Here is our second entry on Lambeth, from Geoff de Burca. Feel free to make up your own minds on the issues:
The council has been run by a LibDem / Tory council for the last four years and they seem to have done a good job at turning round the mess the council was in – after previously being rated as the worst in London the Audit Commission has recently rated it as most improved – and both parties are campaigning on their record in office.
But it’s a tricky task deciphering the local manifestos in Lambeth – all three main parties are campaigning on very similar policies promising low council tax, safer streets, a greener borough and more school places.
The last of these is perhaps the most controversial – half of Lambeth’s children have to be educated outside the borough, and despite promises from the major parties a group of disgruntled parents are campaigning as Local Education Action by Parents (standing in 7 wards) as they don’t believe the major parties’ promises.
Meanwhile Labour, the main opposition, have run quite a negative campaign attacking the council’s record, highlighting council tax rises in particular.
Finally, the Green Party appear placed to pick up their first ever Lambeth councillor – they are the main challengers to Labour in 4 wards, and may benefit if forecasts of a slump in Labour votes comes to pass..
www.electionmemory.com is a Lambeth-specific site with all the candidates and manifestos
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