tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-368510482024-03-05T16:56:15.212+00:00HFConwatchExposing the Conservative opposition in Hammersmith and Fulham HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.comBlogger654125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-57305397822443197662017-04-20T17:14:00.001+01:002017-04-20T17:14:52.699+01:00What this election is about - a message from Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Yesterday
I voted for an early election and I am already enjoying the campaign,
even if it is going to be a pretty gruelling seven weeks.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I
have been re-selected as the Labour candidate for Hammersmith and
cleared my diary so I can spend every day out talking and listening to
people in Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">You don’t have to wait until I knock on your door, though.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/constituency_survey?e%3D1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d%26utm_source%3Dlabourclp59%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Denews_13_apr_17%26n%3D3&source=gmail&ust=1492790627808000&usg=AFQjCNGr3T6mGa7HuUpYgAPeK7p0wPsqCg" href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/constituency_survey?e=1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d&utm_source=labourclp59&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews_13_apr_17&n=3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Let me know the issues that matter to you here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">However,
I am shocked by the cynicism and dishonesty that Theresa May exhibited
in manufacturing an election on false grounds and in contradiction to
her often repeated promise.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Two
weeks ago she was telling journalists and her own MPs to their faces
that there would be no poll under 2020, while planning the current
campaign with her closest advisers.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Her
excuse – the threat to Brexit – is palpably untrue. She triggered
Article 50 by a majority of 5 to 1. She, a Remain voter, has embraced
not just Brexit but the hardest and most damaging type of Brexit, partly
because she is in thrall to her own extremists and the anti-European
press, and partly because she thinks she can use it to divide her
opponents.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Nothing of this makes her a suitable candidate to be Prime Minister. </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I am happy to fight this as a Brexit election, if she wants. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/brexit_trump_and_other_disasters?e%3D1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d%26utm_source%3Dlabourclp59%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Denews_13_apr_17%26n%3D4&source=gmail&ust=1492790627808000&usg=AFQjCNGr7n3Mzn4yPr0pQFcp7k76teuHyg" href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/brexit_trump_and_other_disasters?e=1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d&utm_source=labourclp59&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews_13_apr_17&n=4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">As I’ve written before</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I
think Brexit and in particular May’s hard Brexit – out of the single
market, out of the customs union, cosying up to dictatorships in a
desperate effort to replace lost European trade – is a disaster for our
country on social, economic, cultural and security terms.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">However,
if we let Brexit be the only issue, we let this Government off the
hook. Brexit is Britain’s downhill path, and the harder it is, the
steeper the decline. But it is also a distraction from the more urgent
and more dramatic collapse of our public services and quality of life.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Let me highlight just three immediate crises that affect people in H&F every day.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Charing Cross – disaster delayed but not avoided</b></span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Charing
Cross Hospital was zoned for demolition and downgrading from a major
emergency hospital to a glorified clinic and treatment centre in 2012.
That scheme should now be underway, with the bulldozers on site. </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But
pressure on services has only grown in the last five years, leading to
longer waiting times, and a redoubtable campaign by the Save our
Hospitals group and H&F council has forced the demolition plans to
be put off until 2021.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">So,
good news, except the threat still hangs over the Hospital, and as a
result it is in slow decline from failure to attract staff and a lack of
basic maintenance.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I want Charing Cross to have its future as a major, world class hospital guaranteed. </span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Schools out – of money</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Every
single school in H&F is seeing its budget cut for the first
time in two decades. Starting in 2013 the cuts have accelerated and by
2020, if this government is re-elected, will amount to 15% or even 25%
for some schools.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">These are huge and unsustainable cuts, meaning basic supplies, like books and stationery, and teaching jobs will go.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">After
just seven years of Tory government we are again seeing scenes from the
1990s when, after four terms in office, school roofs leaked and
patients were backed up on trolleys in hospital corridors, or died on
waiting lists.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b>Housing</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Homelessness
has risen 130% since 2010. That was not inevitable. In the previous
ten years under Labour it fell by three quarters. But this is only the
worst symptom of the housing crisis, which sees developers building
luxury blocks for sale overseas, while local people cannot afford to
rent or buy anything in the borough.</span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">A
Conservative government will not build affordable homes, will not help
people onto the housing ladder and will not tackle the high rents and
low standards in the private rented sector. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">These are the issues on which I will be campaigning in this election. See you on the road.</span><br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Andy</span></b></i><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Please follow me on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/r?u%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Ftwitter.com%252Fhammersmithandy%26e%3D1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d%26utm_source%3Dlabourclp59%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Denews_13_apr_17%26n%3D12&source=gmail&ust=1492790627809000&usg=AFQjCNGmVF3bgKynBjw41guRITyK1t6WHQ" href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fhammersmithandy&e=1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d&utm_source=labourclp59&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews_13_apr_17&n=12" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #4b98d7; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">twitter</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>or like my<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/r?u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252Fandy4hammersmith%26e%3D1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d%26utm_source%3Dlabourclp59%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Denews_13_apr_17%26n%3D13&source=gmail&ust=1492790627809000&usg=AFQjCNFisuAgXruMPW5Mqvytj-T9i6qN2g" href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/r?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fandy4hammersmith&e=1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d&utm_source=labourclp59&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews_13_apr_17&n=13" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #4b98d7; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">facebook</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. You can e-mail me at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="mailto:andy@andyslaughter.com" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #4b98d7; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">andy@andyslaughter.com</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">You can also check out my website:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/?e%3D1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d%26utm_source%3Dlabourclp59%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Denews_13_apr_17%26n%3D14&source=gmail&ust=1492790627809000&usg=AFQjCNFnr9R7lGfFEjuHtsl3Vr4QOF8wmA" href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/?e=1eb8204f47fe273d33304721c22842c28bf0628d&utm_source=labourclp59&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews_13_apr_17&n=14" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #4b98d7; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">www.andyslaughter.com</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span> </span>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-48579420806539567962017-04-06T17:02:00.000+01:002017-04-06T18:13:01.744+01:00Why not a squeak from Greg Hands about how business rates are harming local firms?<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Businesses in Fulham - and in neighbouring Chelsea - are being hammered by a huge<b> 22.8% average increase in business rates</b>, according to <a href="https://order-order.com/2017/02/20/read-business-rates-changes-constituency">the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>government's own leaked figures</a>. </div>
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These are rates <span style="color: red;">set by the government and collected for the government </span>by local councils.<br />
