Blango 2010

My name is Columba Michael Joe Blango. I have been a Liberal Democrat councillor in Southwark since 1998. During this period, I have been LibDem spokes person (in opposition) for communities. When in control of the council, I have been Mayor of Southwark and executive member for Equalities, Culture, Sports, Citizenship and Communities.

Camberwell and Peckham has the largest black and minority ethnic population of any constituency in the country. It is also one of the country’s most deprived seats. I have personal experience of the problems people in such communities face, coming as I do from Sierra Leone. I have been able to overcome these difficulties through education and sporting ability. I am a teacher of physical education and an athlete (I competed in the Moscow Olympics). I am also qualified to teach religious education.

Some Southwark schools do not do well in the national league tables. My children all went to secondary schools in Camberwell and Peckham (St Thomas the Apostle and Sacred Heart, which Nick Clegg has visited). GCSE results this year in Southwark show that forward strides are being made under a Lib. Dem. administration. I have confidence in Southwark’s education.

Improved education is important in tackling anti-social behaviour and youth crime. Nick Clegg’s exciting proposals to tackle youth unemployment through improved educational and training opportunities do offer, as he says, “a lifeboat for a lost generation”.

At the TUC conference this year trade union leaders have accused Gordon Brown of “failing to stand up for society’s poorest”. It is Liberal Democrats who now do this. As a member of this deprived constituency, I do understand its problems and issues and I will always stand to identify myself with the communities and always try to defend the constituents.

The requirement to submit visa applications by e-mail and the abolition of visa interviews, so that applicants have no opportunity to remove misunderstandings, is resulting in many unjust refusals, especially in developing countries. It is Labour’s declared policy to “toughen up” on visa issues and give in to racial prejudice.

If elected as MP, I promise to work for the constituency in a way that will give dividend to our party both locally and nationally, based on core Lib.Dem values.

I offer myself as a candidate who will demonstrate that Liberal Democrat policies will tackle the major problems of Camberwell and Peckham. I also offer myself as a candidate who will always defend equality in diversity.