Category Archives: Blog

Talking Big Brother with the US ambassador

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Quite extraordinary today – I am having lunch with the American Ambassador (and five other senior Lib Dems – obviously not just me) and then later going to the premier of Blood Diamonds. I know – this is just not the staple diet I am used to – and like buses two things have come together on the same day.

The US Embassy is such an ugly building. And now – starkly guarded with concrete, fencing and guards – it feels hostile. Everyone was very nice at the lunch. And Mr Ambassador very genial. Given the slight tension between Lib Dems and the Government’s pro-American foreign policy I guess it could have been more difficult than it actually was. All sides recognised that we may have differences (!) but we still have a lot in common and that we may not like American foreign policy in Iraq but we don’t not like America.

It was a cordial affair – and yes – even with major world events on the agenda – Big Brother still raised its ugly head!

Hornsey Central Hospital: watch our campaign launch

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We (Lib Dems) launched our ‘prescription’ for the future Hornsey Central Hospital.

I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are supporting a bid from the local health trust to the Government for £7million of public money to deliver the long-promised replacement for the closure of the old Hornsey Hospital.

Well Lynne Featherstone and Richard Wilson launch their 5 point plan for Hornsey Central Hospital– this ‘replacement’ has gone through so many incarnations over the last six or so years that the original promises of what would be provided have changed and changed and changed. It is now envisaged as a sort of super-clinic and we want to ensure that this new facility (should we win the bid) will deliver additional and wanted services – and won’t simply be a reorganisation of existing services.

We must have additional health facilities – not just reorganised ones.

Moreover, we want the Trust to work closely with local people and local health professionals to identify what services are most wanted and needed – and to make sure that the new facility doesn’t detract or impact negatively on local GP practices and local pharmacists. And we want to jump up and down about public transport links to the site. The old W2 was taken away on the basis that there was no hospital there – well now we need it back and more access. No new facility should require people coming for treatment to either live next door or have a car.

We haven’t heard the result of the bid as yet – but it must be imminent as the Government has announced the first few successful bids for the ‘Community Hospital’ pot. So – fingers still crossed.

Sustainable Communities Bill

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Sustainable Communities Bill in Parliament today. Not a sexy name – but it may go some way to meet that dreadful sense of powerlessness we all get sometimes when the Government runs roughshod over local wishes. It’s about giving local communities much more power over their issues in their own patch. It is a Private Members’ Bill with all party support – and though it is usually quite difficult to get MPs to Parliament on a Friday (those with constituencies outside London are normally travelling back to a long weekend packed full of local meetings and events) – today there were enough to see it through to the next stage. Julia Goldsworthy has been doing much of the running for the Liberal Democrats on the issue – and you can watch her talk about it on her website.

Debate was followed by a very harrowing surgery – and then followed by a weekend off(ish)!

Hossam Ghaly and Spurs help local kids

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Had to go and get lots of jabs! Looking after international development means I’ll be spending some time sharing territory with mosquitoes and worse – so immunisation is the order of the day. I go off to the Royal Free, which has a really helpful travel clinic. I gladly wait beyond my appointment time to let in a gentleman in a wheelchair who is late for his appointment (the one before mine) because he has not been able to park. Pay attention Royal Free – people in wheelchairs either need more spaces allocated or they need to be offered appointments at less busy times of the day.

The unlucky man had had to literally just leave the car somewhere on the street and wheel himself up (and the Royal Free is on a bit of a hill) to get to the main entrance. The clinic was good with him and for his next appointment have arranged an early one – but that shouldn’t be done only after an experience like that.

So – today I am replete with yellow fever and meningitis jabs and next week its tetanus, diphtheria, polio and something else I’ve forgotten. I have my malaria tablets, insect repellent (one that apparently dissolves plastic) and a tummy upset kit (polite phrasing.! So – I will be prepared!

Lynne Featherstone and Hossam Ghaly launching new football scheme for local kidsBut the event of today was visiting Spurs. I am there to launch a new sort of ‘get kids off the streets’ programme where Spurs as part of their new inclusion unit works with the local community to combat crime.

