Chiswick Liberal Democrat Local Manifesto 2018

Chiswick Liberal Democrats' manifesto pledges to fight to stop Brexit, support EU citizens and make Chiswick greener and healthier.

Chiswick residents face a stark choice in the Local Elections on the 3rd of May. Voting Labour is a vote for Jeremy Corbyn, Brexit and four more years of a complacent Labour Council. Voting Conservative means backing Theresa May, a Hard Brexit and pro-Brexit councillors.

"We think it is time for a change from the dysfunctional two-party system and a return to open, tolerant, liberal values" said Helen Cross, candidate for Turnham Green Ward. "That means sending a clear message through the ballot box to the Conservatives and Labour to stop this damaging Brexit".
The Liberal Democrats have an ambitious vision for Chiswick, and you can see our candidates talk about our manifesto on our Facebook page here.

Our manifesto pledges are:

1. Fight to Stop Brexit

Vote Liberal Democrat in May to send a message to the Conservative Government and Labour's non-opposition, that Chiswick residents don't support a hard Tory Brexit. The Liberal Democrats are the only national party campaigning for an #ExitfromBrexit with a referendum on the final Brexit deal, giving us the option to stop Brexit and remain in the EU.

2. Support our local EU Citizens

Vote Liberal Democrat to show you support the EU nationals who live and work here. Liberal Democrats back our EU citizens' right to stay, work, love and build a future in the UK. The Conservatives have used them as bargaining chips.

We will campaign for a proper, specialised council support service to help EU citizens to understand their rights and navigate the purposely difficult UK Citizenship application process.

3. No Third Runway

The Conservatives back a third runway at Heathrow. Labour is divided and non-committal, and won't fight against a third runway. The Liberal Democrats are the only major party united in opposing a third runway or expansion at Heathrow. Chiswick voters can't trust the Conservatives on Heathrow, but the Chiswick Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign with others to stop Heathrow expansion. Better doesn't have to be bigger.

4. Reduce Pollution

Liberal Democrats have a plan to make Chiswick a healthier place for all. We will:

• Get the A4 through Chiswick included in the Ultra Low Emission zone, reducing pollution and improving the health of Chiswick residents. See our campaign here.
• Install a green barrier on the A4 to reduce car pollution impact for the residents and schools near the A4.
• Implement traffic light synchronisation to reduce stop / start traffic on the High Road (the biggest impact on pollution levels) and look at reducing the speed limit.

As councillors we will take advantage of existing funds for green spaces (like Green Capital) and embrace green initiatives like the All London Green Grid and TfL best practice to make the case for these improvements. Hounslow Council has failed to address the increasing amount of harmful pollution from the A4. We therefore promise to produce transparent indexes based on TfL's own Healthy Street Indicators to hold the Council and TfL to account.

5. Improve Public Transport

Liberal Democrats for Tube Users

Together with Caroline Pidgeon, our Liberal Democrat in the GLA, we will continue to pressure TfL to make the Piccadilly Line stop at Turnham Green.

Liberal Democrats for Bus Users

The Labour Mayor of London is cutting bus services everywhere. Liberal Democrats will fight any proposed cuts to essential bus services in Chiswick.

Liberal Democrats for Cyclists and Pedestrians

We support better facilities for both cyclists and pedestrians, and will work to ensure the CS9 cyclesuperhighway improves access and facilities for everyone in Chiswick - pedestrians, users of public transport, and cyclists. Read more about our assessment criteria for CS9 here.

6. Improve parks and community spaces

We support the protection of Chiswick's green spaces and parks, which are an essential part of what makes Chiswick such an enjoyable place to live and work. As councillors we will work with local groups to improve accessibility and park facilities in Chiswick.

Dukes Meadows

We support the Dukes Meadows Trust 3 pledges (read more here). Paths and other public areas there need to be upgraded (with assistance if necessary from the Hounslow Community Infrastructure Levy). The Council and Lampton360 also need to work more transparently with the Trust, clubs and organisations to manage and maintain Dukes Meadows to a high standard.

Chiswick Back Common

We want to see improvement to lighting and facilities in Chiswick Back Common.

7. Fight Crime

Chiswick Liberal Democrats and Ealing Liberal Democrat Councillors are working together to campaign against the closure of Chiswick Police Station by the Labour Mayor of London. We firmly believe in the importance of community policing and will fight to retain the same level of police presence in Chiswick.

Vote Liberal Democrat for a fair, open and tolerant society and better local government.

Click here to read more about our Chiswick candidates.

