ladywell ward october 2010 focus

Upload: rob-blackie

Post on 10-Apr-2018

218 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 8/8/2019 Ladywell Ward October 2010 Focus

    1/2

    Ladywell ward

    [email protected]

    LEWISHAM

    LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

    October 2010

    Make yourvote count!

    Lewisham's Labour Mayor is consultingon the closure of five of the

    boroughs twelve libraries as part of a60m package of cuts. Preparationfor the cuts started last yearfollowing the financial crisis, and inApril council officers began draftingplans to target Library spending.

    Lib Dem Cllr Chris Maines said at thelast council meeting "Most peopleunderstand the need to deal with thehuge national deficit but why startthe cuts by closing Libraries?

    There are many areas where theCouncil spends vast sums of moneythat can be saved, Lewisham Councilspent over 12 million last year onexternal consultants - one singleconsultant earned a staggering263,000.

    Liberal Democrats believe librariesplay a vital role in our community.They help introduce young people to

    books, unemployed people canget Internet access and many olderresidents find libraries a lifeline. Thelibraries targeted for closure includeCrofton Park and New Cross. Onereason some libraries have been

    singled out for closure is their poorstate of repair. It appears that theCouncil has failed to repair leakingroofs and subsidence and now say itwould be cheaper to close them.

    Libraries under threat 5 of 12 libraries to close 60m cut in services planned

    by Labour-run Council beforeelections

    Crofton Park library could remain open if

    the cuts are spread more fairly: if 70 ofLewisham Council's employees with the highest

    salaries took a 10% pay cut, enough moneywould be saved to keep the five libraries open.Current proposals will see library staff,generally on lower salaries, losing their jobs.

    Too many MPs have a job for life...... this has led to complacency, as we saw withthe expenses scandal last year.

    We will finally be given our say in thereferendum on 5th May 2011. The proposedAlternative Vote ("AV") method of electing MPsbuilds on the strengths of the current systemwhile eliminating many of its weaknesses.

    Politicians will be forced to work harder to earnand keep our support. People will at last be able

    to vote for what they really want.

    We'll be fighting to secure a 'Yes' vote and youcan be part of it.

    Yes! To Fairer Votes is a non-party political umbrella

    organisation which will lead the referendum campaign in

    support of the Alternative Vote.

    All political groups represented on Lewisham Council have

    expressed their commitment to electoral reform, as have many

    non-political campaigning groups. If youd like to help the

    campaign, use the contact details overleaf or join in on-line.

    www.yestofairervotes.org

    takebackparliamenttakeback2010

    [email protected]

  • 8/8/2019 Ladywell Ward October 2010 Focus

    2/2

    The Liberal Democrats have beenhighlighting some of the progress

    achieved through their participation inthe Coalition government, and beenopen about the difficult times ahead.

    Saddled with a huge national debtfrom Labours economic mess,equivalent to 22,400 for every man,woman and child, the government hasalso had to take some tough decisionsabout public services in order tobalance the books.

    As well as seeking to make thespending cuts as fair as possible, in

    just five months a huge number ofprogressive policies have been enacted thanks to the Liberal Democrats:

    Ending imprisonment of children inimmigration cases

    Outlawing finger printing of childrenat school without parental permission

    Restoring the pensions-earning link

    Taking 900,000 low paid workers outof Income Tax altogether

    Making top earners pay 10% more

    capital gains tax

    Increasing tax credits for the poorest

    Putting 2.5 billion into child taxcredits so that children of allbackgrounds get a good start in life

    Introducing a banking levy and anindependent commission to look atbreaking up the fat cat mega banks

    Scrapping ID cards

    Introducing a Referendum Bill for the

    Alternative Vote fulfilling a Labourmanifesto commitment

    Long awaited reform of the House ofLords.

    Pledging to meet the goal of 0.7% ofGNI on overseas aid

    Get in touch!

    I can help deliver Focus newsletters in my area

    I can display a poster at election time

    Id like to make a donation. I enclose a cheque for

    10 20 50Please make cheques payabl e to Libera l Democrats

    Could you help us?The Liberal Democrats are the real alternative in Ladywell

    ward Were not supported by big business or the unions

    and rely on local people like you to help and support our

    campaigning. Can you help us improve our area?

    Name:

    Address:

    Telephone:

    E-mail:

    Ladywell LiberalDemocratsFREEPOSTRSAJ-GRSR-JUAG8 Woodham RoadLondonSE6 2SD

    Printed T & B Pr inting Services, Unit 12, Charmwood Farm, Charmwood Lane, Prat ts Bottom, BR6 7SA. Published by and on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, all

    at 8 Woodham Road, London, SE6 2SD. The Liberal Democrats and their elected representatives may also use the information youve given to contact you about local

    or national issues. Some of the contacts may be automated. You can opt out of communication at any time by contacting us.

    Lewisham Lib Dem

    councillor, DuwayneBrooks, has slatedLewisham councilsfailure to respond tothe spate of knifecrime in recentmonths.

    Cllr Brooks called foremergency action atthe beginning of thesummer to deal with

    the frighteningincidence of knifecrime, but theLabour Mayor andcouncillors decided to defer anyaction until the autumn. Betweenthe end of June and beginning ofSeptember there were 59 knifeattacks locally.

    Cllr Brooks commented Thesummer can be a time of increased

    tension among some young people:we needed an action plan to takeknives off our streets. Labour didnothing and there were 60incidents. These crimes varied in

    seriousness but a knife attack canhave destroy a young person's life.

    A detailed plan to deal with thisproblem is needed but Labour areignoring it. Crime is the main

    concern among local residents,particularly young people, and wemust work with everybody involvedto ensure reducing knife crimes is apriority.

    Call for action onknife crime ignored

    Return this slip to:

    If you have a comment or if there is any

    issue you would like us to help you with,

    let us know...

    other_______

    Cllr Brooks ( ), has called on Lewishamcouncil and the local police force to getto grips with knife crime in the borough.

    Progress fromLib Dems ingovernment

    Lib Dem Deputy PM Nick Clegg atthe UN General Assembly confirmingour commitment to overseas aid.