Merlene attends BC Project in Chinatown

Speech by Merlene Emerson delivered to Members of the Public on Sun 13th Apr 2008

I am very pleased to be able to represent Mayoral Candidate Brian Paddick today. If he weren't running in the Marathon (not just running for Mayor) he would definitely be here with us in Chinatown.

Thank you to the Chinese Community Association and BC Project for organising this event to encourage all Chinese to become registered to vote. It is obvious now (if it weren't before that Politics is important to all of us - whether white Chinese or any other race living in London. Politics and policies affect our lives and livelihoods - where we send our children to school, how much tax we pay and how to look after our aged. If you have chosen to live in the UK then no more considering ourselves a separate community. I urge you all to exercise your rights and privilege as democratic citizens.

As you know Brian Paddick came to Chinatown and celebrated with the businesses and the lion dance just here in Gerrard St. on Chinese New Year this year. And of all the three candidates he was the only one who went to Friends Meeting House a month ago and supported whole heartedly the ricebowl petition and campaign protesting against the Governments new points system and immigration raids.

As you know. I will myself be representing you as Lib Dem Candidate in the London Assembly on 1st May - in this Constituency of W Central. However I will not be able to achieve that unless you vote for me and for my party.

The Liberal democrats have polities most sympathetic to the Chinese community - right to work for asylum seekers, we have signed up to the Stranger to Citzen programme and also have policies that protect small businesses and the ordinary man and woman.

Please therefore do not look down on us that we are the smallest of the 3 major parties just as you do not want the majority population to ignore you as a minority population. Vote for change not for who is already in power as that will not change anything.

Thank you for your support on May the 1st.