Chuka joined in the fun at the Mount Ephraim Lane Street Party yesterday where the local community came out despite the dodgy weather. Many thanks to the organising committee, a group of local mums with young children, for putting on such a fantastic event.
This week, Chuka launches a campaign to bring the tube to Streatham. He and local campaigners are calling on Mayor Boris Johnson to ensure that Streatham is considered in any future plans to extend the tube southwards, and an online petition has been set up for supporters of the campaign.
In February, Mayor Johnson stated that it is his ambition to extend the Bakerloo line southwards to Lewisham and beyond. Last week we obtained confirmation that TfL is working on these plans, looking into the feasibility of such a scheme.
Chuka is demanding to know why Streatham is not being considered for any possible southwards extension of the tube when Lewisham, for example, is already well-served by the Docklands Light Railway extension which opened in 1999.
The Bakerloo line could instead be extended southwards from Elephant & Castle via Camberwell and Brixton to Streatham. This would have the added benefit of relieving congestion on Streatham High Road.
However, The Bakerloo line is only one of the options available for bringing the tube to Streatham. The planned Crossrail 2 scheme, running from Chelsea to Hackney, would considerably relieve congestion on the Victoria line, creating the potential for an extension of the Victoria line to Streatham from Brixton.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Chuka said:
“I have lived here for most of my life and people have been talking about the desirability of having the tube in Streatham for as long as I can remember.
“This campaign is a long term project. Public finances are going to be tight for the next few years but we need to build up a head of steam behind this now so that when there is more money about, we are in a good position to demand it is used to finally bring the tube here.
Streatham residents’ hopes of getting a tube extension have a long history of false starts and disappointment. In the original plans for the Victoria line included in the 1946 London Plan, it was intended that the line would run to Streatham and on to Croydon. This scheme even received approval in Parliament, but was never built because of a lack of finance.
Chuka said,
“Streatham has been ignored for far too long while other areas have benefited from better transport provision. It is bad enough that our direct Thameslink connections are under threat, but the fact that TfL is looking at extending the Bakerloo line without even considering our area as a station destination, is not on. We deserve better.”
“This area would benefit hugely from a tube station. As well as obvious
benefits for local residents, it would give a massive boost to the regeneration of Streatham and the local economy.
“We are going to work together to put pressure on TfL to consider Streatham a top priority for tube improvements in South London.”
You can sign up to the petition to bring the tube to Streatham here: Bring the tube to Streatham petition
Many of my fellow PPCs have signed up to these ethics pledges that Progress, the independent organisation for Labour party members, has put together - I agree with them and pledge to observe them. However, I think we need to go further (which is not to say that others do not) if we are to restore trust between voters and political representatives. In the article below, which appears in today’s Guardian, I advance some suggestions on how to do so with my friend and colleague, Cllr Mark Bennett, who serves Streatham South.
The collective reputation of MPs has been burned to ash and the clean-up begins not a moment too soon. MPs of all parties have been shamed, but it has been most galling when associated with people on the left, who were first elected by telling voters they would change the rules – in politics and beyond – to make Britain better and fairer. Labour activists who go door to door for them have been on the receiving end of public anger and are themselves furious.
The mantra often repeated is “my claims were within the rules”, but this is a complete irrelevance when the claims do not stand up to moral scrutiny. How can they not see this?
It appears they have been deafened to political reality by the siren songs of vested interest, manifested in the deference of Commons police and staff, the patronage of the whips, the Speaker’s offices and the indulgence of the fees office. To the public, it seems they have been rewarded with TVs, kitchens, massage chairs and imaginary mortgages for doing so. If politics in Britain is to have a future, all this must change.
Another future is possible. We are two Labour politicians but there are many more of us – parliamentary candidates, councillors and activists – who still believe in what Harold Wilson called the “moral crusade” of our party. We are all putting our hearts and souls into it and a better future for our communities.
Most of our politicians are idealistic and well-intentioned. The corrupt are few, and now is the time for them to be driven from office by the many who want to rebuild trust in what should be an honest and open vocation.
