Chuka Umunna MP

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, joined Mercury Music Prize winner Speech Debelle to support Operation Black Vote (OBV) and encourage young people to make their voices heard by voting this year.

Speech Debelle was one of the judges for a talent contest at a community event organised by Mr Umunna, along with Leo Ihenacho, singer with The Streets.

The Celebrating Streatham event was held to bring together local businesses, charities and community groups and celebrate the talent and diversity of the South London neighbourhood, which has one of the largest African Caribbean populations in the country.

The event showcased the talent of local performers to the wider community and challenged the negative perception of both Streatham and young people which is too often put forward by the national media.

Dancer Jerayle, who is studying for his GCSEs, won the contest after an audience vote. As well as winning the chance to record his own video with youth foundation Generation Next, Speech Debelle was so impressed that she also asked him to feature in her next video.

Mr Umunna said: “This year, people face an important choice which will affect the future of the country and its many diverse communities.

“Voting, as well as wider participation in the political system, is crucial to ensure that our voices are heard.”
Speech Debelle, who grew up and still lives in Streatham, won the Mercury Music Prize last year for her album Speech Therapy.

In January, Mr Umunna took part in Operation Black Vote’s ‘Express Yourself’ event, which promoted young people becoming more active members of society and their communities and also featured performances from young musicians and comedians.

This week the Trades Union Congress (TUC) released its report on women’s position in the recession and the disproportionate affect public service cuts would have on women. The report highlights how heavy cuts to the public sector would result in an increase in female unemployment and that heavy cuts to public sector pensions would also affect women the worst.

According to the Annual Business Inquiry, almost 40 per cent of women’s jobs are in the public sector, compared to just 15 per cent of men’s. Early cuts made to public sector would lead to an uneven increase in female unemployment as compared to male.

The TUC report notes that in the 5 regions where the male unemployment rate has been highest public sector jobs account for more than 40 per cent of women’s employment. This means that families already in a vulnerable position could be affected most by early deep spending cuts. As well as the risk of increased female unemployment, cuts made to public sector pensions could exacerbate the gender gap in pensions.

It’s for these families, who find themselves exposed to the volatility of the market that the Labour Party is putting securing economic recovery high on the agenda in their manifesto – and you can have your say over what should be included here.

The TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber commented: “Slashing public spending may satisfy fiscal hawks and city traders but it would cause misery to millions of people who have already suffered from the recession.

“It’s hardly fair that these are now all under threat thanks to the mistakes of super-rich bankers, who are already back collecting their bonuses.

“When politicians talk about the need for deep spending cuts they rarely say how this would affect ordinary working people. But as our report makes clear – women would have to pay for these cuts with their jobs and pensions.

UNISON has launched a Million Voices for Public Services campaign – sign up and make your voice heard.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has been appointed as an official Supporter of local domestic violence charity the Cassandra Learning Centre and is backing its fundraising efforts.

The charity was set up by Streatham resident Jennifer McDermott in memory of her daughter Cassandra, who was killed in 2001 at her home in Streatham aged 19, as a result of domestic violence.

The Cassandra Learning Centre works to raise awareness and educate young people about domestic violence, providing a forum where young adults feel safe to talk about the violence and aggression in their relationships. It offers advice and support to those affected by domestic violence, working alongside statutory agencies.

At the charity’s recent AGM, Mr Umunna was adopted as one of a group of official Supporters of the Centre, and is encouraging people to donate to help support its work.

Cassandra’s killer Mario Celaire was cleared of her murder in 2002 but, as a result of a change in the law regarding double jeapoardy, was re-tried and found guilty of Cassandra’s manslaughter in May 2009. This was the first high profile retrial to take place under the Act where a defendant had previously been acquitted and was then found guilty on retrial.

Mr Umunna said: “The work of the Cassandra Learning Centre is incredibly important, with a mission to help those affected by domestic violence.

“I am proud to support the Cassandra Learning Centre and to have been appointed as one of its Supporters this week.

“I urge others to join me in supporting the charity and the crucial work it is doing.”

Charity founder, Jennifer McDermott said: “The Cassandra Learning Centre is a small but growing charity that works with young women and young men nationally. Our ultimate goal is to prevent and combat violence against young people and to protect victims and groups at risk of domestic abuse.”

The Cassandra Learning Centre is seeking fundraisers and would also appreciate any offer of help from the general public including practical administrative assistance or someone who is able to expand its website.

CLC can be contacted at info {at} cassandralearningcentre.org(.)uk or PO Box 59935, London, SW16 3XY

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, joined Blur drummer Dave Rowntree to encourage young people to participate in politics at an event in University College London.

The musician, who is standing as Labour Parliamentary candidate in the City of Westminster, spoke to students at UCL with Mr Umunna to encourage young people, who are less likely to vote in elections, to make the most of their democratic rights in the upcoming council and parliamentary polls.

After speaking to the students on their priorities and the importance of voting, Mr Rowntree and Mr Umunna took questions from the floor.

