I have never left a council meeting feeling so emotional as I did last night. It made me more determined than ever to be a voice for local residents in a bureaucracy and an administration that thinks it knows best, whatever evidence is presented to them. There are two day centres in Southwark, run by […]

Last night saw Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Community Council. This now covers a huge area and makes it difficult to have very local decision making. However, we do our best and had constructive discussions about important issues. I was horribly struck that Labour Southwark really don’t seem to have got a grasp of what matters to residents […]

I know that everyone has been really enjoying this series and it was been great to have two Southwark streets featured. I found the Camberwell Grove episode fascinating as I grew up walking up and down that road and it was great to see so many well known faces. It was also really important for the […]

This week’s full council meeting saw Lib Dem councillors standing up again for what really matters in Southwark. From day centres to nurseries. From arguing for proper and open council recruitment processes to showing Labour up for changing their own targets because they’re not meeting them. From caring for the vulnerable to protecting community heritage. I was […]

There has been a lot of talk recently about ‘democracy’ in Southwark. As the Leader of the Opposition on the council, it is my duty to scrutinise the decisions of the Labour administration and hold them to account. Labour say they are more democratic but sadly the evidence simply doesn’t back up their spin. Firstly […]

It is great that cycling is finally properly on the political agenda although sad that it comes after too many tragic accidents and fatalities. On Thursday 8th March at 7pm, Southwark Liberal Democrats are bringing together our local communities to discuss cycling in Southwark and London, and how our streets can be made safer and […]

I’m really proud of the excellent 2011 which Southwark Liberal Democrats have had. From holding our share of the vote in council by-elections; putting forward real alternatives to Labour’s cuts; and proposing excellent new policies about green manufacturing jobs, apprenticeships, parents mentoring, council housing and community councils, we’ve been an extremely effective opposition ensuring that Southwark Labour […]

At this time of year there are lots of carol services and Christmas events going on. It is really great to see all the talent of our communities on show and I particularly enjoyed hearing the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Choral Society at St Mary’s Church and the Borough and Bankside Lib Dem councillors! I was […]

Yesterday I had a fantastic time at the South London Apprenticeship fair on Southampton Way. I was inspired by the young people I met and all the great organisations which support them. It was hugely encouraging to see so many proper employers offering real apprenticeships, training and jobs from just about every industry you could think […]

Over the last few months Liberal Democrat councillors have been working with our Leader on the London Assembly, Caroline Pidgeon, to raise concerns from residents and businesses about Network Rail’s plans to redevelop London Bridge station. While most local people welcome plans to improve the station, there are a number of serious concerns about traffic […]