I want to start by thanking everyone who voted in London’s elections last month.
I am so proud to be the London Assembly member for this wonderful constituency of Camden and Barnet and delighted to have the opportunity to continue representing you.
London’s values of hope, unity and our belief that we are stronger together, became clear to me on the campaign trail. As I return to City Hall, I reflect these in everything I do.
I’m particularly excited by the Mayor’s pledge to build 40,000 new council homes in the next decade and 6,000 rent-controlled homes. The cost of housing is a huge challenge in our area, which eats into the incomes of many in our community.
There are devastating knock-on effects of this too: councils across London spend a total of £90 million every month on temporary accommodation that houses those fleeing violence, those who have been evicted or would otherwise be sleeping on the streets.
Lack of council housing is a big part of this – pushing huge amounts of demand onto the private rented sector which often provides inadequate homes at high rents with the taxpayer footing the bill.
Since the start of the cost-of-living crisis, we’ve seen the cost of having a baby pushing families into poverty needlessly.
While the Mayor’s free school meals have helped save families more than £1,000 – and taken the stigma out of receiving free meals at school – this has helped families with children who are old enough to go to school. Newer parents, especially those with little parental leave support, are often skipping meals, dreading their next bill and going without the basics.
That’s why I support the Mayor’s plan for new baby banks will help our boroughs’ most vulnerable new families make ends meet. Similar to food banks, baby banks are places to get family essentials like nappies, toiletries and feeding equipment.
Finally, crime is a major concern. As well as advocating for greater police recruitment and funding, I’m campaigning to make sure that local young people are given the opportunities they need to turn away from crime.
- Anne Clarke is Labour London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden.
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