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19.12.07
Scottish Liberal Democrat Ron Aitken welcomed the election of Nick Clegg MP as Leader of the Liberal Democrats across the UK. Ron said: "I look forward to welcoming our new leader to Kilmarnock & Loudoun very soon." Nick Clegg can be seen and heard by clicking on the link here.
1.11.07
Scottish Liberal Democrats have obtained figures showing that the Winter Fuel Allowance now only covers 36% of the average winter fuel bill, compared with almost two thirds in 2003.
The Winter Fuel Allowance is designed to cover the cost of pensioners' winter heating bills. However, because rises in energy prices have not been matched by a rise in the Winter Fuel Allowance, many pensioners have been left struggling to pay their bills.
Scottish Liberal Democrat Ron Aitken said: "This is just one more example of the Labour Government hoping that no-one will notice that pensioner benefits have significantly devalued. Whether it is delaying the restoration of the link between pensions and earnings, massively increasing means-testing or capping the state second pension, the Government is showing utter disregard for the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of society. As energy prices continue to rise, it is essential that the Government takes effective action to tackle the root causes of fuel poverty urgently."
9.10.07
Scottish Liberal Democrats are asking: Where was Salmond? Alex Salmond did not attend today’s Westminster debate on the pre-budget report and Comprehensive Spending Review, despite his party spending the week proclaiming its importance to Scotland.
Ron Aitken, Spokesperson for Kilmarnock & Loudoun, said: "The SNP have been spinning for days, claiming that today was decisive for Scotland and that the pre-budget report was the reason for their inability to deliver on key election pledges such as 1,000 extra police officers. I would have thought that the occasion would have merited one of Alex Salmond’s rare Westminster appearances. His conspicuous absence demonstrates that spin and news management are not the sole preserve of Gordon Brown and New Labour."
Commenting on the SNP’s complaints about the financial settlement for Scotland in the Chancellor’s spending announcements today, Ron said: “The truth is they cynically promised things they knew they could never deliver, and now they’re desperately blaming everyone but themselves for the resulting mess. The Nationalists must not be able to use the folly of the current system to cover their tracks whilst attempting to engineer the break-up of the United Kingdom.”
1.10.07
The Liberal Democrats today called for a welfare scheme to provide sheep farmers with income from the small lambs that cannot not be exported to the usual markets of southern European. This came as a protection zone was set up in Suffolk after government vets confirmed bluetongue disease was circulating in the UK and was officially classed as an outbreak. So far there have been five confirmed cases of the disease.
18.9.07
Liberal Democrats in Kilmarnock and Loudoun have welcomed the results of an audit of policies of the three main political parties that shows Menzies Campbell’s party as the best for the environment.
The audit was carried out by a group of major environmental organisations, including Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the National Trust, the RSPB, the Woodland Trust and WWF-UK. It awarded the parties “green lights” according to how green their policies were. The Conservatives scored zero, Labour one, and the Liberal Democrats three.
Speaking on behalf of Liberal Democrats in Kilmarnock & Loudoun, Ron Aitken said that the verdict of the green groups was a great boost for the party. “This audit has confirmed what we have been saying in this area for many years,” said Ron. “Liberal Democrats are leading the battle of ideas for protecting the environment and cutting the pollution people cause. We are the only political party with plans for cutting income tax by 4p in the pound to 16p, paid for by shifting more of the tax burden onto pollution.”
28.6.07
Cllr Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said: "The retention of Des Browne as Defence Secretary, now with the additional responsibility of Scottish Secretary, will not inspire the confidence of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who face daily dangers with inferior and inadequate equipment and support. Gordon Brown's wish to reward a key ally, Des Browne, is a missed opportunity to signal that he intends to draw a line under the Iraq disaster."
4.5.07
The Scottish LibDem candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Councillor Ron Aitken, has said that his party’s progress in Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Ayrshire, in the Scottish Parliament election represents "steady progress". The LibDem share of the vote increased by 1.2% and the total number of LibDem votes increased by almost 500 on the 2003 result. The SNP gained the seat from Labour.
