Unite Against Fascism predicts humiliation at the polls for the BNP. Photo: UAF

The British National Party has announced it will field candidates for the May mayoral elections in Lewisham and Hackney, sparking outrage from anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations.

Candidate details have not yet been released but Bob Bailey, the party’s London organiser, said it will do everything necessary to get them on the ballot paper. “It’s time the BNP stood in these elections but we do need money to make sure it happens.”

The party hopes to win votes by following a low-tax agenda. “Councils today invade all aspects of people’s lives and it is necessary to remove all unnecessary welfare costs and stop councils from behaving like a nanny,” Mr Bailey said.

Due to its controversial policies, the BNP is accused of being a racist and fascist organisation. It calls for an end to immigration and the “repatriation” of immigrants already living in the UK. Non-whites cannot be considered British, it claims.

A spokesperson from Unite Against Fascism told EastLondonlines: “Hackney, Lewisham and Newham are proud, multi-cultural and multi-racial London boroughs. They are a living testament to everything the BNP would like to destroy. We have no doubt that if the BNP stands in the elections in these boroughs they will be humiliated at the polls.”

Lewisham has a history of opposing the far-right. In 1977, during what became known as ‘The Battle of Lewisham,’ the National Front, forerunner of the BNP, attempted to march through Lewisham but was overwhelmed and stopped by 10,000 anti-racist demonstrators.

Last week, the BNP was warned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission to either scrap its “all white” membership criteria or face legal action under equality laws.

Environmental campaigners held a public meeting in Hackney to discuss ways residents can help contribute to reducing carbon emissions locally.

The meeting took place last Thursday and was organized by Dave Raval, parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Hackney and south Shoreditch. It formed part of a series of meetings aimed at getting professional speakers to share practical ways to improve community life in the borough.

Mr Raval said: “After Copenhagen, more than ever before, it is important for the community to get together to share their knowledge to help us reach a ten percent decrease in emissions by 2010.”

Cutting edge innovator Thor Hedrickson unveiled his new invention, the ReGen, a device that helps save energy in buildings and is specifically designed to fit into the chimneys of older houses. Mr Hendrickson went on to urge citizens of Hackney to limit their impact on the environment.

“Residents must realize that the carbon emissions caused by loss of heat in the UK account for 5 per cent [of total emissions], which is even higher than the aviation industry, which accounts for 3 per cent,” he said. “Yet nobody is really paying attention to this because you cannot see it.”

Joe Jordan, who lives in Hackney, told East London Lines: “This open meeting has made me realise that I have to improve my ventilation system to reduce my carbon footprint.”

“It is very important for the community to act as a watchdog of the council and hold them accountable for the targets they set,” he added.

Bringing the event to a close, Councillor Alexis Rowel, leader for Camden Council’s environmental policy, offered residents four simple steps to take action.

“It is important for individuals to understand that the best way to help the environment is through community action,” said Cllr Rowel. “Get together with a few friends, learn a skill like insulating windows, save the planet, and have fun while you do it!”

Megan Ward shows off her key ring invention Photo: Paula Ward

A Croydon ten year old with dyslexia has turned a £34 pocket money invention into a £12,000 business venture.

Megan Ward’s key ring invention of a pair of three dimensional lungs blackened by cigarette tar has been snapped up by anti-smoking consultancy Gasp. The company subsequently ordered 25,000 of them.

The youngster said: “I am really excited that lots of people will see them and I hope it puts them off smoking for life. It smells nasty and it’s bad for you. I would be so happy if just one person saw my invention and it stopped them smoking.”

Gasp director Cecilia Farren described Megan’s creation as an “extraordinary idea,” adding, “I think she’s brilliant.”

Megan was nine when she learned about smoking in school and decided to invent something that would help people quit.

She said: “I bought a plastic bag from the shops and some brown squidgy paint, and made it look like a lung, and the brown paint looked like the tar and you could squeeze it around.”

She then sent her design to a professional model-making company in China, which cost her £34. Her enterprise has now netted her thousands of pounds following Gasp’s order.

Megan’s mother Paula said: “School isn’t always easy for Megan because she’s dyslexic and struggles with reading and writing. But she’s so creative and full of ideas. I think it’s amazing that she can think in this way.”

