News in Brief

Humaira Garasia is to become deputy speaker at Hackney Council Pic: Hackney Council

Former Goldsmiths student takes on key role at Hackney Council

A former Goldsmiths student was elected as deputy speaker of Hackney Council yesterday at the local authority’s AGM.

Humaira Garasia, the Labour councillor for Haggerston, aims to work with the new Speaker to help tackle social injustice and supporting Hackney’s young people.

Councillor Michael Desmond was elected as the new Speaker.

Shadow minister from Croydon Central speaks in House of Lords

Sarah Jones. Pic: Chris McAndrew

Shadow Minister Sarah Jones, the MP for Croydon Central spoke in the House of Commons yesterday about Lords amendments to the Fire Safety Bill. The new Bill was introduced last month, in an effort to improve fire safety in buildings in England and Wales.  MPs have been fighting to insert a clause prohibiting remediation costs from being passed on to residents. Jones said leaseholders were facing repair bills “of up to £75,000.”

Jones said: “We stand here today while thousands watch this debate and suffer, worrying about their futures, getting into debt and facing bankruptcy and we have to ask ourselves what does this Government actually care about?”

Two men rushed to Hospital with stab wounds

Two men were found on Belmont Hill, Lewisham yesterday afternoon (April 27) suffering from stab wounds. One man was found with stab wounds to the back and the other suffering from a serious laceration to his hand.

Both men were taken to hospital and are said to have non-life threatening conditions.

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.54pm today to reports of a stabbing on Belmont Hill….We sent an ambulance crew and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London’s Air Ambulance.”

They added: “A man was treated at the scene and taken to a major trauma centre as a priority.”

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