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Everyone from Hammersmith & Fulham Labour council to <a href="http://chelseasociety.org.uk/business-rates/">the Chelsea Society</a> has urged<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><span class="il">Greg</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="il">Hands</span>, the Conservative MP for Chelsea & Fulham</b>, to press the government not to destroy local business through the rates.</div>
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But they've drawn a blank.</div>
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Gallivanting <span class="Apple-converted-space"></span><span class="il">Greg</span>'s Twitter feed is one long hymn of self-praise about his trips around the world as a trade minister.<span style="color: red;"> Yet when it comes to helping business on his own doorstep, he won't raise a squeak. </span></div>
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Just as<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/get-greg-hands-to-change-his-stance-on.html">he won't speak out against government plans to cut H&F schools' budgets</a>, once again government man<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="il">Greg</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="il">Hands</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>is staying silent and putting local people in second place to his career.</div>
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HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-65524843842928398002017-03-27T13:22:00.000+01:002017-03-27T17:51:43.450+01:00H&F Conservatives look both ways on school funding<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<i>More on the naughty attempts by H&F Conservatives to pretend to residents they're against government plans to cut our schools' budgets while actually backing the cuts.</i> </div>
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Councillor Caroline Ffiske is the H&F Conservative opposition's spokesperson on education. On Tuesday, she made out to residents the Conservatives were on their side. On Wednesday, she revealed their true colours.</div>
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This is what happened. <span class="Apple-converted-space"></span><a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/03/hundreds-parents-and-teachers-unite-support-our-schools-packed-hf-meeting">Save our Schools held a meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall on 28 February</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to rally support for a campaign by parents, teachers, governors and the council against the government’s plans to cut funding to H&F’s schools by 3 per cent.</div>
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The government cuts would pile further pressure on schools already grappling with escalating costs. This is <span style="color: black;">why <a href="http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/west-london-news/pupils-join-mp-large-demonstration-12721921">parents, teachers, governors and pupils across the whole borough are protesting</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">At the meeting, Caroline Ffiske was keen to give the impression she opposed the cuts. </span>She said:</div>
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<i>“Obviously here in Hammersmith and Fulham, we’re one of the losers by 3 per cent so please email me. I’ve brought my card. Everyone who emails me, I promise I will forward your email to [Education Secretary] Justine Greening’s staff, and to Greg Hands MP and really help build up a voice here in Hammersmith & Fulham to say…let’s aim high and let’s level up funding.”</i></div>
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<span style="color: red;">Yet the next morning, the same Councillor Ffiske showed her true colours by blogging a completely different message.</span></div>
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She started with this eccentric comment:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“</i><i><span lang="EN-US">Last night I attended the LBHF Save our Schools rally where the Labour Council committed to fight against fairness in school funding.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>(Labour against fairness – hurray!)</b>”</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">She then vigorously defended the government’s schools cuts programme, describing it as <i>"great"</i>, <i>"transparent" </i>and <i>"truly fair".</i></span><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">And she feebly advised residents to make useless peripheral recommendations on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“weightings”</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>for the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>“funding formula”</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>– nothing that would go anywhere near stopping the tsunami about to hit H&F schools.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;">If Conservative councillors choose to back the Conservative government against local parents, schools and pupils, while we disagree with them, we accept that’s their honest view.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: red;"><b>But for the Conservative education spokesperson to describe H&F schools in the evening as <i>"losers"</i> from the government's plans and then in the morning praise the <i>"great" </i>plans is something no-one should accept.</b></span></div>
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HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-71472239802869322002017-03-22T12:51:00.000+00:002017-03-22T12:51:50.876+00:00Innumerate Greg Smith gives the environment a kicking<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/potty-mouthed-hammersmith-tory-greg.html">Potty-mouthed</a> Brexiter and leader of H&F's Conservative councillors, Greg Smith is a well-known
petrol-head. When he is not <a href="https://twitter.com/RoadTrip2020/status/607161725427810304">leading battle buses</a>, he is <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/is-potty-mouthed-hammersmith-cllr-greg.html">tweeting often aggressive support</a> for his beloved though failing Formula 1 team. </span>
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<span style="color: red;"><span lang="EN-US">But gas-guzzling Greg's love of big cars doesn’t only
influence his personal life — it has also seen him come out against a
popular environmental policy in Hammersmith & Fulham. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">H&F’s Labour council <a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=49036">voted in January</a> to
recognise climate change as <i>“one of the greatest dangers facing the world”</i>.
Smith’s Tories refused, however, to back a statement acknowledged by almost every climate
scientist across the globe. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The council motion called on all levels of
government to take action to address climate change.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">One way H&F council proposes to do this is
by <a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/03/council-lead-example-and-invest-fight-climate-change">removing
extensive pension investments from firms whose business model depends on
raising the earth’s temperatures</a>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This sensible
divestment policy is being <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2017/03/16/introduction-fossil-fuel-divestment/">adopted by authorities, foundations and universities everywhere</a>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Yet gas-guzzling Greg called the council’s move a <i>“<a href="https://twitter.com/gregsmith_uk/status/843188451340177408">pointless
vanity project</a>”</i>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">He went on to claim that the
council was <i>“<a href="https://twitter.com/gregsmith_uk/status/843190143456567297">withholding <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pence</b> from fuel firm investments</a>”</i>. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Yes, <i>"pence"</i> - even though the council's pension fund is set to reach <a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s90188/2017%20March%20Quarterly%20Update%20Pack%20Cover%20Appendix%201%20Draft.pdf">£1
billion pounds</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span lang="EN-US">While Smith is known neither for <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/what-we-learnt-about-greg-smith-from.html">his grasp of finances</a>
nor his support for the environment, managing both to attack a sensible
green policy and to describe a billion pounds as pence is a surprising
achievement, even for him. </span></span></div>
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<br />HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-22119414507251162312017-03-15T18:23:00.000+00:002017-03-15T18:38:18.255+00:00Get Greg Hands to change his stance on proposed school fundingA petition has started on change.org to get Conservative MP (and government minister) Greg Hands to do the right thing by his constituents in Fulham (and Chelsea) and support local children, parents and schools against planned government funding cuts.<br />
<br />
The petition, which can be signed <a href="https://www.change.org/p/greg-hands-mp-get-greg-hands-to-change-his-stance-on-school-funding">here</a>, says: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Greg Hands is the MP for Fulham & Chelsea. His borough will be the 9th most affected area by the proposed new school funding formula. Despite his constituents asking him to support their childrens' education, he believes this new formula will 'end unfairness for all' and is not doing anything. Sign this petition to ask Greg Hands to reconsider and support his constituency's schools and childrens' futures."</i></blockquote>
We urge everyone to <a href="https://www.change.org/p/greg-hands-mp-get-greg-hands-to-change-his-stance-on-school-funding">sign the petition</a>. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">One person unlikely to be doing so is Greg Hands' Conservative Party colleague, <b>Hammersmith & Fulham Tory councillor Caroline Ffiske</b>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">She thinks the planned cuts are<i>“great”</i>, <i>“transparent” </i>and <i>“truly fair”</i>: see <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/h-conservatives-are-backing-government.html">H&F Conservatives are backing government cuts to local schools</a>.</span>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-42083908377513321302017-03-13T15:14:00.000+00:002017-03-13T15:14:15.946+00:00Trump, Largan and ‘alternative facts’ in Sands End<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Donald Trump may not have many fans among Hammersmith &
