Harrow Liberal Democrats - Latest news

New candidate sets out agenda for London

19th December 2011

Charlotte with Rayners Lane councillor Christopher Noyce and chairman John Skipworth

Charlotte Henry, the Liberal Democrats London Assembly candidate for Brent and Harrow said she would “passionately oppose Boris’s police cuts” if elected in May.

Addressing activists at the Victoria Hall, central Harrow, Charlotte said she would “stop Boris from playing with the safety of Londoners”.

The Liberal Democrats newly elected candidate also criticised the work of Brent and Harrow assembly member Navin Shah.

She said: “Harrow deserves a dedicated Assembly Member, not one who shirks responsibility on key issues such as our fire stations or cuts to community grants which have led to the cancellation of numerous festivals for local people.”

Born and brought up in North West London, Charlotte said she would campaign for more social and affordable housing by encouraging the renovation of disused properties, and will do more to tackle youth unemployment in the area.

As a new media entrepreneur and businesswoman, Charlotte vowed to support local small businesses and champion their cause at the assembly.

“Having started my own business, I understand the difficulties small businesses in the area face at the moment, and I am passionate about supporting and campaigning on their behalf”.

Harrow’s longest serving elected representative, Rayners Lane councilor Christopher Noyce said: “Charlotte will be a wonderful servant for Harrow, her drive, enthusiasm and commitment to the area will make a real difference and give local residents their voice on the assembly”.

London Lib Dem leader launches election campaign in Harrow

16th December 2011

Caroline addresses Harrow activists

London Liberal Democrat leader Caroline Pidgeon promised “to campaign against cuts to policing and tackle overcrowding on London’s transport network” as she launched her party’s London Assembly election campaign at a social club in Harrow.

She said: “Harrow–on–the–Hill and Stanmore stations have been ignored by Boris Johnson. As the serving chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee I have campaigned for accessibility to be improved”.

“Investment should be for stations which are most used, such as Harrow–on–the-Hill”.

“Boris Johnson has failed to improve our roads, rail and cycle lanes. Bus fares from January will have risen by 55%, and so far this year 15 cyclists have died on our roads“.

Caroline Pidgeon said she would “stop plans to expand the Mayor’s cycle super-highways until they had been fully reviewed and all dangerous junctions made safe”.

She continued: “The Mayor’s cuts to policing are dangerous. Officers have fallen since their peak by around 1500 under Boris’ mayoralty, and potential cuts to police counters will make it harder for vulnerable people to report crime”.

Caroline Pidgeon’s arrival at the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) club was met by jubilant applause from local supporters as she began to describe the Liberal Democrats work scrutinising the Mayor of London.

Speaking ahead of the London Assembly and Mayoral elections on May 3, 2012, she said it was time for “an end to the tired and old Boris and Ken show”, and “in Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick, Londoners have a real alternative with extensive crime cutting experience”.

Her agenda for 2012 and beyond includes reducing the estimated 22,000 people who die prematurely each year of respiratory illnesses linked to the capital’s poor air quality. Yet the Mayor delayed the implementation of the final phase of the Low Emission Zone.

Further policies include introducing a One Hour Bus Ticket, early bird fares to help low income workers and those who want to save money by travelling off-peak, and a part time travel card.

She also outlined the Liberal Democrats green agenda for London. The group have plans for a big switch to a low carbon transport system, involving electric buses, taxis and small vans.

Maureen De Beer, 65, and Ross Barlow, 19, said they were impressed by Caroline Pidgeon.

Maureen said: “It’s good to see someone with so much passion for London. She won’t let that Boris or Ken get away with anything. I will definitely be voting for her next year“.

Ross said: “What’s the point of putting these low emission zone signs up if we haven’t got a Mayor who will see it through. She is the greenest candidate and has got my vote.”

John Skipworth, 50, added “she was amazing.”

Harrow to welcome London Lib Dem leader

15th November 2011

Caroline Pidgeon

London Liberal Democrat leader Caroline Pidgeon is set to address a meeting of the Harrow Liberal Democrats at the RAFA Club, behind 28/30 Eastcote Avenue, South Harrow HA2 8AL at 8.30pm on Thursday 24th November.

Caroline is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the London Assembly and Chair of the London Assembly’s Transport Committee. She also sits as a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority and has been a Trustee of the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education in Waterloo since 2005.

Caroline was elected to the London Assembly in May 2008 and has a strong track record of campaigning on issues such as strong policing and improved public transport.

Entry is free and refreshments will be provided and all are welcome.

Nick Clegg’s plans to cut red tape for small businesses

29th October 2011

Nick Clegg and Vince Cable target red tape

Nick Clegg has announced plans to help small businesses struggling with the demands placed on them by government bureaucracy. Nick and Vince Cable, the LibDem business secretary, have already identified over 200 regulations in retail and hospitality that will be simplified or cut. Their aim is a system of regulation that is fit for purpose, and which fits with the busy lives of hard-working people. Nick’s full speech, given to small business leaders, can be read here.

Lib Dems fighting for a better NHS

2nd October 2011

The Lib Dems are continuing to work in Parliament to ensure NHS reforms deliver a better deal for patients, having won major changes to the reforms earlier this summer.

Nick Clegg; NHS reforms must deliver for patients

These included measures to ensure there will be no privatisation of the NHS and no special favours for the private sector.

Nick Clegg said, “With the Lib Dems, the NHS will always be free at the point of use and will deliver top quality treatment for patients. We want to deliver a better NHS that can cope with the increasing demand and rising health costs.”

