After Woodside House, dashed to Nightingale Primary School where the children had written to me about the terrible situation for water in Tanzania. I had already written back to them all individually (hopefully giving them a good idea of how our democratic processes should work!). This bunch are bright as buttons. Hand after hand shot up with question upon question. And full marks to their teachers – as it was clear that they had been prepped for my visit and their interest had been really stimulated. That’s the way to do it.

In writing their letters to me (which had all been individual) they had learned, not only about the water issues in Tanzania, not only about helping and caring about people across the world and about poverty, but also about democracy, how to write a letter and lots of other stuff that life is made of. I was well impressed by this group.

What was funny in their letters was that the last paragraph in one form or another asked me, as the MP, to give lots of money to Africa and hold charity events to raise money to Africa. They were a bit shocked when I explained that my salary went on my house, food and children – just like everyone else and that I had no money as such as an MP to give.

So I explained that the Government has money for international aid and that I would write to Douglas Alexander (Secretary of State for International Development) and ask him to help with the situation in Tanzania. And in terms of me holding a charity event myself – I explained that if I did that for one cause then how would I refuse another equally deserving cause. But that if they wanted to do a charity event – then I would be very happy to come and support it. I just wish I did have a magic wand – but it’s not yet part of the MP kit!

Anyway – as I say – these children were absolutely great and I have suggested they come up to Parliament for a tour and then they can have another hour to interrogate me – as there were clearly lots more questions but time ran out.

Well – Haringey Council’s plans for our parks and open spaces – which include a proposal to disband the Haringey Parks Constabulary – are in full swing. This is despite the massive concerns about young people and knife crime and Met Police statistics that indicate there were over 700 offences in parks and open spaces in Haringey over a one-year period. Ten dedicated Constables are to be made redundant.

My local Liberal Democrat councillor colleagues have proposed a fully costed, practical alternative to these cuts, which instead builds on the work of the Parks Constabulary, meets the needs of residents for safe, secure and green open spaces and will ensure that Green Flag status is not threatened by Labour cuts.

We propose keeping the Parks Constabulary, appoint dedicated Park Wardens and continue the role of the Parks Police securing council buildings and Alexandra Park. This would avoid the unnecessary and expensive tendering out of these last two functions – and the risks associated with private security companies.

That would provide some savings to help fund our plans, with the rest coming from cutting out one of the Council’s spin-doctor posts, the inspector post in parks police and Labour’s “nanny state” parenting advisor. What we’d get instead would be far, far better.

Our plans would also integrate the Parks Police into Safer Neighbourhoods Team, allowing our parks to benefit from close coordination between both these groups of people who are essentially doing the same thing – fighting crime.

If you want to join the campaign to save the Parks Police you can sign our petition at ourcampaign.org.uk/parkspolice

Boni Sones is a real trooper. She has campaigned, cajoled, recorded and encouraged womens’ political voyage. Today, Women’s Parliamentary Radio – which is really her baby – held a lunch with GCap – a huge commercial radio company (who themselves are being bought out by Global – that’s the way the radio cookie crumbles). GCap are partnering Women’s Parliamentary Radio and hopefully this will be good for both parties – giving them a niche market and a pathway on a load of issues. You go girl!

Spoke yesterday to the National Council of Voluntary Youth Services. Strikes me that the Government’s shift to making the voluntary sector deliver services is full of all sorts of dangers. Too much to go into here – but from those in the room it is clear that there are huge concerns about funding; the nature of the hoops that volunteers have to go through – even if they are still relatively small organisations where people only give a couple of hours; the media’s incessant attacks on young people; the bias against funding for faith based organisations by local authorities – and the list went on. Much for me to think about particularly in relationship to the new Liberal Democrat policies on youth which I am responsible for and am just embarking upon.

Quick link to the Daily Mirror who have got a story about a Conservative MP criticising plans for flexi-working to help parents:

A Tory MP provoked fury yesterday by claiming that parents will use flexi-time working as an excuse to shirk.

Brian Binley was responding to hints from Gordon Brown that Labour could offer more flexible working rights to parents of children up to the age of 16.

[Lynne Featherstone said] “Without flexible working it’s impossible to be a mother.

“Most parents are responsible, and flexible working allows them to bring their skills and energy to work.

You can read the full story here.

“In deciding what I believe in these matters I have weighed up the balance between the right to life – the most important civil liberty – the fact that there’s no such thing as compete security and the importance of our hard won civil liberties. Therefore on a matter of principle I cannot support the 42-day pre-charge detention in this bill … I do not see on practical basis as well as principled one, that these proposals are in any way workable.”

Precisely.

Dragged kicking and screaming – the Church has sort of voted for women bishops. Hurrah!

If the Church had wanted to preserve its tradition of male dominance – then fine (well not fine) – but it should have given up the 26 places for Bishops of the Church of England in the Lords: we shouldn’t hand over a wedge of seats in our Parliament and say “men only”.

So – from the brink – the Church creaks into the 21st century. I’m glad that they rejected the second class (for women) bishops and all the other equivocations that would have been all things to all men (literally).

I don’t think we’re quite there yet – but I did heave a sigh of relief that the vote went through. There are enough issues that the Church could get involved in in a helpful and constructive way. Their eternal obsession to keep women in their place and homosexuals at bay has no place in the modern world. No-one said change was easy – but it is necessary.