Category Archives: Blog

Hornsey Carnival

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Off to Hornsey Carnival! Arrive at base of Ally Pally to meet Monica who is accompanying me for the duration. I find the organiser Paul and Mr Rathbone – who is Mr Hornsey Carnival.

I am to judge the best business float – so I wander up the road looking for the five ‘floats’ named on my judging sheet. One of the floats is for Action for Kids – well – a painted van would be more accurate. But they were all dolled up as hippies – peace and love man – which appealed as that was my youth. And I can’t find the other three competitors at all. So – I declared the winner Action for Kids and the runner up – Greig Academy.

Retracing my steps to the beginning of where everyone was lining up, I was introduced to Karl Heinz and his troupe of girls from Koblenz. The Hornsey Carnival queens go over there each year and they visit back from time to time. In Koblenz the carnival is big and the streets are lined five deep with onlookers.

I am to sit on the back of an open-topped Mercedes with the Deputy Carnival Queen – Verity. Verity was Queen last year and knows the ropes. She is my mentor for the duration and knows all there is to know about carnivals, waving and smiling. She was a lovely girl, actually, and I learned a lot from her about what the girls do – from selling brochures for the carnival door to door to attending all sorts of functions as well as going to other local carnivals to take part. They raise quite a bit of money for local charities – and lots of people give their time free from the woman on the committee who makes the girl’s dresses (both day and evening) to the woman who had moved away from Hornsey but still helped run the carnival as she had for years.

The parade moved slowly off and through the streets of Hornsey. Five deep the crowds were not – but there were quite a lot of people out to waive and watch us pass. The atmosphere was lovely and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Waiving at strangers is clearly an art – and it is quite a psychological study as to how to make even the grumpiest, “I am not going to smile or waive at any cost” teenager, respond. If you catch someone’s eye – and you waive and smile directly at them – it is almost impossible for them not to respond.

And so the carnival parade wended its way for an hour and a half through the streets. At the journey’s end I went on my way – as the carnival would go on late into the night with dancing and celebrations.

I went home and watched what was left of Live-8. My two daughters had texted and been lucky enough to get tickets. At 10am this morning they had departed for Hyde Park and at various times throughout the day they had called me to let me a) know they were alive and b) listen to the music live through the mobile.

I thought the whole thing was fantastic! Of course – I remember the first one 20 years ago. And I don’t subscribe to the cynics who say that this will do nothing. Of course this won’t solve poverty in Africa – but it is a start. We need to make sure that the aid that is given is given to agencies who will help enable the local African people to build small businesses and sustainable lifestyles so that they can survive and build an industry of their own to sustain the economy.

Sir Bob and Live-8 have delivered the increased debt write-off and the increased aid – but more than that – they brought us all together to say we do care and we will act.

Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill in committee

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Two sessions on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill today. I have to introduce our amendments in what is a gigantic group of amendments, but Dominic Grieve goes first for the Tories. Our (Lib Dem) amendments are in three groups. One deals with the threshold for prosecution. Labour are changing one of the race definitions for prosecutions to another definition which would seem to need to lower the bar for such a prosecution but which the Minister, Paul Goggins, was arguing wasn’t a lowering of the bar.

It all gets very arcane (though no less important for that) very quickly – we went on to arguments about phrases such as ‘intent’ and ‘likely to likely’ as a level of probability, risk or recklessness.

I was relatively brief again (heartily welcomed I felt by most) and did refer to the whole thing being a ‘likely’ mess resulting in a ‘likely’ feast for lawyers.

And thus after numerous further arguments the sessions closed and the Bill will now go back to the House for its third reading.

Off in the event to the Haringey Race Equality Council’s AGM – where I say a few words to the assembled audience. All the communities are involved and it is always a pleasure to support all those involved in working to improve community issues and relationships in Haringey – just the best melting pot in anywhere in London in my view.

Rally against identity cards

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Round off a busy day with a rally against ID cards in the evening. It’s organised by NO2ID – the campaign group now in full flight against the government’s proposals.

When I get there George Galloway is speaking and as he finishes I go up to my seat on the panel and have to immediately speak. The hall is absolutely packed and it is hot as hell. I deliver my speech (along the same lines as in the Commons debate – but better and more fully developed) and then it is Dominic Grieve and then Tony Benn.

It is a strange alliance that crosses any party lines – but all who care passionately about liberty and freedom. Benn is brilliant. Never thought I’d share a platform with him – how extraordinary is this thing called life.

Darfur and Incitement to Religious Hatred

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International Development Questions – and I have Oral Question Number 4. I am asking the Minister about Darfur. The Chamber – at 11.55 when I get called to ‘put’ the question – is heaving as Prime Ministers’ Questions follows.

I ask the Government if they do not now recognise the need for the United Nations Security Council to increase the presence of the African Union and strengthen their mandate so that the level of protection is increased in Darfur. The situation there is so insecure and unstable that refugees and internally displaced persons are still unlikely to return. The Minister is nice about it – but basically says no.

