On the doorstep, one of the most prominent issues raised has been about children, which is also a useful contrast between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Labour want to extend free nursery places to two year olds. We have a local problem in the Kensal Green area with a shortage of places. Treetops nursery in King Edward VII park has helped a little with this following its extension, but I still meet people who can't find a place for their child so it obviously needs to be prioritised in the south and east of the Borough by a future administration. I am not aware that the Lib Dems have made any pledges on this, at least in Brent.
Labour has also given Brent £80 million to rebuild Copland, Cardinal Hinsley, Alperton and (partly) Queens Park Community School. That is on top of the ARK Academy in Wembley that the Lib Dems delayed and the Tories opposed. It is also on top of the expansion of the Crest academies which the Lib Dems have mismanaged so that the adjoining land, instead of providing much needed sports facilities, is being developed as housing. Incidentally, the problems at the Crest Academies have also led to falling pupil numbers and therefore staff redundancies. Thanks to the Lib Dems for that.
Labour have also given Brent £14.7 million for extra primary school places to be in place by the end of August 2011. The Lib dems have whinged about this but it has never been clear to me that they have done anything.
Labour also helped parents with child tax credits, which the Liberal Democrats are pledged to cut. Labour will also protect child benefit as a universal service, while the Liberal Democrats have flirted with means testing it.
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