Green Party GLA candidate calls for government action against asset stripper Philip Green as Harrow Debenhams faces closure

Debenhams, Harrow yesterday

Following the news about the collapse of Debenhams and the imminent closure of its Harrow store, Emma Wallace, GLA Green Party candidate for Brent and Harrow, has called for government action against owner Philip Green.

Emma said:

I am very sad to hear of the demise of Debenhams and particularly, the Debenhams in Harrow.  The closure of this historic and iconic store will leave a huge hole in a local town centre and is another nail in the coffin for the local high street as a place for retail and community.  It will also result in thousands of jobs being lost at a time when people are already struggling to get by, with Christmas round the corner, the impact of Covid being felt and with Brexit on the horizon.  

The government's universal credit scheme is not fit for purpose and with UC cuts also looming, it will not provide an adequate safety net for people losing their jobs.  Whilst we have seen the government handing out contracts to new and unregulated companies with little to no accountability during the pandemic, their response to ordinary British workers has been lacking and confused in this most difficult of years.  The government must do the right thing and provide proper financial support for the thousands who are potentially set to lose their retail jobs.

Philip Green, the Debenhams and Arcardia group owner, who ironically was made a Knight in 2006 'For Services to Retail Industry', has been hugely detrimental to the British high street, seeing his scandalous, asset stripping continued unabated for nearly twenty years.  The government has again, completely failed to hold Green to account, first seeing the demise of BHS in 2016, leaving the business with £571 million pension debt and now one of the largest and oldest names on the high street collapsing under his tenure.  It is essential the govenment now holds Green to account and he clears any existing pensions deficit with the Arcardia retail jobs lost.

Kodak site trees saved in campaign led by Harrow Green Party GLA candidate

 

Harrow Green Party are very pleased to announce that Barratts, developers of the Kodak site in Harrow, have officially withdrawn their planning application (P/2661/20) to remove 26 trees along Harrow View Road.  After leading a campaign against the removal of these mature trees, with over 350 people submitting objections against the application, Harrow Greens are delighted that the developers have recognised the importance of these trees and acted accordingly.  

 

Emma Wallace, GLA Green Party candidate for Brent and Harrow  said:

 

This is fantastic news for Harrow, ensuring that the trees continue to provide a green welcome to people travelling along this busy thoroughfare, continue to support the local ecosystem and wildlife, and help limit air pollution, both now and into the future.  

 

This campaign proves that community action can work when acting together, standing up for our local area and the vital wildlife and green spaces we still have in Harrow.  I hope that Barratts will now ensure that they look after these trees and that any maintenance carried out is completed carefully and sympathetically, ensuring the overall health of these trees is preserved.

 

Harrow Green Party protests against proposed tree removal by Kodak developers

 

Some familiar issues are emerging in our neighbouring borough that we are already having to deal with in Brent. The Green Party's GLA candidate for Brent and Harrow is taking up the issue of loss of trees through developments.

Harrow Green Party is standing against the Kodak site developers planning application to Harrow Council, requesting the removal of 26 existing trees along Harrow View Road.  The 26 trees proposed for removal are mature, well established trees (some 80 years plus), from a wide range of different tree groups, including Flowering Cherry, Norway Maple Crimson King, Apple, Common Lime, Silver Birch & Cherry Laurel.   A number of these trees are also protected by Tree Protection Orders (TPOs), which should mean they are legally protected from cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or destruction.  In addition, the developers are requesting clearance of several areas of self-set trees & heavy pruning of a number of other well-established trees. 

On what is already a very busy, overdeveloped and congested road leading into Harrow, Harrow Council should be doing everything it can to preserve the remaining trees we have so we do not end up with an ever more polluted, concrete corridor.  These are mature trees with a rich and complex ecosystem, something that cannot just be replaced by planting new trees.  Trees bring huge environmental benefits to every urban area, including, improving air quality, helping support people's health and mental wellbeing and providing an important habitat for wildlife. 

Emma Wallace, Green Party candidate for Brent & Harrow GLA candidate says, 

Harrow Council declared a climate emergency in the summer of 2019 and has committed to protecting Harrow's environment and its trees in its Climate Change Strategy 2019-2024.  It would be a betrayal of these commitments and extremely short sighted of Harrow Council to remove these precious, mature trees.  Harrow Council must reject this application.