"We would normally expect our vote to have been squeezed in a tight contest polarised between the nationalists and Labour," said Cllr Aitken, "but our vote in Kilmarnock is the highest LibDem vote of the five Ayrshire constituencies. Obviously there is disappointment at the loss of hard-working LibDem MSPs in other parts of Scotland, but this result and the election of Hugh O'Donnell on the List gives us hope for the future."
1.5.07
Scottish Liberal Democrats today launched their manifesto for education and young people. The manifesto promises smaller class sizes, the recruitment of 1,000 extra teachers, investment in 250 new schools, and the scrapping of the graduate endowment for students.
Scottish LibDem candidate for Kilmarnock & Loudoun, Ron Aitken, said: “We want Scotland to be one of the best places in the world to bring up children. Scottish Liberal Democrats will ensure children get more individual time with teachers, cutting class sizes to a maximum of 25 for the youngest children. We will recruit 1,000 extra teachers and invest in 250 new schools with the very best of modern facilities."
“In these final days of the campaign, the Liberal Democrats are determined to concentrate on positive policies that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
28.4.07
Commenting on the SNP’s proposals for student finance, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock & Loudoun, Ron Aitken, said: “The Scottish Liberal Democrats in government abolished tuition fees and reintroduced grants in Scotland. We have now committed to abolishing the graduate endowment, and are the only party that has committed to meeting the funding request from Universities Scotland. The SNP manifesto does not pledge a single penny to Scotland’s universities."
28.4.07
Kilmarnock & Loudoun LibDem candidate, Ron Aitken, today stated: “Scottish Liberal Democrats are positive about young people. We want to do more to encourage children and young people to be active, to learn new skills and better understand their environment. Children at school should get far more outdoor activities and visits."
“We want to encourage young people to get more involved in sport and physical activity. We will invest a further £30 million to cut the cost of access for young people to sport and leisure facilities. This will be a real boost to hundreds of thousands of young people, particularly during school holidays, giving reduced price access to swimming, football, sports halls, golf and other activities."
“This total package of more than £80 million shows the commitment of the Scottish Liberal Democrats for a bright future for young people. At this election only the Scottish Liberal Democrats are really focused on positive policies for young people. More outdoor activity and learning, and cheaper access to sports and science centres will make a real difference to young people across Scotland.”
27.4.07
Scottish Liberal Democrats today challenged the other parties to back the campaign by Scotland’s universities for £168 million per year of new funding.
The Liberal Democrats also outlined plans to scrap the graduate endowment, increase student grants and block any introduction of tuition fees or top up fees for Scottish students
Ron Aitken, who attended Glasgow University, said: “Scotland’s universities and colleges are amongst the best in the world. To compete in the global economy we must invest more in research and education. Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats have pledged to meet the call from Universities Scotland for a record £168 million per year of new investment."
25.4.07
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have promised 100 new local health centres to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment closer to where people live.
The Liberal Democrat local health care plans include: 2,000 extra nurses; a new Total Waiting Time Guarantee; a greater role for Scotland’s community hospitals; and £170 million of new investment in local health care.
Ron Aitken, LibDem candidate for Kilmarnock & Loudoun, said: “Only the Scottish Liberal Democrats are promising massive new investment in local health centres at this election. Only a vote for the Liberal Democrats will start the building work to deliver 100 new local health centres."
23.4.07
Ron Aitken, the Liberal Democrats’ candidate for the Scottish Parliament election in Kilmarnock and Loudoun, has welcomed his party’s plans to cut crime with while tackling the causes of offending behaviour.
Ron Aitken said: "I am aware of local concerns about anti-social behaviour and crime in this area. Labour and the SNP have a history of making promises to cut crime but only the Liberal Democrats have guaranteed to recruit 1,000 extra community police officers and put of these officers into each council ward.”
