Category Archives: Blog

Iraqi interpreters – Government set to end help

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I’ve blogged a few times about the fantastic campaigning done by Dan Hardie and others to highlight the dangers faced by Iraqis who had worked with our armed forces in Iraq. I sponsored a meeting in Parliament in 2007 and wrote about it:

Mark and Andrew both gave eye witness accounts of what is going on in Iraq and how those who helped us by translating or other service now are being hunted down and killed. It was graphic, appalling and compelling.

These horrors made the mealy-mouthed, half-arsed announcement by G Brown yesterday to allow those who worked for us for more than 12 months some financial (very low) package to resettle and under agreed circumstances admittance to the UK look completely inadequate.

To me, I longed for Gordon just to say what needed to be said – we have a moral responsibility towards you and you are welcome in our country. That’s what Denmark did. In fact Denmark recognising the danger in which their employees now were – flew them and their families out.

Whatever you think of the Iraq war (and I opposed it) – we should look after those we employed. But even the limited amount the Government was willing to do is now coming to an end. As today’s Times puts it,

The Government has been accused of deserting former Iraqi interpreters who risked their lives for Britain, after announcing that it would close its assistance scheme in a fortnight.

Britain’s treatment of the Iraqis was compared last night with that of the Gurkhas as it emerged that scores of families are still living in fear of being murdered by militias who accuse them of collaborating with the enemy.

MPs from all three parties have described the assistance scheme as deliberately restrictive and called for a review…

Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat MP, said: “There are going to be people still in danger. The enemy is still out there. It is mean-spirited.”

The Express also has coverage here.

Joan Bakewell on the Equality Bill

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She’s got a rather feisty piece today:

Legislation for change has at any time to confront the natural resistance of those who are happy with the status quo. In times of recession it is even more instinctive for businesses to cling to old, familiar ways — they assume that new legislation means increased red tape: in fact, this Bill often frees businesses to act more independently.

Who can now deny that the legislation of the 1970s that launched society towards a more equal future was a fair set of measures to introduce? It wasn’t long ago that a woman could not open a bank account or raise a mortgage without a male signature on the application. Some were denied access to their company’s pension fund. Now such situations strike us as old-fashioned, even quaint. Young women starting out today would be amazed by such restraints. They approach their future expecting and rejoicing in their equality.

We have seen the times and the law change attitudes. The Equality Bill is the next step, bringing a multitude of small but significant improvements where they will be welcome: preventing gay children from being bullied at school; making religious dietary needs available from meals-on-wheels services; requiring job recruitment to consider flexible and part-time working.

Those who oppose it probably don’t suffer too many disadvantages. The chances are that they are white, male, middle-aged, middle-class and in full-time employment. They may have loud voices but they don’t speak for the rest of us.

You can read the full column here.

Latest Haringey tragedy shows why we need a public inquiry

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Busy Saturday morning, so here’s the story from The Times about the latest heart-wrenching news from Haringey,

The failings of social workers at Haringey Council have again been exposed in a criminal trial.

The local authority, which is still reeling from the criticism it received after its failing in the Baby P case, confirmed the two-year-old rape victim was known to social workers and was on its “at risk” register.

Officials at the North London borough said last night that a Serious Case Review was under way into how the girl could have been raped while in their care…

The Serious Case Review into the care the child received from social workers is being conducted by Graham Badman, chair of the Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board.

But Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said that more questions about the performance of the council needed to be answered. “We desperately need a public inquiry to get to the bottom of this,” she said.

Four sacked at Haringey over death of Baby P

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The BBC reports:

A social worker and three managers have been sacked for failings in the care of Baby P, Haringey Council has said…

Haringey Council said Cecilia Hitchen, the deputy director of children and families, had been dismissed for “loss of trust and confidence” following the damning Ofsted report in December last year.

A council spokesman said social worker Maria Ward, team manager Gillie Christou and head of safeguarding services Clive Preece were sacked for gross misconduct.

The Budget debate: unimpressed with Yvette Cooper

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Yvette Cooper was really poor yesterday when she responded for the Government on the Budget Debate on Work and Pensions. Yes – I caught Mr Deputy Speaker’s eye – after jumping up and down for about five hours in a freezing chamber (air conditioning over kill).

I wanted to tackle four issues: support for Citizens Advice Bureaux who are struggling terms with the huge rise in people needing their help; the need to make the Small Business Rate relief (about £1,200 per year) automatic – as so many businesses fail to get this relief; the issue of help for women in the Budget – given the fine words the Government spoke in a debate just a short time ago about the need to help women in an economic downturn; and lastly – the need to fund (from the money announced in the Budget to guarantee all 18-14 year olds work or training) Martin Bright’s New Deal of the Mind.

You can read my speech here.

I said what I said about Yvette Cooper because when it was her turn, she simply ranted against the Tories – which may be pleasurable and her preferred pastime – but when it came to responding to the points raised by MPs in the debate – she didn’t. Nothing – not a word. Just listed who had spoken. And there were real questions on the Budget debate and real answers needed. So Ms Cooper – you’re off my list.

Gurkha vote

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I’ve got half an hour before our weekly parliamentary party meeting – but I can’t settle down following the sheer exhilaration and excitement of winning the vote on our, Liberal Democrat opposition motion to give the Ghurkhas full rights to live in our country. When you see your tellers, the LibDem tellers come and stand on the right as you face Mr Speaker – you know the Government has suffered a defeat. And then you wait – and then the teller from the winning side reads out the vote – and you hear that you have defeated the Government by over 20 votes – and the House goes wild!

New tennis courts come to Highgate

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Lynne Featherstone, Lyn Weber and Jo Durie at the opening of new tennis courts in HighgateStarted gorgeous Sunday at 6am – too much to do – too little time to do it. Highlight of the day was the opening of the new tennis courts at Highgate Tennis and Cricket Club.

After years of neglect to courts belonging to Highgate Wood School, the club – with the help of Cllr Lyn Weber – finally persuaded the school and Haringey Council that renovating the courts would be good for all. Now these sparkling courts will be used by the school, the tennis club etc and they will all play happily ever after.

Steve Reynolds, club leader, has been the driving force behind this ten year campaign. Many obstacles and barriers had to be overcome – but yesterday it was clearly all worth it – as Jo Durie helped open the courts and then went on to play an exhibition match.

The sun shone. Someone put a glass of wine in my hand. I sat and watched the tennis match – my favourite sport. I related my tennis history to the assembled ranks – ball boy at Queen’s, pass to Wimbledon and players’ box and lounge. Tennis was my passion – long gone – alas.

So well done to all those who made this possible.