Notes to editors

For enquiries on this release please contact:

Helen Cross, Leigh Edwards or Chris Gillie, candidates for Turnham Green ward at liberalchiswick@gmail.com

Published and promoted by Chris Gillie at 2 Birch Close, Brentford, TW8 8NS and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
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Hounslow Green Party and Hounslow Liberal Democrat Joint Press Release

Hounslow Greens and Hounslow Liberal Democrats have agreed to stand aside in two of the Hounslow wards in May's local elections, because the deeply flawed first past the post (FPTP) voting system favours the two largest parties in Hounslow and penalises alternative parties.

Consequently, there will be no Green candidate standing in Turnham Green ward and no Liberal Democrats standing in Brentford ward. Both parties believe that this is the best way to break through the Blue/Red ceiling which the FPTP voting system inflicts on Hounslow.

Both parties agree that Hounslow Council is less representative and its decision-making is poorer for not having the benefit of Liberal Democrat or Green voices in the Council Chamber, but this electoral pact does not necessarily imply support for each other's policies locally or nationally.

Both parties would also like to thank all those voters who voted for them in the past in these wards.

Both parties also hope that our supporters who wanted to vote Green in Turnham Green or Lib Dem in Brentford will agree with us that the constraints of the electoral system have forced us to make some difficult choices to get more diverse voices on Hounslow Council.

Both parties will continue to fight hard to change this outdated electoral system.

Published and promoted by Chris Gillie at 2 Birch Close, Brentford, TW8 8NS and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Chiswick Lib Dems have announced their council candidates for the local election on 3 May 2018.

Like what you see? Click here to read Chiswick Liberal Democrats' manifesto for the local election.

TURNHAM GREEN

Helen CROSS

Helen has lived in Chiswick for over 15 years. She is a businesswoman who has built a successful career in technology and the digital economy. New to politics, Helen was prompted into action in 2016 due to the explosion of illiberal discourse around the Brexit referendum and the election of Trump. Helen was drawn to the Liberal Democrats' pro Remain stance and strong position on tolerance and social justice, particularly in standing up for EU citizens' rights.

As a councillor she will fight for:

• Ensuring there is a voice for positive action representing Chiswick on the council
• Reducing pollution and traffic in Chiswick to make it a healthier place to live, including extending the ultra-low emission zone to include the A4
• Better investment in Chiswick to improve services and access for all groups including the young, the elderly and those with disabilities

She will continue to campaign to stop Brexit.

Leigh EDWARDS

Leigh has lived in Chiswick for fifteen years, he is a chartered accountant. Along with many others, he was dismayed and appalled by the intolerance of the rhetoric in the lead up to the EU referendum. Leigh is committed to an open, tolerant and fair society, investing in public services and ensuring everyone is given the opportunities to meet their potential, and to live their lives free of fear, prejudice or discrimination.

As a councillor he will work hard for the people of Chiswick to:

• Better hold the council to account on planning and developments to ensure new projects enhance Chiswick by reducing pollution, improving infrastructure, increasing accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport, and introducing more green spaces
• Fight for investment in essential public services including real community policing and support for local hospitals
• Fully oppose any expansion or third runway at Heathrow

Nationally he will campaign for the UK to remain in the EU as a leading and influential member, and to keep Britain a liberal, democratic, and socially just society.

Chris GILLIE

Chris has lived in Brentford for 11 years, working as an IT Manager, and has had a successful career managing IT in small and medium sized organisations. Witnessing increasingly polarised politics, Chris decided to do more than just vote, and following the Brexit vote, decided to join the only remaining moderate voice in UK Politics. Being a dual national, he also supported Macron and En Marche in the 2017 French Elections.

As a councillor his priorities will be:

• Ensuring that the needs and concerns of all Chiswick residents are heard by the council
• Working to reduce air and noise pollution and to ease congestion in Chiswick
• Campaign for sensible development of the Chiswick area that is sensitive to its special character

He will continue to campaign to stop Brexit, from both sides of the Channel.

CHISWICK HOMEFIELDS

Alice BAILHACHE

Alice is a trainee solicitor, who has lived in Chiswick for the past 6 years. She joined the Lib Dems in 2015, and campaigned with 'Britain Stronger In Europe' in the 2016 referendum.

As a councillor, she will:

• Fight to reduce air and noise pollution, putting pressure on TfL to accelerate the introduction of the Low Emission Bus Zone for Chiswick High Road
• Protect Chiswick parks and green spaces from unwanted development, and ensure they are accessible to everyone
• Work with others in the council to bring empty dwellings across Hounslow back into use, helping to address homelessness in Chiswick

Originally from Jersey, in the Channel Islands, Alice has always felt close to Europe! She feels passionately about protecting EU citizens' rights and will work tirelessly to #ExitFromBrexit.

