Category Archives: Blog

Christmas card competition at Highgate Primary School

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Lynne Featherstone at Highgate Primary SchoolHad fun yesterday visiting a painting class at my old school – Highgate Primary – to see how the children were getting on with their entries for my Christmas card competition.

This year the theme is ‘I’m dreaming of a green Christmas’, with pupils giving their interpretation of recycling at Christmas.

All primary schools in Hornsey and Wood Green have been invited to send in their entries and the winning design will feature on my Christmas card for this year.

If this visit was anything to do by – there will be tough competition! It was great to see some fantastic ideas. I’m really looking forward to sitting down and going through the entries. Then all I’ll have to do is pick a winner, get the cards printed and sign and sign and sign away!

Bill for ID cards goes up by another £52 million

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What would you rather spend an extra £52 million on: a huge IT project to keep tabs on innocent people or things such as more police to catch criminals? I think you can guess my answer! Today’s Guardian has the story about the bill for Labour’s ID cards scheme going up and up – and this on the button quote from my colleague, Chris Huhne:

The problem is not the ease with which we can give up sensitive personal data, but the ease with which the Home Office loses it. Costs are already spiralling out of control without a single card being issued.

If you haven’t yet, do go and sign the Liberal Democrat petition against ID cards at www.libdems.org.uk/noidcards

A story with a happy ending: the KFC banners in Crouch End

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Here’s my latest piece for our of our local magazines (the Crouch End Flyer):

A story with a happy ending – shock horror! Without being overly twee – and not necessarily being always on the side of conservation per se (as to me it kind of depends what you are conserving) – I do believe that the appearances of Crouch End Broadway is definitely worth preserving and conserving – which means sometimes taking up the cudgels in its defence!

Let me explain. Crouch End Broadway is in a conservation area. But Haringey Council has introduced contracts to display adverts on banners hanging from our lampposts as well as a plethora of self-promotional council propaganda on same.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) availed themselves of this advertising opportunity and took out a contract with Haringey Council to display their banners in Crouch End. But they were – let us say – ugly, noticeable and then some. Basically they stuck out like a sore thumb – and so Councillor Dave Winskill (Liberal Democrat, Crouch End ward) and I launched a two-pronged attack on the garish KFC banners.

I’ve nothing against Kentucky Fried Chicken – other than its calorie count! – but the banners streaming (or should I say screaming) loudly in the middle of a conservation area were out of place in Crouch End.

First shot at Haringey Council brought complete intransigence from Labour over their removal. Pleas to Haringey to remove the banners fell on deaf ears with officials citing binding contracts as the reason they couldn’t be removed.

So I wrote to KFC’s UK Managing Director to request that they take action to ensure the withdrawal of the ad campaign.

As the ante was upped with questions asked at council meetings, Haringey Council finally took its fingers out of its ears and took action to end the contract and the banners were removed. That’s when politics works!

Now we need Haringey Council to make sure that future contracts only allow appropriate advertising sensitive to any local area they are placed in. – and that means in some areas, no advertising at all on lamp posts. As ever, one of the keys to sensible policy making is making sure policies aren’t just splattered across the whole borough (“Adverts? Put them everywhere!”) but that local circumstances are taken into account. But for the moment – success!

Election night

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Well – the must have invite of the year – to the American Embassy on election night! I got there about 10.30pm – which is a really late start for an early to bed early to rise sort of a geek like me. However – the general excitement of the potential of the night worked its magic and I managed to stay there until around 2am.

So – what’s it like? Incredibly well organised – as American official entertaining always is. Obviously disappointed to find that there were around 1,499 other invitees – but hey. Amongst said invitees the celebs I noticed (or rather my escort for the evening Ed Butcher – local Liberal Democrat councillor for Stroud Green and my Head of Office pointed out) were: Matt Damon (except I think later this proved to be someone else famous who I had never heard of; Janet Street-Porter, Alistair Campbell, lots of MPs and ministers etc, broadcasters like Jonathan Dimbleby (brother David obviously busy on air) and Nick Robinson, Andrew Rawnsley and lots and lots of others I am sure.

