General Election 2017 Manifesto

Constituency: Hackney South and Shoreditch

Communities Together

Regardless of age, background,

religion, or gender:
A progressive plan for
Hackney South and Shoreditch.

Hugo Sugg Independent

________________________________

Feed the conversation:

#HackneyTogether // @HackneyTogether

www.hackneytogether.wordpress.com
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Hackney South and Shoreditch is a vibrant hub of difference,

choice and diversity.
Explore how Hugo Sugg (Independent) wants to help bring
Communities Together in Hackney South and Shoreditch
over the course of the next Parliament.

3 FOREWORD

5 COMMUNITY

9 BUSINESS

11 TRANSPORT

12 ENVIRONMENT

13 EDUCATION

15 CRIME

17 POLICY COSTS

18 THANK YOU

19 LEGAL

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FOREWORD

" I want to bring the values of community cohesion

into an already vibrant set of communities. London is one
of the most diverse cities in the world, and South Hackney
including Shoreditch brings a wealth of people together
in one location. As much as the above is positive I have
seen different levels of housing deprivation, homelessness,
unemployment and mental health services weaken under the
lack of Central Government support. Young people in this
constituency have also seen a drastic drop in youth services.

Zero-hour contracts still exist in this community, meaning

that hard work isnt sustainable. High cost-low
quality housing is an issue the Council cant ignore: These are
peoples lives. Homelessness and rough sleeping is
increasing and there needs to be a comprehensive strategy
to tackle this.

Hackney South and Shoreditch has suffered 7 "

years under Austerity let us not make it any more.

HUGO SUGG, Independent

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Prospective General Election 2017 Candidate

Hugo Sugg pictured in Shoreditch

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COMMUNITY

A community is a collection of people. Hackney South and

Shoreditch is a community in Hackney Borough itself,
London, the United Kingdom, Europe and the world.
Communities are vital to community cohesion and
strengthening our bonds as citizens.
Hackney has a diverse range of backgrounds, ages, beliefs
and values and these can all be seen as communities. Hugo
Sugg wants to look below the surface of these and address
abuse of the homeless, stigmatisation of the mentally ill, the
Islamophobia portrayed in the media and inequalities of the
housing market.
Over this Election, Hugo from Communities Together will
be introducing himself and reaching out to religious leaders,
the homeless on the streets and hostels, and residents of
housing estates which havent seen redevelopment in the
last few years. Listening to these different points of views
will allow Hugo to create policies over this Election which are
inclusive, diverse and with the people they represent at the
very heart of them.
As a qualified Youth and Community Worker and ex-
homeless person; Hugo has lived on benefits, sofa-surfed,
worked 12 hour nights and lived in low-quality housing
and passionately believes in making sure the focus is on the
person who is left behind after big politics takes over.
A topical issue in this Election is the UKs negotiations from
Leaving the EU. Hackney voted overwhelmingly to Remain in
the 2016 Referendum, however the UK is leaving the
European Union and the benefits of this are yet to be felt.

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Being a strong Remain voter, Hugo believes in the notion of

the European community and gaining the best for the EU
employees, students and holidaymakers who come to
London (and especially Hackney) to feel welcome and
included.
Homelessness in Hackney is increasing with a total of 33
homeless hostels and according to research is the 6th biggest
homeless hotspots in England. Hugo Sugg will campaign and
work with the Local Authority and agencies to help provide
accommodation and support for the homeless when elected.
There are many empty properties in the Borough which can
be refurbished to acceptable living standards, and these can
be used to take rough sleepers from the doorways and into
bedrooms.
In mainstream media, research has shown that young people
disproportionately get shown to be trouble makers and
burdens in society. Positive press in regards to young people
in Hackney is below the amount of negative press which is
deeply unfair and weakens the ties between our future
generation and the rest of the community.
In this Manifesto, we also pledge to campaign to the Local
Authority for more funding to keep community centres and
youth clubs open as this will help deepen integration
between young people and the community. Alongside this,
Hugo has also agreed to give up 15,000 from his Member
of Parliament salary and dedicate it to improving
opportunities for young people in the constituency.
Mental Health illness is becoming less stigmatised and
talked about more due to continuing research and
campaigns highlighting the issue more than ever before.
Homerton Mental Health services have been severely

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affected by Austerity and lack of money. As a result to this

underfunding and knowledge, there isnt adequate services
to support the needs of the mentally ill in the constituency
or Borough. Research has shown that mental illness and
homelessness are very closely linked and Hackney has been
one of the four London Boroughs that has had its specialist
statutory Homelessness Mental Health Team cut and
eventually stopped altogether since 2012.
It is important to note that rough sleeping has risen across
the Borough but the services to tackle the problem and
subsequent issues has dropped.
Due to his passion about the issue and his personal
experience Hugo Sugg pledges to do the following if
elected;
work with local homeless charities and the Local
Authority to come up with a joint action plan to tackle
the issue
research funding to support homeless hostels and
make sure education around homelessness happens in
our schools, youth clubs and community centres.

