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About Lynne Featherstone

I'm a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.

Local MP listens to residents' concerns about Post Office closure

Noel Park residents were today airing their concerns about proposed Post Office closures when they met Lynne Featherstone MP, and Councillor Fiyaz Mughal, Liberal Democrat councillor for Noel Park, in the Salisbury Road Post Office. The Post Office was crowded with residents who all expressed great apprehension about how this closure might impact on what they can do locally.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Thank you to everyone who turned up. I was concerned to hear to hear the many stories of the hardship this closure will cause local people, especially the elderly and the frail. It confirmed my gut instinct that people don’t want these Post Offices to close.

“The Labour government needs to sit up and listen to residents- they simply don’t want this closure.”

Councillor Fiyaz Mughal adds:

“Today Lynne Featherstone and I listened to the very real concerns and anger that resident’s feel about the closure of these community hubs. It shows that Labour disregards the views of local residents, and frankly do what they please in the end.”

Controlled parking zones and the Queen

A quick plug for two stories: residents in Bounds Green are threatening Haringey Council with court action for failing to properly consult residents over parking plans:

Plans to seek a judicial review have the support of Hornsey and Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone. She said: “My understanding is a large proportion of residents
were not properly consulted, and that is unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, Labour is talking about getting children to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen:

Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat youth and equality spokeswoman, said: “I don’t think pledging allegiance to the Queen is the answer to young people’s problems.”

I'm the bride – at last!

After finishing runner-up numerous times in blogging and other awards ceremonies – thankfully not a habit that’s spread to public elections! – I was expecting to be the bridesmaid and not the bride once again tonight at the (Lib Dem) Campaign For Gender Balance Blog Awards.

But no – this time I won! The Judges’ Category for best blog went to the highly deserving fellow Haringey resident Alix Mortimer, and I topped the list in the People’s Choice category.

Congratulations too to Jo Christie-Smith (best post) and Betsan Powys (best non-Lib Dem).

Highgate by-election – Lib Dem Rachel Allison sweeps to victory

Haringey Lib Dems and their popular candidate Rachel Allison are celebrating a stunning win in the Highgate by-election this morning. The party secured over 50 per cent of the poll and almost trebled its majority, to 614 votes.

The election was a disaster for Haringey Labour. The party polled just nine per cent of the votes – their worst ever result in the history of elections in the borough. The result also confirms the Lib Dems as the only challengers to Labour, with the Tories comprehensively beaten – and still with no seats on Haringey Council.

Local residents responded to Rachel Allison’s positive campaign to protect local services and tidy up the area, giving more say for Highgate residents.With the Council finely balanced, with 31 Labour councillors to 26 Lib Dems, Highgate residents confirmed that only the Lib Dems, and their hard-working local team, can bring these positive changes to the Council.

Lib Dem Highgate councillor Rachel Allison comments:

“I’m thrilled to have been elected to serve the people of Highgate, and I would like to offer my thanks to everyone who came out to vote in the election. I have met hundreds of local residents over the past few weeks, and it’s going to be a pleasure to work on their behalf.”

Local Lib Dem MP Lynne Featherstone adds:

“Many congratulations to Rachel, who will make a fantastic champion for Highgate. She will be joining a Lib Dem team that has transformed the political landscape in Haringey.I’m looking forward to working with Rachel on behalf of Highgate residents.”

Rachel Allison 1,339 (50.9%)
Labour 241 (9.2%)
Tories 725 (27.5%)
Green 138 (5.2%)
Independent190(7.2%)

Rachel wins – and more than doubles the majority

Hurrah! Rachel Allison has won the Highgate ward by-election, with a big swing and a more than doubling of the Liberal Democrat majority:

Rachel Allison (Liberal Democrat) 1,339 (50.9%, +12.6%)
Peter Forrest (Conservative) 725 (27.5%, -1.5%)
David Heath (Labour) 241 (9.2%, -1.3%)
Ralph Crisp (Independent) 190 (7.2%, -4.4%)
Sarah Mitchell (Green) 138 (5.2%, -5.3%)

Liberal Democrat majority: 614 (23.3%, +14.1%)

The figures I’ve given are compared with what the top candidate from each party won in 2006. However, the closest gap last time (between the third Liberal Democrat and the top Conservative) was 242 – so 614 is more like a trebling of the majority, and despite the usual lower turnout in by-elections.

So whatever way you look at it – fantastic result for Rachel and the team! And a great result for the residents of Highgate & Archway as I know Rachel will continue to be a sterling local campaigner – but now with even more opportunities to improve our community courtesy of being a councillor.

UPDATE: The Haringey Independent seems first off the mark with online coverage of the result.

Thursday is polling day

A quick note for residents of Highgate ward (which also includes the Archway area): tomorrow – Thursday 6 May – is polling day in our council by-election.

Polls are open 7am – 10pm and you don’t need your polling card to vote.

If you’re a postal voter – there is still time to return your vote as it can be handed in at any polling station in the ward.

And of course – local resident and campaigner Rachel Allison is the best person to be voting for!

The Big Green Bookshop

My heroes of the Wood Green bookshop are opening their new bookshop on Saturday – The Big Green Bookshop.

They are trying to make sure they are ready in time – so if anyone can help them get ready for the big day they would love some help. They have bunting to make and flyers to distribute and making the bookshop pretty! So if you are free Thursday or Friday afternoon – please go give them a hand.

And wishing them all the best for Saturday – it’s great to have a bookshop about to open in Wood Green!