Fulham’s residents but he’s got one among the local Tories if Cllr Robert
Largan’s peddling of an <i>“alternative fact”</i> to his constituents is anything to
go by.</span>
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In an email to bemused Sands End residents, Largan has made the
remarkable claim: <i>‘Labour’s attitude to Sands End was recently revealed
in a report…outrageously describing the area as <b>“a region of poverty
and squalor”.</b>’</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Shocking stuff. But perhaps not quite the way Cllr Largan
intended. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The phrase <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“a region of
poverty and squalor”</i> is actually from a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">2004</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Character Profile of Studdridge Street
by council officers – a profile that was itself referring to the area in </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">the
early 1900s</span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">:</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">"Sandilands
Road, built in the 1880s was one of the next developments, but because it was
made up of simply designed terraced artisan cottages with no front gardens and
tiny back yards, it soon became thought of as part of a </span></i><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">'<b>region of poverty and squalor'<i>"</i></b><i>.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">(</span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s83803/The%20Final%20Agenda%20for%20the%2018th%20October%202016.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">LB Hammersmith & Fulham Conservation Area No.7 - Studdridge
Street Character Profile</span></a><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">, para 4.2.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Of course, Cllr Largan knows his claim is nonsense. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Just as he knows all that Labour councillors are doing for Sands End
residents.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Labour's
first action when it won in 2014 was to </span><a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2014/09/decision-close-sulivan-overturned" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">overturn the Conservatives’ decision to close Sulivan Primary
School</span></a><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">It’s<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2016/08/sands-end-community-centre-set-return-south-park" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">building a new Sands End Community Centre</span></a><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> to
replace the one </span><a href="http://neighbournet.com/server/common/hfcouncil014.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">the
Conservatives sold off</span></a><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> and help compensate local people for the unwanted supersewer <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/politicalscrapbook.net/2012/06/greg-hands-thames-tunnel-hypocrisy/amp/%20%E2%80%A6">agreed by </a></span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/politicalscrapbook.net/2012/06/greg-hands-thames-tunnel-hypocrisy/amp/%20%E2%80%A6">Tory MP Greg Hands</a> and <a href="http://shepherds-bush.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/boris-busted-documents-prove-deception.html?m=1%20%E2%80%A6">his mate Boris Johnson</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">And Labour is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/g4481/Public%20minutes%2018th-Oct-2016%2019.00%20Planning%20and%20Development%20Control%20Committee.pdf?T=11"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">building
33 genuinely affordable homes in Sands End</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">(see 17.2 in this<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/g4481/Public%20minutes%2018th-Oct-2016%2019.00%20Planning%20and%20Development%20Control%20Committee.pdf?T=11"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">planning
document</span></a><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #073763;">) </span>– something the previous Conservative administration wouldn’t
do.<span style="color: #073763;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: #073763;">Sadly, what Cllr Largan forgot to tell residents is that <span style="color: red;">he
and his Conservative colleagues actually voted against the 33 new Sands End
homes</span></span> </span><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">(again, see 17.2<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/g4481/Public%20minutes%2018th-Oct-2016%2019.00%20Planning%20and%20Development%20Control%20Committee.pdf?T=11"><span style="color: #0087cd; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">here</span></a><span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">). </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Yup, Robert Largan voted against new
social housing <span style="color: #073763;">– which H&F Conservatives didn't build, hence the crying
need now –</span> and abused the related planning document to trumpet an easily
disproved <i>“alternative fact” </i>about Labour. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #08085b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Donald would be proud.</span></div>
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HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-68268470814058243302017-03-11T10:56:00.000+00:002017-03-11T10:56:30.146+00:00H&F Conservatives are backing government cuts to local schools<div class="MsoNormal">
With parents, teachers and school governors from across the
political divide coming out in support of H&F Labour council's <a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/hot-topics/fair-funding-schools">campaign to
Support our Schools</a>, you might think H&F Conservatives would put aside
party differences and join in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You'd be wrong. <span style="color: red;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: red;">The government is proposing to slash schools’ budgets in H&F
by three per cent. </span><br />
<ul>
<li>Forty-seven of the borough’s head
teachers are backing the campaign to protect school funding.</li>
<li>This comes at a time when schools face huge cost pressures from inflation,
the teachers' recruitment crisis and rising business rates. <span style="color: red;"></span> </li>
<li>For a primary
school in H&F, the combined burden will be over £100,000 per year. For secondary
schools, it will be much more. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">And yet Cllr Caroline Ffiske, who is the H&F Conservative opposition's spokesperson on education,
calls the cuts <i>“great”</i>, <i>“transparent” </i>and<i> “truly fair”</i>.</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first sign that H&F Conservative were backing the cuts
came in January last year when they refused to support a straightforward Labour council motion
that <a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=39295">called for
schools budgets to be protected. </a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tories ramped up their support for their government cuts this month
when Cllr Ffiske wrote a <a href="https://hammersmithfulhamforum.com/2017/03/01/hf-council-is-committed-to-unfairness-in-school-funding/">blog</a>
post defending them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of calling for proper funding for
all schools in the UK, Ffiske supported redistributing funds <b>away from
H&F</b> and disingenuously advised residents to call for short-term amendments around the
edges of the funding formula. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">This would do nothing to help pupils in Hammersmith & Fulham.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ffiske even had the cheek to suggest her views were supported by the cross-party F40
campaign group, when <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-39052723">F40 thinks the current
government proposals are an ‘injustice’ and have called for a rethink.</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;">Cllr Ffiske has proven once again that the local Tories are
Conservative Party politicians who happen to live in H&F rather than
genuine representatives of local residents.</span> </div>
HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-76188192958046467162017-03-09T10:52:00.000+00:002017-03-09T10:57:31.950+00:00H&F Labour keeps tax promises while Tory government breaks theirs <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span style="color: red;">It's compare and contrast time.</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>EXHIBIT 1</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://www.conservatives.com/manifesto">Conservative Party Manifesto 2015:</a> </b><i>"A Conservative Government will not increase the rates of VAT, Income Tax or National Insurance in the next Parliament."</i></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Conservative Budget 2017: </b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4296380/Hammond-denies-lie-Budget-tax-raid-self-employed.html">Chancellor raises National Insurance rates</a> to the approval of H&F Tory councillor, Charlie Dewhirst, who shows contempt for the self-employed while jeering at journalists for reporting the Tories' broken promise.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMIG_MGGdXAvPz9FVWfS_JyOwOVKqqPyJmFwrtDfZsjvKtrnNdD9nNRLytKO4c219EUyTisTuDbhtgCQrd3KIV-W3tFjlxhHQZ9Wm6ELll4h46oy1VKgv16PQabNWf5guGn3K/s1600/Dewhirst_budget.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMIG_MGGdXAvPz9FVWfS_JyOwOVKqqPyJmFwrtDfZsjvKtrnNdD9nNRLytKO4c219EUyTisTuDbhtgCQrd3KIV-W3tFjlxhHQZ9Wm6ELll4h46oy1VKgv16PQabNWf5guGn3K/s400/Dewhirst_budget.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>EXHIBIT 2</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s50600/Final%2008.2%20Labour%20Administrations%20Manifesto.pdf">Hammersmith & Fulham Labour Party Manifesto 2014:</a> </b><i>"We guarantee to cut taxes and root out waste"</i> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>H&F Labour Council Budgets 2015-17:</b> <a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/02/council-tax-frozen-and-social-care-cash-boost-confirmed-budget-signed">Council tax cut and frozen.</a></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">Who do you trust?</span></b>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-52659854215767068722017-03-08T13:19:00.001+00:002017-03-08T13:25:34.083+00:00Greg Hands votes to prevent exposure of government's child refugees lieGreg Hands, MP for Chelsea & Fulham, who is a minister, has voted to cover up the truth about the government and child refugees.<br />
