Category Archives: Blog

Liberty AGM

Posted on by

Guest on panel of speakers at Liberty’s Annual General Meeting. Walking in slightly early I catch the tail end of motions being put. And extremely heated and controversial they were. The first I caught was on whether teachers who had had allegations made against them of child abuse issues – false allegations mind you – should be able to get them removed from the record. Currently the Criminal Record Bureau searches result in these allegations being recorded and remaining part of the record. Not surprisingly (and quite outside the current news about the CRB making mistakes on their checks) this has meant that perfectly innocent teachers have found that because of this they have been unable to continue in their profession. Very emotive – and so emotive in fact – that it got sent back (remitted) for further work I guess. But the interesting thing about this moral dilemma is that it follows a current trend where we are seeing the authoritarian view voiced saying that the tarnishing of innocent people is a price we have to pay for the protection of our children. I don’t think that is right. I think we are sophisticated enough to get it far more right than we are getting – and it is not good enough to presume guilt ‘in case’. Protection for children must be rigorous and paramount – but where it is found to be wrong (the allegations were found to be false), there can be no reason for leaving erroneous records in place to hound those falsely accused in perpetuity. You cannot argue that simply because an allegation – possibly malicious – has been made then there is no smoke without a fire. That is the danger of police records and the holding of innocent DNA and so on. These mistakes are perpetuated once systemised in the cyberworld and the potential extension across other databases means that errors or wrongs will be exacerbated and perpetuated.

The second of the motions I caught was whether a member of the BNP should be allowed to be employed in the public services – like the prison service. The argument raged – and it is a difficult one. Do you take the purist view and say regardless of politics or religion everyone should be employed on an equal basis until such time as they act or do something wrong. Or do you avoid the problem by not employing and thus excluding the possibility? These are the questions of moral dilemma for a free society – and seemingly even Liberty has difficulties finding the answers.

Wood Green development

Posted on by

Surgery all morning at Wood Green library followed by meeting with the council officers involved in the Wood Green Master Plan.

Master Plan is a bit of a misnomer – as this is really a Wood Green Planning and Business Improvement document. It’s early stages – but as far as I could glean this was a bit of strategic assessment of what might improve the regeneration and status of the area. There are a number of big sites that will be developed in the relatively near future – like Heartlands and the old Civic Centre site. The issues of jobs in an area of high unemployment, planning, sustainability and so on need to be handled sensibly to bring in the sort of retail that will provide more trade and attract more people – whilst taking into account in the needs of local residents whose services – such as transport, schools and health facilities – will need to cope with any growth. And the confidence of residents is dented when ghastly looking buildings from lowest common denominator developers get built.

However, that having been said, I am heartened by the fact that strategic thinking is going on – so long as it is followed by strategic consultation before it gets to a stage where we all feel we have no effect on outcome. I was delighted to learn that the new Haringey Chief Exec – Ita O’Donovan – has been having a go about design quality of the built environment. In my first meeting with her, I made it clear that I felt Wood Green was being damaged by ugly buildings that people then had to live with for years. In fact my first speech in Parliament talked about this – as it is always those in areas of deprivation who get the most badly stuffed by this sort of crappy design and materials.

I also lobbied at the meeting for improvement to Wood Green station – which can barely cope with the numbers already using it. It is not just a lick of paint that is needed but a redevelopment and expansion of capacity. And my last thrust was on sustainability – this is an opportunity to bring some real meaning to sustainability and also to be innovative. Why not bring some real green-ness to Wood Green High Street – water, trees, landscaping, planting street furniture of a real high standard – would all make such a difference! And the front of the library … need I say more?

Last issue of the day is the tragic knifing of schoolboy Kiyan Prince in Edgware. Carrying a knife in a public place should carry the same sentence as that for firearms. If you are murdered by a gun or murdered by knife, the outcome is the same – you are dead. In the Violent Crime Reduction Bill going through Parliament the Lib Dems did put an amendment at Report Stage asking for this. Labour voted against increasing the sentence. The Bill will raise the age at which you can buy a knife from 16 to 18 – which we supported (despite Labour’s attacks on us to the contrary) – but wanted Labour to put in what types of knives were prohibited. As it stands the new legislation means you will be able to get married at 16 but not buy your cutlery from John Lewis until you are 18!

