Treasury may axe Mayor’s environment projects 22 October 2010 by sianberry Most of the Mayor’s environment projects may be under threat following reports that the Treasury might cut the entire London Development Agency budget over the next four years, save £50m of legally committed projects. The Mayor is aiming to spend £21m on climate change projects this year and £15m in 2011/12 through the LDA. This […] Read more »
Assembly calls for change in employment rules for asylum seekers 21 October 2010 by sianberry The London Assembly today expressed its support for the ‘Still Human Still Here’ campaign which calls for a change in the rules governing the right of asylum seekers to seek work. In a motion agreed today, the Assembly said a change in policy would help many asylum seekers living in London out of poverty and […] Read more »
Mayor’s abolition of western extension 21 October 2010 by sianberry Responding to reports that the Mayor will announce today that he is abolishing the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge, Green Party London Assembly Member, Darren Johnson said: "Scrapping the congestion charge will lose an additional £55m which could have helped the Mayor introduce measures to reduce air pollution in London. Instead we have the […] Read more »
Cuts hit affordable housing in central London 21 October 2010 by sianberry The Comprehensive Spending Review will have a significant impact on affordable housing in London. The overall national housing budget has been cut from £8bn to £4.4bn and new tenancies are to be set at 80% of market rents. Green Party Member of the London Assembly, Jenny Jones said: "This could be the end of affordable […] Read more »
Greens back unions’ fairness at work Bill 20 October 2010 by sianberry The Green Party has publicly endorsed the new Industrial Action (minor errors) Bill that will give unions fairer industrial action balloting procedures and reduce the number of court cases brought against them. Green Party leader and MP for Brighton and Hove, Caroline Lucas, who will be attending the crucial Second Reading this Friday said: "I […] Read more »
Police cuts 18 October 2010 by sianberry The Metropolitan Police Commissioner today sent a personal message to colleagues about the government spending cuts and how the Met would manage a reduced budget. The Commissioner described the coming cuts as the "largest the service has experienced in a generation". Jenny Jones is urging the Mayor to ensure that any reductions are based on […] Read more »
Mayor considering Very Low Emission Zone 14 October 2010 by sianberry In response to questioning by Green Assembly Member Darren Johnson at today’s Mayor’s Questions, Boris Johnson said he was considering an inner London Very Low Emission Zone, perhaps based upon the congestion charge area. If applied to black cabs, it could restrict over half of the London taxi fleet from travelling into central London, without […] Read more »
Is the Mayor up to scratch on climate change? 11 October 2010 by sianberry The Mayor’s draft plan for reducing London’s carbon emissions by 60% over the next fifteen years is out for public consultation. Darren Johnson has set out the key questions that need to be answered: 1)Taking responsibility – will the Mayor take more responsibility for reducing London’s CO2 emissions, having pledged less than half the previous […] Read more »
London’s Green MEP to speak at East London Rally against “savage cuts” tonight 7 October 2010 by sianberry Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London and local Waltham Forest resident, will speak out against the "savage cuts" to public spending at a rally in Stratford tonight [1]. Jean, a former teacher, said: "This week we have seen the Conservatives continue their war against the so-called "idle", with caps on family welfare benefits and […] Read more »
Green Party backs national anti-racist demo 7 October 2010 by sianberry The Green Party has announced its backing for the national demonstration against racism, fascism and Islamophobia on Saturday 6th November in London. The party has added its name to the statement backing the demo called by Unite Against Facism (UAF), backed by the TUC, the Muslim Council of Britain and a range of trade union […] Read more »