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Hugo Sugg talking to local entrepreneurs about their businesses

and what theyd like to see out of the General Election 2017

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BUSINESS

Much of our local economy is driven by business in the area,

and providing services to its community like hairdressing,
food and lifestyle. With gentrification and development
growing in North East London, in particular Shoreditch, it is
becoming a more desirable place to live and work. However
businesses exist with employees to staff their operations.
Whether its the technology start-up, an office block or shop
in the street employers have many overheads.
Business rates and wages take over the majority of costs and
become a reason why independent shops may close.
Communities Together happens when the economy is
thriving and the costs are kept to a minimum to allow for
maximum effect. Voting for Hugo Sugg as Member of
Parliament in this constituency, would see a comprehensive
campaign to the Local Authority to freeze business rental
rates for the 2018/19 financial year.
This freeze would also allow employers to consider changing
zero-hour contracts into permanent roles or raising the pay
of their employees.
Business owners are included in this section as they make the
high street shop, office in a tower-block and hardworking
entrepreneur who has suffered recent hikes in business rates,
taxes, duties and increasing costs of living.
From working in a start-up Monday-Friday himself during
the launch of this very campaign, Hugo has seen first-hand
the struggles his managers have suffered over the last 2+
years.

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Hugo wants to put the working person in the heart of his

local economy stance.
Many residents in the area have high rent and bills, but little
money. This policy reaches out to the thousands who work
for the food on the table and roof over their heads. Our local
cleaners who keep our spaces clean, the bar tenders who
serve our social needs and the receptionist which facilitates
our appointments.
Communities Together symbolises that people who work
in business and have a home, or people who work but dont
have a home being interlinked.

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TRANSPORT

Hackney South and Shoreditch is a hub of transport links.

Trains, cars and buses flow through and help keep us moving
between our social life and work life. Hackney also boasts a
growing cycling community which proves to be economical
as well as environmental.
There are many ways to travel Hackney South, and there are
travel links in all directions around the Borough. It provides
a straight through link between Harringay & City and
Stratford to Camden.
Uber has been of particular concern to London taxi drivers
due to the unfair pricing structure they have. There have
been many calls for regulation and Hugo Sugg backs these
calls.
Hackney Borough has many routes and ways of people to
get in, out and around the area. Hugo Sugg pledges to keep
this as accessible as possible. By building more cycle lanes,
keeping train lines open as long as possible and campaigning
to regulate Uber taxi prices, we hope to make travelling
easier for our most vulnerable.
As an MP, Hugo would work with his counterpart in Hackney
North & Stoke Newington, Hackney Council and Transport
for London to make the above become a reality.

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ENVIRONMENT

The air we breathe and the green areas we live in should be

preserved and clean for our enjoyment. Hackney South has
many open spaces for the community to enjoy and this
should be continued.
Earlier this year (2017) the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
announced that London levels of pollution are at illegal
levels and aims to combat this. As an MP for the
Constituency, it would be essential to support the Mayors
plan to cut air pollution.
As mentioned earlier in this document, residents in Hackney
South and Shoreditch are increasingly using cycling as a
mode of transport to get around, which brings possible
health implications for individuals with the current illegal
levels of air pollution.
Smog over Hackney has decreased over the last decade, and
this is to be recognised however not to be forgotten that
more work needs to be done.
Hugo Sugg campaigns for a better environment, better
recycling facilities and supports the Mayors plans to tackle
illegal pollution. As MP, Hugo would work with the
Environment Agency, Department for Health, Transport for
London and the Mayors Office to create a comprehensive
plan for these issues.

