Public Meeting with Health Minister – tomorrow evening

Posted on 24th Mar 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone and Norman Lamb celebrate the Whittington A&E being saved from the Labour Government's planned closure Health Minister Norman Lamb MP will attend a local public meeting tomorrow, to discuss NHS funding, mental health services, integrated care and more.

The meeting – which has been arranged by local Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone – will take place from 7.15pm – 8.30pm at Greig City Academy – with doors opening at 7pm.

Local residents will have the chance to raise questions with the Minister.

In Government, the Liberal Democrats have:

Improved services across the NHS, with 6,000 more doctors, lower waiting times and cancer drugs for 30,000 people.
Taken mental health seriously, putting £400m extra into early support.
Introduced the first ever cap on the cost of social care, so people don’t have to sell their home to pay for their care.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have pledged an extra £8bn in NHS funding if they are in Government after May.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Liberal Democrats believe that the NHS should always remain free at the point of delivery. In Government, Norman Lamb and his team have protected the NHS budget and put mental health on the agenda.

“I’m very much looking forward to welcoming Norman to the constituency, and hearing about the work he has done to protect the NHS, improve social care, and to ensure that mental health is on the same platform as physical health.

“The meeting is open to the public – if you’re interested in attending, please just turn up!”

Lynne Featherstone MP stands up to racism and fascism

Posted on 23rd Mar 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP on Saturday took part in a march organised by Unite Against Fascism (UAF). Over 10,000 people in total took to the streets in central London to stand up to racism and hate crime.

The Liberal Democrat MP was joined at the march by members of the ‘Ethnic Minority Lib Dem’ group and the Justice Minister, Simon Hughes MP.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green is currently spearheading a local campaign to promote unity between different communities and search for solutions to radicalisation and hate crime.

Alongside marching with UAF, the local MP has visited local Mosques, Synagogues, community groups, youth groups and more to start conversations and encourage community cohesion in the face of events like the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“In a truly fair society, no-one should be discriminated against or attacked because of their race or religion. It is so upsetting to hear reports of further attacks on synagogues, and to hear from local Muslim women that they do not feel safe.

“That’s why I joined the March on Saturday to stand up to racism – and why I’m pushing the agenda in my constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green.

“The Liberal Democrats are the party of equality. We are the polar opposite of parties like UKIP, and we will continue to stand up to racism and hate crime.”

Lib Dems secure a £905 tax cut for people in Haringey

Posted on 19th Mar 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Working people in Haringey will benefit from a £905 income tax cut by 2018, thanks to a flagship Liberal Democrat policy announced during the Budget yesterday.

The Budget included Lib Dem plans to raise the tax-free personal allowance yet again to £10,800 in 2016/17 and £11,000 a year later.

In London these Liberal Democrat measures will lift at least 502,000 out of income tax altogether.

The Liberal Democrat’s 2015 manifesto includes measures to go further with a commitment to raise the tax-free to £12,500 by the end of the next parliament.

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“This further income tax cut is the real budget boost for working people and takes even more of the lowest-paid and part-time workers out of income tax altogether.

“The Liberal Democrats are the one party to put these tax cuts on the front page of its manifesto and deliver them – helping low and middle income families across Britain.

“This is a Lib Dem policy and has been the most important and effective policy of this Government – reducing the tax bills of millions and millions of ordinary workers.

“Labour can’t build a strong enough economy to enable these kind of tax cuts. And the Conservatives wouldn’t have brought this in on their own.

“Only the Liberal Democrats can create opportunity for everyone by building a stronger economy and fairer society.”

Workers and apprentices in Haringey set to benefit from record minimum wage increase

Posted on 18th Mar 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

2,300 workers in Haringey will see a boost to their pay packet from October this year, thanks to Liberal Democrats in government.

The National Minimum Wage is set to rise by three per cent, which means workers will get a new rate of £6.70 an hour.

It is the largest real-terms increase in the National Minimum Wage since 2008, and over 1.4 million UK workers are set to benefit.

