Give us a jobs share

Published: 13 May, 2011

• I VISITED Network Rail’s Thameslink upgrade site at Farringdon station with Lib Dem London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon and Clerkenwell Lib Dem councillor George Allan. 

A dramatically better Thameslink service north to south, with Crossrail east to west, and on top of major Tube improvements, will improve London’s transport capacity. 

This will benefit Islington residents and Londoners in general, for jobs and leisure. Better public transport plays a critical role in ensuring London’s economy and Islington’s businesses continue to thrive.

It is exciting that Farringdon is at the centre of these projects. The engineering and building skills we saw being deployed are hugely impressive. However, about half the workforce is foreign, and this is because skilled Britons are not available or not applying.

It is essential that local people know about and get training for these vital jobs. 

With the major transport construction schemes, plus the huge Thames Tunnel sewer scheme in prospect later, there could be 25 years of guaranteed employment.

Guarantees of all this investment in London’s transport were a major win for Liberal Democrats in last autumn’s spending review, and I am pleased that Crossrail has £1billion loan from the European Investment Bank. 

Let’s make sure Londoners, and especially those in Islington, get the employment as well as the travelling benefit.

BARONESS SARAH LUDFORD 
Lib Dem MEP for London