Cantelowes Lib Dems

As polling puts Labour in third place for the first time in decades, it’s clear that the Lib Dems are the only choice for progressive politics and a fairer society - but only you can seize this opportunity for change.

Recent surveys by respected pollsters Ipsos-Mori has shown a surge in support for the Liberal Democrats, pushing them into second place as support for Labour falls even further. Just as Labour rapidly overtook the Liberal Party in the early part of the last century, with their better understanding of the need for collectivist action, so now the Lib Dem understanding of the need to give power back to the people is overtaking Labour’s outdated and fundamentally-flawed obsession with state control.

While Labour have launched a full-scale assault on civil liberties and the freedom and control of the British public - intrusive and ineffective ID cards, a DNA database of innocent people and children, an illegal war in Iraq against the clear wishes of the public, an entire generation demonised and criminalised by a torrent of headline-grabbing but ineffective laws - the Lib Dems have been ahead of the curve, calling it right ahead of any other party on the Gurkhas, on the economy, on MPs expenses, on ID cards and on the environment.

While Gordon Brown offers nothing but rehashed policies and broken promises - including stealing money from plans already agreed to invest in social housing to fund a vote-grabbing scheme to build a few new houses - the Lib Dems offer thought-out, evidenced and costed alternatives that would make a real difference to our country: smaller class sizes; a fairer, greener tax system that benefits normal, working people and takes the lowest paid out of tax altogether; a new politics that gives power back to the people and holds MPs and Parliament accountable and transparent; measures that will be effective in tackling crime and making our neighbourhoods safer, while protecting our fundamental freedoms.

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, argues: “If you want things to be different, really different, choose the party that is different.” The Liberal Democrats are different. We believe in people, not outdated and extreme ideologies that have little relevence to everyday life. We are the only party where policy is made democratically, by our members. We believe in making a difference, not in empty rhetoric and soundbites. We’re not funded by big business, wealthy doners or Trade Unions - we’re funded by individuals like you, a million small donations that keep us dependent on and answerable to the people who should matter - you.

We are different - but if we are going to seize this opportunity to make a real difference for our country, we need your support. We’re different because we rely on volunteers, people like you who help by donating, by delivering our local Focus newsletters, by getting involved in local activity and standing for election. If you can help us in any way - however small - to make our neighbourhood and our country a better place, get in touch.

Camden Town leads the way with another London first: an interactive design studio and architecture store. But hurry - it’s only open for one week!

Situated at 22 Chalk Farm Road, in the heart of Camden Town’s retail area, the new store will provide consultation to local businesses and residents and run impromptu live workshop sessions, with architectural talks and the construction of working models. The innovative partnership between Camden Town Unlimited, Dexter Moren Associates, Conran Design Group and Camden Council will will also showcase design and architecture work from the last 12 months, as well as projects that are about to enter the public realm.

22 Chalk Farm Road is the latest in the recession-busting Pop-Up Shop scheme that is keeping Camden Town a vibrant place to live, work and visit - a scheme led and developed by Camden Town Unlimited (CTU) and supported by Camden Council. Empty shops are identified and in negotiation with the landlord, a short-term rent-free period is agreed with CTU paying the business rates. They then place a start-up business or project in the property. The scheme benefits everyone: new businesses and struggling young professionals are given an opportunity (rare enough in the good times and even more precious in a recession) to build up their profile, experience or CV; while Camden Town maintains its vibrancy, attracting more visitors, keeping existing businesses going through the difficult times, and defending against the spiral of decay and neglect that leads to derilict high streets. Read more about the Pop-Up Shop project here.

This Pop-Up Shop runs for only one week, from today until the 27th September - so get down there now! And keep an eye out for the next exciting project in the scheme.

Congratulations to the CNJ’s journalist Tom Foot for his balanced full-page article (CNJ 6 August) on NHS Camden’s decision to appoint Care Limited the £20m contract to run the new Hampstead Road health centre, near Warren Street.  For the second time, our un-elected borough health bureaucrats have taken a high-handed decision without full local consultation and appointed a commercial operator to run GP services for several thousands of Camden’s residents.  I know first hand from my Councillor surgeries that, for example, United Health’s performance in operating the Camden Road practice has resulted in all original doctors having left and tales of chaos and dissatisfaction with the new service.