Then it is Prime Ministers’ Questions – always a blast!

Then I am into the second session of the Committee Stage on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. I know that the following day, for the two Thursday sessions, Alistair (my Lib Dem colleague on the committee) is going to have to leave me on my own as he has to return to Orkney for a prior commitment. However, by the time he leaves just before the end of today’s session, all our amendments on which we have to lead will have been moved. So I will only have to interject on the Tory amendments and general arguments.

Best laid plans of mice and men … Dominic Grieve (for the Conservatives) makes a brilliant argument on one of the amendments – but it takes an hour – so Alistair has to leave and I am left to introduce amendments myself.

And I do. And it is absolutely terrifying. And it goes fine. I make the points – albeit briefly in comparison to my learned other members – and get out alive. I have always been thrown in the deep end – seems to be my destiny. I remember becoming Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council when I had only visited one meeting in my life. I became Chair of Transport on the London Assembly – when I had never chaired anything in my life!

It’s always terrifying – but it is the best way on this earth to learn. So I guess I was grateful – but it was (even for me) a testing experience.

Mobile phone masts

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Early meeting with Peter Wingate-Saul, the National Community Relations Manager at Crown Castle UK – who are a company who find sites for mobile telephone masts. He has asked for a meeting as he wants to put the mobile phone industry’s side of the case regarding health risks and how guidelines and government views are formed, on what authority and on whose advice.

I am pleased, as always, to hear all sides and have some sympathy in terms of the case he made for not making legislation based on people’s fears but rather making it based on substantive points. However, I am still not convinced that we can be sure there is no harm whatsoever from mobile phone masts or phones.

I am firm in my belief that proper planning processes should be applied to all masts and that until there is more information – preferable more definitive information – we would be wise to continue to be cautious on behalf of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. In fact I have backed an Early Day Motion in this regard this week. (There’s ane explanation of what EDMs are on the Parliament website).

One of the women in one of the local campaigns believes her child is already suffering radiation sickness and has had a test done on the roots of his hair which she says show positive. I have asked if there is an NHS hospital that is carrying out these tests – as it may be important to try and get a wider health survey of such evidence properly tested.

Parliament debates identity cards

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Busy day as, after the committee stage on incitement to religious hatred, it’s the Second Reading debate on ID cards in the Chamber.

I am soooooooooo against ID cards – and desperate to get called to speak in the debate. The debate starts at 3.30pm and will conclude with a vote at 10pm. I know that I will have to sit in the Chamber for all that time – to have even a flying chance of catching Mr Speaker’s eye to get called. But it will be worth it.

Charles Clarke moves the proposed legislation – defending the indefensible. David Davis (Tory Shadow Home Secretary) then gets a go – and delivers a good speech. Unlike most of the Tories who only so recently in the election were for the introduction of ID cards – Davies was always against them. As power shifts from Michael Howard to the wannabe leaders – the wind has blown Tories into opposition. Latecomers – but nevertheless – finally on the side of the angels.

Then there are another couple of speeches before the Speaker comes to Mark Oaten – the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary. He gives a great speech – and then the debate moves on to back benchers who are limited to 10 minute speeches.

As the day wears on into night – I bob up and down as each speaker finishes hoping to be called. Hour after hour passes. The debate in itself is fascinating – and many, indeed most, of the speeches from all sides of the House (including Labour) are against ID cards. Ironically – the outcome will depend on Labour rebels – and whilst the words are strong, I doubt whether the votes will follow in adequate numbers to defeat the Government at this stage.

Without rehearsing the whole argument – the bill falls on so many counts, one is spoilt for choice as to what to oppose. (There’s plenty of good background on the arguments at www.no2id.net).

For me – the key is civil liberties. This proposed legislation flies in the face of everything I believe in. I was born free and thought I was innocent until proven guilty. I have the right – inalienable right in my view – to walk out of my front door without the need to prove anything to anyone so long as I cause no harm. I do not need the Government’s permission in the form of an ID card – a license to do this – let alone a license that will cost between one and three hundred pounds, is technologically unsound and will lead to a database of information about me that no one – not state nor anyone – has a right to know! I will be treated like a criminal. I will be fingerprinted and information on me stored on a national database – information that no one needs to know or has a right to know.

OK – you get my tone on this!

So there I am, bobbing up and down, as hour after hour passes. I hold the front bench for the Home Affairs team – whilst Mark and Alistair (my Lib Dem numbers 1 and 2 on the team – I am number 3) go to eat. As the clock approaches 8.30pm – I am becoming despondent about my chances of being called – as more people are still rising than there is time to call them. Suddenly Mr Deputy Speaker (the Speakers change throughout the session) announces that because so many people still want to speak – the speeches will now be cut to 5 minutes for the next hour. At 9.20pm – finally – I get called.

