About Lynne Featherstone

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

Strikes at our local schools

Posted on 17th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

I’ve sent the following email about the NUT strikes in Haringey to local residents. Any residents who want to let me know their opinions on the strike can do so here.

Strikes at our local schools are the last thing we want. Our local children miss out on learning opportunities, and parents have to arrange urgent childcare or take time off work.

This is exactly what is happening in Haringey at the moment.

The strikes follow the suspension of Julie Davies – Haringey’s National Union of Teachers (NUT) representative. Ms Davies was suspended months ago by the local authority, Labour-run Haringey Council, and a dispute has followed.

For a long time, local head teachers expressed concerns about Ms Davies. A week after tensions reached boiling point, Haringey Council suspended her – on grounds of gross misconduct.

Haringey Council should have stepped in much earlier and handled this better.

Haringey’s own report (published nearly 2 years ago) said that a large proportion of primary head teachers and all secondary head teachers were deeply concerned about the “unconstructive role played by the main teaching union” and recommended an “urgent need to reconfigure union facilities time to ensure it supports the best interests of children.”

This should have been dealt with long before.

Instead, the situation has escalated following Julie Davies’ suspension. The NUT has called local strikes, which have already disrupted over 3000 local pupils. This also seems vastly disproportionate, and head teachers are livid.

That’s why I have contacted Haringey Council’s Chief Executive to ask for his direct intervention in finding a resolution – in what seems to now be a dispute between the Labour-run council and the Union.

Ultimately – I’m sure we all agree – it’s vital that the situation is resolved, and that no more teaching time is lost.

If you would like to let me know what you think – please do fill in this survey. I’m keen to hear as many opinions as possible.

Remembering the journey to equal marriage

Posted on 14th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Here’s a copy of an article I’ve written for Left Foot Forward on Equal Marriage – the journey to it and what comes next.

On Saturday the 29 March, I went to two fantastic weddings.

On that historic day when all love finally become equal before the law, same-sex couples were able to get married – and hundreds did!

At the second wedding I went to, which had a musical theme, a very poignant video was played before the ceremony. It showed a timeline of the steps towards securing rights for the LGBT+ community in the UK.

It included the marches in the 50’s, 60’s and 70s, the decriminalization of homosexuality and the lowering of the age of consent, and then moved on to adoption rights, civil partnerships and equal marriage.

The video also included some of the setbacks which occurred along the way. The awful Section 28 legislation was introduced by the Conservative government in 1988 and shockingly prohibited “the intentional promotion of homosexuality” by any local authority, as well as “the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.”

Among other examples, this was a reminder that the journey for LGBT+ rights has not been an easy one – not without setbacks, not without opposition, and not without discrimination and oppression.

But sitting in the theatre in Alexandra Palace (where the wedding was held) surrounded by LGBT+ activists, the very happy couple and their families and friends, it was easy to see how far we have come in the UK.

Marriage is now well and truly equal – open to all couples regardless of their gender.

And that day, 29 March, was a landmark day for me too. It was a long journey, starting when I marched into the Home Office and said to my civil servants ‘’I am going to deliver same sex marriage – and I know it’s not in the Coalition agreement – but it needs doing.’

And the rest is history – literally.

One day, when I am no longer a minister, I will be able to tell the whole story of how the law came to be. But for now I can publically thank the activists, the LGBT+ community, the cross-party group of MPs, the Home Secretary, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and others for the support they gave.

And the effect of the change in law goes beyond the ability of same sex couples to marry. The legal change has also, I hope, gone some way into changing attitudes towards homosexuality. The more progress we make on LGBT+ rights, the more equal and tolerant our society will become, as no-one is treated like a second class citizen by the law.

I hope that, as a result of equal marriage law, the young LGBT+ community do not feel that they have to keep their sexuality a secret, or try to hide it – as people in previous generations often felt they had to.

It’s heartwarming now, whenever I speak at an event, when someone (usually a young man) approaches me at the end and says ‘thank you for what you did.’ It’s emotional – I cry, he cries – and we both know that our country is a better place than it was, now that marriage is equal.

And it was of course fantastic on a personal level to recently receive awards from both Pink News and Stonewall, in recognition of the work on equal marriage.

Ben and Jerrys also said thank you by sending me an ice-cream tub with my name and picture on it – one of the most random but wonderful gifts I have received for my work in politics!

But the work certainly doesn’t stop here. While we’ve made huge progress in this country, it was a culmination of a long journey, and there is still a way to go to fully stamp out discrimination.