Ron urged local voters to support his party’s plans to introduce new maximum seven year sentences for possession of a knife alongside increased resources for drug and alcohol treatment services from £30 million to £60 million per year.
“Kilmarnock and Loudoun will be a safer place to bring up families if the Liberal Democrats are given a mandate to recruit more police, toughen up community sentences and sentences for knife crime. At the same time we will support people who want to move away from crime by improving rehabilitation services.”
23.4.07
The Scottish Liberal Democrats have launched a Manifesto for Families, promising a free playgroup place for every two year old, maximum class sizes of 25 in primary 1-3, and an hour of physical activity for every child every day.
Speaking on a tour of Kilmarnock, Ron Aitken, the candidate for the Kilmarnock and Loudoun Parliamentary constituency, said: “We want to make a real difference for families in Ayrshire. Our new Manifesto for Families will guarantee a free playgroup place for every two year old, maximum class sizes of 25 in primary 1-3, and an hour of physical activity every day for every child.”
“The Educational Institute of Scotland are urging voters to support parties that plan to reduce class sizes – in Kilmarnock and Loudoun that means voting for the Liberal Democrats.”
The Liberal Democrats manifesto also promises to increase access to local health care medical and dental care for families and save families money by scrapping the unfair council tax. Ron urged local voters to vote for his party: “The Liberal Democrats are committed to making life easier for families in Ayrshire and that is worth voting for.”
21.4.07
The Scottish Liberal Democrats today launched plans for a £60 million fund to breathe new life into small towns across Scotland. Party leader Nicol Stephen announced the boost to regenerate small towns and promised more support for small businesses and community groups to regenerate local economies.
Commenting on the plans, Ron Aitken said: “We want to bring renewed life and purpose back to Scotland’s small towns and suburban centres. That is why the Scottish Liberal Democrats will introduce a £60 million Small Town Regeneration Fund to back local plans to regenerate communities."
“This major new investment will make improvements to local neighbourhoods and breathe new life into town centres like Kilmarnock. By regenerating our small towns we can kickstart local economies, bring new jobs and prosperity, boost tourism and give young people and families a bright future. "
“The Scottish Liberal Democrats will double small business rates relief to cut tax bills for 140,000 small businesses in Scotland. More than 70,000 small businesses, including many family run firms, will pay nothing under these plans. This will give real help to small business owners in small towns across Scotland."
20.4.07
Local Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate has announced that his party plans for 27,000 affordable homes across Scotland, and that this will help more people in Kilmarnock & Loudoun get an affordable home.
Ron Aitken said: “With house prices rising to point where couples are needing more than four times their income it is becoming more and more difficult for anyone to buy their own home. Local young people are being continually priced out of the community they have considered home all their lives.”
“The Liberal Democrats want to see 27,000 more affordable homes for communities across the country. Our area stands to benefit from hundreds of new high quality, affordable homes.”
12.4.07
Responding to SNP comments about independence broadcast on Good Morning Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrat Ron Aitken said: “The SNP said they would have one referendum on independence. But this morning that changed. Their position is not one referendum; it is a never-endum."
“Every time the Canadian province of Quebec is subject to a never-endum their economy takes a hit. People in Kilmarnock and Loudoun don’t want the uncertainty of independence; they want action on schools, hospitals and cutting crime. People want politicians who will get things done.”
11.4.07
Commenting on the BNP fielding candidates for East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun Ron Aitken said: "The BNP have no place in Scottish politics but will exploit poverty, disillusionment with Tony Blair, and false stories about asylum seekers, to create a climate of fear. I hope all democratic political parties will ensure that their supporters turn out on May 3rd and defeat the BNP."
10.4.07
The campaign in the highly marginal Kilmarnock and Loudoun Constituency, where the Labour Party has a majority of just 1300 votes, is hotting up this week with confirmation that LibDem candidate Ron Aitken’s nomination papers have been accepted by the East Ayrshire election office.