As the Commons considers what to do, Labour’s next generation has a duty to make a contribution if it does not wish to inherit the public’s contempt.
We must start by recognising that if we want to dismantle the “gentlemen’s club”, we must tackle the machine ¬politics out of which it was born. Root and branch constitutional reform is a prerequisite. We must elect the Lords, make the voting system more ¬proportional and end the degraded adversarial culture of Westminster, as exemplified by the so-called theatre of prime minister’s questions.
The Labour party must change too. MPs who have acted within the rules but outside the bounds of public acceptability should be deselected. There is a moral and political imperative to do so – we will not retain seats where we are offering damaged goods. The higher education minister David Lammy has mooted introducing primaries as a way of making parliamentary selection more open, and to involve the public. The clamour for this is growing.
But first, changes to MPs’ expenses and the election of the Speaker are imminent. Gordon Brown’s proposal of an independent parliamentary standards regulator, responsible for pay and allowances, is welcome. Expenses should now be fully published online and investigated without further delay, with absolute application of the law towards MPs found to have broken it.
Whatever shape the new expenses system takes, one principle should win out: there must be an end to any privileges that set MPs apart from the people they represent – no first class travel, no London congestion charge reclaim, and no claims for anything that is not directly related to the work of being an MP.
In 1994, the then Labour leader, John Smith, said: “The opportunity to serve our country – that is all we ask.” Service. 
That is what our parliamentarians need to remember as they consider reform. The time has come to serve the people, not politicians.
Dear Resident
Like the public in general I have been horrified at the evidence of abuse of the parliamentary allowances system. As an MP representing an inner London seat, with my home in Streatham, I knew nothing of the scope for manipulation of the second home arrangement and was amazed to learn of the £400 monthly food allowance. I eat all my meals in the week at the House of Commons and it had never occurred to me that an MP would not pay out of his or her own pocket for them.
I wanted to be an MP because I believed it to be a noble and decent activity and I have always tried to do the right thing. Now, alas, we are all contaminated and I shall retire next year from a tainted institution.
However, because the elected House of Commons is the lynch pin of our democracy we must act firmly to establish its integrity in relation to expenses and salaries. The Committee on Standards in Public Life, under the chairmanship of Sir Christopher Kelly, is due to report on expenses in the autumn. It seems likely that it will recommend an independent body to determine the nature and size of expenses and their independent audit – I shall support such proposals.
It seems to me blindingly obvious that MPs should not be voting either on their allowances or on their salaries. Indeed, in the mid 1990s I was one of the MPs who voted for their pay to be decided by the independent Senior Salaries Review Board and this was also the recommendation in Sir John Baker’s report on MPs’ salaries last summer. I hope we can stick with the independent determination of MPs’ pay instead of governments repeatedly meddling.
I have written at greater length about this issue on my website and would invite you to visit it at www.keithhill.org.uk for further details. However, I write now simply to reassure you that there has been no abuse of parliamentary expenses here in Streatham. Our local Labour Party is not of great means. Chuka Umunna, a local boy and our new parliamentary candidate, has spent just under £15K on his campaign to date, less than one fifth of that spent by other political parties in this area. His campaign is mainly funded from small donations from local people, with additional funding from local trade union members. That is the way it should be.
As ever, I am at your service. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need assistance.
Best wishes,
Keith
Rt. Hon. Keith Hill MP
Member of Parliament for Streatham
The parliamentary constituency of Streatham covers Streatham and parts of Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton.
Last week’s Budget prioritised supporting employment, families and the housing market and the government’s commitment to tackle climate change. Its emphasis was on helping people through these difficult times and taking steps to build for our future, growing our way out of recession rather than cutting our way out.
One of the most important elements of the Chancellor’s speech was the promise that our young people will not be disregarded given the risks of long-term unemployment. While in the Thatcherite 1980s a generation became trapped out of work, this week’s Budget guaranteed that everyone under the age of 25 who has been out of work for 12 months will be offered a job or a place in training. Families will also be given extra help, with a significant increase in tax credits per child. Across Streatham, this will benefit 13,740 families and 23,900 under-16s. Opportunities for tax-free savings through ISAs will be extended as the annual investment limit rises to £10,200 next year.
