Liberal Democrats on Southwark Council have warned that local communities are set to lose out on using school buildings because of delays by Chancellor Gordon Brown.
Southwark Lib Dems have been campaigning for some time to make new school buildings VAT exempt. In his budget in March, Gordon Brown made reference to accepting such a change but the delay in announcing details could hit Southwark hard.
Liberal Democrat Councillors were out in force outside Borough Post Office to collect signatures on a petition to save the Borough High Street Post Office, which faces closure. The Government has already closed the Post Office at the Elephant and Castle, and now looks set to close yet another Post Office in Southwark.
Caroline joined Streatham Liberal Democrat Councillors, activists and their parliamentary spokesperson to carry out a crime survey on Saturday 12th May. Residents expressed concern about issues such as drug dealing at bus stops on Tulse Hill and general issues of safety and crime in the area.
The Chingford Green by-election on 26th April saw a massive 15% swing to the Liberal Democrats in this ward in Waltham Forest. Caroline went and helped the team on a number of occasions. Achieving over a thousand votes in Iain Duncan Smith’s seat is a real victory and shows what a strong Lib Dem campaign can achieve.
Photo – Caroline out campaigning on election day in Chingford Green.
On Tuesday Caroline visited Vauxhall City Farm where she adopted and fed Lamby the Wensleydale Sheep, one of the new born lambs.
“Vauxhall City Farm is a vital resource for the community in north Lambeth and wider afield. It was a delight to visit and see their work first hand. We must ensure that the City Farm’s work can continue, and that their funding is secure” said Caroline.
Caroline joined Southwark Lib Dems in a trip to help colleagues in Woking with their Borough Council elections. The team spent the day helping in Knaphill Ward, supporting local candidates Christian Morgan-Jones. Not only did the Southwark team help deliver lots of leaflets and meet local residents, they enjoyed the sunshine and the warm welcome and lunch!
Westminster are off to a great start in this by-election. Caroline joined the local team delivering their latest Focus over a sunny Easter weekend, before meeting up with Jonathan Fryer for a drink at a pub in the sun. It was a warm welcome (in more ways than one!) from both residents and the local Lib Dem team.
Caroline has been out and about over the last few weeks helping in by-elections in London. The team in Chingford Green are putting up a really strong fight in a Tory-held ward. We're hoping an energetic campaign, combined with a history of regular Focus delivery over the last 20 years, may result in a shock victory in former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith's back yard.
Liberal Democrats at their Spring Conference at Harrogate on Saturday discussed measures to tackle gun crime amongst the young in South London. Following an initiative by Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Streatham Chris Nicholson, the Conference’s ‘urgent issues debate’ concerned gun crime, following the recent tragic killings in South London.
Related article: Southwark Lib Dems concerned over Maudsley closure
