Heard that one of the Haringey Lib Dem councillors, Fiyaz Mughal, has been given a really fantastic award – Ambassador for Peace. The prize is handed out by the London-based Universal Peace Federation, in recognition of his bridge-building work between the Israeli and Palestinian communities. The award also recognises Fiyaz’s economic support for the region, in the form of promoting micro-finance, especially for businesswomen. Well done Fiyaz!
Category Archives: Blog
Swimming to Ealing Southall
Last stop of my day is Ealing Southall by-election. I should have swum there – it would have been quicker. The heavens opened, lightning struck Southall (according to the radio) and trains out of Paddington were cancelled. So I drove – and it took two hours. I parked by our HQ, opening the door of the car to find that I was in about 10 centimetres of water. But hey – I was wearing boots – and I though this would be a good test as to whether they were waterproof. They were. Numerous drowned rat activist were returning to the fold – and the rest of the evening was spent on clerical work. Lib Dems aren’t put off by bad weather. No faint hearts here!
Remembering Roderick Benziger
After my school visit this morning, it was on to the Memorial Service at St Mary’s with St George church at the bottom of Cranley Gardens for Roderick Benziger – a long, long standing Liberal Democrat – and general community – activist.
When I got involved in the Liberal Democrats in Hornsey & Wood Green back in ’94 – it was stalwarts like Roderick who were keeping the party flame burning – when there was no electoral success nor prospect of it. So without Roderick (and Mo Chadirci – also sadly deceased) I would not be the MP and we would not have 27 councillors. Roderick was a man of real principle, integrity, intellect and commitment – and liked nothing better than a drink in the pub after campaigning where we would find something mutually agreeable to vehemently disagree about.
Roderick represented me at a meeting long ago for the Hornsey Hospital Campaign Group – and he campaigned with the group and myself for years extracting from the Trust the promise to replace the hospital. That fight to deliver what local people want goes on today.
He was also a school Governor at Muswell Hill Primary School and a keen poet and member of the Highgate Poets. The service was lovely and everyone clearly had a deep affection for Roderick. He had such character and was a Liberal to his toes. The Liberal Democrats and I send our love to Diana, his partner, who has been his love and his strength throughout the years.
Big PFI bills hits Haringey schools
Met with the Head, Roz Hudson, and the Chair of Governors, Steph Gold of Alexandra Park School about the massive bill (around £300,000 in figures given to my Lib Dem colleague Cllr Gail Engert) that has landed on their desk courtesy of the Government’s PFI for schools program and the appalling PFI contract, negotiated by Haringey.
This contract, it appears, allows the PFI contractor (in this case Jarvis) variations. Well variations are not unusual – but these are not discussed or agreed with the school – they are just landed on the school. And it’s not just Alexandra Park School – it’s all of the secondary schools in Haringey.
In answers to questions posed by Gail, Haringey Council confirmed that Haringey’s secondary schools would be liable for PFI back payments totalling over £2 million.
Our schools are striving hard to improve performance and meet targets in Haringey. Alexandra Park School is doing brilliantly and meeting its targets. If Haringey and the Government refuse to acknowledge that these extra costs – for which they give no extra funding to the schools in their budgets to meet – are their liability and not the schools – then it will mean that pressure on schools’ budgets will harm the service that schools are providing to children in Haringey.
So – these are the PFI chickens coming home to roost. However, it is not the schools who should foot the bill for Haringey’s poor contract negotiation. I am writing to the new Schools’ Minister, Ed Balls, to ask that he review the situation in Haringey’s schools and together with Haringey Council come up with an financial rescue plan that either pays the bills or puts extra funding into the school budgets to meet the costs.
As the years go by – we will find more and more problems with these PFI wonders. At the time, it was Hobson’s choice. Schools either accepted the PFI deals set up for them – or there was nothing – absolutely nothing for them. And the sting in the tail for the Council is that the next ten years of funding for schools’ buildings – called Building Schools for the Future (BSF) – won’t kick in until these bills are all paid.
Parkland Walk, the local police and Bounds Green School
Bucketing down, so I was not expecting a huge turn out for my litter pick along Parkland Walk. Not a complete washout however, as five very stalwart people turn up to do the honours. As it really is bucketing – we decide that today isn’t the day to do this as so much of the path is under water because of poor drainage. Now that is something that it would be worth spending Transport for London’s funding on improving the walk.
It is such a shame at this time of year when everyone has their fetes and summer fairs and street parties that the weather is so cruel.
But go ahead they do. So after Parkland Walk, I go on to the Open Day at St Ann’s Police Station where it is always fun as the station opens itself up to local people. A great example of the police trying to work productively with the local community – better police-resident relations means fewer crimes and more criminals caught.
Despite the weather there is a good showing of people – and I get to be friends with one of the police dogs and ride (well sit on) a police bike.
All good fun!
And then on to the last wet outing of the day – to Bounds Green School (now with Junior and Infants with a single Head) for their summer fete.
The playground activities are somewhat hampered by the weather – but inside the stalls are doing a great trade. Last year I helped serve the hot food – this year I am on the lucky dip stall.
I don’t know whether that is demotion or promotion – but we did a roaring trade. 50p a go – and tickets ending with 0 or 5 – every one a winner!
I am pictured with William Wawn – the new Head of the two schools. It was very buzzy – and with a jazz band playing – the weather didn’t spoil the fun at all!
And then it was back home to stay out of the rain for a while!
Not wanted by Haringey
Advice surgery all morning – but the backdrop of the day is the bomb in Haymarket. Predictable really I guess – if you think about the timing. Fantastic that it was spotted before it went off. But it is a horrid sense that our well-being can be instantly threatened and our lives put on guard again – just like that.
