International Women’s Day 2021

08 Mar 2021

International Women’s Day is about reinforcing the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world and celebrating the achievements of women and calling for gender parity. This year’s theme is choose to challenge. For me, a challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge…

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Petition to resurface St Albans Road

26 Feb 2021

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St. Albans Road improved by North Watford Labour team

18 Feb 2021

Following pressure from your local Labour team, Hertfordshire County council has agreed to resurface St Albans between the junction with Balmoral Road and Leavesden Road. The condition of the road has steadily deteriorated, drains are often blocked and the flooding usually occurs in parts of the road. North Watford County Councillor…

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Indian Farmers Protest Event

18 Feb 2021

I was honoured to take part in a Zoom call to discuss the Indian Farmers protest on Saturday 13th February. I wanted to show my support as an individual councillor and as the Leader of the Watford Labour Group for the brave and determined campaign by the Indian farmers. It’s…

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Tier 4 Coronavirus statement

20 Dec 2020

Councillor Asif Khan and Chair of Watford Labour Party said: “The new Tier 4 announcement is bitterly disappointing for families in Watford that will not be able to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. The last minute announcement by Boris Johnson should have been made earlier. It shows yet again…

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Great British Spring Clean

29 Sep 2020

As part of The Great British September Clean 2020, Labour councillors and members of the local community took part in litter picks across North and West Watford. During a 2 week period, over 16 bags of litter were collected in Callowland Recreation Ground, Goodwood Recreation Ground, Harwoods Recreation Ground, Harebreaks…

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Labour councillors press PM to extend coronavirus ‘furlough scheme’

16 Sep 2020

1,200 Labour council leaders, mayors, and councillors from across the UK have written to Boris Johnson, urging him to rethink plans to scrap furlough outright and instead implement a targeted financial support scheme to prevent mass unemployment as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The letter outlines the signatories’ support…

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Covid-19 testing: Watford needs answers

16 Sep 2020

“With students and teachers trying to return to school safely after a difficult six months, this government has made the whole process far more difficult by failing to ensure COVID-19 testing is available and accessible for Watford residents. Cllr Asif Khan, North Watford county councillor and Leggatts councillor said: “The…

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Government Exam U-turn

18 Aug 2020

Following the Government’s u-turn on exam results, after days of outrage from students, parents, teachers and politicians from across all parties, Councillor Asif Khan has issued this response: While we are happier that GCSE students’ grades will be based on the calculated and assessed grades from their teachers as they…

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Exam results fiasco

13 Aug 2020

As a result of the coronavirus and the subsequent shutting of schools, nearly 40% of A-Levels students have been downgraded across the country today based on an algorithm by the exam regulator Ofqual. North Watford County Cllr and education spokesperson Asif Khan said: “It is disgraceful that the government knew…

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Lib Dem Development Deal: Council loses potential millions in affordable housing surrender

07 Aug 2020

Councillor Nigel Bell, Leader of Watford Labour Group has condemned the Lib Dems for cutting a deal with the developer of Clarendon Road that has potentially lost Watford £4.7million. Councillor Bell said: “No wonder property developers love coming to Watford, they know they can run rings around the Lib Dems…

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Councillor Nigel Bell issues statement on ASOS

24 Jul 2020

With the announcement that ASOS is looking to cut hundreds more jobs from its customer care centre in Leavesden, Councillor Nigel Bell has issued this response: “It is incredibly disappointing to see ASOS proceeding with plans to outsource hundreds of jobs despite the company’s recent increased financial performance. This will…

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Herts County Council reject calls for COVID-19 care home inquiry

24 Jul 2020

At the most recent meeting of Hertfordshire County Council, Labour’s Nigel Bell called for an inquiry into COVID-19 care home deaths across Herts. Despite joint support from Labour and the Lib Dems, the motion failed to pass due to Tory opposition. Read below a copy of the speech County Councillor…

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Street names to change thanks to Watford Labour

17 Jul 2020

Last night Watford Council debated whether to change street names in the town to reflect our forward thinking and outward looking residents. Leggatts Ward councillor Asif Khan proposed a motion to Watford Borough Council for roads to be renamed that “are named after people who were involved in the slave…

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Covid-BAME task force to be set up thanks to Watford Labour

15 Jul 2020

At full council on Tuesday 14 July, Watford Labour councillors raised the issue of COVID-19 and the disproportionate impact it has had on black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities across Watford.  In June, Public Health England published a review which confirmed that death rates were higher amongst BAME people than…

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Statement on closure of John Lewis – Cllr Nigel Bell

10 Jul 2020

Following yesterday’s announcement of the closure of John Lewis in Watford, coming just a month after Debenhams closed its doors permanently, Councillor Nigel Bell issued this statement: “It is a true shame that John Lewis have closed their doors for good in Watford. Starting at Trewins in Queens Road, John…

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The Prime Minister’s callous care home comment

07 Jul 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s disgraceful comments in which he sought to blame care homes for the levels of COVID they experienced, Councillor Nigel Bell issued this response: “The Prime Minister’s comments are a new low. Care home workers do incredible work and have done so at great personal risk throughout…

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Councillor Bilqees Mauthoor: Keir Starmer is right on flu jabs for over-50s

03 Jul 2020

Keir Starmer today called for the free flu jabs to be extended to all over-50s in order to prevent a “perfect storm” of winter flu and COVID-19 from crippling our NHS in the winter months. Leggatts Councillor Bilqees Mauthoor, a clinical nurse manager, agrees: “Keir Starmer is absolutely right to call for free…

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In Recognition of Windrush Day

22 Jun 2020

In recognition of Windrush Day, Councillor Favour Ezeifedi reminds us of the terrible injustice faced by those who came to the UK to help rebuild this country after the war: “On Windrush Day, we celebrate the contributions of generations of black people who have enriched our country. But we need…

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Government U-Turns on Free School Meals

16 Jun 2020

Following pressure from Labour, and other campaigners including footballer Marcus Rashford, the government reversed its decision to end the free school meal voucher provision ahead of the Summer Holidays. North Watford Councillor and Hertfordshire Labour Group’s deputy spokesman on Education, Asif Khan, said “I am very pleased that the government…

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A Statement on Dominic Cummings

28 May 2020

In light of the revelations about the Prime Minister’s chief advisor, Dominic Cummings, Labour Group Leader, Nigel Bell, has issued this response: “The statement from Watford’s MP, Dean Russell, that he understands the public’s ‘strength of feeling’ and the Prime Minister’s assertion that Mr Cummings did nothing wrong are woefully…

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