Category Archives: News releases

Lynne Featherstone wins prestigious online campaigning award

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Lynne Featherstone MP this week received a top prize in the Orange Digital Election Awards as the election’s best online campaigner in a special ceremony held at the House of Commons.

According to judges, the net-savvy MP won the award for her “sustained long-term work”, “genuine local and national following through her lively website and blog and Twitter feed” and showing “what a parliamentary candidate can achieve through social and digital media.”

Judges included Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor of the Evening Standard, Rishi Saha, Head of New Media for the Conservative Party and Paul Farrelly, MP.

Lynne Featherstone has been making use of the internet and emails for many years, having blogged since 2003 and been one of the first MPs to tweet. Lynne today has over 3,000 Twitter and Facebook followers and thousands of local residents on her emailing list.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I don’t blog, tweet and use Facebook to win awards – I do it because I believe in ongoing, honest and direct communication with the people I represent.

“But it’s nevertheless fantastic and very heart-warming to have my long-running online work, and especially my emailing list and new website recognised in this way. Thank you Orange!”

For a video with highlights from the event at the House of Commons see here.

Local MP kick-starts new term by visiting her old school

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Lynne Featherstone visiting Highgate Primary Year 6On her first local visit after being re-elected MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone on Friday went to visit her old school, Highgate Primary, to help the children write a special school magazine with stories from old and new students.

The year six students from the North Hill school asked the Liberal Democrat MP about what was different when she was a student there. They also go the chance to ask the new Home Office Minister what it was like to be in Government, and what made her become an MP in the first place.

Lynne Featherstone ended the visit by attending a special assembly, where some of the younger students did their own take on the book ‘Where the Wild Things Are’.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“What a wonderful way to kick-start a new term in office, by coming back to my old school, chatting with such incredibly bright and interested students, and reliving old memories.

“And topping off the visit by seeing the children do their own version of ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ was just fantastic. Especially when I got to join in the ‘monsters munch’ dance! Such fun!”

Lib Dem leader thanks local people for largest ever Lib Dem vote

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While local Liberal Democrats were celebrating the big increase in Lynne Featherstone’s majority in the General Election, there was disappointment that the party did not manage to take control of Haringey Council, which remains under Labour rule.

Lib Dem local candidates in the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency polled even higher than Ms Featherstone overall, but it wasn’t enough to make the crucial handful of gains that would have put an end to 40 years of Labour control of Haringey Council, dubbed the worst council in London.

Ms Featherstone’s majority over Labour almost trebled, as voters endorsed her five years as MP. Lib Dem council candidates in 21 seats romped to victory, and there was delight as the party held its two seats in Harringay ward, that were recounted on Friday afternoon.

Lib Dems also expressed satisfaction that hard working candidate David Schmitz easily retained second place in the Tottenham constituency – and secured a seat on Haringey Council. However, the results were not enough to secure the extra seats needed in the Wood Green area, where the party narrowly lost out to Labour.

There was also delight among local Lib Dems that two of their former friends and colleagues, Stephen Gilbert (former Fortis Green councillor) and Duncan Hames (former Tottenham candidate) were both elected to Parliament in the West Country.

Lib Dem Leader Robert Gorrie comments:

“While there is disappointment in not winning control of Haringey Council, I’d like to thank local people for the largest ever Lib Dem vote in the borough. And I’m delighted that Lynne Featherstone has won such a ringing endorsement from local voters.

“With no other parties coming close to wining any seats on the Council it again falls to the Lib Dems to provide the opposition that is the real force pushing this council to improve. With Labour winning with just 39 per cent of the votes, they will certainly have to listen.”

The “right decision” for residents say Liberal Democrats as the Whittington is saved

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Whittington Hospital celebrationIn response to the announcement by the government that the Whittington Accident and Emergency department will not face closure, Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:

“This is fantastic news, and such a brilliant testament to the fact that the power of local people and our campaign has worked!

“This is the right decision for local residents. I have been fighting tooth and nail together with my Liberal Democrat colleagues and local residents to keep our vital health services open since the disastrous plans were leaked to me last October.

“I am ecstatic that we have been successful in forcing faceless health bureaucrats to back down.

“Nick Clegg has given cast iron guarantees that he will not close the Whittington, and I will certainly be holding Labour to their last minute promise – and make sure this is not just a hollow election pledge.

“Thanks so much to all local residents, campaigners and activists who have given so much to help save the Whittington.”

Robert Gorrie, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats adds:

“Local residents have forced the Labour Government to listen to them, but let’s not forget that it was a Labour government that let the faceless bureaucrats put these plans on the table in the first place.

“The plans to change health services in north London are still ongoing – NHS London need to come clean on what the remaining plans will mean for people in Haringey.”

Liberal Democrats ask local residents to join in fight for fair funding

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Campaigning for Haringey schoolsIn their ongoing fight for fair funding for Haringey’s schoolchildren, Lynne Featherstone and a team of local Liberal Democrats have launched an awareness campaign outside local schools to let local parents know what they can do to support the campaign.

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate was joined by Councillor Gail Engert and campaigner Jenny Bouchami outside St Mary’s school in Hornsey as they chatted with parents about how they can respond to a government consultation to help highlight the current funding situation that sees Haringey’s schools getting £1,318 less per pupils than children in Hackney.

The consultation, which is running until the 7th June 2010, looks at two funding options, one which could give Haringey’s schools an additional £10 million per year.

The Liberal Democrat team will in the next few weeks speak with parents at schools around the area to encourage as many local residents as possible to respond to the consultation.

To make the case for fairer school funding, residents need to go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/

The Liberal Democrats have also pledged to put in an extra £15 million into Haringey’s schools, through their so-called pupil premium to ensure smaller class sizes. The additional funds could give Haringey’s schools an extra 490 teachers.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“This is our big chance to make the case for why our kids need and deserve more money for their schooling. This is an opportunity to give them a better education for the best possible start in life.

“Regardless of the outcome of the election – it is vital that people respond to this consultation. Of course – if the Liberal Democrats won – that would solve our ‘fair funding’ at a stroke – with their pledge of £2.5billion per year to our schools.”

Cllr Gail Engert, Liberal Democrat Schools spokesperson adds:

“It’s been great to get such a positive response when speaking to Hornsey parents here today.

“Bit by bit we are getting residents to see that they can help make a real difference. So for all you residents out there who want to do something about this injustice, grab this chance to respond and help make a fairer future for Haringey’s children.”

Comment on Sharon Shoesmith verdict

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Lynne Featherstone, candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments on the Sharon Shoesmith verdict:

“After what happened to Baby Peter, Sharon Shoesmith’s position was totally untenable – and rightly so.

“From this case we see further evidence that the culture of cover up and secrecy goes right to the top of the Labour government. Key facts have only come to light because of this court case, facts that the public are entitled to know. More than ever it shows the urgent need for a full public enquiry to ensure that we get to the bottom of the failure to protect Baby Peter.”

Nevres Kemal, Haringey Children’s Services whistleblower and Liberal Democrat candidate for Noel Park in Haringey, adds:

“I am standing for election against the Council who failed to protect Baby Pater and to help end the failure in Children’s Services.”

Local Liberal Democrats visit resident let down over housing repairs

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The reality of Labour’s broken promise to install new kitchens, bathrooms and windows in all council homes by 2010 became clear this week when local Liberal Democrats met with a resident who will have to wait another two years until any work starts on her home.

Lynne Featherstone and Cllr Robert Gorrie visited Mrs Jethwa from Hutton Court in Stroud Green to see first-hand how her family had been let down by Labour-run Haringey Council. Mrs Jethwa was told by Labour in 2006 that her 25 year old bathroom and kitchen would be replaced by 2010 but in reality work will not start until 2012.

Despite promises that all council properties in the London Borough of Haringey would receive new kitchens, bathrooms and windows by 2010, recent figures suggest that Haringey Council has failed to even meet a quarter of the homes needing urgent work. Work on homes in Harringay, Bounds Green, Seven Sisters, Fortis Green, Crouch End and Alexandra wards haven’t started at all.

At the most recent Full Council meeting on 22nd March, Labour councillor John Bevan failed to apologise to tenants that had not had Decent Homes work completed on their homes.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat candidate for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“Mrs Jethwa is only one of thousands of local residents who have been let down by Labour. They promised new kitchens, bathrooms and windows for all council houses, yet Mrs Jethwa’s home is a clear testament to that broken promise.”

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats, adds:

“How can residents believe Labour in this election when most of the promises from last time have been broken?

“Labour has failed to start work on three quarters of council homes and that does not include homes in Harringay, Bounds Green, Seven Sisters, Fortis Green, Crouch End and Alexandra wards where they haven’t started at all.”

Lynne Featherstone joins special team practice with local award winning football club

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Chettle Court RangersLocal Liberal Democrat candidate Lynne Featherstone kicked off her re-election campaign this week with a training session with local football club, Chettle Court Rangers, to celebrate their recent lottery award and ongoing youth work.

Lynne met with young footballers and club founders at the Ferry Lane pitch on Jarrow Road. The Stroud Green based football club was started by Chettle Court resident Ricardo Mfuka, to give the estate’s young people something to do after school. Most recently, the club has been awarded money from the Big Lottery Fund to extend its youth work to children with special educational needs.

Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Chettle Court Rangers do amazing work with kids from all over Haringey, across ages and abilities. It’s open to all and has a great ethos of wanting to help young people get a focus and passion in life.

“Ricardo really has something very special going on here, having started with a small team of young people from Stroud Green, he is now going from strength to strength and is branching out to help kids with special educational needs from across Haringey. Hats off for his truly inspirational work!”

Closing A&Es at local hospitals is the “right thing to do” to improve NHS care, says Labour Minister

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Labour’s campaign to save the Whittington accident and emergency was left in tatters it emerged that a top Labour politician said that closing local A&E and maternity departments was “the right thing to do.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Lynne Featherstone has condemned the reported remarks by Labour Health Secretary Andy Burnham, and has said the revelation unmasks local Labour claims that they back the campaign to save the Whittington A&E.

In reality, Mr Burnham’s remarks show that it is Labour that is threatening these vital services.

Lynne Featherstone, who has campaigned tirelessly against the closure for the past six months, comments:

“These comments from the Labour minister in charge of our Health Service unmask the grim reality of Labour’s policies. This is what is threatening our local A&E at the Whittington.

“Local Labour politicians can hide behind a local campaign, just as they did with the closure of our Post Offices. The truth is that Labour cannot be relied on to fight for these vital local services.”

Liberal Democrats demand assurances on new school

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Liberal Democrats have demanded clear promises from the Labour Council that Heartlands High School will be open in September after it emerged that builders have requested to move to work 24-hours a day.

Liberal Democrats are concerned that, with five months to go before the school is due to open, a move by contractors to working all night means that the project may be severely behind schedule – putting the school places of 162 children in jeopardy.

Furthermore, residents living close to the site are likely to be concerned that they will have to put up with noise throughout the night.

Cllr Gail Engert, Liberal Democrat Children and Young People spokesperson, comments:

“With five months until the school is due to open this is clearly not a last minute push to get final fittings finished. Working all day and night seems to show that this project is under severe pressure. We need clear assurances from Haringey Council now whether it will be on time, why we need 24-hour building work and to reassure parents and children starting at the school in September that it will indeed be ready and safe.

“We also need to be sure that local people will not be disturbed by the 24-hour work.”

Lynne Featherstone adds:

“It is vital for local families for this new school to be open. Labour need to come clean why 24-hour working is needed when they have been so sure it will be open in September.”