• I WAS surprised to see the Labour candidate for the imminent South Hampstead by-election is calling for school meals to be available for secondary school students and for support to buy school uniforms, (I’m determined to deliver practical help in the cost-of-living crisis, May 11).

These have been proposed by Lib Dems, both in our motion around the cost of living in November and our budget amendments in February. On both occasions our proposals have been voted down by Labour.

Our budget amendments actually would have delivered more income streams which would have provided these, and more, for struggling families.

Our proposals also found spending opportunities to tackle the climate emergency, the crisis in homelessness, planning and planning enforcement, and waste collection. All were rejected by Labour.

What Camden needs is more strong Lib Dem voices in the town hall and that is certainly what Patrick Stillman, the Lib Dem candidate in South Hampstead, would provide.

He is local, very energetic, and will champion the needs of South Hampstead residents and the needs of Camden residents generally. And he will contribute to our work in holding Camden’s Labour council to account in a collaborative but challenging way.

CLLR JUDY DIXEY
Liberal Democrat, Belsize ward