London Lib Dems have today reacted with anger at Ken Livingstone’s refusal to appoint their borough nominee, Councillor Ed Butcher, who is openly gay, to the London Fire Authority.

Haringey borough councillor Ed Butcher (Stroud Green ward) was selected as the Lib Dem nominee following an election amongst all London Liberal Democrat councillors.

However the Mayor took steps to refuse to appoint nine representatives on the grounds that they were ‘completely unrepresentative’.

It seems likely the decision will be legally challenged on the grounds that the Mayor does not have the power to refuse nominations.

Councillor Ed Butcher comments:

“I have always considered my sexuality as secondary to my ability to scrutinise the Fire Brigade’s performance and ensure it is ready to respond to emergencies on behalf of all Londoners.

“But if the Mayor wants to make a point about diversity, it is quite astounding that he has refused to appoint me for not being diverse enough. London has the highest gay population in the country but it seems the Mayor thinks they do not deserve representation.

“Ken Livingstone can now add gay and lesbians to the lists of groups and minorities he has personally offended.”

Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly adds:

“I don’t think there is a respectable party in London that doesn’t consider women and black and ethnic minority under-representation as a serious issue. However throwing the Fire Authority into crisis weeks before it appoints the Fire commissioner is hardly the most constructive way of solving the problem.”

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government not to support the appointment of Robert Zoellick as president of the World Bank without a fair and open nomination process.

Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP has written to Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn calling on the Government to nominate another candidate or, failing that, to instruct the executive director on the board of the World Bank not to support the nomination.

Lynne Featherstone said:

“Recent events should have demonstrated to the World Bank the importance of a fair selection process, but this appointment has been neither transparent nor open.

“It is hard to justify how we can lecture others on how to conduct their business when such an important position is decided in this fashion.

“The selection process must be based on the merits and appropriateness of the candidates. This is vital for the future legitimacy of the World Bank and in order to ensure responsible conduct and effective working.

“Time is short, but the British Government can still act. They have a clear choice – ensure that the best candidate is chosen through an open and transparent process or allow the US to reign free once again.”

Text of letter:

It is my belief that the World Bank President should be appointed in an open selection process, based on the merits and appropriateness of the candidates. This is vital for the future legitimacy of the institutions and in order to ensure a responsible conduct and high effectiveness in their work.

I understand that the board has declared that other nominations can come forward before June 15. I therefore urge you to nominate an alternative candidate and to open up the process. No offence to Mr Zoellick but the appointment has been neither transparent nor open.

Failing that, I would be grateful if you could consider instructing the executive director on the board of the World Bank not to support the nomination of Zoellick on the grounds set out above.

Yours sincerely,

Lynne Featherstone

Fears over a huge increase in cigarette butt littering on the streets of Haringey following the forthcoming smoking ban have caused Lynne Featherstone to urge Haringey Council to do more to help smokers dispose of their butts legally.

Following enquiries to council officials Ms. Featherstone was alarmed to discover the only action they are planning ahead of the ban is to write to all traders merely requesting that they purchase cigarette bins which Haringey Council will empty for free.

Ms Featherstone, who supported the ban in Parliament, has urgently written to the council’s chief executive urging more cigarette bins to be installed by Haringey Council.

Ms. Featherstone comments:

“You don’t need a crystal ball to predict that the smoking ban will mean more smokers in the streets and without more cigarette bins there will inevitably be more cigarette butts litteringpavements.

“In many cases, the public highway will be the only legal place for people to smoke away from home so the council should be thinking ahead.Failure to take urgent action will see any plans for better Haringey simply go up in smoke.”

Liberal Democrat councillors in the London Borough of Haringey are concerned by the mysterious and repeated disappearance of railings on Penstock Path. The railings, installed to stop motorised vehicles using the path, were taken out by Haringey Council 18 months ago to facilitate works to the path but vanished before they could be reinstalled.

Cllr Bob Hare, a keen user of the path, asked Haringey Council to replace them on two separate occasions. On each occasion, Liberal Democrat councillors have returned to the site only for the railings to have been removed by person(s) unknown.

Liberal Democrats have highlighted that the issue has serious implications for pedestrians and cyclists using the path. The staggered railings are intended to prevent vehicles including motorcycles but with the absence of this deterrent this type of vehicle are able to gain access and speed along the path.

Cllr Bob Hare comments:

“While we were taking the photograph, many pedestrians were using what is a popular walking route, and a scooter zoomed past us. Given there are several sharp turns that are blind corners on the path, its use by motorised vehicles must be prevented.

“We are discounting the possibility that there is an extension of the Bermuda Triangle in Hornsey causing these to disappear and will be seeking the best way forward.”

Cllr Robert Gorrie (Hornsey ward) adds:

“Clearly, someone is determined to be able to use this cut-through from Hornsey to Wood Green and is prepared to go to the trouble of pulling out railings before cement has set, and entirely removing them from the location. However, we are determined that local people will be able to use this route without danger from fast vehicles, and councillors will be liaising with the department responsible to determine the best approach to achieving this.”

After a string of accidents in the area local Liberal Democrat councillors have secured a meeting with Haringey Council officials and Transport for London to discuss traffic calming proposals for Ferme Park Road with residents.

Residents will now be able to view consultation documents and voice ongoing concerns for their safety on the road at a meeting of the Area Assembly on 5th July 2007. Lib Dems have continuously highlighted the dangers of the Ferme Park Road to Haringey Council and Transport for London.

In January 2007 a local lollipop lady was knocked over and suffered head and neck injuries. This incident was one in a succession of accidents involving residents crossing Ferme Park Road and cars speeding.

Cllr Lyn Weber (Crouch End ward) comments:

“It is vital that the local residents are consulted in issues that affect their safety. Over the past few months there has been a spate of accidents on Ferme Park Road and we need to address this situation. The Lib Dems have continuously pushed for speed calming in this area and this meeting is a step in the right direction to reduce further incidents.”

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green ward) comments:

“Residents are concerned that the plans have more on-pavement parking on Ferme Park Road will encourage cars and buses to drive even faster on this busy residential road. Therefore, I am really pleased that Haringey Council have listened to our arguments that local residents should be consulted about new speed calming measures to make the area safer.”

Police at a local station in Haringey now have to pay parking fees of up to £200 per year to park for work. Officers based at the Nightingale Road Police Station moved to a new facility in Turnpike Lane two weeks ago meaning that they will have to park in a Haringey Council-run car park at their own cost.

Lib Dems say that Haringey Council should have been more flexible in providing parking for the police to operate at the heart of the community.

Cllr Fiyaz Mughal (Noel Park ward) comments:

“Haringey Council should work with the police and be more flexible. The police are a vital and dedicated service and deserve to be provided with adequate facilities.”

To help encourage people to get involved in local volunteering opportunities as part of for ‘National Volunteers Week’ Lynne Featherstone MP last night lent a hand at Muswell Hill Baptist Church’s Soup Kitchen.

The kitchen is supported by over fifty volunteers who provide food and support five nights a week to people who have nowhere else to turn.

Commenting, Lynne said:

“I was tremendously impressed by the hard work and dedication of John Grant and his team of volunteers who give up their own time for those less fortunate.

“There are literally hundreds of opportunities to volunteer locally and the rewards are immense.I would encourage any one with a bit of time to spare to check out what is available”

The crime information line Crimestoppers has been asked to explain why it is advertising on a pirate radio station that has been raided several times by police.

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone has written to Crimestoppers and Metropolitan Police commissioner Ian Blair about the adverts, which appear on the pirate station Bizim FM.

The revelation came after Lynne Featherstone met with representatives of London Turkish Radio (LTR), a legal radio station based in her constituency which has found itself having to compete against the pirate station.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is completely unacceptable. I was shocked to hear two advertisements from Crimestoppers – one of which had the tag line ‘the Metropolitan Police; working for a safer London’ – on an illegal radio station.

“Legitimate radio stations, such as London Turkish Radio in my constituency, are fighting a double-whammy of incompetence from the Met and Crimestoppers as well as the seeming inability of Ofcom to tacklepirate radio stations. This sends out the wrong message – that crime does pay.”

Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green MP has written to Haringey Council urging it to investigate whether Haringey Council’s own investments in any way financially support Sudan, and in those cases they do, withdraw investments of such funds through targeted divestment.

Ms Featherstone also intends to start a local Darfur Action Group and is urging people to get in touch if they are interested in helping setting such a group us by sending an e-mail to lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org.

Ms Featherstone said:

“The regime in Sudan has played the international community for fools. It is time we face up to the ongoing genocide in Darfur and tackle it in any way possible – that means internationally, nationally and locally.

“By ensuring that none of the council’s investments indirectly or directly supports Sudan or companies supporting Sudan, Haringey has a real chance to make a difference as the first British Council to disinvest.

“I will also be setting up a local Darfur Action Group as well so anyone interested to join please get in touch, and let’s do more for Sudan and chip away at that awful sense of the meagreness of the UK’s response to such monstrous brutality. If we don’t act, who will?”

Haringey councillors Bob Hare and Lyn Weber and Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone are encouraging their constituents to join them in making a promise to the environment to mark World Environment Day 2007 (June 5th).

Cllr Hare, Lib Dem Green Issues spokesperson, comments:

“Climate change is a global issue. But tackling it starts at home. Over a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions come from heating, lighting and running power supplies in our homes. Small actions, such as saving water and switching off the lights can, when taken together, make a big difference. If everyone in the developed world makes even one small change to their daily life to reduce their energy use, such as not leaving the TV on stand-by or overfilling the kettle, that would make a huge difference to our global energy use and the amount of carbon we emit.

Cllr Lyn Weber, Deputy Lib Dem Green Issues spokesperson adds:

“But there is action each of us can take now. This year I am making a personal commitment to recycle more and not to use plastic bags. While this may seem like a pretty small thing, if enough people do it we can save tremendous amounts of energy.

Lynne Featherstone MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

“Of course there is also more the Government should be doing. The Liberal Democrats have set out plans for radically improving home energy efficiency, producing greener electricity and switching taxes from income to pollution and energy use. That is what we would do if we were in Government.

“I hope other local people will join us in making a green promise to mark World Environment Day 2007.”