I make my key points: civil liberties, the problems with righting wrong information giving history of IT problems and the discrimination that will follow as ID cards become compulsory (which they will – as sure as eggs is eggs) towards members of ethnic communities who from my experience with police stop and search will be stopped and asked to produce the card in the end.

I cite what has happened with DNA and how now innocent people’s DNA is being kept on a database and how much more black DNA is being stored than white DNA in London.

Then we are into the winding up speeches. The Labour man – Tony McNulty – chooses to attack me from the Despatch Box as he closes, calling me irresponsible and wrong. So I must be doing something right!

Then the Speaker calls for Ayes – and there is a roar of ‘ayes’ from the Labour benches. Then the Speaker calls for the Noes – and there is a roar of ‘no’ from the Lib Dems and the Tories. It’s all very tribal and traditional, but we have the shouting match before the Speaker calls out ‘Division’ – and the bells start ringing as we pour into the lobbies to vote in person. Sadly – not enough Labour rebels rebel – and the second reading is passed. The Bill now passes into its Committee Stage.

Amazing to have had a voice and a vote (however tiny) in opposing something I believe will destroy our way of life and begin the journey to a police state. And – many, many local residents have contacted me to say they care passionately too. The weight of opinion in my postbag is very clear.

Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill – committee stage

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First experience of Committee Stage proceedings at Parliament – this is part of the legislative passage through the Commons of a Bill. Today it is the first session on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. Alistair Carmichael – my LibDem colleague – is leading for us in committee and I am his number two. The idea is that I learn the ropes so that when I lead the Violent Crime Reduction Bill through Committee stage in the Autumn I will know what I am doing.

The first thing that strikes me is that I need to be a lawyer. The whole process imitates court proceeding where each line of the proposed Bill is examined – with amendments laid down on virtually every point. Each amendment is then ‘moved’ (introduced verbally) by the person (and therefore party) who has laid down that particular amendment. All sides then argue the case on each point – point by point – and from what I could see – at extreme length.

So far so good!

The Bill is (in my view) a well-meaning attempt by the Government to try and stop people inciting people to hate other people because of their religious beliefs – that is hatred of the believer not the belief.

My experience of religion (as an agnostic) is that quite a lot of religion, although not necessarily practised as preached, is about hating others and condemning those with different beliefs. And therein lies the difficulties in this Bill. Quite what is it that should be protected – and what is it that people shouldn’t be able to do?

Labour say they want to make things equal in terms of the fact that Jews and Sikhs are covered by the existing legislation. But that’s because Jews (and Sikhs) are different to all other religions in that the religion is inseparable from the race. The counter argument is that the law covers all races and for them it covers them if the incitement is racial – but not religious.

Lib Dems have put what is called the ‘Lester Amendment’ which helps the Bill give protection to what we believe the Bill is actually aimed at – Muslims who post 9/11 have suffered abuse and hatred in its wake. The proposition is that they are being attacked as ‘Muslims’ but the hatred is really racially motivated rather than religiously motivated. Therefore the amendment seeks to cover those who use religion as a ‘proxy’ for racial hatred. But it keeps freedom of speech – including the ability to disagree with and criticise people’s religious beliefs.

Ok – I am not going to try and describe the ins and outs of each of the four sessions – but you can see the way this is going.

ID cards and knife crime

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Spent day ping-ponging between my home and Millbank to do TV interviews covering the imminent debate on ID cards. Buggered up my Sunday – but well worth it as absolutely passionately against this misguided and authoritarian legislation.

Meanwhile, a bit of whimsy … One of the big problems behind knife crime and the culture that goes with it is that having a knife is seen as cool. How to break this culture? Why not issue a knife to every MP … that would be the death knell of coolness for the poor knife!

Friday surgery

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Surgery all day at Wood Green library. I am still pondering the benefits of open surgeries (where anyone can turn up, and people queue to see you) with “by appointment” surgeries (where people book a time in advance and get to see you then).

I have asked around MPs who have similar constituencies how they manage. The answers vary – from some who hold open surgeries, often with the punters only getting five minutes after being kept waiting for long times. One MP (not from my party) said ‘they don’t mind – they haven’t anything else to do anyway’. I think that’s dreadful myself. Maybe it’s because I was brought up to believe that the ‘customer’ should be treated well that I don’t think I could be (or would wish to be) that cavalier.

So – I am doing it by arrangement and giving each person around 15 minutes. It tends to be about the right time – and now I have got a form that people can fill in before they come in – am able to keep to time. Also – we can spend longer on the phone when people call to identify their issue and whether actually a phone call or writing is quicker and better than an actual appointment.

I am just keeping a record of everything at the moment in terms of how many people phone/want an appointment/come to surgery and where they come from. After the August recess, I will decide how many hours are appropriate and where the surgeries should be held. By all means let me have your views – use the “contact me” link on the left.