Peter Lord, who had kindly invited me (he is the American officer designated with attending to Liberal Democrats politically speaking) said that Madonna and Gwyneth had been invited – but declined. Their loss, our gain!

Anyway – as I said – Americans do these things well. There were flashing lit American flag badges for the Embassy staff so you knew who to approach to ask any questions. There were stars and stripes hats and tiaras – which I didn’t manage to get hold of. There was a Burger King serving hamburgers, fries and a vegetarian option, a Subway – and loads of drinks bars as well as circulating, fill your glass sir waiters and canapes continually appearing. Well done for hospitality. And there were bands like part of Squeeze and others – not to mention on arrival, cheerleaders outside doing pretty stunning acrobatics!

Then, of course, there were screens everywhere and a big armchaired film theatre where you could go and watch coverage in seated comfort. It was quite difficult to follow what was happening as sound (or rather lack of it) was an issue. However, having studied various screens, I was able to follow what was happening – and it was pretty amazing as it became clear pretty early on that it was going Obama’s way and that the ‘Bradley effect‘ was nowhere to be seen.

So – all great fun – and even I enjoyed it and actually talked to people. I am not a party person to be honest. Give me one to one over dinner – that’s the conversation I am best at. However, I did alright. At 2am I decided that it was time to go home and watch the rest on telly with my daughters – which is what I did.

I must have drifted off at about 3.30am – but my older daughter this morning said something very interesting – and she is extremely perceptive and analytical. She ended up watching ITV’s coverage until 6am this morning because she said it was excellent. She said it was direct, unembellished, used eloquent and knowledgeable presenters, didn’t dress it up with lots of irrelevant stuff and was intelligible and intelligent. She said BBC was overdone and confusing – and CNN was nothing but adverts. Broadcast companies take note.

As for the result! It would have been deadly to wake up and find McCain as President Elect – that much I know. As a Hillary supporter – I moved my allegiance to Obama – with qualifications. He certainly inspires and I don’t think I have ever heard a politician with that level of ability in terms of oratory. So it was good to wake up to a new era – but proof and pudding will be the real test – and that is yet to come.

Getting kids active

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Lord’s Cricket Ground – well, not the ground but one of the hospitality areas for Sainsbury’s Active Kids conference. Sainsbury’s, in corporate responsibility mode, have invested a lot of time and energy in working with thousands of kids to find out what they think could be done to get them to be more active. Today’s event is the ‘winners’ from eleven schools across the country (St Aloysius from my patch) to come and present their proposals to invited guests – as well as the big wigs from Sainsbury’s.

The kids were absolutely brilliant – presenting all kinds of ideas from health diets and how to cook to alternative sports for those who perhaps don’t take to the normal netball, football etc.

I’m sure Sainsubry’s will be reporting on all the details – but the idea is good. Corporate responsibility is an interesting one – and on the whole I have decided that whilst the company may very well be doing it to improve the public view of them and even ultimately up their sales – en route they can do quite a lot of good. Given that obesity is a major challenge (and cost) coming down the line – we do want to see our leading supermarkets acting responsibly.

The day itself was brilliant for the kids as they had a number of ‘celebs’ there including Peter Jones (Dragon’s Den) for the entrepreneurial kids, Dame Kelly Holmes and a gold medal cyclist for the sporting, Levi Roots (Reggae Reggae sauce) and so on – and the kids really did seem to have a great time.

Of course – proof of pudding will be what Sainsbury’s do with the results of all this effort. The kids expect!

Christmas posting dates

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Can’t believe it is already November – but given it is – thought it might be useful to post (ha ha) the main inland postal deadlines for this Christmas:

* First Class – Saturday, 20 December
* Second Class – Thursday, 18 December
* Special Delivery Saturday guarantee – Friday, 19 December
* Special Delivery – Tuesday, 23 December

Battle of Ideas

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Today I was at the Battle of Ideas – on a panel debating ‘From the classroom to the voting booth: will youth engagement save democracy?’ With me on the panel were Tony Breslin (CEO of the Citizenship Foundation) and Kevin Rooney (Head of Social Science at Queens’ School, Bushey).

