Stephen has spent almost all his adult life in the east end of London. He has lived in the City and East area for the last 15 years. He feels part of the east end community and has an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing it at this time.
The Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community, and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity.
The Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group will today put forward budget proposals which challenge the Mayor's current proposals on policing, transport, the environment and housing. The budget proposals include targeted fare cuts to help Londoners on the lowest incomes, extra policing and action to make London's roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Olympic spokesperson, commenting on reports that tickets might be necessary for babies to attend Olympic events said:
"It beggars belief to even suggest that tickets are necessary for babies being taken by new parents to an Olympic event, especially when most adults had to purchase their tickets so long before the start of the Games. This is the worst 'health and safety' excuse I have ever heard!
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on recently announced plans by the Mayor and Transport for London to install Pedestrian Countdown facilities at a further 200 locations across London said:
"This technology is certainly welcome as it provides clearer information to pedestrians.
Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group has exposed key failings in the way the London bike hire scheme is performing.
The failings, which are holding back the success of the scheme, include:
A widespread failure in the allocation of the bikes across the docking stations, making it difficult for people to either hire a bike, or return a bike at the end of a ride. Figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that in November 2011 there was on average 27 docking stations in London that had no bikes available for hire for between 6 to 8 hours each day. At the same time there were 31 docking stations that had no spare spaces for people to dock their bikes for between 3 to 6 hours each day.
Despite hiking up fares at the start of 2012 the Mayor has delayed his plans to get tough on fare evaders, reveals Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group.
In August 2011 Transport for Londonstarted a consultation proposing to increase the penalty fare on all TfL services to £80 with the proposed introduction date for the new rate being the 2 January 2012.
Commenting on the Mayor's 2012 fare rises Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group said:
"Once again we start the year with another painful fare package from Boris Johnson. For the fourth year in a row he has racked up fares by far more than the rate of inflation.
"His latest rises will simply add to the financial problems of many Londoners - especially those on low incomes.
Caroline Pidgeon Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport spokesperson today welcomed the announcement by Transport Secretary Justine Greening MP that passengers on some lines serving commuters on a number of the busiest rail routes from south west London into Waterloo are set to benefit from extra carriages to ease overcrowding, and that one platform at the former Waterloo International Station is to be reopened for commuter services.
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the High Court ruling confirming that a tube strike will go ahead on Boxing Day said:
"This strike is unwelcome as it will harm London's retailers, disrupt numerous Boxing Day events and lead to more cars on London's roads - it is the last thing London needs.
Mike Tuffrey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly environment spokesperson and long time campaigner for cleaner air in London, commenting on new evidence of high levels of 'tube dust' in the London Underground, which far exceed levels measured underground in cities such as Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Rome, Stockholm and San Francisco, said:
Dee Doocey, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly policing spokesperson and member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, commenting on the publication today of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report on the August riots said:
"There is much in this report that is very welcome, especially its call for extra support to be offered to businesses, both before and after public disorder incidents take place.
Stephen has spent almost all his adult life in the east end of London. He has lived in the City and East area for the last 15 years. He feels part of the east end community and has an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing it at this time.