East End has tradition of success
By John Biggs
One of "my" two X-Factor contestants (they live in my constituency), Rachel, has been voted out. Stacey remains. There is an East End tradition of success from a modest start to which they both belong. Other examples of success from the East End are numerous - another, from a different field, comes to mind each morning as I walk through Whitechapel and glance up at the blue plaque marking the home of the founder of Tesco.
Who would expect such a modest start to lead to such achievements?
Although each example tells its own story, there are so many of them, and collectively they tell the big secret of not just the East End but of London as a whole - that of unlocking the energy, ideas and drive of people, many of whom, or whose parents, came to London from far away.
If you want another example look at story of New York. Is it a coincidence that both London and New York are such exceptional cities? The welcoming, churning, challenging environment and opportunities for new arrivals and local people alike is the key ingredient that makes London special.
So we need to nurture it. There are a few obvious strands - like language training, good basic education, opportunities for further and higher education and cheaper housing - that help this to happen.
As we face a period of cutbacks in spending, we must remember these ingredients, and keep nourishing them.
- John Biggs is London Assembly Member, City and East
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Read The Wharf E-Edition
"As we face a period of cutbacks in spending"
Thanks to the Labour recession
Period of cutbacks?
Why did Brown repeat time and time again, no cuts, no cuts etc.
Biggs is full of BS a usual