As I said to the kids from Noel Park (who are the first up for this new venture) I get lots of complaints about kids playing football on the streets – and here at last is a good idea with somewhere they can play legitimately AND with Spurs. No better partner. All of the credit really goes to the police – and more particularly Noel Park Safer Neighbourhood Team who have put this all together. Congrats to Andy and the team!

The Noel Park crew arrived and after extremely brief speeches from Spurs, me, a councillor and the police – it was on to the main menu.

Star footballer Hossam Ghaly was there to hand out the new kit to the team and then – when they got into their kit – knock a ball around with them. One of my colleagues from the constituency, Matt Davies (Lib Dem councillor for Fortis Green) had kindly come to take the photos – and I could see in his eyes the envy of these kids getting to play with a Spurs footballer. Matt is an avid Spurs fan (which is probably why he volunteered to come and take the shots)!

A busy day

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I went to the Save Community Hospitals’ lobby in Westminster Hall yesterday. In Haringey we are not so much trying to save a hospital and get a new one on the site of the old one – which wasn’t saved!

I also had Question 4 on the order paper in Foreign Affairs Questions.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)
What recent assessment she has made of developments in the situation in Darfur; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
President Bashir has now accepted UN support for AMIS—the African Union Mission in Sudan—and has allowed the first UN military personnel into Darfur. That is important, but it is only the first step. We urge the Government of Sudan, the UN and the African Union to work for full implementation of the joint support package and an urgent resumption of the political process. All sides need to observe the ceasefire, too, particularly the Government of Sudan, who have been bombing the rebels, as that is vital for progress on the humanitarian front.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)
I thank the Secretary of State for her reply, but has a timeline been developed for the United Nations and the African Union to be on the ground? At what point will that protection start to be provided for people in Darfur?

Margaret Beckett (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
There are three stages to the deployment: first, light support, in which 180 personnel, 34 of whom have already arrived, are expected to be involved; secondly, heavy support; and, finally, the establishment of a full hybrid African Union and United Nations force. There is no specific timescale, but everyone who wishes the position in Darfur to improve is anxious that as many of those people as possible should be deployed as soon as possible, and that is something for which we are all working.

Ironically, had had to move my meeting with Secretary of State for International Development from 3pm because of the question. It’s like a ballot – so until a couple of days before you have no idea that the question you have tabled has been selected. Anyway – Hilary Benn’s office were very accommodating and moved the meeting which had been initiated by Hilary as a meet and greet me in my new role.

I went to DFID unarmed. Having heard tell that Hilary Benn doesn’t have an enemy in the world, I judged it safe. Which meant I found myself not just with Hilary as I had expected – but with four of his key aides. Five to one! The first thing you notice is that it is nothing like the Home Office – they are nice and civilised. I think in the year and a half I was on the front bench for Home Affairs – Tony McNulty (Labour’s equivalent) only said hello about twice!

Anyway – we had a chat about the Department and the work they carry out. I look forward to working with him – as we say.

Then it was straight on to Haringey Civic Centre for the presentation by the four bidders for the new school to be built in my constituency. This is one of those insane Government forced bids to bring in an Academy. Boroughs of all political persuasions have seen these privately sponsored new schools take over. I suppose the original idea was enabling the Government to intervene where schools were failing and the LEA was appalling (understandable).

However, this is about businesses really getting hold of Government funding. Listening to the four bids – from a variety of sponsors – it was clear that there was very little to guide one as to which one would deliver exactly what. The crying shame – and actually complete travesty – was the lack of real people at the meeting. There were the bidders, the councillors, some heads, the press – but only six (other) members of the community.

So one has to wonder about Haringey’s efforts to publicise the event (not much). Gail Engert (Lib Dem Education Spokesperson) asked that they consider a better-advertised second meeting. The consultation period needs to be longer and there is a problem with the timing of the decision – which is going to be in the Easter holidays. That is not good – as people can come and present to the decision making meeting – but at that time lots of people are away.

And of course – home to watch Big Brother. This has turned political as a Labour member has tabled an EDM. I am not sure that is the way forward in this case. If there is anything that has broken our laws – then it is really a police matter. However, I am not sure whether it is that clear that it would result in a successful prosecution. It is more the bullying by a gang of girls on one who is different. I can only assume they were jealous of her and because she is posh and classy (as well as non-white) they focused their nastiness on her difference.

