Cllr Gary Malcolm: Good reasons to vote Liberal Democrat this May

Apr 17 2012

This week's Constituency Matters is provided by Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Ealing Council.

We are approaching the elections that take place on May 3. The first is for the Mayor. Your other votes are to elect representatives to the Greater London Assembly, who scrutinise the Mayor.

Liberal Democrats may not run the GLA but Caroline Pidgeon and other elected London representatives are certainly seen around London offering positive ideas to improve transport as well as challenging the Mayor to improve things.

Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate, is the only one who has decades of experience in the Met Police. He knows what is needed to tackle crime, but he also understands what is required to rebuild our communities and engage with our young people after the riots. Voting for a personality is fine - but will they actually deliver for you and your family?

Caroline Pidgeon and her Liberal Democrat team on the London Assembly have campaigned on many important issues like improving London’s transport, air quality, and ensuring an Olympics legacy.

The following Liberal Democrat policies would be implemented if Brian Paddick becomes Mayor or if enough Liberal Democrat candidates get elected:

• Tough payback sentences - so offenders are made to give back to the community that they have offended against.

• Allocating a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Team to be a link with teenagers in each ward.
  Improved rehabilitation to reduce reoffending.

• One hour bus ticket - so that changing from bus to bus several times does not result in multiple charges. Pay-as-you-go Oyster users include many disadvantaged Ealing residents.

• Early bird fare discounts - not only would this reduce congestion at peak hours but it would also help those often poorly paid workers who work unsociable hours, from cleaners to security staff.

• Part time travel card - more and more people are taking part time jobs, in particular women, so a part time travel card would help these residents.

• Improve the infrastructure for cyclists - currently in Ealing there are too many areas where cyclists have to navigate potholes or dangerous and busy junctions.

So remember on May 3 you have FOUR votes….

1. The first for the Mayor where you vote for a 1st and the 2nd preference (your second choice candidate, if your favourite gets knocked out). Do you want someone who has tried and failed London? Or do you want an experienced senior ex-Met policeman who knows what it takes to tackle the problems of crime on our streets?

2. A vote for the local Ealing & Hillingdon seat – Mike Cox is a former Hillingdon councillor and has lived in both Ealing and Hillingdon for a very long time.

3. Lastly a vote for the GLA list seats – these seats give the London Assembly the powers to challenge the Mayor. Liberal Democrats have shown they are great at scrutinising the Mayor and exposing wasteful spending.

Thank you,
Councillor Gary Malcolm,
Leader, Ealing Liberal Democrat Group