Queens Parade Celebration April 23rd

ELECTION QUIZ: Match Brent Central candidates to their hustings statements

The Kilburn Times held an on-line hustings for the Brent Central candidates this evening. Shahrar Ali (Green), John Boyle (TUSC), Dawn Butler (Labour), Lauren Keith (Lib Dem), Alan Mendoza (Conservative) and Stephen Priestly (UKIP) took part.

Below you will find 12 responses to some of the questions. Can you match answers to the appropriate candidate?
 

1. As a representative of one of the smaller political parties, I can state that I would do everything in my power if elected as your MP in Brent Central to defend against further cuts, and to protect vital services to all the community. I would campaign fiercely to represent the needs of my constituents - in this way, I would hope to mitigate against the wider effects of national forces, to protect those that I am seeking to represent. I would campaign in the House of Commons for further resources

In response to: ‘Nationalise the big developers. Build housing and communities for people rather than profit.’

2. I am inclined to agree with the above statement. Development in itself should be encouraged, providing there is an ethical dimension to it . I feel the NHS should also be protected from private profit too - and while we are at it, the rail network should be re-nationalized to make it more affordable for all!

3. Youth resources are absolutely vital for young people, in terms of providing hope, structure, educational and vocational opportunity, and I would be fighting to defend existing resources and also campaign for much needed new resources!

In response to: Black people in Brent are 2.6 x more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. What will you do to end police discrimination?

4. This needs concerted joint-working a training with the police: this statistic is totally unacceptable and must be challenged. The police should not be allowed to arrest anyone, of any ethnicity, unless they have clear grounds to do so!

5. Denying benefits to migrants as a 'wholesale strategy' is not a compassionate way to approach this matter. I believe that our society should always adopt a compassionate approach, and to take into account the fact that many migrants are fleeing desperate circumstances. The United Kingdom has a very long tradition of tolerance and of assisting people that are in difficult circumstances and it is important that this continues. It is the unscrupulous people traffickers, that should be tackled.

6. The UK has a longstanding tradition of helping people in distress, and this must continue. Huge efforts need to be made to tackle all those that seek to exploit migrants, e.g. people smugglers, those that sexually exploit migrants, and also those that seek to enslave migrants in very low paid work - all these things need to be addressed.

7. All institutions should have clear policies to deal with racism in whichever form this appears

On recall of MPs by the electorate: 

8. Absolutely! This is also our stated policy to make MPs more accountable. I am totally committed to this measure. All other professions are bound by strict codes of practice and MPs should be no different!

9. I feel that all the parties need to be honest with the electorate on the issue of any cuts that they propose to make. For nearly everyone that I have spoken to, the NHS appears to be one of the highest priorities, as many are worried that community and hospital services will seriously suffer should further cuts take place. Greater transparency is needed by all parties on the NHS.

10. I feel the British Pub is a national institution which needs to be robustly defended, as the pub is a place where so many people meet: it is an important part of every community. I have endorsed my support for the Campaign for Real Ale, and would be doing everything in my power to support pubs, brewers and also the customers.

11. Education is absolutely crucial for this economy. A diversity of educational opportunities is required, including academic and vocational training courses. Funding needs to be increased to develop education facilities, and teaching and university education needs to attract the best possible candidates.

In response to: Who is the politician, living or dead, you admire the most and why? please do not say your own party leader. 

12. I would have to say Mahatma Gandhi. He was able to overcome so many obstacles for India to gain its independence and self-governance, via his philosophy of 'non-violent non-cooperation' at great personal cost to himself. His ideas have shaped great thinkers across the globe!

Quiz answers HERE

Brent and Kilburn Times On-line hustings HERE

Brent Central Hustings Tuesday April 21st 7-9pm

There have been fewer hustings in Brent Central than in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency so this is a chance to meet and question your candidates before polling day. The church is near the corner of All Souls Avenue and Bathurst Gardens,

REGISTER TO VOTE BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

REGISTER HERE BY MIDNIGHT MONDAY

Preston Community Library now operating temporarily from library site after 3 year closure

From the Preston Library Campaign

Last week Preston Community Library signed a licence to use the Preston Library building until the end of July, so after a gap of nearly four years there is again a public library in Carlton Avenue East. There are already books available to borrow. The creative writing and Scrabble groups which we've been running for some time will continue, and there will be an immediate expansion of our English classes. Other activities planned for the very near future include a film club and yoga and knitting classes.

For the moment we're opening from 12.30 - 7 on Mondays and from 11-5 on Saturdays. We hope to expand the opening hours very soon; to do that we need more volunteers to staff the building, so if you can spare some time please do get in touch. or.

We have a couple of events coming up very soon. This Thursday, 23 April is World Book Night 2015, and we will be giving away books in the library from 4 until 7; there will also be readings from Shakespeare, whose birthday it is. There are more details on the attached poster.

And on Monday week, 27 April, we have our next pub quiz at 7.30 in The Preston pub. We aim to start the quiz promptly at 8. This year's quizzes have been as enjoyable as ever and very well attended. Now that we're back in the library we need your support more than ever, so I hope to see as many of you as possible at both of these events.

Thanks for your continuing support.

 

Roe Green Walled Garden – well worth a visit

 Guest blog by Philip Grant

Following Martin’s short blog publicising its open day on Saturday LINK, I went along to renew my acquaintance with this “secret garden”. I say that as I had lived within half a mile of Roe Green Walled Garden for fifteen years before my family discovered this beautiful haven, tucked away at the top of a driveway in the park. Now, this community garden run by volunteers from the Barn Hill Conservation Group is better publicised, and attracted many other visitors.

Some of the Open Day attractions on the lawn

 

A quiet wildlife corner of the walled garden

 

Part of the sunny long borde

 If you have not been to this garden before (or if you have, but are not sure when it is open), you don’t need to wait for another open day to pay it a visit. The garden is open from 10am to 2pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. There are quiet spots to sit and relax, an area for children to play, educational displays, and sales of recycled items as well as the pleasant flower, fruit and vegetable gardens to stroll around. The garden has an informal atmosphere, and there are usually volunteers around glad to answer any questions. If you want to stay and give them a hand with any of the garden tasks, so much the better, but there is no pressure to do so. If you want to find out more about the garden, or their work on Fryent Country Park, please visit their website: http://bhcg.btck.co.uk/.

Philip Grant.

Shahrar Ali challenges UKIP's Magnus Nielsen on overseas aid

UKIP candidate Magnus Nielsen  (Hampstead and Kilburn) told people attending last night's Catholic hustings at the Church of Transfiguration, Kensal Rise, that they should dig into their own pockets to provide Overseas Aid, reducing addressing inequality to a personal matter rather than a government obligation.

Green candidate Shahrar Ali (Brent Central)  responded by saying that world poverty was a systemic issue based on inequality and globalisation that would be worsened by climate change.

Nielsen has a history of controversy, particularly regarding Islam LINK and  appears quite a different kettle of fish to the apparently rather more benign Stephen Priestley, standing for UKIP in Brent Central.

The Daily Mirror has published a video of an anti-Islam speech by Nielsen HERE

Preston Library 'Bookaway' World Book Night April 23rd