“I am delighted that I am now officially the Scottish Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun,” said Ron. “We will fight a positive campaign right across the constituency, with policies the electorate can relate to, such as more NHS dentists, abolishing the Council Tax, and providing a positive agenda for our young people.”
He continued, “Kilmarnock and Loudoun can also hope to benefit from the recent plans revealed by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen that pledged for 2,000 extra nurses to provide faster diagnosis and treatment in the community.”
10.4.07
Commenting on the Labour manifesto, Scottish Liberal Democrat Ron Aitken said: "Labour's manifesto is just more spin and gimmicks from a party that have run out of ideas. Few of Labour's manifesto policies mean what they say."
"For example, the 500 modern language teachers are not teachers at all, but just Labour spin on language assistants. Their skills academies are another gimmick which sound like their failed city academies in England. And Labour's plan for pensioners is just more spin that fails to cover up the fact that keeping the unfair Council Tax will mean higher bills for 1,357,000 households.
"People will see through the Labour spin. Rather than Labour's unfair Council Tax bombshell, the Liberal Democrats plans for a fairer local income tax based on the ability to pay will see 70% of households pay less and half a million pensioners pay nothing. That is why more and more people are turning to the Liberal Democrats."
10.4.07
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen has today announced his plans for 2,000 extra nurses to provide faster diagnosis and treatment in the community.
Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, said: “Scottish Liberal Democrats want to kick-start a local healthcare revolution across Scotland. Our priority for health in Scotland is to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment, with new local health centres and extra nurses and dentists to staff them.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to providing 2000 extra nurses for better local healthcare, with many of these new nurses based in our new local health centres. More nurses with specialist training could better support people with serious illnesses such as cancer or heart failure. They also have a major role to play in helping people to better manage chronic conditions such as asthma or diabetes, without the need for frequent hospital trips. Liberal Democrats are serious about more accessible local healthcare, and we will provide the extra nurses and dentists to deliver it.”
9.4.07
Council Tax revaluation would be the inevitable consequence of Labour’s policy of keeping the unfair Council Tax according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Ron Aitken, Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, said: “Labour know that if Scotland keeps the Council Tax it has to be revalued at some point – it can’t be kept at the current 1991 house prices forever. Labour’s revaluation of council tax in Wales led to an average 10% tax hike, with some people paying much more. As night follows day, revaluation would be inevitable under Labour’s plans for Scotland."
“Labour’s plan for pensioners is nothing but spin and gimmicks. Under the Scottish Liberal Democrat plans for a fairer Local Income Tax based on the ability to pay, half a million pensioners would pay nothing at all – saving up to £1149 for those living in a Band D home. A pensioner couple with income of £25,000, living in a Band D home would save £790 – more than four times the saving from Labour’s latest gimmick.”
8.4.07
The Scottish Liberal Democrats today announced plans for a fair local income tax and launched a new campaign against Labour’s council tax bombshell. Under Labour’s plans for council tax revaluation and rebanding, 59% of households would be worse off.
In contrast the Scottish Liberal Democrats have announced their proposals for a fairer system of local taxation, based on the ability to pay, that will see the average family £439 better off and half a million pensioners paying nothing. Young people starting in their careers or setting up a business will also benefit.
Ron Aitken commented: “Labour’s secret plan is a tax bombshell waiting to land on the doorstep of every hard working family in Scotland. In contrast to Labour’s plans where 59% of people will pay more, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are today setting out proposals for a fair system of local income tax that will benefit 70% of households. Local income tax will remove the worry of rising council tax bills for those on low and fixed incomes. It will remove the worry and extra costs of a council tax revaluation which will take many houses up two or three bands adding hundreds of pounds to bills.”
23.3.07
Scottish Liberal Democrats have added their voice to the EIS teaching union's criticism of Labour and SNP education policy.