<br />
Last year, after pressure from Labour peer Lord Dubs, the government agreed to resettle refugee children travelling alone who had no family in the UK. This was expected to mean 3,000 children.<br />
<br />
Yet last week, the government disgracefully announced that the programme would close after only 350 unaccompanied youngsters had been brought to Britain from other European countries.<span style="color: red;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">The government tried to justify its cruel action by claiming that local authorities didn't have the capacity. But a report by the home affairs select committee on Monday found this wasn't true. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmhaff/1026/1026.pdf#page=9">The report quoted H&F's own Labour leader Ste<span id="goog_956452919"></span><span id="goog_956452920"></span>phen Cowan:</a> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The oral evidence we heard from the Local Government Association and from <b>the Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Cllr Stephen Cowan</b>, cast some doubt on how thorough the consultation undertaken by the Home Office to establish the capacity of local authorities to take more migrant children had been. It was suggested that up to a further 4,000 places might be made available by local authorities if additional central funding could be provided. <b>Councillor Cowan told us: 'If I talk to council leaders across London, there is certainly extra capacity'</b>"</i></blockquote>
Andy Elvin, chief executive of the Adolescent and Children's Trust, was even more straightforward: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2017/feb/13/home-office-lying-capacity-care-child-refugees">This is a lie</a>; there is no other way to describe this egregious attempt to blame local authorities for a decision that has been wholly made in the Home Office, which has made no reasonable effort to examine what capacity there is in the system."</i></blockquote>
<br />
So this week, some MPs tried to expose the truth and help child refugees by <a href="https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2017-03-07a.727.0&s=%22Local+arrangements+for+reporting+on+capacity+to+provide+children%E2%80%99s+safeguarding+and+welfare+services%22">seeking a change in the law to require councils to detail their capacity to resettle children, including unaccompanied refugee children</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">This would have shown up the government's lie. Perhaps it is no surprise that the MP for Chelsea & </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">Fulham</span> <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-03-07/division/DCC0FB49-0E7F-4DEC-9CDF-477FB997172A/ChildrenAndSocialWorkBill(Lords)?outputType=Names">voted against</a>. </span><br />
<br />
What is more surprising is that this is the same Greg Hands who in September 2015 tweeted this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%40greghands%20refugee&src=typd&lang=en">"Strong words from @George_Osborne on the refugee crisis: <b>UK will do even more to help refugees</b>."</a></i></blockquote>
<span style="color: red;">A case of watch what the man does, not what he says.</span><br />
<br />
<br />HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-91620959792152520192017-03-04T18:24:00.000+00:002017-03-04T18:25:56.850+00:00H&F Tories begging for backup from shamed Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea colleaguesA little bird tells us that some Hammersmith & Fulham Conservative councillors are so worried about losing their seats at the next council election that they're begging Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea Tories to come and campaign for them on the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham.<br />
<br />
We wonder if these will be the same Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea councillors who came together with Hammersmith & Fulham Conservatives when they ran the council to undertake a shameful privatisation of the transport that takes disabled children to and from school. <br />
<br />
The appalling contractors they appointed after a botched procurement left tube-fed children overheating for hours in minibuses, autistic children running into traffic and much more.<br />
<br />
When the newly elected Labour council at Hammersmith & Fulham tried to put matters right after May 2014, the Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea Tory leadership said they were just making trouble and refused to take action. It took hundreds of parents of disabled children to protest before they started to listen.<br />
<br />
Now these shamed Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea Tories are apparently going to come and trudge the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham pleading with people to vote for their equally shamed mates.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">We can't wait.</span></b>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-54716104992279376662017-03-02T17:43:00.001+00:002017-03-02T17:43:37.225+00:00Andy Slaughter MP says government response to petition on recalling dangerous tumble dryers is inadequate and misleading<div id="headline">
<h2>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Guest blog by Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith</span> </span> </h2>
</div>
<div id="intro">
<div class="content">
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></h2>
<br />
On 28 February, the Government published its response to my petition calling for a recall of the several million tumble dryers manufactured by Whirlpool companies, including Hotpoint and Indesit, which are liable to catch fire. It is wholly inadequate and makes it more urgent that the petition gains another 40,000 signatures to take it to the 100,000 that ensures a full Parliamentary debate.<br />
<br />
In
August last year a fire ripped through a flat in Shepherds Bush.
Following an investigation by the London Fire Brigade it was confirmed
that the fire was caused by a faulty Whirlpool tumble dryer.<br />
<br />
Since then I have been campaigning for the Government to force Whirlpool to recall all faulty tumble dryers.<br />
<br />
As part of this campaign I was in correspondence with the Minister
for Consumer Protection, Margot James MP, and I launched the petition to
force the Government to debate the issue.<br />
<br />
I wrote <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/340525328/Letter-to-Margot-James-14-12-16">my most recent letter to Margot James</a> in December, asking her to implement a full product recall. I received <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/340526037/Letter-from-Margot-James">her response</a> yesterday, over two months after I wrote.<br />
<br />
Yesterday the Government responded in similar terms to the petition,
detailing the action taken by both them and Whirlpool to deal with this
issue.<br />
<br />
From their response, you would think the Government has been actively pushing Whirlpool in this issue, resulting in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/feb/22/hotpoint-indesit-tumble-dryers-fire-risk-whirlpool-creda-proline?CMP=share_btn_tw">the company’s recent change</a>
in their advice to owners of faulty appliances. This finally changed
from saying the machines could be used under supervision, to an
admission that they should be put out of use entirely, as recommended by
the London Fire Brigade.<br />
<br />
However, what they fail to mention is that Whirlpool only changed
their advice after the consumer group Which? began a judicial review of
Peterborough Trading Standards, who then issued a warning notice.<br />
<br />
The Government also states that a Working Group that has been set up
to investigate the issue. However, this Working Group is a continuation
of the previously established Steering Group, which took no action for
over a year because it received no Government support.<br />
<br />
While the new Group is better organised, it has failed to publish the
interim report it promised would be available in December. In any event
the Working Group already knows what needs to be done, as this was set
out in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consumer-product-recall-review">the independent report by Lynn Faulds Wood</a> published in February 2016.<br />
<br />
Once again, the Government has not told the full story on this issue,
and has failed to take serious action against Whirlpool. What action
has been taken has been the result of campaigning by consumer groups and
individuals like Lynn Faulds Wood.<br />
<br />
This issue needs to be debated in Parliament, and it is more vital than ever that people <a href="https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/169835">sign my petition</a> to force the Government to have a proper, public debate so that real action can be taken.</div>
</div>
HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-21282140773501883562017-03-02T14:31:00.000+00:002017-03-02T14:31:27.463+00:00Largan's tall tax tales<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