The audience included students from Streatham, where the number of people going to university has gone up by 81% since 1997. Streatham is also one of the youngest constituencies in the UK.

Overall funding of higher education has risen in real terms by 25% between 1997 and 2009-10.

Dave Rowntree, who toured with Blur after the band’s reformation last year, is also currently studying criminal law.

Commenting, Mr Umunna said: “I don’t buy the idea that young people are apathetic. They care deeply about politics, as the insightful contributions of those who attended this event show, but are too often turned off by the way we do party politics.

“Participating in the democratic process by voting is the key to making a difference and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard.”

The Labour Party has launched the Global Poverty Promise campaign, pushing for ambitious spending targets for international aid, enshrined in law.

The video above, which includes messages from Annie Lennox, Mariella Frostrup and Davina McCall, highlights the significance of this aim.

Under Labour, Britain has tripled its international aid budget, and has committed to increase spending to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2013. And Labour will go further by putting into law Britain’s commitment to international aid, ensuring that UN aid targets are met and that we never turn our back on the world’s poor.

International aid has made a real difference in developing countries: more than four million people now receive treatment for HIV and AIDS, and by 2015, 500 million children will have been vaccinated against mortal diseases in immunization programmes in 70 of the world’s poorest countries.

Despite billions being spent to provide medicines and build schools in developing countries, the Conservatives have failed match Labour’s pledge.

Speaking about the campaign, Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said:

“The Labour Government will not turn our back on the world’s poor who have been hit hard by the economic downturn. We have kept the promises we made at Gleneagles and we will go even further by enshrining in law our commitment to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on aid from 2013.

“Labour’s commitment to international development is clear, but the Tories’ is not. David Cameron refuses to match Labour’s commitment to bring in the new aid law and his Tory candidates do not prioritise protecting the international development budget from cuts.”

Follow these links to find out more and make the Global Poverty Promise.

UpRise, which has campaigned to save Rise Festival, is now aiming to stage a free music festival this Summer in the spirit of Rise, taking a stand against racism.

If all 100,000 people who attended Rise in 2008 pledge just £1, the organisation will be on target to fund the event.

London’s annual anti-racism festival, which first took place in 1996, was cancelled by Mayor Boris Johnson in April 2009. Chuka is a supporter of the campaign to save Rise. Thousands of people have signed the petition to save Rise and joined the UpRise Facebook group.

To find out more about the campaign and donate visit www.uprise.org.uk

Last Saturday Dunraven High School played host to Celebrating Streatham; an event organised by Chuka Umunna to mark the retirement of Keith Hill MP, who has represented the area for eighteen years, and to celebrate the vibrancy, talent and diversity of the people of Streatham.

Dozens of local businesses, artists and community groups set up stalls in the afternoon including Chili Chutney, SPIRES and Sustainable Streatham. The stalls sold food, paintings and provided workshops for interested residents.

In the video below, which was shot at the event, residents explain what they love about Streatham:

Later in the afternoon local schools, community and youth groups had the chance to showcase their talents in the ‘Streatham Presents…’ show, judged by Keith Hill MP, Mercury Music Prizewinner Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho, singer with the Streets.

The audience voted for their favourite act, and the winner of the chance to record a music video with Generation Next was dancer Jerayle of Urban Sport Life. Speech Debelle was so impressed with Jerayle’s performance that she also asked him to star in her next music video!

Chuka Umunna had a chance to catch up with Speech Debelle and Leo Ihenacho before Streatham Presents…:

Chuka Umunna said that, if he is elected, he will organise a Celebrating Streatham event every year.

Click here to see more pictures from the day.

Pictures from the Celebrating Streatham event, held on Saturday February 27 at Dunraven School…

For more pictures, please visit Chuka’s Facebook page.

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On 2nd of March 10,000 young people cast their votes to elect a new Youth Mayor of Lambeth. In an incredibly close election Darren Tenkorang from Bishop Thomas Grant School was named Youth Mayor of Lambeth for 2010-11. Runner-up Sara Zouhir, a student at Lambeth Academy, was named as Deputy Youth Mayor.

As Youth Mayor of Lambeth Darren aims to “destroy the stereotype the youth have…by uniting the community”. As well as providing a link between young people and the media, members of the council and service providers Darren will be responsible for a budget of £25,000 which will be used to fund projects designed for and run by young people.

Last year the Youth Mayor of Lambeth funded, among others, a performing arts project organized by G.A.S youth group, a music video project organized by Child of Zion youth group and gave funding to improve the facilities at the V.Y.G youth club in Brixton (full details can be found on the Lambeth Youth Council website).

If you are interested in applying for up to £3,000 of funding for a youth based project then details of how to apply can be found on the Youth Mayor Fund section of the Lambeth Youth Council website.

Congratulations to Darren and Zouhir and everyone who took part in the elections.

Weir Estate Residents Association (WERA) recently interviewed Chuka – to read the Q&A, follow this link.

WERA is one of many tenants’ and residents’ associations across the Streatham constituency: democratically elected organisations which play an important role in representing tenants and residents and ensuring the needs and concerns of local people are met.