We’re lucky enough in my local area, Kentish Town, to have a real local newspaper to read – the truly awesome Camden New Journal. Unlike most local papers it is fiercely independent and always provocative.
I’ve loved the paper since the 90s – it’s unique combination of scary crime stories, politics and music reviews means it’s always worth a read. I’ve been in it a couple of times – for campaigns to stop things being closed down – and think its journalists are pretty special.
A rather splendid article appeared in the CNJ last week, with some strong comments from Camden’s Cabinet Member for Finance, Theo Blackwell.
Theo is a smart guy and he came up with a rather pithy way of describing the way in which poorer residents are being forced out of central London. He calls it ‘doughnutting’ – the jam (for the rich) is left in the centre while everyone else is squeezed out to the margins of the city. This has already been discussed in terms of the benefit cap; in this article Theo discusses it in reference to the ending of council tax benefit.