Budget 2009 will also reassure homeowners and buyers. To meet demand for housing and make affordable homes available for those taking their first step up on the housing ladder, the chancellor pledged a £600m funding package for the building of new homes. Additionally, this will help create jobs and boost the construction industry. The Stamp Duty holiday for homes worth under £175,000 has been extended until the end of the year to help new buyers.
This was the world’s first Carbon Budget, as required by the Climate Change Act. Accordingly, we saw large invesment in renewable energy, with a programme of £5bn funding for wind and solar energy. Low-carbon industries will benefit from £1.4bn of support, while £375m was allocated to increase energy and resource efficiency in businesses, public buildings and households over the next two years. These measures will lay the foundations of Britain’s low-carbon economy, enabling us to meet our ambitious carbon emissions targets.
The focus of the Budget reflects the need to help people and build for the future right now, rather than cutting back when people need support most.
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, has welcomed the government’s priorities in this week’s Budget.
In the 1980s, a generation of young people suffered the risk of long-term unemployment – we must ensure that this doesn’t happen again. That’s why the government has guaranteed that everyone under the age of 25 who has been out of work for 12 months will be offered a job or a place in training in this budget. Over 2,000 young people have already benefitted from similar measures in the Streatham constituency since 1997.
There was a boost for families too, with an increase in the value of tax credits per child. Across Streatham, this will benefit 13,740 families and 23,900 under-16s. Opportunities for tax-free savings through ISAs will be extended as the annual investment limit rises to £10,200 next year.
Budget 2009 also focussed on the needs of homeowners and buyers. In order to meet demand for housing and to make affordable homes available for those taking their first step up on the housing ladder, the chancellor has pledged a £600m funding package for the building of new homes. This will also help create jobs and boost the construction industry.
The Stamp Duty holiday for homes worth under £175,000 has been extended until the end of the year to help new buyers. At present there are over 80 properties on the market under £175,000 in the Streatham area.
This week’s Budget was the world’s first Carbon Budget, as required by the Climate Change Act. £1.4bn of targetted support was pledged for Britain’s low-carbon industries, alongside a £5bn investment programme in renewable energy, particularly wind turbines and solar power.
Commenting on how the budget will help local people, Mr Umunna said:
“This week’s Budget reflects the need to help people and build for the future right now, rather than cutting back when people need support most.
“We know that if we don’t act now, it will cost us all more in the long run, which is why, for example, we have increased tax credits for over 13,000 families in this area and for over 4000 pensioners.
“The extension of the stamp duty holiday on properties under £175,000 may not mean much to the super rich, but to first time buyers on normal incomes eying up the 80 odd properties on the market at that price here, this will be massively helpful.
“We will also be introducing a new 50% top rate of tax next year for the top 1% of earners to help pay for additional support for others – it is right that those who can afford it, pay their fair share to help those who cannot.
“We have the confidence to invest in the recovery which is surely better than talking Streatham down.”
Chuka recently spoke to Tessa Jowell MP, Minister for the Olympics and Member of Parliament for the neighbouring constituency of Dulwich and West Norwood, on how the 2012 Olympics will benefit people in Streatham, Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton. You can watch the video below:
( Due to a minor fault there is a slight time delay between the sound and the visual on this video)
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, welcomes the use of automatically operated trains on Thameslink but continues opposition to the proposal to sever Streatham and other Wimbledon Loop stations from the rest of the Thameslink line.
Thameslink, the cross-London rail route which serves Streatham and Tulse Hill is to receive an upgrade allowing the use of automatically-operated trains as part of its £5.5bn investment programme. This innovation will be a first for the UK rail network, with the new trains being driven under computer control, the first time such technology has been implemented on a commuter mainline anywhere in the world.