When Labour stood for election in Hammersmith & Fulham in 2014, it made a<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26cad%3Drja%26uact%3D8%26ved%3D0ahUKEwjm697RjLbSAhWIAsAKHWCOAzQQFggcMAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdemocracy.lbhf.gov.uk%252Fdocuments%252Fs50600%252FFinal%25252008.2%252520Labour%252520Administrations%252520Manifesto.pdf%26usg%3DAFQjCNFJquopPz7qcdy_IUAzGtXuEFsz-w%26sig2%3DK6F6qTH4wFCtUAjxNSbNGw&source=gmail&ust=1488551344204000&usg=AFQjCNH-eGuKjrI9ZnnKyjEa1gp5KWH4uQ" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjm697RjLbSAhWIAsAKHWCOAzQQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdemocracy.lbhf.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fs50600%2FFinal%252008.2%2520Labour%2520Administrations%2520Manifesto.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFJquopPz7qcdy_IUAzGtXuEFsz-w&sig2=K6F6qTH4wFCtUAjxNSbNGw" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">clear manifesto promise:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26cad%3Drja%26uact%3D8%26ved%3D0ahUKEwjm697RjLbSAhWIAsAKHWCOAzQQFggcMAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdemocracy.lbhf.gov.uk%252Fdocuments%252Fs50600%252FFinal%25252008.2%252520Labour%252520Administrations%252520Manifesto.pdf%26usg%3DAFQjCNFJquopPz7qcdy_IUAzGtXuEFsz-w%26sig2%3DK6F6qTH4wFCtUAjxNSbNGw&source=gmail&ust=1488551344204000&usg=AFQjCNH-eGuKjrI9ZnnKyjEa1gp5KWH4uQ" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjm697RjLbSAhWIAsAKHWCOAzQQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdemocracy.lbhf.gov.uk%2Fdocuments%2Fs50600%2FFinal%252008.2%2520Labour%2520Administrations%2520Manifesto.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFJquopPz7qcdy_IUAzGtXuEFsz-w&sig2=K6F6qTH4wFCtUAjxNSbNGw" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">"We guarantee to cut taxes and root out waste"</a>.</i><br />
<br />
And that's what it's done. It cut council tax in its first year and froze council tax last year and again this year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/02/council-tax-frozen-and-social-care-cash-boost-confirmed-budget-signed&source=gmail&ust=1488551344204000&usg=AFQjCNHDJ724yT_PRUO2s0MlItqCJokdJw" href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/02/council-tax-frozen-and-social-care-cash-boost-confirmed-budget-signed" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">It also found £3.4m extra a year this year for adult social care.</a><br />
<br />
This is something no other council in the country has managed.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Sadly, not everyone is pleased. Take Robert Largan, the shrill Conservative councillor for Sands End, who's just emailed his constituents with the fib that Labour have<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"abandoned their tax guarantee"</i>.</span><br />
<br />
A forensic examination of the small print of Largan's email shows he's actually complaining about the fact that the Mayor of London's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>"precept" has<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i>increased by 1.5%. This is the Mayor's part of the council tax, collected by London's boroughs, which helps pay for GLA services and City Hall.<br /><br /><span style="color: red;">It's nothing to do with H&F Labour council. They said they'd cut taxes and they have.</span><br />
<br />
Even with the precept, H&F residents' total council tax bills are are likely to remain the third lowest in the country.<br />
<br />
What a contrast with when H&F Conservatives ran the council.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.thecowanreport.com/2014/03/budget-report-hammersmith-and-fulham.html&source=gmail&ust=1488551344204000&usg=AFQjCNEufCUXNB02Wlp3k4a_24T8hXwv6Q" href="http://www.thecowanreport.com/2014/03/budget-report-hammersmith-and-fulham.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Tories paid for council tax cuts by levying over 600 sneaky stealth taxes</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">What a shame Cllr Largan has nothing to offer residents except an<i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>"alternative truth"</i><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that would make Trump proud.</span></div>
<br /><br /><br />HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-25439570421518297092017-02-27T22:36:00.000+00:002017-02-27T22:36:00.563+00:00Why won't H&F Conservatives fight to save local schools' funding?From today's Evening Standard:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"<a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/parents-urged-to-campaign-against-planned-cuts-in-school-funding-a3476821.html">Thousands of parents were today urged to join a revolt against school funding cuts in London.</a> </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Hammersmith & Fulham [Labour] council leader Stephen Cowan issued the appeal for parents to pile pressure on the Government to reconsider a controversial school financing shake-up.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"A meeting to discuss the reforms at Hammersmith Town Hall [at 7pm] tomorrow evening is expected to be attended by hundreds of parents, governors and teachers."</i></blockquote>
We don't know if we'll see any Conservative opposition councillors at tomorrow's town hall meeting but on past evidence it's unlikely.<br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red;">After all, as far back as January last year, the Tories turned their back on local schools by steadfastly refusing to lend their support to this full council motion calling on the government to reverse its plans</span><span style="color: red;">:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“This Council welcomes the excellent work done by Hammersmith and Fulham’s schools in providing a first class education for our children and young people. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The Council notes with concern that recent announcements by both the Chancellor, George Osborne, and the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan, have confirmed the Government’s intention to shift funding away from ‘overfunded’ authorities in London to ‘underfunded’ authorities elsewhere. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The Council further notes that if the proposed approach were adopted, it could mean a reduction of £10.9m (10.6%) in funding for Hammersmith and Fulham’s Schools and that Hammersmith and Fulham could be one of the worst affected local authorities in the Country. </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"This Council therefore calls on the Conservative Government to reverse these plans and ensure that Hammersmith and Fulham’s Schools are fully funded so that they can continue to provide an excellent education for the Borough’s children and young people.”</b></i></blockquote>
<b style="color: red;">When will Conservative councillors put local residents above their government and start fighting to save our schools?</b>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-17732422169045371462017-02-27T14:53:00.000+00:002017-02-27T14:55:31.990+00:00Why has Greg Smith ditched SW6?An eagle-eyed HFConwatch reader has brought to our attention that Cllr Greg Smith, the intemperate H&F Conservative opposition leader who <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/what-we-learnt-about-greg-smith-from.html">made such a hash of his budget response recently</a>, has changed his twitter handle from <b><i>gregsmithsw6</i></b> to <b><i>gregsmith_uk</i></b>.<br />
<br />
Is he preparing to paint on a wider canvas? Has he let his fellow Town councillors know?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>How voters in SW6 will take Cllr Smith's rejection of them has yet to be seen.</b></span>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-35165527020942225922017-02-26T23:45:00.000+00:002017-02-26T23:47:23.631+00:00Four more things we learnt about Greg Smith from his response to H&F's budget<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It's
never an easy job responding to a budget, particularly one that freezes council
tax and parking charges, increases funding for adult social care, builds more
homes and </span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">funds the largest number of police in the borough's history</span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">, as </span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/g5001/Public%20reports%20pack%2022nd-Feb-2017%2019.00%20Full%20Council.pdf?T=10"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Hammersmith
& Fulham Labour council’s 2017 budget</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> does.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perhaps
that’s why Conservative opposition leader </span><a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/what-does-greg-smiths-budget-silence.html"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Greg
Smith failed to offer any challenge to the budget when it was in committee</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or
perhaps, going by his responses to the budget in full council each year, it’s all,
well, just a <span style="color: red;"><b>bit too hard</b> </span>for
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This would-be council leader has already demonstrated he <b><span style="color: red;">doesn’t get basic accounting</span></b><span style="color: red;"> </span>by </span><a href="https://audioboom.com/posts/5194348-h-f-s-tory-opposition-leader-demonstrating-how-he-doesn-t-understand-the-difference-between-one-off-capital-receipts-and-an-annual-revenue-budget"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">failing
to understand the difference between one-off capital receipts and an annual
revenue budget</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This
year, here are <b><span style="color: red;">four more things we learnt about Cllr Smith</span></b> from his budget response
on 22 February.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s a hypocrite.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He cheekily claimed the council was leaving garages
empty and not building social housing, even though he knew that </span><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/g4481/Public%20minutes%2018th-Oct-2016%2019.00%20Planning%20and%20Development%20Control%20Committee.pdf?T=11"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">his
own Tory colleagues voted recently – and unsuccessfully – against Labour’s plan
to build 33 homes for social rent on unused garages in Sands End (see para.
