Monthly Archives: Jun 2007

International Questions: Darfur

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International Questions today before PMQs – and I go in on Darfur:

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey and Wood Green) (LD): The Secretary of State has just said that pressure was important. Bashir’s agreement for the deployment of the force does not come into effect until 2008, so has the Secretary of State considered using the international spotlight on China, owing to the Olympics, as leverage to encourage China to use its influence with Khartoum to end the genocide and stop Darfuris being killed between now and when Bashir may or may not allow troops to be deployed in 2008?

Hilary Benn: We certainly have encouraged China and all members of the Security Council and other nations to play their part in encouraging the Government of Sudan to do the right thing. I welcome the fact that the Chinese have now appointed a special envoy, Liu Guijin. That, plus the effort made by China in November when we had the meeting in Addis Ababa, chaired by Kofi Annan, which came up with the proposals for the hybrid force that have now been agreed by the Government of Sudan, demonstrates that China has taken a greater interest in trying to play a part. But the truth is that every single country has a responsibility to do more and to use all the influence that it has, including, if required, the threat of sanctions, to ensure that fine words are turned into action, because action is what is needed.

So – he didn’t really answer the key point – whether the Government has the guts to apply the screws to get China to help focus Bashir’s mind on delivering on his promises – and earlier than he wants.

Bebo

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Bebo launch with Joe TrippiBebo event! Bebo – who are a social network outfit and on a promotional drive – and today took part in an event in Parliament about the impact of the internet and social networking on politics. Also there was Joe Trippi, but I was really there for the Bebo launch of the Be Cause scheme.

They have asked three MPs (one from each main party) to take part – using Bebo to promote a particular cause. In my case – it’s a litter pick in Parkland Walk on the 30th June. You can see the Bebo event here.

This is a very good example of how the net can be a socially cohesive tool informing and bringing communities together over a local concern. In this case – people are concenred about the future of Parkland Walk, so I’ve used the internet to run an online survey to gather in people’s views, emails to let people know what is happening on the issue and now – Bebo to bring people together (I hope!) to make a difference directly. And that’s engagement.

Extending freedom of information

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I am sponsoring my Lib Dem colleague Tom Brake’s 10 Minute Rule Bill today which extends the Freedom of Information Act to stop ministers having the final say and putting that say instead in the hands of the Information Commissioner and Tribunal. It also brings in laws about delay – as prevarication is often the game and non-supply – let alone timely supply. It would also brings private contractors who do public sector contract work into the remit of freedom of information legislation. So – a good thing to be sponsoring!

Debating Iraq

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So – another chance to debate and beg for an Iraq inquiry – and another chance for the Labour Government to say no! And that is what happened. Although it has to be said it was game, set and match to the opposition parties (united now the Tories have realised how wrong they were to vote for the war) who really made mincemeat of Beckett. The Government had not a single good argument. Sadly, that didn’t stop them winning the vote. For goodness sake – even the US has had an inquiry!

Before that we were subjected to King Tony in the last days of his reign coming forth to the House of Commons, returned from the glorious G8 Summit where agreements to talks were the successes of the day.

Not to be too harsh (oh why not?) whilst it is good that the G8 agreed to a UN-sponsored process on climate change – actually there already is one in the form of Kyoto protocol which involves all of the key developing countries. And while the protocol’s first commitment period comes to an end in 2012 – the protocol itself doesn’t.

If Bush is serious about wanting to involve the US in climate talks all he needs to do is ratify Kyoto – and Bob’s your uncle. Then he can join the next commitment period talks – no probs!

That having been said – it’s at least a start to raising these issues amongst those who count – agreements etc must follow – otherwise it’s all hot air.

Al Yamamah: Panorama, 8.30pm, tonight

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Al Yamamah: sign the Corruption is a Crime petitionTonight (Monday) Panorama on BBC1 will be screening an investigation into the bribery scandal engulfing BAE, our government and the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia.

There’s advance information about the show on Panorama’s website – where you’ll also be able to catch the program if you miss it this evening:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/default.stm

It’s a massive scandal – especially with the UK’s decision to drop the criminal investigation into the bribery allegations. But corruption is a crime, wherever and whoever carries it out – and for all Labour’s talk of being tough on crime, when it suits they seem happy to turn a blind eye.

The way to fight corruption in international deals is to enforce the international agreements that exist – not to ignore them, nor to (as The Guardian has reported last week) conceal evidence from international corruption probes.

You can sign our petition for a proper inquiry into why the Al Yamamah investigation was dropped – and get more information about the whole case – at: www.corruptionisacrime.com

Liberal Democrats secure consultation for Ferme Park Road residents

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After a string of accidents in the area local Liberal Democrat councillors have secured a meeting with Haringey Council officials and Transport for London to discuss traffic calming proposals for Ferme Park Road with residents.

Residents will now be able to view consultation documents and voice ongoing concerns for their safety on the road at a meeting of the Area Assembly on 5th July 2007. Lib Dems have continuously highlighted the dangers of the Ferme Park Road to Haringey Council and Transport for London.