Education spokesman, Iain Smith MSP, said: "The SNP policy for Scottish education doesn't add up, and Labour's proposals are little more than spin and gimmicks."
Ron Aitken, prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for Kilmarnock and Loudoun in the forthcoming elections, added: "We think that the children of Kilmarnock and Loudoun deserve better. Scottish Liberal Democrats will drive down class sizes in our local primary and secondary schools and provide more specialist teachers, particularly in sport and PE. We will continue to invest in new and refurbished schools to ensure all our children are taught in schools that are fit for the 21st century."
25.1.07
The Deputy First Minister Nichol Stephen MSP was on hand at a top Libdem Summit in Dunfermline at the weekend to help Kilmarnock and Loudoun Libdem Spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken launch a residents’ survey aimed at hearing the views of local people on a variety of issues.
“To represent people effectively it is important to hear their views on a wide range of local and national issues,” said the Deputy First Minister, who is also Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. “Crime, access to health services, local transport issues and the environment all matter to us,” he added.
The Libdems hope to make significant gains in the Holyrood election in May and are hoping to increase their representation on the List in Central Scotland from 1 to 3 seats. The survey will be distributed door to door, however copies can also be obtained by e-mailing Cllr Ron Aitken on soasron@yahoo.com.
12.12.06
The Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Cllr Ron Aitken, has added his voice to the growing concerns being expressed about the future of the local Post Office network, ahead of an announcement by Whitehall's Department of Trade and Industry. An anouncement about the future funding and business framework for Post Offices is due this Thursday, 14 December.
"Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of the campaign to save local sub-Post Offices" said Cllr Aitken. "Ten Scottish Libdem MPs met with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on December 5th to express their concerns about the likely closure of 1500 sub-Post Offices, many of which will be in Kilmarnock and Ayrshire - I am adding my voice too in defence of these vital local lifelines."
Cllr Aitken recently met members of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters (NFSP) when they lobbied Parliament and presented a Petition with 2 million names at 10 Downing Street; and the Liberal Democrat Minister at Holyrood, Ross Finnie, has also pledged Libdem support for rural Post Offices.
07.11.06
Liberal Democrat Prospective Holyrood candidate Ron Aitken met members of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters during their recent lobby of Parliament in London when a petition of four million names was handed in to 10 Downing Street. Cllr Aitken has called on the Government to take steps to save the local Post Office network in Kilmarnock and surrounding area.
“Local post offices are facing a triple whammy,” says Councillor Aitken. “Firstly they must face the removal of the protection against avoidable closures in the rural Post Office network; there is no guarantee on economic subsidies beyond March 2008; and thirdly the Government is scrapping the payment of pensions and benefits through the Post Office Card Account (Poca) from 2010.”
“It was extremely useful to meet many sub-Postmasters from all over Scotland and the UK,” he added. “The Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of the campaign to save local Post Offices, with a recent debate at Westminster and a fully costed and comprehensive plan to ensure their survival and growth.” Anyone interested in receiving details of the Libdem plan can e- mail me at soasron@yahoo.com.
21.10.06
Councillor Ron Aitken, 46, Spokesperson on Policing and Community Safety and Chief Whip of the Liberal Democrats in Haringey, North London, and the nephew of a Scottish war hero, has been selected for next May’s Holyrood election to stand for the Kilmarnock and Loudoun Constituency for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Born and brought up in Glasgow, with family roots in Ayrshire and the West of Scotland , he was educated at Glasgow University and also holds a BA in Middle Eastern politics and a Masters in Asian politics from London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Cllr Aitken recently revived the “Auld Alliance” between Scotland and France when he took his family to visit the grave of his uncle Robertson (“Roy”) Aitken, a gunner in a Lancaster of 15 Squadron RAF. Roy was killed aged just 22 after bailing out of the plane shortly after D-Day in 1944, having taken part in a raid to prevent the German Army from sending tank reinforcements to Normandy.
