1. What are my main objectives for the next 4 years?
Increasing employment opportunities and affordable housing for local people will be my 2 over-riding priorities for Tower Hamlets. From my experience as a Councillor and my professional work in economic regeneration, I know the borough could be a fairer place. Tower Hamlets is one of the economic success stories of the UK, and yet unemployment is among the highest in London and there are over 23,000 people on the housing waiting list. The Mayor will be judged on his ability to narrow the gap between rich and poor in this borough.
Tower Hamlets is one of the economic success stories of the UK; it has a long history of commerce, trade and industry. Over the last 10 years, the borough has experienced unprecedented jobs growth (over 60% compared to 8.4% in London as whole) and can offer more jobs than there are economically active residents. However, as the managing director of a small firm myself, I know that competition is increasingly fierce and the recent recession has put added strains, particularly on SMEs. The Lib Dems have practical policies at the national, regional and local level which will help small businesses to continue to thrive, even in this period of increased austerity and necessary restraint in public spending.
The Mayor to have a working relationship with TELCO committing to meeting us to discuss our agenda twice a year, and the first meeting within 90 days of being elected.
YES! - it is absolutely imperative that the Mayor is accountable to local people, and the many diverse communities of Tower Hamlets. There is a real and present danger that we elect an autocratic Mayor who is representative of only one section of the community. I commit to meeting on a bi-annual basis with TELCO's diverse membership, but also to hold quarterly Mayor's Question Times - open public meetings in the different communities and neighbourhoods which make up our great Borough. I will also report back to you each year on my progress in delivering my manifesto commitments.
When Labour were kicked out of government in May they told us "the money had run out." The Council in Tower Hamlets has run a similarly irresponsible administration for years, wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money each year on its weekly propaganda East End Life just to tell you supposedly how good they are, whilst frittering away millions of your money (£26m and counting) on vanity projects like the Rich Mix.
"I have lived in Tower Hamlets for the last 15 years - more than a third of my lifetime. I love this borough - its vibrancy; its diversity; its history. You only had to be here last Friday to feel the excitement as we celebrated Eid. In the same week we remembered the 70th anniversary of the Blitz when the people of this part of London showed remarkable courage to overcome the bombardment and threat of a fascist invasion.
Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, has revealed London Underground are planning to close ticket offices across the underground by 7458 hours every week.
Responding to London Underground's defence of the reduced hours and their repeated claim that all tube stations with a ticket office will continue to have one Caroline Pidgeon said:
London's police officers are earning large amounts of overtime pay with some getting close to £60,000 a year on top of their salaries, it was revealed today.
Figures released to the Metropolitan Police Authority show that five constables and two sergeants received £50,000 or more in overtime last year and a further 157 officers were paid at least £25,000 for after-hours work. The biggest beneficiary received £58,336.
London Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has written with her colleagues Tom Brake MP and Simon Hughes MP to the Director of Public Prosecutions about his failure to bring a prosecution against the police officer seen on video striking Ian Tomlinson who died shortly afterwards.
Local newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson was walking home from work on 1 April 2009 when he got caught up in the G20 protests in the City of London.
