Politics needs mavericks not just the same old chumocracy and groupthink | Jenni Russell

The Guardian - Monday 20th May, 2013

Suddenly there are new faces on our television screens, and new, agitated, indignant voices on the airwaves. Some are old or plummy-toned, some have grey hair, some are young and working class, some are anxious suburban commuters. Many of them are women. It is the raging rows over Ukip, gay marriage, Europe and swivel-eyed loons that have given these people a political presence.They are ...

Man stabbed in chest in Lee has life-threatening injuries

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Man stabbed in chest in Lee has life-threatening injuries A 35-YEAR-old man is in hospital with life threatening injuries after he was stabbed in the chest this morning in Lee. Police were called at 10.15am to reports of an assault near Lee station. The victim is believed to have called an ambulance from nearby hairdressers Hair Deco, in Manor Lane. He was taken to hospital ...

Two charged after cocaine seizure at Gatwick

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

News Two people have been charged after cocaine with a potential street value of 1 million was seized at Gatwick Airport. The two from the West Midlands, British nationals Kris Millwood, 29, of Beacon View Road, West Bromwich, and Sherelle Burke, 22, of Bridge Street, Coseley, Bilston, were arrested by Border Force officers at the airport's South Terminal. The pair had just ...

Burnt Oak fun day

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

, Reporter A Burnt Oak church will be hosting a community fun day this bank holiday Monday. Pentecostal church The Burnt Oak Christain Fellowship will be treating residents of the North Road Estate to a free barbeque, bouncy castle, a jumbe sale as well as face painting and children's activities. Youth worker Marcus Ottaviani who is helping organise the event said: "The ...

Tickets running out for Crystal Palace beer festival at Selhurst Park

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

The Cronx brewers Mark Russell and Simon Dale with the Crystals. The Crystal Palace Beer Festival is back for a third time this year and it is expected to be bigger than ever this weekend. In the space of three years, the Palace Beer Festival has become one of the biggest celebrations of ale and cider in the south of England. There will be more than 150 different beers and ciders on ...

VIDEO Balloon release marks 10th anniversary of Erith schoolgirl Gemma Rolfes unsolved death

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

AS SHE let the first balloon go in the evening sunshine, the mother of an Erith schoolgirl killed 10 years ago said simply: "Love you, Gemma". Janet Robey's daughter Gemma Rolfe was just 12 when she died in a car crash after the 4x4 she was travelling in was hit by a stolen van near the junction between Slade Green Road and Canada Road in Slade Green. The driver fled the ...

Police chase in Twickenham following fight over a girl

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Police in Water Lane, Twickenham A fight over a girl sparked a police chase through Twickenham this afternoon. Police were seen chasing a male on foot in the Water Lane/Church Street area at about 5pm today. A Twickenham police officer said: "It was a scuffle between a couple of males in their twenties over a girl." Police issued a section five public order offence ...

Teenager acquitted of Burger King murder

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Victim: Pelivan Zekaj A teenager who stabbed a man to death in a mass brawl at a Wood Green burger restaurant was cleared of all charges today after claiming self defence. Daniel Lewis, 19, of Gurney Close, Barking, Essex, was said to have murdered 23-year-old Pelivan Zekaj in Burger King in the Mall, Wood Green after a clash with a rival group of Albanians that started in the shopping ...

Sleep walkers raise thousands of pounds for charity

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Hundreds of walkers donned their pyjamas as they pounded the streets of Enfield under the cover of darkness to raise money for charity. The streets were filled with more than 600 volunteers taking part in the third Enfield Night Hike last Friday. Arranged by Enfield Council in conjunction with The Nightingale Cancer Support Centre and Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals Trust, the annual ...

Department for Education gives backing to East Finchley free school

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

The Archer Academy governors and Carmel who will be one of the first pupils to attend the school Parents are celebrating after the Department for Education formally backed plans for a free school to be built in East Finchley. The Archer Academy's chair of governors Avis Johns has signed the Funding Agreement with the department, meaning plans to open the school in September will go ...

