"Make Poverty History" say Lambeth Lib Dems

1.24.09pm GMT Thu 21st Dec 2006

Lambeth Lib Dems have called on Labour run Lambeth Council to put its money where their mouth is on fighting poverty in Lambeth. A copy of a letter from Nick Perry, Lambeth Lib Dem Spokesperson on social justice and tackling poverty, to the South London Press, is below.

Dear Editor,

Whilst I attended on behalf of the Lambeth Lib Dems, I was disappointed that there was no-one from the new Labour administration at the 10-yearly National Poverty Hearing in Westminster on 6 December.

After the election in May, the Leader of the Council rightly pledged to make tackling poverty and social exclusion one of the key aims of the new administration.

Whilst he has agreed to mark the 17 October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - at the request of the Lib Dems, we have not yet seen the nuts and bolts of his anti-poverty plan.

Can I suggest that he starts by signing up Lambeth Council to the London Living Wage Campaign?

Following the Joseph Rowntree report on UK poverty which showed that the government is failing many families in low paid work, the London Citizens have worked out that Londoners need £7.05 an hour to survive in our city.

Can Steve Reed confirm that all staff that work for the Council (directly or by contract) receive at least this level of pay per hour?

Lambeth Labour must now put their money where their mouth is - as long as there is any left after the recent Cabinet pay rises.

Nick Perry

Spokesperson on social justice and tackling poverty

Lambeth Lib Dems