LB Camden to hold its own rally vs UK Parliament shut down

Originally published at Camden New Journal

Camden to hold its own rally against parliament shutdown

Demo to be staged in Russell Square on Saturday

29 August, 2019 — By Richard Osley





A RALLY against Boris Johnson’s decision to shut down parliament – a move widely seen as a measure to make it harder for MPs to oppose a no deal Brexit – is to be held in Camden this weekend.

Labour council leader Georgia Gould said this evening (Thursday) that opponents to a crashing divorce from Europe and the Prime Minister’s prorogation tactics were uniting for the event in set up for  Russell Square.

Cross-party speakers will take over the park on Saturday for the ‘Camden Defends Democracy Rally’ from 10,30 am with organisers urging residents to show the strength of feeling by joining them there.
Cllr Gould will be joined by Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq, Holborn and St Pancras MP Sir Keir Starmer, Camden Unison branch secretary Liz Wheatley, Sian Berry, a councillor in Camden and also the Green Party’s national co-leader, and representatives from the Liberal Democrats.


After the rally, campaigners will head to a national protest outside Downing Street.

---

SEE ALSO ‘OUTRAGE’ AS BORIS JOHNSON SHUTS DOWN PARLIAMENT IN BREXIT BATTLE

---

“Camden will not stand by and watch an unelected Prime Minister trample on our democracy to force through a ‘no deal’ Brexit,” said Cllr Gould. “Camden is proud of our diverse community, our connections to Europe, our EU citizens, our openness and we stand in solidarity with our allies across the UK and EU making their voices heard..”

Around three quarters of Camden residents who took part in the 2016 EU referendum voted to remain in the union.

Camden New Journal: Citizens Advice office is closed in cash squeeze - article not yet published at Camden New Journal website

Blow after long queues outside centre 

Citizens Advice office is closed in cash squeeze 

By Tom Foot 

Camden's Citizens Advice service is to shut down its service in Kentish Town and stop providing walk-in sessions. Chief executive Margie Butler told the New Journal yesterday (Wednesday) the CAB will leave the building it has shared with Camden Community Law Centre in Prince of Wales Road on September 9. It will continue to operate out of its second base in Robert Street at the Regent's Park estate, but there will be no more walk-in sessions.

Clients needing support on matters ranging from benefits to immigration will be able to book face-to-face appointments with advisers. But there is a push towards more advice being given over the phone while there will be more "outreach" projects in foodbanks, health centres and libraries, said Ms Butler.

"We've been working on this for some time," she said. "We are not funded by central government and we rely on funds from the council, charitable trusts and foundations.

"We have to look at the resources and how best to use them. We know we are going to have to change to continue to deliver our service. We can't just open our doors for everybody."

With devastating cuts to legal aid and council budges over the past 10 years, large numbers of people queue daily outside the CAB's offices to speak to advisers or one of more than 100 volunteers. Clients in an "emergency" will be able to drop in for help, Ms Butler said.

Funding to provide advice in GP surgeries has recently been taken away by Camden's Clinical Commissioning Group.

Companies House documents show that in the past few weeks four members of the charitable trust running the CAB have quit. Ms Butler said this was not connected to the decision to close the Kentish Town operation, adding: "It can be a challenge to find people with skills, and have time to undertake the work as a trustee."

Cllr Jonathan Simpson, cabinet member for promoting culture and community services, said: "The have explained to us that they are continuing face-to-face support on an appointment basis for residents who have complex problems that cannot be dealt with by phone. We will continue to monitor the quality and outcomes achieved for our residents."

He added that £7 million was being invested over the next seven years to "support independent organisations to provide a range of advice services for residents needing support."

(The print article that has yet to appear at Camden New Journal website adds:
See Comment, page 11
Letters, page 14

Tell Camden New Journal what you think. Email your comments to Letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk or write to Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, NW1 9DR)

Camden New Journal headlines, Thursday 15 August 2019

(The CNJ is the leading freebie newspaper of my old (1979-2017) home borough.)

Headlines

Crime

Regent’s Park Estate stabbing: Victim was excluded from school

'Talented' 16-year-old is one of the borough's youngest knife victims

15 August — By Samantha Booth

Community

Family pays tribute to 94-year-old who died in Finchley Road crash

15 August — By Samantha Booth

Community

WATCH: Butterflies emerge for first time at Kentish Town City Farm

15 August — By Tom Foot

Community

Town Hall demands urgent talks with developer over ‘facial recognition’ tech use

15 August — By Dan Carrier

Community

New CNJ archive Facebook page launched

18 July

Community

Owner insists cinema really IS coming to Kentish Town

Street artists had daubed slogans on the building claiming the cinema would never be built

15 August — By Dan Carrier