, having been unhappy about some of
the things Labour was doing nationally – but they then
found that the Lib Dems immediately formed a coalition with
the Tories against me.
They elected a Tory as Assembly chair, voted with the Tories
against my budgets to provide extra police and better public
transport, and opposed key environmental policies.
I don’t believe that Londoners who voted Lib Dem wanted
the Lib Dems to act in this way.
Liberal Democrats could easily rule out forming coalitions with
the Tories in the current borough elections. They have refused.
Camden has the highest recycling rates in inner London, has
extended doorstep recycling including cardboard and plastics.
It has put more recycling bins on estates and streets. It has
developed a green transport strategy, car-free housing policies
and backed environmentally friendly council vehicles. Camden
was the first Fairtrade borough in north London.
Letting a Tory-Lib Dem coalition in through the back door would
be tremendously counterproductive for the green agenda in the
borough.
Matters of real importance – such as recycling, bin collection,
the street environment, licensing, planning and anti-social
behaviour – are all made or influenced by your local council.
Camden Labour’s record is of hard-working councillors putting
Camden people first, with two good local Labour MPs – Glenda
Jackson and Frank Dobson – whose years of service in the
borough are second to none. I believe that is the best basis
for determining how to vote next Thursday.
Camden is held in high regard by people across London, and this
is in no small part down to the council. If you value this you
will need to vote to protect it.
Ken Livingstone is the Mayor of London |
| |
|
|
|
