Five reasons Liberal Democrats’ Carl Quilliam wants your vote in Leyton and Wanstead

Waltham Forest E-Guardian – Wednesday 15th April 2015

The Guardian Series has asked each parliamentary candidate to list five reasons why they should become an MP at the General Election on May 7.

Here the Liberal Democrat candidate for Leyton and Wanstead, Carl Quilliam, explains why you should vote for him.

1. I’m a Liberal Democrat

Over the past 5 years Lib Dems have cut taxes by over £800 for 23 million people and taken over 3 million low paid workers out of tax all together. We’ve delivered the highest ever increase in the state pension and invested an extra £2.5 billion in education to close the attainment gap between the richest and poorest children.

Having more Lib Dems in parliament can make a difference and locally we have been the main opposition to the Labour party for decades. If you elect me in May I will be a strong voice in parliament for pensioners, the low paid, families and everyone in Leyton and Wanstead who needs someone to stand up for them.

2. I want to ensure better NHS services for mental health

Mental health services have been seen as a Cinderella service for too long. Lib Dems have delivered the first waiting time standards for mental health services and enshrined in law the principle that mental and physical health should be treated equally.

Mental health services need more investment and proper integration between care services and the NHS. As a Lib Dem MP I’ll campaign for more investment in services locally and make sure the recent problems exposed at Whipps Cross are tackled and not swept under the carpet.

3. I want to ensure we build enough homes for the next generation

For years not enough affordable homes have been built to meet what we need. In government the Lib Dems have allowed local councils to build council houses again for the first time in decades but there is much more to do.

I will push for more council housing to be built for local people to help tackle the long waiting lists. I’ll support more homes for sale and rent that are truly affordable. And I’ll fight for more rights for private renters, building on the local Lib Dems’ campaign for landlord licensing and ensuring renters get a fair deal.

4. I want to tackle youth unemployment in our area

Youth unemployment has been too high for too long in Leyton and Wanstead. Locally Lib Dems have created 2,580 apprenticeships, given £459,212 in start-up loans, supported 7,000 new businesses and increased the number of women in work by 24,800.

But there is much more to do to ensure we keep building a stronger local economy and tackle youth employment. If I’m elected in May I will campaign for more apprenticeships and better training and jobs for young people locally.

5. I will fight for more funding for local schools and more school places

Lib Dems have helped to deliver opportunity for all by investing £14 million in schools to make sure each and every disadvantaged child has a good start to their education. On top of that 3,800 local children have benefited from having a free school meal.

Lib Dems in government have also helped deliver millions more investment in our school buildings – and without Labour’s expensive PFI deals – to create much needed school places. But we still need more places for local kids and if I’m elected I’ll make more places and more investment a priority as your MP.