UK: John Bird runs for mayor of London focusing on families

John Bird, the man who founded The Big Issue magazine with Gordon Roddic in 1991, runs as an independent candidate for the Mayor of London.

He intends to become “a mayor of the streets, of the housing estates and of the local communities”, and has presented a manifesto focusing on the need of children and families. ” I stand for London because I believe that London will be a better city for us all when the family and our children are central to London’s decision making”, states the social entrepreneurs.

Here are the main points of his manifesto:

Putting Family at the Heart of Every Policy
London is boroughs, 32 of them. With the City of London that is 33 local authorities. Hundreds of communities, thousands of neighbourhoods. That is London for you. Made up of communities, boroughs, authorities, neighbourhoods it is also hundreds of thousands of
families. That is London. All social, legal and business activities should recognise that families are the backbone of London. All of the things the mayor of London is responsible for
come back to the family. So if I become mayor I will put the family at the heart of every single Mayoral policy. With every new policy we will ask ourselves ?what impact will
this have on family and children?’. Sounds a bit dreamy? It’s not.

Police
I will support cross community groups who need to see the police as a part of the solution and not a part of the problem of London’s streets. We have to do something about the appalling level of non
reported crime, as high as 70% in certain areas. Crime has to be tackled at the community level.
Every family should know their beat officer. We will help develop police neighbourhood relationships
that are not just to satisfy City Hall.

Urban planning
All planning applications will have to pass a new SOCIAL AUDIT. So, for example: If buildings destroy community, schooling, or make it more dangerous for children and families then they will be rejected. All urban planning should be about protecting communities and high streets from destruction by badly
monitored commercial forces. Good communities will make London safer for us all.

Trasnsport
We will do a full social, environmental, business and cost audit on the affects of the congestion
charge on London. We will insist that transport agencies are run by people with experience. That our buses, trains and cabs are best understood through the eyes of people who knowhow they could run better.

Culture
We will continue and enhance the cultural diversity that already exists in London.
We will Encourage artists, from cello to zither players and support
them in developing and finding a market for their skill. Create ethnic and ethical art markets so that London cangive support to makers who need a market place.

www.johnbird4mayor.com