Joanne Cash

Sayeeda Warsi Visits Community Groups in Westminster North

Above - Visiting the London Tigers with Baroness Warsi

Baroness Warsi, the Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action, yesterday spent the afternoon visiting a number of community projects across Westminster North with Joanne.

The Conservative politicians visited the London Tigers in Church Street and Real Action's Learning Store in Queen's Park to discuss their community projects and the ways in which they promote interaction between different groups in the local area.

Joanne commented:

"It was a great privilege to welcome Baroness Warsi to Westminster North.

"This constituency is home to an extremely diverse population with over 100 languages spoken in our schools.

"There are a number of organisations in Westminster North that offer inclusive, community-led programmes and that provide positive opportunities for people of all ethnicities.

"Programmes such as these transcend traditional cultural barriers and encourage genuine social interaction between different communities. I look forward to working with Baroness Warsi in the coming months and years to ensure that they are given the support they deserve."

Above - Adult literacy classes at Real Action's Learning Store

The Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action added:

"In areas with high levels of ethnic diversity and high population turnovers such as Westminster North, cohesion within the community is vital because it helps to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and drives social mobility upwards.

"Under this government, there is a worrying trend that young people appear to be integrating less well than their parents and, if this trend continues, we could end up with a country more divided and segregated than ever before.

"It is encouraging to see social action projects in Westminster North helping to develop greater levels of cultural understanding amongst local residents.

"The good work of these organisations must not go unrewarded; I am responsible for ensuring that, under the next Conservative government, funding is available to build upon the achievements of those in the voluntary sector and that every citizen has an equal opportunity to fulfil their potential."

"Suicide Bomb Backer Runs Ken's Campaign"

So ran the front page of Wednesday's Evening Standard this week in an article which revealed that 200,000 Muslims across London have been targeted by the "Muslims4Ken" campaign, assisted by a Mr Azzam Tamimi. 

Such a targeted campaign is politics at its most cynical, exploitative and dangerous. Serious research shows that the radicalisation of young Muslims begins with cultural and religious segregation encouraged by the type of extremists Ken Livingstone has welcomed to London, and by the likes of Mr Tamimi. 

The brazenness of such a campaign is all the more galling in the wake of Guardian journalist Jonathan Freedland's love letter to Livingstone in last week's Jewish Chronicle. He believes that Jewish voters should vote for Ken Livingstone regardless of his choice of friends, because Ken runs London efficiently. You are wrong on both counts Mr Freedland, NO voter should support Mr Livingstone if they care about London. Violent crime is up, pollution is up, transport fares are up and the Mayor's tax is UP. It is time to bring this Mayor down. 

It is important for us to remember that the radicalisation of certain members of the Muslim community has had fatal consequences. No flirtation with those who propound such views should be treated lightly. I want to be safe in London, not just from rising crime (which Mr Livingstone shrugs off as lightly as Lee Jasper's investigation) but from terrorism. That should be a priority for ALL voters.

Livingstone is the Mayor who hugged Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the Muslim cleric who justifies attacks on non-Muslims and condemns women and gays. He is the Mayor who told the Reuben brothers to go back where they came from and who offended a Jewish reporter by comparing him to a concentration camp guard.

Astonishingly, Freedland acknowledges these facts. However, as he is so quick to dismiss them, let's remind him of a few more: Livingstone is also the Mayor who has courted Hugo Chavez in Venezuela where the human rights record is appalling, he is the Mayor who has bred a culture of cronyism at City Hall and he is the Mayor who has wasted £2.8 million of public money in this financial year alone, bankrolling that pointless exercise in self-promotion, the Londoner.

AA Gill has described the post of Mayor of London as the best job in British politics yet Livingstone has disrespected this office again and again and again. He takes its name in vain, just as his extremist cronies take in vain the name of decent Muslims across this city.

I do agree with one thing Freedland wrote: we should choose the new Mayor on the grounds of what he will do for London as a whole. Ken Livingstone's time is up. 

Boris, Joanne and Shaun Bailey host a forum in Queen’s Park to discuss knife crime amongst teenagers in the area

- Two teenagers stabbed, one fatally, in less than three weeks in Westminster North
- If elected London Mayor, Boris pledges to lead the fight against gun and knife crime
- Joanne Cash believes that violent crime amongst teenagers should at the top of the political agenda
- Shaun Bailey backs Boris’ support for voluntary organisations

Last night, the Conservative Candidate for London Mayor, Boris Johnson, and Conservative Parliamentary Candidates, Joanne Cash and Shaun Bailey, hosted a forum in Queen’s Park to discuss the problem of violent crime amongst teenagers in the area.

The three Conservative politicians were speaking less than 24 hours after a teenager was stabbed in Westbourne. Although this attack was not fatal, it came less than three weeks after Amro Elbadawi, a fourteen year old boy, died from a single knife wound to the neck during a dispute with another teenager on the Mozart estate in Queen’s Park.

Joanne Cash was appalled by Ken Livingstone’s recent comments about violence amongst teenagers:

“Ken Livingstone has criticised the media for focusing on these events. He is wrong.

