Category Archives: Elections

Alison Hopkins says thank you to Dollis Hill residents.

Posted on April 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

Alison Hopkins wrote to local residents via the local press following her election as Brent Council’s newest councillor. Her letter was published in the Brent & Kilburn Times and the Wembley and Willesden Observer.

Dear Editor,

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all those in Dollis Hill who voted for me to be their new councillor at last week’s by-election. Having lived in Dollis Hill all my life, it is such an honour to represent my community on Brent Council. It is a real responsibility to be elected to serve my fellow Dollis Hill residents and I take it very seriously. I would also like to thank all those who helped me to win here.

During the election campaign I spoke to many people who are disillusioned and fed up with the decisions that Brent Council’s Labour administration is taking. Whether the issue is the closure of half of our libraries or the rubbish on the streets, there is an overwhelming impression that Labour is no longer interested in listening to what ordinary residents have to say.

 I am determined to be a councillor for everyone in Dollis Hill, not just those who voted for me. Along with my fellow Liberal Democrat councillors Javaid Ashraf and Jack Beck, I will be on the side of Dollis Hill residents. I will work to represent their concerns and will continue to fight for cleaner streets, to save our school crossing patrols and to cut waste not services at Brent Council.

Yours faithfully,

Alison Hopkins
Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis Hill

Dollis Hill residents can contact Councillor Alison Hopkins by email at Cllr.Alison.Hopkins@brent.gov.uk, by phone on 07917 717797 or by post at  9 Humber Road, London, NW2 6EH.

Along with Cllr Javaid Ashraf and Cllr Jack Beck, Alison holds a regular surgery for residents on the 1st Saturday of each month from 11am to 12 noon at Comber Close Community Hall, Comber Close, Dollis Hill, NW2 7EG.

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Dollis Hill voters give verdict on Brent library cuts and Labour’s waste

Posted on March 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Alison Hopkins, Liberal Democrat councillor for Dollis HillBrent’s newest councillor Alison Hopkins has thanked Dollis Hill residents for their support and for electing her to Brent Council yesterday.

Humber Road resident Alison Hopkins triumphed by 37 votes in the highly marginal Dollis Hill ward, which has been a Lib Dem / Labour battleground for the past ten years.

This is the first Lib Dem victory against Labour in the capital since the General Election in 2010. The Liberal Democrat majority increased from 27 votes in 2010 to 37 votes yesterday (on a lower turnout).

Victorious new Liberal Democrat councillor Alison Hopkins said:

It is clear that a huge number of Brent residents are still very angry at Labour’s decision to force through the closure of half of our libraries in the face of massive public opposition. They are fed up with the increased rubbish on the streets and the overflowing bins caused by Labour’s decision to target cuts at street cleaning. It’s time for the Labour politicians who run Brent Council to start listening to local people.

Now I have a seat in the council chamber I will use it to continue to argue the case for local libraries anc cleaner streets. I will speak up for the thousands of local residents and children who have lost out because of Brent Council’s refusal to listen.

I want to thank my fellow Dollis Hill residents for the warm welcome I received throughout the campaign, and everyone who voted for and helped me.

Dollis Hill has been hit hard by the Labour Council’s library cuts. When Labour councillors voted to close six of Brent’s twelve libraries last year, two of them (Cricklewood and Neasden) served local residents.

Alison Hopkins and Cllr Javaid Ashraf collecting petition signatures with other campaigners outside Neasden library

Alison Hopkins has a track record of campaigning for the local area. She has worked hard to challenge Labour's library closures.

The newly elected councillor collected hundreds of signatures protesting against the library closures last year. Neasden Library currently stands empty at a cost to Brent taxpayers of around £70,000 per year, as the council is unable to hand back the lease of the rented building until 2022.

The unpopular Labour council has also come under fire for its cuts to front-line services, such as street-cleaning, wasteful spending, and its refusal to listen to local residents.

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Posted in Campaigns, Clean Streets, Elections, Labour Failure, Liberal Democrats, Libraries

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Congratulations to Brent’s newest Liberal Democrat councillor: Alison Hopkins

Posted on March 23, 2012 | 1 Comment

Liberal Democrat Alison Hopkins is Brent’s newest councillor. She successfully defended the seat left vacant by the sad death of Alec Castle earlier this year.

  • Liberal Democrat (Alison Hopkins) – 1,205 (46.5%)
  • Labour  – 1,168 (45.1%)
  • Conservative – 140 (5.4%)
  • Green Party – 79 (3.0%)

The result reflects Alison’s record as a community campaigner and the hard work of the local Liberal Democrat team. Thank you to everyone who voted for Alison to be their new councillor and to everyone who helped Alison’s campaign.

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Vote Alison Hopkins in Dollis Hill today

Posted on March 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Residents in Dollis Hill are going to the polls today to elect a new councillor, following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Alec Castle. The election campaign has been a two-horse race between campaigning Dollis Hill resident Alison Hopkins and Brent Council’s Labour administration’s candidate.

It’s clear that the Conservative and other candidates can’t win. Polling stations are open until 10pm this evening (Thursday 21 March) at:

  • CDO1 and CDO 2: Kingfisher Youth and Community Centre, Crest Road, NW2 7LG – map
  • CDO3:Our Lady of Grace RC Junior School, Dollis Hill Lane, NW2 6HS – map
  • CDO4: Our Lady of Grace RC Infant School, Dollis Hill Lane, NW2 6EU – map

You don’t need your polling card to vote. If you have a postal vote and have not sent it back, you can take it to any of the polling stations listed above or to the Town Hall.

