• LEWISHAM ACCUSED OF HYPOCRISY OVER CLAIMS TO BE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT AS COUNCIL COMES SECOND TO BOTTOM ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION IN LONDON...

Lewisham council’s claim to be improving openness through its democracy reviews has been attacked by Lewisham Liberal Democrats after research reveals that Lewisham is second from the bottom over dealing with Freedom of Information (FoI) requests.

Lewisham Lib Dems have selected their candidates to fight two by-elections in Lewisham on May 2nd, created by the recent resignations of Labour councillors in Evelyn and Whitefoot wards. Bunmi Wajero has been selected to fight the Evelyn ward and Max Brockbank for Whitefoot.

As the country gets closer and closer to the Article 50 extended deadline for leaving the EU, Lewisham’s community has been at the heart of the growing opposition to the chaos of Brexit.

Local Lib Dems have praised Lewisham residents for being at the forefront of opposition to Theresa May’s Brexit plans. As the number of signatories to the “Revoke Article 50” petition reached five million and with over a million people marching in London on Saturday, Lewisham Lib Dems have called for all political parties in Lewisham to unite in calling for a People’s Vote ahead of expected "indicative votes" on options in the House of Commons this week.

Commenting on the news that Janet Daby (Whitefoot ward) and Alex Feis-Bryce (Evelyn ward) have resigned as councillors and that by-elections will be taking place, Lewisham Lib Dem spokesperson Lucy Salek said:

Liberal Democrats from Lewisham will be taking to the streets of London on Saturday to demand a Final Say over Brexit. We'll be joining thousands of other Liberal Democrats and hundreds of thousands of people from across the country to say 'Put it to the People'.

March 2019 latest...

This is the second of our monthly reports on what’s happening at Lewisham Council. Although Lewisham is a one-party state, that doesn’t stop us from doing our best to scrutinise what’s happening in the council through the monthly public questions at Full Council meetings and in freedom of information requests.

So what’s new this month?

Crime and anti-social behaviour are real concerns for many people who I speak to in London. We all want to feel safe in our communities and we want to know that the police are doing everything they can to tackle local crime.

• Chair and Working Group formed solely of Labour politicians. 
  
• Lib Dems call for outside “Challenge Panel” to represent all political views in Lewisham. 
• Call for public vote on scrapping Lewisham Mayoral system in 2020. 
  

Figures to be revealed at today's (Wednesday 23/01/19) Full Lewisham Council meeting show that spending on security at Old Tidemill Garden has topped £1 million in just three months. Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have obtained the information in a public question as part of the Full Council meeting on 23rd January.

Chris Maines, Liberal Democrat Mayoral Candidate in Lewisham has called on the Government to announce this week an amnesty for families of the Windrush community threatened with deportation and a loss of rights.  

Lewisham is a one-party state - it only has Labour councillors. And those councillors have a strong interest in not rocking the boat. But Lewisham Lib Dems are committed to keeping tabs on what Labour are doing in Lewisham. 

Another enjoyable day chatting to people out and about on a chilly but bright day in Blackheath. As Chris so eloquently says in this video, overwhelming support for Liberal Democrats' policy of a People's Vote.

A great atmosphere in Parliament Square and of course a huge cheer when the result of the vote was heard.

Well done to everyone who has helped with the Brexitometer, delivered leaflets asking for a People's Vote, emailed or written to your MP or signed petitions asking for a People's Vote. Of course this is only a step on the road to remaining in the most successful trading body in the world but it is a significant step.

Now we have to keep up the pressure to have a People's Vote, a chance to make an informed decision. As one speaker said last night now is the time to start Project Hope.

We had a great day in Lewisham High Street listening to people share their concerns about Brexit. The overwhelming majority of people we spoke to want the chance to make an informed decision in a Peoples' Vote.

Very moving as well to hear the stories of people who had moved here from EU nations, worked and paid taxes here, raised children here and suddenly being made to feel they were no longer welcome. What have we unleashed?