Camberwell Station or not that is the question?

Camberwell, Walworth Road and Borough Road stations were closed during WWI. They were already dieing stations after the tram network covered SE London. Why wait up to 15 mins for a train when a tram will be along every minute or so. WWI was just the final excuse closing these and other stations to release manpower for the war effort.

But the trams closed in the early 1950’s leaving Camberwell and Walworth Road without decent public transport. The zillions of buses are helpful but are not the same as a public mass transit system.

We’ve had a large number of campaigns for a new mass transit system. Primarily focused on extending the Bakerloo line to Camberwell and beyond. They even started construction in the early 1950’s. TfL are currently consulting on extending the Bakerloo line. TfL have stated:

“4.1.4.  National Rail alternatives have also been considered. Although not offering a realistic alternative to the BLE [Bakerloo Line Extension], it is recognised that other possible changes to the National Rail network do provide value in a more localised context and would benefit from further consideration. For example, the reopening of Camberwell station on the Thameslink route is being pursued by the London Borough of Southwark, with support from TfL.”

Others are now suggesting we campaign for both a Bakerloo extension to Camberwell AND reopening Camberwell railway station. Somehow they’ve forgotten about Walworth Road railway station which also desperately needs better public transport.

But will campaigning for a Camberwell railway station and Bakerloo Line extension via Camberwell result in just the railway station?

It is a real risk that this will occur. I would suggest the risk isn’t worth taking. WE by far primarily want the Bakerloo line via Camberwell.

A new station added to existing railway lines would only cost around £16m. That’s how much the new Kirkstall Forge station cost with £9.5m coming from the coalition government and it will only take one year for all the works to be completed. So it would make sense for TfL and the government to placate demands in Camberwell with one or even two railway station – Camberwell and Walworth Road.

So beware people suggesting we can go from no mass transit public transport services to two. Effectively this is campaigning to be short changed with just a railway station and no tube line and a 4 trains at best service per hour into Blackfriars railway station.

 

 

 

EU Migration

It has been worrying over the last couple of years to hear so many concerns and fears about migration into the UK that felt really OTT. This has been used as the main part of the argument against remaining part of the European Union (EU).

So how bad is it – migration of EU citizens into the UK? 

Lib Dem Lord Oakeshott has asked a formal questions about this.

British figures indicate 2.3 million EU citizens living in the UK. This figure is pretty reliable because without a National Insurance number people are outside of reciving NHS treatment, being employed legimately, etc.

British consular authorities estimate that 2.2 million registered Britons live in the other 26 EU countries, excluding Croatia, which joined in 2013, with 400,000 of them being pensioners. Brits abroad don’t need to register with British consular authorities to work in EU countries, receive medical help, etc. The countries are stable so little risk to people so they don’t feel the need to register with British consular authorities.

The country breakdown says over 1 million British people live in Spain; France (330,000); Ireland (329,000); Germany (107,000); Cyprus (65,000); the Netherlands (48,000); Greece (45,000); Portugal (39,000); and Italy (37,000).

The government reply also indicated the real numbers could be much higher, due to “a high evidence of non-registration” in France, Portugal and Spain.

So the reality is more Brits living in Europe than EU citizens living in Britain.

What would happen if we left the EU? Would Brits have to return to the UK or do we think EU countries would still be happy seeing a mass exodus of their citiziens being kicked out of the UK. Could our NHS cope with an extra 400,000+ forced repatriated UK pensioners to the UK. Would those pensioners be able to afford a return to the UK property markets or would councils have a mass homelessness issue on a scale never seen before. Do we think EU countries would be gracious with Britain leaving the EU or follow narrow national interests even if BRtish citiazens suffer?

Clearly the free movement of people isn’t the problem it has reputed to be. BUT the ending of this free movement could be huge headache for the UK citiziens both here and abroard.

Living Wages

We have the perverse situation where the minimum wage often results in huge state subsidies – family credit being the most obvious. The minimum wage isn’t enough to live on. Hence the Living Wage campaigns and arguments.

I’m delighted that Lib Dem minister Vince Cable has done so much to raise both the minimum wage and the Living Wage.

But we need to eliminate and replace the minimum wage with a Living Wage. People should be paid enough so that their jobs are not subsidised as a matter of norm by the state.

Part of this is ensuring policies to see housing costs become practical – we need so many more homes to cope with our rapidly increasing population.

The other factor is people on the minimum wage are so cheap employers rarely have the foresight to invest in them and boost productivity. Forcing wages to go up would see more employers invest in their team members. However, it could make the UK even more attractive to non British citizens so a solution to this is needed.

Only when work truly pays will we see labour productivity rise. Only then will we see a real end to the curse of poverty.

 

 

Bogus NHS Threat

Liberal Democrat peer Sal Brinton recently used a Parliamentary question to raise one of the most popular and emotive arguments used against the propposed TTIP trade deal (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership):

Baroness Brinton (LD): My Lords, there has been a great deal of scaremongering about the National Health Service and TTIP. Might it be helpful for BIS to highlight the EU directive on NHS procurement which makes it absolutely clear that the NHS will not be caught by TTIP contracts?

Lord Livingston of Parkhead: That is absolutely correct. In fact, Commissioner de Gucht has been very clear:

“Public services are always exempted … The argument is abused in your country for political reasons”.

That is pretty clear!