The 7-year tariff for carrying a gun has reduced gun crime. Knives should be the same. I don’t take the view that we should automatically have scanners in every school – that is not the answer to knife crime. I heartily approve of teachers being given the powers to search those kids they suspect of carrying – but don’t believe we should treat all children as criminals. Even more importantly, as knife-carrying is epidemic, is to work on the why and the causes to change behaviour. The culture means that kids believe it is cool to carry a knife – a fashion accessory to gain status. Supporting teachers, the school police person, acceptable behaviour contracts (ABCs) which target behaviour improvement – we need a long sustained and well-resourced emphasis on working on children to turn this around. Punishment, strong sentencing and enforcement all play an important part – but they are not enough on their own to counter the ills of society.

The Spinney

Posted on by

Meet to discuss drugs policy. Clearly the Government’s prohibition strategy isn’t working – indeed it could be argued somewhat well that prohibition (much like drink in the most famous prohibition of them all) is making it worse in some ways. Addiction is flourishing in many places and the countries where the raw materials are grown have often seen drugs become industries that dominate and ruin large parts of those very countries. Much to be thought about.

In afternoon I visit The Spinney. The Spinney is just that – a little wooded spinney that adjoins on one side Rhodes Avenue Primary School and on the other Alexandra Recreation Ground. The school has got six months use of The Spinney. To date it has been a dumping ground and little used – but local volunteers have helped clear it up, the school has laid a nature trail and when I visited classes were busy studying nature for real. Absolutely fabulous. The Council have said in principle they are happy for the school to have some use of it in future – but that they will not be responsible for cleaning, health and safety or opening and locking the gates. And the local community also – understandably – wants to have access to the site too.

So – could I help? Well, after the meeting I spoke with my colleague Wayne Hoban (one of the Lib Dem councillors representing the area) about setting in motion a meeting of the key local interest groups – school, community, Friends of the Park and the Council to see where the land lies. You can perhaps see a solution where the children from the school have exclusive access during the school hours – but outside of school hours on a weekday, on weekends and during the holidays it is available for everyone. But would that be acceptable to all parties? And how would the practicalities of maintenance, care and safety be addressed? None of this insurmountable – and I have to say – it is a little magical space that would be wonderful for the Rhodes Avenue children and the local community to enjoy!

The future of local police stations

Posted on by

Main event of the day for me is the long-awaited meeting with the police about our local police stations. There has been a lot of concern about the future of police stations in the borough (and indeed across London). And we know that our precious stations like Muswell Hill and St Ann’s are in the firing line. The police make no apology for wanting buildings that work and will deliver effective policing. Well – we all want that too – but if that means closing some stations – then there had better be something better on the table to persuade us that this really is an “improvement”.

So – the public need to be consulted properly on any proposals and fully informed about what alternatives there are. As I understand it at the moment – there will be a patrol centre and a custody centre at Wood Green, there will be an office and management block somewhere and – if we can find suitable premises to house up to three Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Muswell Hill – then those teams, along with a front counter open to the public, will be based in the centre of Muswell Hill. I gather it is difficult to find premises that are suitable – so a lot is still up in the air but it’s possible we’d end up with something better than the current situation.

My nervousness, or remaining nervousness, is not really about changing location (as in this case it’d mean moving the police building in Muswell Hill to a more central location). But firstly – it must be consulted on with local people. And secondly – if local people are amenable to a sensible program of estate renewal and agree that if suitable alternative is found in Muswell Hill – then they will need cast-iron guarantees about its future and longevity etc. Once bricks and mortar of our local police station are gone – it’s much, much harder to get them back. So – the sooner the consultation and debate with local people begins, the better.

Abolition of Parliament

Posted on by

Day begins filming with Channel 4 a program about Sir Ian Blair’s first year in charge of London’s policing. Well – you’ll just have to watch when it comes out – but suffice to say in terms of honeymoon periods, I don’t think he had one.

