Vote LEAP in Lambeth on May 4

Lambeth parents give politicians a shock

2006-05-03T14:42:00.000-07:00

What a week! I've been out leafleting and canvassing with a posse of other parents and our friends and supporters for the last week or so. And the people of Bishops ward are saying they're going to vote for us. As we're not experienced politicians this is something of a surprise. It's what we'd hoped for, but now it feels like it could really happen.

Luke, who was canvassing on my behalf around Lower Marsh today, said everyone he spoke to on one estate said they were going to be using one of their three votes to vote LEAP. If enough people really do it tomorrow, we really could make a difference. The next time I post a blog we'll know the answer....

If you're still making up your mind see what we stand for at: http://www.leaplambeth.org.uk

Where's our primary school gone?

2006-04-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

The sign says Effra Primary School, but the building going up behind the fence is a block of luxury flats - not much use to the children attending the next door nursery school, who have no local school when they hit five.

I live round the corner from here in Brixton and kids on my street go to five different primary schools up to three miles away in Balham, Clapham South and Herne Hill... not because they want to but becuase they can't get into anything nearer.

So when LEAP candidate Tracey Fevrier, pictured centre, joined me and some of the other candidates to leaflet parents collecting children from the nursery the other day, we got a very warm welcome.

The BBC and Financial Times popped down to see what all the fuss was about and we all posed for the cameras in front of the nursery and its next door building site. We've had some good press coverage so far - both the South London Press and Evening Standard have done big pieces. But we need more if we're going to get the word out to all the parents who so desperately want things to change in Lambeth.

For anyone who's interested there's lots more information on the schools crisis in Lambeth at http://www.sscil.org.uk and http://www.leaplambeth.org.uk

No school for half of Lambeth children

2006-04-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

I thought it was a joke when someone first told me Lambeth only provides secondary school places for half its children. Now I've got two kids of my own I'm not laughing. And that's why I agreed to stand as a candidate in May's local council election.

I've been supporting a campaign to get more secondary schools in the borough for a couple of years, and it's become totally clear to me that the current council executive isn't going to give us what we need - a good local school for every child. It's only by parents - and others who care about education - hurting them at the ballot box that local politicians are really going to take this problem seriously.

On other issues that affect local people we will apply the principle that got us going... listen to what local people are saying and respond to it. Because we don't have a party line to follow we can listen first and only to the people who live in Lambeth and are trusting us to represent them.

Everyone has three votes on May 4 - if you like what we're saying, please use one to vote LEAP.

http://www.leaplambeth.org.uk

Election hustings kick off

2006-04-14T01:43:00.000-07:00

The local election in London kicked off this week with a grilling of candidates by the Lambeth Pensioners Forum. I spoke on behalf of Local Education Action by Parents (LEAP) - alongside all the main political parties and the smaller ones like the Greens.

It's really quite touching that 60-plus pensioners were keen to turn out on a Monday afternoon to hear us all asking for their votes. I was just asking them to give us one of their three votes if they care about education. There were a lot of nods of approval from older people who'd seen their own children and now grandchildren struggle to find a school place in Lambeth.

LEAP only needs to win a few seats on the council to possibly hold the balance of power. Currently the Conservatives help the Lib-Dems hold power with a combined 35 seats to Labour's 29. If we and other smaller parties took just a couple of seats each, the Lib Dems or Labour would need to have our support to run the council, giving us the chance to really make education a priority for the next four years.

Wouldn't it be amazing to turn round Lambeth schools' reputation as a sick joke after all these years?

Apologies to the Association of Waterloo Groups, whose hustings I wasn't able to make on Tuesday night. At short notice I wasn't able to get childcare for my nine month-old and 3-year-old. Please invite me to other meetings and I will do my utmost to get there.

LEAP manifesto

2006-04-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

LEAP CANDIDATES: STANDING FOR CHILDREN

LEAP candidates will work for all Lambeth’s children, so that all have the choice of a good local school. We will listen to local residents on all local issues: we believe that local people are the best resource for local government. We are not professional politicians, but we care about our community and respect the views of our neighbours.

Find out more and see pictures and biogs of our eight candidates at:

http://www.leaplambeth.org.uk

LEAP election campaign launched

2006-04-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

Parents in Lambeth are so sick of the lack of schools for our kids, we're taking matters into our own hands and standing as candidates in the council elections on May 4.

Please tell all your friends. If they know people that live in Lambeth and care about education, we're asking them to vote LEAP - Local Education Action by Parents.

Seven mothers and one granddad are candidates. I'm standing against the leader of the council, who got in with just 1123 votes last time - so if we can spread the word to enough parents we have a real chance of getting elected.