The US have also made it entirely clear. Its chief negotiator said that it was not seeking for public services to be incorporated. No one on either side is seeking to have the NHS treated in a different way. The EU is very clear on that and trade agreements to date have always protected public services. That will absolutely continue within TTIP.

So why are so many people linking the TTIP and suggesting the NHS will be privatised? My guess incredibly cynical electioneering.

No wonder so many believe Politicians lie and will do anything when this is clearly a case where some politicians and their supporters have been flagantry lieing.

Longest Ever

The UK and Norwegian governments have agreed to the UK National Grid and Norwegian electric distribution company Statnett constructing a 450mile long electricity interconnector between the UK and Norway known as NSN Link.

It will connect the electricity systems of the two countries via a subsea cable, allowing the UK and Norway to trade power. When completed it will be the longest subsea interconnector in the world, passing through British and Norwegian waters.

An outline planning application to Northumberland County Council has already been submitted so it’s all systems go.

Why the interest? It will carry Norwegian hydro electric power. It can supply electricity for 4 million homes and hydro electric is ideal to be switched on and off very quickly. So the ideal compliment to all the wind and solar power that Lib Dems in  government are making happen. Another step to rebalancing out economy to be greener.

 

 

Roundabout Repeated Mistakes

Transport for London with Southwark Council are consulting about changing to the northern Elephant & Castle roundabout.

They plan to remove the SE corner. It will mean everyone has to travel a lot further to get from A to B around this area. For the life of me, and it might mean my life as the roundabout is that dangerous, I can’t see how making cyclists travel through so much more traffic to get somewhere will be safer.

Overall it looks a terrible missed opportunity. Take a look for yourself and tell me what you think CONSULTATION.

What they should do is move the Faraday electric substation dimpled structure somewhere else and turn the whole thing into a proper traffic light junction. It would create much more new public space. Traffic light cross road junctions offer the most direct route. Segregated cycle paths become much simpler to install and for people to understand.

Instead TfL are making the same mistake as the Waterloo roundabout and the south side of Westminster bridge.

It’s as if they don’t want safe cycling or is it that a nice simple totally legible junction just isn’t challenging enough for them?

 

Cross Cancer Out

I am backing the Cancer Research UK’s ‘Cross Cancer Out’ campaign.

It is aiming to increase cancer survival rates from 50% to 75%. They’ve helped make the huge strides rising survival rates from 25% to 50% but that still means 159,000 people dies every year from cancer. That is too many people. Any death is terrible. ButCancer Research UK plans are realistic.

They will keep spending money researching about 200 cancers. Campaign for smoking prevalence amongst adults to drop from 20% to 15% (each 1% drop represents 3,000 not dying from cancer each year).

But to make this work the government needs to keep funding the basic research infrastructure and ensuring public confidence in health data being available to researchers.

I support this do you?

P.S. If you smoke what would it take for you to stop?

 

New Gipsy Hill Federation Secondary School

Yesterday evening I met Sir Craig Tunstall, executive head of the highly regarded Gipsy Hill Federation, to discuss his plans for a new secondary school in the area. The plans for a secondary school follow overwhelming support from over 2,000 local parents at the federation’s primary schools, who want their children to continue their education within the Gipsy Hill Federation. It already is oversubscribed by 130% and all going well will open 2016.

For the last five years my number one priority has been ensuring local families have a great school for their child.

This has meant initiating and leading several campaign for new free schools. I’ve also helped with lots of practically help other free school campaign. At the last count five new local free schools.

The government’s free school policy is practically the ‘only show in town’ to build new school so despite my initial serious personal misgiving I’ve put those aside and pressed on to ensure we have lots of great local school place. We’re avoiding the worst of the national school admissions crisis. Phew!

Our next priority has to be helping create lots of new quality nursery places. We simply don’t have enough locally.

Do you know of any great new locations for a new nursery?

 

End Unpaid Internships

Few young people can afford to spend months working for free as unpaid interns. The Liberal Democrats in Government have recognised cracking down on unpaid internships, including the introduction of the Government’s Social Mobility Business Compact, the policy of naming and shaming rogue employers, steeper fines for non-payment of the national minimum wage and clearer advice through Government websites.

All good stuff but we need to go further. We need to end unpaid internships lasting longer than four weeks to help address this problem and to create a stronger economy and a fairer society.

This is the right thing to do, ending long term unpaid internships which price out young people from careers they have the aptitude for, and deprive businesses of talent. While many unpaid internships are already in breach of National Minimum Wage law, this would create a presumption that a young person on an internship is a worker (and is thus eligible to be paid) after four weeks. Importantly, this could be achieved in this Parliament.

As well as supporting young people and improving social mobility, this proposal would also provide employers with clarity on the lawcwith most polled supporting this change.

I’m hopeful this well thought through change will happen soon – do you agree?

 

Record number of people in work

I was chuffed at the fall in number of residents claiming Jobseekers Allowance and benefits announced this week. Since 2010 over 2 million net additional new jobs have been created. What is particualrly gratifying is that vast majority are full time.

In Dulwich and West Norwood figures show a dramatic reduction in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in our area. Down 984 in the last months to 2,344 or 3.7% of working aged people. The number for 18-24 year olds has fallen 185 in the last 12 months to 385.  People unemployed for more than 12 months has fallen 375 to 900 local residents. Clearly great news but we need more such years and we need to ensure no one is unemployed for more than a year. We also need to ensure all young people have apprenticeships. Despite 2 million having been created by the coalition since 2010 we need even more!

What can you do to employee a local resident?