Evicted Kingston market traders secure meeting with town centre managers Kingstonfirst

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Evicted Kingston market traders secure meeting with town centre managers Kingstonfirst Two traders kicked out of Kingston Market Place will be given the chance to present their case at a hearing this week. David Wilson and Angela Lassiter will meet with town centre managers Kingstonfirst on Thursday to argue against being booted out of the market ahead of a planned revamp. The pair ...

Second arrest made in shop worker murder case

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Murdered: James Sweeney A second man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 30-year-old shop worker. Detectives have arrested a 22-year-old on suspicion of killing James Sweeney in Clapton on Saturday, May 4. Jeremy Lewis, 29, of 16 Collinson Court inGenerals Walk in Enfield was previously charged with the murder on Wednesday, May 8. He appeared in custody at ...

Pupils take a stroll as part of walk to school campaign

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

By Bruce Thain Primary school pupils put one foot in front of the other today as part of a national day of action to highlight the benefits of walking to school. Pupils, staff, and parents from all years at Whitchurch First School, in Wemborough Road, Stanmore, took on the circuit round the school as part of national Walk to School Week. Headteacher Ann Winstrom said: "It was ...

Fantastic Jewish food festival attracts hundreds of visitors

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Gefiltefest, held at the London Jewish Cultural Centre attracted hundreds of visitors for a day of cooking demonstrations and tasty ...

Mice infestation drives Sydenham family to desperation

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

A SYDENHAM woman is a 'prisoner' in her own home due to a 16-month-long mice infestation which the housing association has refused to treat. Ola Bakare and her four children - one of whom has autism - have been living in two rooms of their three bedroom flat because the situation has got so desperate despite repeated visits from pest control. She said the company described ...

College students chosen for business rebrand

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Mark Woodman and Kusu Biti from Freeformers, freelancer Dumisani Kopotsha, and Project Manager Kofi Oppong with students A group of college students were chosen develop the advertising and branding for a social enterprise supported by Prince Charles. The pupils from the College of Haringey, Enfield and North London worked for Circle Sport, which helps young people into employment. ...

MP steps up campaign to save Epsom Hospital

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

700 people attended the meeting of Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group's governing body at Epsom Downs Racecourse Epsom's MP is stepping up the campaign to save Epsom Hospital, after he said Surrey's GP commissioning group "agreed in principle" to axe its A&E, maternity and children's units at a meeting on Friday. Chris Grayling MP has today ...

Clapham trees get clean bill of health after survey

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Aboriculturalist Clive Mayhew talks about ash die-back Trees on Clapham Common have been given a clean bill of health from the potentially deadly and highly contagious Ash Die-Back disease. A tree survey took place on Clapham Common over the weekend with experts looking for signs of disease. The Friends of Clapham Common (FOCC) joined forces with arboriculturalist Clive Mayhew to ...

The Voice talent scouts to come to Walthamstow open mic night

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

, Reporter Singers will be able to perform in front of talent scouts from BBC show The Voice to possibly win their shot at performing in front of the show's superstar judges when scouts come to Walthamstow next week. A monthly open mic night at Walthamstow Town Hall Social Club will host scouts from Wall to Wall TV production company who produce the smash-hit BBC One show The ...

Join the conversation about dementia

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Anna Maton and Rebecca Turner People across Barnet are "joining the conversation" about Alzheimer's during Dementia Awareness Week. The Alzheimer's Society in Barnet is working with hospitals, business and members of the public across the borough to raise awareness of dementia. This evening, John Henderson, the quizmaster at the Elephant Inn pub in North Finchley ...

Madonna confirmed as presenter for Twickenham concert

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

Madonna will appear at Twickenham stadium in less than a fortnight's time The list of A listers joining a concert at Twickenham Stadium keeps growing, with Madonna becoming the latest addition announced today. Beyonce and J-Lo are already confirmed to play at The Sound of Change Live on June 1, with Madonna increasing the concert's credentials even further. Chime for ...

Woman attacked with knife in unusually violent mugging

This is Local London - Monday 20th May, 2013

By Chris Hewett A woman in her fifties had her hand slashed with a knife by a young mugger who snatched her bag in an underpass. The victim was attacked in a cut-through which passes under the railway tracks between Westbrook Crescent and Cromer Road, New Barnet. She was approached from behind at about 1.40pm on Saturday by a man described as aged 19 or 20 who pushed her to the ...