Higham Hill Cllrs, Peter Woollcott, Sean Meiszner and Patrick Smith wish Mr Nelson Mandela a Happy Birthday on July 18th

Samina Safdar has become the twentieth Liberal Democrat councillor in Waltham Forest after taking the vacant Forest ward seat in last night’s by-election. The full result was: 

SAMINA SAFDAR (LIB DEM) 977

Jawade Liaqat (Labour) 927 

Edwin Northover (Conservative) 507 

Mark Dawes (Green) 184 

Makola Mayambika (Left List) 56 

Turnout 32.33 per cent, 2,661 votes cast

New Mayor of Waltham Forest, Cllr. Sheila Smith-Pryor has announced that she is hoping to raise lots of money during her year of office to support two local good causes:

1. Branches is a day centre and night shelter for homeless people. It is situated in Forest Rd E17. The night shelter offers a hot evening meal a bed and breakfast . The day centre provides a midday meal. There are showers clothing and laundry facilities. Branches also assists people to move back into proper homes.

2. MSAction is based in Billet Rd E17. It offers high pressure oxygen therapy to people with M.S. It does not receive any funding from the NHS and charges £10 for an hours therapy.It is not a cure but can help to keep the disease at bay and improve the quality of life.There are only 4 such units in the country and we are fortunate to have one in our borough. It is also unique in that it is the only unit that treats children with Cerebral Palsy. Again it is not a cure but can improve the quality of their lives, which has a knock-on effect on the whole family.

Anyone wishing to donate can send a cheque [payable to The Mayor’s Charity] to the Mayor’s Parlour, Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow, E17 4JF.

Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly had a very successful session at the first Mayor’s Question Time with Boris Johnson this week.Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Mike Tuffrey, convinced the Mayor to make all his appointments to City Hall accountable to the Assembly. This means that all the Mayor’s staff, including his advisers, can be called before the London Assembly for scrutiny. Mike Tuffrey also extracted pledges from Boris Johnson to make sure that the supposed ‘independent’ panel appointed by the Mayor to investigate grants awarded by the London Development Agency take account of, and use, all the work that the Assembly’s committee chaired by Liberal Democrat Dee Doocey had already carried out before the recent elections.At the same meeting Boris Johnson also agreed to seek an urgent meeting with the Department for Transport over funding for Phase 2 of the East London Line following questioning from Caroline Pidgeon - a point noted in Thursday’s Guardian!

Caroline also got Boris Johnson to admit that his plans for a new Routemaster bus are only an aspiration rather than a firm commitment.After the meeting Caroline Pidgeon commented, “The Routemaster bus was a central part of the Mayor’s election manifesto. But there are no clear plans on how he will design or pay for it. The Mayor’s new transport adviser, Kulveer Ranger, seems to think the new Routemaster may not be ‘hop-on, hop-off’. But Boris Johnson said it will be and will include the iconic platform. The Mayor’s office is sending out a confused message on his flagship policy.‘Londoners voted for Boris Johnson on his pledge to reintroduce the Routemaster. This is the first real test of Boris’ campaign manifesto and like him, it is turning out to be a little blurry round the edges. Boris Johnson said that his Routemaster bus is an aspiration and not a commitment. We can only hope that the Mayor’s next proposal has more substance.”

This week the Mayor appointed Tim Parker as First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive of the Greater London Authority.  See http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=17034.  As news of the appointment broke, Mike Tuffrey commented that, “This week Boris Johnson told the London Assembly that he would chair Transport for London. In an apparent U-turn, he has now announced that Tim Parker will chair TfL and is inventing a new role at the GLA for him.“While we should all welcome the best brains from the private sector, we will be asking searching questions about Tim Parker’s suitability for the roles being created for him.” 

Last night’s Annual Council meeting in the Walthamstow Assembly Hall saw Lib Dem Cllr Sheila Smith-Pryor invested as Mayor of Waltham Forest.

