Opposing the draconian Public Order Act
In the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon spoke out against the Conservatives draconian & anti-democratic Public Order Act and Labour's passive support for the legislation.
Caroline said:
Scrutinising the Mayor articles
Labour and Greens sabotage more financial support for ULEZ expansion
Labour and Green politicians in the London Assembly have blocked attempts by the Liberal Democrats to increase the financial support available to those in outer London impacted by the expansion of Sadiq Khan’s ULEZ expansion.
The Liberal Democrats had brought a motion to the Assembly today that called on the Mayor to increase the maximum payment claimants can make to the scrappage scheme, and open up the scheme to all those in outer London rather than just those on benefits.
ULEZ expansion should have an amnesty period for Londoners to adjust to the new zone
At the London Assembly, Caroline pressed the Mayor to introduce an amnesty period when the Ultra-Low Emission Zone expansion takes effect, so that the scheme can be introduced in a way that brings the public with it.
Caroline said:
New Policing Board will include outside expertise
In May's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline pressed the Mayor on scrutiny mechanisms for the Metropolitan Police. A positive step was the confirmation that outside expertise will be an important feature of the new Policing Board – as Caroline has called for in the past.
Mayor's refusal to commit to repealing the Public Order Act is extremely concerning
Responding to comments by London Mayor Sadiq Khan at Mayor's Question Time, where he refused to support repealing the Public Order Act, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Police & Crime Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
“The new powers in the Public Order Act are dangerous, unnecessary and illiberal. The recent arrests of republican protestors at the Coronation this month only demonstrated the array of problems within this legislation.
Moving City Hall to Royal Docks was a waste of money
As the cost of the Greater London Authority's move to Royal Docks passed the £30m mark, Caroline Pidgeon criticised the decision to move.
“Moving City Hall has saved very little to the public purse out of the Mayor’s annual £20 billion budget. The new building is not fit for purpose and even more money is now having to be spent to make it work for the GLA staff who are based there.
“This was a foolish decision by the Mayor, leaving the iconic, purpose-built City Hall building empty next to Tower Bridge.”
ULEZ needs to come with a commitment to outer London public transport
Responding to the news that Sadiq Khan’s expansion of ULEZ will face a judicial review, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
“We all agree tackling air pollution is one of the most important issues for Londoners. Poor air quality is literally costing lives.
“However, any expansion of ULEZ should come with investment in public transport to offset the costs for communities in outer London.
Richmond bus cuts need to be reversed
With the Ultra Low Emission Zone expansion imminent, Caroline Pidgeon pushed the Mayor to reinstate the buses that were cancelled in Richmond during the pandemic – but he could not commit to even reviewing the issue.
Caroline said:
Residents in Outer London will be really concerned. They want more buses, not fewer, across London.
We need the detail on "Superloop" buses
Responding to the announcement of the ‘Superloop’ bus network of express buses in outer London, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member and Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM said:
“As someone who has been proposing orbital routes in London for the best part of 15 years in the Assembly, I’m broadly supportive of today’s announcement.
“However, we need to see the details and a key test of whether or not this will be a beneficial policy is if these are genuinely additional bus routes, or a rebranding of old routes.
How the ULEZ could be made to work
At People's Question Time, Caroline set out the Liberal Democrats' practical proposals to make the Ultra Low Emission Zone work for Londoners.
Caroline said:
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