In January 2007 a local lollipop lady was knocked over and suffered head and neck injuries. This incident was one in a succession of accidents involving residents crossing Ferme Park Road and cars speeding.

Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End ward) comments:

“It is vital that the local residents are consulted in issues that affect their safety. Over the past few months there has been a spate of accidents on Ferme Park Road and we need to address this situation. The Lib Dems have continuously pushed for speed calming in this area and this meeting is a step in the right direction to reduce further incidents.”

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green ward) comments:

“Residents are concerned that the plans have more on-pavement parking on Ferme Park Road will encourage cars and buses to drive even faster on this busy residential road. Therefore, I am really pleased that Haringey Council have listened to our arguments that local residents should be consulted about new speed calming measures to make the area safer.”

Liberal Democrats support police in parking need

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Police at a local station in Haringey now have to pay parking fees of up to £200 per year to park for work. Officers based at the Nightingale Road Police Station moved to a new facility in Turnpike Lane two weeks ago meaning that they will have to park in a Haringey Council-run car park at their own cost.

Lib Dems say that Haringey Council should have been more flexible in providing parking for the police to operate at the heart of the community.

Cllr Fiyaz Mughal (Noel Park ward) comments:

“Haringey Council should work with the police and be more flexible. The police are a vital and dedicated service and deserve to be provided with adequate facilities.”

Ed Vaizey's dress sense

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Just got back from the Westminster Hour. Ed Vaizey (Conservative MP), now clearly desperate to put me off my stride on our weekly Sunday tryst, has taken to wearing strange outfits. Tonight’s little number was a bright yellow phosphorescent jacket and shorts. That boy will try anything! So if I seemed distracted … perhaps next time I should bring a camera!

First up was the Opposition Day motion on an Iraq enquiry coming up this week in Parliament. The Scot Nats had a debate asking for an enquiry not that long ago – and whilst we Lib Dems voted for an inquiry – the Government (just) won the vote.

This time however, the interesting issue for me is the timing. With Gordon about to ascend the throne – if I was he and trying to put a bit of distance between myself and TB – I might very well in my first hundred days announce an Iraq inquiry. So let’s spoil it for Gordy and vote for one before he gets the chance to spin his involvement in taking us to war.

In fact, listening to a package before I went on tonight, several of the would be deputy leaders of the Labour party were – at one of their hustings in Oxford that the Westminster Hour’s Carolyn Quinn had been to – wringing their hands in grief over how misled they had been over the war (even though most were in the cabinet) and how wrong the intelligence must have been. Spare me the tears. We, the Lib Dems, were the only party asking the hard questions and we were reviled in the House for our stance. Those Labour MPs can’t get away with saying “we were misled”. The truth is – they not only failed to answer the right questions, they reviled those who did ask questions.

And those Tories are being very cheeky (if not somewhat opportunistic) having a debate for an Iraq inquiry as they were very much cheerleaders for the war (though boy David has flipped and flopped back and forth on the issue – saying he was for it, then saying he agreed with the Lib Dems, then changing his mind again, and now – I presume! – will be voting for an inquiry).

Anyway – we also had a chat about my colleague Tom Brake’s 10 minute rule bill on Freedom of Information – coming up on Tuesday. It really extends the original powers to request material under the Freedom of Information Act so that when the Government tries shenanigans to avoid giving up information the ultimate decision will be in the hands of the Information Tribunal or Commissioner – and not in the hands of ministers.

Interestingly, the Bill would also bring private contractors who work for public bodies into the realm of FoI. Quite right! Now virtually everything is outsourced – the companies to whom previously public sector contracts are now awarded should be subject to proper scrutiny and come under the FoI banner.

Too many exams?

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A few weeks ago I suggested to colleagues that our children were all being over stressed, trained like dogs for exams to tick boxes, that this wasn’t an education just a sausage machine and little else – and so we should look at how scrapping exams for under-16s and scrapping AS levels would work.

Blow me – the national exams sat by under-16s in England’s schools should be scrapped, a teaching standards watchdog has now urged: the General Teaching Council (GTC) believes the tests are failing to raise standards and placing “added stress” on pupils, teachers and parents.

I must be clairvoyant!

How would you react if four million people had been killed in the UK?

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Four Destroyed health post in Darfurmillion deaths – that’s the shocking figure for how many people would have died in the UK if we’d suffered the same proportion of our population being killed as has been killed in Darfur.

It makes ‘just’ asking another question or speaking at another rally seem rather inadequate in the face of this monstrous brutality. Which is why – I’m setting up a local group to help take more action. It’s the subject of my latest newspaper column (for the Ham & High this time):

Two and a half years ago, Tony Blair took a stand saying that ‘international focus on Darfur will not go away while the situation remains outstanding’. But that stand was only temporary – for last year, Salah Gosh – the Sudanese security chief who orchestrates the violence in Darfur – was twice “welcomed” to this country.

You can read the rest of the Darfur article on my website.

UPDATE: If you are on Facebook, please come and join my Darfur group.