To:
Harrow Observer
Re: Harrow Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance: hustings.
I recently (25/3/2014), attended a hustings called by Harrow Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance on behalf of the Green Party
which will be standing candidates in the forthcoming local and euro elections.
UKIP, Conservatives, Labour, and Independent Labour were also represented and all parties put forward their policies on
various matters. I was not surprised, but perhaps a little disappointed, that I
was the only one to mention climate change and its possible implications for
all of us.
I was, however, surprised by the emphasis placed by
the UKIP and Conservative representatives on the issue of ‘beds in sheds’ ’ i.e.
people living in converted garages, garden sheds etc. which was claimed to be a
major problem in Harrow. UKIP
also claimed this problem was widespread elsewhere and therefore the country , overpopulation problems. Both UKIP and
Conservative claimed to have evidence from heat seeking detectors in over
flying aircraft.
There were questions from the audience about the current London housing
price inflation and resulting crisis in accommodation which is probably causing
some of the ‘beds in sheds’ phenomenon through such things as young people
staying on in parental homes. There were also questions on such issues as the
pressure on local health facilities and threats to Freedom Passes. Perhaps it
is these basic matters that concern Harrow
voters more than the slightly spooky concerns with surveillance of the population
which seem to obsess some of the parties standing.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murry, Brent and Harrow Green Party
representative.