7.2)</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s too lazy to do his homework.</span></b><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> He called the proposed
new </span><a href="https://lbhf.citizenspace.com/childrens-services/ifss/"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Integrated
Family Support Service</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> a “£500,000 cut” to services,
whereas it is a brand new service that doesn't yet exist and which will <b>improve outcomes for residents</b> and save £500,000 by breaking down artificial walls between council and public health officials.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s a right-wing ideologue.</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He
criticised the council for "nationalising" Lyric Square farmers
market, whereas now that the council is running the market, </span><a href="http://www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk/shared/hfmarket002.htm"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">traders
are paying less to rent the stalls</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> and </span><a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/business/markets/lyric-square"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">the
market is full</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s not businesslike. </span></b><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">He claimed the Labour administration wanted
to "privatise our libraries by trying to make nearly £400,000 out of
them</span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">", whereas </span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="http://democracy.lbhf.gov.uk/documents/s84266/HF%20PAC%20Nov%20update_Ensuring%20a%20thriving%20library%20service%20011116%20FINAL.pdf" style="text-indent: -18pt;">the
council is actually protecting all libraries and their opening hours</a> </span><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">by raising outside income from unused rooms and after-hours events, including </span><a href="https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2017/01/loving-couple-are-first-plan-wedding-fulham-library" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">weddings
and civil partnerships</span></a><span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucida sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqIqKbEL9YTIPwbucZrMLQXJZF0EA-9LE1N8yI3C30bt7skHhByNE1LwAqKlmmE7q-fPziYhXmpfZfpoGetwdbbJzknsXORLi0uyxtFrYl4WS9humqwv4m46eWkA125LfUZyc/s1600/GS+report+card.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqIqKbEL9YTIPwbucZrMLQXJZF0EA-9LE1N8yI3C30bt7skHhByNE1LwAqKlmmE7q-fPziYhXmpfZfpoGetwdbbJzknsXORLi0uyxtFrYl4WS9humqwv4m46eWkA125LfUZyc/s320/GS+report+card.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-65655650509206707002017-02-22T16:37:00.000+00:002017-02-22T16:37:08.041+00:00What does Greg Smith’s budget silence really mean?<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Despite his £16,086 salary, Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham council’s Conservative opposition leader, has missed more meetings than most councillors of the Policy and Accountability Committee on which he sits.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
These are the committees which hold the administration to account.<br />
<br />
So when Cllr Smith took the trouble to toddle along to the Finance Committee on 1 February, which was undertaking the important task of scrutinising the Labour administration's budget, expectations were high.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">But we gather that Cllr Smith surprised everyone present by not asking a single question or raising any concerns about the budget. </span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="color: red;">Not one. Apparently, he remained silent throughout.</span></b><br />
<br />
We can only presume from this that Cllr Smith was content with all he saw, heard and read.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=36851048" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>And that this evening at the annual Budget Council, when he hears from council leader Stephen Cowan that Labour H&F will be the only council in the country both to<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>freeze council tax for the second year running and </li>
<li>put £3.4m extra a year into adult social care,</li>
</ul>
<br />
Cllr Smith will be offering his full support.<br />
<br />
And then again….<br />
<br />
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HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-135478275577602062012-07-26T12:10:00.001+01:002012-07-26T12:10:45.305+01:00Godzilla returns to King Street<br />
<a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/king-street-monster-only-sleeping-not.html">As we warned would happen if Boris were re-elected</a>, Hammersmith & Fulham Tory council has confirmed it intends to go ahead with its widely opposed scheme to build stonking blocks of luxury flats on King Street. Their one concession to public feeling has been to cap the height of these at eight stories.<br />
<br />
This would still mean:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Knocking down the art deco cinema</b></li>
<li><b>Knocking down the home for the blind </b></li>
<li><b>Eating up a third of the small Furnivall Gardens park for a footbridge</b></li>
<li><b>Not including any new social housing in the development at a time of crying need for more affordable homes, with the "planning gain" money spent on doing up the town hall instead.</b></li>
</ul>
<br />
New Tory council leaer Nick Botterill has said, <i>"We got it wrong with the previous King Street proposals and we have learned from it." </i>So far, the evidence of that is thin indeed.<br />
<br />
Yet all is not lost. The council also says <i>"KSD [King Street Developments] will be reviewing the scheme over the coming months and a further consultation with residents’ and amenity groups will follow later in the year."</i><br />
<br />
You can let them know now what you think <a href="http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/King_Street_regeneration_height_reduction_announced.asp">here</a>.<br />
<br />HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-14181843965707847112012-06-26T11:05:00.002+01:002012-06-26T11:07:53.406+01:00West London Tories are letting Hammersmith hospital swing in the wind<br />
In a shock move, the NHS in London is threatening health services for local people by proposing to shut the Accident and Emergency departments and other facilities at Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals. This is happening because Tory-led cuts mean the NHS in North-West London is facing a £332 million funding gap by 2014/15.
<br />
<br />
Hammersmith and Fulham Tories have taken a view that they have to be seen to oppose the cuts at Charing Cross hospital but they are letting Hammersmith hospital swing in the wind. All their statements - from the Tory council's anti-closure <a href="http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-charing-cross.html">petition </a>to Tory Fulham MP Greg Hands's <a href="http://www.greghands.com/news/hands-save-charing-cross-hospital">website </a>to every peep from Tory H&F councillors - mention only Charing Cross.<br />
<br />
NHS bosses said at a meeting last Thursday that they had consulted local councils. What did H&F Tories tell them behind closed doors?<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Please join in the campaign against BOTH A&E closures by coming to a public meeting organised by <a href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/">Andy Slaughter</a>, MP for Hammersmith, at 6pm this Thursday, 28 June at Rivercourt Methodist Church, King Street W6 9JT. </b></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-72837182473265128752012-05-27T22:00:00.000+01:002012-05-27T22:00:58.313+01:00Hammersmith Tories admit their housing policies are based on numbers plucked out of thin airA truly shocking council meeting last week confirmed that, when it comes to housing, Tory Hammersmith & Fulham council is doing nothing for local people and is justifying this with figures plucked out of thin air.<br />
<br />
Labour leader Steve Cowan asked what analysis had led Cllr Johnson, H&F’s Cabinet Member for Housing, and his cabinet colleagues to pick £40,000 as a household income limit for families to get onto the social housing waiting list. Cllr Johnson said he didn’t know and joked about plucking the figure out of thin air before admitting that no such analysis had been undertaken.<br /><br />Steve says on his <a href="http://www.thecowanreport.com/2012/05/increased-hardship-looms-for-most.html">blog</a>: <i>"There is a housing crisis in London at the moment.... In Hammersmith and Fulham, virtually no genuinely affordable homes to buy or rent are being built.... There are no serious measures to improve conditions in the private rented sector. Instead, H&F Conservatives' housing strategy prioritises building new luxury flats for international investors often in new, ugly tower blocks detested by local residents. That's hardly the right approach, which is why my Labour colleagues and I will change that if the public vote us into office in 2014"</i><br /><br />His full piece is well worth reading <a href="http://www.thecowanreport.com/2012/05/increased-hardship-looms-for-most.html">here</a>.HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-82738880572540700912012-05-25T16:46:00.000+01:002012-05-25T16:51:25.852+01:00Stop Press: Hammersmith council acted illegally over market, rules High Court<b style="text-align: left;">The High Court has today ruled that Tory Hammersmith & Fulham Council have been acting illegally in pushing through unpopular plans which allow developers to make profits from the destruction of local communities.</b><br />
<br />
This is a landmark judgement and marvellous news for local people who have been working hard to save their shops and businesses and neighbourhoods.<br />
<br />
Andy Slaughter MP explains:<br />
<br />
<b>"</b>Today’s decision by the High Court to uphold the Goldhawk Road shopkeepers’ judicial review of the Council’s planning policies should prove fatal to the Tory Council’s controversial planning strategy. Under these plans, first announced in 2007, much of the borough would be redeveloped as high-rise luxury investment flats, with existing homes and small businesses destroyed.<br />
<br />
Mr Justice Wilkie handed down his judgment in the Goldhawk Road case today. He had heard evidence that <b>the Council had broken the rules repeatedly in trying to help developer Orion build 212 luxury flats on the site of existing local businesses and affordable home</b>s.<br />
<br />
This has been a difficult fight, with traders, shopkeepers and local residents all pulling together to tell the council that they have simply got these plans wrong. The councillors for Shepherds Bush and I are all delighted that we could play a part in what has been a real community effort.<br />
<br />
On a personal level, I am delighted for the Goldhawk Road traders, and their thousands of supporters.<b> The Council should protect long-established and well-loved businesses such as Cooke’s Pie and Mash Shop from rapacious developers, not collude in their destruction. </b>Cooke’s and the world-famous fabric shops in the same row have already suffered years of stress and uncertainly. It is always difficult to take on the Town Hall and win, but they have done so by their courage and determination – and the assistance of some very able lawyers.<br />
<br />
