The Labour Case for AV

The Alternative Vote (AV) is simple. It retains the link between our MP and the constituency and – above all – it is fair in that every vote counts. There are no wasted votes. Political parties will need to work harder to win votes for second and third preferences – not just the first.

AV means the voter places a 1 (or X) against their first choice candidate and, if they wish, a 2 against their second preference, a 3 against their 3rd. and so forth transferring as far as they choose. Every MP will command the support of over 50% of their voters compared to a small minority now.

This means that rather than a General Election just being fought among a few swing voters in a few marginal constituencies – it will be a truly national election. Turnout will increase as everyone sees a purpose in them voting in their constituency.

While we are luck to have a Labour MP, there are some 200 constituencies mainly in the south of England where Labour is third, often a poor third place. Labour voters face that awful dilemma of whether to vote with their principles for Labour and risk ending up with a Tory MP or to grit their teeth and vote Lib Dem tactically to keep the Tories out. AV will mean they will be able to Vote Labour 1, Lib Dem 2 etc. so their vote counts for Labour but will then be used to keep the Tory MP out.

The same with stopping the BNP and other ultra-right forces. They have only ever picked up seats in first past the post elections with around 30-35% of the vote. All the evidence is that supporters of other parties would transfer to the party most likely to beat the BNP.

Just think about Blackheath Westcombe ward in the last three local elections, had we used an AV voting system then Green votes and the largest proportion of Lib Dem votes would have transferred to Labour probably giving us two if not three Labour councillors – and reflecting the progressive majority in the ward.

Labour promised an AV referendum in our General election manifesto. It will help put some trust back in politics and more power in the hands of voters. Some Labour people have claimed that the Tory-Lib Dem coalition will only lead to a pact whereby they will just give each other second preferences and pose a threat to Labour. However, all the polling and actual evidence from elections suggest that Lib Dems are (still now) more likely to prefer Labour to the Conservatives. For all the evidence on this….and more about the Labour Yes campaign go to http://labouryes.org.uk/

David Gardner

David says thanks

And now it’s all over! Life returns to normal.

Alex Grant back at top of the poll but I missed out by 22 votes after the Friday afternoon recount. 2197 votes was a good tally, but 22 votes from the winning line and you think what more could have been done.

So Blackheath Westcombe again has one superb Labour councillor and two Tories. A swing to Labour but not the same swing we enjoyed in the other marginals with large council estates. There, the general election turnout made a real difference. In BW, the 72% turnout brought out many who take little interest in local politics generally but obviously wanted to vote nationally.

And many people shopped around with their votes. All a big argument for Alternative Vote as there was a very big majority for progressive candidates from Labour, Lib Dems and Greens but this vote was fragmented letting the Tories into two seats.

But it has been a great campaign and I have really enjoyed meeting so many thousands of people from Tom Smith Close to Blackheath Park. And to understand people’s concerns about childcare, local schools, transport, parks and so many more issues. There was a general level of satisfaction with local services especially recycling but that is not to be complacent. The new Labour council can do better and improve community engagement. I will carry on my work at John Roan and stay in touch with local issues.

On a national scale, Nick Raynsford retained Labour’s 10000 majority in Greenwich. The Tories took second place from the Lib Dems and we held next-door Eltham against all predictions. But it was not good for Labour nationally overall and we have lessons to learn about staying in touch more with people’s views, listening and showing less arrogance and better judgement.

But it is easy to be harsh and forget our great achievements in public services, economic prosperity, leadership on combating climate change and poverty. We are a more tolerant and civilised society than in 1997.

All more the shame as I write that Labour and the Lib Dems do not appear to have agreed a progressive partnership to continue this and protect the most vulnerable while securing the recovery and reducing the deficit.

Finally to thank everyone for their votes and support, and if you supported an opponent, thanks for being so polite on the doorstep and listening. And thanks to Alex and Pat for being such tremendous fellow candidates and the great Labour team in Blackheath Westcombe.

Values, Commitment and Energy

Well, what a week.

Few parts of the ward untouched as we aim to knock every door during the course of the election campaign – just as we have knocked every door in the year before and every year. This is what Labour is about – on people’s side and getting things done.

