Hornsey Journal – have picked up the story of Mrs Kelly and the NHS’s failure to properly provide for her health care.
It’s also covered the Crouch End Fun Run and my calls for simpler ticket systems for local train travellers.
York Press – have covered my visit to York last Friday.
The Charities Aid Foundation have picked up on my comments about China’s response to its awful earthquake.
Sunday evening sees me at the South Bank for a concert by Highgate Choral Society – of which I am a patron. They are so brilliant and so professional that it was hard to believe that they are not professionals. A wonderful evening and congrats to all who took part in or helped organise such a fantastic concert.
Monday and Tuesday much of my time was taken up with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. I have been lobbied by all sides on the issues covered by the Bill –hybrid embryos, saviour siblings, IVF rules and abortion time limit reduction in particular.
I know how very much these issues matter to those who have written to me and because everyone is to be respected for their view – here is why I supported the Bill and voted against the amendments. I cannot please all those who contacted me – as they were on opposing sides. I represented all views to the Government and have written back to all who contacted me.
Briefly put – I believe in extending the boundaries of science as far as possible with appropriate safeguards – so I’m in favour of hybrid embryos to help scientific research, but with the very important safeguard that they can’t be kept longer than 14 days.
On saviour siblings (babies selected to provide genetic material for seriously ill relatives) – I believe they are the act of loving parents – both for the existing child with an illness – and for the child that is conceived to help.
On IVF treatment – I believe that having a loving, stable environment for children is important – but that we shouldn’t discriminate. Therefore I supported replacing the reference to the “need for a father” in considering fertility treatment with the “need for supportive parenting”. The issue is whether or not we have committed, loving couples who are willing and able to pass all the hurdles involved in fertility treatment, rather than whether they happen to be of the same sex or not. There are all sorts of issues around the quality of parenting in this country – but we need more supportive parenting, not less – and discriminating ends up therefore being both wrong but also self-defeating.
And lastly, I supported the 24 week limit on abortion staying as it is. No evidence was produced to say that ‘viability’ had been extended through scientific research. Therefore – for me – the 24 week limit remained appropriate.
I hope that both those who agree and those who disagree will understand that in issues such as these – we all have our own view – and the above are mine.
This weekend was the YMCA Crouch End Fun Run. Every year the YMCA organises this phenomenal local event for local people in Priory Park. Adult and children runs are separate – and there are loads and loads of categories – so that 40’s, 50’s and 60+ all have their prizes.
Lots of local and community groups have stalls. The photo is of me with the local Territorials here to promote joining and inform people about their work. There is much for children and adults to do – as well as run!
I am there to give out the adult prizes – and just like last year (and the year before) it is when I stand on the podium that I say to myself – next year I want to run. Sadly – I just don’t do the practice needed as my current running time before I hurt is around five minutes. Way to go…
Anyway – Budgen’s (one of our excellent local businesses) sponsored the event – and I thank them for that as much is raised for local charities by the YMCA Fun Run. This year that included Action for Kids, 101, Treehouse.
So – maybe next year I will run…
At the start of this year I wrote about how Prime Minister’s Questions could be improved – including the suggestion that the PM could involve the public by letting people video themselves asking questions to which he then responds with video answers. And lo – that’s what 10 Downing Street has gone and done (though I suspect not just as the result of my suggestion!).
Friday was a long, long day! Crack of dawn start to get to York to meet various youth and equality projects. First stop was to meet the Equalities spokesperson at the Council (LibDem minority control) – Cllr Keith Aspden – who briefs me on the groups I will be meeting.
A quicke radio interview with Minster Radio and then off to meet the CVS – the Community Voluntary Sector – who have fantastic facilities where a number of local voluntary groups operate from as well as facilitating rooms for meetings. Seemed a very well-developed and properly functioning centre – and a model for how perseverance over many years can eventually pay off with proper facilities. And proper facilities, well-designed and pleasant – then in turn create the right environment to encourage all of this good work to continue. A lot of work goes on here to get young people, often the most challenging young people, into work and/or training.
Mad dash onto Castlegate Centre – which is a fantastic drop-in and one stop shop for 16-25 year olds. The downstairs is all modern and beautifully designed with the help of young people to make it an environment they feel comfortable about coming to. And they do. Remarkably successful – young people can just drop in and find help for any number of issues – be it housing, counselling, training – whatever. A pretty inspiring outfit – and again – the people who had fought for it and were running it – totally committed and dedicated.
I then visit York Racial Equality Network, where about 25 people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds have come to tell me their anger and disappointment that the vital work they do is under threat. The Council support them – but the Commission for Equality and Human Rights has, despite assurances, not funded them this year and this is threatening their very existence. Whilst it would be true to say that York is not the diversity capital of this country, nevertheless there is a growing number of black and ethnic minority residents. Add in an influx of Easter Europeans and the issues of pressures on public services, social cohesion and the rest are just beginning to arise. Better to tackle these in proper and timely fashion than wait until real problems hit us. Also there are issues that arise when numbers are relatively few rather than many – issues of isolation, exclusion and race hate incidents.
The York Racial Equality Network is the only organisation doing the work that is needed in this area. Indeed, when the Commission needs to consult or disseminate information in the York area, they themselves turn to the YREN to do this for you.
If the Commission is not minded to reverse their decision (as I have written to them to ask that they do), then I’d very much like to know how they expect the work to support individuals experiencing racial harassment, victimisation and discrimination to continue – and who would be there to disseminate information from the Commission and respond to consultations.
