Andrew Dismore

The average Londoner is £3,084 worse off a year since David Cameron came to office according to recent figures that show London is being hit the hardest by the cost of living crisis.

Chuka Umunna MP Shadow Secretary of State for Business joined Andrew Dismore, Labour Candidate for Hendon, and Leader of the Barnet Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore, in Edgware this weekend to highlight the issue as part of Labour’s nation wide #CostofCameron campaign around the cost of living crisis.

Chuka, Andrew and Alison spent time talking to residents and local small business owners, listening to their concerns about falling wages, rising business rates and their impact on the local economy.

Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna MP said:

“In Hendon Andrew Dismore and I heard from local people struggling with the cost of living crisis which is hitting families across Britain –  prices have risen faster than wages in 41 out of 42 months under David Cameron.

“We also met with local business owners who told us about the rising cost of doing business – firms have been hit by business rates going up £1,500 on average under the Tory-led government.

“That’s why Hendon needs a Labour MP fighting for local people and backing small businesses.”

Prospective Labour Candidate for Hendon Andrew Dismore said:

“It was great to welcome Chuka to Edgware to join our street stall campaign over the cost of living crisis. Under David Cameron, families in Edgware are £3,084 a year worse off. It was also a good opportunity for Chuka to see at first hand the problems affecting the High Street here. I have been working with local traders to see what can be done to help, but it seems to me that Barnet Council should be far more proactive in helping them. Ideally, Edgware needs to become a Business Improvement District (BID), but without the Council’s active encouragement and assistance this is unlikely to happen. We need a Labour Council to work with the traders to get Edgware back to the vibrant shopping destination it used to be.”

Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Alison Moore said:

“Conservative policies are hitting residents and traders in the pocket and to add insult to injury local pay-by-phone parking has damaged business in many of our struggling town centres. The Barnet Conservatives hiked up parking charges by up to 300% in one year, did not listen to residents and traders when they said it was too much and then ended up losing a costly court battle where a High Court judge ruled their charges were unlawful.”