On Thursday,we had an excellent evening in Vanbrugh Fields and Vanbrugh Hill with a surprisingly positive response. As the 16 of us gathered today at the standard to it the streets, we were very heartened by the passers’ by wishing us well and somewhat sympathising with us (no doubt due to national factors). In any event, Nick Raynsford and Pat Boadu-Darko had an excellent reception on the stall while Alex Grant and I ventured with the team onto Shooter’s Hill Road, Kidbrooke Park Road, Kidbrooke Park Close (again!) and Kidbrooke Grove. While many people had taken advantage oft he May Bank Holiday weekend there were stlll plenty in for a chat. I surprised one voter who was flirting with the Conservatives by talking about financial services policy issues – where the Conservatives would be totally ineffective as they are sidelined in Europe where the real decisions are made – and another on my involvement in the anti-apartheid campaigns of old and how ordinary people can make a difference. It was really good to get some plaudits for our safer Neighbourhood Team who are seen to have been very helpful on burglaries in particular.

It was good to see the new Thomas Tallis well underway and the 286 service looking more reliable. There were really very few local issues that people had. I canvassed a woman who had taught Alex at Invicta some 25 years ago (hasn’t he done well!) and we tried out Boris’s special nine- second crossing (or is it now an 11-second crossing) over the A2 Shooter’s Hill Road and just got over given our relative fitness. But the time allowed to cross is ridiculously short for those that are a bit slower on their feet or struggling with children or bags etc.

Then after a drink and lunch with helpers at the Royal standard, off to Marks & Spencer’s for our dinner party provisions for this evening and home for the domestic chores and to catch up on some phone calls. We saw the Conservatives around leafleting but not talking to people. We have not seen the lone Green or the Lib Dems anywhere in Blackheath or Westcombe Park. I am told the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate went to the pensioners’ hustings to complain about the worse train service on the Westcombe Park line (little does he know about the improvements) and apparently did not know that charlton and westcombe Park were on the same railway line.

So we’re serious about being effective champions for the ward – we have been clear about our values – for educational excellence; a sustainable environment; economic prosperity for all and tackling poverty and for strong and safe communities. WE have shown our huge commitment born out of sa sense of public service and wanting to make a difference and that we will leave no stone unturned to get things done for the communities in Blackheath westcombe and individuals. We will keep going to thursday in getting this message across, but win or lose, we will carry on campaigning for and with the great people of Blackheath Westcombe.

David L Gardner

Buses and the Marathon – 11 days before election day!

What a week. Now tired after having returned (on the bus) from a lovely evening meeting some voters in the Cator estate around Morden Road and The Plantation. I never ceased to be amazed what strong communities we have throughout the ward, but especially in the pockets of Blackheath. Residents can easily rattle off not just all the neighbours but their predecessors as well.

People seemed pleased with local public transport but some useful pointers on the need for more reliability in some of the bus services. Everyone delighted with the new 386 service to Greenwich that both Alex and I were involved in extending and, in general, with the train service. Much praise about the Library service in Greenwich and people were looking forward to the re-opening of the refurbished Blackheath Library tomorrow (Monday) on Old Dover Road.

The other big event of the day – apart from canvassing more SE3 voters this morning – was the great London marathon. I wet out with my eldest daughter for a shorter than normal early morning run through the unexpected rain and saw the elite women pounding the streets to return home for shower, coffee and that great annual spectacle of over 30,000 runners passing right outside our house. The one time of the year where disparate neighbours all come together and chat welcoming the eerily silent road devoid of traffic until the approach of wave upon wave of marathon runners in all shapes and sizes from all parts of the UK and well beyond. People are very happy to forego their car for the morning and the bus service. As well as taking to neighbours, you see many more people walking to church, or to friends or down to see the marathon on the lower road. Our very own car free day which clearly causes inconvenience to some but so well organised is the event we know that the routes will reopen around noon and the magical morning passes for another year.

We have to capture this great community spirit we see on marathon morning when everyone talks to each other and shouts encouragement and remember to always help our neighbours and just to say hello to people we pass. To think of others first and not to walk by on the other side of the street. Whatever our differences in terms of education, job (or no job), race, religion, language, age or gender we are all part of the same community. So in this public spirit, when I saw that a less publicly spirited fellow citizen had smashed the glass in the bus shelter on Charlton Road at the Standard (outside Wentworth house), I rang the special London Buses Adshel number immediately to report the glass all over the road on what is by far the busiest bus stop in the ward. I must say though, as upsetting as seeing the vandalism is, it is a far rarer occurrence now than a few years back.

Tomorrow we will be out all day throughout Blackheath and Westcombe Park with Nick Raynsford and the parliamentary hustings in the evening. The election is certainly hotting up with now just 11 days to go!

David L Gardner

Keeping people in work

Gordon fired the starting gun on Tuesday, and we were away! – a few days before the Grand National.

Of course, in Blackheath Westcombe we’ve been out talking to people all year round – but it will now be meeting and greeting voters every day until 6 May. Still, time for my morning run with my eldest today before canvassing and for the traditional Sunday dinner with the family afterwards.

