Michael Coulston is to stand as the People Before Profit candidate in the forthcoming Ladywell by election. She is a long-term resident of the ward who polled over 500 votes in May.  Helen played a leading role in setting up Lewisham People Before Profit in 2008, bringing together various active campaigns in Lewisham including the Lewisham Gateway campaign, Save Lewisham Bridge School and the Loampit Vale Action Group, all of which have benefitted from her input.

The council seat has become vacant because Tim Shand, one of three New Labour candidates who unexpectedly won in Ladywell at the expense of the Greens, has resigned to work abroad after just 4 months in office.

Labour has selected Carl Handley as their replacement - yes, the same Carl Handley who was defeated by the Greens in May 2006 and who rounded on the voters saying "Most of the people who signed petitions opposing this don't even use the bloody pool.  At the end of the day we all know it is going to be knocked-down. The sooner it comes down the better for me."

Back in July the shock news came that Steve Bullock wanted council officers to draw up plans for cuts of £60million for the next 3 years - even before the Lib-Tory government's comprehensive spending review was published.

New Cross, Crofton Park, Blackheath, Sydenham and Grove Park libraries were earmarked for closure but at packed consultation meetings throughout August the residents of Lewisham made clear their opposition to this shortsighted, penny-pinching scheme.

Campaign groups were set up in all areas and they started collecting signatures on petitions and other activities. Most have a Facebook Page, such as Save New Cross Library, Save Crofton Park Library, Save Sydenham Library.

Here is a detailed analysis by Pat Richardson of the Manor House Library Users Group of what lies ahead if we don't protest effectively and stop these cuts:

The East London Lines website reports that "campaigners against a 24 storey redevelopment project at Loampit Vale are considering taking Lewisham Council to judicial review"

Helen Mercer is quoted as saying that "the council and property developer, Barratt Homes, have been overestimating how much affordable housing will be available in the new development."

Ladywell Village Improvement Group hosted a hustings for the Ladywell ward candidates on 21st April 2010. Our candidate – Helen Mercer – spoke and answered questions from local residents and the audience.

Below is the text of her two minute description of the policies of Lewisham People Before Profit and her answers to the questions.

The following article entitled "Alternatives to the mainstream parties" was published in the South London Press on Tuesday 20th April 2010

VOTERS turned off by the four main parties have no shortage of choice in the local elections.

If you don't want to put your X against Labour, Lib Dem, Tory or Green, 12 other parties and 11 independents are looking for your vote.

That's a total of 57 candidates across Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.

The strongest challenge to the mainstream is in Lewisham. A coalition of activists is putting up 21 candidates for the council. The coalition is also fighting to take the mayor's office. Its candidates will appear under several party labels on the ballot paper, but all will have the logo, Lewisham People Before Profit.

The coalition's mayoral candidate, John Hamilton, said Lewisham residents were rebelling against the privatisation of council services by Labour Mayor Sir Steve Bullock and Tory-backed Labour control of the council.

Mr Hamilton, an engineer, said: "We think council services should be for residents, not for private companies to make money".

"We are not a traditional political party. I wouldn't take the mayor's wage of £78,000,1 would be happy to work for the Lewisham average of about £25,000. "With the difference I could run two toddlers' clubs. There used to be 11 in the borough - now there are five. That's an example of how Bullock, hasn't cared. "We do expect to win some seats, especially in New Cross and Evelyn, which have been neglected by Labour for years."

Downloads:

slp_20100420.pdf

[South London Press 20th April 2010]

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As our candidates for the local elections are standing under a variety of descriptions on the ballot papers, there has been some confusion about the actual party name. In fact one caller to our offices today actually refused to accept that we really are a genuine political party.

To set the record straight we wanted to use the name "Lewisham People Before Profit"as our official party name. Unfortunately, there is already another party called the "Democratic Socialist Alliance - People Before Profit" based in Stockport and the Electoral Commission ruled that our proposed name was too similar to this existing party's name.

This information can be found on the Electoral Commissions website at the following links

Register of Political Parties

and

Despite very short notice, we managed to get 17 out of 23 of our candidates in one place at the same time for a group photo.

 A group from Lewisham People Before Profit attended the National Pensioners' Convention rally in support of public services and the welfare state in London on Saturday afternoon.