Automatic train control increases the consistency of train timings by reducing the time needed for acceleration and braking at stations. The new system, which will initially be implemented on the line’s busiest central section, will mean Thameslink can run 30 trains an hour from 2015, as close as two minutes apart. Similar technology has already improved frequencies on the Docklands Light Railway and some London Underground lines, but has not yet been used on the overground network. The trains will still have drivers, and will retain manual controls for emergencies.
This announcement follows the proposal by Network Rail that all trains on the Thameslink line serving Streatham and Tulse Hill will terminate at Blackfriars from 2015. Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, who has campaigned against the proposal, stressed the need to ensure that improvements are shared equally across the network:
“I welcome the possibility for increased train frequency on the Thameslink route. However, in order to bring benefits to rail users, this must be matched by a commitment to maintain the services currently available from Streatham and Tulse Hill Stations.”
Mr Umunna has written to Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon against the proposal to terminate trains at Blackfriars, outlining the importance of the line’s links to the City, King’s Cross and Luton Airport for passengers locally. The letter also takes issue with Network Rail’s failure to properly consult rail users on the changes. As part of the campaign, hundreds of passengers signed a petition opposing the changes and many joined the Save Our South West London Thameslink Services” Facebook Group established by Umunna.
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, today backed Government plans to introduce compulsory licensing to deal with rogue wheel clamping companies in Lambeth.
Umunna welcomed the announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that a consultation would be published shortly on proposals for a compulsory licensing scheme for wheel clamping companies.
This consultation will look at introducing compulsory licensing and industry-wide standards for:
The measures aim to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping companies whose dodgy practices include excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars, clamping emergency vehicles and those belonging to disabled drivers, impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, hidden or missing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place, and a lack of any appeals process for drivers.
The announcement comes in the wake of local resident and singer-songwriter Leo Ihenacho’s well publicized dispute with South East Clamping Ltd (SEC) which featured on the BBC’s Watchdog programme on 2 March 2009.
While Ihenacho had been away from his home, the management company of his block had started to use SEC to patrol the building’s car park. During his absence SEC had towed Ihenacho’s car away without him knowing anything about it, which resulted in legal action. Ihenacho said:
“for someone to be able to come and take it like that without information, prior knowledge, etc…its unbelievable”.
Commenting on the measures the government is taking, Umunna said:
“The licensing of individual wheel clampers has gone a long way to reducing malpractice and improving standards in the industry.
“But I know that local people want further action against the small minority of clamping companies who indulge in sharp practices, including unclear signage and excessive fees.
“The Government is looking at introducing a scheme for compulsory licensing of clamping companies, with clear industry standards that they have to meet.”
“Rogue wheel clampers shouldn’t be able to get away with unacceptable practices and I’ll be working with the Government to clamp down on dodgy clampers.”
Currently, any individual undertaking vehicle immobilising must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority, with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence. The new proposals would also make it mandatory for the company itself to be licensed to help ensure they sign up to upholding standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.
Last month, Chuka and Keith Hill MP organised the first ever Streatham Youth Summit.
The event, held at the House of Commons, brought together voluntary community groups and agencies working with young people. In attendance were representatives from youth centres and residents’ associations alongside Lambeth Council’s Youth Service and the Metropolitan Police. The event provided a forum for discussing youth provision across Streatham, demographically one of the youngest constituencies in the UK, giving local groups the opportunity to exchange views, forge new links and raise issues, enabling increased engagement between statutory bodies and voluntary groups.
The Summit was addressed by Keith and Chuka as well as Glen Neil of the Palace Project in Streatham Hill, who described it as an “invaluable opportunity to share expertise and knowledge, and network with other groups in the area working with young people”. Speaking at the event, Chuka contrasted the Streatham he knew growing up, of school fields being sold off and youth clubs closing down, with the funds currently being invested in youth provision by the Labour government. He highlighted the need to make sure “that as much of that money works its way to our local youth groups as possible”; The collaboration and dialogue of the Youth Summit will go a long way towards ensuring this happens.
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