London Liberal Youth

Protest: Stop Boris’ Bus Botch

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton & Wallington, invites all young Liberals to make their way to Wallington this Thursday for an evening protest.

TfL is discontinuing the N213 bus from Croydon, South London. This means that thousands of young Londoners will either be cut off from getting home at night or forced to crowd into a dated and inconvenient alternative route.

Upwards of 200 young Liberals and locals will be gathering at Wallington Hall from 10pm onwards to send a message to Boris.

I’ll be there, so should you!

Sign up to the event by clicking here:

Upcoming Annual General Meeting

And here’s to the Summer! We’ll be holding our Annual General Meeting in exactly 3 weeks (in accordance to Liberal Youth regulations)..which is the 21st of July 2009 (Tuesday). Once again, the technical stuff:

Eligibility to vote is restricted to:

• Members of the Liberal Democrats under the age of 26 living within the London Postcode Region
• Members of London Liberal Youth and the University Societies within Greater London including the LSE Liberal Democrats, KCL Liberal Democrats, QMUL Liberal Democrats, Kingston University Liberal Youth.
• Members of our affiliate, the University College Liberal Club at University College London

We will be electing a Chair to serve for the next year, as well as nominating a Board of Trustees to oversee our activities, and of course an Honorary President!

This is your oppurtunity to discuss the year ahead with the current Executive, and to vote in a new Executive to serve until July 2010! So do come along to the Knights Templar at 8pm, 21st July 2009!

Phew, what a scorcher!

We’ve turned the corner from May’s somewhat gentile breeziness into the muggier end of June. After a langorous recovery from the hard-fought Euro elections, we’d like nothing more than to peel off our suits and rosettes, take a step back from activism and have a well-deserved sit in the park.

But this is politics, and these are some of the most exciting times we’ve seen in decades – for a century, perhaps. There’s a whiff of reform in the air, and that’s all we need to slip on the least sweat-revealing yellow t-shirts we own and head out into the city to sniff out a slice.

Crowds of young Liberals will be darting around the streets of the capital, delivering, knocking, chatting and being seen.

Many LLY members will be found in the corridors of Westminster – scribbling press releases, preparing correspondence and making sure the awkward questions get asked.

An unlucky few will be chained to desks around the country, perpsiring in hope of insight as they groan in painstaking slavery to the coming academic year.

A small group of us will be doing some blue sky thinking (i.e. looking out the window), inventing campaigns and tactics for the next year.

But for those of you with nothing to do, why not this? Tom Brake MP is holding an informal coffee and cake get-together on Monday, 10am, to discuss local concerns, the expenses scandal, the economy, the environment and whatever you wish to throw at him. All are invited.

Whatever you’re doing in the sweaty heat this coming week, we wish you the best of it. If you’re interested, we can always find something Liberal and exciting for you. Look out for summer news, stories and events here over the next weeks.

And they’re off!

This is it – polling day. Polish your shoes, put a carnation in your buttonhole and pop on down to the polling booth. In the words of Nike (the shoes, not the goddess, and this is the only time I’ll ever quote them on anything):

The General Election might be closer than you think…

The Liberal Democrats yesterday backed Plaid Cymru and the SNP in calling for an early General Election. The issue will be put to debate at PMQs next Wednesday.

Labour is likely to pull out all the stops to prevent this. Maybe they should – while most of the country is sick of Labour’s corruption and aggressive litigiousness, the election would surely be a fairer affair if it were on more lasting and deeper issues than MPs’ expenses. Real reform comes, lest we forget, from an honest long-haul rather than radical reshuffles.

But there is little dispute that it is time for the current government to go. Labour is tired, jaded and needs to reshape itself. By sacking Jacqui Smith, Brown has attempted to placate the electorate. It is not enough. Unless there is a startling change in leadership and the cabinet, Labour risks plummeting so far as to cause yet another blue rinse. Moderate parties such as ourselves do not do well out of awful government stagnation. A landslide by the most demagogic Tory party in years is the risk we face if Labour is allowed to continue along its self-destructive path.

Of the two evils, a rushed election at a time of popular political interest and interaction seems the lesser. That is why we voted for it: to wipe a marred slate clean and to form a parliament of popular confidence. That is why it’s time to start looking at those Focus leaflets you’ve been putting under the takeaway flyers.

The Lib Dems are fielding some truly excellent candidates this time round, so now is your chance to get informed on your constituency and make a decision.

The London constituencies with the largest youth and student populations are Holborn & St. Pancras and Southwark. So here they are, your Liberal general election picks. Roll up! Roll up!

Holborn & St. Pancras - Jo Shaw (PPC)

Holborn & St. Pancras – Jo Shaw (PPC)

Jo was educated at a comprehensive in West London, and studied English at Leeds University. She then studied law in Holborn.

