Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes £1bn childcare investment

Posted on 20th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed news that families in Haringey – and across the UK – are to get greater financial support for childcare, thanks to a major new Government initiative.

Liberal Democrat analysis shows that the £1bn boost to help parents with childcare costs could benefit around 10,972 families in Haringey.

The Coalition Government’s scheme will save the typical working family with two children up to £2,400 a year.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP has today welcomed the plans, which were announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as “much needed help” for working families.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“An extra £1,200 for each child will make a real difference to families in Haringey and families across the country.

“Everyone knows that the cost of childcare is a big worry for many families. Almost a quarter of employed mothers say they would like to work longer hours but can’t do so because of the cost of childcare.

“Making sure all families, and mothers in particular, can afford to work is important to help build a stronger economy as well as deliver a fairer society. This has been an absolute priority for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats and I am delighted we are able to give parents this much needed help.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Muswell Hill LOCALgallery exhibition

Posted on 19th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP visited theLOCALgallery in Muswell Hill on Saturday, to view an exhibition of photographs and discuss measures to keep local trade alive in the area.

The event organiser (local business owner and photographer Matt Humphrey) also took the opportunity to unveil a new public portrait display of local traders who are speaking out in support of local trade, as part of a global art project called Inside Out. The project in Muswell Hill is being co-organised by Matt Humphrey and photographer David Gould.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green viewed the ‘Paris in the Sixties’ photographs by local photographer Alan Scales, and took a wander through the French themed street event on Avenue Mews.

The Liberal Democrat MP then gave a brief speech about the measures she is taking to support independent retailers and high streets – including her independent shops competition and a campaign for 30 mins free parking on high streets.

After the event, organiser Matt Humphrey said:

“It was great that Lynne could visit Avenue Mews and theLOCALgallery at the weekend. Our mews and the ‘Paris In The Sixties’ exhibition are prime examples of the hidden creative talents that are bountiful yet overlooked in N10.

“Through the Inside Out Project and portraits of local traders, we wanted to literally give a face to the plight that we are facing as independent local traders, shopkeepers and creatives. This is a theme that not only resonates within our area, but across the country, as high streets lose their individual characters and shops to become clones of one another.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I really enjoyed visiting this wonderful exhibition and gallery. I am so happy that Matt has taken the initiative to showcase local art, and bring the Inside Out project to Muswell Hill.

“In my constituency, we are lucky enough to have many unique, independent shops and retailers. During these tough times it is vital that we protect them. That’s why I’m running a competition to find our best independent shops, and campaigning for 30 minutes of free parking on high streets to encourage people to stop off at local retailers, rather than big multinationals.”

Lynne Featherstone MP meets Banksy building owners

Posted on 18th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last Friday met the owners of Wood Green Investments Ltd. The company owns the property on which street artist Banksy painted his ‘bunting boy’ piece last year.

During the meeting, the representatives of Wood Green Investments said that the piece was taken without their knowledge, yet they would not be reporting the incident as a crime.

The representatives also said that they would allow their wall to be used for street art, provided that the Council protected the wall from now on.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green contacted the property owners in February after the Banksy piece disappeared from the wall, and ended up at an auction house in Miami.

The auction, however, was pulled at the last minute, and the exact whereabouts and current ‘owner’ of the piece remains unknown.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is deeply disappointing that the property owners have chosen not to report this as a crime. If they really did not know anything until after the piece disappeared – then the person who currently has the Banksy piece is getting away with theft.

“Allowing the wall to be used for future street art is a nice gesture from Wood Green Investments – but what we really want is our Banksy back.

“I will continue to try and find out who has our Banksy, and hope that the property owners change their mind about reporting this as a crime.”

Lynne Featherstone MP slams Haringey Council over Lightfoot Road scandal

Posted on 18th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone wrote an urgent email to Haringey Council on Friday, after a local resident alerted her to a dangerous pothole on Lightfoot Road – the same road on which a man previously tripped on a pothole and suffered brain damage.

Last week, Haringey Council were ordered to pay £1 million in compensation to Kyle Bullock, who tripped on a three inch deep, fifteen inch wide pothole on Lightfoot Road in 2007. He spent four months in hospital and suffered a severe brain injury.

After the court judgement, the Council issued a statement saying it had: ‘introduced a comprehensive maintenance programme to prevent such accidents happening again.’

Despite these assurances, however, another local resident later tweeted a picture of a current large and dangerous pothole on Lightfoot Road.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is an absolute disgrace. A man was seriously injured and Haringey Council were forced to pay out £1million in compensation, yet they still leave gaping potholes unaddressed on the same road.

“It is insulting to tell residents that their maintenance programme will prevent accidents happening again, whilst the danger still remains.

“Haringey residents pay one of the highest Council Tax rates in London. The least we deserve in return is safe roads and pavements.

“In Haringey, we are unfortunately used to being let down by the Labour-run Council. Local residents deserve better.”

Lib Dems slam response to unlawful Haringey Council investigation

Posted on 14th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The judgement of a Judicial Review into Labour-run Haringey’s Children and Young Persons Service department was today handed down by a High Court judge. The Judge held that the Council acted indefensibly and unlawfully on an anonymous complaint against two parents.

The Review was granted in relation to a complaint by a parent about an aborted investigation into alleged abuse of their child. The Judge determined that Haringey acted unlawfully in that:

They did not launch relevant investigation at the right time
They made intrusive enquiries of their child’s GP and school before speaking with the family, contrary to regulations
Their belated attempt to launch Section 47 inquiry into allegation was flawed and was quashed

The Judge also ordered Haringey Council to pay £2,000 compensation to the parent under the Human Rights Act (Article 8 – right to family life.)

Cllr David Schmitz – Liberal Democrat, Harringay ward – commented:

“Section 47 enquiries are very serious. The Judge himself observed that they can easily damage the life, career and family relationships of anyone caught up in them. If Haringey had got its way on this case, it would have got away with threatening to use their powers against innocent parents, who had done nothing more than make entirely justified complaints about the way that council officers were ignoring safeguards which are in place to protect all of us.

“During the case, Haringey argued that the statutory guidance was getting in the way of child protection. That guidance was written for the purpose of teaching social workers everywhere the lessons that needed to be learnt from Haringey’s failures in the Baby P case. It is outrageous that the guidance should not be followed by Haringey itself.”

Cllr Katherine Reece – Haringey Liberal Democrat spokesperson for children – commented:

“It is such a shame that Haringey has been found to have failed yet again. In this case they have been found to have acted overzealously resulting in a breach of parents’ rights.

“This comes on top of the recent case of the Haringey baby left on a bus by a foster carer, they can’t get the balance right.

“These two cases confirm that despite recent progress Haringey Council’s children services still have a long way to go and still require improvement.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green commented:

“Not only did Haringey Council act unlawfully throughout the investigation, they have also breached the Human Rights Act and will have to pay compensation accordingly. Compensation following a Judicial Review is very rare, and indicates that the judge feels a real abuse of power has occurred.

“This is a damning verdict. Yet again, Haringey children’s services have failed. Even after Baby P, they still have not managed to get the department in order. Haringey Children, parents and residents deserve better.”

Apprenticeship numbers increase by 194% in Hornsey and Wood Green

Posted on 12th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has today welcomed a massive increase in the number of apprenticeships in her constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, and Haringey borough as a whole.

Final figures have revealed that there were 530 apprentices in Hornsey and Wood Green last year – a 194% increase compared to the last year of Labour’s Government.

In the entire borough of Haringey there were 1,350 apprentices, representing a 164% increase.

These figures have been released in tandem with National Apprenticeship Week, which aims to raise awareness and celebrate the successes of the apprenticeship scheme.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Apprenticeships are a brilliant way for young people to learn the skills and get the experience necessary for a successful career.

“Recently I visited the job centre in Wood Green and saw the positive impact apprenticeships have had on reducing unemployment – particularly amongst young people.

“Also, a young electrical engineer from Bounds Green was recently one of 10 finalists in the JTL National Apprentice Awards 2012.

“I’m proud that the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have promoted and invested heavily in apprenticeships.

“The huge rise in apprentices in my constituency, and the borough as a whole, has clearly had a positive effect!”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Hornsey School for Girls on International Women’s Day

Posted on 12th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP visited Hornsey School for Girls on International Women’s Day last week, to discuss tackling violence against women and girls in the UK and abroad.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green participated in a class of 13 to 14 year old students. Together with representatives from the organisation PLAN, they discussed the causes and consequences of violence against women and girls. They also discussed how empowering women and girls – and protecting them from violence – will be vital for meeting the UN’s Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

The Liberal Democrat MP flew back from New York on Thursday, having represented the UK Government at the 57^th annual meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

At the Commission, Lynne Featherstone MP reiterated that she wants Female Genital Mutilation ended within a generation. In this regard, she announced that the UK is committing up to £35 million to stop this most extreme form of gender-based violence.

Following the visit to the school, Lynne Featherstone MP travelled to Brighton for the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, where she gave a rally speech on her experiences in tackling violence against women and girls.

Following the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was a delight to visit this school and the bright students on International Women’s Day to talk about violence against women and girls – which I am so passionate about tackling.

“I was so impressed with the students’ understanding and awareness of gender based violence. It is clear that progress is being made in the UK.

“We are making sure that our young girls are made aware of these issues, and given the right support, advice and education. It is, of course, also vital that boys are made aware from an early age that such violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

“I am so proud that Britain is a world leader in international development, respected widely for how effective our work is. We may be two genders, but we only have one future!”

MP offers further support as Connaught House residents face eviction

Posted on 11th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today offered her continued support to residents of Connaught House in Muswell Hill.

The remaining residents face eviction today. The Metropolitan Police, who own the building, have refused to extend the lease granted to Crown Housing Association. The Association and the residents must therefore vacate the premises.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has previously contacted the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in an attempt to stop the eviction, and subsequently Crown Housing and Haringey Council, to ensure that appropriate alternative accommodation is found.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I have made numerous representations on behalf of my constituents at Connaught House. I have contacted the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Crown Housing and Haringey Council.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the Met are intent on selling the land. They will not withdraw the instruction to Crown Housing to vacate the property.

“I have urgently contacted Crown Housing and Haringey Council, to gain assurance that all residents of Connaught House would be given appropriate alternative accommodation.

“Haringey Council said that they were advising and offering different housing options to each resident. Crown Housing also said that alternative housing options have been offered.

“I can only imagine what the residents must be going through. If any of them do not feel that Haringey Council or Crown Housing has offered them appropriate alternative accommodation, I urge them to contact me immediately so that I can make further representations on their behalf.”

Lib Dems call for the Met and Mayor to think again on police closures

Posted on 7th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Haringey Liberal Democrats are calling on the Metropolitan Police and the Conservative Mayor of London to change their plans for police stations and front counters in Haringey.

The opposition politicians have written to the Conservative Deputy Mayor of London for Policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, objecting to the proposals to close Muswell Hill police station and to reduce the opening hours at Hornsey and Tottenham.

The Lib Dems have been very clear in their letters that they firmly believe that opening hours at Hornsey and Tottenham should not be reduced and that a front counter should be retained in the Muswell Hill area. They have also made it clear that the impact of the proposals on local police Safer Neighbourhood Teams is unacceptable.

The councillors’ opposition to the borough only having one publicly accessible twenty-four hour police counter echoes the concerns of the Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, who has also come out against the plans.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem crime and police spokesperson, comments:

“Haringey Liberal Democrats are opposed to the Met’s and Mayor’s proposals which will make it harder for members of the public to report crimes.

“It is particularly important that here in Haringey, where the London riots began, that the police make more effort to reach out to the community and be as accessible as possible.

“Sadly many people become victims of crime and when that happens they understandably want to be able to report it quickly and locally at any time of the day or night. Unfortunately for the police criminals do not operating during office hours, so the police must be available when the public need them not when it is convenient.

“Local residents in Tottenham and Muswell Hill shouldn’t have to travel miles away to Wood Green in the middle of the night to be able to report a crime, they should be able to do it locally.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said:

“I am fully behind the Haringey Lib Dems’ calls for the Mayor to change his plans for police stations and front counters in Haringey.

“Since the announcement, we have been calling for assurances that no service is lost without a suitable replacement. We oppose any reduction in hours at Hornsey police station and will be fighting to keep a police base and front counter staffed by the dedicated team of volunteers in Muswell Hill.”

Whittington Hospital suspends reorganisation plans

Posted on 7th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The Whittington Hospital has suspended its reorganisation plan, following a delay to their Foundation Trust application.

The Hospital Board will use the delay to engage the local community, hospital staff and other stakeholders in their strategy.

The announcement follows a public meeting last Friday evening, which was organised by Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone. During the meeting a number of residents expressed concern at the lack of consultation and engagement with residents prior to the announcement.

Over 2500 residents also signed the Liberal Democrat petition which called for the Board to go back to square one and consult with the public – alongside demanding that no hospital services were lost until equal or better replacement services have been put in place.

Following the meeting, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green also raised concerns about how integrated care in the community – which will enable a reduction in beds in the main hospital – is implemented and funded.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I welcome the Whittington’s decision to engage with the public and to listen to residents’ views on these plans.

“The Hospital is trying to secure a long term future through becoming a Foundation Trust. But public engagement, clarity and confidence are of paramount importance – it is vital that they take this opportunity to listen and adapt their plans as appropriate.”

Councillor David Winskill, Haringey Lib Dem health spokesperson, said:

“The level of debate during the public meeting demonstrated just how much residents value the Whittington, but also how aware they are of the different factors surrounding any decision about the Hospital’s future.

“Many difficult questions were raised which need clear and thorough responses from the Whittington Board. I’m glad we now have the opportunity for this debate.”