A BRENT MP has confirmed that she will be defending her seat in the next general election in what is usually a hotly contested constituency.

Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central, lost her role as minister for children and families in the cabinet reshuffle in September last year but reassures her constituents she continues to fight hard for local issues.

Ms Teather told the Observer: “We are working on a lot of local issues at the moment, there is a big campaign around the library in Willesden Green and the other project which might take up a lot of time is the police stations.

“I have campaigned for most of my career on this issue and we have been successful in the past and the question is whether we will have success this time.”

Ms Teather pointed out that if the proposed cuts to police services are implemented there will be no front counter service in her constituency, which she said would impact heavily on minorities and vulnerable people who are more likely to visit the police station directly rather than talk to police over the phone.

Ms Teather, who was at one point the youngest MP in the House of Commons, said: “There is very serious potential for the relationship to break down in the community. It is extremely important having that presence there and the hours of access are important too.”

The MP said she was also hoping to work with the council on the housing crisis, to help families who will be affected by the combination of benefit cuts that could lead to many losing their homes.

She said: “I have done what I can trying to get the government to think again about the changes, but I am working with the council and the Job Centre.

“The problem is that there are so many changes at this point. The people who will be affected don’t know they will and we need to reach them. The council need to be looking for families who will have to move and I am not saying this is easy. I am asking the council searching questions.”

Councillor Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council responded: “As one of the worst affected council’s, Brent has led the charge on lobbying the government, developing innovative ways to lessen the impact on our residents and ensuring people know what is about to happen to their benefits. This work has taken over two years and is a key priority for Labour. While I welcome Sarah Teather’s u-turn on the plight of our struggling residents last month, to say she has worked with us on this issue is as close to reality as The Hobbit.”