Film night tonight in Clapham - an economy for the 99%

Tonight (Tues 22nd May) at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham, there's an evening of films exploring the influence of banks and financial institutions and their impact on the poorest people around the world. (HT Project Dirt)

From the debt crisis to the developing world, today’s economic crisis, economic crisis, and the globalised food system, the evening will involve an exploration of the power of the global economy on those who can least afford it.

The event is being organised by the South-West London group of the World Development Movement, a campaigning organisation that works to change the systems and structures that put profit before people and the environment.

After the films there will be a drink to discuss the issues raised in the films.

Venue: Bread and Roses (back room) 68 Clapham Manor Street, London, SW4 6DZ

More info and details here

Greens become third party in Lambeth

It was a great night for the Greens in Lambeth and across London last night, as we returned two assembly members, and came third in the mayoral race - our best ever result.

For the first time the Green party came third in Lambeth and Southwark. We beat the Lib Dems by over 4,000 votes on the crucial party list vote (the orange ballot paper which we were focusing on with our "Vote Green on Orange" message) across the constituency, getting over 20,000 votes and a 13% vote share. Even on the first-past-the-post constituency vote where people tend to vote for the big three parties, we were neck and neck coming just 215 votes behind the Lib Dems. In the mayoral vote, people in Lambeth and Southwark also put the Green Party's mayoral candidate, Jenny Jones, in third place.

Looking at the London elects website Jenny Jones also received 22.5% of second preference votes in Lambeth and Southwark - more than any other candidate except Ken Livingstone. Add this to the 6.8% she received in first preference votes, and this makes a huge potential Green vote of almost 30%.

This is a fantastic achievement, and means the momentum continues for the Greens as we look forward to the council elections in two years time.

You can read the full results here.

It was a great night in council elections across the country, increasing our vote share, winning targets seats and holding our existing gains.

Deaf and disabled Londoners' Manifesto

Inclusion London have emailed to say I am the only candidate in Lambeth and Southwark backing their deaf and disabled Londoners' manifesto (they apparently approached all the candidates).

As Inclusion London points out, the Mayor has a range of powers that directly impact on the 1.4 million Deaf and disabled people living in London.

The manifesto calls on the Mayor and the London Assembly to make Deaf and disabled people a priority and to take specific and measurable action in nine areas to end exclusion and discrimination, improve quality of life and promote the equality and inclusion of Deaf and disabled Londoners.

It's been great that the Green Party has emphasised these issues in terms of its own policies - with its own specific manifesto for disabled Londoners, but also making its policies and materials available in a range of accessible formats.