I wonder if their punishment won’t be ending up pariahs when they come out. If only the world was that fair!!!

Save the Children

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Today Ming asked me to attend his meeting with Save the Children. Jasmine Whitbread laid out her stall very clearly and is, I thought, a very able advocate for the work they do. All the organisations are keen to influence me at this early stage of my thinking – and that is their job and their advocacy. I am looking and learning at the moment. Absorbing it all and asking many questions. In a field like this I am keen to add value and champion what not only needs championing but the things that strike a chord with me, with Liberal Democracy and with need – and where I think I and we as a party can add value.

The unacceptable face of Celebrity Big Brother

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I am working my way through the countries, the diseases and the disasters. Today I met with Malaria Venture – a group researching and developing a new raft of drugs to treat malaria. There is no vaccine in sight – so it’s a matter of treatment by drugs and prevention by nets, better systems for no stagnant water in which to breed etc. Their major backers are Mr and Mrs Microsoft, who foot the bill for the largest slice of their work – but they still need funding to move a procession of new drugs work forward and for those coming out the other end with imminent registration. And they need the politicians to push out the barriers in terms of how such drugs can be delivered.

I was interested to learn that one of the barriers to delivery is that the people themselves often won’t take the drugs – preferring first to go to local stalls or shops where often they are sold tablets by unscrupulous merchants which cost a fortune and don’t treat the disease. Often these tablets are made of chalk. So – clearly governance is an issue. How, in these types of territory can you stop such criminal activity?

Watched in horror in the later evening (my children insist – that’s my defence) as Celebrity Big Brother let one of the inmates, a Bollywood Film Star (and very beautiful) be mercilessly bullied by three stupid, young idiots. It was just what bullying is – nasty ganging up on someone who is different from the pack. But these three ghastly girls are way out of school age. Shilpa was clearly hurt – but handling it very gracefully I thought. However, this is unacceptable television – but more importantly demonstrates quite clearly how unpleasant the views of some people are. This won’t end here – nor should it.

How should council group leaders be elected?

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Following up on the piece I wrote for Liberal Review querying whether only councillors should have a say in the election of council group leaders (after all, party leaders aren’t elected just by MPs) – London Region have put a discussion on the agenda for the regional conference coming up in a few weeks. Should make for an interesting debate – especially as lots of councillors normally attend!

The Westminster Hour

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It is so weird to go out at 9.30pm on a Sunday night to do a live panel discussion. That’s the time of the week when I am normally just relaxing before the onslaught of the week ahead, making sure everything is done and ready.

But last night (Sunday) was the first of the new era of The Westminster Hour with its new presenter Carolyn Quinn. One of the innovations is a live slot with a panel of MPs – myself, Kitty Usher (Labour) and Ed Vaizey (Tory). Some weeks will be the three of us together but more often it will be two of the three in any combination for a chat about what’s coming up in the week ahead, any particular issues of interest to us individually – and as Ed and I are consummate bloggers – what the blogs are saying.

So off I went to Millbank for a 10.15 start. Kitty had been all over the papers as one of those on the Government payroll who was campaigning against closure of health facilities locally while being one of those voting for the cuts on the government whip in the House of Commons. I thought she had a pretty good stab at defending herself.

To my mind, the big problem isn’t whether Labour MPs are being consistent or not, but that MPs from all parties are raising concerns – and Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt isn’t listening. In Hornsey & Wood Green (as I said on air) the local council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee wrote, as did I, to Patricia – and the reply they got was from the equivalent of the Customer Service department in BT or the Royal Mail. Thank you for your letter – but… Being fobbed off with such a junior reply is hardly the Health Secretary listening.

What makes the fob off more galling is that Patricia Hewitt told Parliament that the correct procedure is indeed for council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committees to write to her and she will use her discretion to intervene and takes this most seriously. Not what happened in Haringey’s case!

Then we had a bash at the Home Office – well it’s an open door on a day when the Government is on the run from yet more scandalous incompetence. If the Government stopped trying to make a new law every day (3,000 new offences since 1997), then their staff might have a chance to get on top of their jobs. But the Government just loves headlines that say: we are going to be active – we are doing things. Just as when John Reid said he would work f***ing 18 hours a day to get it sorted – it makes for good headlines, but the results are rather different!