My colleague Martin Newton (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) is running an online survey to find out what people think about the Pay and Display schemes in Crouch End and also in Muswell Hill. You can take part in the survey at http://www.libertyresearch.org.uk/take/97
Monthly Archives: Jun 2007
Jenny Agutter, me and a sardine
First stop of the morning is a photo op with a sardine and Jenny Agutter. To all those too young to remember – Jenny Agutter was one of the three child actors in a now classic film ‘The Railway Children’ – a film I loved and still do (and yes I cry every time).
As for the sardine! Well this is about a better railway system for Britain – and the point being – in case you haven’t twigged – that we are all packed together like sardines when we travel by train. This is a campaign by Transport 2000 who do really excellent work and in this campaign are highlighting the really appalling treatment we get when we use the railways.
High prices for overcrowded and uncomfortable journeys. Not good enough!
All Party Group on Genocide
Went to an All Party Group on Genocide meeting that is especially on the Darfur genocide. Chaired by John Bercow. His tack on Darfur is the need to set up an oil trust where the income would be able to be used for humanitarian purposes but which would also put pressure on the Government of Sudan not to renege on its recent agreement to allow the AU / UN troops to be deployed – albeit not until next year. It seems a good idea to me!
There was a good discussion about divestment (to put financial pressure on the Sudanese government) and how it won’t fall foul of all the obstacles that people throw up in your path. Pension funds are often an apparent obstacle – because of duties on trustees to seek the highest return on the money. But – as was pointed out – when you want to target one particular country, it is often possible to pull the money out from one firm and reinvest it in similar firms and similar industries with similar returns, but who operate elsewhere. Certainly something to be pursued!
Talking to the government about corruption
Found myself on Corruption Panel – a cross-party ad hoc grouping of three MPs, one Baroness and one adviser from Transparency International. We were meeting with Ian McCartney, Minister from the DTI, to pursue what the Government are doing in terms of getting their act together on this scarring issue that is damaging our international standing and our business reputation.
Whilst we were not there to talk about BAE and the current scandal – it is pretty hard to divorce one from t’other. For most of the meeting listened to what was put to the Minister and what the response was. What I hear is that the Government is working hard to tackle corruption. There is an action plan – and it is progressing in terms of implementation. However, the big missing chunk, from this ‘plan’ is the legislation. (Ironic really when you consider how Labour passed new legislation at the drop of a hat – or a tabloid headline – in so so many other areas).
And the other big black mark is Al Yamamah – with the OECD coming to check up on us after the Government dropped the investigation into the bribes to Saudi shenanigans.
The OECD is very angry with us. I have no doubt that the US will launch an investigation into the BAE stuff – especially as BAE are big players in the US military market. The US – like France – has a much better track record than we do on corruption – they actually go ahead and prosecute people.
Leaseholders left without a voice – and out of pocket
Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their dismay over the decision to charge leaseholders £30,000 in legal fees for a decision that blocks their say in future investment under the Government Decent Homes programme.
Haringey Leaseholders’ Association sought a reversal of the decision by Homes for Haringey’s (HfH) not to consult them over Decent Homes funding. However, the verdict made by the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal on 30th March 2007 upheld the HfH position. Now, it has been revealed that as a result of this legal action, all leaseholders will have to foot the £30,000 legal bill – and will still not be consulted.
Cllr Catherine Harris, Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson comments:
“I am disgusted that ordinary leaseholders are going to have to pay for this.£25,000 was spent alone on a QC against the leaseholders association, who represented themselves.
“I support the leaseholders who need to be properly consulted, because almost each and every leaseholder will be getting a bill through their door for the works carried out during the Decent Homes Improvement. And like anyone having works done on their home, they had the right to be consulted through their representatives.”
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:
“The fact that the leaseholders are not being consulted is bad enough, but to now be told that they will have to pay for objecting to their treatment is appalling.
“This was always going to be a David versus Goliath challenge. But this time Goliath won – and then nicked David’s wallet.”
Survey reveals 8 out of 10 oppose Parkland Walk plan
Plans to resurface Parkland Walk have come under fire once again, after local MP Lynne Featherstone (Lib Dem) published statistics showing that over 83% of users were opposed to the scheme.
Lynne Featherstone MP ran an online survey (www.libertyresearch.org.uk/take/103) to enable local residents and users of the walk to have their say. At the close of Haringey Council’s consultation on the future of the walk all responses so far received were included as part of her submission to the consultation.
A Freedom of Information Act request had revealed that Transport for London were hoping that money earmarked for improvements to the nature reserve would be used to increase cycle speeds but responses so far submitted to the online survey have shown that:
- Over 74% of respondents were against any improvements for cyclists
- Over 83% of respondents were against any resurfacing of the walk
- Just 3.8% of Parkland Walk users use it for commuter cycling
Lynne Featherstone comments:
“The money for improvements in Parkland Walk is obviously very welcome but it would be clearly ridiculous to spend it on improvements which benefit less than 4% of users, and to which there is obviously so much opposition.