Cllr Smith-Pryor’s ward colleague in Hale End and Highams Park, Cllr John Beanse, made the speech proposing her for the position.

Cllr John Macklin Councillor for Chapel End and newly elected Leader of the Lib Dems seconded the proposition.

PRESS STATEMENT

Agreed Sale of Company’s Land 16 May 2008
The directors of Walthamstow Stadium Limited have agreed to the sale of the Company’s freehold property at Walthamstow Stadium to a development consortium led by Yoo Capital, London, and Quadrant Housing Association and K W Linfoot plc. Formal contracts have been exchanged and completion is expected on or before 1st September 2008. Racing will continue until the middle of August 2008.

Since the abolition of General Betting Duty in 2001, with the consequent loss of the unique advantage of tax-free betting only on-course, greyhound punters have been able to bet tax-free off-course, and with betting offices and exchanges open throughout the evening to accommodate them, attendances and betting turnover on-course have declined dramatically. Walthamstow’s totalisator turnover alone has fallen by some 35% during the period.

With all of the principle income streams in sharp decline, and general running costs rising relentlessly, the company’s operations have become unsustainable.

Staff and trainers have been notified and now enter a consultation period. It is hoped that all will find alternative positions after operations cease. From an animal welfare point of view, it is anticipated that most of the greyhounds currently racing at the Stadium will be accommodated at other racecourses. If, however, certain owners choose to retire their greyhounds, every effort will be made to support them in finding suitable homes.
For further information, please call:

Charles Chandler 01707 644288 

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have elected Chapel End councillor John Macklin as their new leader at the local party’s Annual General Meeting last night. 

Cllr Macklin, who was elected to Waltham Forest Council in 2002, currently serves as the Cabinet portfolio holder for Service Modernisation.  He previously spent 13 years as a secondary school teacher in East London schools and now works at the as a senior university lecturer in Education. 

John Macklin replaces Cllr Keith Rayner in the role.  During Cllr Rayner’s tenure as party leader, the Liberal Democrats have gained the highest number of Councillors in the local party’s history, ousting the Conservatives as the second largest political group in Waltham Forest and becoming the only party to have councillors in Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton/Leytonstone. 

Cllr Macklin has promised that, under his leadership, the Liberal Democrats will be an “inclusive party who are ready to listen to residents and implement ambitious and forward-thinking ideas for the good of our borough”. 

Cllr John Macklin said: 

“I want to lead the Liberal Democrats in engaging those who believe that politics in Waltham Forest has nothing to do with them.  I will make it a priority to involve those residents who have skills to offer and imaginative ideas regarding the running of their local Council. 

“The Liberal Democrats will prove that, when working with the people they represent, local councillors can deliver meaningful change for our borough. 

“This is an exciting time for the Liberal Democrats.  We are in a perfect position to challenge for control of the Council and to build on the excellent work our councillors carry out for residents right across the borough.

“I am determined that we will continue to be the party that delivers for the whole of Waltham Forest”. 

The ability of Nick Clegg to lead the LibDems into a much strengthened and consolidated second national party status, in the Country, in popular vote on 25%, overtaking Labour on 24%,is a rare tribute to his extraordinary leadership talent and skill.

The Election Results, Labour`s worst for 40 years, has shown us that Mr Brown has turned his back on the poor, those residents who use local post offices and importantly ignored the cries for help from his former supporters in the inner city strongholds like Hartlepool and Methyr Tydfil and the Valleys in S.Wales.

Brian Paddick Liberal Democrat candidate for the next Mayor of London, was given a warm welcome by Walthamstow Lib Dems last Sunday.The bustling tour, included a walk along High Street and Selbourne Walk to meet shoppers in the French Market, a trip along Palmerston Road to salute the Flag hoisted by Cllr Bob Wheatley to celebrate St George’s Day 23/4.

