• CAMDEN councillor Danny Beales has a by-election on his hands in Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Selected last year as the Labour Party parliamentary candidate for the seat held until recently by former PM Boris Johnson, Cllr Beales will now be immersed in an all-consuming campaign battle to get himself into parliament.

But what of the residents of Camden Square ward?

The ward was already neglected to the point that the local Conservatives were moved to carry out a litter-pick, even uncovering nitrous oxide canisters stashed in the undergrowth beside the Camden Square Playcentre.

These we handed in at the local police station and were glad to do so, to help make the neighbourhood safer. But where was the elected Cllr Beales that January day?

Carrying out a litter pick in, you guessed it, Uxbridge and South Ruislip. In fact he tweeted proudly about it.

How Cllr Beales will represent the residents who elected him is hard to say now that his focus must be squarely on furthering his aspirations for a parliamentary career.

Yet he continues to claim his Camden councillor allowance. The voters of Camden Square may well feel neglected and taken for something of a ride.

Having had to roll up my sleeves to clean up their neighbourhood while their elected representative was elsewhere pursuing his parliamentary aspirations, I wouldn’t blame them.

JOANNA REEVES
Chair, Holborn & St Pancras Conservative Association