Category Archives: Blog

Labour supporters don't have to keep playing the "Waiting for Gordon" game

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I’ve got a piece in the latest New Statesman – really addressed at the question, ‘What’s an unhappy Labour supporter to do?’:

The behaviour of much of the Labour Party reminds me of the two main characters in Waiting for Godot. Dump Gordon or get behind Gordon? No matter how many times a deadline has been rolled out for Gordon Brown to turn things round, the malaise limps on. Just as in Samuel Beckett’s play, where Estragon and Vladimir keep on deciding to do nothing – because it’s safer or because something else may yet happen – so Labour carries on, neither happy with matters as they are nor acting to change them. There is, however, a simple way for Labour supporters to break out of this cycle. They should stop worrying about whether or not to change leader and instead think about changing party…

Compare Labour’s current political troubles with those of the Conservatives in the 1980s and 1990s. At that time, the dissidents – most notably Michael Heseltine, post-Westland – had an alternative set of policies. It was most certainly about personalities – but there was also no doubt that a Heseltine government would have had very different trade and industry policies from the Thatcher government. Again during the 1990s, there were real differences of policy at stake in the Conservative Party – and so genuine hope that a change of leader or change of political direction might bring substantive change.

The same cannot be said of the Labour Party in 2008. Take Charles Clarke’s intervention (NS, 8 September). What policy direction change does he really want, or what does his track record suggest? Perhaps a return to losing prisoners rather than losing data about prisoners, one might wickedly suggest. Is there a more substantive answer? I’ve listened to and read his words time and again, and beyond “I don’t like Gordon Brown” I can’t find one.

Labour’s supporters don’t have to play the “Waiting for Gordon” game any longer. The Liberal Democrats are ready and waiting to welcome them.

You can read the full piece here.

TV advertising aimed at children

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It’s a topic I’ve written about before – how the pressures from TV advertising can pressure and commercialise our children’s upbringing – so interesting to see Nick Clegg in today’s Telegraph:

Mr Clegg, who is due to become a father for a third time, said young children were being bombarded by advertising and their innocence needed to be protected.

He said he had become acutely aware of the commercial pressures on children.

“There is a channel of cartoons that my children watch in which they are bombarded by advertising every 15 minutes. I don’t like it.

“I’m increasingly, as a father and politician, thinking we have not got the balance right.”

Mr Clegg said there was a failure to properly “nurture” children in Britain.

He said: “We fail to protect thousands of children, either by not giving them support when they need it, or by almost wilfully pushing them into the criminal justice system.

“I want to live in a society where we nurture and protect that innocence of children, particularly those crucial years where people’s potential, talents and self-confidence really takes shape.”

You can read the full piece here.

How lottery money is being spent in Muswell Hill

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Mr Bonus is a cheeky chappy – and gorgeous – and 96 years old. I met with the Big Lottery people to visit one of the projects they funded to the tune of £200,000 in Muswell Hill.

First and foremost, therefore, let me say thank you to the Big Lottery – because getting money out of the Government or Haringey Council for anything in Muswell Hill is like blood from a stone. So set in the socialism of the last century – ‘toffs on the hill’ is their attitude – and because overall the area does not rattle the deprivation cage almost nothing comes their way – although the need and the entitlement is there.

Anyway – before I depart on a rant – back to Mr Bonus. The grant was granted to Muswell Hill Methodist Church and was used mainly for a lift and renovations to the North Bank House – which adjoins the Church itself. Not only are the rooms beautiful, with high ceilings and set with windows over-looking beautifully kept gardens and estate – but the lift is big enough for wheelchairs, buggies and lots of people – meaning that all four floors of the North Bank House could be brought into community usage.

And there we found a baby / mother cafe (started and run by mums with babies), toddler groups, tiny groups, the Health Visitor refugees from the closure of Fortis Green Clinics, baby weighing – and the Vintage Club – with whom I spent a very, very pleasant hour. No doubt, Mr Bonus monopolised my time. Having said a few words – I then went to sit in turn at the four tables – where Muswell Hill’s older residents come once every two weeks for tea and a talk or activity.

