A few stories out in the newspapers today in which I feature:
Equalities Bill – the Guardian has coverage today, including:
The Liberal Democrat equality spokeswoman, Lynne Featherstone, said: “If the government genuinely wants to tackle equality, it must do more to end the growing discrepancy between the rules on pay for the public and private sector.
“Without compulsory pay audits for the private sector, these proposals will represent a very real victory for the hawks in the cabinet. Public sector equality rights are fast becoming an ivory tower that private sector employees can only dream of. A few tick-box questionnaires for government suppliers on their equality policy are going to do little to change the day-to-day opportunities for the 20 million people who work in the private sector.”
The future of the FAITH centre has been covered by the Hornsey Journal (blogged about here):
THE FIGHT to save a centre that supports disabled people in Wood Green has reached the 11th hour, campaigners fear.
Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone joined a protest over the planned closure of the FAITH (Further Advancement In Training in Haringey) Plant Centre, in Wolves Lane, last Friday.
She said: “The notification has come late. This is almost the 11th hour. Everyone has got to get a shifty on to make sure it doesn’t close before a rescue plan can be put into operation.”
The Journal’s also covered the case of a local resident and her parking fine:
A DISABLED resident is up in arms after a no parking sign pointing the wrong way left her £600 out of pocket.Elizabeth Bennett, of Highgate, could not see the sign when she parked in Southwood Avenue at 8.10am on Sunday, May 18, and was left with the hefty fine.
Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green, MP is fighting her corner demanding transport bosses review the fine and repair the sign.
Transport for London (TfL) has refunded the ticket and vowed that cars displaying blue disabled badges will never be removed.
Lynne Featherstone said: “Parking restrictions are a necessity but when they are applied without compassion there is something wrong.
“I understand how Mrs Bennett believed she was parking legally. And £600 is way off the scale of what is fair. TfL must act.”
Lynne Featherstone 
For some time I have been saying “Bring back Esther Rantzen” to tackle the jobsworths, and there she was on the radio this week – but we now need hundreds of her, not just one. Replacing a stick wielder at the top with a vacuum just frees these people off to be nasty. But there are a growing number in the ranks in between who are beginning to wake up to the fact that they now need to shape up to their responsibilities as public servants and once again serve the people, although one problem is that a lot of the best people have left…