My London: 'Fighting for our children'

Dr Irvine got 8% of the vote when she ran for Lewisham Mayor

Dr Louise Irvine, a mother-of-two, was so angry about decisions being made over school places in Lewisham, south-east London, that she and other parents started a political party. Two years later it is going strong and the GP still believes people power is the way to shape London.

Competition for secondary school places is an extreme problem in London.

It's a really unfair and wicked system which affects kids at a tender age and it can knock their self-esteem.

Some children can have four offers and some can have none so leaving primary school becomes even more stressful.

There simply are not enough places and children are forced to go long distances with up to two hour commute each way, leaving no time for other activities.

These are journeys that adults would not wish to do and in effect rob these children of their childhoods.

The problem with the lack of school places in the north of Lewisham, where I live, came to our attention a few years ago.

Although we took only one seat we still brought the school places issue to the fore and we forced it into the Labour Party's election campaign Dr Louise Irvine

We had the unused Telegraph Hill School on our doorstep, in Walbutton Road, so we set up the New School For New Cross Campaign and began lobbying the council to turn it into a community school for children living in the area.

But the Labour council and the LEA (Local Education Authority) were totally opposed to the idea and instead increased class sizes at existing schools - basically over-filling them.

The parents that were involved with the campaign were so fed up with their stance that we decided to stand against them in the local council elections.

We became LEAP - Local Education Action by Parents - and some parents stood for councillors and I stood for Lewisham Mayor.

We got a respectable 6,000 votes and Helen Le Fevre is now serving as a councillor. I didn't make it as mayor but got about 8% of the vote which shows people felt passionately about it.

Helen has really managed to help a lot of families with securing secondary school places.

Although we took only one seat we still brought the school places issue to the fore and forced it into the Labour Party's campaign.

'Achieve anything'

Since then we have also been involved with groups lobbying the government to change secondary school intake systems and also put a stop to the interviewing of children for places.

Telegraph Hill is now being made into a sixth form centre, which we don't think the borough needs. And we don't think the new school - which is on the agenda to be built in Ladywell - is in the best place, but we hope it works out.

My experiences have proved that when you talk to people you really can achieve anything.

I came to London from Scotland 14 years ago, just before I had my daughter, because my husband, who's also a doctor, got a job here.

I didn't want to move because all the stories you hear about London make it sound impersonal, chaotic, stressful and ugly.

Politicians decisions effect our lives so everyone should have an interest in politics and in some way take part

At first it was difficult but I ended up making friends with people by talking to them because of my children.

Now I love London, and see it almost as a series of villages, so culturally rich.

I'd hate it if London became a closed city.

I've always been a political person. Politicians decisions effect our lives so everyone should have an interest in politics and in some way take part.

Most recently plans to put controlled parking zones in our area were prevented. Everyone got together and organised a campaign during the consultation process.

The council received so many letters they didn't know what had hit them.

It just proves everyone can make a difference to the London they live in with a few leaflets and a meeting.

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My London is a series of features about life in the city which will be on News Online every Monday. If you have a story suggestion please send an e-mail to: [e-mail].