Reading their program for the next year (including a Strictly Come Dancing) session – they have a fantastic time. I alighted first at the men’s table. Perhaps they stick together through scarcity – or for mutual protection! Mr Bonus came and sat next to me as he is more or less blind. I think he was flirting – or at least I did – until he told me that he lived at the Paddock which I visited only last week.

I said to him – why weren’t you there? He said he didn’t want to miss his meal at the drop-in centre so chose to go there rather than wait for me. So – that puts things in their right order.

Lest you think 96 means old – let me tell you – Mr Bonus not only walk everywhere but is on the button and then some – and campaigning. And you know I love issues.

This is his issue which I will be taking further. Last Friday, there are five elderly residents of The Paddock who go to Weston Park Community Centre for a meal at lunchtime. Haringey Council provides their transport to and from. The transport people rang up and said that they could take them there but could not bring them back – so that anyone who couldn’t get back should not go. These people depend on this meal – so Mr Bonus’ point was twofold. What on earth did Haringey Council expect them to do – just not eat? Why was there no alternative provision of a meal? And obviously, because there wasn’t – they all did go because they needed a meal – and had to pay £6.00 roughly each to get back by cab.

It’s hearing on my travels to hear from the elderly in my constituency all these small in the picture of the world – but huge in individuals lives – issues that add up to what makes life difficult, sometimes unpleasant and upsetting for older people. So that’s why I am on this mission.

Huge gratitude to the lottery for spending their money so wisely. They were delighted too – to see how brilliantly the funds had been used. And full marks to all those at the Methodist Church for all their hard work and commitment. Truly brilliant.

Extending Oyster Pay As You Go

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Started the day campaigning at Alexandra Park Station to bring in Oyster Pay As You Go as soon as possible.

As well as Nigel Scott (our candidate for the by-election in Alexandra ward) and Alexandra Councillors Susan Oatway, Dave Beacham – we also had Caroline Pidgeon who is our Transport Spokesperson on the London Assembly and Denys Robinson Chair of London Region – so it was a big do!

Loads of people took our little petition postcard – so we will be able to keep up pressure on Transport for London (and the Train Operator) who have been a bit tardy with stations north of Finsbury Park in terms of Oyster PAYG. And other Liberal Democrat councillors were out at other stations like Harringay, Hornsey, Bowes Park etc. Onward and upward.

Then visited a delightful supported housing scheme in Wood Green – Raj Kunj – for residents of Asian community. They were so nice and raised lots and lots of issues – chief amongst which is the very short time the lights at the crossing outside their building allows them to get across the main road. Traffic comes whizzing down the main road – very dangerous I think.

Solar panels on the Moravian Church

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Joachim – who is the Minister at the Moravian Church has been so kind. When I got back from Spain, I learned that my best friend’s father had died and the funeral was yesterday – and I had a long-standing commitment to unveil the new solar panels at the Moravian Church at the same time as the funeral. I managed to move all my other engagements but was really worried about letting people down at the Moravian. However, when my office rang Joachim to explain that I had to go to a funeral and offered a stand-in – Joachim simply rearranged the whole event to the next day! Very kind.

And so today it took place – with lots of people come to hear how this marvellous project came to be. The Moravian Church (Priory Avenue) now will supply its own electricity from the new solar panels and send extra electricity to the National Grid. Joachim is the driving force who found the company to install it and raised the funds from both a Government scheme – £20,000 – and EDF (Energy) – £15,000 – with the community raising £8,000 themselves. And now it’s in and the Church will save huge amounts of money – not to mention helping save the planet.

This is really a case of the Church practising what it preaches and leading by example in the community on stewardship of our planet. Whether we believe in the Creation or not – we all live in an amazing world and we all need to do our bit to reduce our carbon footprint. Fantastically well done!

