Blango 2010

I am Columba Blango, Liberal Democrat councillor in the London Borough of Southwark since 1998. 2004 – 2004, I was Mayor of Southwark and 2004 – 2008 I was cabinet member with portfolio responsibility for Equalities, Culture, Sports, Citizenship, Communities and International Partnership.

I have spent all my time on the council campaigning on many vital issues such as equality, poverty, education, youth services, better deal for small and medium size business, better housing, community engagement and cohesion.

Now I am the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Camberwell and Peckham. I am a local candidate, I live in the constituency and all my children went to schools in the constituency.

Been involved in sports from a very early age and following through at international level helped develop my self confidence, self-esteem, self respect, made me more focused, tolerant and developed my competitive spirit in a positive way. In terms of how my sporting background influenced my work as a councillor, I introduced the Southwark Community games (a Borough wide, year round competitive sport) to help young people develop in the same way so that through sports, they will reach their potential and grow up to become productive and responsible citizens. As a member of parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, I hope to continue to engage young people in a positive way, building on what has already been achieved and take particular interest in the 2012 Olympics in London.

The UK has proportionately more children in poverty than most rich countries. In 1999 Tony Blair committed to ending child poverty by 2020. The situation in Camberwell and Peckham is disgraceful; one in seven children in the constituency lives below the poverty line. This shows that this Labour government has failed our children dismally, nowhere near approaching its target.

Eradicating child poverty requires action in a wide range of policy areas including childcare, skills, jobs, benefits and tax credits. Labour has failed and conservative cuts would make matters worse. It is only the Liberal Democrats who have policies that will get to grips with the problem especially in Camberwell and Peckham.

Nick Clegg has launched an exciting new plan to tackle youth unemployment. This will take hundreds of young people off the streets in Camberwell and Peckham. It will include fully funded apprenticeships to put British industry back on track and give more youngsters places on essential back to work schemes. Young people will be given a leg-up into industry via paid internships.

We shall reform the tax system to take the 4 million lowest paid out of income tax by raising the threshold to £10,000. This will mean any one earning less than £ 10. 000 in Camberwell and Peckham will be exempt from paying income tax.

This is time for a change, a real change. Thirteen years of Labour has left the citizens of Camberwell and Peckham more unequal and for 27 years the citizens of Camberwell and Peckham have known nothing different and nothing better. Many people feel abandoned by Labour. I will fight to defend social justice, local services and give our communities a better deal for a safer, freer, fairer and greener community.

IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

YES, WE CAN !!