My letter to the Evening Standard was cut short, but still published. Attached is the printed and here is the full version. Let's keep up the pressure on poor performing train companies. #SouthernTrains #PrivatisationFail #Govia

At New Cross Learning's management committee meeting today, I met Rosie. She is a beautifully loving dog who has gone through bereavement. Her owner - who was in her 80s - died and Rosie was helped by the Cinnamon Trust. Now, I had not heard of this charity before, yet they do some amazing work. Here is what they do: The Trust’s primary objective is to respect and preserve the treasured relationship between owners and their pets. To this end it works in partnership with owners to overcome any difficulties that might arise. A national network of over 15,000 community service volunteers has been established to provide practical help when any aspect of day to day care poses a problem - for ex

Many readers will be unsurprised to hear that I dislike privatisation and even less surprised to know that I am very unhappy about the privatised rail companies. Lewisham is "blessed" by three of the worst train operators in the UK, all owned by the same company - Govia Thameslink Railway. This company is in turn owned by Goiva, a joint venture between Go-Ahead (65%) and Keolis (35%). The interesting fact about Keolis is that is owned by the French state national railway, SNCF (70%) and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (30%). So while the Tories hate British state owned rail companies, they are quite happy for other countries to own our train services and take tax payers and hard worki

Please make representations to me, Joan or Luke by 1st June via email or phone. FULL VARIATION of the Premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. Premises name and address Skehans Free House 1 Kitto Road New Cross SE14 5TW Particulars of application Applied for Extension of regulated entertainment Recorded Music 00:00 – 01:00 Friday 00:00 – 01:00 Saturday Currently licensed Entertainment 21.00 – 23.30 Thursday to Saturday Recorded music 20.00 – 23.30 Friday & Saturday Alcohol 10.00 – 00.00 Sunday to Thursday 10.00 – 01.00 Friday & Saturday 17th March, 23rd April, 24th De

At last we have a Labour Mayor. Despite a negative and often distasteful campaign bordering on racism, the voters of London have decided that the opportunity of better housing, more affordable transport and a Mayor who is a true Londoner, should be heading-up City Hall. Obviously, having worked hard to get him elected with thousands of others, many are now resting and expecting real change in London. Yet despite the amazing victory - 8 years of Tory Mayoral rule overturned - there are number of challenges that collectively we must solve. My casework tells a story of a declining welfare state and a fragmented care pathway between our wonderful NHS and local government. Housing is now a luxu