Brian Paddick, Meral Ece and the Liberal Democrats stand for

`A Better Deal for Public Transport Commuters in London’

How to improve our London Transport network is the Number One Issue in the `New Contract for London’ and GLA Manifesto commitment.Your 3 Votes on May Ist will help deliver all of the following Public Transport reforms:

1. Zero carbon emissions. 2. Higher capacity for public transport across London3. Cross River Tram Project connecting South/North London and with spur down Oxford St.

Nick Clegg supports Brian Paddick

Higham Hill Focus Cllr.Team fully support Brian Paddick for Mayor of London and ask residents to vote Paddick as their first preference choice on May Ist.
Meral Ece is the Liberal Democrat first choice preference for the GLA Election on May Ist.

Brian Paddick former Deputy Assistant Commissioner, is the only London Mayoral candidate, who has earned the right to governance at City Hall, by dint of his 30 years, in the Metropolitan Police.

Brian was in charge of a multi-million pound budget and unlike the other two candidates, has already delivered a high rating in public service, whilst Borough Commander in Lambeth, in the 1990`s, when in charge of 200 Met.Police staff. Boris Johnson has only run his bath and thinks that removal of `bendy-buses’ cures everything from back pain to knife crime!

Brian aims to put his policing record to the best use to reduce crime on the streets by 20% or resign after 4 years. He has said that guns and knives must be removed from the streets by more honesty and human understanding between the police and people, so that people see the police on their side and report those who carry weapons of violence. The human object in this policy, is to win back public confidence and get the police and residents all working together again.

In Brian Paddick`s new `Contract with Londoners’ he has stated,  

 `We all have a responsibility to make London a safer place’.

Brian Paddick believes in practical solutions for Londoners:  grants to prevent heat escaping in better insulation to keep pensioners warm in winter. New cheaper environmental zero carbon rated trams, to augment bus public transport, reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions with fairer daily charges that do not penalise smaller vehicles, stop the `Third Runway’ at Heathrow and lend support for more affordable social housing for first time couples and singles, so to get a foot on the property ladder, and put an end to closure of post offices without proper local consultation consent.

Brian has said he is only prepared to serve the people in the Capital with the same integrity, human dignity and honesty that he made available on the streets of the City, for over 30 years, as an influential and caring public servant in the police.

Who do you want running your City Hall ?

The Chancer, the man who likes to tan in Venezuela or the former London Policeman?

The national public consultation prompted by the Liberal Democrats, has revealed that 500,000 local people want to see changes in the Climate Change Bill 2008, presently being discussed in Parliament..

Cllr Patrick Smith says “there are two important changes to the existing Climate Bill that are required”: 1.There must be a new 80% carbon emissions threshold, legally in force, until 2050, in reducing the environmental damage (currently it is set at 60%)

Councillor Bob Wheatley will soon celebrate his latest birthday on March 25th 2008.

Still only one year short of Her Majesty on 82 years who celebrates her 82nd on April 21st. Amongst Bobs wide social and political circle he has been known to claim that his three finest achievements in life are:

This superman feat amounted to walking at over 54 miles each day and resting up at B and B’s en route across the entire Country! Councillor Bob Wheatley was the most senior standing elected Councillor to defend his seat in William Morris Ward on May 4th 2006 and without doubt Bob is the best champion of local democracy and open government based on free speech in this Borough! May I propose 3 cheers for Cllr. Bob Wheatley and may all those who value free speech for all and to defend our local post offices and all issues that affect our local residents` concerns first- take note!

Walthamstow councillors have launched a stinging attack on Labour parliamentary candidate Stella Creasy by accusing her of “two-faced cynicism” over local post office closures. 

The Labour parliamentary candidate has attempted to position herself at the centre of efforts to save the three Walthamstow post offices threatened with closure.  However, during her time as councillor for Walthamstow’s Lea Bridge ward she attempted to vote down a Liberal Democrat motion to Full Council that called on the Council to oppose the government’s closure programme. 

