Andrew Dismore

Dear editor,

Having served Barnet and Camden London Assembly constituency  for  4years, I have seen  at first hand the difference that strong Labour leadership is making to the people of Camden.

Camden, under Sarah Hayward’s excellent leadership, is seen as one of the most innovative and forward thinking Labour councils in London. Meanwhile Conservative  Barnet is closing libraries, privatising services and selling off land to private developers,  and in contrast to Camden’s achievements , missing their London Plan housing  targets  with woefully low numbers of affordable homes.

Labour in Camden is preserving public services, building genuinely affordable housing, making work pay through the living wage and childcare provision. None of this is easy but Sarah’s strong team are taking the tough decisions required to make Camden fairer.

Next week Londoners vote for a new Mayor. A Labour Mayor in City Hall will make all the difference to boroughs like Camden. Where Boris Johnson has let developers cash in by actually cutting the proportion of   affordable housing in schemes  like Mount Pleasant, Sadiq will use his planning powers to deliver 50% of genuinely affordable  homes.

Camden has achieved a huge amount in the four years I’ve been assembly member. This is despite the most hostile environment possible – Conservative  cuts from Whitehall and in City Hall. Labour in Camden has weathered this storm and is really delivering for Camden.

Just imagine, if London votes Labour next week, what Camden will achieve with Sarah in the Town Hall and Sadiq and myself  in City Hall. We can and will work together to deliver the homes, jobs and transport that Camden and London really needs.

Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member and candidate for Barnet and Camden