Which is the best non-Lib Dem blog?

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Well – the nominations are in, and the shortlisting done for the 2008 Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year awards. I’m one of the judges again this year – and as ever, pleased to be faced with so many high quality entries to have to choose between (though it would be much quicker if the choices weren’t so hard to make!).

This year the category up for popular vote is Best Non-Liberal Democrat Blog – so head on over to Liberal Democrat Voice to see the shortlists and vote yourself.

Polling day should not be on Yom Kippur

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I cannot believe the intransigence of Haringey Council. There is a by-election to be held in Alexandra Ward (cause: Lib Dem Wayne Hoban moving to Worthing) and the Council have put polling day on Yom Kippur. This is the High Holy Day of the Jewish people. The have several alternative days they could choose within the allotted timescale laid down by law – but no – they have chosen Yom Kippur.

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Robert Gorrie has made strong representations (many) about this being unacceptable – but Haringey Council have completely refused to change the day! Disgraceful.

We (and I am sure the other political parties) will make every effort to ensure that Jewish residents can get a postal vote and also ask that they self-identify to stop activists knocking on doors inappropriately. But – Haringey Council should be ashamed. And the next time they bang on about inclusion – well, we will know how hollow their commitments really are!

(Meanwhile: glad to say that Nigel Scott is to be the Liberal Democrat candidate – more over on Neil Williams’s blog.)

When a PR stunt goes wrong… Electronic Arts and the free petrol

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From the Daily Telegraph report:

A petrol station which gave away free fuel has been temporarily shut down
after motorists flocking to its pumps caused traffic chaos.

Electronic Arts were giving away £20,000 worth of fuel at the station on
Stapleton Hall Road, near Finsbury Park, north London, as part of a promotion
for a new video game. But the stunt angered residents and local politicians for
causing gridlock during the morning rush hour.

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, said:
“Whilst a lucky few might have got some free petrol, hundreds of local residents
have faced misery on their daily journeys this morning.

“They deserve an apology for being the victims of such an ill-thought out
media stunt.”

You can see the BBC footage of the gridlock caused by the stunt here.

Linda Chung

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So – six more visits to sheltered and supported housing. I am so enjoying this. It is so rare to get the time to sit down and just talk – not just about what is wrong or issues to take up – but about all sorts of things. Overall, so far, the places I have been to are pretty well looked after and the residents are worried more about things around their locations. Lots of paving stone problems, overhanging bushes and branches – and the never-ending problems with bus drivers who don’t pull into the kerb.

Did my bit on talkSPORT radio last night. Hilarious as we meandered into a philosophical discussion about ‘community’, the selfish world that Maggie T created and the ills of the world. Really enjoyable – just like a pub chat. Don’t know what got into me!

And to finish off my day – just got in from canvassing in Hampstead Town ward by-election. Linda Chung is our candidate – and walking to where we were going to canvas took ages because everyone, just everyone knows her. She is a great candidate having lived in Hampstead for thirty years.

If the bit of canvassing I did is anything to go by – all going very well. It was quite charming on the doorstep also to hear the tributes paid to one of our former Lib Dem councillors in Camden in this ward – Margaret Little. Obviously much loved and remembered. So – hopefully if Linda wins – she can carry on the that mantle!

More policy making on the way

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Off to Parliament for meetings. First one is with the Chair and the Policy Officer for the Policy Working Group on the new Liberal Democrat Youth Policy paper. First time of the three of us meeting – and just setting the tone and the ambition, discussing the collection of evidence and our consultation plans. So – that’s kicked off and should come to Conference in Autumn ’09.

Then the Equalities and Human Rights Commission came to film an interview with me asking two questions: what does equality mean to you and what makes you unique? If you want to see the result – it is part of a loop that will be played at all the party conferences. They were going on to interview Nick Clegg after me – and have done Cameron, Brown and Teresa May and Harriet Harman – and then people outside politics and, of course, celebs!