The NHS reforms will cut waste and bureaucracy that costs billions of pounds. They will help the NHS cope with the costs of Britain’s steadily ageing population and the rising cost of many treatments.

By making the NHS more efficient and by protecting the NHS budget from cuts, more money can be spent on improving care for patients.

NHS faced disaster with Labour

Had Labour won the last election, the NHS would have faced deep spending cuts. That along with Labour’s refusal to tackle waste and inefficiency would have been a disaster for our health services.

Labour rigged the market in favour of the private sector by giving contracts that were unfair for the taxpayer and for patients.
 
Over £250million of taxpayers’ money was handed over by the last Labour government to private providers for operations they didn’t even perform.
 
The Liberal Democrats have made sure that this kind of favouritism towards the private sector will now be illegal.

Lib Dems: cut taxes for ordinary people, not the richest!

2nd October 2011

The Lib Dems are opposing calls for an immediate cut in the 50% tax rate paid by higher rate taxpayers.

Nick Clegg: we need fairer taxes to help ordinary people - not tax cuts for the richest

Nick Clegg’s party instead wants to give more help to those on middle and low incomes who need it the most.

Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said, “At a time when the whole country faces serious financial challenges, the priority needs to be people on low and middle incomes.”

A key part of the coalition agreement was the Lib Dem commitment to making taxes fairer. The Lib Dems are well on their way to delivering on their pledge that no one should pay tax on the first £10,000 they earn.

Nearly a million low paid workers are no longer paying income tax thanks to this. All basic rate tax payers are paying £200 less in income tax.

Each year more and more people on low and middle incomes will gain more thanks to the Lib Dem fairer tax plan.

Danny Alexander said, “Fairer taxes is our goal. I don’t see why, in the next parliament, we shouldn’t be trying to get to a situation where people in a full-time job on the minimum wage are paying no income tax at all.”

This would mean that no one would pay tax on the first £12,500 they earn.

Boris’s fare increases not fair!

2nd October 2011

Just a couple of weeks ago, Boris Johnson announced the fourth year in a row of big price increases on London’s public transport.

From January, prices are set to go up sharply, well above inflation. In fact, on current inflation forecasts our ticket prices will be going up by over a third more than inflation. That is a very unwelcome New Year present waiting for us!

Yet at the same time, Mayor Johnson has failed to tackle fraud and waste – the sort of waste that led Transport for London to spend £39 million on two lift shafts at Shepherd’s Bush station which have now been abandoned. Two expensive holes in the ground which will now be left unused permanently.

Visit our website http://ourcampaign.org.uk/1hourbusticket and support our campaign for the 1 hour bus ticket!

What the Mayor should be doing is take real action to stop Londoners being ripped off by Oyster overcharging and give bus users a fair deal by introducing a one-hour bus ticket. That way people can swap buses between short journeys without being hit by an extra charge. It’s the sensible way to encourage people to use buses without having to pay the earth.

You can back our campaign for a fair one-hour bus ticket by signing the petition at

http://ourcampaign.org.uk/1hourbusticket

Best wishes,

 

Caroline Pidgeon
Leader, London Assembly Liberal Democrats

Harrow LibDems summer barbeque!

21st June 2011

The Harrow Liberal Democrats summer event will be a barbeque dinner to be held on Saturday 16th July from 4.30pm onwards in a lovely location in Pinner.  There will be lots of food and drink, and plenty of good company.  There will also be a special guest!

Tickets are £12 per person (£5 for concessions and children – under 5s are free).

Please contact us at info@harrow.libdems.org for more information or contact Pash Nandra, our vice-chair and barbeque organizer.

Cllr John Cowan – an appreciation by Darren Diamond

13th May 2011

The by-election in Canons Ward has come about because of the sudden and untimely death of one of  Harrow’s  most respected councillors. John was well respected by all of the political parties in Harrow because he cared about the needs of all the people living and working in Harrow. I grew up having the pleasure of John’s words of wisdom; even though I have different ideological opinions, I would hope when I am elected to be able to show the same commitment to the residents as did John and Janet.

Harrow Lib Dems choose candidate for Canons by-election

13th May 2011

The Liberal Democrats have chosen Darren Diamond as their candidate for the Canons ward by-election. Darren, who lived in the ward before moving to his present house said “I have had a long association with this ward. My parents were married at Stanmore Shul and I helped to run their Beavers group. I am still involved in a leadership role with the Scouts in Stanmore.”

Darren Diamond outside his former residence in Canons Ward

Darren Diamond lived in Stanmore for 20 years before moving to Harrow Weald 4 years ago. He is a qualified ACCA accountant, currently running his own practice in Uxbridge. Darren has served on the governing body Stanburn First school for the last 12 years including a period as chair of governors. Darren has also been running the 5th Stanmore Beaver Scouts for the last 8 years and has been involved with scouting for the last 18 years.

Over the last 8 years Darren has been an active campaigner in Headstone South and Harrow Weald twice narrowly missing out on being elected. During these 8 years he helped numerous residents, with problems ranging from dust bins not being collected, to forcing the council to make a landlord repair a collapsed ceiling in a WW2 veteran’s home.

He looks forward to being able to do the same for residents in Canons.

Published and promoted on behalf of the Liberal Democrats by: L J Cox, 62 Lamorna Grove Stanmore HA7 1PG. Hosted by OA5.com, No. 5 The Red Lion, High Street, Much Hadham, Herts, SG10 6DD.

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