The young inventor adds her product to a number of other patented creations and eventually hopes to design a machine to allow people to fly.

Ladbrokes has odds for the 2010 election favourites Photo: Allan Stanton

Labour is on course for victory in the upcoming Lewisham constituency elections, according to bookmakers’ predictions.

In Deptford, Labour is the favourite by far with odds of 1/66, whilst the Liberal Democrats are as likely to be elected as Lady Sovereign is to win Celebrity Big Brother with odds of 33/1. The Conservatives are falling behind with odds of 100/1, which is the same chance Eddie Izzard has of becoming Mayor of London in 2012.

East Lewisham also shows Labour as the favourite with odds of 1/25 which will generate a return of £1.04 every pound you bet. The conservatives may return  £9 for every £1 pound bet and the Liberal Democrats £41 with odds of 8/1 and 40/1 respectively.

The Lib Dems are the least favourite to win in Lewisham West and Penge, and are as likely to win the election as a British director is to win an Oscar for Best Director this year with odds of 16/1. The Tories are in second place with odds of 5/1 whilst Labour is in the lead with 1/7.

Nick Weinger, a spokesman for Ladbrokes, told East London Lines that even though the odds are mainly based on what punters think, they start off by analysing the local situation.

He said: “1/66 are about the most favourable odds  you are going to get. The odds reflect what we think is going to happen beyond even allowing for a minor miracle.”

Some may risk betting against the odds lured by the possible return knowing that the final outcome of the general election is yet to be determined.

Deptford

Labour 1/66

Green 12/1

Lib Dem 33/1

Conservatives 100/1

Lewisham East

Labour 1/25

Conservatives 8/1

Lib Dem 40/1

Greens 100/1

Lewisham West and Penge

Labour 1/7

Conservatives 5/1

Lib Dem 16/1

Greens 100/1

Young, depressed & unemployed. Photo: Rob Harding

Unemployed young people suffering the effects of the recession could face a lifetime of poorer health and lower happiness, a report warned this week.

The Prince’s Trust YouGov Youth Index revealed that those out of work are significantly less happy with their health, friendships and family life than those in work.

One in ten young people (11 per cent) claim that unemployment drove them to drugs or alcohol. Unemployed young people are also more likely to feel ashamed, rejected and unloved more of the time.

Boroughs along the East London line are suffering from some of the highest rates of unemployment in the country. Tower Hamlets has the highest level of youth unemployment in the area; in Hackney there are 37 claimants for every new job according to The Hackney Unemployed Workers’ Group; Lewisham and Tower Hamlets do not fall far behind.

Matt Dobson, a spokesman for Youth Fight For Jobs said: “Young unemployed people get frustrated and feel there is no place for them in the community, especially with the higher costs of university transport and other necessary every day costs.”

Some boroughs such as Lewisham have schemes to place young people in jobs, but according to Dobson they are flawed and do not provide real job opportunities.

Mr Dobson added: “Job schemes should create real jobs with real contracts and decent wages. Companies are using the scheme as a tool to drive salaries down. The jobs offered are usually temporary for six months with very few ending in a renewed contract.”

Ian Page, Lewisham Socialist Party councillor for Telegraph Hill ward said: “The council has made big publicity about the scheme but the numbers of jobs available are extremely low. These are not proper jobs because they are low pay and temporary. They should be made permanent with full trade union employment rights.”

The study found that a quarter of young people who are or have been unemployed say that their joblessness caused arguments with family members while 28 per cent claim that unemployment caused them to exercise less, with around one in six of those currently out of work getting no exercise at all.

Leading economist Professor David Blanchflower claimed that unemployment has a knock-on effect on a young person’s self-esteem, their emotional stability and overall wellbeing. The longer the period a young person is unemployed, the more likely they are to experience this psychological scarring.

“This means an unhappy and debilitated generation of young people who, as a result, becomes decreasingly likely to find work in the future,” he said.

Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust said: “The implications of youth unemployment stretch beyond the dole queue.”

“The emotional effects on young people are profound, long-term and can become irreversible. We must act now to prevent a lost generation of young people before it is too late.”