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Hi, Our son is 15, on the autism spectrum with (medicated) ADHD, very cheerful and friendly. He's developed an interest in music and has been 'teaching' himself to play piano by picking out tunes on his iPad for a while, so by way of experiment we got him a high-range toy piano (full size keys, just not the full range), which he's also playing. We took him for an assessment with an SN-specialist piano teacher who said he had a good feel for it, and he loved the lesson, so now we're seeking someone who lives locally. Experience with autism/ADHD is an advantage but not a necessity; teachers used to younger children will probably do fine with him. He's keen to learn, and would have a parent with him in the lesson to help support any SN issues. If this would work for anyone, please get in touch! Or if you know anyone you'd recommend, do let me know.

If they do close the eastern side, will southbound cars be allowed to turn right from Peckham Rye into East Dulwich Road? Or will they have to go up Barry Road or do a U-ey in the Gardens?

It's not clickbait, it's widely reported. The leader of their party agreed to try and hypnotise a woman to make her breasts bigger. He freely admits it himself. You can't have a character like that as Prime Minister.

So you are basing your opinion that they are"total cranks" on one clickbait post? What are your definitions of "no one" and "everyone"? What exactly is it about what you describe as their "totally leftfield policies" that you disagree with, and why?

Looking for jackets, salopettes etc for 1) 15 year old girl, around 160 cm tall 2) 12-year old boy, around 155 cm tall.

Interesting question - do the new ground rent caps and leasehold reforms apply ? Worth asking your solicitor because the actual value of the freehold or any leasehold extension might be minimal now.

They're a fringe party with totally leftfield policies. No one actually wants them in government and by the time of the next general election everyone will see them for who they are. Their leader even offered a hypnotherapy session to a lady to increase the size of her breasts. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/zack-polanski-green-party-hypnotherapy-b2819071.html They are total cranks, just like Reform.

What do you base those statements on?

I suppose I'd assume that Councillor McCash, who is, as I recall, a self-confessed revolutionary Marxist, had hoped to take Southwark Labour down his chosen route - when he lost his leadership bid he must then have been looking for a party which shared his ultra-left views (ultra-left at least in the light of Starmer's interpretation of socialism). The Greens, for him, clearly fit that role. After that his timing was all about benefiting his chosen (new) party - at least he didn't stand for Labour and then defect giving the Greens an unexpected 3 year seat. As someone who doesn't share the wings of his political position I don't wish him well (politically) - but neither do I wish him ill as a 'punishment' for his defection.

Agree with all the sentiments above. Hope it doesn't change too much and above all I really hope it stays independent and avoids becoming the same as all the chain pubs in the area.

This move won't advance his career in Southwark. He'll have to leave the cabinet now for a couple of months and won't get back on it in May. He might win a council seat but the Greens won't win control of the council and Labour won't have him anywhere near the levers of power. His only (and presumably intended) route for advancement will be for the Greens to offer him PCC seat somewhere in the general election in 2029. By then the Greens will be toast. They might even be finished by this Friday if they don't win the Gorton by-election.

Especially when their careers in their current party come to a grinding halt!

Well I don't know, and nor do you. Sitting MPs change their parties.

The Greens are knocking on the door of Labour in a few wards, so yes, there is some voter swing in play from some local canvassing. Elected officials jumping ship is nothing new. Political careerism is also nothing new. On a local level, all candidates for election start as committed party political activists. That's how they get selected to stand. But politics is also a long game. Far better to stay and be part of any swing when it inevitably comes (as it always does), than to close the door altogether imo. I think James failing to become leader probably was the key factor in his decision, but leaving for another party effectively means there is no way back. Maybe he is going to work himself into the future leadership of the Greens instead. Time will tell. Edited to add that while I can understand why former Labour supporters feel disillusioned with the current government (both local and national), it's important to remember how bad things were under the last one and the coalition before it. It's going to take time for any government to rebuild the economy and pay down the national debt.

Err, are you saying that the Greens are not a political rival to Labour? Funny how those convictions only come to light when many politicians don't get what they want....do you honestly think that Cllr McAsh would have defected had he been allowed to lead Southwark council? Absolutely 1000% not.

He's not acting according to his convictions though, he's acting entirely according to his own ambition and self interest. I'd be very concerned if I was a parent of a child in the Primary School he teaches at. His new party advocate teaching primary school children how to use crack cocaine and heroin: https://metro.co.uk/2026/02/21/green-party-says-primary-school-children-should-be-taught-to-take-drugs-safely-27031825/ Anyway, I feel we will finally be well rid of him. I don't believe he will stand in this ward. He will have a much better chance of election in Nunhead and Queens Road.

Yes, that's completely true, which of course is another reason why changing the 40 route in the first place was a very bad idea.