The angry reaction by local Liberal Democrats comes as they prepare to present a further motion to Full Council that calls on councillors from all sides to state their opposition to post office closures.

 Cllr Bob Carey, whose Chapel End ward could see two branches axed, said: “It is galling to see Ms Creasy jump on the bandwagon with regards to these closures. “Unfortunately for her, people have longer memories than she may give them credit for.  As a councillor 5 years ago, she, along with her Labour colleagues, attempted to remove a clause from a Liberal Democrat motion that expressed concern about both the effect of proposed post office closures on the vulnerable and elderly and the distance that they would be forced to travel in order to access vital services. 

“Now resident outcry about these Government closures has reached a crescendo, we hear her become one of those rushing to repeat these concerns almost parrot-like. 

“I’m sure that residents will see this two-faced scramble to act as a champion for our most vulnerable residents as little more than a cynical act of political chicanery. 

Cllr Carey, who will move the Liberal Democrat motion before Full Council, warned that opposition to the six immediate proposed closures in Waltham Forest was only the beginning of the work that needed to be done.

 “ Post Office representatives confirmed to council scrutiny just this week that  even if we are successful in saving one of the six branches immediately under threat, this would more than likely mean another branch closed in order to meet the required quota of government closures. “We hope both Labour and the Conservative councillors will support our motion this Thursday and come out strongly against the government’s closure programme. 

Liberal Democrats on Waltham Forest Council have branded the Government’s latest budget ”a great green cop out”. 

Lib Dem councillor Bob Belam, the Council’s portfolio holder for the Environment, lashed out at Chancellor Alistair Darling’s failure to address green issues, calling on the Government to show a commitment to the environment by ending delays to increases in vehicle Excise Duty, Aviation Duty and a Plastic Bag Tax.  

Cllr Belam recently lead a Liberal Democrat motion that will seek a voluntary agreement with local businesses to end the provision of free plastic bags.  Measures also include making council facilities more energy efficient and introducing a Climate Change Impact Assessment into every Council report, putting climate change at the heart of the Council’s agenda. 

Cllr Belam said: “The Chancellor has kicked green taxes into the long grass. The Government has presented this as a budget of the environment and opportunity but in reality it is a tax grab - by 2010 the Government will be taking £1.8bn more from taxpayers to plug the budget deficit. 

“It is entirely right that the most polluting cars should pay more tax. However, the Government has once again delayed any action for 2-3 years as the announced measures will not come into full force until 2010/11. 

“On the issue of Avaition Duty, we welcome that the Government have finally seen the benefits of taxing planes and not people, but this budget simply offers yet more dithering by delaying its implementation until 2009. 

“The Liberal Democrats support measures to introduce a plastic bag tax and have been at the forefront of local schemes to end the practice of providing free plastic bags to shoppers.  

However the Government continues to be indecisive over whether it will actually introduce this, choosing instead to introduce another ‘consultation’ as a green gimmick.” 

“This budget simply attempts to pull the wool over the eyes of those who share our concerns about the environment.  It is time for the Government to back up their words with real action.”

Yesterday Dave Hill, the Guardian writer,

said:“He’s still the most compelling candidate on crime.”

And he was joined in praising Brian by a Londoner recently returned from Japan:

“Seeing the live debate did a good job of convincing me that Ken Livingstone is a bit of a megalomaniac, Boris Johnson is a bit of a public school educated plonker and Brian Paddick is a decent bloke who genuinely seems to want to improve things for the average person in London.“

“It is thanks to the support and hard work of people across London like yourself that Brian’s campaign is continuing to gain momentum.It is a tough challenge getting our message out to all the millions of Londoners who can vote in May. But with your help Brian and our London Assembly team can do it.You can help by forwarding this email to your friends and encouraging them to sign up for news from Brian’s campaign at www.brianpaddick.orgOur next electoral test in London is this Thursday, in the Highgate by-election. We’ve had a great run of by-election results recently. If you can help out in Highgate to keep our run going that will be fabulous. Ring Fred on 07763 745 402 if you can help with delivering leaflets, last minute canvassing or on polling day itself.Your help can really make a difference.

