I am a great sports fan and have a personal interest in the arts and other forms of cultural expression.

At Mayor's Question time I have asked questions about issues such as: how to increase grass roots participation in sport in the build up to 2012, the disappearance of popular music venues in London such as Spitz and the Electric Ballroom and the disappearance of Victorian Ghost Signs.

Cultural and sports issues I have been campaigning on:

Twenty20 at 2012

I believe Twenty20 cricket lends itself well to being a demonstration sport in the London 2012 Olympics. Back in 1900 cricket was introduced as an Olympic sport at the Paris games but subsequently dropped for whatever reason.  It would be great if the return of the Olympic cricket competition would be staged at the London Olympics, at the home of the sport.

With London being the home to both Lords and the Oval, the contest can be held with no additional construction costs to the ODA, LOCOG and both national and local government. I wil continue my campaign to have twenty20 Cricket staged at the London Olympics.

Cuts in Theatre funding

I am very concerned about the possible efffects that the proposed cuts in funding by the Arts Council will have on for a significant number of London Theatres. Among them are Watermans, the Asian cultural centre in Brentford West London and the Bush Theatre in Shepherds Bush. These cuts will have a detrimental effect on the London Arts scene and will ruin the chances of young, talented writers to have their plays staged in a theatre. I have tabled a question to the Mayor for next Mayor's Question Time session on the 30th of january asking him if he plans to do anything to make the Arts Council change its mind.

Ghost signs

At the September 2007 Mayor’s Question Time, I asked the Mayor what he is doing to help preserve the fading Victorian advertisements painted on walls throughout London. They are under threat of developers and covering billboards and I believe that these amazing references to London commercial and cultural past need to be preserved as best as possible.

The story was picked up by the South London Press, ITV London News and the Hackney Gazette.

Click here to read about Ghostsigns and see examples.

Sports related issues:

Playing Fields

Having always been an avid sports fan, I launched an Assembly investigation about the loss of playing fields in London in 2006. The findings were published in a report in 2006.

We are continuing to monitor the loss of playing fields and keep campaigning for the ones that are under threat such as:

Holland Park School, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/F1601716?thread=3708973?s_returnto=c1745

Gaelic Athletic Association Sports Ground, Avery Hill Road, London SE9

Stanley Road Playing Fields, East Finchley

http://www.eastfinchley.co.uk/