Elections 2010 in Haringey: Hornsey and Wood Green PPC, Karen Jennings, celebrates Labour's housing achievements (From Haringey Independent)

Elections 2010 in Haringey: Hornsey and Wood Green PPC, Karen Jennings, celebrates Labour's housing achievements

12:47pm Tuesday 30th March 2010 in

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THE battle for Hornsey and Wood Green kicked into gear this week as fierce rivals from Labour and Liberal Democrat camps officially launch their election campaigns.

Muswelll Hill resident Karen Jennings, Labour's PPC, has been aggressively campaigning across the constituency for months in a bid to reclaim the seat held by her party for 13 years before the 2005 General Elections.

It was in that race that incumbent MP, Lynne Featherstone (Liberal Democrat), ousted her Labour predecessor Barbara Roche with a majority of 2,395 votes — one of the biggest swings of the General Election.

Now Ms Jennings is fighting to reclaim the seat, and has called in help from Labour bigwigs such as John Prescott and housing minister John Healey to add further weight to her campaign.

Mr Healey joined the MP hopeful on the campaign trail in Hornsey's Campsbourne Estate yesterday to celebrate the positive developments on the estate under the Labour Government's Decent Homes Programme.

Ms Jennings, head of health at Unison, said: "Over £85 million has been invested in improving homes in Hornsey and Wood Green. Pride and dignity has been restored for the families living on the Campsbourne Estate and local business has been boosted and jobs created.

"These are the kind of improvements that were unimaginable 10 years ago and are at risk at the next election."

The housing minister said that since 1997, Labour has invested more than £21 billion into bringing social housing up to a required standard.

"By the end of this year, 92 per cent of public housing will have had new kitchens and bathrooms, new windows and central heating – and only a Labour government will ensure the rest of the job gets done", Mr Healey added.

The pair also met two young men, Ryan Pelling and Dan English, who were offered construction apprenticeships as part of a joint initiative between the Government and Haringey Council as a skills and job boost.

Ms Featherstone, a passionate campaigner, will launch her bid to continue representing Hornsey and Wood Green on Thursday.

Conservative PPC Richard Merrin has also been campaigning and is focusing on three key election issues: preserving the future of the Whittington Hospital, the economy and national debt and fair funding for Haringey pupils.

All three candidates, representing Britain's major parties, attending a youth hustings last Friday at Fortismere School, in Muswell Hill, to be grilled by young people on the issues that affect them.

The Green Party is fielding Pete McAskie — a former Haringey and Enfield GLA candidate in the 2008 London Elections.

Are you a Hornsey and Wood Green PPC? Don't get angry if we have missed you out — get in touch, so we can give your campaign some coverage, too.

Call the Haringey Independent on 020 8359 5907.