Local Liberal Democrats step up the campaign against Northern Line closures

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Lynne Featherstone collecting Northern Line petition signaturesTo help raise awareness of the proposed 82 weeks of evening and weekend closures on the Northern Line and to gain further support for their campaign Liberal Democrats have been out collecting petition signatures around Highgate Station.

Lynne Featherstone MP, Highgate councillor Rachel Allison and local Transport spokesperson Councillor Martin Newton spent Wednesday afternoon chatting with tube users at Highgate station and received strong support for their petition to get a better deal for commuters.

Local Liberal Democrats are concerned that local traders and residents will bare the brunt of the disruption caused by the 82 week plan, which is due to start on the 27th March.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP has written to Transport for London (TfL) and Tubelines, urging them to consider an alternative five-point plan put forward by Liberal Democrats on the Greater London Authority which seeks to reduce the effect on local residents and traders.

Any Northern line user who wants to sign the petition should either go to http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/northernline or call Lynne Featherstone’s office for a hard copy of the petition.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“We all want to see an upgraded Northern Line but the current plans will make residents suffer for almost a year and a half as the upgrade work is carried out on the Northern line – this is frankly absurd.

“It’s good to see that local residents share our concerns about how disruptive these works will be, and are keen to seen a less painful solution. By putting a strong case for a fairer upgrade deal to the people in charge I am hopeful we can get a better solution.”

Highgate Councillor Rachel Allison adds:

“I’m really worried that local traders in Highgate and Archway will suffer if their weekend trade is continually disrupted like this.

“From chatting to local Northern line users, it’s clear that a deal that doesn’t prolong the pain is preferable. Please take a minute to sign the petition and back our campaign.”

Labour leaflet lies about Hornsey Hospital

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Local Liberal Democrats have demanded that Labour withdraw false claims that the party campaigned against the new health facility on the site of the Hornsey Hospital. Lynne Featherstone MP and local Liberal Democrats helped lead a high-profile, decade-long, campaign to get the hospital site back into use. In recognition of her work, Lynne Featherstone was invited to take part in the ‘topping out’ ceremony to mark the completion of the new health centre building in 2009.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Local Liberal Democrats have campaigned for a decade for the Hornsey Hospital site to be reopened. This ludicrous claim shows just how out of touch Labour are.

“Unlike Labour, the Liberal Democrats campaign on local issues all year round – not just in election year. This is a desperate attempt by Labour to mislead the public.

“Labour should retract this false statement, and show more respect for residents by committing to a clean election fight.”

Cllr Richard Wilson, added:

“Over the last few years I have accompanied Lynne on dozens of protests and public meetings, as well as low-key private meetings with the Haringey Primary Care Trust. She has lobbied tirelessly for a new health facility on the Hornsey Hospital site, and it is absolutely outrageous for Labour to claim otherwise.

“This desperate tactic is insulting to the huge numbers of residents who campaigned with Lynne to get the Hospital site reopened. It also shows how scared Labour are of losing control of Haringey Council to the Liberal Democrats at this year’s elections, and how they will say anything to cling to power.”

Whittington A&E – Story 8

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Naomi’s story:

Many, many times have I been grateful for the quick and safe reactions of the staff of the Whittington A&E.

Just one story?

I run a group for mothers and babies nearby. One afternoon, a toddler knocked over a mug of very hot tea. His mother tried to comfort him, but he was obviously in pain. I suggested she hurry to the Whittington A&E, and said I’d come and meet her there after the meeting. When I got there, she was in a separate room with her son. A doctor arrived and dealt with the burn with an excellent cream and bandage. The toddler relaxed immediately she started to treat him. Small though he was, he could tell he was in good hands. The doctor explained exactly how the mother should dress the wound at home. She was efficient but human too. The mother is now applying to do voluntary work at the Whittington, and I have just been asked to give a reference for her.