Many thanks.Best wishes,
Chris Rennard
Chief Executive - Liberal Democrats 

The London Assembly Liberal Democrat group acted as the lead in compiling a response to the Government’s consultation on the possible future expansion at Heathrow.  The response made it quite clear that NO expansion should be allowed.  The response included contributions from Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick and Sarah Ludford MEP.  If you would like a copy please e-mail info@glalibdems.org.uk.

Mike Tuffrey also was engaged in scrutiny of the Olympics this week as the Assembly’s Environment Committee looked at how plans were progressing to make the 2012 Games sustainable.Energy use, the carbon footprint and a sustainable food strategy were a few of the topics explored as member’s of the Environment Committee. The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 has raised concerns over LOCOG’s ability to meet its commitment to provide 20% of electricity during the Games-time from local renewable sources. This has not been done before and the nature of the energy market is not well geared towards such short-term contracts. How would plans to work with the utility sponsor (appointed by LOCOG) and utility partner (appointed by the ODA) and has work been done on linking the energy and waste agendas, e.g. through the use of biofuels from anaerobic digestion facilities were topics explored.

The timing of the 2012 Games at the end of the Kyoto period, coupled with the global profile of the event presents a unique opportunity to set the standard for staging low carbon major events and to influence emissions beyond the scope of the Games legacy.

A report released this week by the London Assembly’s Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee, chaired by Dee Doocey, has found that diverting funding from Lottery good causes in London to shore up the budget for the 2012 Games may actually do more harm than good. Both the Cultural Olympiad, a four-year programme of events aimed at increasing participation in cultural activity due to commence this year, and the Government’s Olympic sports participation target to increase the number of people who are physically active by 2 million by 2012 are heavily dependent on smaller grassroots organizations. But the Committee found that these were the very organisations that would be hardest hit by the diversion of Lottery funding to pay for the Olympics.

The report estimates that of the £2.2 billion National Lottery good causes are having to contribute towards the £9 billion needed for the 2012 Games², London will lose around £440 million of Lottery funding³, with voluntary and local community organisations hardest hit.

Dee Doocey AM said: “We are not denying that the capital will reap huge benefits as host city of the 2012 Games.  However, our investigation shows that the on-the-ground opportunities Londoners were promised are at risk because the funding diversion effectively hamstrings the organisations needed to deliver them. At present, it’s not completely clear who will lose what, but our research suggests that smaller organisations will suffer most. With the Games only four years away this needs to be addressed immediately before the opportunity to get this right is lost.”

A number of London Liberal Democrats urged senior Network Rail executives for improved liaison with politicians on rail plans at a special Investing in London’s Railways seminar on Thursday.

Susan Kramer MP and Richmond councilors highlighted the need for Network Rail to engage with them on strategic policies for public transport systems in SW London.

Network Rail gave an informative presentation on how the Thameslink project would be rolled out in the next few years with a new Blackfriars rail station straddling the Thames and a rebuilt London Bridge Station beneath the Shard of Glass.

All agreed that pressure by MPs and Assembly members for funding for the New Cross-Peckham-Clapham Junction rail link (part of the East London Line extensions) would be the key political priority in the coming weeks.

Geoff Pope said ‘We welcome Network Rails plans for upgrading London’s railways but they need to up their game in involving and listening to politicians and local people.

The impressive plans for Thameslink and the London Overground look set to make step change improvements before the Olympics. Lets hope they don’t suffer delays or cost overruns.”

Two post offices in nearby Chapel End ward are on the latest list of closures. The post office on the corner of Forest Road and Kenilworth Avenue and the one in the parade in Chingford Road by the Dog & Duck. There offices are used by residents of Higham Hill. Residents are starting a petition in the post office on Monday 25th February which will be attended by the Guardian and Cllr Bob Belam. Please join us in protest, sign the pettitions.