Today is a mish-mash of meetings etc with the backdrop of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill – the Bill that has been nicknamed the Abolition of Parliament Bill as in its original form it gives sweeping ability to ministers to wipe out all previous legislation without proper Parliamentary debate. Today is the first day of two days of Report Stage. Judging from the avalanche of Government amendments – the penny has dropped and the Government have realised what a pig’s ear they have made out of this Bill. I don’t think anyone disagrees with the need to reform some of the processes to facilitate effective legislative reform. But this Bill was so flawed the Government should never have put it out in the original form.

In the evening meet Peter Hendy (Transport Commissioner for London) who I used to scrutinise when I was Chair of Transport at the London Assembly. I have a couple of issues to harangue him over – and business out the way – we discuss what we know about everyone we know. Peter is a good guy and I am glad he made it to Commissioner. London has some huge challenges ahead – not least Thames Gateway and the North London Line. I am optimistic that we will see a real change in the aspiration of overground rail with this addition to the TfL family. Peter is certainly very excited about its future.

Needless to say I bring up the North Circular – where an inadequate scheme to solve the problem is incessantly delayed. My plea is to get the funding in for the rat-running prevention now. I really don’t see why local residents should suffer endlessly because major schemes fall foul of one thing or another. In the latest case – if there is a public enquiry it could be years before anything goes ahead or not. We want our £4 million now. And just in case Peter was missing my campaigning – I asked him just exactly what I and local people need to do to make TfL extend the 603 bus route throughout the day and evening. What are the criteria? How can we prove we need it? What will persuade him to spend money on this route? I look forward to the answers in due course!

The National Lottery

Posted on by

I receive an email saying: Encourage Your Constituents to Have Their Say on the Future of the Lottery

The National Lottery Commission is the regulator of the National Lottery and is responsible for deciding who will operate the National Lottery when the current licence expires in January 2009. They say they are committed to running a fair, open and transparent competition, which has been designed to attract high quality, credible bids to run one of the most successful lotteries in the world.

They have published the Draft Invitation to Apply (ITA), which sets out the near-final details of the opportunity to bid for the licence to run the National Lottery from 1 February 2009. Published alongside the ITA is the Draft Licence, which details the conditions under which the Lottery will be regulated. The Final ITA and Licence will be published in June 2006.

The Draft ITA is available to download from their website at: http://www.natlotcomm.gov.uk/Competition/

Public opinion is an important factor in the competition process they say, and ask if I am willing to encourage members of the public to contribute their views as part of the competition process. They have launched an online questionnaire to encourage people to have their say on the future of the Lottery. The questionnaire is available at www.natlotcomm.gov.uk

So as they say that they want my constituents to Have Their Say – I am publicising this so that you can!

Friday surgery

Posted on by

Long, long surgery at Hornsey Library. Always fascinating – always draining. Tales of misery of families torn apart by Home Office decisions that would break your heart; housing problems with four in a room; benefits cock-ups that end with eviction because Haringey loses applications – even though client has proof of posting; a young woman with a disabled child comes to tell me of the dreadful lack of support given to those with disabilities and the rude and unhelpful treatment they get; a young man with autism receives cuts and bruises while in respite care – and his family cannot get any appropriate explanations of why. So many battles to fight!

The London bombings

Posted on by

John Reid (new Home Secretary) makes statement on the reports that have come out on the chronology and the intelligence about the July London bombings last year. The thrust is to tell the tale of what happened when and to present the findings of the Security Committee – which focused on intelligence and resources.

As the story unfolded it became clear that two of the bombers were known but not followed up on. So there was an opportunity to have stopped the bombings. I don’t know that you will ever be able to stop everything happening. According to Reid three further attacks on London have been stopped since last year. However, the lack of resources to put possible suspects etc under surveillance is not acceptable.

We are pushing for a public enquiry. Reid refuses to authorise one. The remit of the committees who reported today is very narrowly focused – and doesn’t touch on prevention. What a wider remit could examine is why British boys were able to be radicalised, turning on their fellow citizens and murdering them. What is going on? That is what we need to understand – and address. It is quite clear that these were not boys from some dreadfully deprived or socially excluded background. They were from decent families and as far as I can tell, actually active participating members of society in terms of helping youngsters in the area, being a classroom assistant and so on.

So yes – we need to work with communities where deprivation and lack of employment and housing problems afflict large swathes of the community – but we are fooling ourselves if we think that will address the fundamental causes of radicalisation. That is a whole other ball game. And we cannot really begin to tackle it unless we know the why – which is why a public inquiry is the best way forward. Even the USA has appropriate investigations post 9/11.

In the evening I am addressing Year 11 and their parents at the Fortismere “Record of Achievement Night”. It’s held in the Panorama Room at Ally Pally. There are nine forms at this age – so we are talking around 200+ pupils and a couple of parents each. So the hall is thronging! We start with fantastic music. Two of the solo female vocalists had voices so wonderful that you get a lump in your throat.

The National Record of Achievement – which was presented to each student individually when they came up – is a record not only of their learning but also their extracurricular activities. I am a great fan of extra-curricular activity. And as an employer – I am looking in terms of formal qualifications, but beyond that I am looking for character, and determination and the person beyond the qualifications.

It was a very heart-warming evening. Contrast that against the day before when Labour (Government and Council) refused to review the funding allocation to Fortismere to rebuild (or even make usable) the 6th form block. Fortismere is the sort of school the Government says it wants to expand. It is a good school and its buildings need work. But when the council allocated the money for buildings – Fortismere got the least in the whole borough.

Fortismere School funding

Posted on by

Martin Horwood MP stands in for me for the first hour of the Police and Justice Bill in Parliament as I am going with the governors and Head of Fortismere School to present their case for funding. The school has a buildings crisis looming since Haringey Council allocated only £1.61 million out of the borough’s £165 million to Fortismere.

They present the case well – but the Government’s line was that they needed to work with the council on getting a fair share for their school. Well – they tried that didn’t they – and it didn’t work. There is a pretty underhand pressure being applied so that Fortismere will be forced to sell off grounds or assets. Whilst we all applaud funding being given with a bias towards helping areas with high deprivation – it goes too far when practically new schools are getting great dollops of cash and Fortismere – with buildings containing rooms that are actually unusable – is neglected.

Rush back to Parliament to take over from Martin on the Police and Justice Bill. The Government has changed diddly squat during Committee – and now at Report and Third Reading are similarly immoveable.

So the sweeping forced mergers of police forces against their will is still there. So much for local policing! They are bunging in the Prison Inspectorate with four others – a move condemned by all (except the Government); they are increasing summary justice without any judicial checks and balances; they refuse to go back and renegotiate our unfair and unequal extradition arrangements with the USA and they are centralising power into the hands of the Home Secretary – who will be able to direct the work of the police and police authorities throughout the land without appropriate safeguards.

Education Bill

Posted on by

Bit like a yoyo today. Had to go to Westminster then back to Hornsey & Wood Green then back to Westminster then back to Hornsey & Wood Green. The middle H & WG was to address Haringey teachers on Labour’s Education Bill. I was definitely preaching to the converted – in terms of them and me and the Lib Dems (and some Labour members) being against the proposals. The whole Bill is about structures really – not standards which it should be. As to selling off our schools to commercial sponsors (and if you buy three – now you get a discount) – it is a frightening scenario. But all our agreement in the hall won’t change Labour’s stony ears I fear. Maybe a massive lobby by teachers will have some good effect. As far as I can gather from Sarah Teather – our Education Spokesperson – the Government haven’t moved an inch in all eighteen sessions in committee stage on the Bill.

At Westminster end go with cross-party group to meet with Beverly Hughes about the situation surrounding parents wrongly accused of child abuse. I present my constituent’s case as do the others. Ms Hughes listens well and promises to look into the case I give to her. It is devastating for families wrongly accused. Failing to intervene when you should brings tragic results – but so does intervening when you shouldn’t, and in this case it seems that procedures were just not followed at the school etc. Those sort of mistakes should not happen. I await Ms Hughes follow-up.