Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 25 November holding a jobs fair for residents at William Morris Community Centre
• Monday 28 November speaking the London School of Economics on responding to the riots (see below for more details)
• Tuesday 29 November chairing a Progress seminar on developing a new political economy
• Friday 2 December holding an appointment-only surgery at Waltham Forest Direct – to book a place please contact my office on 0208 521 1223

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Friday 18 November speaking at a debate at Southampton University on consumer credit
• Saturday 19 November holding a drop in advice surgery for residents at the NCT toy sale in the Asian Centre in Orford Road
• Tuesday 22 November hosting a workshop for Walthamstow residents on healthcare in parliament
• Thursday 24 November holding a Labour campaigning fundraiser withDavid Miliband 
• Friday 25 November holding a jobs fair for residents at William Morris Community Centre – see below for details

Campaigner of the Year: Stella Creasy MP

From "Coffee House", the blog of The Spectator Magazine:

Wednesday, 16th November 2011

The Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards winners

PETER HOSKIN 11:02pm

The Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards bash took place this evening, CoffeeHousers, and a  jubilant time was had by all. We shall be putting out a supplement celebrating the event, and Parliament's most preeminent performers, in tomorrow's issue of The Spectator. But, in the meantime, here's the list of all the winners from tonight:

Newcomer of the Year: Dominic Raab MP
Select Committee Chairman of the Year: Andrew Tyrie MP
Campaigner of the Year: Stella Creasy MP
Inquisitor of the Year: John Whittingdale OBE MP on behalf of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Backbencher of the Year: Adam Holloway MP
Double Act of the Year: The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP & The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
Speech of the Year: Charles Walker MP
Survivor of the Year: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP
Readers’ Representative of the Year: Philip Davies MP
Minister of the Year: The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Politician of the Year: The Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP
Parliamentarian of the Year: The Rt Hon Baroness Williams of Crosby PC

Dinner with David Miliband- One Week Left to Book

and its nearly sold out! Walthamstow CLP Curry Fundraiser: Thursday 24 November 2011, Grove Road Hall, Walthamstow 

Walthamstow Constituency Labour Party is proud to present our autumn fundraising dinner with special guest speaker David Miliband M.P.

This very special event will be held at the Grove Road Hall (19 Grove Road Walthamstow E17 9BU) on Thursday November 24^th 2011 starting at 7pm. As well as an opportunity to meet and hear from David Miliband, there will be a three course curry meal. Soft and alcoholic drinks available. With people from across the Atlantic and across the river to attend this will be a very special evening indeed and not to be missed!

Please note, over two thirds of tickets for this event have already been sold so it is vital to book in advance! Tickets are £30 each or £17 for unwaged and senior citizen, £250 for a table of ten. Any additional donations to enable us to keep the price of concessionary tickets low are welcome. Please note entry is by ticket only and tickets will not be available on the evening. All tickets must be paid for by November 21^st 2011.

You can buy tickets by using our donation site to donate the cost of a ticket or any additional donations. You can also ring our campaigns team to book tickets, pay by cash or cheque on 07957 228 019.

https://secure2.labour.org.uk/membersnet/donate/dupiazawithdavid

First put in your details, then enter in the other space that appears the amount payable for the total cost your ticket(s) and add your card details. Cross the box that says you have read the terms and conditions and finally click the donate button.

If you have any questions about this event or this booking form please contact campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or ring 07957 228 019.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 24 November for this special evening and thank you for your support for Walthamstow CLP.  

Boris Johnson challenged to act on London Transport high-cost credit adverts

This press release was issued by Ken Livingstone's office this weekend: Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy and Ken Livingstone have called on Boris Johnson to give a cast-iron commitment that high-cost credit companies will not be allowed to sponsor free New Year travel this year, and to reverse his ‘hands off' policy towards payday lenders and other high-interest credit companies.

            Last year Boris Johnson controversially chose the online payday lender Wonga to sponsor travel on New Year’s Eve and allowed the company to place highly prominent advertising across the London transport network. In addition these ads failed to show the typical APR of a Wonga loan, which stands at an astonishing 4,214%.

