Articles in the News Category
- Ken Livingstone discusses local issues with John Cryer over lunch at The Star of India.
Ken Livingstone visited Leyton & Wanstead constituency last week as part of his ‘Tell Ken’ tour around all 32 London Boroughs.
Speaking before the visit Ken said ‘When I was elected as Labour’s candidate for Mayor I promised to listen to the views and concerns of Londoners. Over the coming months I will fulfil that promise with public meetings and events, speaking to thousands of Londoners.’
Ken discussed local issues over lunch with John Cryer MP, Labour Group Leader on Redbridge Council Bob Littlewood, and local party officers at The Star of India restaurant in Leytonstone High Road.
In the afternoon he spoke with local shoppers in Wanstead High Street before going on to other parts of Redbridge including an open Question and Answer session in Barkingside.
Ken Livingstone talks to shoppers in Wanstead High Street
John Cryer said ‘Lots of people wanted to talk to Ken in Wanstead High Street and they raised lots of important issues. There are very real fears over the future of local health services, the potential cuts to police numbers and the threat to Wanstead Police Station. I believe Ken is the man who would stand up for the people of Leyton & Wanstead. Boris Johnson may pretend he has very little to do with the government, but his party is shredding our services and putting our children’s futures at risk.’
Backing Ken’s Mayoral campaign Bob Littlewood said ‘The damage caused by Boris Johnson’s broken promises and decisions to raise fares and cut police has hit outer London boroughs the hardest. We need a Mayor in City Hall who listens to residents in Redbridge and acts to improve life in our communities, not one who makes damaging cuts.’
Ken will be back in the constituency again when he visits Waltham Forest later in the year.
You can find out more about his campaign at www.kenlivingstone.com
Members of Leyton and Wanstead Labour Party were out in force last weekend in Wanstead High Street with a petition to save the accident and emergency and maternity provision at King George’s hospital. Thanks to everyone who signed.
The stall has become a regular Saturday feature in the High Street and is also an opportunity for shoppers to chat with John Cryer MP or one of the Labour team.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror today, John Cryer MP said
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“Cameron promised us he’d cut the deficit, not the NHS. But 50,000 job losses have been announced – including doctors, nurses and specialist staff. That’s a cut, whichever way you look at it. It is a massive con on the British people.”
You can read the full story at;
Education minister Michael Gove was forced to answer questions on Waltham Forest schools yesterday by Leyton and Wanstead MP John Cryer after the government lost a case in the High Court on Friday.
The court ruled that Mr Gove had over-stepped the mark in cancelling the Building Schools for the Future programme in Waltham Forest and other boroughs so John Cryer applied for an Urgent Question which meant that the minister had to answer questions in parliament.
“Seven schools in my constituency have been denied new resources and buildings by the government’s decision. Some of them are falling apart and teachers, students, governors and others have struggled on in the hope of having a rebuilt school,” said the Leyton MP.
“When Michael Gove came to parliament I asked him to consult with our schools and the council but to do it quickly because we need decisions and we have been hanging on for months.”
The BSF programme in Waltham Forest was cancelled shortly after the general election in May last year. Mr Gove has consistently said that he will introduce a replacement but this has not happened.
However, he agreed with John Cryer to consult with the schools and has already contacted the local authority to enter discussions.
Speaking to the Guardian today as a member of the Treasury Select Committee, John says; “With over half of Conservative party funds coming from the City, it’s no wonder this Tory-led government is letting the banks off the hook. George Osborne is giving the banks a tax cut compared to last year and is refusing to adopt Labour’s plan to repeat last year’s £3.5bn bank bonus tax as well as the bank levy. Even with yesterday’s panic announcement the Tory-led government is taking less from the banks than the Labour government did last year. And there is still no sign of a deal on increased bank lending, greater transparency and restraint on bonuses. People will now suspect that the real reason why George Osborne has been so soft is that he cannot afford to upset his paymasters.”