Well – it seemed to be a row between purist subject teaching versus citizenship lessons. Those in favour of the purist approach argued that citizenship lessons were propaganda for the Labour Party – whilst the case for them is that we can’t expect people to pick up an understanding of citizenship and democracy issues just like that – it needs to be taught.

And of course – everyone slagged off politicians – which although I myself in my opening remarks said we had a lot to answer for etc etc etc – really the sort of comments led me to believe that the audience was perhaps in need of citizenship lessons! I can only assume now that the media is such a dominant source of where opinions are formed that the political classes are damned!

But the central battle of ideas was between the positions around teaching that I have outlined. Personally – I don’t believe they are mutually exclusive and if done well citizenship is a good thing to know about. Perhaps that was the issue – judging from comments it would seem that it is often appallingly taught by any member of staff who volunteers – not trained and not necessarily good at it.

It was a good knockabout – but the real problem about the headline topic of engaging youth etc was that the people who came to the Battle of Ideas were already engaged – and at a very university type, academic level. Still – it’s good to have a battle of ideas – but propagating that into the more earthy world of everydayness – now that’s an issue!

Joyce Vincent film being made

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Catching up on a couple of things from earlier in the week – to Wapping on Thursday to be interviewed for a film. No – sadly not becoming a movie start! Carol Morley, a film-maker, interviewed me about the tragic death of Joyce Vincent who was found dead in her flat in Sky City (above Wood Green shopping city) and who had been dead for about two years. There were half-wrapped Christmas presents on the floor, the TV was on and the window was open with a billowing curtain.

We all said ‘how tragic’, how could it happen, where were the neighbours, where was her family, what about utilities, what about Housing Association rent arrears and so on and so on. She had been at one time a victim of domestic violence – but that was past. In the end there was no foul play – but the haunting nature of the case made me pursue various strands for some months – long after the media circus had left town.

Well – Carol came to interview me then – and now she has found the funding and is making a movie about Joyce. She has found out more than the journalists, more than the police, more than anyone – and I’m not going to say here what she found – but it will make a riveting film and it will be a tribute to this woman who we all felt so bad about and about whom virtually nothing was known.

Then it was to the Whittington Hospital for a flu jab. I always have the jab (am asthmatic) but usually at my doctor’s surgery – but to publicise the need for people who are older, have diabetes or asthma – want to raise the profile. No doubt very special treatment as the Head of Nursing gives me the jab. Thanks Camilla!

Then visited the newly doubled in size and refurbished wards for extremely premature babies. They were so tiny – it’s unbelievable how the babies survive. It’s not just the equipment – but also the completely dedicated and committed team of nurses and consultants who work round the clock to protect and nurture these tiny lives.

How to cut your fuel bills and help the environment

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Real pleasure last week to visit Camden with my colleague Cllr Ed Butcher to meet their green champion – Alexis Rowell – and see the eco-house they’ve put together.

It is a five bedroom council property refurbished to the highest energy saving specification, including wall insulation on exposed walls, double-glazed sash windows and solar heated water and electricity.

The Camden refurbishment was wholly funded by grants and sponsorship. It is envisaged that Haringey’s eco-house would follow the same model and act as a demonstration home on the possibility of the high standard energy saving in older properties.

The measures have achieved an 80% reduction of carbon emissions and energy bills and have raised the official energy saving rating of the property from G to B, a significant accomplishment for a Victorian property. The photovoltaic solar panels are expected to produce twice as much electricity as the house will need giving the owner the opportunity make money from selling the excess electricity.

What the Liberal Democrats have accomplished in Camden is pretty impressive. It is about practical solutions that people can implement.

When it comes to climate change a council has to do more than just council meetings and print glossy brochures. We need to help people make greener choices.

Haringey cancer sufferers face longest drug decision waits

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Bad news this week:

News that Haringey cancer sufferers are waiting up to three months for appeals for medication has led to renewed demands for action by local Liberal Democrats. The revelation, unearthed in a recent survey by Macmillan Cancer Support, puts Haringey in the bottom four of 152 Trusts in England, with patients having to wait up to three months when appealing for the right to drugs that either haven’t been assessed by NICE, or deemed too expensive.

Read the full story on my website.