On the doorstep, I am finding people are very friendly, even those that are confirmed supporters of other parties. The main local issues are schools and probably Greenwich Park being used for the Olympics. People are very happy with the recycling and bins, generally with the state of the streets, public transport and with other public services.

On schools, the good citizens of Westcombe Park are very pleased with Halstow – an excellent primary that is consistently the best or second best in Greenwich and the good citizens of Blackheath with Brooklands (which has overcome the glitch from last year’s OfSTED inspection after some great support from Halstow). Invicta in the middle of the ward is fast improving and many also go to Sherington just over on the west of Charlton which is one of the most improved schools in recent years. At nursery and primary level, most parents are concerned about getting into the school. That is why Labour is committed in our plans to expanding Halstow from 1 form entry to 1.5 form entry and under the building schools for the future programme there is a commitment to rebuilding Invicta school.

I am only too aware that secondary schools have been more of a challenge for parents but am very pleased at the wide recognition that John Roan school is steadily improving in terms of its ethos, behaviour and, most importantly, its results. As Chair of Governors there with an excellent team of Governors we have worked extremely hard to transform the school with the new Head while building on the traditional strengths such as pastoral support. The fruits of all this will continue to come through with this year’s results and further improvements year-on-year. I did hear of a disturbing incident at the end of last term on Humber Road, which I shall get to the bottom of, though I am pleased to say this does appear to be isolated. After improving the school so it is the school of choice for all the local community, we our focusing on the physical transformation of restoring the listed Maze hill site and rebuilding the Westcombe Park site. At this point, we are waiting for approval of our Outline Business Case from partnership for school, the Government body in charge of the programme. Of course, there is no guarantee that a Conservative Government would honour this commitment and with the cuts proposed, the chance of rebuilding Invicta school would be very slim. Thomas Tallis, of course, has started their new building on the Blackheath Park side, so we trust this will be quite safe!

Overall, we have seen a transformation in school standards but I fully appreciate that all parents want the best for their children and we have further to go. Am very interested in people’s constructive ideas and comments. All I can say, from a Roan perspective, is that it is a school now of real energy and determination as well as commitment to our local communities – and perseverance of excellence.

Greenwich Park has been raised a lot with me and everyone loves the park – I am a longstanding friend of greenwich park and cherish it too. I understand people’s qualms about the impact the olympics could have, but I think the fears are largely misplaced. Not one tree will be knocked down and the park will only be fully closed for one day. There will be some inconvenience obviously, and if elected my job will be to make sure that the Royal parks agency and Olympics’ organisers are working closely with the four key societies – Blackheath Society, Westcombe Society, Greenwich Society and Friends of Greenwich Park to ensure that the whole process is smooth, causes minimum disruption and deals with issues that are bound to arise. But Greenwich will be a showcase for the world for the modern pentathlon and equestrian events and this will be excellent.

I intend to carry on talking to everyone throughout the ward, taking up issues with my fellow candidates Alex Grant and Pat Boado-Darko and getting things done. Now, I think a walk with the family (without knocking on any doors as people enjoy a sunny, peaceful sunday afternoon!)

David L Gardner

Daffodils… and Alastair Darling

The daffodils have finally emerged around Blackheath and Westcombe Park and the sun has been doing its best to make its presence felt between the showers. Spring is here and the clocks have gone forward. Indeed, I was very pleased to be up on Sunday at 8am to get in my weekly 10k run before heading off to the doorsteps with our MP Nick Raynsford. Not everyone answering though, while of course pleased to see the Labour Party, looked as if they had readjusted their clocks!

In Westcombe Park on Saturday, we met some really excellent supporters in Ruthin Road and Glenluce Road with a small section of Westcombe Hill. A small section because we soon discovered that we were following in the well-trodden footsteps of the Jehovah Witness’ canvassers and a double knock especially after the non-voting JVs in one morning does not always go down well. So hotfoot around the corner to the very peaceful but fascinating slopes of Ruthin and Glenluce. There was general satisfaction with Labour nationally and locally though of course a few niggles on a variety of issues. A significant number of non-British EU citizens in these roads and we kept having to remind people them – Dutch, Polish, German, Spanish etc that they can vote in the local elections but not in the parliamentary election. Only UK, Irish, Maltese and Cypriot citizens within the EU can vote for their MP though, as can citizens of all other Commonwealth countries (from Australia to Zambia).