Alex FOX

Originally hailing from Southwark, Alex was drawn to local politics inspired by the overwhelmingly positive, moderate and liberal influence the Southwark Lib Dem group made when running the council with other parties. Having lived in Chiswick for the last 5 years, Alex is now a trainee Music teacher and is particularly supportive of Liberal Democrat education policy, in particular Pupil Premium - a policy that he believes truly delivers on the core liberal value of Opportunity for Everyone.

As a councillor he will:

• Encourage a more collaborative approach to local politics so that the needs and concerns of Chiswick residents are better represented within the council
• Fight tirelessly for the rights of all EU citizens who live in Chiswick
• Oppose the expansion of Heathrow T5 and work with others to arrive at a smarter, evidence-based solution that works for Chiswick

He is absolutely passionate about stopping Brexit. #ExitFromBrexit

Charles REES

Retired barrister and senior court official. Lib Dem activist, (member since 1983). Charles has in fact been a member of all three parties; left the Tories because of their social policies, and Labour because of their drift to the left in the 1980s - they haven't changed!

Charles is standing for the Lib Dems because new ideas are needed in Hounslow - Labour has grown complacent and the Tory opposition grown tired. We need to look at new ways of making life better in Chiswick, by reducing pollution and improving traffic flows, for example. Also making sure that Chiswick gets its fair share of Hounslow Council resources. Lib Dem principles of openness, fairness and tolerance can apply just as well in Chiswick and Hounslow as they can across the country.

Nationally, Charles supports the Lib Dems who are trying to soften what is likely to be a harmful Brexit. He fears leaving the EU will not only make us worse off financially but reduce our influence in the world. We should also value the very considerable contribution EU nationals in Chiswick make to our country and also in Chiswick.

CHISWICK RIVERSIDE

Francis BEDDINGTON

Francis is a third generation West Londoner. He has lived in Chiswick for the last twelve years. He is married with two school age children.

As a committed Internationalist, he joined the Liberal Democrats in 2015 and campaigned against Brexit. He has worked in the Civil Service, and the financial services industry.

Being partially disabled himself, Francis has a particular interest in access issues for people with mobility constraints.

He is opposed to the CS9 in its current format and will campaign to improve the design of the scheme to take into account the needs of all Chiswick residents.

Guy DE BOURSAC

Guy moved to Chiswick 5 years ago, after nearly 30 years in Geneva. He retired after 40 years in the airline business and some English teaching. New to politics (despite some Liberal activity in the 1970s), Guy was prompted into action in 2016 by intolerant discourse around the Brexit referendum. He was drawn to the Liberal Democrats' strong stance on tolerance, social justice and EU citizens' rights.

As a councillor he will fight for:

• Ensuring there is a positive voice representing Chiswick on the council, particularly on housing
• Reducing pollution and traffic in Chiswick to make it a healthier place to live
• Better investment in Chiswick to improve services and access for all groups including the young, the elderly and those with disabilities
• Improved pavements and other pedestrian facilities

He will continue to campaign to stop Brexit.

James McCONNELL

James has lived in Chiswick since his marriage 24 years ago. A career in consumer technology has taken him to live and work extensively in Asia and Europe where he learnt how collaboration across different cultures can only benefit business and society. The Brexit vote in 2016 was the wake-up call and motivation for him to join the Lib Dems. Furthermore, in a climate of polarised and dishonest politics, he sees that the Lib Dems are the only party to offer brave and honest solutions to our challenges, in particular the pledge to increase income tax to fund extra NHS spending.

As a councillor his priorities will be:

• Work to ensure the council is committed to reducing air and noise pollution in Chiswick and opposing Heathrow expansion
• Represent the views on issues that are important to Grove Park residents. CPZ and beyond!
• Holding the council to account on its decisions and management

He will continue to campaign to stop Brexit.

Contact: liberalchiswick@gmail.com

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As we approach general election polling day on 8^th June, many voters will be pondering the issues and perhaps asking themselves the question - Will my vote count for anything?

Joe Bourke, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Brentford and Isleworth said "This election has been called by Theresa May in an effort to increase the Conservative majority in Parliament. Going by the average of the polls, the Prime Minister is on course to do just that and this election will not see a change of government."

"Given these circumstances, voters may ask which of the local candidates can actually make a difference to our lives here in Brentford and Isleworth."

