Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s proposals to try to secure changes to the composition of the London Fire Authority by reducing its composition of elected London Assembly Members and borough councillors and to increase the number of Mayoral appointees, said:

“These proposals are nothing less than a power grab from the Mayor.

“The Mayor’s record of abusing his existing powers to appoint people to the London Fire Authority has been bad enough.

The Mayor of London is standing by and allowing the decimation of community policing claims Caroline Pidgeon AM, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson, after questioning the Mayor and the Met Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe at City Hall today.

The Mayor of London should play a key role in driving out loan sharks across London, according to a new report recently launched by Caroline, her London Assembly colleague Stephen Knight and Lynne Featherstone MP, at the London Capital Credit Union in Islington.

The report, "Payday London", sets out a number of policies that the Mayor could adopt to tackle the problems created by payday lending and illegal lending. By actively supporting the growth of credit unions, with low and capped interest rates, more Londoners could avoid resorting to lending at exorbitant interest rates and frequently entering a cycle of unsustainable debt.

Speaking to the MayorWatch website, Lib Dem London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon had called for the Mayor to publish complete details of the funding that TfL has received from London boroughs, Barclays and others for the cycle hire scheme over the last four years.

Caroline said:

“Getting to the bottom of how the cycle hire scheme has actually been funded has been a continual battle. Over the last four years there has been far too much confusion and secrecy over the sponsorship deal.

Speaking to the Wharf newspaper as Transport For London announced discounts for Newham and Greenwich residents on the Thames cable car, Caroline Pidgeon said:

"Providing cheap travel on the cable car for Greenwich and Newham residents is obviously welcome news for people that live in these two boroughs, but this latest development will not be sufficient to turn around the dismal passenger figures for people using the cable car.