Chuka Umunna MP

In this video, Chuka discusses Labour delivery in Streatham outside Gracefield Gardens Health Centre.

Having opened in 2008, the centre gives residents access to council and health services under one roof including GPs, nursing, foot health, baby clinic, midwifery and specialist therapy, and represents £8.9m of government investment.

This week, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Deputy Party Leader Harriet Harman visited Streatham to launch the Labour Party’s BAME manifesto – above is a video of the event.

Yesterday the London director of Blue State Digital, Mathew McGregor launched a campaign against David Cameron’s proposed marriage tax allowance: Don’t Judge My Family. As has been repeatedly pointed out, this allowance is unfair and in some instances actually disadvantages the least well off in society.

David Cameron’s marriage tax allowance doesn’t even benefit all married couples, the threshold is set at such a level that if both people in the marriage work then the likelihood is that they will not be eligible for the tax break.

To support or find out more about the campaign against David Cameron’s marriage tax allowance go to the website for Don’t Judge My Family.

In this video, Chuka discusses the big election issues with journalist and local resident Polly Toynbee.

This week, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Labour Party Deputy Leader Harriet Harman visited Streatham to launch Labour’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic manifesto.

David and Harriet, along with Keith Vaz, David Lammy and Diane Abbott, joined Chuka for a walkabout on Streatham High Road and a rally to launch the document. This was the first time a government party has launched a manifesto targeted at BAME communities.

Since 1997, among its other key achievements Labour has established the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Government Equalities Office, passed the Racial and Religious Hatred Act to protect people against discrimination on the grounds of race or religion and introduced tough new laws to protect employees from racial discrimination at work.

The BAME manifesto builds on this work, outlining how Labour plans to fight racial prejudice and help people from all backgrounds fulfill their potential. It includes provision for making parliament and workplaces more diverse.

If Chuka is elected, he would be one of the first ever Members of Parliament of Nigerian extraction, and the first black MP for one of the seats covering the Brixton area.

Chuka said: “On diversity and equality, we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. I am proud to be standing to represent such a fantastically diverse community.

“The legislation we’ve passed has made a real difference to people’s lives. As an employment lawyer, in my professional life I have seen the impact of our new laws to stop discrimination at work.

Please visit Chuka’s Facebook page to see more pictures from the visit and launch.

In the AudioBoo below, Chuka shares his thoughts on the launch:

In this video, Chuka discusses Labour’s delivery for children and families in the Streatham constituency outside Sunnyhill School and Children’s Centre, of which he is a governor.

Last month, the Prime Minister and Ed Balls visited Streatham to open the country’s 3,500th centre.

To find out more about the Sure Start programme and the difference it has made locally, follow this link.

On Saturday Chuka spoke at a Living Wage action lunch at Windrush Square in Brixton, organised by South London Citizens, a grass roots charity working with local people to organise for change around local issues.

As well as promoting the living wage, the event celebrated the ongoing work that Lambeth Council is carrying out with South London Citizens on street safety and youth opportunities.

Chuka Umunna said: “I am a big supporter of the work of London Citizens. The National Minimum Wage, which Labour introduced, was a groundbreaking step and has benefitted millions of people.

“A Living Wage would build on this by adequately reflecting the high cost of living in London, which would help further the fight against low wages and poverty.”

The Labour Party Manifesto was the only to commit to introducing a living wage for all Whitehall employees.

This commitment to a living wage would be combined with and supported by measures that Labour would introduce to address high pay in the Public Sector. These commitments ensure that the Public Sector continues to lead the way in promoting a fair and equal working environment.

London Citizens welcomed the commitment from Labour and suggested that other parties have to play catch up on the issue.

If you are interested in getting more involved with the London Citizens there is a South London Citizens section that always welcomes volunteers.

Firefighter Richard Guy discusses why he is supporting Chuka in the general election.

Chuka was delighted to be joined by Paul Boateng on the campaign trail this weekend.

Paul was among the first ever group of ethnic minority Members of Parliament in 1987 along with Keith Vaz, Diane Abbott and the late Bernie Grant.

Having become the first ever black government minister following Labour’s election victory in 1997, Paul Boateng’s appointment as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2002 made him the country’s first member of the cabinet from an ethnic minority.

Having retired from Parliament in 2005, he was appointed as the UK’s High Commissioner to South Africa and recently returned to Britain after more than four years in the post.

In this video, Chuka discusses what Labour has done for local health services outside NHS Baldry Gardens, a fantastic new health facility due to open this summer.

It will provide new premises for a popular GP practice as well as a large community space used for health activities including baby clinics and exercise classes.

In February, Keith Hill took part in the topping out ceremony of the new building along with Chair of NHS Lambeth Caroline Hewitt and Dr Jim Hill, a GP at Drakewood Surgery.

Baldry Gardens is one of six new or improved health centres across the Streatham Constituency since 1997.