In October 2006, Jo took part in the Great North Run for Liberty – which campaigns on civil liberties and human rights issues. She raised over £1,000 for the charity.

When she can, Jo spends time with friends and family, reads, listens to music, and enjoys cinema.

Jo works as a barrister, specialising in housing, employment and family law. She thrives on dealing with challenging cases, and assisting vulnerable clients.

Jo has spent several Christmases working with homeless people. In 1996 Jo volunteered for Community Service Volunteers (CSV) working with adults with disabilities. She has acted on a voluntary basis for people appealing against benefits decisions and in employment cases.

Jo was born in London and has lived in London for most of her life. Her Dad’s surveying firm has been based on Sandwich Street, near Kings Cross, for over 30 years.  Jo’s Mum was a primary school teacher. She has two brothers – a teacher / musician and an entrepreneur / sportsman.

The LLY opinion: Jo has been very good about getting in to colleges to talk to students and young people. Definitely one of the top youth PPCs around.

Southwark North & Bermondsey - Simon Hughes MP

Southwark North & Bermondsey – Simon Hughes MP

Still doing a fantastic job for constituents from every walk of life, Hughes has a great track record of working for young people. He goes, at times, far beyond the normal call of duty, such as in the case of a youth who was kicked to death by a gang; Simon had to be given police protection after he worked to persuade local people to overcome their fears and to give evidence that eventually led to a successful conviction.

Simon is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

He is a patron of the Missing Persons Helpline and an Honorary Fellow of South Bank University, as well as a past president of the Bristol Youth Council, Liberal Democrats against Apartheid, One World Democrats, and the Southwark Chamber of Commerce. He was, for five years until 1999, the chair of the Save Guy’s Hospital Campaign.

Winner of the Most Green MP and Most Motivated MP awards and with a totally clean expenses record, Hughes stands as one of the most forward-thinking and active MPs in the country.

The LLY opinion: Simon has been a strong supporter of London Liberal Youth and active as a speaker to young people. One of the best.

So there they are. When the general election comes, whether sooner or later, consider giving them your support. They want free higher education and better schooling. They speak out for young people. So thank them by voting!

Ladies, gentlemen and the non gender-specific, start your (hybrid) engines!

With only two sleeps left before the Big Day, we at London Liberal Youth HQ have been dusting off our rosettes and hitting the streets to talk to all (or as many as we can find) of you lovely London young folks about the European elections. And what a time we’ve been having so far.

Despite the heat, LLYers have:

• Delivered THOUSANDS of information-filled leaflets and beautifully handwritten messages to your flats, homes and student halls around the capital.

• Talked to you in the street and on your doorsteps, discussing views on everything from the hot media issues such as a climate change, electoral reform, the financial crisis and MPs expenses to the closer-to-home problems of benefits, care in the community and disaffected youth.

• Held a three-party debate at a major sixth-form college in North London about Europe and civil liberties questions such as Labour’s ID card scheme. Jonathan Fryer, 2nd on the London list for the Liberal Democrats, held his own for the LLY corner.

• Sat down and had a cup of tea.

• Got back to it.

And now we’re ready to shift up another gear. We’ll be running around getting you all out to vote on Thursday: knocking on doors, chatting, giving out stickers and generally proving to you all that voting can be as fun as it is important. So to all of the apathetic out there: be warned! Our enthusiasm and conviction are infectious.

We’re going to do our best on Thursday to show you that Europe matters and people care, so give us and Europe a chance – get out and vote!

Activity on Polling Day!

There are a few things any Liberal minded young person in London should definitely be doing this Thursday:

1) Knock on the doors of people in your halls, text friends and update your twitter or Facebook statuses and tell them to vote in the elections (preferably for the Lib Dems!)

2) Come take part in our action day in Southwark constituency.

We’re going to be meeting in the morning and knocking on doors, flyering outside stations and trying to get the student vote out all day! If that doesn’t sound fun enough we’re also going to be having a house party once the polls shut for those who have helped out.

Southwark has the second highest student population in London and could really do with our help. The constituency MP Simon Hughes is popular locally but it’s still vitally important to get Lib Dem voters out to the polls on the day. If you haven’t been active throughout the year and would like to make a difference where it really matters, try and come along.

If you’re coming along confirm on the facebook page and I’ll send you more details about the day:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=86081004367#/event.php?eid=86081004367&ref=nf

Give me ten reasons why I should vote in the European elections…

Even Paris Hilton, successful and intelligent as she is, makes time to vote.

1.) Because you can. Even if you’re not sure what Europe does, or what your vote means, you might as well do it. An excuse for a walk, a detour on the way to the pub, whatever you can think of – it’s fat-free, right round the corner, wheelchair accessible and very simple (even a child could do it). While I’d prefer it if you meant it, the thrill of a flippant vote is still a kick. At the end of the day, you’re still participating.