As we celebrate our victories in the UK we mustn’t forget those LGBT+ campaigners around the world whose situations are still desperate.

From day one of my role as a minister in the Department of International Development (DFID), strengthening the department’s LGBT+ rights strategy was one of my top priorities.

DFID’s strategy has rightly been led by local LGBT+ campaigners in each country, and they asked that we take a subtle approach.

So, respecting their wishes, that’s what I did – I raised my concerns in private with African ministers and prime ministers, and met privately with local LGBT+ groups in country.

The new strategy is about to be signed off to extend this work further. I hope that the UK’s equal marriage law, and our ongoing commitment to LGBT+ rights, will also set a good example for other countries, who are at a much earlier stage in their journeys towards equality.

Almost 5,000 new apprenticeships created in Haringey since 2010

Posted on 14th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Figures reveal that 4,830 people in Haringey have secured new apprenticeships since the Lib Dems entered Government in 2010.

This includes over 1000 people who started an apprenticeship in Haringey in the last 12 months.

Liberal Democrats in Government have led the apprentice drive and are on course to deliver two million apprenticeships in Britain by the end of this parliament.

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone holds an annual apprenticeship event in Haringey. This year, over 100 young people came through the doors to meet companies and find out more about apprenticeships.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“All young people should have an opportunity to get on in life, and apprenticeships are a great way to deliver that. During an apprenticeship, young people get paid to learn new skills, get a qualification, and make contacts in an industry.

“That’s why I hold an annual apprenticeship event, to give young people the chance to meet local and national organisations who are offering these opportunities.

“I’m so pleased to see that almost 5000 young people in Haringey have started an apprenticeship since 2010. It’s no wonder youth unemployment in my constituency has halved since 2010.

“Delivering on apprenticeships helps build the stronger economy and fairer society Britain needs.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits local secondary school

Posted on 12th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP recently visited a local secondary school, Woodside High, to meet with newly elected school council members in year 7 and attend a Q&A.

The students had the chance to ask their local MP a variety of questions about her political career and the work she is doing locally and in Government. They also discussed the importance of education, and the experience of starting at a new school.

This Liberal Democrats in Government have introduced measures like the ‘Pupil Premium’ to help schools. The £2.5 billion fund puts more money in schools, targeted at pupils who need the most help. This fund has given Haringey schools an extra £13.1 million this year.

At the end of the visit, the children presented the Lib Dem MP with a gift to thank her for coming.

After the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was a pleasure to visit Woodside High and see how the new intake of children are getting on.

“I always enjoy visiting local schools in my constituency. It was great to see how engaged the children were with politics and how well they are settling into such a wonderful school.”

Energy Secretary Ed Davey to attend local public meeting

Posted on 12th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and the Haringey Liberal Democrats have organised a local public meeting with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey MP.

The meeting will taking place on Wednesday 19^th November, from 7pm onwards at the Birchwood Centre, 171 Fortis Green Road, London N10 3BG.

At the meeting, residents will have the chance to question the Lib Dem Secretary of State and put forward ideas about future policy on green issues.

In Government, the Liberal Democrats have already secured:

A commitment to halving UK greenhouse gases by 2025.
200,000 new green jobs by investing in renewable energy. We have already doubled the amount of electricity generated from offshore wind.
1 million new trees in England, as part of the first government tree planting programme since the 1970s.
A 5p plastic bag charge to help clean up our environment and protect Britain’s natural habitat.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“Protecting our environment for future generations is essential. It’s also important to raise awareness of green issues, and discuss the ways we can best tackle threats like climate change.

“That’s why I am holding a public meeting in our local area, with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey MP.

“The Lib Dems have made huge progress on green issues in Government, but there is plenty of work still to be done. If you want to ask the Secretary of State any questions, or put forward ideas about how to strengthen Government policy on the environment – please do join us.”

Lynne Featherstone MP hosts further local FGM Roundtable

Posted on 7th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week hosted a second local roundtable to discuss tackling FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) in Haringey, and to plan a conference to raise awareness of the unacceptable practice across North London.

FGM is prevalent in countries like Somalia and Egypt, but also affects girls in the UK. Most commonly, young girls are sent abroad to be ‘cut.’ It has been estimated that over 20,000 girls under the age of 15 are at risk of FGM in the UK each year, and that 66,000 women in the UK are living with the consequences of FGM.

Representatives from local health services, schools, police, community organisations and safeguarding teams attended the roundtable, and agreed that a more integrated approach to tackling and preventing FGM was desirable.