To his profound joy, Ron found that not only had locals in the village of Jouars-Pontchartrain tended the grave regularly every year since 1944, but they had also named a street near the cemetery after his Uncle. Each Armistice Day, poppy wreaths from Scotland are laid on his grave and the Aitken family now have many firm friends there.
Says Cllr Aitken “I am delighted to be selected by the Scottish Liberal Democrats for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, and I look forward to representing the Constituency at Holyrood following next May’s election. The Liberal Democrats are the main challengers to both Labour and the SNP here and we will stand up for the area against Tony Blair’s Government.
“I am particularly concerned about the threat to local jobs from uncertainty about the DHL Depot in Kilmarnock and cuts to local health services, and have spoken to Donald Gorrie MSP about these issues.”
Hugh O’Donnell, Campaign Manager of Central Scotland Liberal Democrats added “Ron Aitken is an energetic and committed prospective Holyrood candidate, who will do us proud in Kilmarnock and Loudoun. The Scottish Liberal Democrats are confident of making gains in both Holyrood and the STV elections for Councils across the Region, where the electorate are responding positively to our policies and achievements in Government, such as free care for the elderly, student support and NHS dentistry.”
09.10.06
Councillor Ron Aitken, Lib Dem spokesperson for Crime and Community Safety, is condemning Home Office stop-gap plans to use police cells to hold prisoners. The Home Office intends to take the step because prisons across England and Wales will be full by next week. Cllr Aitken warns that the move could have a serious impact on Haringey’s police stations.
Councillor Aitken comments: “This crisis is one of Labour’s own making. By failing to provide the necessary prison capacity, and failing to work to reduce the number of prisoners reoffending, they are putting a dangerous burden on custody facilities across the country. Police stations in Haringey are already overstretched, having to cope with cramped and outdated buildings.
“Moreover, I recently discovered that the Borough’s cells are already used to hold at least half a dozen prisoners awaiting transport to prison, as well as holding deportees awaiting transport to airports and some who are awaiting admission to local mental health wards. Our Police here in Haringey have broad shoulders, but they should not have to pick up the consequences of Government incompetence.”
09.10.06
Haringey Council and the local NHS are failing to provide a ‘good’ service to local people according to a Government report, released ahead of World Mental Health Day. The Government’s Healthcare Commission which inspects health and care services gave Haringey only 2 stars out of a possible 4. Just 54% of mental health services got 3 or 4 stars, putting Haringey in the bottom half of the ‘league table’ for supporting people with mental health problems.
The Liberal Democrats are marking World Mental Health Day by calling for the Council and local NHS to put greater priority on improving mental health services in Haringey.
Cllr Ron Aitken, who recently spoke at a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrat Conference on the subject of mental health comments: “World Mental Health Day is not just about services but also about celebrating the many people who recover from depression and other mental illnesses and are able to fully participate in society”.
29.8.06
Labour councillors are again being criticised for their inability to manage contracted-out services, as reports come in that there is a backlog of over 500 residents who are waiting to be given a wheelie bin by Haringey Accord.
Lib Dem councillor Ron Aitken discovered the backlog while helping a resident to get a new bin to replace another that had been damaged. Incredibly, it took more than eight months for Haringey Accord to react to requests, prompting Cllr. Aitken to quiz the council as to how many other residents were waiting. Over 500 requests have been made that have yet to be answered.
Councillor Aitken comments: "How hard can it be to deliver a bin to a resident? The delay is causing people to go back to using bin bags, attracting vermin and causing a health hazard.
"Haringey Council should be putting on the pressure after Haringey Accord's recent record, yet it is clear that they are not keeping an eye on the services that they have contracted out to private companies. The Lib Dems will continue to make enquiries and put pressure on the council to ensure that service providers meet people's needs – something that they really should be doing anyway."
21.8.06
Reacting to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair’s recent comments that London is now safe enough to leave doors unlocked, Haringey’s Lib Dems are urging caution.