<b>This case has been made necessary by the arrogance of the Council, which is out of touch with its residents and always acts always in the interests of big developers and for political gain.</b><br />
<br />
<b>They have wasted so far over £200,000 in lawyers’ fees alone – many times this in officer time and propaganda. </b>This is our money, which as usual they feel free to waste. Now they are talking about appealing the decision and pressing on with the demolition in spite of the Court’s verdict.<br />
<br />
Next week the Council elects a new leader. This should be a chance for it to pause and review some of the more controversial planning projects, including Shepherds Bush Market. <b>To spend more taxpayers’ money trying to overturn this decision or to continue to support the developer would be obscene.</b><br />
<br />
All of the Council’s dodgy planning and housing policies will now be under legal scrutiny and if they do not fundamentally rethink their approach they will be back in court again and again.<b>"</b><br />
<br />
<i>Andy</i><br />
<br />
The press release issued by the solicitor who acted for the traders can be viewed <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/94797551/Goldhawk-Road-Press-Release-3">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">More information can be found on the Shepherd's Bush blog <a href="http://shepherds-bush.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/goldhawk-road-traders-defeat-council.html">here</a>.</span>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-49863387005715119792012-05-18T19:14:00.000+01:002012-05-18T19:14:44.420+01:00Please help Hammersmith Community Law Centre<br />
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<img align="none" height="300" moz-do-not-send="true" src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/b3184f09229818a8d6b340e37/images/DSC01141.JPG" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 240px; line-height: 100%; outline: none; width: 320px;" width="400" /></div>
<b>On Monday Andy Slaughter MP will be joining the staff of Hammersmith and Fulham Community Law Centre for the London Legal Walk..</b>.<br />
<br />
…in which the whole of the legal establishment, from the Lord Chief Justice down, takes to the streets and walks in aid of legal charities.<br />
<br />
There is a desperate need to raise funds for the internationally-renowned <a href="http://andyslaughter.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=b3184f09229818a8d6b340e37&id=14d7521453&e=Z7SEgN7OD2">Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centr</a>e. After Tory Hammersmith & Fulham council withdrew all its funding, the irreplaceable work the Law Centre does in west London was severely curtailed and is under constant threat of worse. And of course, as a Shadow Justice Minister, Andy has been fighting central government as it pushes through massive cuts to legal aid.<br />
<br />
Without the money that efforts like this raise, there is a real danger that the service that places like the Law Centre will simply disappear, leaving thousands of people helpless and adviceless in the face of legal problems.<br />
<br />
Please sponsor Andy and help the law centre – every pound you <a href="http://andyslaughter.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=b3184f09229818a8d6b340e37&id=14d7521453&e=Z7SEgN7OD2">give via this link</a> will go directly to supporting the work of the centre and supporting the worst-off members of our community at a time when they need it most.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-29653355208562231862012-05-08T19:16:00.000+01:002012-05-08T19:16:21.867+01:00Stephen Greenhalgh is Boris's first cock-upBack to the usual shambles at City Hall as Boris Johnson seeks to make Stephen Greenhalgh his deputy for Policing, despite this being illegal.<br />
<br />
You're not allowed to hold two local government posts at once, and Greenhalgh is still leader of Tory Hammersmith & Fulham council until he hands over to another wasteful, tone-deaf Tory on 30 May.<br /><br />Boris made the same mistake last time round. You'd think he'd learn. Well, no, you wouldn't.<br /><br />Meanwhile, with the Olympics and the Jubilee around the corner, the Met is left watching and waiting.<br /><br />You can read the full story <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17987792">here</a>.HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-64207510585823634692012-05-02T11:32:00.000+01:002012-05-02T11:32:46.699+01:00Andy Slaughter MP: Hammersmith and Fulham shows where Tory housing policy is going next<br />
<div class="entry-content">
This sharp analysis by <a href="http://www.andyslaughter.co.uk/?tag=housing" target="_blank">Andy Slaughter</a>, Labour MP for Hammersmith, of where Tory housing policy is going has just been posted on the <a href="https://redbrickblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/where-tory-housing-policy-is-going-next/">excellent Red Brick website</a>.<br />
<br />
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<em>The borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has become the
laboratory for national Government housing policy. Where H&F goes
first, the Government will follow. And the policy at present is to
deliver no extra social rented housing despite the borough’s housing
needs. </em><br />
<br />
Housing Benefit costs in London are so high because there is a
shortage of affordable housing, and in particular social rented
housing. Under Gordon Brown the Labour Government began to build new
social homes, but this has now almost entirely stopped. The
explanation, at least for the cuts in Social Housing Grant, is austerity
economics, although other projects to stimulate the construction
industry are going ahead.<br />
<br />
But this is not the true picture. Tory policy is actually to
eradicate social rented housing, or confine it to perhaps 10% of current
tenants, those with physical or mental health conditions requiring
supported housing. Just as the blueprint for current policy (as enacted
in the Localism Act) can be read in the 2008 publication, <a href="http://www.localis.org.uk/images/Localis%20Principles%20for%20Social%20Housing%20Reform%20WEB.pdf">Principles Of Social Housing Reform</a>,
so the practice in Hammersmith & Fulham (‘Cameron’s favourite
council’ and the ‘apple’ of Eric Pickle’s eye) shows how council and
housing association homes can be gradually extinguished nationwide.<br />
<br />
Pickles and Shapps were both briefed on the 2008 discussions and
Shapps attended the seminar which drew up the key elements of H&F
policy and discussed social rented housing in disparaging terms.<br />
<br />
Here are the four main techniques currently being used to socially and politically change the population of the borough.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. </strong><strong>No Planning Consents For Social Housing</strong><br />
At least 13,000 new homes will be given planning consent in
Hammersmith & Fulham this year on current plans. Not one will be an
additional social home for rent. This is despite Boris Johnson’s
London Plan requiring 25% social rented homes in any such new
development, a waiting list of 8,000 families many of whom live in very
overcrowded or unfit dwellings and have waited five years or more for
re-housing, and only 6% of private accommodation likely to affordable to
HB claimants under new benefit regulations. H&F is one of the
councils moving residents to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17821018">Derby and Nottingham.</a><br />
<br />
<strong>2. </strong><strong>Demolition</strong><br />
The first <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/22/london-council-tenants-earls-court">major demolition scheme</a> is of 761 good-quality, popular, recently-refurbished houses and flats in West Kensington<br />
<br />
After much lobbying the Council did agree to ‘replace’ the demolished
flats somewhere in the development area (which will include 7,500 new
flats). Whether residents, many of whom are freeholders or
leaseholders, elderly people or temporary tenants will take up this
offer is doubtful, given the site will be developed over 20 years.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://redbrickblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/west-ken-gibbs-green.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1783" height="151" src="http://redbrickblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/west-ken-gibbs-green.jpg?w=300&h=151" title="west ken gibbs green" width="300" /></a>The
development is mired in controversy, from the £105 million windfall the
Council will get for delivering vacant possession, the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17552873">dubious nature of the developer</a>
and lack of due diligence, or the refusal to take residents’ views into
account. They voted 3:1 against the scheme in last month’s
consultation on a <a href="http://shepherds-bush.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/west-ken-estate-consultation-majority.html">70% turnout but the Council is pressing on</a>.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. </strong><strong>Selling council properties</strong><br />
300 council homes are currently being sold by auction to raise in
excess of £100 million. These appear to be selling undervalue, and can
only be sold to developers rather than prospective residents under
Government rules. One featured in the BBC programme <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017j8jq"><em>Under the Hammer</em></a>.<br />
The first call for the proceeds of sale is likely to be the purchase
of leasehold and freehold interests in West Kensington so vacant
possession can be delivered to the developer, despite earlier claims
that they would be reinvested in housing.<br />
<br />
<strong>4. </strong><strong>New tenancies</strong><br />
The Council’s new tenancy strategy, which we have been leaked in
draft but will not be published until after the Mayoral Election, takes
advantage of the Localism Act, the housing sections of which mirror <em>Principles of Social Housing Reform. </em><em> </em><br />
<ul>
<li>Short term (2-5 year) tenancies with no right of succession,</li>
<li> Up to 80% market rents (an increase typically of 200-300%)</li>
<li>Discharge of housing duties permanently into the private sector, almost exclusively outside the borough</li>
<li>Allocation of Council accommodation no longer on the basis of need.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The real housing argument is about building homes for social rent for
households on low incomes. The Tories clearly do not want to build
any. The argument about Housing Benefit costs versus displacing
thousands or families, and the economic and social costs that will
follow, is a false choice.</div>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-59370568292887368182012-04-27T13:08:00.001+01:002012-04-27T13:08:18.016+01:00April newsletter from Claude Moraes MEP<br />
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Welcome to my April newsletter</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
Welcome to my newsletter for April. This monthly report is a chance for
me to keep you up to date on what your London Labour MEP is doing on
your behalf, as well as to give you a regular analysis of developments
in the EU.<br style="line-height: 100%;" />
<br style="line-height: 100%;" />
This month, I piloted my report on protections for seasonal and
vulnerable workers in the EU through its committee stages and led for
the Socialists and Democrats on the anti-terorism PNR agreement. I also
wrote for Next Europe about the state of the Greco-Turkish relationship,
as well as for Labour List about the presidential elections in France.
