Andrew Dismore accuses Brian Coleman of neglecting Camden Residents in GLA role

PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE: 7^th July 2011

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REVEALS GLA MEMBER COLEMAN NOT INTERESTED IN CAMDEN

Andrew Dismore, Labour London assembly candidate for Barnet and Camden has just received the  response to a Freedom of Information Act request he submitted to Camden Council, enquiring about the activity (or lack of it ) of the sitting London Assembly member, Brian Coleman. (Full response set out below).

Mr Dismore asked the Council to provide copies of all correspondence sent to and received from Brian Coleman (AM for Barnet and Camden) by the following Camden Council officers: the Chief Executive, Directorate Directors and Assistant Directors.

Mr Dismore said:

“ Apart from a couple of rather abusive emails which seem to be primarily directed to someone in Islington and copied to a Camden officer about a proposed waste site in Haringey , the request has drawn a blank. Mr Coleman has not raised a single issue in correspondence with the Council in the three years since he was last elected.

He has raised no questions, comments or representations about, for example, housing, HS2, policing, the council budget, the impact of the Conservative imposed cuts, housing benefit changes, any of the many planning issues, education and schools, public transport or anything else for that matter.

Coming on top of last week’s FoI response from the police which revealed that he has raised no issues in correspondence with them about Safer Neighbourhood policing over the last 3 years, we have to question what use Mr Coleman is to residents of Camden, for the salary he receives.

If he is only working in Barnet, perhaps he should be retitled “Assembly member for Barnet and not Camden”,  and have his pay cut in half as he is only doing half the job- though residents in Barnet are not too happy about what little he does there either.

If I am elected next year to replace him and his sorry record, I will serve the residents of both Boroughs to the best of my ability.”

For further information call Andrew Dismore on 07957 625 813