Scrutinising the Mayor articles

Mayor’s strategic target of 32,000 police officers is meaningless

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the admission today by the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, that the year 2017 to 2018 will see £38 million saved by recognising current police numbers which are about 31,200 police officers, said:

“The Mayor is repeatedly on record as saying he backs the strategic target of London having 32,000 police officers, yet in his very first budget he want to remove the very means to achieve that target.

Mayor's housing plan is a let down for Londoners

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor’s plans for housing, said:

“Today’s announcement is quite frankly a damp squib compared to what Sadiq Khan promised Londoners before the election.

“The Mayor’s manifesto was quite clear that he would set an ambitious target of 50 per cent of new homes being genuinely affordable.

We need real action to help thousands of missing children

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary on child protection services in the Metropolitan Police Service, said:

“This report highlights how much child protection issues have been marginalised by the Met. The HMIC are absolutely right to highlight their serious concern that within the Met there is no single person at a senior level who is responsible and with oversight of child protection work.

Stop taxi and minicab discrimination against people with guide dogs

Caroline Pidgeon, visited a Guide Dogs event in Parliament on 16th November to show her support for taxi and minicab drivers receiving disability equality training when getting their licence. In September, the London Assembly passed a motion supporting Guide Dogs’ call for an increase in the penalty for refusing access to an assistance dog owner.

The case against Heathrow expansion is as strong as when Theresa May and David Cameron made it

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Government’s intention to support a third Heathrow runway, said:

"After an incredibly expensive lobbying campaign the Government has ‎foolishly accepted the myth that what is good for the overseas owners of Heathrow is also good for the UK economy.

"The reality is that airports such as Luton and Stansted have spare capacity. And in time HS2 will also allow easy access ‎to Birmingham airport for many Londoners.

Most London councils are failing to tackle rogue landlords

Government funding cuts to local councils have resulted in a threadbare patchwork of enforcement against London's rogue landlords, according to data obtained by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon.

Based on freedom of information requests that were submitted to all 32 London Boroughs information has been obtained showing the record of action against rogue landlords being taken across London. All London Boroughs responded to the requests for information, although some were unable to reply fully to the requests.

Transport policy is too important to be left just to men

Caroline writes for the Womanthology website on the changing face of transport policy and the importance of seeing the world from the viewpoint of women as well as men.

When most people think of the transport industry their immediate image is of a very male dominated world. From train drivers and leaders of their unions through to the senior management of train companies, the common factor is male dominance.

The Mayor must protect taxpayers from bailing out the Garden Bridge

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor’s announcement that he has appointed Dame Margaret Hodge to conduct a review into the Garden Bridge said:

“I welcome this latest review into the Garden Bridge which I hope will pick up from the excellent inquiry undertaken by the London Assembly. However the Mayor cannot hide behind this latest review as an excuse for not taking any action.

Tackling air pollution needs stronger action on diesel

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the publication of the consultation results on proposals to improve air quality in London, said:

“The Mayor must now listen to the very strong message that Londoners have sent over the urgent need to tackle air pollution in London.

“The Mayor needs to not just proceed with his air pollution proposals but also ensure they go further.

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