The Fruits of her Labour

Here's the result of an interview conducted with my local MP here in St Johs Wood, Karen Buck. Produced with the Wood & Vale in mind, it was, unfortunately, superseeded by a SECOND Karen Buck story, the lady in question choosing that very same week to intervene in a street fight, earning herself a front page appearance. Well done Ms Buck...

The Fruits of her Labour

After ten years representing the people of St John’s Wood and Maida Vale, Karen Buck MP has spoken of her dissatisfaction concerning the issues of housing, and of life chances for children, in her constituency.

Ms Buck, MP for Regent’s Park and Kensington North, was elected to her position in 1997, and, though proud of many achievements, remains dissatisfied with progress in certain key areas.

Speaking from her base in Maida Vale, Ms Buck, who has made the issue of housing a priority throughout her political career, said:

“You have to do your best to meet peoples needs because we can’t have families sleeping on the streets. Making an affordable, decent quality housing offer to people is one of the most important things we can do.”

It would appear that the Prime Minister, no less, is in full agreement. The Queens speech, delivered on Tuesday, focused on the issue of housing.

The government stated a promise to build almost a quarter of a million homes every year until 2016, which should come as music to the ears of Ms Buck, who says that Westminster council still have a lot of work to do:

“I’m not at all satisfied with the progress made by the council. I think we are all dealing with the consequences of a nationwide shortage of housing, which has meant that private housing has become a lot more expensive while the demand for social housing has continued to grow.

“The provision of social housing, however, has been falling for the last 25 years. Now, obviously, turning that around in one borough is very difficult.

“The single biggest driver behind housing need in this country is the growth of single person households. The second thing is obviously house prices; affordability. Lots of people who could once afford to buy now can’t .”

Ms Buck also points to the interlinking issue of life expectancy to further illustrate the economic concerns of families in her constituency today.

“What’s extraordinary, is the fact that we have a nine year gap in life expectancy between people living in Church Street, near Edgeware Road, and people living in Knightsbridge. What kind of society can tolerate that?

“It’s not just a question of having a bit more money or a bit less money. It’s the fact that you will actually live nine years longer if you’re better off than if you’re poor.”

Ms Buck also expressed her concern with the forthcoming constituency boundary changes, due to go into affect at the next general election.

“We go from having a moderately safe labour seat to having a fairly marginal seat. I’d be a fool not to be worried about the political challenge at the next election. The margin, on paper, is a small one.”

Karen Buck does, however, find the time to enjoy the fruits of her labour: “The transformation of parts of this community over the past ten years has been extraordinary.

“You look down the Harrow Road and you see brand new health centres, two brand new secondary schools, and a children’s centre. That practical manifestation is what it’s all about.”