“There have been two stabbings in this constituency, and one young boy has lost his life, during the last three weeks. The more press coverage, the better; this issue has to be kept at the top of the political agenda.

“Some children carry a knife as a status symbol to impress their friends, others believe it provides them with protection; very few intend to use it. Practically none of these teenagers will be aware that they are much more likely to be stabbed by their own knife than by someone else’s.

“It is the job of the mayor to lead the fight-back against violent crime; every Londoner has the right to walk our streets, to use our public transport and to enjoy our green spaces in confidence, and without fear of attack.

“Electing Boris Johnson as the Mayor of London on May 1st will be a massive step in the right direction.”

The Conservative Candidate for London Mayor, Boris Johnson said:

"After 10 years in Government and 8 years with Ken Livingstone as Mayor, with two weeks to go until London's elections, Labour have failed to address the serious issue of knife crime.

"Gun and knife crime has been blighting London's streets and we need fresh ideas to rid our communities of these weapons.

"Our current Labour leaders seem to be in a state of despair and Labour's lack of action on this issue in London has led to families unnecessarily losing loved ones. All Londoners have the chance on May 1st to vote for a change to help make their streets safer."

Shaun Bailey, who also heads the youth orientated charity My Generation, praised Boris’ crime manifesto:

“Boris understands the gravity of the situation that we are facing in London and his policies reflect that. A lot can be achieved by focusing on the smaller issues, such as anti-social behaviour on buses.
“Our children have to be educated about their responsibilities. They have to realise that their actions have consequences for both themselves and others.

“Boris’ pledge to provide support for the voluntary sector is absolutely vital if we are to win this fight.  There are many organisations experienced in dealing with deprived families and youth gangs and we have to make sure that we put their expertise to good use.”

Child Murder IS Headline News

Many of you will have seen the reports last week about the death of Amro Elbadawi, the14 year old boy stabbed near his home on Dart Street in Queen’s Park. This was a tragic loss, the third stabbing of a teenager in this constituency in 14 months and the second death. In a sombre meeting with his father last week, I listened to a devastated but dignified parent desperate for something to be done.

So you can imagine how angry I was when Ken Livingtone dismissed the importance of the incident and criticised the press for focusing too much on violent crime. “If it bleeds, it leads,” he snorted when asked to comment on the epidemic of teenage violence in London.

I could not disagree with him more. This is the murder of a child, by another child. In a supposedly civilised society. The people of Queen's Park have displayed remarkable community spirit, rallying together and behind the police (who have also been fantastic) but they are shaken and worried. Why should this not be headline news except to protect Ken Livingstone from the tragic truth?

We need the press to keep reporting on this issue so people are aware of the reality on our streets. Under this Labour government, literacy levels in the UK are appallingly low. Social mobility is a fantasy if you are born on a housing estate and the gap between rich and poor has never been wider. This chills me to the bone because if people have no opportunity to realise their potential or their dreams, where is the incentive to change their lives?

The fact that so many teenagers carry weapons is a symptom of this widespread social and family breakdown. All of this needs to change but the immediate issue is preventing further deaths.

We need to educate our children, schools and parents so that, with a concerted effort, we reduce the carrying of weapons, There are many organisations experienced in dealing with deprived families and youth gangs (“My Generation” for example) and we must make sure that we put their expertise to good use.

I will not stop talking about this until positive steps are taken throughout our constituency and the press will not be criticised by me for leading on Amro’s death, or any of the issues it has brought to light. The murder of a 14 year old child is front page news in my book and I am grateful to the media for ensuring that this issue is kept at the top of the political agenda.

Joanne and Boris Visit Real Action in Queen's Park

Boris Johnson, Kit Malthouse, and Joanne Cash, visited the charity Real Action in Queen's Park to discuss the level of support currently provided to voluntary sector programmes in central London.

Real Action provides literacy classes for both adults and children (through the Butterfly Reading School) in one of Westminster North's most deprived wards. This independent, innovative and community-led charity has achieved incredible results through teaching based on synthetic phonics. Despite such success, Real Action urgently needs financial support if it is to survive.

The Conservative Candidate for London Mayor said:

"Evidence shows that improving children's literacy is an effective measure in cutting crime and anti-social behaviour. Schemes such as this should be encouraged and nurtured as they achieve so much for some of the most vulnerable in London.

"Many of those attending the Butterfly School are being failed by Labour's education system. It is a shame that children are reliant on schemes such as this in order to go some way to achieving their potential."

Joanne Cash stressed the value of the Butterfly School for children in our community:

"This is a wonderful charity, run by inspiring people who are involved in life changing work.

"Children who cannot read are at a huge disadvantage. The Butterfly School improves their reading skills, helps to raise their aspirations and to builds their confidence.

"I would love to see this expanded throughout Westminster North."

Real Action's education director, Katie Ivens, commented:

"Real Action was founded eleven years ago and aims to provide a service for the community, by the community. Our reputation has grown by word of mouth alone and our classes are always over-subscribed.

"Thousands of local children have benefitted from our Butterfly School and yet we could have done so much more. If we can secure funding, we could sustain and develop our programme.

I am delighted that Boris has pledged to support us if he is elected Mayor of London on May 1st."