As The Times reported this week, the Met chief’s comments followed a visit to a Haringey tower block. “How long is it since police patrolled the corridors of a tower block?” Sir Ian asked. “It’s as if, when the slums they replaced were flattened, the police stopped patrolling. People are opening their doors, leaving their doors open now, or leaving them unlocked, certainly, in a way they haven’t done for 25 years.”
Haringey's Liberal Democrats are urging residents not to take the Met chief seriously in this case. Lib Dem spokesperson for Crime, Policing and Community Safety, Councillor Ron Aitken, comments: “While we very much welcome the enormous benefits of the community policing that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams bring to the borough, it is too early to be nostalgic about home security.
“There were 3782 burglaries in the last year in Haringey. People should still take plenty of precautions to secure their home, and I know that local police agree.”
25.7.06
Lib Dem Crime, Policing and Community Safety Spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken has appealed for calm following the stabbing of a 21 year old man outside the KO Club in Wood Green at the weekend.
Councillor Aitken attended a meeting with Detective Superintendent Wood who gave an update on the investigation. Members of the Turkish and Kurdish communities met at Tottenham Police Station yesterday to hear what progress had been made on the investigation into the incident.
Councillor Ron Aitken said: "Knife crime continues to be a serious problem here in Haringey. The police are working hard to engage with local people and we will continue to do all we can to assist them. My colleagues and I are also working closely with Lynne Featherstone MP who is campaigning in Parliament to get knife crime and its sentencing on the Government's agenda."
Councillor Ali Demirci comments: "Speculation as to motive, and about the background of the victim or his attackers, whilst understandable, is not helpful at this time. The Police investigation is a robust one and whilst it is in progress people should remain calm and encourage witnesses to come forward. Our thoughts are with the young man and his family."
09.6.06
Labour are dithering over how to tackle the growing culture of knife crime, say Haringey’s Lib Dems. Expensive metal-detecting arches purchased by the police have lain unused for more than a year. The discovery comes quickly on the heels of Labour’s national U-turn on knife crime sentencing.
Lib Dem Police and Community Safety Spokesperson Councillor Ron Aitken expressed concern over the rising level of knife crime in the borough as early as June last year, highlighted by several high-profile attacks in Muswell Hill, Ida Road and Seven Sisters.
Councillor Aitken requested a meeting with both Haringey Police and Haringey Council’s lead member on crime, Nilgun Canver. While the Police responded, the Labour Executive Member was not willing to commit to specific measures to address the issue.
Haringey Police purchased metal-detecting arches in a bid to dissuade people from carrying knives. “Labour have refused to say whether they believe a trial of metal detecting arches in schools should go ahead” comments Cllr Aitken. “There should instead have been a public discussion of the issues involved before the expenditure of public funds.”
Councillor Aitken adds: “While Labour are dithering, the Lib Dems have proposed real measures to combat knife crime. Nationally, we want the maximum sentence for carrying a knife to match that for carrying a gun – a policy Labour rejected. At the local level, we are committed to working with the borough’s police to make real progress.”
01.6.06
Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors are urging Labour to put politics to one side in order to deal with knife crime, as Labour at last begin to respond to public concern over rising numbers of offences involving bladed weapons.
Nationally, the Lib Dems had proposed an amendment to the recent Violent Crime Bill which would have made the sentence for carrying a knife equal to that for carrying a gun, and locally Haringey’s Lib Dem Councillors tabled a motion proposing that Haringey Council support the move.
Labour voted down the proposal, and Haringey’s Labour Councillors rejected the motion to Full Council, proposing instead that the Council “reject a policy that would lead to people who happened to be carrying a knife filling our prisons”.
Councillor Ron Aitken, Lib Dem spokesperson for Crime, Policing and Community Safety, comments: “Labour rejected our proposals for tougher penalties. Now we see Labour considering exactly the same proposals on a national level, so it is time Haringey Labour councillors thought again, as they always claim they are being tough on crime.”