Lesser matters – but a while back, I had a letter from Haringey Council asking if I would present an award for the Better Haringey Awards tonight which I said I would be happy to do. Because it clashed with my daughters ‘A’ level art show – I asked my office to telephone before the event to ask if I could present an award in the second half of the award ceremony – giving me an hour at her show and an hour at the awards. On telephoning, my Head of Office was told that this wasn’t an event for MPs. It was a Council event and MPs weren’t wanted. Nice! Labour Haringey clearly hasn’t caught up with the new Prime Minister’s desire to work with all the talents!
Evening – get a call from Ming about my future – but can’t tell yet!
Winning in Reading
Off 
to Reading to exhort Liberal Democrats there to win the seat! Really enthusiastic group – and well ahead of where we started in Hornsey & Wood Green. Looking back – it is extraordinary to think we started with just a very few people determined that Labour should not go on treating local residents with such contempt. So – I expect good things of Reading as they know what needs to be done – and have a very, very good core team.
Gordon’s Cabinet is the main political business of the day – with the biggest surprise being the first woman Home Secretary with Jacqui’s elevation. Good luck to her. Have always believed that job would be excellent for a woman; sorry for prejudice on this – but less bluster and ego and macho sabre-rattling are to be hoped for. A particular relief after John Reid – who I felt generally made matters worse and heightened the difference and public expectation by his bullish pronouncements.
As to the rest of the Cabinet – pretty tame and quite dull. Certainly a Cabinet of more intellect than the last Blair cabinet – but sense the extension of the Chancellor’s modus operandi – dullness and sobriety will rule. Will this be good or bad? In a world where Paris Hilton dominates the airwaves on release from prison – we will see how long it takes for media needs to win the day. The only thing being, that the media may just not cover politics at all – if it becomes pure drudgery.
Raphat Mughal
Visited our local community women’s training group this morning. Run by Raphat Mughal who is like an unstoppable mother hen fighting every step of the way to get grants for one thing or another to improve the facilities for women from our communities.
Today there were two classes going – early steps in bringing women from their homes into the wider world and giving them language and other skills so that they can help their children with their homework (sometimes quite an issue), or so they can themselves begin accessing work opportunities and so on.
Today I am there because they have managed to get an award of around £5,000 for computers. But now they are stymied because they need to build some benches for them to go on and for someone to pay for the materials, the work and then to wire up and install the computers. Until they can get some help to do this – the award money cannot be put to the good use it is intended for. So – if anyone out there can help with this – let me know.
Goodbye Tony, hello Gordon
So the long goodbye is finally over. Tony has faced the final curtain. ‘Well – no – actually. Not final. Not me. You know me – I’m Tony. I’m going to do something more important than being Prime Minister – I’m going to be part of the quartet – well I guess that’s a quintet then!’ (Please read aloud using a Rory Bremner version of Tony Blair voice.)
‘That is that. The End.’
It was a good ending. You have to hand to TB. He is so much more appealing than GB! I thought his last Prime Minister’s Questions was quintessential Blair – witty, sharp, super-quick and well delivered. Sotto voce ending. And I was moved by the occasion – but then I cry at Coronation Street. It is, however, quite something to witness first hand the end of an extraordinary premiership – more extraordinary ‘cos most of us think he made an unforgivable error in Iraq, he trashed any trust the public might have had in politicians, he set a terrible example of standards in public life – but he delivered peace in Northern Ireland, was brave in regard to Sierra Leone and Kosovo – but could have been, so, so much more.
As for his new role as Peace Envoy for the Quartet in the Middle East – well – he isn’t the obvious choice in terms of all sides putting their faith in him – but on the other hand – he has clearly phenomenal skills in this arena. And it will take phenomenal skill to deliver peace. It’s funny really – I wrote to Tony not long after I was elected and berated him over Iraq, then suggested to him that if he wanted to make any sort of amends he should use his time more fruitfully in office – and better devote the rest of his time to sorting out the Middle East. Clearly persuaded by my missive – albeit after leaving office – that is what he is going to do!
It fits really. He must bear a weight of either such guilt over those who died because of his decisions (although he believes he was right) but whether guilt or not in his mind – his only redemption (and I use the word because of its meaning to TB not me) would be to succeed in delivering a viable state for Palestine and permanent security for Israel. So – whilst as I say – he isn’t an obvious unbiased player in this arena – sometimes it can take someone involved and passionate – whether for or against – to bring people together.
I wish him every success.
So Camelot dies with Blair. And now the dark and icy hand of Mordor is spreading through the land as the new Wizard’s deathly grip circles our lives. Not encouraged by GB’s first speech outside of No 10. Starched, formal, uncomfortable and termed with phrases to send chills throughout the public services. Change this. Change that. Yes – the country wants a change – a change from being lied to, cheated, manipulated and strategised. But Gordon isn’t change. He was there all the time – and if you didn’t argue for change then – we won’t believe you now. You did, after all, sign the cheques; support the war; flip-flop on tuition fees and privatise our tube spending millions on consultants rather than services.
More mundane, I know, but went straight from Parliament to Haringey Police Consultative Group meeting. That calmed me down!
Alexander Litvinenko: latest news
At last some new news on the report from the contractors contracted by Haringey Council to measure the levels of Pollonium 210 in the Litvinenko House and recommend what further work will be needed to clean said house.
No – the report is not yet handed to the tribunal and the lawyers for the other side – as it is being finalised and reviewed by the key agencies in charge of our safety. The one thing that is public at this point in time is that the Health Protection Agency has said that there is no risk to any of the neighbours by virtue of what is in the house.
Good news. I hope, however, that the report is soon submitted (expected to happen in another week) and that then the remediation work and who is to pay for it can be agreed and carried out. That is what everyone wants and needs to happen.
Lynne Featherstone 