Stella Creasy MP said: “London suffers from higher debt levels than the rest of the country and we need the Mayor to act to promote responsible lending. The proliferation of payday lenders and home credit providers on our high streets and online is leading to thousands of Londoners getting into severe debt problems. Today Ken and I have set out clear proposals the Mayor could adopt which would help tackle this growing problem. It’s time for Boris Johnson to show some leadership on this issue, starting with a commitment not to give any high-cost lender a massive primetime advertising opportunity through sponsorship over Christmas and New Year on London transport. . . Rather than shrugging his shoulders, the Mayor should be leading the charge to regulate the high-cost credit industry and in doing so providing much-needed support for financially vulnerable Londoners.”

Ken Livingstone said: “The Mayor should use the influence and resources of City Hall to promote responsible lending and alternatives to high-cost loans such as credit unions.” Currently, high-cost lenders are allowed to charge whatever they like for credit. Stella and Ken are calling on Boris Johnson to recognise the damage that high-cost credit can cause by:

1.        Giving a cast-iron commitment that no high-cost credit company will be allowed primetime advertising space on public transport this Christmas and New Year.

2.        Banning all high-cost loan ads on the London transport network until there are caps on the cost of credit. Consumers urgently need these caps to be introduced, but until that happens the Mayor should seek to protect consumers from the marketing strategies of high-cost credit companies.

3.        Ending sponsorship of GLA group events by high-cost credit companies until caps on the cost of credit are introduced. The Mayor should bring in new rules within the GLA group (TFL, MPA, LDA and LFEPA) to stop sponsorship by payday lenders (like Wonga), home credit providers (like Provident Financial) and hire purchase agreement providers (like BrightHouse).

4.        Changing GLA group advertising rules to stipulate that all adverts for financial products must include clear and prominent information about APR rates.

5.        Reversing City Hall’s ‘hands off approach’ to rising levels of debt. It’s time for the Mayor to actively encourage alternatives to high-cost lenders and provide greater support for organisations committed to a fair credit deal such as credit unions and debt advice charities.

            The latest figures show Londoners suffer from higher than average personal debt levels and are much more likely to have taken out high-interest loans:
· 13% of Londoners are in debt arrears compared to the national average of 10%.
· There has been a 75% increase in average debt levels amongst 17-24 year olds in London since 2008 from £3,500 to over £5,500. (Capitalise, 2010)
· Paydaybank.co.uk say over a third of all their loans are made to London residents

Where to find Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow this week

• Sunday 13 November attending the Remembrance Day service at the Town Hall
• Tuesday 15 November holding a reception in Parliament for Walthamstow parents, teachers and governors- if you wish to attend please contact my office.
• Wednesday 16 November holding an appointment-only surgery at Waltham Forest Direct – this surgery is now full but if you wish to book for a later surgery please contact my office on 020 8521 1223.
• Thursday 17 November speaking at an ECCR public debate in central London on trafficking women
• Friday 18 November attending the Waltham Forest Parent Forum at Vestry House (see below) and later speaking at a debate at Southampton University on regulating the high-cost credit sector

News from GLA member Jennette Arnold

Olympic torch comes to north east London

Local residents will feel even closer to the Olympics after the fabulous announcement that the Olympic torch relay will spend a considerable amount of time in our area. After being lit by the sun's rays at the Greek Temple of Hera in Olympia, the torch will eventually find its way to north east London.

On 21 July the torch will pass through Waltham Forest and Hackney and on 26 July the flame will come Islington.

You can explore the map of the route in detail here

Nov 24th - Dinner with David Miliband; Walthamstow Labour Party

Tickets are going fast for our Labour Party campaign fundraiser - David Miliband is our special guest - on Thursday 24 November 20011, starting at 7pm. Venue 

Grove Road Hall

119 Grove Road, Walthamstow E17 9BU

Book online at:

• https://secure2.labour.org.uk/membersnet/donate/dupiazawithdavid

IMPORTANT - to get your ticket number, about 48 hours after your online payment either contact campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or ring 07957 228019.

Or book by post: 

• send cash, or cheque (payable to Walthamstow Labour Party), to 'David Miliband Event Team', 23 Orford Road, London E17 9NL. Include your name and address, so we can send your ticket number.

Ticket Prices: Tickets include a fabulous three course meal with vegetarian options. We've kept concessionary ticket prices as low as possible. If you can make a further donation we'd be very grateful. Tickets must be paid for by 21st November.

• Single tickets: £30 [concessions £17].
• Multiple ticket DISCOUNT: £250 for a table of ten. 

For more information Contact campaigns@workingforwalthamstow.org.uk or ring 07957 228019