Traffic calming consultation gets green light

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Haringey Liberal Democrats are urging residents to take part in a statutory consultation on plans to provide new traffic calming measures and 20mph limits in the Palace Gates area of Alexandra ward.

All households in the consultation area received documents from Haringey Council on 4 March 2010 to take part before the deadline for responses on 25 March 2010.

The consultation marks the last step of a six year campaign by Liberal Democrats and local residents, to improve road safety in the area. The ban on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), which was part of the successful campaign, was finalised at the beginning of the year.

Cllr Susan Oatway (Alexandra) comments:

“This is one of the final steps in our six year campaign, backed by local residents, to improve road safety in the Palace Gates area. I urge all residents to take part, as your views and comments matter.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“After the successful agreement of the HGV ban, this new consultation will give local residents the opportunity to make our roads safer.”

Whittington A&E – Story 7

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Gillian’s story:

In 2005 I became unwell and developed a high temperature. I wasn’t well enough to go to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics on a home visit from our local doctor on a Friday. Unfortunately I was extremely allergic to the drugs and was told on Saturday by Camidoc (phone call) to stop taking them if they were making me vomit. On Sunday I felt considerably worse and a Camidoc doctor visited and immediately called an ambulance. One of the side effects of my illness was that I remained rational and quite convincing that I was not as sick as I was. The ambulance arrived at A&E and they – without absolute proof but based on symptoms – began treating me for bacterial meningitis and pneumonia. Had they given me a lumbar puncture which is one way to prove the diagnosis, I would probably have died.

The pressure in my spinal column was dangerously high. Their swift action undoubtedly saved my life. I was in hospital for 2 months and all the specialists thought I was a walking miracle when I left. The credit was given by all the medical team to that first Doctor in A&E who saw me within 10 minutes of my arrival.

I would also write to say how critical the A&E has been to my elderly neighbour. Sheila W lived in Priory Gardens for over 50 years. Her husband was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, her son was epileptic and she herself had severe arthritis. During their lifetime, the Whittington were on hand for every emergency – and there were many. In recent years Sheila fell down a flight of stairs and broke her arm in three places. She phoned me for help and on arrival at A&E the staff were outstanding. She was fragile, old and very afraid. Her fear of painkillers was great because her stomach had been made vulnerable from other medications. They set up an intravenous drip of paracetamol for her which was wonderful – the salient point is that they did not need to resort to morphine or other high dependency drugs. The pain clinic work at the Whittington is outstanding and their policies are used in the A&E to enormous benefit.

Squatters move in after Haringey Council fails to act on empty home

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A family-sized home, left empty by Haringey Council for nearly a year, has now been taken over by squatters, despite promises by Housing bosses that it would be brought back into use this month. The property, at 15 Nelson Road, Stroud Green (N8), was occupied last week, three months after local Liberal Democrats raised the issue with Haringey Council.

In December last year Haringey Council promised that the property, which is a much sought-after three-bed family home, would be brought back into use by 26 March 2010. Yet no action has been taken on site by Haringey Council.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Stroud Green, Richard Wilson, has written urgently to the Cabinet Member for Housing to demand answers why Haringey Council has failed to act and what will be done to remove squatters.

Cllr Richard Wilson (Stroud Green) comments:

“Local residents were promised by the council that action would be taken to bring this family-sized house back into use.  Haringey Council has failed to do this and now squatters have seized on the opportunity to move in.

“One of the neighbours is an elderly lady in her eighties who, I’m told, is quite distressed about the situation.

“We now need a clear plan of action by the council to see what can be done about the squatters and bring this home back into use.

“Given the huge shortage of family council houses in the borough, Haringey Council’s failure to act is an absolute scandal.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, adds:

“This home could be used by one of the many families in Haringey who are stuck on a waiting list, in overcrowded temporary accommodation.”

