Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, today backed Government plans to introduce compulsory licensing to deal with rogue wheel clamping companies in Lambeth.

Umunna welcomed the announcement by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that a consultation would be published shortly on proposals for a compulsory licensing scheme for wheel clamping companies.

This consultation will look at introducing compulsory licensing and industry-wide standards for:

• signage, including size and visibility;
• maximum penalties charged and payment methods;
• minimum time between immobilisation and removal;
• providing evidence that a parking infringement has taken place;
• security and location of pound where vehicles are impounded; and
• complaints and appeals policy.

The measures aim to tackle the limited number of wheel clamping companies whose dodgy practices include excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars, clamping emergency vehicles and those belonging to disabled drivers, impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped, hidden or missing signs warning drivers that clamping takes place, and a lack of any appeals process for drivers.

The announcement comes in the wake of local resident and singer-songwriter Leo Ihenacho’s well publicized dispute with South East Clamping Ltd (SEC) which featured on the BBC’s Watchdog programme on 2 March 2009.

While Ihenacho had been away from his home, the management company of his block had started to use SEC to patrol the building’s car park. During his absence SEC had towed Ihenacho’s car away without him knowing anything about it, which resulted in legal action. Ihenacho said:
“for someone to be able to come and take it like that without information, prior knowledge, etc…its unbelievable”.

Commenting on the measures the government is taking, Umunna said:
“The licensing of individual wheel clampers has gone a long way to reducing malpractice and improving standards in the industry.
“But I know that local people want further action against the small minority of clamping companies who indulge in sharp practices, including unclear signage and excessive fees.
“The Government is looking at introducing a scheme for compulsory licensing of clamping companies, with clear industry standards that they have to meet.”
“Rogue wheel clampers shouldn’t be able to get away with unacceptable practices and I’ll be working with the Government to clamp down on dodgy clampers.”

Currently, any individual undertaking vehicle immobilising must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority, with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence. The new proposals would also make it mandatory for the company itself to be licensed to help ensure they sign up to upholding standards of conduct, which will be enforced if they are not met.

Last month, Chuka and Keith Hill MP organised the first ever Streatham Youth Summit.

The event, held at the House of Commons, brought together voluntary community groups and agencies working with young people. In attendance were representatives from youth centres and residents’ associations alongside Lambeth Council’s Youth Service and the Metropolitan Police. The event provided a forum for discussing youth provision across Streatham, demographically one of the youngest constituencies in the UK, giving local groups the opportunity to exchange views, forge new links and raise issues, enabling increased engagement between statutory bodies and voluntary groups.

The Summit was addressed by Keith and Chuka as well as Glen Neil of the Palace Project in Streatham Hill, who described it as an “invaluable opportunity to share expertise and knowledge, and network with other groups in the area working with young people”. Speaking at the event, Chuka contrasted the Streatham he knew growing up, of school fields being sold off and youth clubs closing down, with the funds currently being invested in youth provision by the Labour government. He highlighted the need to make sure “that as much of that money works its way to our local youth groups as possible”; The collaboration and dialogue of the Youth Summit will go a long way towards ensuring this happens.

Gabriel Huntley

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, welcomes NHS measures coming into force this month which will provide free services to local people.

The Health Secretary, Alan Johnson MP, has announced a series of measures which will transform the service the NHS provides, all coming into force this month:

• free health checks for local people aged 40-74;
• MRSA screening for all patients; and,
• free prescription charges for local cancer sufferers.

Health checks will become free for everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 as part of an ambitious national programme to identify people’s risk to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. The checks will play an important role in preventative care, having the potential to stop 1,600 heart attacks and strokes and save up to 650 lives each year. Additionally, they allow diabetes to be detected earlier in patients, which can prevent sufferers from developing Type 2 diabetes. The health checks also provide personalised advice on how to lower health risks and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Hospitals will now offer MRSA screening for all patients, reducing the chances of receiving the infection or the bug spreading within hospitals. This will be an additional tool in the fight against superbugs. MRSA rates in our hospitals are already falling; Compared to four years ago, the number of infections has more than halved, while locally King’s College Hospital has seen a 64% reduction.

Thirdly, cancer sufferers will no longer pay prescription charges for their medication. For those living with cancer, who often pay upwards of £100 a year, this crucially means one less worry at such a difficult time. The move will benefit over 1,900 people diagnosed with cancer in Lambeth and up to 150,000 nationally.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, welcomed the changes:

“This illustrates Labour’s commitment to delivering a world-class health service in our area. Preventative care is crucial in making us a healthier society and reducing health inequalities. These are improvements which we can all be proud of.”