Since Harrow Green Party highlighted this planning application, there has been an overwhelming response, with over 300 objections now submitted.  You can read every one of the 300+ objections and the reasons people have given as to why these trees must not be removed, under 'Documents' on the Planning Application. 

Please add your objection to the application on the Harrow Council site, here.

Green Party withdraws nomination for Harrow East

Emma Wallace, the Green Party candidate for the marginal Harrow East constituency has withdrawn her nomination. The controversial Conservative and Modi supporter, Robert Blackman, is the Conservative candidate in a three way contest with Pamela Fitzpatrick, Labour and Adam Bernard, Liberal Democrat.

This is tonight's statement from Emma:

The reasons I have chosen to stand down in Harrow East include this being a unique, snap General Election where tactical candidacy withdrawal in a number of constituencies has been necessary. This is not part of the 'Unite to remain' Green Party, Lib Dem and Plaid Cymru electoral pact. As Harrow East has been identified as one of the 44 key marginals, with only 1700 between the current Conservative incumbent and Labour in the last election, I do not want to split the left vote further. With Nigel Farage announcing the withdrawal of half of his Brexit Party candidates to ensure a Conservative majority, it is even more important that the left work together to prevent the hard right takeover of government. 

Bob Blackman's divisive stance and appalling record of voting, including the rejection of measures to tackle climate change, being against gay and human rights, not supporting fair increases in welfare benefits and voting for reducing central funding for local government, with Harrow being one of the worst cut areas, we believe we give voters the best opportunity to vote against him through the withdrawal of Green candidacy. 

Whilst there are a number of differences between the Labour party and the Green party, we believe Pamela Fitzpatrick is a progressive voice, one that is committed to working with the local Harrow East community and standing up for all their best interests. We hope to work with her towards securing proportional representation and the implementation of a Green New Deal. Until we have a fair electoral system, where individual votes truly represent what people vote for, we are required to participate in such tactical practices.

Emma Wallace
Harrow Green Party

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The 2017 Result:

Is caste an issue in the General Election in Brent and Harrow?

A consultation is currently going on regarding caste discrimination in Britain and possible inclusion in the Equalites Act. Operation Dharmic Vote LINK is operating behind the scenes to back candidates who are opposed to anti-caste discrimination legislation. This is what they say:

Please take a few minutes to understand some very serious consequences of the caste legislation and case law. For the GE17 election, the Dharmic community needs to vote in large numbers and strategically. Political Party alliances and affiliations need to be set aside. Labour, LibDems, Greens and all the nationalist parties have supported caste legislation bare the odd MP in these parties. As you will see ALL the Prospective Parliamentary Candidates who have signed up are Conservative. Please note Operation Dharmic Vote is not being an agent of the Conservative party, as our analysis and rational for supporting the independent Candidate in Leicester demonstrates.

A Government Equalities Office report gives some background to the issue LINK.  Uma Kumaran, formerly Labour candidate for Harrow East in 2015, recently called out Bob Blackman for the divide and rule tactics based on caste politics used in the 2015 campaign.  She felt she could not expose her family to the stress caused by such campaigning by standing again LINK.

Campaign materials are downloadable from the Operation Dharmic Vote site

Locally Conservative candidates Rahoul Bhansali (Brent Central), Ameet Jogia (Brent North) Bob Blackman (Harrow East), Hannah David (Harrow West), Matthew Offord (Hendon) and Mike Freer (Finchley and Golders Green) have backed Operation Dharmic Vote's campaign to withhold legislative protection for the UK's 250,000 Dalits (untouchables).

Brent resident Sujata Aurora said:  

Caste discrimination is endemic within parts of the Hindu and Sikh communities in the UK - there have been instances of doctors refusing to give medical treatment to Dalits and others where Dalit couples have been refused venues for weddings. It is a discrimination which remains largely hidden to wider society and its defence is usually cloaked as a way of preserving traditions. We have laws against discrimination on the basis of race, sex, sexuality and disability and it is frankly appalling that some candidates in this election are seeking to prevent the implementation of laws against caste discrimination. Voters should question their candidates about their stance on this issue and ask why, in 2017, it is legally acceptable to treat Dalits as inferior subhumans.