Whittington A&E – Story 6

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Mary’s story:

In October 2009, I became very ill at home because I was hemorrhaging from ulcers in my stomach and round the base of my windpipe. I did not know I had ulcers because I was in no pain: I simply felt extremely weak. My excellent GP, Dr Friedman came to see me at home and immediately sent me to Whittington A&E. The doctors there saw me at once and, after some preliminary investigations, transferred me to a diagnostic unit .It was found that my blood count was only 6.5 when it should have been 12. I was put in a ward very quickly and given 3 units of blood. Thanks to the excellent and very prompt treatment I received, I have made a full recovery.

Without the skilled treatment I received at Whittington’s A&E I could easily have died as the hemorrhaging did not stop until some time after I was admitted to hospital. I am extremely grateful for the skilled treatment I received and think it essential that Whittington A&E remains open.

Whittington A&E – the first chink in their armour?

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In the opposition day debate yesterday on London Hospitals – the Minister Mike O’Brien said this:

‘I do not see any justification for closure of the A and E at this time, and I would want to hear the case for closing it during the next Parliament. I have seen no such case.’

Well neither have we! There is no case. There is no clinically led case. There is no evidence. However – not sure that stops the juggernaut of this travesty of a process.

Lynne Featherstone: I welcome the Minister’s remarks because, as he knows, the socio-demographic circumstances around Whittington hospital make the area one of the most deprived in London. My concern is that, of the seven current options, four suggest closing the accident and emergency department. That seems to be a huge waste of resource and energy when the money is needed in front-line services. Will he talk to north central London officials now and stop the process?

 

UpRise: United Against Racism

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There is a group trying to continue the event that Boris discontinued – to make UpRise: London United Against Racism happen. They are nearing a crucial stage of planning but their ambitions are currently being held back by funding – a factor they always knew would be our greatest challenge.

They are waiting on the responses of funding bodies and seeking commercial sponsorship too, we are pushing to get those who have supported our campaign, understand what Rise stood for and have enjoyed Rise in the past to get involved.

They have launched a fundraising drive in the style of Blue Peter! They’re calling for donations from past Rise attendees and supporters – if all 100,000 who attended Rise in 2008 pledged just £1 we’d be on target to fund our festival. Donations can be made though their website; http://www.uprise.org.uk and they are working on a “fund-o-meter” to indicate how much funding they have gained.

They asked me to publicise this – so here I am doing so.

John Kampfner explains why he is supporting the Liberal Democrats

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This is what John Campfner says of his reasons for supporting the Liberal Democrats.

Today I launched my pamphlet, Lost labours, with Nick Clegg.

As somebody who has a long involvement with the Labour party, including editing the New Statesman magazine, I have been able to give a frank and honest appraisal of a decade and a half of New Labour. And in it I explain why I can no longer support them, and am instead turning to the Liberal Democrats. You can read a more condensed version in an article I wrote for the Guardian here.

Alongside one million other voters, I deserted Labour in 2005 in protest at Iraq in favour of the Liberal Democrats, the only party to oppose the war. My decision to back the Lib Dems in 2010 is based in a more fundamental appraisal of Labour’s record together with a positive assessment of the Liberal Democrats’ platform.

New Labour in office has had one all-consuming purpose: re-election. Since 1997, their every working day was based around the task of prolonging their term of office. It filled in the ideological hollow and justified ever-encroaching authoritarianism and a pandering to the right on criminal justice and other areas of social policy. In contrast, the Liberal Democrat analysis of the failures of the deregulated market has been consistently, and painfully, accurate. Nick Clegg’s tax reform plans, taking four million low paid workers out of tax altogether, are the most redistributive of any party. And the Liberal Democrat approach to criminal justice, human rights, foreign and social policy is close to mine.

People can only for so long be exhorted to hold their nose, to vote for a party they feel has let them down, simply because the alternative is worse. It is deeply damaging to politics to resort perpetually to the double negative. The Liberal Democrats offer a positive, radical and different vision. That is why they have my support.

Best wishes,

John Kampfner