The Liberal Democrat MP and other participants will hold a conference in Haringey early next year, which will bring professionals and community groups together to discuss how to raise awareness of FGM, and prevent it happening by working together.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“FGM is not just a problem for other countries. Girls in Haringey and in London are at risk of this unacceptable practice, and as the local MP, I want to make sure the organisations in Haringey are doing all we can to help protect them.

“That’s why I am arranging a conference on tackling FGM in North London – in partnership with local schools, health services, safeguarding teams, police, community groups, FGM survivors and more.

“As International Development minister, I launched a £35 million international programme to help end FGM within a generation. With help from survivors, the media and others, tackling and preventing FGM is now at the top of the agenda.

“I have now been promoted to Minister of State in the Home Office. Here, I look forward to working more on the prevention of FGM, and tackling other forms of violence against women, in our country.”

Lynne Featherstone MP wins ‘Politician of the Year’ award

Posted on 7th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone has won Stonewall’s ‘Politician of the Year’ award.

The award, which was won jointly with Lord Cashman, recognised Lynne Featherstone’s work on LGBT rights both at home and abroad.

During her first spell in the Home Office, the Liberal Democrat MP was the architect of the Equal Marriage legislation, which has since become law. In the Department for International Development, Lynne worked to improve the rights of LGBT+ communities in the developing world.

In the last two weeks, Lynne Featherstone MP has also won the Pink News award for ‘Ally of the Year’; been nominated for the Patchwork Award for ‘MP of the Year’; and been promoted to Minister of State in the Home Office.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I am so very moved to win Stonewall’s award for politician of the year.

“Bringing about positive social change is one of the best parts of being a politician. I’m so glad to have had that opportunity – and introducing same sex marriage is certainly one of the best things I’ll ever do!

“I will of course continue to champion the rights of the LGBT+ community, along with fantastic activists and organisations, such as Stonewall.”

Haringey Council ‘reviewing’ case for Muswell Hill business rate refunds

Posted on 6th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP and local traders have secured a review of the case for business rate refunds for Muswell Hill traders. This was confirmed during a meeting between the local MP and the Chief Executive of Haringey Council.

The traders, backed by the Lib Dem MP, made this request to the Council following a drastic loss in trade over the previous months – caused by poorly managed council roadworks affecting Muswell Hill Broadway and Colney Hatch Lane.

The roadworks began at very short notice, and caused numerous bus diversions, traffic and congestion. The works coincided with the roadworks in Wood Green, the closure of the Odeon car park, and the run up to the Christmas period.

During the meeting, the Chief Executive agreed to meet with Lynne Featherstone MP and the traders again, so they could present him evidence of their loss of trade.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“During the meeting, the Chief Executive outlined the reasons why the roadworks had taken place during this time, and the problems that had been encountered during the works.

“But regardless of the reasoning – our local traders have really suffered during this period, and I am so glad that the Chief Executive has agreed to review the case for business rate refunds.

“Our local independent shops and retailers are so important to our community. I look forward to meeting with them and the Chief Executive again in the near future, so the traders can further present their case.

“In the meantime, I am also backing the local Lib Dems in their call for free parking on High Streets in the run up to Christmas, to help boost trade for our local shops.”

Lynne Featherstone MP takes part in Muswell Hill Geisterfest

Posted on 5th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday took part in the Geisterfest on Muswell Hill Broadway and Fortis Green Road.

The local MP presented rosettes to the best carved pumpkins, and announced the overall winner to the crowd inside O’Neills on Muswell Hill Broadway.

The event was organised by the local community, and also included costume, scarecrow and baking competitions, live music and local trick or treating.

The festival also helped to promote local businesses and retailers, who have suffered in recent months due to traffic works in and around the broadway.

Lynne Featherstone MP said: “I was so happy to take part in this wonderful, community-led festival. The standard of the pumpkins was very high – it was clear a lot of effort had been put in!

“It was also great to see so many people on the local high streets, boosting the trade of our much-loved independent shops.”

Minister of State for Crime Prevention

Posted on 4th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Today, I was appointed as Minister of State for Crime Prevention at the Home Office. You can read more about the changes here.

I am of course sad to leave the Department of International Development – but I also look forward to returning to the Home Office, with a portfolio that covers tackling violence against women and girls and preventing FGM here in the UK.

In my previous role as a junior minister at the Home Office, I led efforts to introduce equal marriage, end the fingerprinting of children and ban wheel clamping on private land.

I have already emailed my constituents to let them know about the change. I’ll continue to update them on the work I’m doing in Government in this new role.

Finally – thank you so much for all the positive comments I’ve received on twitter, facebook and email – very heart-warming!