Nick Clegg expresses support for threatened Shepherd's Bush centre (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

Nick Clegg expresses support for threatened Shepherd's Bush centre

August 21, 2010 11:18 PM

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg came to Shepherds Bush Village Hall last week to highlight the coalition government's commitment to promoting greater social mobility, visiting the Sure-start centre based at the Hall. The Surestart centre is one of several local community groups based in the Hall who may be forced to move, as a result of local Tories determination to sell off Council assets to balance the books after this year's unfunded pre-election council tax cut.

Henrietta Bewley, Chair of Hammersmith and Fulham Lib Dems, said: "The contrast between the coalition government and the one-party state in our Borough couldn't be greater. In Westminster politicians are working together to support children, not engaging in political games with tribal opponents. In H&F, where the first-past-the-post system has given the Tories two thirds of the seats with well under half the votes, we can see how divisive local Tories' policies are, but there is no effective way to stop them."

Paul Kennedy, Lib Dem Fulham spokesman added: "The reason our community centres are under threat is that the so-called first-past-the-post voting system has given a right-wing Tory clique an artificial majority on the Council. They claimed their council tax reductions were funded by increased efficiency, but it was clear in this year's budget that they were raiding the reserves. Now buildings used by community groups all over the Borough are being sold off to pay for these. Labour name-calling simply encourages the Conservatives. Only the Lib Dems are campaigning to change the voting system so that the make-up of the council actually reflects the views of residents."