Last stop of the day in York is to the University to meet students who I help launch a campaign against ID cards. Outside of the usual reasons – that they won’t work, won’t stop terrorism, won’t help identity fraud etc – the students are fearful that they are now going to be pressured into having an ID card.
Train leaves York late – so I miss my connection to Maidstone in Kent where I am going to do any questions. I finally arrive and have time for a quick egg and chips with Jonathan Dimbleby and Claire Fox (another guest on the program) then off to the school for the live show. Tony McNulty and Jeremy Hunt are the other two panellists.
The questions were what I expected – 42 days detention, the sudden glut of political memoirs, 10p tax etc – but there did seem to be at least three questions that led back to – yes – you’ve guessed – Gordon Brown and his miseries. I was surprised they didn’t ask about schools testing – but I guess Gordon took precedence.
Jonathan called me Liz (again – he did it last time too) and I corrected him on air – and he said to make amends I could call him David (his brother’s name) which I did! I like Jonathan and I like Any Questions. AQ gives you far more time to answer and discuss an issue than Question Time – but they are actually quite different animals. Afterwards we have drinks and bits with the local people and the staff and students of the school the program comes from. And then finally – back to London.
Visited Exposure last week – the magazine that is produced for young people – the amazing magazine produced for young people in Haringey. It is mostly contributed to by young people who come there for skills training and work experience – expedited by a seriously committed but very small group of professionals.
Andy (who manages the scheme) has created a fantastic atmosphere where young people who have not necessarily always been at ease in the education system can blossom. They learn, depending on their proclivity, to write articles, to do page layouts and graphics or work on video productions. I met lots of bright and very enthusiastic young people who all seemed engrossed in what they were doing and who told me how wonderful the experience was.
Exposure showed me a few of their video productions. Talk about talent and good ideas! One they showed me was a really humorous but devastatingly effective message about taking the risks of sexually transmitted diseases seriously. They had also done videos – equally effective – on knife crime and anorexia.
Such great work. Great outfit. Great kids and marvelous committed staff.
Since 2007, when her local Fortis Green clinic closed, Mrs. Audrey Kelly, 82, who suffers from severe foot problems that often leave her unable to walk, has been refused treatment or referral to an NHS chiropodist by her GP.
Mrs. Kelly, who is on income support, has been told that, as she is not considered a ‘high risk’ patient, the only way she can get foot care is to go private.
It is outrageous and completely unreasonable that the NHS will not treat her foot problem. Mrs. Kelly is in such severe pain, and being unable to get treatment on the NHS, she tried self treatment, which left her worse off with severely bleeding and infected feet.
Since the Fortis Green clinic closed, I have seen a real issue with elderly people being unable to get foot care on the NHS, despite NHS assurances that the service has not been cut. This is clearly not the case and Haringey PCT needs to deliver on its promises.
This is not the sort of NHS we should tolerate.
Speak to Equality and Diversity Forum today, wearing my hat of Liberal Democrat Equalities spokesperson.
What I am trying to persuade the world of, in regard to the Single Equalities Act, is threefold.
First – discrimination more difficult – and the particular suggestion I make today is for ‘name blind’ employment applications, i.e. keeping the names of applications hidden from those who process job applications.
Why? Well, to take personal experience as an example – two of my interns who had non-Anglo Saxon names applied to loads and loads of jobs – not even getting an interview. After they worked for me – and having worked for an MP on the CV – they both quickly got great jobs.
The problem is that having a non-Anglo Saxon name on your application form can mean being thrown on the reject pile because of low level discrimination. Once through to interview (or possessed of something extra on the CV to overcome this ‘hurdle’) – well the chemistry between humans then takes over – for better or worse. So – name blind employment application – probably using National Insurance numbers – is an idea we are looking at.
Second – strengthening legislation against discrimination. We have had enough legislation on crime to last well into the future from New Labour – and the legislative wand is clearly not the answer to everything. However, the courts do need a bit of muscle as currently they cannot award punitive damages. This can mean damage awards are far too small to really have an impact on changing behaviour.
And third – that anyone who wants to perpetuate discrimination has to have it explicitly as an exemption. If you want to discriminate – make your argument, and make it out in the open. That to my mind is the best way to address such issues – and I’m sure some powerful cases will be made for some exemptions – but let’s have the debate and make a decision rather than let things slip through on the quiet or because that’s how they’ve always been done.
And a parting shot for the CEHR. I think the Commission has the potential to be an incredibly powerful force for good. Trevor Phillips – its chair – is remarkable in the way he can and has shaped the nation’s thinking with his accurate and memorable soundbites such as ‘sleepwalking into segregation’, the ‘race cold war’ and so on. But I would argue that the Commission should be given more resource so that it can drive through substantive change.
Met with Cubic – the company who deliver Oyster – yesterday. I met them at Alexandra Park Station where they said that Oyster compatibility for such train services would be coming to in mid 2009. Hurrah! Having a joined up system will bring much benefit to local travellers!
But their bigger quest is to get Oyster-compatible ticketing across the nation. Their problem – it is low on the Government’s priority list – and no one in the Government transport team seems to want to champion it, even though it would be cheaper and more effective in the long run to do it as a complete scheme now – rather than piecemeal as and when franchises come up.
Of course – Cubic have their own interests in seeing Oyster go national, but seeing the benefits it has brought to public transport use in London, it is in all our interests to see it spread.
Lynne Featherstone 