Two issues did come clearly through – the need to keep pressing ahead with raising achievement in our schools and it was excellent to hear Invicta praised as well as Halstow – but particularly our secondary schools. On this score, it is noteworthy that the three state schools in the new Greenwich and Woolwich constituency have doubled the number of 16-year olds gaining five or more good GCSEs from under a third to over two-thirds since Labour came to power in 1997. But it will and must improve further, and John Roan will be leading the way. However, there is a danger

John Roan School

with any change of Government that Conservative cuts and freezing teacher salaries will deflate morale and capacity for continued improvement. Back to the budget and hats off to Alastair Darling for putting the emphasis on jobs and enterprise, ensuring the burden is being more fairly shared but avoiding knee-jerk measures. He has actually confounded his detractors and proven to be a quiet but resilient backbone to the Government that, despite the UK’s exposure to global financial services, has weathered the global recession significantly better than predicted.

David L Gardner

Keeping people in work

Amid the relatively gloomy news, there was a very significant ray of sunshine – unemployment was down again. Whether the total number out of work or those claiming benefits – both measures took another step in the right direction.

Which – as I was discussing with someone on the doorstep this morning who had lost her job in financial services – is obviously not too much comfort for the many that have been made redundant and are still valiantly seeking work. But it does show what a difference a Labour government has made – as predictions of unemployment in the deepest global recession since the 1920s were between 3-4million, and in fact it has not peaked above 2.5 million. Furthermore, in Greenwich & Woolwich constituency, unemployment has fallen a whopping 42% (3 in 7 people) since Labour were elected in 1997. Not everyone will remember the 3.5 millions out of work under Mrs Thatcher’s uncaring Government when ideology ruled supreme and people were just statistics.

And why has Labour made a difference? Well we have not gone for the jugular cutting public sector jobs. Despite some headlines the numbers in the pblic sector has inched up to provide the improved education, health and police services we enjoy. Second, more people than ever are in higher education giving us the graduates we need for our knowledge-based economy (and Blackheath Westcombe has the highest graduate population in the Borough) and this is despite some recent over-egged headlines about some funding cuts are 12 years of sustained growth. Thirdly, employers like mine have responded sensitively to the recession, preferring to keep their talented staff by asking them to tighten their belts with a variety of inventive means such as sabbaticals, part-time working and in some cases reduced pay (better that than no job though). Fourthly, the Government has really invested in jobs and training to help people off the dole and fifthly, parts of the economy are already turning around.

Our creative sector remains very strong, tourism and theatres are booming and London is very much a global hub in so many areas. Being part of an EU-wide single labour market has really helped – the influx of those from Eastern Europe was important in the boom years, but has eased off as many returned home thus acting as a stabiliser. So UK unemployment is now lower than the EU average and much lower than France, Spain, Italy or even the United States.

We have all shared the pain of the global downturn, but the public services and support we have now in this country – together with the economic stimulus – have helped us through more than most. With the Olympics, Crossrail (unless a Conservative Government cancels it), Labour’s Decent Homes programme and schools’ transformation – as well as the confidence returning the Canary Wharf and the City and the exciting developments now taking shape on Greenwich Peninsula – Blackheath and Westcombe Park residents have some significant job and enterprise opportunities. We all need to be able to share in this economic prosperity. All setting the scene or Budget Day on Wednesday.

David L Gardner

David’s campaign diary

A cold but sunny and dry weekend – Saturday meeting residents in Blackheath Westcombe and Sunday en famille.

Nestled at the back of the Royal Standard shopping area between Old Dover Road and Charlton Road is the Dornberg and Schofield estate where the Labour Team descended on Saturday morning. It is a well-kept estate which was tastefully refurbished in the 1990s by the Labour Council with glass panel shades giving the buildings a pyramid shape. The upper floors all have the protection of entry phones and there was no sign of vandalism, graffiti, littering or dumping. A pleasant estate around a green and, of course, very convenient for the shops. A good response with tenants pleased about the rents being kept down. The only significant issue was a faulty street lamp fitting which Alex Grant is straight onto as ever. We also visited the flats above the Old Dover Road shops which again were well maintained with some colour provided by plants and flowerpots Good to see the Blackheath Library refurbishment in progress and still due to open on time at the end of April.

Saturday afternoon we had an open coffee afternoon to mark International Women’s Day (actually 8 March) on helping young families to thrive. My daughters are now teenagers and were luck to live in Greenwich and benefit from free nursery education from the age of 3 – but now everyone does and going up to 15 hours rather than 12.5 hours per week. Also, we now have Sure Start and Children’s centres for many 0-5s as well as maternity pay for up to 39 weeks (compared to 14); paid paternity leave and child tax credits and higher child benefit. It is a different world, Mums and Dads have more options – they have the right to request flexible working and the right for emergency time off (say when the little one is ill). Many of these changes have been opposed by the Conservatives who claim to be the party of the family. A good discussion at Mycenae House led by my fellow candidate Pat Boadu Darko.