Cllrs Patrick Smith, Sean Meiszner and Peter Woollcott are against all post office closures.

We will keep you posted

The most heavily polluting lorries are facing charges of £200 per day to enter Greater London as Britain’s first low emission zone (LEZ) comes into force. 

The £49m scheme uses cameras to check all lorries over 12-tonnes entering the zone against a database of vehicles certified as meeting EU exhaust limits.

Firms whose vehicles are not on the database will be told to pay up.

The rules, aimed at improving London’s air quality, will be extended to cover buses and coaches in July.

By 2010, it will also cover some vans and smaller lorries. Cars and motorcycles are exempt.

Firms are responsible for making sure their vehicles comply with the anti-pollution rules, which stipulate the amount of airborne dirt and nitrogen oxide each vehicle is permitted to emit. Unlike London’s congestion charge zone, which is lifted in the evenings and at weekends, the LEZ will be in force 24 hours a day, every day.

It also covers a larger area of 610 sq miles (1,580 sq km). Failing vehicles will be issued with a warning letter the first time they are seen in the zone.

In response to claims not enough was being done to make haulage companies aware of the new requirements, firms have been given an extra 28 days from the launch of the zone to ensure their vehicles comply before the fines kick in.

 Firms which fail to pay the £200 charge will be fined £1,000.

 Hauliers have protested about the new rules, which they say will be expensive to comply with.

But Transport for London, which is implementing the zone, says it will improve quality of life for people with asthma, cardio-vascular disease and other health conditions.

Nick Fairholme, head of the LEZ, said: “Despite significant improvements in recent years, London’s air pollution is the worst of any city in the UK and among the worst in Europe. “The LEZ aims to reduce traffic pollution by deterring the most individually polluting diesel-engine lorries, buses, coaches, minibuses and large vans from driving within our city.”

All lorries made after October 2001 automatically comply with the EU standards of particulate emissions of 0.05g per km. Older vehicles can be adapted to comply with the rules.

TfL said it had identified 120,000 lorries of over 12 tonnes inside the zone during six months of monitoring last year and estimates that about 10% do not meet EU standards.

Low emission zones are already planned or in operation in 70 towns and cities in eight European countries including Norway, the Netherlands and Germany. BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds says other UK towns and cities with pollution problems will be watching the implementation of the LEZ with interest.   

The Mayor has agreed to change the way empty home targets are set following pressure from Dee Doocey, Housing Spokesperson for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats.

This week, Dee Doocey criticised the Mayor’s housing strategy for not setting challenging targets for empty homes, with only a 2.5% vacancy rate needed by 2016.

She highlighted the fact that this target could be met without a single empty home being returned into use, because of the expected increase in housing stock through new builds.

As a result of Dee’s challenge, the Mayor agreed to move away from percentages to absolute figures. Commenting, Dee Doocey said, “The Mayor must also work closely with boroughs to bring these homes back into use. Too many homeowners find it difficult to obtain good, consistent advice about the help that is available. We need a targeted, London-wide approach to this very serious problem.”

The Mayor this week refused to commit to a target figure for reducing crime in future years while being questioned by Graham Tope at Mayor’s Question Time.

Graham Tope commented, “In January 2004 the Mayor pledged to reduce crime by 50% by 2008.

He has failed to hit this target by almost two-thirds.

At the Mayor’s Question Time meeting I challenged him to be held accountable for his future actions and he refused, yet again, sticking his head in the sand.

The Mayor’s dismal record on crime needs to be highlighted. Actual crime has not fallen and it is misleading for him to claim it has. Ken can lie about his crime-fighting reputation, but he is no superhero.”

The Metropolitan police announced this week that they were not going to conduct a criminal inquiry in to the actions of Mayoral aide Lee Jasper, despite Ken Livingstone having asked them to do so. 

The police said there been “no criminal allegations reported to us in connection with this individual.”