Lynne Featherstone MP said: “Thousands of people in Haringey have already felt the benefit of Lib Dem income tax cuts, and the increase in National Minimum Wage is another step in the right direction.

“These measures are helping low-paid and part-time workers the most – and this wouldn’t be happening without the Liberal Democrats in Government”

Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has also announced the National Minimum Wage for apprentices will increase by 57p an hour.

Nick Clegg said: “This is just one of the many ways in which we have created a fairer society while building a stronger economy.

“If you are on low pay, or starting your dream career through an apprenticeship, you will get more support to help you go further and faster.”

Lynne Featherstone MP surging to success in Hornsey and Wood Green

Posted on 10th Mar 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

A new poll shows local MP Lynne Featherstone making a significant surge in the polls as the election date approaches.

This new poll puts the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green on 36%, just 1% behind Labour on 37%, with the Conservatives back on 15%, Greens 7% and UKIP 4%.

It shows a much closer fight than the last public constituency poll carried out by Lord Ashcroft in September – which gave Labour a 13 point lead.

Since then, support for Labour’s candidate – who only a third of respondents had heard of – has plummeted, while support for the popular local MP Lynne Featherstone has increased dramatically. The Conservatives remain too far behind to win.

The Liberal Democrat MP – who was recently endorsed by Paddy Ashdown for her work to counter extremism and promote unity – has clearly galvanised her supporters in the last 6 months, and now has the momentum firmly behind her as polling day approaches.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“My team and I know we have a tough fight ahead. But the mood on the doorsteps is positive and we are confident of pulling through.

“This close to an election, more and more people will start thinking about the candidates’ records of action, and who they want to represent them over the next 5 years. I live here, and I have dedicated the last 20 years of my life to this area – residents can be confident that I’ll keep on campaigning with and for them.

“I work every day with my team to deliver real benefits – my constituents are aware of this, and it feels like they are responding to what we have been doing and what we are in the process of doing.”

Haringey Liberal Democrat Party Chair, Cara Jenkinson, comments:

“Just look at Lynne Featherstone’s local record. Extra money for schools and hospitals, annual apprenticeship events, and successful campaigns to protect the Whittington, the Pinkham Way site, Muswell Hill Library and more.

“In Government, Lynne was the architect of Equal Marriage Law and launched a £35 million programme to end FGM within a generation. She is a campaigner through and through.

“The Labour party candidate lives outside of Haringey. She hasn’t campaigned with residents to make positive changes. She simply cannot match Lynne’s local record of delivery. As we get closer to polling day – it’s no wonder local people are increasingly backing Lynne.

“This poll shows it really is all to play for. Lynne and her team are experienced campaigners; we are more than ready to take the fight to Labour and successfully hold this seat.”

Lynne Featherstone MP announces local public meeting with Health Minister

Posted on 26th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Health Minister Norman Lamb will attend a public meeting in March, to discuss his work on the NHS, social care, and mental health with local residents.

The meeting – arranged by local MP Lynne Featherstone – will take place at 7:15pm on Wednesday 25^th March at a venue in Hornsey.

Residents interested in attending should email Lynne Featherstone MP for details.

In Government, the Liberal Democrats have:

Improved services across the NHS, with 6,000 more doctors, lower waiting times and cancer drugs for 30,000 people.
Taken mental health seriously, putting £400m extra into early support.
Introduced the first ever cap on the cost of social care, so people don’t have to sell their home to pay for their care.

The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have pledged an extra £8bn in NHS funding if they are in Government after May.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The meeting is open to the public – if you’re interested in attending, please contact me!”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Cypriot Community Centre

Posted on 26th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone last week visited the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green, to speak to users of the centre.

The Centre provides a range of services including a lunch club, meals on wheels, classes, training and advice services. The Centre also runs the Cypriot elderly & disabled group, which provides day care.

During the visit, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green discussed the upcoming elections and her current local campaigns, including work she is doing to promote unity within Haringey.

As part of this campaign, the Liberal Democrat MP is visiting local community centres, religious institutions, youth groups and more – to discuss finding solutions to extremism and to promote unity and community cohesion, in response to incidents like the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

The local residents at the centre backed the local MP’s approach – agreeing that keeping in touch and having conversations is the best way to alleviate tensions and prevent division in society.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented

“I have visited the Cypriot Community Centre on a number of occasions – and I’m always so impressed by the services provided for local residents.

“The managers at the centre do a fantastic job and are so inclusive – it’s exactly what you want from a community organisation. I really enjoyed visiting and discussing the issues of the day with local residents!”

Lynne Featherstone MP discusses FGM awareness with local community champions

Posted on 25th Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last Thursday joined in with the Jan Trust’s Community Champions Day.

The Trust – who are based in Lynne Featherstone MP’s constituency – held the day as part of their ‘Against FGM’ project.

During the visit, the local MP joined a roundtable discussion on how to raise awareness of FGM, and watched a number of presentations by the community champions.

In Government, the Liberal Democrat MP has launched a £35 million programme to support the African-led movement to end FGM. She has also announced mandatory reporting of FGM for frontline professionals.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also recently held a local conference – attended by over 100 North London professionals – on working together to end FGM.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Four years ago, very few people had heard of FGM. Now, thanks to the work of brave campaigners, it is very much on the agenda. So many people are working hard to raise awareness and end the unacceptable practice for good.

“We’re really leading the way here in Haringey. It was great to have Jan Trust staff at my local FGM conference, and to attend their community champion project just two days later.

“By working together in Haringey and beyond – we will raise awareness and end FGM.”

Lynne Featherstone visits Islamic Cultural Centre & London Central Mosque

Posted on 23rd Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited the London Central Mosque on Wightman Road to discuss any concerns about divisions within local society.

Members of the congregation told the local MP that they are aware of an increase in ‘anti-Muslim’ rallies – and that the Muslim community here feels more vulnerable after the actions of extremists in other countries.

They expressed further concerns about how some political parties and some media outlets are portraying the issues, which is causing further division.

However, the members of the congregation were encouraged by religious leaders, the Borough Commander and the Liberal Democrat MP all working together to find solutions and encourage unity.

The visit is one of many being undertaken by Lynne Featherstone MP, as part of her ‘unity’ campaign. The campaign based around searching for solutions to extremism and promoting community cohesion in Haringey.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“In a fair and equal society – no community would feel more vulnerable than another. So it is really upsetting to hear that the local Muslim community currently feels at risk, because of events in other countries.

“That’s why I’ve started the unity campaign. I’m visiting communities and young people across Haringey to discuss ways to prevent both extremism and intolerance.

“It is really encouraging to see the Mosque taking an active role in encouraging people to report hate crimes, and also to be vigilant in order to prevent extremism. These are real actions which could prevent further violence.

“From day one – my party the Liberal Democrats have stood up to UKIP and the anti-immigration rhetoric from the other parties. It simply is not welcome here in Haringey.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits ‘Exposure’ journalists

Posted on 23rd Feb 2015 by Lynne Featherstone

Local MP Lynne Featherstone last week visited Exposure – a multi-award winning charitable youth media enterprise based in north London.

The Liberal Democrat MP met with Andreas Koumi (the Project Manager) and a group of young journalists, who were volunteering at Exposure during half term. The journalists were writing articles for Exposure about bullying and disability – amongst other things.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green discussed her unity campaign – and how anything from different ages, races and religions can lead to division and bullying.

They then discussed how to prevent this, and encourage cohesion in the community. The media in particular was discussed – and the group agreed it had a very important part to play in encouraging unity, rather than fear.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“The unity campaign I’m running is all about getting out there, talking to different communities and searching for solution to both extremism and intolerance.

“The young people at Exposure were really articulate and well informed, and had some really good ideas about how the media can better encourage unity and cohesion. I’ll certainly take their ideas on board – and wish them the best of luck with their future careers!”