Sunday was my normal 10k run, cooking the traditional Sunday roast and a long walk in the afternoon taking in some very interesting heritage sites just north of the Thames along Greenway, Three Mills, the Lea Valley Park and Limehouse Cut. The East End does not have the great parks and open spaces that we enjoy in Greenwich, but it does have an amazing network of canals, old railway paths, old docks and industrial heritage. A busy week at work plus something on every night. Perhaps the highlight is an evening with Alistair Campbell on Wednesday in East Greenwich, a very capable and funny man even if (on occasions) given to bursts of temper.

St. David’s Day

Monday 1 March is St. David’s Day which brings out the Welsh in me (my middle name is Llewellyn) but should also be a sign of the first daffodils flowering and Batley Park (aka Blackheath Standard) breaking out in the colour of crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils. Alas, spring is delayed. Global warming is ushering in greater volatility in our weather. But hopefully soon, there will be more sunshine to help our confidence and the green shoots of the economy.

Despite, the cold and wet we have kept up the round of meeting everyone in Blackheath westcombe yesterday in the Kidbrooke Park estate nestled between Kidbrooke Park Road and the noisy A102. People were pleased to see the Labour team and the Decent Homes programme making a difference. The new entrocoms in the blocks are going in and will mean a big improvement in securtity and peace of mind. There is a problem with people dumping rubbish on the overgrown land at the back of the Rochester Way shops which is a real eyesore; the trouble is it’s private property and the council’s powers are limited. But we will press on.

Today my normal 10k run with my eldest (just adult) daughter and out meeting the people with Nick Raynsford MP (quite a few people coming back to Labour it seems) before some domestic chores. We discuss the nightly closure of the Blackwall tunnel which doesn’t affect me as a public transport fanatic but my wife and friends (and many on the doorstep) have been really inconvenienced by the southbound closure after 9pm. Why there cannot be a carefully controlled contraflow with a 20mph speed limit as in the rothehith Tunnel is quite beyond Nick and me. We will campaign on for Mayor Johnson to see some sense here.

Tomorrow is John Roan Governors which I chair. We will be reviewing progress with getting the final sign-off for the restroration of the Maze hill site and rebuilding of westcombe park under the Building School for the future programme. It is very exciting but also challenging. We fear that a change of Government would lead to the plug being pulled on the schools’ rebuilding programme and Boy George wields the axe. But the polls are now closing: it does very much look possible for Labour to win. In any event, the physical transformation of the school will not be allowed to get in the way of the educational transformation of John Roan which goes from stregth to strength. I remain very confident of continuing year-on-year improvement from 50% in 2008 to 62% in 2009, up to 70% this year and 75-80% the year after. We continue to attract more applicants, being three times over-subscribed this year.

Time to sign off for a little domestic harmony!

David Gardner

Helping Young Families Thrive

As part of the celebrations of International Women’s Day, Greenwich and Woolwich Labour Party will be holding an open “Parents and families” discussion to listen to the views of local families about they can be supported in helping young families thrive on Saturday March 6.

Since 1997 Labour has made a huge difference to young families. 90% of families qualify for tax credits and many can claim up to 80% of childcare costs. Paid maternity leave has increased from 14 just weeks in 1997 to 39 weeks now, whilst every father now has the right to two weeks paid leave. Child benefit has seen above inflation rises from £11.05 to £20 for first child and £9 to £13.20 for other children, whilst nursery education has massively expanded, with every 3 and 4 year old now getting 12.5 hours a week free nursery provision: which will rise to 15 hours later this year. Labour has support modern families’ complex career and childcare decisions by giving parents the right to request flexible working. Sure Start Children’s Centres have been built to provide childcare, early education and support for families. These are differences that would be jeopardised by a Conservative government. The Conservatives opposed paid paternity leave and opposed extending paid maternity leave. They have promised to cutting Sure Start.  Their policy on child benefits and child tax credits is not clear.

But despite these improvements, many mums and families still face many challenges balancing work, careers, money and ensuring the best for the children. Labour activists want to see further support for families – and we would like to hear your views and experiences about how that support can be best achieved, whether or not you are a Labour supporter. Please do join us for some tea, cakes and discussion.

Saturday March 6, 3-5pm, Mycenae House, Mycenae Road, SE3
Special Guests:
Cllr Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Families
Cllr Alex Grant, Councillor for Westcombe Park Ward

Pat Boado Darko Women’s Officer, Greenwich and Woolwich Labour Party

David Gardner Chair, Greenwich and Woolwich Labour Party