The Mayor at a meeting of the full London Assembly on Wednesday morning rejected Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike Tuffrey’s suggestion that he reinstate Lee Jasper.

“If the Mayor was certain that Lee Jasper had not acted illegally, then surely he has wasted police time with this matter” said Mike.  “The allegations made about Mr Jasper cannot be swept under the carpet by the Mayor, and I want to make sure that there exists no reason for Lee Jasper not to appear before the London Assembly on March 5^th as we conduct a detailed scrutiny into the issues.”

Senior officers from the London Development Agency and senior Mayoral advisors, Simon Fletcher, Lee Jasper and John Ross will appear before the London Assembly on March 5^th.  More details at http://tinyurl.com/2gake9

Figures obtained by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that the number of people charged for drink-driving in Brent, Barnet, Hounslow, Southwark, Hackney and Bexley has risen in the past three years.

The Liberal Democrats have outlined key proposals to revive London’s failing Tube network. It is hoped that these measures could restore confidence in the London Underground after taxpayers have forked out at least £2.6 billion for Gordon Brown’s disastrous Public Private Partnership.The ideas focus on improving the daily travel experience by making the Tube safer, faster and more friendly. They include initiatives to ensure an increase in the number of step-free access stations by 2012 in a bid to help reduce congestion and improve disabled access. Strong emphasis will also be placed on passenger safety on the Tube with a suggestion that every evening train should have a ‘SAFE’ carriage supervised by a security guard.

Currently under the PPP station upgrades are placed as the top of the priority list. Rather than worrying about how the station looks Geoff Pope, the Lib Dems Assembly Transport spokesperson, has argued that first work to improve the signals and tracks should take priority –  which would see a massive reduction in the delays and cancellations that currently hinder the daily journey of many Londoners.

Geoff said, “We would like to make London Underground as successful as the DLR and London Overground railway networks.  Under Labour, the waiting time for a Tube has actually increased and overcrowding has become a real danger at some stations. It is clear that the current system is being mismanaged.”

Winnie & Brian Paddick Mayoral candidate on the election trail.

WINNIE SMITH recaptured the third Leyton Ward council seat last night in a spectacular Valentine’s Day victory.

SMITH LIB DEM  1360

Lab                       695

Respect                176

Con                       108

Grn                         90

Back in the run up to the 2006 elections, Labour’s Miranda Grell ran a smear campaign, describing our candidate as a paedophile and told electors he had sex with teenage boys.

 In September the courts convicted Grell of making false statements, imposed a £1000 fine, £3000 costs and barred her from council office.

Surprisingly, the Labour party then agreed to put up £30,000 to fund an appeal but at the last minute they backed away.

The appeal was lost, with the judge commenting that Grell’s evidence was “contrived and not honest” and that she “has let herself down and everyone in her community.” 

Last night’s resounding win for Winnie Smith shows what the voters think of this shameful episode.Winnie will be a real asset to the party and to the good people of Leyton.

Labour’s vote was cut to 29% and David Cameron’s Tories were left trailing in fourth place, only beating the Green by 18 votes.

Congratulations to the team in Leyton, especially Bob, Jenny and Henry, and also to the many people who went to help in person or on the phones.

The Mayor admitted today before the London Assembly that his pledge of
1000 extra police was not as a result of his budget.

Commenting on the Mayor’s misleading budget pledge, Policing Spokesman
for the London Assembly Liberal Democrats, Graham Tope said:

“The Mayor promised London 1000 extra police but they certainly won’t
be as a result of his budget. The Government and London boroughs will
be providing the majority of extra police.

“The Mayor would actually be responsible for a fall in the number of
police in London by 525, if it were not for Government and London
borough funding. The Mayor is taking credit for the hard work of
others.

“If the Mayor’s headline pledge for the budget is a lie, imagine what
rot lies beneath this empty promise. This is blatant spin on the
Mayor’s part.”