Category Archives: Blog

Holocaust Memorial Day, 2009

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Just got back from the Holocaust Memorial Day. This year’s theme is ‘stand up to hatred’. As ever – there were a number of readings, poems and recollections from dignitaries, those who had firsthand experience and others. Today was very poignant as Jewish people in this country are not having an easy time at the moment. However badly people think Israel has behaved – what was palpable in the air today was how vulnerable they still feel in this country. I don’t know what the recent stats are on anti-Semitic attacks, but that feeling of vulnerability was very much there. And the Jews are not Israel. Believing that would equate with the dreadful discrimination against Muslims as if all of them are synonymous with terrorists.

It is always a shock to see a gas chamber (part of a screen presentation) and in your mind’s eye to imagine the people – and particularly the children – being herded into these filthy, hideous stone rooms – and then instead of water – the gas.

There are many holocausts around the world where one race decides to slaughter another – but I always think that one reason that this holocaust has such resonance is because the perpetrators were so like us, in a nearby country. It’s a reminder that civilisation is only skin deep – and that’s why we remember and must guard against those who do harbour racial hatred deep within but mask that truth until their opportunity knocks. We must never let that happen.

Tackling discrimination against women and Catholics

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Jammy dodger Evan Harris has come up seventh in the ballot for Private Members’ Bills. As for what the ballot is about – names get put in a hat, and then pulled out at random – and the lucky ones are giving some time in Parliament to introduce a Bill. You have to come near the top to have any chance of getting your Bill through. I enter each time – but have never been lucky enough – as yet.

Anyway – Evan is taking forward the accession issue (one I had some success with last year) that females are shunted out of line to the throne by males (‘primogeniture’ ) as part of his Bill. He is also bringing in the issue around Catholics being prohibited from sitting on the British throne.

It’s about time this ‘discrimination’ was eliminated. To me it’s a no-brainer. When I managed to get it on the agenda last year and forced the Government into having to say that it would act it seemed – from the discussion on the floor of the chamber – that there was (on the whole) cross -party agreement. The Tories, not surprisingly, were the least keen as I remember their spokesperson, Dominic Grieve, whilst giving it lukewarm support suggesting that it wasn’t important really.

Well – you can always say that something that affects so relatively few people is unimportant – but I would say that there is no clearer symbol of the message that goes out in this land – that women are second class citizens and the lack of impetus to change is demonstrable evidence of this.

No doubt the other chestnut that will raise its head will be ‘if we’re talking about accession – surely we should have the debate about whether there should be a monarchy at all’.

No, no, no, no – whatever views there are on becoming a republic – this is a separate issue. As long as we do have a monarchy we should ensure that it does not enshrine discrimination against women or Catholics. Way to go Evan!

How not to plan ahead: Parkland Walk

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Haringey can’t get it right for getting it wrong. It took a monumental effort to get Parkland Walk in the frame for a facelift and residents were delighted when finally it happened – but apparently just a little while later the revamped and refreshed walk is covered with rubble and mud!

It’s presumably the muck and mess from phase 2 – but how ridiculous to lay a new path etc when there was still work to be done further inside the park. The JCBs have churned up the landscaped reserved and the workmen are dumping earth and stones on the revamped bit. Stupid or what?

They say that the work will be completed by end of March 2009. Whoever phased this work should be hauled over the coals!

A story with a happy ending

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Advice surgery this morning was as ever grueling as ever with tragedies too personal to relate here. Happily my first afternoon visit was a success story and just the best happy ending.

Back a while I went in to do battle for a woman (Bonnie) living in a tiny, dilapidated flat, with infestations and damp and mold and general horribleness that most would not put up with. Perhaps even worse there was no room to move at all – desperately bad situation.

With two children, husband and sister (who she looks after) Bonnie is one of those who fights and works and wants to make a good life for her family. But no accommodation was forthcoming for years.