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EDUCATION

Hackney as a Borough has high performing schools and

grade attainments. Young people are getting average or
above in the Borough compared to the rest of London and
the country. This is a record of achievement for both
constituencies and should be encouraged.
Young people make up a large proportion of our community
according to the Hackney profile 2016 and have good
schools which will help them progress onto apprenticeships,
jobs and university.
University for many young people is seen as a good stepping
stone from school and into an earning member of society.
The costs associated with education have risen greatly over
the last 7 years of a Conservative-led Government.
Hugo wants to support this and work with school leaders,
teachers, students and parents to help create even better
education for our future generation. Apprenticeships also
help build our workforce, and Hugo pledges to work with
the Department for Education and the Jobcentre Plus to help
employers take young people on.
Education doesnt just happen in the classroom or workplace
however, and that is why Hugo has an emphasis on youth
clubs during this election. Youth clubs provide excellent
informal education about sexual health, relationships, drugs,
alcohol, crime, homework and CV writing.
As mentioned earlier, Hugo Sugg is pledging 15,000 of his
MPs salary to youth clubs in Hackney South and Shoreditch,
to help young people develop their skills out of education.
Another pledge by Hugo will be helping to lobby the
Government to reinstate the means-tested 30 a week

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Education Maintenance Allowance and also challenge the

rising cost of living whilst in education.

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CRIME

Knife crime incidents are rising rapidly which causes mass

unease amongst our community. The Metropolitan Police
Hackney team work extremely hard to tackle anti-social
behaviour and in particular knife crime.
In February 2017, the Metropolitan Police dealt with a
mixture of over 180 crimes in Hackney Central alone.
A recent report by the Home Affairs Committee in
Parliament has found that there are about 32,000 sex
workers in London. The number in Hackney is unknown,
however this does not mean it doesnt exist.
Hugo recognises this can be an overlooked issue, however
he wants to work with the Police, housing, womens
refugees and Jobcentre Plus to best support these workers
into sustainable and safe lifestyle and employment.
Knife amnesties have been proven to reduce crime in other
areas in the Capital and UK, and this is something Hugo
wants to apply for Government funding to run these at
regular intervals in the Borough, working with Hackney
North.
One particular incident that made national headlines very
recently was the unprovoked acid attack at a nightclub in
London Fields. Because of the quick responses of the
nightclub owner and the Police the offender was caught
and jailed for life just days before this Manifesto was
published. Hugo would like to praise all those involved,
including the public and the Judge who helped see justice
being served.

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There is also a rise of drive-by mobile phone theft incidents

and these are being addressed currently with a campaign to
help keep constituents aware.
Hugo Sugg pledges;

to work with the Police authorities (including

Transport Police), Home Office and the Local Authority
to tackle this and help reassure the public
to ask for more funding from Central Government to
help keep the Police on the streets and back office
departments adequately staffed
work with the local Police teams and go out with them
on their rounds to talk to constituents and reassure
their safety is our main priority
have regular weapons and knife amnesties in the
Borough where current or potential criminals can
surrender their weapons

It is vital that we feel safe when we go to the shops, see

friends, visit family and travel to work. A vote for Hugo
would help improve security for the constituency.

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POLICY COSTS

All the above policies and the ones mentioned throughout

the Election Campaign will need money to allow them to
work or bring them to life. Hugo Sugg recognises this and
wanted to include this into the Manifesto.
The idea behind Communities Together is to help build up
resources through people but not just taxes. Hugo Sugg
wants to commit to working with the Local Authority to help
keep Council Tax at an affordable level for residents
especially those who are struggling financially.
One way of funding these policies is through external means
like businesses, charitable donations, Grants and initiatives
by the private sector.
Hugo recognises the impact that high cost has on every-day
workers, and therefore will work with members of the
community to help support applications for funding.

Hugo Sugg believes that the vision of stronger communities,

in Hackney South and Shoreditch working together, can win
this Election and put these policy proposals into action
stopping any more Austerity.

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THANK YOU

Hugo Sugg would like to pass on his thanks to his Campaign

team, donors and members of the community who have
helped him stand, collaborate on this Manifesto and put the
community first.

Communities together make our Borough better, safer and

stronger.
Please vote for Hugo Sugg, Independent candidate in
Hackney South and Shoreditch constituency and help put his
progressive plan for the area into action.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

Please support our Campaign by following our social media:

- Website: www.hackneytogether.wordpress.com
- Twitter: @HackneyTogether
- Hashtag: #HackneyTogether | #VoteHugo
- Facebook: .com/HackneyTogether
- Email: hackneycommunitiestogether@gmail.com

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Communities Together

Regardless of age, background,

religion, or gender:
A progressive plan for
Hackney South and Shoreditch.

Hugo Sugg Independent

General Election 2017 | Hackney South and Shoreditch

Registered Address:
HUGO SUGG
4 Derby Court,
2 Overbury Street,
Homerton,
E5 0TE

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