Green Party candidate for Harrow East, Emma Wallace recalled the 2015 election:

When I stood as Green candidate in Harrow East in 2015 I could not believe that Bob Blackman and his team had employed such a religiously divisive tactic as 'divide and rule' caste politics to ensure that he retained his seat.  It was especially shocking in light of the fact that Bob Blackman had been elected to represent all his constituents since 2010, in what is the most ethnically and religiously diverse constituency in the country.  It is beyond reprehensible that there are a number of candidates standing in this election backing a campaign to prevent legislation that protects caste members from discrimination. There is absolutely no place for caste discrimination in the UK. 

Liberal Democrat candidate for Brent Central, Anton Georgiou said:

My party's constitution is unequivocal, it says, we exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society in which no one shall be enslaved by ignorance or conformity. Caste discrimination does not belong in the UK's modern society. I am disturbed that some candidates in this election are supporting efforts to maintain it and prevent legislation that would ensure Dalits are treated as equals in our community. Brent's representatives should be leading the way to end this discrimination, not seeking to safeguard it.

Jaiya Shah (Chair Harrow Council for Justice) and Dr Pravin Shah (Coordinator Harrow Monitoring Group) have issued a joint statement on Bob Blackman's candidature  LINK

We can’t support Bob Blackman because we strongly believe that an MP should represent all constituents on equal footing without taking sides, stirring up religious emotions for votes and dividing the communities in the process.

Harrow Green Party announces its General Election candidates

After a secret ballot amongst Harrow Green party members the following candidates have been chosen to stand for election on 8th June in the parliamentary elections:

Harrow West - Rowan Langley

Rowan will be standing in this constituency for the third time in succession. He is keen to ensure that the Green Party is visible as much as possible and hopes to continue to offer voters in Harrow the chance to vote Green. 

Rowan is a local resident, but also has business clients in the area for his electrician's business. It his through his work that he has seen some of the hidden poverty, which he would like to target via the provision of improved rental housing for those on low incomes.

Harrow East - Emma Wallace

 Emma decided to put herself forward for a second consecutive election as she is committed to ensuring there is a progressive and democratic voice in the borough of Harrow and ultimately, Westminster.  

Emma believes that the Green Party holds values and policies that would benefit our local community and would strongly advocate these as the parliamentary candidate.  She has been actively involved in Harrow Green Party for over two years, being the local party’s coordinator with the aim of developing the standing and impact of the Greens in the borough.  

Emma has supported key local campaigns, including protesting against the closure of local libraries, the closure of The Bridge and also against Harrow School’s sports hall development.

Greens oppose Harrow School's plans for Metropolitan Open Space development

A petition has been started to save designated Metropolitan Open Space and  a Nature Conservation Area at Harrow Hill Golf Course from plans by Harrow School to turn it into a coach park and astroturf pitches.

The petition can be found HERE

This is the message to Harrow's Dorector of Planning attached to the petition:

Harrow Hill Golf Course is designated Metropolitan Open Space, an area of Special Character and a Nature Conservation area.  There is a proposal by Harrow School to turn it into a coach park and astroturf pitches.

The golf course and cafe serve a wide range of disadvantaged groups and individuals within the local community, has unrestricted and affordable access for these groups and for beginners and children, unlike other courses in the area.

It has a unique and unprecedented range of biodiversity and wildlife and is amongst the few environmentally friendly golf courses in the UK, thanks to its natural horticultural methods. Its biodiversity ranges from bumblebees, butterflies, bats, hedgehogs, and a huge variety of birdlife including owls, woodpeckers, sparrow hawks and migrating birds.

We urge you not to allow this valuable asset to our community, a beautiful oasis of open space for all to enjoy, to become covered in coach parking and all-weather sports pitches.

Emma Wallace, Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow East said today:

Harrow Green party is dismayed by Harrow Schools proposal to build a coach park and astro turf on this wonderful recereational green space, which provides much needed calm away from a very busy road.  

We call on Harrow council to oppose this development and stand up for the unique and diverse open spaces in Harrow, which are increasingly being encroached upon.  The parks, fields and green belt in Harrow have all too easily been seen as places for school expansions, luxury flats and car parks by the council.  

These developments cut people off from accessing public land and completely ignore the fact that they contain a unique and unprecedented range of wildlife and biodoversity, a space for people to exercise and meet, helping communities improve health and well being.  

Harrow Labour council must start protecting Harrow's green spaces for everyone