At the time of writing, the Government is winding down the clock on coming to the table to provide a fair and long-term funding deal for Transport for London (TfL) by this Friday’s (24th June) deadline.
TfL and the Mayor have been warning for a long-time that without proper Government investment in our transport network coming out of the pandemic, we could see far-reaching cuts to bus and tube services and the cancellation of key infrastructure projects.
Bus cuts are Khan’s ‘artificial weapon’ in government funding war, says minister
A few weeks ago, TfL announced that it was consulting on scrapping the 12, 45, 78 and 521 bus routes, which are a lifeline for Southwark residents- especially elderly and disabled people in our community.
No one wants to see these damaging cuts. But let’s be clear, the Government could stop them by putting an end to the new era of austerity that it has imposed upon London’s transport network.
Southwark Labour petition against bus cuts put forward by Labour mayor Khan
I am now urging local people to join me in calling on Ministers to act and to also contribute the TfL consultation on these proposals.
Earlier this month, the Government released its new Food Strategy which was a big disappointment. This was a missed opportunity to extend free school meals to all primary school pupils amidst a cost of living crisis. This is something that I have been calling for and that the Mayor has also recently come out to endorse.
Cost of living crisis: Southwark Foodbank leading the charge on food poverty and its causes
Too many families in our borough are struggling to put enough food on the table for their children. The Trussell Trust handed out around 9,500 emergency food parcels alone in Southwark last year, but this is just the tip of the iceberg with local independent foodbanks that I have visited, such as Peckham Pantry, struggling to meet demand.
Four officers are now being investigated for alleged gross misconduct over the Child Q case and the Met must urgently learn lessons from this appalling incident which has wrecked the life of a young person and her family. Whatever the situation, where it involves children, safeguarding is paramount.