2.) Because you’re annoyed. Don’t think the European parliament’s doing what you want it to? Think time is being wasted on wonky cucumbers? Would have preferred it if they’d stopped the Iraq war happening? Then get out and vote – it’s the strongest message you can send, and all it takes is a casual stroll and a tick in a box.

3.) Because you’re perfectly content with the way things are going. If you’re happy with Europe and think it’s chugging along just dandily, then you’d best get yourself in the polling booth – without your vote it’s not liable to stay that way. Reinforce the people you think are doing well, and keep them in the job.

4.) Because you’d rather not have another World War One. Our own Lembit Öpik put it succinctly: ‘The European Union is the only way we’ve avoided a major land war in Europe since 1945’. If you’d prefer European countries to carry on discussing things rather than shelling each other into the ground, then get out there and vote for Europe as a guarantor of peace.

5.) Because it’s the only way out of the recession. In the 19^th century, unilateral solutions to economic collapses just about worked. Now they don’t. As citizens of a country so heavily tied to the rest of the world and to Europe in particular, the only way we can dig ourselves out is by sharing the weight. And let’s face it – we’re the worst off here, so we should be grateful for whatever help we get. Show Europe you like having a job by voting on June the 4^th.

6.) Because you’re sick of being bullied. For the last hundred years, Britain has been sandwiched and squeezed by big empires on either side. America and Germany, America and Russia, America and China. Finally Europe has a chance to emerge as a third party, with a much bigger voice and a fatter wallet. If you want Europe to stop America taking your lunch money, then show your support – vote.

7.) Because you might not always want to live in the UK. You’re in Britain now, but let’s face it – France pays better. With a minimum wage of €8.71 an hour and far better weather, you might just be tempted to move there. Liberals in Europe are striving to make it easier to move around the EU, getting fairer wages and easier work permits. If you’re sick of the rain, get out and vote.

8.) Because you’d rather not breathe someone else’s pollution. Air and water pollution are the illegal immigrants we really need to worry about. Coal smoke and acid rain have a tendency to blow into other people’s countries and wreck their woods. The only way to deal with it is to have agreements on what you can burn and where. If you’d rather not have your trip to the seaside marred by dead porpoises, you’d best vote.

9.) Because you don’t see change coming from domestic politics. To be honest, most of us Liberals are sick of having to say the same things over and over again. Every time the general election comes round it’s either more of the same or worse from the other side. The European Parliament has a fairer electoral system, a deeper concern with the big issues (i.e. civil liberties) and a greater sense of cooperation and coalition. If you’re interested in showing politicians at home how things should be done, then vote and set an example.

10.) Because you want to make Europe and the world a better place. Quite a big reason this, and one I like to hear. However good or bad you think Europe is now, it can always do better. As Liberals, we want to see an efficient Europe with a strong voice and a clear agenda. We want it to guarantee freedoms and question governments. We want it, in short, to set an example to the rest of the world as the first great free federation. That’s why I’m voting Liberal Democrat on June the 4^th, and if you agree with me, perhaps you should too.

Click to find out what the Liberal Democrats in Europe can do for you.

Young London Let Down By Housing Shortage

The Evening Standard yesterday carried shocking figures about the state of house-building in Greater London:

Just 568 new homes were started between February and April as the credit crunch continued to bite. The figure is less than a quarter of the number built in the same period of 2008, according to the National House Building Council (NHBC). The shocking figures released today show just 170 homes were started in both February and March – the lowest on record. Activity increased slightly in April.

The low figures are the result of the continuing lack of mortgage availability…

This Labour Government has constantly rattled on about providing affordable housing and freeing up the mortgage market so young first-time buyers are able to get themselves onto the property ladder. The figures show that they have failed on nearly every count. The Liberal Democrats would compel state-owned banks to begin increasing mortgage availability, increase the incentives for home building while simultaneously putting vacant housing stock back into use in order to increase both the availability and affordability of housing in the capital. It isn’t right that credit-worthy young professionals and Londoners are denied a path to home ownership. And it certainly isn’t right for banks receiving state money to sit on their hands and do nothing.

Surely it is time for some decisive action to make sure the young Londoners and professionals of today do not end up on the endless hamster-wheel of hand-to-mouth living in the capital?

European Election Broadcasts

Johnathan Fryer, the No. 2 candidate on the London Liberal Democrat List for the European Parliament, speaks on the issues that matter to you in the upcoming European Elections.

Introduction

Enrivonmental Protection

Economic Cooperation

Want to help Johnathan become the second Liberal Democrat MEP for London? Come along to the Kingston Action Day on Saturday 30th May! More details can be found on Flock Together and Facebook.