Category Archives: Blog

Do I desire to be a WAG?

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Did a program for Sky that I had never done before – but that may be because I think it is only a few weeks old. It’s really the web news and what the movers are – judged by clicks – and the web discussion topic of the day.

The discussion topic is WAGS and whether they are good role models. The WAG on the panel (in a different studio) was lovely – but when I was asked if I would be telling my daughters to emulate WAGS I had to say no.

I don’t want my daughters to be known or rated because of who they married. I don’t want them to think that looks and shopping are the be all of life (although I expect this is more media than WAG) and I want them to know that you have to work hard to get where you want to get. Forget this instant fame business.

And as for role models – I chose Shirley Williams – but I’m not sure my daughters would agree with me!

Jacqui Smith admits Liberal Democrats were right all along

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Yesterday, Labour Home Secretary Jacqui Smith admitted to the Home Affairs Select Committee that there hasn’t been a terrorist case yet where there was a need for detention without charge beyond the current 28 days!

Yes – well that’s the point I and other Lib Dem colleagues have been making since the Labour proposal for 90 days (to come back again next session) reared its ugly head. Jacqui Smith’s admission is at least a step forward from the previous attempts to provide “examples” of when 90 days detention would have been useful – examples which fell apart when examined closely (see, for example, my previous blog posting about one of the debates in Parliament on detention without trial).

As I have said, time and time and time again – if the police can show me evidence that a further extension is necessary – then am not immutable. But the whole point is the balance between security and liberty – and if the police are simply wanting more time to make their life easier – then that is exactly when Parliament has to stand up on behalf of people and say no – because it isn’t a cost-free policy.

Longer detention without trial means some innocent people will be locked up for longer – and will also rack up more costs that we end up having to pay. So it should only be introduced if there is a good reason.

Brown and Blair – the squabbling continues

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Earlier this year I wrote a piece previewing how Gordon Brown might turn out as Prime Minister. One issue I picked up on was just how long-running and deeply rooted in the Labour Party is the internal fighting and bickering around Gordon Brown himself:

This dates much further back than Blair announcing he would not fight another election. As Philip Gould has recounted, it even goes back before the 1992 general election:

“The whole thing was so debilitating because every time Gordon appeared on TV, someone in John [Smith]’s camp would say, ‘Look, it’s another bid for the leadership’, Patricia [Hewitt] remembers.”

Someone I can’t quite see fifteen plus years of squabbling stop overnight at the leadership election.

And lo … it has come to pass with already there being a series of accusations of Blairites trying to undermine Brown. The latest comes in today’s Sunday Times:

Sources close to the prime minister reportedly accused Blair allies of trying to use Seldon’s book as a “crude attempt” to undermine the government.

Some things never change!

Leadership & cockle warming

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I was really chuffed by the posting and the comments on the Haringey Blog: Lynne for Lib Dem leader? which is run by the Haringey Independent newspaper.

I love it that people even put my name in the frame – but the reality of leadership is gruelling – and right now I would not be ready for such a role. But it warmed the cockles and it’s always nice to have your cockles warmed.

The Chocolate Factory

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I haven’t really blogged much about the dreadful time the tenants of the Chocolate Factory – the wonderful artist colony – have been having (though see previous posting here). I won’t lay out the whole story – but the long and the short of it currently is that the tenants have been issued with new licenses for their tenancy which must be signed within seven days. If not they will be booted out.

I don’t know if this is the result of a panic because of the workshop with the London Development Agency scheduled for November 8th being almost upon us. It is almost as if Collage Arts don’t want the tenants to talk to the LDA whilst the contracts are not signed. Given that the meeting is partly to provide the tenants with an opportunity to inform the LDA of their unhappiness with the events at the Chocolate Factory – this seems very strange to me.

I have advised them to contact their solicitors as to whether it is legal and whether they can be bounced into signing by threats.

Leadership latest

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So – Nick Clegg has announced his candidacy for the leadership. I didn’t really think he was likely to be overcome by an attack of modesty and not put his name forward – so the battle (friendly and positive) is joined.

At the same time, we get great news today that some of Charles Kennedy’s core team is coming to help our campaign! Chris Huhne today confirmed that Dick Newby and Anna Werrin would be playing key roles in his leadership campaign team. Lord Newby will serve as the campaign’s Treasurer and Anna Werrin will be Campaign Manager. Both previously worked for Charles Kennedy when he was Leader of the Liberal Democrats – Dick Newby as Chief of Staff and Anna Werrin as Head of Office.

Wycombe Liberal Democrats Annual Dinner

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Last night it was off to Wycombe. Wycombe really is (as far as politics are concerned) Hornsey & Wood Green twelve years ago – except Labour and Tory positions are swapped. But they have got the beginnings of what you need – some talented and keen people, Wendy and Steve Guy and their agent, as the core of a campaign team and lots of energy and commitment. That’s what it takes – and it will be interesting to watch Wycombe over the next few years and see how it goes.

Haringey Youth Council

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Haringey Youth Council question timeYesterday, having spent the hours between 6am and 9am writing, emailing etc about the leadership contest – as it is all an add on and not instead of my day job – I catch up on emails, letters etc from residents before going to West Green Learning Centre for ‘Politicians’ Question Time’ organised by Haringey Youth Council (Adam and Shayan).

As ever, the young people who come to this sort of event are as bright as buttons. I absolutely love hearing what they say – and particularly this time as one of the girls made several comments of phenomenal depth, with well-observed views made with passion.

I have suggested to her and her school friends who were there that they come up to Parliament to see me to take the discussions on. I am already tabling Parliamentary Written Questions based on those submitted through Adam and the Youth Council.

But as my young friend said – she doesn’t want to be a tick box for politicians to make them feel good about having ‘engaged’ with young people and she wants the issues for debate to be what she wants – not what politicians decide they want to discuss! Very impressive!

The standard of questions and comments from everyone else was pretty high. Issues the came up included the balance between punishment for young people behaving badly and alternatives and the ‘labelisation’ of young people with the ‘ethnic minority’ tag (very interesting discussion!). Much food for thought.

I’ve also agreed to go again to Hornsey School for Girls – as the Headmaster thought that there would be about 100 students interested enough to come to a similar event there.

And now, in other news…

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Time for some variation on the Lib Dem leadership election postings – so here’s a quick round-up of some of the other issues exercising myself and my colleagues in Haringey: