Category Archives: Blog

Jerry Springer: The Opera DVD

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There’s been quite a lot of coverage on other blogs and some in the mainstream media already about the news that Sainsbury’s and Woolworths have both withdrawn the Jerry Springer opera DVD from sale after lobbying from a small Christian movement. (See The Independent for example).

Sainsbury’s say they decided to do this after receiving just 10 (yes ten!) complaints. Well – I know that toleration of other people’s religious views is important, but bowing to such a small number of people on what is after all a freedom of speech issue (the DVD is legal, it has a proper classification etc.) is really poor. I’m sure that the vast majority of Christians – as well as people of no religion or other religions – know that freedom of speech is something to be cherished and involves letting other people say or do things that you might not agree with or like.

So – I’ll be writing to the Chief Exec of both Sainsbury’s and Woolworths asking them to change their minds – hope you do too. Emailing their customer services is good idea (as quite a few people are suggesting) but I suspect any such email will be answered by someone relatively junior – I’m under no illusion that the Chief Exec of either company reads all the letters addressed to him, but they are likely to be read by someone closer to the real seat of power. Especially if the letter comes from an MP … I hope!

(And whether you live in my or not constituency – why not lobby your MP too? You can do so very easily at www.writetothem.com).

The Chief Execs are: Justin King, Sainsbury’s, 35 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT
and Trevor Bish-Jones, Woolworths PLC, Woolworths House, 242-246 Marylebone Road, NW1 6JL.

A final whimsical thought: if Sainsbury’s takes the DVD off sale after ten complaints, perhaps 20 of us should write demanding they stop the sale of bread … ?

UPDATE: See my subsequent blog post.

Nominated for Channel 4 'rising stars' award

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Visit the Scout Park in Alexandra Ward with my colleague councillor Wayne Hoban and Ken (scout master) and John (architect adviser). What a fantastic site – like being in the wilds but in the middle of the constituency. Seriously in need of renovation to the buildings (scout hall, sleeping accommodation and various other buildings). Some have been condemned by Health and Safety – but no successful funding bids despite trying for several years – each year. And yet – here in our own territory is the answer to meeting the needs of not only the scouts – but outdoor activities for all the youngsters in the borough. Why, why, why has the Council not stepped into help fund and attract funding for this?

Of course, the probable cry is why not sell off a bit of the eight acres of prime development land. Well the answer is – NO! This is land paid for by the scout movement so that through generations to come this would be preserved so that youngsters would be able to learn about working together, fighting the elements, and community – and with councils everywhere selling off every bit of land and sports fields they can – more vital than ever to preserve this.

I am amazed that it has remained almost a secret – given its location. I will take this on. Who knows – just putting it in my blog will undoubtedly wake up various opponents to my intentions and hopefully they will be goaded into helping fund the necessary work! If they don’t – then if we take over Haringey Council in the May elections – I will be nagging my own side. I will also approach a couple of the funding agencies to see why the previous bids have failed. What an opportunity for the whole of Haringey – right under our noses and virtually untapped.

On the way into Parliament I slip in some shopping. I know – what am I doing Christmas shopping during the week? How dare I abscond for a couple of hours? Well – it’s in my diary. As I have no days, evenings or weekends free – I have to diarise Christmas shopping – as there is no normal time to do it. Looking at Christmas decorations, my pager goes off to inform me that Cameron has won the Tory leadership by two to one – no surprises there then!

Then I go on to my Parliamentary Office where a letter has arrived from Channel 4 saying I am one of 4 nominees for the Channel 4 Political Awards. I have been nominated as a ‘rising star’ along with two Labour and one Tory new kid! Nice to know you can be a rising star at my age! I am pleased – as this is one of the more serious political awards of the year.

Watch the news when I get home. Cameron anointed king of the Tories. Their faith in the newly anointed smacks of desperation – and they are right to be desperate because if they cannot change their fortunes – they are doomed. So in the Notting Hill Prince – are placed all their hopes and dreams. I guess his ‘overnight’ rise to fame and fortune is a measure of the Tory desire, not only to get their hands on power again – but to wash away their ‘nasty’ past. I am not sure this will do it but it will be interesting to watch. You can never tell whether when greatness is thrust upon someone whether they will rise to the occasion – and quite frankly the glare of leadership is harsh and unforgiving. Cameron will have his honeymoon – but then – his metal will be sorely tested and I think there is a 60% chance he will be found wanting! I think the problem is the Tory creed itself – and that’s much harder to change than the leader.

RADAR people of the year awards

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This evening I was the guest of honour on a table hosted by a taxi manufacturing company, LTI, at the RADAR People of the Year Awards at the old Billingsgate fish market. (Smell is gone!). RADAR is a charity working for diabled people; in their own words their job is “to promote change by empowering disabled people to achieve their rights and expectations; and by influencing the way that disabled people are viewed as members of society.”

Black tie is always a bit of a struggle when you are at Parliament in meetings or debates and then rushing off. I have developed a really clever outfit. No long dresses for me – but I have a black suit slightly dressier than my normal business uniform, which I wear with a white T-shirt all day – then into the Ladies to change the T-shirt for a gorgeous chiffony evening top which looks really dressy under the suit jacket – and out.

For the Chancellor’s pre-budget statement I am still sporting the white t-shirt. He gave a particularly grumpy performance I thought. Outside of the content – I wonder if Gordon is really going to make it to Prime Minister – or if he does, it won’t be for long and he won’t be popular. Middle-England will desert Labour in droves once he inherits – if he does. Osborne gives a limp response for the Tories and our Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable, does a really good job. Even Gordon acknowledges publicly the respect he has for Vince.

So between the pre-budget and my next meeting, because of the timing I have to change into my evening gear before my last meeting of the day so arrive seriously over-dressed for a meeting with the Commission for Racial Equality. Trevor Phillips has come to talk through issues with some of us at the House.

At 6pm I run to get a taxi to the ‘do’. The evening is lovely – and my hosts at the table very charming. Unfortunately I get a pager message that there are two votes, possibly three expected at 10pm and so arrange for a cab at 9.30pm to take me back to the Commons. It is a shame as I have to leave after the first two of eight awards. Earlier on there is a deaf comedian who is funny – but actually swears a lot. Now I am no prude (I don’t think) – but I wasn’t too keen on the obscenity side. I myself have been known to let rip on the odd occasion but this was the wrong occasion – wrong place. He was still very good – despite battling with a series of microphones that didn’t work. As he said – ‘how long were you f****ing going to let me go on without telling me’?

These awards are well deserved. The battle in this country for rights for the disabled have been long and hard fought for – and still there is a long way to go. But tonight – from the size and import of the evening itself – you can feel that at long last change is happening.

At 9.30pm precisely Cinderella flees and jumps into her carriage – and sods law – as I arrive at Parliament about 10 minutes before the expected vote – another pager message arrives saying that there are now no votes expected tonight after all! Exasperated, I go into the chamber to listen to the end of the debate very, very cross.

More space needed in office

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Lib Dem day really. Early morning campaign meeting followed by looking at my HQ with an architect friend who I have persuaded to do some space planning for me as we need to get another desk in an already full room! Followed by some paperwork – followed by a Lib Dem social of mulled wine and mince pies! Home by 6pm and just veg out with fast food takeaway and movies!

Craft fairs bonanza

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First craft fair opening of the day is at the Highgate Society. Next door is the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute one too. I say a few words and wander around all the stalls. We are so lucky in Highgate to have these two organisations. I bump into Mike Hammerson who has defended the area with his committee against the vagaries of the planning decisions of Camden and Haringey.

On to St Mary’s School for their craft fair. Very very busy – with lots going on for the children and parents. I call the raffle and then wait for an hour outside with the children and their lanterns to join the parade along Hornsey High Street to turn on the Xmas lights. The parade is very late in arriving – and I walk a little way with it before having to peel off to get to another engagement – a fund-raising dinner for the London Islamic Cultural Centre who have done amazingly well to raise all the money to build the mosque and the centre.

A lovely evening with very spicy food, music and speeches. The trustees of the local mosque have made me very welcome as the new MP and I am learning so much more about the community from this engagement. And that’s the point really. Our human similarities and needs far outweigh any differences in religion or culture. I get home about 10.30pm and watch the X Factor results. Glad Chico has gone!

Tony Martin and shooting burglars

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Spent a long, lonely five hours on the front bench in Parliament leading for the Lib Dems during a Private Member’s Bill (that’s a bill brought in by an individual MP rather than by the Government) debate brought in by a Tory member. In brief, this is about the Tony Martin case and politicking. Tony Martin is the chap who got a life sentence for shooting at the two boys who robbed his farmhouse. One was killed – but the shot was in the back and Martin was done because it was deemed that he had not used ‘reasonable force’ as the boy was fleeing at the time. The Tory member’s bill wants the wording changed to ‘grossly disproportionate force’. This is as indefinable and open to interpretation as the ‘reasonable force’ and really the only sensible thing is to put our trust in the judge and jury who will be in charge of all of the facts and all of the circumstances. However, it takes five hours of debate to facilitate the Tory desire to be seen to be pro-rural farm owners and the party of law and order.

Apart from a couple of interventions I didn’t get to speak despite having prepared and being fourth in line to be called (I think). The Speaker called Andrew Dismore (Labour MP for Hendon) and he talked out the Bill. I had not witnessed this practise before – but I got a three and a half hour master-class in how its done. But it shouldn’t be done. It’s an appalling political game – and whilst the boys all clearly enjoy this sort of shenanigans – I am under-whelmed…

Later back in Haringey I meet Penny Nicholls who has come to brief me about the needs of homeless children. I had not realised that homeless youngsters under 16 do not have to be housed – but are basically returned to their parents regardless of context. They are campaigning for funding for refuges for such children on a national basis. I have already signed the EDM and will certainly support the cause. (I’ve covered what EDMs are all about in an earlier blog posting).

On the radio I hear that the Tube unions are threatening a Christmas strike. Ho! Ho! Ho! Why am I not surprised? The Tube unions have a great deal with TfL. Their conditions are fab compared to poor old bus drivers who contend with traffic and get paid far less. And yet – every Christmas they find new moans and groans and then apply the screws. I have lost all respect for Bob Crow over his leadership of the Tube unions. It’s blackmail. It’s an abuse of the right to strike which I have always defended. And whilst I don’t agree with the outsourcing of contracts (which is what the threatened strike is about) blackmailing Londoners is not the way to win my support!

Round of constituency engagements in Hornsey and Wood Green

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I love it when December starts. For me – that’s when my kids let me watch Miracle on 34th Street (which I do every year) and it starts to feel Christmassy. Then I panic – because Christmas when you don’t really have any free evenings or weekends – you cannot get your shopping done. I have put some half days or couple of hours in my diary between now and the 25th to get some shopping done but it is a real gamble as to whether it will all get done by what is an unmoveable deadline.

Anyway – today is pretty much a constituency day. First on the agenda is a visit to see a music concert at Stroud Green Primary School. Here the children are part of a project where all the kids in the class are learning an instrument. About 20 guitars first – followed by about 20 violins. I am amazed that the kids have learned so much and so well in just 8 weeks. A local secondary school has paid for this primary to hire the instruments – and it was soooooooooo lovely! And they were really good – amazing for 8 weeks only of the project.

The idea is to give the children some pride in something outside the academic; for them all to learn together; and to give them aspirations and confidence. I think it is a brilliant scheme – but sadly it is not funded by the Government and although they have had some help from a music charity the funding will run out in February – and they are desperate to find sponsors to raise more money so it can continue.

In fact part of the idea in me being there was so that the school might be able to get some publicity and attract funding or donations from local people who might read about it. The Head phoned the (Haringey) Council press office to ask them to publicise it – but was told that they wouldn’t because it was too ‘political’. This is an absolute disgrace. I don’t go as a Lib Dem MP. I go as the MP for Hornsey & Wood Green – non-political. I will find out from the Chief Exec what the policy is on this.

Second stop of the day is to bury a Time Capsule at Coldfall School. I imagined that we (the Mayor of the London Borough Haringey and myself) would dig a symbolic first shovelful of dirt in a corner of the playground. Banish such thoughts. In actuality we are taken with lots of children and other adults to a building site – unlocked for our entry – where the foundations for the new sports hall are being dug. And building site it was. And my shoes quickly become caked with sod – into which I sink with each step. Hitching up my trousers – I gamely march forth. The children (school captains) read out a letter to the future. The Mayor and I say a few words and then – a huge mechanical digger (lethal looking) roars into action VERY CLOSE (within a couple of metres) of where we are standing – and digs for posterity. The Mayor and I hold the metal case in which the artefacts of the children’s and school’s existence will carry forward the message to the future. We ceremonially lower it into the hole and the digger roars back into action to cover it over. It was all quite dramatic and thrilling – and pouring with rain!

A quick half hour with the staff, pupils and contractors – and then off to the next engagement.

And the next engagement is to speak at the local event for World AIDS Day at the Winkfield Resource Centre. Very happy to be involved in this. I think we have been burying our heads as to the rise of AIDS. When it first raised its ugly head in the 80s the public information campaign (whilst terrifying and probably responsible for the stigma surrounding this disease) certainly changed the sexual culture of the time. But despite the continuing rise in AIDS and HIV – we seem to not bother so much with safe sex. It’s as if the drugs which are indeed increasing longevity are making people believe it is under control – and continual pictures of the African continent with so many people over there suffering – also seems to contribute to us seemingly believing it is now an African problem just as we initially believed it belonged to the homosexual world. Wrong on both counts.

The users of the resource centre have made a beautiful wall collage expressing their experiences. A candle is lit and a beautiful woman sings a song – the words of which are a real cry of experience of what it is like to be stigmatised and the need to be loved and held. Very, very moving.

I gave my speech (short) and then spent an hour or so talking to the users and posing for pictures. Yes – ironically at this event the Council Press Office had sent a photographer. I wonder if that was because the Labour Executive member was there? Seems a stark contrast to their attitude to the school earlier today. Must find out.

Policing in Haringey

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My sister and her husband came to Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today. Given that I only get four allocated tickets for guests for PMQs per year – and these were my first personal guests – and the allocated days were given back in May – we got lucky! This was Michael Howard’s swan song – and it was pure theatre. Personally, whilst huge fun on occasion – PMQs is the most unedifying of political boys stuff you can get with all the shouting, barracking and point-scoring that goes on.

Put excellently by my colleague Jo Swinson, the youngest MP in the House at 25, who had Question 3 on the order paper. (‘Order paper’ – another piece of Parliamentary jargon; think of it like a detailed agenda for the day, listening all the business to be done). Jo’s question was:

“As the Prime Minister was saying goodbye to the fourth Tory Leader, is it not also time to say goodbye to the yah-boo style of Prime Minister’s Questions?”

Tony Blair had clearly been briefed on anything local to Jo’s constituency that she might ask as a supplementary question. (Your first question gets printed in advance, but normal MPs then get one supplementary –Michael Howard gets more – the contents of which Tony Blair doesn’t get advanced notice of) . He had clearly been briefed on all the national issues that might arise. But he clearly was left briefless – if you know what I mean – by Jo’s very clever and very direct questions.

“Yes” said the Prime Minister!

In the afternoon, as a member of the Environmental Audit Committee, I was questioning the Government about instituting good practise in terms of commissioning by the Government – green commissioning. What a wet duo came. If our green credentials rest on this lot – we are doomed. The planet has had it. Lack of enthusiasm for their chosen subject would be an understatement. I was truly gob-smacked by their lacklustre performance and seeming disinterest in the whole subject.

Thankfully, the Minister for such matters, followed on as the next ‘witness’. Whilst making virtually no progress (or snail-like progress if you prefer) at least he was enthusiastic and knew his stuff.

After close of play at Westminster I rush back to Hornsey & Wood Green for the Police Consultative Committee at the Civic Centre. The new local Commander, Simon O’Brian is there and gives his first vision for his time in charge of policing in our borough of Haringey. He knows the borough – which in my view is a great advantage. The thing I could never understand when I was on the Met Police Authority was the chess game the higher-ups played with borough commanders. The Met in its wisdom seems to rate Borough Commander as virtually a short-term job – moving commanders on every couple of years. Whereas to me, knowledge is not only power – but the only way to get the intelligence on who and how things happen, I think it should be five years minimum in post for borough commanders and rate the pay of the more senior officers. This post is the one that makes the real difference to all of us mortals scuttling around trying not to get mugged.

I asked him how he proposed to take the ‘debate’ that Ian Blair (Met Commissioner) says he wants to have with the public over policing forward. I am not sure the methodology is in place – and quite frankly – what local people still want is someone local to answer the phone when they call in about a non-urgent issue. Not an answer-phone when no one ever phones back – but a real human being who knows the area. And they want the police to come when they call. And we all want to see police on the beat (getting better!). It’s not rocket science.

Good planning website

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Planning – especially attempts by developers to cram in far too many (and badly designed) properties into small spaces – is a big issue in Hornsey and Wood Green – as with many other places.

There’s a little gem of an official website at www.planningportal.gov.uk.

You can find out lots of useful information on how the planning system works (useful for campaigners against over-development!) plus look up planning applications near where you live and other useful stuff.