Alison Hopkins

Alison Hopkins, Liberal Democrat candidate for Dollis HillAlison has lived in Dollis Hill for over 55 years. She has a long record of campaigning for local people. As the Neasden representative of the Brent SOS libraries campaign she has fought the Labour Council’s plans to close half the libraries in Brent, including in Neasden and Cricklewood.

She is campaigning against the Council’s slashing of the street cleaning budget that has seen rubbish pile up in Dollis Hill’s streets and she has taken a stand against the Labour Council’s frittering away of thousands of pounds on luxury hotel away-days and expensive meals, money that could have been used to keep the libraries open and the dumped rubbish off Dollis Hill’s streets.

Published and promoted by R Wharton 19 Roe Lane London NW9 9BH on behalf of A Hopkins (Liberal Democrats) 9 Humber Road London NW2 6EH. Printed (hosted) by Automattic, Inc. 60 29th Street #343 San Francisco, CA 94110-4929 United States of America

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Posted in Clean Streets, Elections, Labour Failure, Liberal Democrats

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Brent Lib Dems Choose Local Campaigner Alison Hopkins for Dollis Hill

Posted on February 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

Original version posted at www.brentlibdems.org.uk.

Alison Hopkins, Liberal Democrat candidate for Dollis HillLong-time Dollis Hill resident Alison Hopkins is the Brent Liberal Democrat candidate for the Dollis Hill by-election on Thursday 22 March. A local through and through, Alison has lived in Dollis Hill for over 55 years.

Alison attended Braintcroft primary school and married her husband at the local church – St Mary and St Andrew – in 1974.

Alison has a long record of campaigning for local people. As the Neasden representative of the Brent SOS libraries campaign she has been fighting the Labour Council’s plans to close half the libraries in Brent, including both the libraries serving Dollis Hill residents: in Neasden and Cricklewood.

She is campaigning against the Council’s slashing of the street cleaning budget that has seen rubbish pile up in Dollis Hill’s streets and she has taken a stand against the Labour Council’s frittering away of thousands of pounds on luxury hotel away-days and expensive meals, money that could have been used to keep the libraries open and the dumped rubbish off Dollis Hill’s streets.

Alison is also one of the founding members of the Coalition for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration, a campaign group which has worked with Sarah Teather MP, fighting to stop Barnet’s plans to build a massive rubbish dump on the doorsteps of Dollis Hill schools.

The Dollis Hill by-election is set to be a tight race between Sarah Teather’s Liberal Democrats and Brent Labour Council bosses’ candidate. In 2010, the Conservatives finished in third place: they cannot win in Dollis Hill.

Local campaigner Alison Hopkins said:

I’m delighted to have been selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Dollis Hill. I grew up here, have lived here almost all my life and have witnessed firsthand what the Labour Council’s waste and neglect has done to our area.

I will stand up for local residents on the issues that really matter – the closure of our libraries, the rubbish in our streets and the preservation of our wonderful local community.

Sarah Teather MP said:

It is great news that Alison will be standing for the Liberal Democrats in Dollis Hill. She’s been campaigning on local issues for years and knows the area like the back of her hand.

At a time like this, with a wasteful Labour council getting rid of many of the important services that local people rely on, I know Alison will be a real champion for Dollis Hill.

Paul Lorber, the leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Brent Council, said:

The Labour-run Council has run rough-shod over the wishes of local people. It has failed to listen to the concerns over the library closures and has cut back on street cleaning while Labour councillors spend thousands of taxpayers’ pounds on luxury awaydays and meals.

This election is a great chance for the people of Dollis Hill to tell the Labour Council that they have had enough of their waste and neglect.

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Brent Liberal Democrats Choose Local Campaigner Afifa Pervez For Wembley

Posted on December 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

Reposted from: Sarah Teather and Brent Liberal Democrats website.

The Liberal Democrats have selected local Wembley campaigner and former Councillor Afifa Pervez as their candidate for the Wembley Central by-election, which takes place on Thursday 22 December.

Afifa Pervez campaigning for Wembley Central

Afifa Pervez campaigning for Wembley Central

Afifa has three daughters and is a foster parent. She has lived in Wembley for over 33 years, went to school in Brent, and is a governor at Oakington Manor Primary School. Afifa is a experienced local campaigner who has been fighting the Labour Council’s decision to close half the libraries in Brent, hike parking charges by 300% and cut street cleaning – leaving Wembley streets dirty and overflowing with rubbish.

Like previous council by-elections in Brent, Wembley Central is set to be a close race between the Lib Dems and Brent Council’s ruling Labour party. The Conservatives finished third last time and cannot win.

Local campaigner Afifa Pervez said:

I’m delighted to have been selected by the Liberal Democrats to contest Wembley Central. I live locally and I have seen what the Labour Council’s neglect is doing to our area – the closure of our libraries, the rubbish in our streets and the damage to our high street from the hike in parking charges.

As a mother and a foster parent I know the challenges facing local families right now. More than ever Wembley needs an experienced local councillor who will fight on behalf of our local community.

Paul Lorber the leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Brent Council said:

It is great news that Afifa will be standing for the Liberal Democrats in Wembley Central. She was an excellent councillor and is a passionate campaigner on local issues.

When the Liberal Democrats ran the council we improved street cleaning and invested in Ealing Road Library. Now libraries are closing and Wembley’s streets are filled with rubbish while Labour councillors waste almost £10,000 on stays in luxury hotels and meals at posh restaurants. The people of Wembley have been let down by their Labour councillors.

This election is a chance for the people of Wembley to send a message to the Labour Council that enough is enough.

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Posted in Campaigns, Clean Streets, Elections, Libraries

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