Caroline Pidgeon has been talking to London 24 about her plans. Most of the interview is policy stuff that we are all aware of – her plans for more affordable childcare, more houses, better transport and half price tube fares before 7:30 am.
She was asked what London would be like after 4 years of her as Mayor:
London would be a far more family-friendly city, and a city that really works for everyone. We’d have more homes to help deal with the housing crisis, we’d have targeted fare measures to really help get people get around, we’d have more cycling infrastructure and improvements for pedestrians, we’d have cleaner air because I’d bring in electric buses and taxies, and less traffic because I would bring in changes to the congestion charge to get some of those private vehicles off the road. Alongside that, I’d be fighting to improve childcare in London, so more wraparound childcare for parents in the mornings, evenings and school holidays. We’d have a city that just works better for everyone.
She also wants to help young people who feel that they are being forced out of the capital because of the high cost of living:
I was talking to a guy yesterday who had moved eight times in three years. I’ve had staff leave working at City Hall, not because they don’t love the job, but because they just can’t make it work financially. Some want to buy their own homes and start a family, and they’re not able to, so they are moving out of London. I want to make London a really family-friendly city, and that means looking the cost of childcare and making it more affordable.
What, does she think, is the biggest threat facing London.
The biggest threat is us leaving the European Union. I believe we’d see tens of thousands of jobs going. We wouldn’t have access to that huge market. The City would be hugely damaged. That’s why we have so many multinational companies like Google basing themselves in London. You wouldn’t have that anymore and we’d see jobs moving to the Continent. That’s not just high-paid jobs, it’s the staff that support them as well. It’s a huge threat.
And what is her unique selling point?
I’m bringing eight years experience at City Hall. I’ve been working day-in, day-out for Londoners for the last eight years. I know City Hall inside-out, so from Day One I’m going to be able to implement my policies and tackle the issues that matter for Londoners. That’s what I bring that no-one else can.
Impressed? Get involved in Caroline’s campaign here.
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6 Comments
The media needs to put its money where its mouth is , they know she is the better candidate , it is time she got better coverage !
One lousy election result and our party may well be in no mans land as far as the wider recognition goes .Well it is not , the Liberal Democrats are alive and kicking and Caroline is showing it too !
will caroline pidgeon save the london black cab trade
Good, but bland policies. How about a ‘closed’ market for housing alongside an open one ? ALL ex-authority ‘right to buy’ homes to have a local worker clause in the deeds. All new developments refused unless 25% of all properties only sold through the ‘closed’ market. Owners have to occupy these houses – they can not be rented and not resold outside it. Local employment a condition of eligibility to purchase.
I’m disappointed at the lack of scope and timid nature of our policies, as I’m sure Caroline’s the best qualified of the candidates for Mayor.
Particularly good interview with Caroline in London Reconnections last week: http://www.londonreconnections.com/2016/the-politics-of-doing-not-being/
… and the full-screen art at the top could almost be a generic Lib Dem poster.
Breaking News : Guardian today : ZAC GOLDSMITH IN TROUBLE
The Conservative mayoral candidate asked questions in parliament about cuts in green grants that affected solar energy companies owned by his younger brother, but did not declare an indirect interest.
Zac Goldsmith put down six questions between November 2011 and February 2012 after the government announced it would slash subsidies to the solar industry. Goldsmith warned MPs that there was panic in the industry over ministers’ plans.
His younger brother, Ben, a venture capitalist, had personally invested in one solar energy firm Engensa, which described the cuts as unacceptable. Ben Goldsmith’s investment fund, WHEB, also owned a quarter of Engensa’s software partner, PassivSystems, a firm valued at £40m in 2014.
Zac Goldsmith also has a personal stake in a separate £24m investment fund run by WHEB and by 2011 his younger brother had donated £15,000 to his parliamentary office, according to the Commons’ register of members’ interests. Despite these links, the Tory MP did not declare his brother’s interests when intervening in the Commons.
Parliamentary rules at the time stated MPs should declare “any past, present or expected future financial interest, direct or indirect … when a member is making a speech in the House or in committee or participating in any other proceedings of the House”, that might “reasonably be thought by others to influence the speech, representation or communication in question”.