Bambos Charalambous MP is asking Barnet residents to vote Labour in the council elections on 3 May for more police, safer streets and to support high street businesses.
A Labour council in Barnet would also stop big Council Tax increases the Conservatives are planning for 20,000 low-income families, including many people with disabilities and long-term medical conditions.
The election in Barnet is the closest in the country. Labour had its best-ever result in 2014, winning 30 seats on the 63-seat council, and needs to win two more seats this year to have a majority.
The Conservatives have been in charge for 16 years. In the last four years residents’ satisfaction with services and value for money have fallen sharply, according to the council’s own surveys.
Bin collections have been disrupted in April because the council’s new £12m Oakleigh waste and recycling depot in Brunswick Park has been half-closed for structural repairs, even though it only opened in August 2017.
Bambos Charalambous MP said:
‘On Thursday 3rd May you have the chance to vote Labour in the Barnet council elections.
‘Voting Labour in Barnet will send a clear message to Theresa May that you are opposed to a damaging and extreme hard Brexit which will not only take the UK out of the EU, but will remove us from the customs union and single market.
‘Like Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Barnet’s Labour Councillors led the campaign locally to stop Brexit. The local Conservatives supported Brexit. Both locally and nationally they have let our community down.
‘The Conservative government is so obsessed by Brexit and free trade deals outside Europe that they have failed to defend the interests of Cyprus. As the son of Cypriot parents, I care deeply about our community and as a local MP I have demanded the Conservative government stand up against President Erdogan sending his navy into Cypriot waters.
‘In contrast with the Conservative Government’s weak response, Labour’s Shadow Minister Fabian Hamilton MP has firmly stated “The actions of Turkey… are wholly unacceptable” and “an unnecessary and irresponsible act of aggression that cannot be justified. The Labour Party is calling for negotiations to re-commence, so the island can be united again and all Cypriots are able to share in the economic potential.”
‘Barnet Labour have always listened to our community, from voting to twin Barnet with Morphou (which was not supported by Conservative councillors at the time); to pledging in Barnet Labour’s manifesto to provide additional council support for Saturday and supplementary schools.
‘If you live in Brunswick Park I urge you to elect Councillor Kathy Levine, Clement Magoba, and Andy Palmer to represent you on Barnet Council. I know Kathy, Clement, and Andy personally and know that they will continue to work hard to represent you and put the interests of the community first.’
If Labour takes over the council it will stop the Conservatives plan for cuts to Council Tax Support which reduces the cost of the Council Tax for low-income families. Families on benefits and many disabled people currently pay 20% of the council tax. The Conservatives want to increase the amount they pay to 30%.
This means that if the Conservatives win, council tax will go up next year by £150 a year for the poorest families in Barnet but go up by £50 for everyone else (based on Band D property).
Supporting St Andrew The Apostle School
Kathy Levine has been a Brunswick park councillor since 2014. She supports St Andrew The Apostle School but has opposed the rest of the development at the North London Business Park.
Kathy said:
‘We are proud that St Andrew The Apostle School is in our ward and has made such a brilliant start by achieving its ‘Outstanding’ grade from Ofsted. As the local councillors for St Andrew’s we will support the school’s wish to remain on the North London Business Park site and to have its permanent home in Brunswick Park. We wish the school and all staff and pupils a long and successful future.” ’
More police with a Labour council
Labour candidate Clement Magoba is a former Special Constable who now works as a crime analyst for Transport for London. Clement said:
“Residents know there are less police in the area because of the Government’s cuts to police.
“We all deserve to feel safe in our homes and neighbourhoods, and we shouldn’t have to put up with anti-social behaviour.
“Labour will set up the new Safer Barnet Police Team of 30 extra police who will target the anti-social behaviour that destroys our peaceful communities.
“This will help free up resources for Barnet police to tackle more serious crime, including burglary which is a top concern in Brunswick Park.”
Support for small businesses
Andy Palmer is a former soldier and is now an A-level teacher of history and politics. Andy said:
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and a Labour Council will do everything we can to support local high streets.
“We will help revitalise our town centres with 30 minutes free parking in shopping areas. We will run an information campaign promoting local shops and we will support street markets and pop-up shops to help start new businesses.
“We will also be a strong voice against a hard Brexit that risks 1,700 jobs in Barnet. We will review the impact Brexit will have on local businesses and our public sector partners so we can put Barnet’s case to Government.”
To read Labour’s manifesto for Barnet council, visit: http://www.barnetlabour.org.uk/manifesto2018