There’s a mismatch between what Camden NHS says and does.  Currently, there’s a plausible, cleverly designed borough-wide consultation document “Primary and Urgent Care Strategy” (available as a download at: www.camden.nhs.uk/primary-and-urgent-care-strategy.htm). For example, it fudges the issue of Polyclinics by reporting that:  “Our polyclinics will be systems not just buildings”. This consultation doesn’t close for two more months and yet at Page 11 the implication is that the selection process for Hampstead Road’s centre is ongoing and the first principle of selection is that the operator “will provide the best quality of service and care…”.    I fail to see how the venture capital-backed commercial providers of nursing homes can possibly be justified as more qualified to do this than the alternative consortium of experienced local GPs, who will inevitably lose patients and be driven towards closure by outside operators of a fabulously equipped, publicly funded large new centre that’s due to open by Christmas.

Once again, Camden residents have every reason to be suspicious of our health service’s autocratic behaviour which let’s not forget,  not so long ago threatened our excellent out-of-hours service CAMIDOC.  When is NHS Camden’s top management going to engage properly with and listen to the community it serves?

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has pledged to bring in automatic payouts on unfair bank charges, in a radical and unprecedented step to make banking fairer.

In response to a campaign by the MoneySavingExpert website, Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have promised to table a motion in Parliament in the autumn. Their motion would require all banks and building societies to automatically compensate customers who have been hit by unfair fees and charges.

It is the first time a political party has taken a stance on the issue, and it’s a radical and unprecedented step - it could mean a guaranteed payout to millions of people. In his letter to the MoneySavingExpert website, Nick Clegg argued; “I couldn’t agree more about the scandalous nature of these charges. The principle should be established that bank charges must be transparent and cost-based. [Automatic payback of unfair bank charges] struck me as an extremely good idea that we should do all we can to put in place.”

Martin Lewis, the creator of MoneySavingExpert, welcomed Nick Clegg’s support. “Finally, one party has had the balls to take a stance, and it’s an unexpectedly brave one, pushing reclaiming to the max. Now it’s up to Messrs Brown and Cameron to respond.”

Read the full story here.

Local Councillor and Camden Cycling Champion Paul Braithwaite is spearheading the fight to keep the 2012 Cycling Olympics in Camden.

Despite being originally planned to run through Regents Park, Kentish Town and Highgate - following the successful 2006 Tour of Britain route - the International Cycling Union shocked cyclists and fans alike by suggesting moving the 2012 Cycling Olympics out of London.

Launching his campaign to keep the Cycling Olympics in Camden, Paul organised a protest at the bottom of Highgate West Hill - part of the original planned route.

Paul argued:  “They’re London’s Olympics.  It will be the one opportunity for our residents to see an Olympic event free and on their doorstep.  Anyway, you’d have to go a long way out of London to find any hill as challenging as Highgate’s West Hill!”

Read full story in the Ham & High here.

Camden Council is consulting on its Gambling Policy - have your say before the 11th September.

The Council is required to have a Gambling Policy, and to review it every 3 years. The policy covers around 85 premises in Camden, mainly betting shops. As with too many things, central Government is very controlling and prescriptive with gambling policy. The Council is not allowed to consider moral objections, planning issues or demand when deciding on its policy.

The last issue is particularly frustrating: betting shops can get a choke-hold on our town centres and high streets, especially during a recession when other businesses are struggling. A series of centralising governments of both left and right have emasculated local government and undermined communities - in all aspects of licensing, we have been given the powers to make decisions, but without the freedom to make a real difference.

One area where we do have a say, and an important aspect of the gambling policy consultation, is on casinos. Labour has, somewhat illogically in my view, strongly pushed casinos and the so-called ’super casino’ as a solution to economic problems. For the last three years the Council, with the support of local residents, has opposed the building of new casinos in Camden. Now, we have to review this position. Should we still oppose new casinos in Camden?

The consultation is open until September 11th, and you can find out more information (including how to respond) here.