Anyway to cut long story short Bonnie finally moved into a new (literally new) house in Muswell Hill a couple of months ago and I went to see it today. It is gorgeous – and I have no doubt that Bonnie and her family will prosper and bloom. Full marks to Metropolitan Housing Association as the quality of this new development seemed very high spec to me and the sort of accommodation that will enhance the lives of those lucky enough to live here. And finally – thanks to the officers at Haringey who latterly responded over the last months with real efforts to find suitable accommodation – and did. Dontcha just love happy endings.

Labour predicts they will lose in Haringey

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It’s every politician’s nightmare – leaving information that should be for your eyes only in the copying machine. Well it just happened – to Labour in Haringey. As the Haringey Independent, who have seen the document, reports Labour predicts it will lose the next Haringey Council elections – due in 2010 – and that the Lib Dems will win by 33 seats to Labour’s 24 (with no councillors for Conservatives, Greens or others). Way to go!

Highate councillor Neil Williams was the lucky man to find the document on the photocopier, as he recounts on his blog.

What should you do with your emails?

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Not new – but still worthwhile – the campaign idea to show our Home Secretary how bonkers her plan to keep all our emails, phone calls, texts etc is. It’s a ‘cc all your emails to Jacqui Smith day’, to raise awareness of the pointless offensiveness of the Government’s database state. It’s a Facebook group campaign – and given that civil liberties is the Lib Dem middle name – want to keep plugging it: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43256614646

As a lot of my emails are to constituents about personal issues, I won’t be joining in I admit – but hope others will make a success of it!

One new President, one expenses u-turn

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Now you see it – now you don’t. Clearly Gordon Brown saw the writing on the wall in regard of the Freedom of Information vote on MP’s expenses. At PMQs he refused to back down – then after PMQs he backed down.

It’s bad enough that the economy is in meltdown – but at such times we are disappointed to find that we have not got a serious man for serious times – we have a rudderless boat!

Still – Labour would have lost the vote. I wish the vote had gone ahead and they had lost – ‘cos would have taught them a lesson. However – given the outcome is the right one – I forgive.

But I really wanted to write something about Obama. I know – everyone has. Every column inch by every writer / journalist etc in the country has more than said it – but the spirit moves me. I thought the fluffing of the lines was just fine. If Obama had clutched his head and said ‘oh my god – what a terrible thing to happen’ it would have been a bit of a gaff but Barack’s talent is knowing just what to do and being unfazed – he grinned. Grinning was the absolute right thing to do!

And it’s his temperament that I admire so much together with his intellect, timbre of voice and use of vocabulary. When I watched the whole speech live I didn’t pick up all the rich phrases at the time – in fact if I had a criticism it would be that there was nothing but rich phrases and well-crafted sentiments. But when I heard parts later on radio and broadcast news – they were all brilliant. How clever is that? ‘Cos effectively that meant whatever part was used by the media – it would make complete sense and convey his message – hope and change etc.

Charisma oozing and charm and talent personified – off he goes to ‘remake America’ and we all wish him well with what lies ahead. Seems to me that what has been revealed about all of us watching is our needy desire to believe and hope for a better future. I’m just glad that we still can believe in change and the better nature and aspiration of man to overcome adversity and triumph! We’ll see. I cry in happy movies too…

And as if by magic…

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… the day after the Federal Executive approved my nomination to chair the party’s Technology Advisory Board (Monday), the party has started rolling out a new website at http://blogs.libdems.org.uk

I think it would be a little cheeky for me to claim credit for this – nice though the timing is! Handily bringing together the latest news from a range of different Liberal Democrat websites – along with some of our media coverage – all in to one place, it will I’m sure soon become a regular read of mine – and I hope of yours too.

Old Holborn – please help

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A while back, at the height of the Baby P postings on my blog, a blogger called Old Holborn posted this:

Shhhh. Don’t tell ANYONE
22 Nov 2008 by Old Holborn
Lynne Featherstone is doing sterling work digging deeper and deeper. Should Old Holborn give her the memo showing that Haringey were TOLD not to take children into care because it was too expensive? Proving that Baby P died because the …

Since then, another source told me of the same memo / email. I issued a Freedom of Information request to Haringey Council but they have responded saying that it would be too expensive to find. So I am making a public appeal to Old Holborn. If you have the memo of copy of the memo – then please send it to me.