Seven questions for Southwark Labour

12.27.00pm GMT Fri 6th Nov 2009

The Leader of Southwark Liberal Democrats, Cllr Nick Stanton has written to his Labour opposite number asking him to clarify where his party stands on seven Labour government policies, ranging from the failure to invest in council housing to the slashing of pensions for police officers, and the failure of the government to sign up to the 10:10 climate change pledge.

In his letter Cllr Stanton writes:

"It was clear at council assembly this week that your group were deeply embarrassed by Liberal Democrat councillors pointing out some of the failings of the Labour government. I'm sure this is the reason for some of the more hysterical reactions to the normal cut and thrust of robust political debate.

In order for the people of Southwark to be clear about where their local Labour representatives stand I'd be grateful if you could answer the following seven questions:

1. Do you think it is right that the current government has only allowed councils to build 2,500 homes nationwide since 1997 and yet has overseen a twenty fold increase in million pound properties - from 3,400 to more than 66,000?

2. In 2005 the Council had to decide whether to transfer its housing to a housing association or to keep it in-house. The Liberal Democrats backed the view of Southwark tenants and kept our housing in-house. Do you agree or would you have followed the example of your colleagues in Lambeth and foisted a stock transfer or ALMO on our tenants?

3. On October 22 2009 Simon Hughes MP and the Liberal Democrats proposed a motion in Parliament for the government to sign up to the 10:10 carbon reduction pledge. This was voted down by Labour MPs - including Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell. What does this say about Labour's environmental credentials?

4. Do you and your group formally agree with the proposal by the Prime Minister, included in his speech to Labour conference on 29 September, written by Walworth East councillor Kirsty McNeill, that "From now on all 16 and 17 year old parents who get support from the taxpayer will be placed in a network of supervised homes"?

5. Do you and your group support the 2006 Education and Inspection Act, supported by Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell, and pushed through Parliament in the teeth of reasoned opposition, that means a character like Peter Stringfellow would be given priority over the council in the running of a new local primary school?

6. Do you and your group agree with the Prime Minister who claimed in 'Building Britain's Future' that immigrants and asylum seekers get priority for council housing or do you believe it is a cheap and dangerous tactic that puts our borough's good community relations at risk?

7. Do you and your group think it is right that police officers who have been injured in the line of duty are having their pension entitlement slashed while Labour ministers' pension pots have risen from £6,888,081 in 2007-08 to £8,954,348 in 2008-09?"

ENDS