“We need improvements to commuter cycle routes across London, cycling needs to be made easier, but this should happen along and next to roads – not in nature reserves.”
Bike Week – Liberal Democrats welcome cycling initiative
Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors have taken to their bikes in celebration of National Bike Week (16 th -24th June 2007) to highlight the benefits of cycling.
Lib Dems are urging more people to get out of their cars and to cycle to work and for pleasure, reminding local residents that cycling is good for the environment, good for health, and often makes journeys quicker in urban areas like Haringey.
Lib Dems will continue to urge Haringey Council and Transport for London to request that cycling in Haringey is encouraged more widely by providing more cycle lanes on busy routes, traffic calming to help encourage new users and to make a harmonious environment that benefits cyclists and pedestrians alike.
Cllr Bob Hare, Lib Dem Green Issues spokesperson and keen cyclist comments:
“Bike Week provides a great opportunity to try some local rides, and to meet other cyclists at the many events within easy range of Haringey designed for absolute beginners as well as regular cyclists.
“I have contacted Haringey Council and Transport for London to ask that cycling is one of their top priorities for the coming year. This will help the environment and get more people out of their cars and cycling.”
Cllr Lyn Weber, Deputy Lib Dem Green Spokesperson adds:
“We need more cycle lanes – but this doesn’t mean paving over our much loved green spaces like Parkland Walk, but working with the groups involved to ensure a rounded approach.”
Who is more corrupt: us or the French?
Before 
last Monday’s Panorama about the Al Yamamah bribery scandal (in brief: lots of allegations about BAE breaking the law and bribing Saudis to get a big arms contract; big criminal investigation finds lots of evidence; but the investigation was axed before being concluded; both the BBC and The Guardian have unearthed plenty more since then) I emailed out to quite a few people to let them know about the TV show.
The gist of a few responses was that bribery being illegal didn’t matter – everyone does it – so if you want the business you have to be willing to bribe. I’m going to write about this in more detail soon (and I wonder how people with this view would respond if someone burgled them and the burglar said, ‘oh, that’s ok – loads of people carry out burglaries, so you can’t really expect me to be different’!), but I just wanted to highlight now the difference with France – there corruption allegations involving arms deal and powerful people with top political connections do get followed through; see here for example.
If France can take corruption seriously and prosecution people (and the US prosecutes people too), why should we turn a blind eye to corruption?
(And let’s not forget – there are very, very few countries that could have sold jet fighters to Saudi Arabia – it really is feasible to stop corruption in these sorts of large arms contracts as there is – or was until the UK took its ball away – a strong international consensus to prosecute bribery).
And as for boy David and “tough on crime” Conservatives – they haven’t been willing to speak up for enforcing the law on Al Yamamah either. I guess Labour and the Tories are just leaving it to the Liberal Democrats to be tough on crime!
Visiting Highgate School
Catching up on the week – on Friday I visited Highgate School. Now this was a repeat visit – obviously wowed Year 9 boys last year – so that I’m back by popular request. Always enjoyable to make politics live for young people. The questions were more serious than the ones I had to field last year – which seemed to concentrate on the shenanigans by certain grown up men in my party. This year it was very much about politics itself. I also met the new Headmaster who seemed very enthusiastic about working with other schools in the Haringey community to see where Highgate (independent) could perhaps offer other schools extra things that were available at Highgate but not at some other schools. All seems very exciting as a prospect. Never can get over how you walk into a completely different world once you walk through the front buildings into the seclusion of the inner open spaces of the school.
Livingstone refuses gay fire nomination for not being diverse enough
London Lib Dems have today reacted with anger at Ken Livingstone’s refusal to appoint their borough nominee, Councillor Ed Butcher, who is openly gay, to the London Fire Authority.
Haringey borough councillor Ed Butcher (Stroud Green ward) was selected as the Lib Dem nominee following an election amongst all London Liberal Democrat councillors.
However the Mayor took steps to refuse to appoint nine representatives on the grounds that they were ‘completely unrepresentative’.
It seems likely the decision will be legally challenged on the grounds that the Mayor does not have the power to refuse nominations.
Councillor Ed Butcher comments:
“I have always considered my sexuality as secondary to my ability to scrutinise the Fire Brigade’s performance and ensure it is ready to respond to emergencies on behalf of all Londoners.
“But if the Mayor wants to make a point about diversity, it is quite astounding that he has refused to appoint me for not being diverse enough. London has the highest gay population in the country but it seems the Mayor thinks they do not deserve representation.
“Ken Livingstone can now add gay and lesbians to the lists of groups and minorities he has personally offended.”
Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly adds:
“I don’t think there is a respectable party in London that doesn’t consider women and black and ethnic minority under-representation as a serious issue. However throwing the Fire Authority into crisis weeks before it appoints the Fire commissioner is hardly the most constructive way of solving the problem.”
Lynne Featherstone 