Please feel free to get in touch and I always welcome any feedback.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
<b>Claude Moraes MEP</b></div>
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French elections show far-right's rise</div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-w/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">I've written for LabourList about the first round of presidential elections in France.</a></div>
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What we're seeing there is a far-right triumph, with Marine Le Pen
winning just under 18% of the popular vote. Whilst it now seems likely
that French socialist candidate Francois Hollande will win outright, <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-yh/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">the damage to French society has been done by such a resounding endorsement for the Fascist agenda in Europe.</a> Sadly, many of President Sarkozy's anti-diversity policies have helped create Le Pen's success.</div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-tw-fjtat-dtlluhki-td/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Tweet Button" border="0" height="20" src="https://img.createsend1.com/img/social/tweet.png" style="display: block; height: auto; line-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" title="Share via Twitter" width="55" /></a></div>
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A new wall between Turkey and Greece</div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-yk/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">I've
written for Next Europe about a three metre high, eight mile long wall
that Greece is building along its shared border with Turkey.</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
That one country, acting unilaterally by building a new border wall,
can influence Europe’s overall relationship with so many other countries
is wrong. It is also sadly a sign of the <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-yu/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">growing influence on mainstream European politics of new far-right political strategies.</a></div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-tw-fjtat-dtlluhki-th/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Tweet Button" border="0" height="20" src="https://img.createsend1.com/img/social/tweet.png" style="display: block; height: auto; line-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" title="Share via Twitter" width="55" /></a></div>
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Seasonal Workers in the EU</div>
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After a year's work, <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jr/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">my
report on the protection of seasonal workers was successfully voted
through the European Parliament's committee stage on April 25th</a>. It
gained all-party support. This legislation provides basic legal
protection against employers who exploit temporary workers and undercut
the working conditions of established workers in the European Union.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15px;">
This report is controversial at a time of austerity, as any report in
the area of migration would be, but I was careful to ensure that <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jy/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">basic
protections would be available by law, and that we worked closely with
trade unions in guaranteeing that workers' rights were not compromised
in any way.</a></div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-tw-fjtat-dtlluhki-tk/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Tweet Button" border="0" height="20" src="https://img.createsend1.com/img/social/tweet.png" style="display: block; height: auto; line-height: 100%; max-width: 100%; outline-style: none;" title="Share via Twitter" width="55" /></a></div>
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Data sharing between the EU and US</div>
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Members of the European Parliament <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jj/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">have put in place the only legal framework on data-sharing between the European Union and the United States.</a></div>
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I led on this issue for the Socialists and Democrats Group, a<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jt/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">s reported by BBC Democracy Live.</a>
MEPs achieved important concessions on rules for sharing data and also
clarified the legal position on behalf of EU citizens in 27 Member
States.</div>
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MEPs vote for a Single Seat</div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-ji/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">This month, a strong majority of MEPs voted for a "Single Seat" for the European Parliament.</a></div>
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This was the highest ever majority in favour of one meeting place for the Parliament, with <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jd/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">429 in favour, 184 against and 37 abstentions.</a></div>
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Over a million signatures have been collected to the end "travelling circus" to Strasbourg <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jh/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">and all Labour MEPs agree.</a></div>
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Opposition Watch</div>
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This month, <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-jk/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Tory MEPs voted against demands to combat tax fraud and tax evasion</a>, despite a damning Treasury report released in April. The report shows billions of revenue lost to tax avoidance in the UK.</div>
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Vice Chair of the Economic Affairs Committee, Arlene McCarthy MEP, said: <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-ju/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"Once again the Tories have turned a blind eye to tax evasion and refuse to take on the privileged tax dodgers and fraudsters".</a></div>
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Labour Party News</div>
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<a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-tl/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">London goes to the polls on May 3rd. This is our chance to elect Ken Livingstone as our Labour Mayor of London. </a></div>
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During hard times, Ken's promises on cutting fares and police numbers will really help Londoners. <a href="http://europeanparliament.createsend3.com/t/j-l-fjtat-dtlluhki-ty/" style="color: #3f6569; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Let's make sure on May 3rd that we elect Ken as London's Labour Mayor.</a></div>
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</tbody></table>HFConwatchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04174122023355304634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36851048.post-55057770557927332092012-04-25T16:56:00.000+01:002012-04-25T16:56:57.957+01:00Cllr Harry Phibbs is a hypocrite, says Private Eye, for taking 60% extra while criticising council salaries<br />
The Hammersmith Tory councillors who have sneakily hatched a <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/confirmed-hidden-tory-plan-to-push.html">secret plan</a> - which they have <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/secretive-tory-hammersmith-britains.html">tried to cover up</a> - to ensure Boris's agreement for the loathed Town Hall plans if he wins are the usual roll call of rotters.<br />
<br />
They include <b>Stephen Greenhalgh</b>, <b>Nick Botterill</b>, <b>Mark Loveday</b>, <b>Greg Smith</b> and <b>Andrew Johnson</b>. And of course, <b>Harry Phibbs</b>. No such list of shame would be complete without him.<br />
<br />
On which note, our attention has been drawn to yet another exposé of El Phibbo in Private Eye (in the 6-19 April issue). <a href="http://hfconwatch.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/private-eye-unpersuaded-by-pompous.html">Last time, the Eye claimed Phibbs was pompous</a>. This time they reveal he is a hypocrite, enjoying a 60 per cent increase in his allowance while criticising much smaller increases in local council salaries.<br />
<br />
The Eye also recalls its description a quarter of a century ago of Phibbs as <i>"The world's most unpleasant Young Conservative"</i>. As a grown-up, we'd say he has quite a lot of competition, not least in Hammersmith & Fulham.<br />
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