Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on today’s announcement by the Mayor of London that water cannon purchased by the previous Mayor is now up for sale said:

"I welcome the decision to sell water cannon.

"Boris Johnson purchased water cannon without any authorisation for their use, but also against the clear advice of London Assembly Members.

"Londoners have paid a serious price for Boris Johnson's folly on this issue."

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on today’s announcement by the Mayor of London confirming £200 million investment in step-free access on the London Underground over the next five years and with work on Harrow on the Hill and Newbury Park stations being brought forward to 2017 said:

“Improvements to access on the underground is very welcome.  It is encouraging that whereas Boris Johnson cancelled step-free schemes at the beginning of his office the current Mayor is bringing them forward.

“However, we should be under no illusion that this announcement alone will deliver a fully accessible London Underground.

“In addition to too few stations being step-free there are massive issues due to a myriad of problems such as platforms not being level with trains, poor signage, staff being difficult to identify and lifts suddenly being out of operation due to a lack of trained staff.”

“The Mayor needs to ensure these issues start to be fully addressed within a year, not five years.”

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on today’s announcement that the Mayor has committed to a record £154 million per year investment in cycling over the next five years said.

“This investment, if is wisely and fully spent, is very welcome.  However TfL has a record of underspending its cycling budget so bold promises need to be seen in this context.

Speaking at the count following her shock victory in the Richmond Park by-election, newly elected MP Sarah Olney said: 

"Let me start by thanking the other candidates for a hard-fought campaign – and to Zac Goldsmith in particular, I wish you well and assure you that I will continue your fight against the expansion of Heathrow.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the Mayor’s plans for housing announced today said:

“Today’s announcement is quite frankly a damp squib compared to what Sadiq Khan promised Londoners before the election.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on today’s High Court ruling that the Government’s plan to tackle the UK’s air pollution is illegal - the second time in 18 months that the Government have lost in court on this issue said:

“The Government is clearly failing to cut illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide in the ‘shortest possible time’.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member, commenting on the ruling by a London employment tribunal that drivers for the ride-hailing app Uber should  be classed as workers rather than self-employed said:

“I welcome this ruling and congratulate the drivers and GMB for taking this important case.

Speaking in today's Commons debate on Heathrow expansion, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington Tom Brake said:

“"I hope the government will recognise widespread hostility to Heathrow expansion and say 'no' to a third runway."
 
"Those are not my words, but those of our current Prime Minister back in December 2008."
 

Government funding cuts to local councils have resulted in a threadbare patchwork of enforcement against London's rogue landlords, according to data obtained by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon.

Based on freedom of information requests that were submitted to all 32 London Boroughs information has been obtained showing the record of action against rogue landlords being taken across London. All London Boroughs responded to the requests for information, although some were unable to reply fully to the requests.

Tom Brake MP will join Generation Rent and Liberal Democrat Peer Olly Grender to protest for stronger rights for renters.

The protest will be taking place on Thursday 13th October outside College Green followed by the presentation of the petition at the Department for Communities and Local Government.  It will also be attended by Shelter and The Debrief, who will be presenting their Make Renting Fair petition with over 270,000 signatures to Housing Minister Gavin Barwell. The purpose of the protest is to highlight the difficulty that many renters face with unfair charges, rent and agency fees.