The announcements follow the news that Lambeth PCT has been ranked among the very best in the country by the Healthcare Commission, and that waiting times are at their shortest both locally and nationally since records began.

Details of a series of measures coming into force this year, which will transform the service the NHS provides have been announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson (pictured above with Chuka and Keith Hill, MP for Streatham).

As part of an ambitious national programme of preventative care, health checks will become free for everyone between the ages of 40 and 74. The assessments identify people’s risk to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes, and have the potential to stop 1,600 heart attacks and strokes and save up to 650 lives each year. Diabetes will be detected earlier in patients, which can prevent sufferers from developing Type 2 diabetes. The health checks will also enable people to receive personalised advice on how to lower risks and stay healthy.

The government has also announced a new tool in the fight against MRSA, as hospitals will now offer screening for the infection for all patients. This will reduce the risks to patients and the likelihood of infections spreading within hospitals. MRSA rates are already falling nationally, while King’s College Hospital has seen a 64% reduction in infections over the past four years.

Also coming into force are free prescription charges for cancer sufferers. For those living with cancer, who often pay upwards of £100 a year for medication, this means one less worry at such a difficult time. The move will benefit over 1,900 people diagnosed with cancer in Lambeth and up to 150,000 nationally.

These important changes illustrate Labour’s commitment to delivering a world-class health service in our area. Emphasising preventative care is crucial in making us a more healthy society and in reducing health inequality. Following the news that Lambeth PCT has been ranked among the very best in the country by the healthcare commission, and that waiting times are at their shortest both locally and nationally since records began, these are improvements which we can all be proud of.

Gabriel Huntley

On 2 April 2009, world leaders from the G20 countries – representing 85% of the world’s output – will meet in London. They will meet against the backdrop of the worst international banking crisis in generations.

The London Summit will take place against the backdrop of exceptionally challenging economic circumstances. But, just as after the Second World War visionary leaders laid the groundwork for 30 years of prosperity and growth, built on international economic cooperation, this crisis is also an opportunity.

The world’s leading economies can come together and lay the foundations not just for a sustainable economic recovery, but also for a genuinely new era of international economic partnership – a global deal, in which all countries have a part to play and all will see the benefits.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown says,
“at the G20 we will be discussing ideas to lead the world from recession to recovery, and I want people to feel not just that they have a stake in those discussions, but that they also have a say”.

So tell us below what you want to say to the G20 world leaders before the summit and we’ll make sure we pass on as many of your comments as possible.

Dear Chris

I have read the profile of me in the latest edition of your “Streatham Brixton & Clapham News” leaflet, which has been distributed to over 40,000 homes in this area.

Aside from the usual jibes against opponents people have come to expect from politicians, I was alarmed to see references to two of my deceased relatives in the leaflet.

My father, whom I lost at the age of 13, is described as a “rich business man and politician” – the anniversary of his death falls next week. He ran a sole trader business and, in the couple of years leading to his death, stood for the governorship of his state in his native Nigeria on an anti-corruption, reformist ticket. I am still immensely proud of what he achieved.

My late grandfather, as you say, “was knighted for his work as a British High Court Judge”. Indeed, he earned a reputation for handing down particularly tough sentences to convicted rapists and also served this country as an intelligence officer during and after the Second World War. I am incredibly proud of him too.

Your references to my late father and grandfather are made in the context of seeking to demonstrate that I come from a “wealthy, privileged family background”. Whatever you seek to achieve by this, I do not think that seeking to involve an opponent’s family in this way is an appropriate campaigning tool.

I have not made reference to any member of your family in any of my material nor would I want to – it is not why I entered politics nor will it help improve the material circumstances of those we wish to serve in this community.

You have been in active politics for at least 20 more years than me but I have been around long enough to know that this kind of thing switches people off from the political process altogether, which is in no one’s interests – surely, whatever one’s political persuasion, we want as many people to engage as possible? People are tired of this politics of the past, which is why I am hoping to do things differently.

In the lead up to the forthcoming general election I would ask you to focus your energies on me, if you must, and not my family.

Yours sincerely,

Chuka

Lambeth’s Labour administration has decided to freeze council tax for the next two years.

Recognising that in the current economic climate value for money is the top priority for Lambeth residents, Labour is determined to help by keeping council tax bills down. Having successfully managed its finances, the council is in a position to make this pledge while guaranteeing funding for front-line services, and without any cuts. For example, lunch clubs for older people are opening across the borough and youth clubs’ opening times are being extended to seven days a week.