“We wanted these proposals months ago, and given the recent stabbing in Wood Green, it is clear that they have been needed. By playing politics, Labour are showing that they only care about votes, not about public safety.”
10.3.06
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Policing and Community Safety in Haringey has written to the British Transport Police with a request that they increase police patrols on commuter routes in the borough to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour against users of the rail network.
Cllr Ron Aitken has written to the Inspector of the BTP covering Haringey to ask for a breakdown of crime rates on the Silverlink, WAGN, Piccadilly and Victoria Line Underground and rail services in the borough, as well as costings for the provision of extra police and community support officer (PCSO) patrols.
"In the British Transport and Met Forces we have two tremendous assets doing a good job," said Cllr Aitken.
"However, we need to find additional resources to pay for more police and PCSOs for the transport network as other boroughs are doing. Ken Livingstone rejected the Lib Dem proposal to spend £20 million on 272 new police officers on the system, so we are exploring our own plans as Lib Dems in other authorities have done."
17.1.06
MPs’ concerns over the powers of the Secretary of State Ruth Kelly to ride roughshod over safeguards on the re-employment of sex offenders may have uncovered a widespread scandal, say councillors in Haringey, the borough where Victoria Climbie died. They are calling for a local police probe to be re-opened.
National concerns were underlined in the borough only three weeks ago by the conviction of Keith Dyer, a Haringey Council Park Keeper for 30 years, on five counts of child sex-abuse. He committed the offences 30 years ago, right at the beginning of his employment with Haringey. But, unbelievably, Dyer’s offences have only just come to light. Opposition councillors now believe this could be part of a systematic long-term cover up by Haringey Council.
Four similar cases have been reported connected with Haringey’s Parks, Social Services and other Departments in the last few years. Their regular occurrence drove Cllr Ron Aitken, then Haringey’s Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesman, to demand a local police probe into child sex-abuse and Haringey’s employment policies.
Operation Tempsford was duly set up. However, it was brought to an abrupt halt last autumn on the orders of Haringey’s Chief Executive David Warwick, after he applied what the Councillor describes as “undue pressure” in a letter to Mr Aitken. The NSPCC also withdrew from the inquiry, for reasons it is still unwilling to reveal.
Mr Warwick parted company with Haringey with a hefty £1 million severance package soon afterwards, because communications between him and senior Haringey politicians had allegedly “broken down”. He moved immediately to a top job advising Deputy Prime Minister Prescott on the “delivery of excellence in local government”. Now Haringey councillors are calling for Operation Tempsford to be re-opened, and demanding an explanation for its closure.
Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesman Wayne Hoban (London’s bomb-blast forensic supremo), Education spokesman Gail Engert and Police Liaison spokesman Ron Aitken said this week: “In the light of this clearly unsatisfactory sequence of events, and emerging national concerns, we are calling on Haringey Council for the urgent and robust reinstatement of Operation Tempsford, and a full report on the reasons for its closure.”
16.01.06
Councillor Ron Aitken has spoken about the work of the Local Government Association Mental Health Taskforce, on which the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Crouch End has a place, following the publication of its report “Future of Mental Health: A Vision for 2015”.
Speaking to Kurt Barling on BBC London News last week Cllr Aitken, who has campaigned for proper provision of acute mental health beds, said “the balance of power must shift from managers, accountants and Whitehall to the patient” so that people who have serious mental health problems are not discharged from hospital on grounds of costcutting.
There have been several high-profile cases involving local mental health services, including the case of Roger Sutherland who was not admitted to the Whittington despite being seriously ill. “The Report has been produced working alongside colleagues from other parties and we have pooled our experience in different local authorities because it is often as local Councillors that we witness the real effects of mental illness”.
The project aimed to scope and define the future role for local government in the delivery of mental health services, enable a shift from NHS led resources to community based responsive services and lobby for more help for those acutely ill.
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