"Perhaps your choice might be to add one more MP to the government's majority. An MP that has never voted against a Conservative party, intent on forcing through the most economically damaging exit from the European Union conceivable; and a third runway at Heathrow that may well face legal challenges for years to come."

"You may choose instead a Labour MP at odds with the leadership of a Labour party that has proved to be an ineffective opposition for two years now. An MP that has failed to challenge a Labour dominated local council that simply ignores the views of residents clearly expressed in consultations; and rides roughshod over its own local area plan to ram though planning consents for wholly inappropriate developments."

"Alternatively, you may wish to make your vote count for something by returning a Liberal Democrat that will stand up to both an arrogant Labour council and an increasingly dangerous and extreme Conservative government. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote against a hard Brexit."

"If effective opposition at a local and national level can make a difference to the quality of your life here in Hounslow Borough, vote for Joe Bourke, Liberal Democrat as the Member of Parliament for Brentford and Isleworth on June 8^th."

Published and promoted by Chris Gillie at 2 Birch Close, Brentford, TW8 8NS and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
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And why we need to change to a system of Proportional Representation.

Brentford and Isleworth is cited as a key marginal seat based on the results of the 2015 election, in which Labour scraped in with a majority of 465 votes on the back of a meltdown in the Liberal Democrat vote in the last election.

In truth the prior election results in 2010 are a more realistic representation of the current mix of voter sentiment in the constituency. In that election, the Conservative MP was elected with 37% of the vote and the combined Labour and Liberal Democrats vote was 57% (33% and 24% of the vote respectively).

The combined vote share leads some towards the arguments for a progressive alliance based around the strong focus of Labour and Liberal Democrats on restoring the quality and effectiveness of core public services and tackling gross inequality.

The arguments for a progressive alliance/tactical voting are based on the assumption that the bulk of the Liberal Democrat vote would transfer to Labour. This assumption however discounts what actually happened in 2015, when the usual Liberal Democrat vote dispersed around 60:40 to Labour and the Conservatives, while at the same time the UKIP vote drew off a very significant percentage of the Conservative vote.

Much has changed in the past two years as we have seen what a hard-core Conservative government looks like without the moderating influence of Liberal Democrat ministers; and recoiled in horror as the Labour party has been infiltrated by entryists. The Labour Party of Jeremy Corbyn is a very different beast from that of Ed Miliband, never mind that of Tony Blair/Gordon Brown.

Similarly, traditional Conservative voters in Chiswick, Osterley and other areas of the constituency have looked on in dismay as the Conservatives rush headlong for a disastrous Brexit that would cut us off from our major markets in Europe and push living standards back to a long gone age.

Our canvassing and doorstep feedback indicates that Liberal Democrats will attract both former Conservative and Labour voters in equal numbers. The hurdle we have to overcome is so called "tactical voting", where voters wishing to vote for the pragmatic, fully-costed and deliverable Liberal Democrat manifesto hold back for fear that voting Lib Dem may allow one of the other main parties to slip in.

With Theresa May's Conservatives having wrapped themselves in the UKIP flag, expectations are that many former UKIP voters will transfer their allegiance back to the Conservatives. These expectations are reflected in the betting odds for the constituency - http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/polbandi2017bets.htm

There is no real prospect of a Labour win in the constituency and tactical voting for Labour or Conservative by some Liberal Democrat supporters will not change the outcome. The only alternative to a Conservative win is a candidate that can draw support equally from former Conservative and Labour voters.

That candidate is Joe Bourke, the Liberal Democrat. If you would rather not see a Conservative landslide that drives us headlong towards a Brexit disaster, Vote Joe Bourke, Liberal Democrat on June 8^th.

Published and promoted by Chris Gillie at 2 Birch Close, Brentford, TW8 8NS and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Liberal Democrats are committed to a second referendum.

If you voted Remain in the EU Referendum, for Liberal Democrat candidate Joe Bourke there is only one way you can vote in this election: Liberal Democrat. The candidate for Brentford & Isleworth told Bridget Osborne that his party is committed to a second referendum, whereas the Labour party was 'trying to face both ways' and if we get a Conservative government then we will be committed to a hard Brexit.

Watch the interview here or below:

http://www.thechiswickcalendar.co.uk/single-post/2017/05/08/Liberal-Democrats-committed-to-a-second-referendum

Published and promoted by Chris Gillie at 2 Birch Close, Brentford, TW8 8NS and Carl Pierce on behalf of Hounslow Liberal Democrats at 3 The Greenway, Hounslow, TW4 7AJ
Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY