Commenting on the result of the Seven Sisters council by election yesterday, Lib Dem candidate David Schmitz said:

“I want to thank everyone who voted, and those who helped to achieve such a big increase in the Liberal Democrat vote.

“This big swing to the Lib Dems, if repeated in 2010, would result in the Liberal Democrats winning control of Haringey with a comfortable majority.After nearly 40 years in charge, Haringey Labour are clearly on borrowed time.”

1,032 – 37% Joe Goldberg, Labour (-9%)
968 – 35% Isaac Revah, Conservative (+7%)
588 – 21% David Schmitz, Liberal Democrat (+8%)
166 – 6% Anne Gray, Green (-7%)
36 – 1% Lydia Rivlin, Independent

Haringey’s Labour-run council has come under fire after it emerged that a decision has been made to sell-off much needed accommodation – just as the property market is crashing.

Haringey Council plans to sell off a hostel in Crescent Road, Crouch End to in order to raise cash to revamp council offices. Local Liberal Democrats have criticised the move saying that the impending recession is not a time to sell off the family silver and the housing needs of residents should be put before redecorating buildings for Council officials.

Liberal Democrats have written to the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive questioning the timing and method of the sale of the hostel.

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Winskill, Crouch End, comments:

“We made the point to Labour’s Cllr Adje at Overview and Scrutiny that it is not the right time to start selling off the family silver. Haringey is suffering, as is the rest of the country, from a financial crisis not seen in seventy years, yet Haringey Council’s first priority is to raise cash to tart up council offices and cut accommodation provision for the most needy in the borough right down to the bone.”

Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Robert Gorrie, adds:

“Last year we forced Haringey Council to abandon plans to sell the Civic Centre and waste tax payers money on a new Council Chamber by making Labour understand that selling such an asset during the financial crisis would be a terrible deal for residents. But here we are again a few months later and Labour is hell bent on making a similar bad decision.

“Either Labour have very short memories or they are obsessed with wasting tax-payers’ money.”

Local Liberal Democrats have demanded Haringey Council takes action to get a better deal for Haringey’s children.

Last year, it was revealed that Haringey Council received on average £1,183 less funding per child, per year than neighbouring boroughs. Councillors at Monday’s (5th Jan 2009) Overview and Scrutiny Meeting threw down the gauntlet to the new Director and Labour member in charge of Children’s Services to place on record their commitment to pursue fair funding for Haringey’s children. Both Cllr Reith and Peter Lewis agreed that further efforts were needed.

However, Labour councillors agreed to pursue the issue with government ministers in 2007 when the issue was raised by Liberal Democrats but admitted that their efforts were “not successful”.

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone launched the fair funding campaign and raised the issue with the Prime Minister in October 2007 and with Schools Minister Jim Knight in February last year.

Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat member on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, comments:

“It is a continuing disgrace that a borough such as Haringey, which has areas with some of the worst poverty and deprivation in the country, has for so long received significantly less resources for the future of our children. It is unfair and illogical that children down the road in Hackney receive more money for their education than children in Tottenham.

“At a time when Haringey Council is setting its budget for the coming year it is appropriate for the new team in charge of Children’s Services to commit to do all in its power to rectify this situation.”

Cllr Gail Engert, Liberal Democrat Children, Schools and Families Spokesperson, adds:

“This is another classic say everything, do nothing issue for Labour. They have publicly said that they would do all they could to get the Labour government to change this unfair funding system but they can’t even get their own party to listen to them.”

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“At this rate the funding gap will become a funding abyss and Haringey pupils are suffering as a result.Anyone with a serious interest in education in Haringey should be back this campaign.”

Following unconfirmed news that all overground train routes in London will have Oyster Pay As You Go (PAYG) services by September 2009, Lynne Featherstone MP has written to the London Mayor demanding confirmation that First Capital Connect Trains in Hornsey and Wood Green will be included.

The Liberal Democrat MP spearheaded a widely-supported local campaign to get PAYG on overground trains and is scheduled to meet Transport for London bosses on the 19th January, demanding a clear date when PAYG services will commence.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The people of Hornsey and Wood Green have been led up the garden path by vague promises that they will soon get PAYG on the trains.

“Enough is enough – we need full assurances from the Mayor and TfL that the system will go live here in Hornsey and Wood Green in September. I am writing to the London Mayor for confirmation, and meeting up with Transport for London in mid January to demand that promises are finally turned into action.”

Local hospitals have been called upon to review their mobile policy as soon as possible by local MP, Lynne Featherstone, following the relaxation of the government ban on their use.

Allowing the greater use of mobile phones will allow patients to avoid costly in-house phone services that often charge near premium rates for making and receiving calls.

Lynne Featherstone has written to the chief executives of the Whittington, North Middlesex and Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) calling for an urgent review.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey & Wood Green says:

“Some of our local hospitals already have progressive policies on mobile phone use, but I hope they will seize this opportunity to review their policy and give patients the greatest freedom possible to stay in touch.

“Of course there must continue to be sensible restrictions to preserve tranquillity and protect privacy. However, I think it’s easy to underestimate the holistic benefits of being able to receive a goodnight text from a loved one when you’re ill.

“I hope our local hospitals will act swiftly to see if greater use can be allowed.”

Councillor Richard Wilson, Haringey Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, adds:

“The exorbitant rate of hospital phone services can mean that people, particularly those on lower incomes, are virtually cut off from friends and family when they need them most.Our hospitals must do what they can to help patients stay connected.”

Hornsey & Wood Green MP, Lynne Featherstone has come second in an online poll for Liberal Democrat MP of the year.

The poll of 1,380 people is featured on the blog of political commentator Iain Dale and placed Lynne Featherstone number two out of 63 Liberal Democrat MPs.

The vote of confidence comes hot on the heels of Total Politics magazine tipping the Hornsey & Wood Green MP as one to watch in 2009 in its January edition.

She was praised in the magazine for the way she, “comes over as a normal person, rather than an inhabitant of the Westminster village” and for her plain talking.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP says:

“It’s always reassuring to receive any vote of confidence, but the most important part of my job is standing up for the people of Hornsey & Wood Green and I’ll carry on doing this regardless of what the pundits say. And in the end it will be their vote that counts!

“2008 has been a difficult year for Haringey and its residents. On top of having to deal with the repercussions of the economic downturn, the council has been beset by tragedy and disaster.

“I look forward to the year ahead to lobby for change so we can start restoring confidence in the borough’s children’s services as well as helping people through these difficult times.”

As the Seven Sisters by-election enters its final full week of campaigning, Liberal Democrat candidate David Schmitz has received a major boost, with the support of the President of the Wards Corner Market Traders.

David Schmitz has campaigned for months to protect the site, despite Labour-run Haringey Council’s plan to bulldoze the area, and the Conservative betrayal of Mayor Boris Johnson, who promised to help, but who now says the controversial and unpopular development is “to be welcomed”.

Raul Mancera, President of the Puelito Paisa (Wards Corner Market Traders), says of David Schmitz:

“The attitude of Haringey Council under Labour towards our market has shown how little they respect our area and its people. David Schmitz has been a good friend to us – offering us free legal advice throughout the campaign to stop the demolition of Wards Corner and the destruction of our Latin American market. Please vote for him in the Seven Sisters by-election on the 15th of January.”

David Schmitz comments:

“I am very pleased to have received Raul’s support, and the campaign is really building momentum as we enter the final full week of campaigning.Only the Liberal Democrats can challenge Labour in Haringey, and I am delighted how many people are now coming over to us.”

Following reports of outrageously long Christmas queues at the remaining Hornsey and Wood Green Post Offices, and after chatting with Crouch End residents in a queue stretching far along the pavement outside the Crouch End Broadway Post Office on Friday, Lynne Featherstone MP is now organising an urgent meeting with the Post Office Network Manager.

Despite assurances from Post Office Ltd. that the remaining branches in the constituency would have the capacity to deal with the Christmas queues, Lynne Featherstone has received evidence from constituents showing very long waiting times.

The Liberal Democrat MP is now encouraging local residents to tell her how long they have had to queue at their local Post Office this Christmas either by emailing lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org with details, or by requesting Lynne’s Post Office survey on 020 8340 5459.Lynne Featherstone will then collate all data from this autumn and winter and present her findings to the Post Office representatives.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“It’s plain to see that the remaining post offices locally are finding it difficult to cope with the increased customer pressure this Christmas. It’s not exactly rocket science that closing every second post office locally would result in larger queues at the remaining shops.

“But the more evidence I can present at a meeting with the Network Manager, the better. So please contact my office and let me know how long you’ve had to queue to send off your Christmas post this December.”