Lambeth now has the sixth lowest council tax of the thirty three London boroughs. This stands in stark contrast to the way the Lib Dems ran Lambeth: raising council taxes over 40% while in power, including a colossal 23% rise in one year. Notably, the Lib Dems and Tories both voted against this year’s freeze.

Alongside the council tax freeze, the Labour administration launched a Credit Crunch Taskforce (of which Chuka, an employment law solicitor, was a member), pledging over £350k to helping residents and businesses through these difficult times in Lambeth. This will mean a range of new measures including a telephone advice service for local businesses, the promotion of local food initiatives and reducing the council’s payment time to small businesses from 30 to 10 days. The council is also expanding its collaboration with the Lambeth Savings and Credit Union.

Commenting on the council tax freeze, Chuka said,
“I welcome the decision to freeze council tax and applaud the measures Lambeth is taking to help the borough through these difficult economic times. This move shows what a difference having a Labour council can make.”

Gabriel Huntley

Some useful telephone numbers for those experiencing difficulties due to the snow.

Police (Non-emergency)…………………….020 7326 1212
Electricity (freephone)…………………….0800 028 0247
Gas – 24hrs…………………….0800 111 999
Water – 24hrs…………………….0845 9200 800
Lambeth Council Emergency…………………….020 7926 1000
Lambeth Council Switchboard…………………….020 7926 1000
Environment and streets…………………….020 7926 9000
Train Information…………………….08457 48 49 50

Transport for London live travel information: click here.

On this historic day when the first Black President of the United States of America is sworn in, two local residents tell us what the inauguration of Barack Obama means to them.

“I’m excited to see what Obama’s ground breaking Presidency will bring the millions of Americans who are suffering in the current economic turmoil. His Presidency also opens up a great opportunity for Britain and the rest of Europe to work together to build peace in the Middle East, an ambitious programme to tackle climate change and will provide impetuous to meet the UN Development Goals.”
- Anne Fairweather (left with Chuka), Streatham resident and Labour candidate in London for the European elections this June 

“It dawned on me that Obama’s election is not just about the election of the first African American president of the United States, it also means that we - the black community - are fast running out of reasons to remain at the periphery of human progress.  He has shown that racism alone is no longer the reason we should not aspire and make progress.”
- Bethel Anele, Streatham resident and Obama for America campaign volunteer (Florida, 2008)

“Barack Obama has shown us that politics can genuinely work to make the world better. In the face of despondency and apathy he has reminded us that every individual can have their own unique impact on their community, their city, their country and the world. To me, Obama represents hope, wisdom, strength and the dawn of a brighter future.”
- Alice Deville, Streatham resident

You can catch Chuka between 11am and 12pm today on the BBC News Channel’s Inauguration Special. Also, check out Polly Toynbee’s Guardian column today on the inauguration and its implications for British politics which features Chuka: “We will all remember where we were today – even in lazily cynical Britain”, Polly Toynbee.

The Labour government gives out cold weather payments to the old and vulnerable in Streatham, Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton to help them cope with the recent cold spell.

Cold weather payments for the most vulnerable have been increased from £8.50 to £25 a week by the Labour government and the annual Winter Fuel Payment has been increased by £100 to £400 for over 80s households and by £50 to £250 for over-60s households.

The cold weather payments kick in every seven consecutive days that temperatures fall – or are forecast to fall – below 0 degrees. As a result of the cold snap this fortnight, thousands of older and vulnerable residents in Streatham, Clapham, Balham, Tulse Hill and Brixton will get the payment to help them through this cold spell.

Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, said,
“It is absolutely essential in these tough economic times, in the face of high energy prices and bitterly cold temperatures, that we have a responsive government taking action to help the most vulnerable in society, which is precisely what the Labour government is doing here”

The measures have attracted support from groups campaigning for older people. Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said,
“Many older people are worried about making ends meet this winter, but finding out they can get more money in their pockets can really make a difference.
“Tripling the Cold Weather Payment has made it a useful amount that will give an extra boost when the weather is cold.”

Rosie Winterton, the Pensions Minister (left), said, “We know that older people are facing tough times and that’s why we are acting now to make this real help available.”

To find out whether you are eligible to receive cold weather payments, Call Job Centre Plus on 0800 055 6688 or, if you are a pensioner, the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 08459 15 15 15. For more info click here: Cold Weather Payments.