Local Liberal Democrats outraged as Mayor rejects one hour bus ticket

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One hour bus ticket campaign with Lynne Featherstone and Caroline PidgeonLocal Liberal Democrats have expressed outrage at the Mayor of London’s refusal to consider a proposal for a one hour ticket on London’s buses.

The refusal was made clear in a letter to Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon despite a campaign supported by over 2,000 Londoners and all London Assembly Members.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s ridiculous that the Mayor will not even consider the idea of a one hour bus ticket. This is such a brilliant idea and it would have been a great green proposal to back in a bid to help Londoners cut their carbon footprint.

“I’m very disappointed at the Mayor’s disregard for the views and concerns of over 2,000 Londoners and all the London Assembly Members – with that kind of support it should have been given proper consideration but it clearly hasn’t.”

Martin Newton, Haringey Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, adds:

“The Mayor’s response is a hasty, knee jerk reaction that shows he is not prepared to look into a sensible proposal which would help cut congestion and give residents in Haringey and beyond an affordable alternative to using their cars.”

Haringey Council ignores views of sheltered housing residents

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Labour-run Haringey Council last week decided to continue with an unpopular decision that may result in the eviction of vulnerable and elderly tenants from council supported housing. Local Liberal Democrats expressed disappointment, after Haringey Council’s watchdog committee upheld the cabinet decision to progress plans for the redevelopment of supported housing at Protheroe House, and the further review of similar schemes at Larkspur Close and Stokely Court.

Cllr Robert Gorrie, who led the Liberal Democrat ‘call-in’, said that residents’ views had been completely ignored and that the decision was being made in response to financial pressures in the Decent Homes programme, rather than in the best interest of tenants.

He urged the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to recommend that the cabinet should make residents’ wishes central to the decision making process, protect the Decent Homes funding for these properties and take no action against tenants until an Older Persons Housing Strategy, expected in 2010, decided whether there was a need for change.

However, after nearly three hours of discussion and criticism at the meeting from members of both parties about how the decision had been made and the position in which it left residents, the Labour majority on the committee decided to uphold the Cabinet’s decision.

Cllr Robert Gorrie (Hornsey ward) comments:

“After saying that they were unhappy with the decision and accepting it was not the decision residents wanted, Labour members did nothing to challenge their Labour cabinet colleagues.

“It was a real shame to see that, after a three hour debate, nothing has happened and the rights and wishes of residents have been ignored yet again.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

”Labour have once again failed to put residents and vulnerable tenants at the heart of their decision.”

Whittington A&E – not me mate!

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So – I table a series of written questions in Parliament on thefuture of  the Whittington and the decisions around it:

Lynne Featherstone: (Hornsey & Wood Green)

‘To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether all of the proposals made to the North Central London Service and Organisation Review include the Whittington Hopsital, have a (a) 24 hour accident and emergency unit and (b) full intensive care unit,; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope (Minster answering for the Government)

This is a matter for the local National Health Service

 

Lynne Featherstone: (Hornsey & Wood Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets have been set in relation to the savings to be made as a consequence of the North Central London Service and Organisational Review; and if he will make a statement

 

Phil Hope (Minister answering for the Government)

This is a matter for the local National Health Service

 

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what timetable has been set for the public consultation on the North Central London Service and Organisational Review; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope (minster answering for the Government

This is a matter for the local National Health Service

So – I’m seeing a bit of a pattern here!

The only time you can get any traction on any of this with any formal accountability – is when the proposals come forward the local scrutiny committee at the Council refers the decision to the Secretary of State. A bit late on in the process doncha think?

So – it is down to we the people – to scare them off!

We will see in January where the ‘local National Health Sevice thinking is going. Hopefully the size of the petitions and local peoples’ anger will make them see sense – otherwise it’s revolution!

Liberal Democrats criticise ‘Scrooge’ council for festive parking fees

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Haringey Council has been criticised for penalising shoppers at Christmas-time, after it was revealed that parking restrictions will be enforced on Boxing Day, despite many other councils in London waiving fees.

Local Liberal Democrats say that Haringey Council should change its mind and give shoppers free parking, to support local traders in the recession.

Thirteen London councils have confirmed that they will not impose parking restrictions on 26 December.

Cllr Martin Newton, Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson, comments:

“Boxing Day is a public holiday, yet Scrooge-like Haringey Council has failed to get into the festive spirit and give shoppers free parking.

“This issue also has a serious economic message.  After a hard year, the Christmas season is a key time for local traders. Haringey Council has gone some way to recognise this through free parking in some of our town centres, but failing to give free parking on Boxing Day is another kick in the teeth for local businesses.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Christmas is a time for giving and receiving, yet Haringey Council seems to be fixated on receiving money, rather than giving something back to the local community by waiving parking fees on Boxing Day.”

BBC encourages appalling debate on gay execution in Uganda

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Yesterday I called on the BBC to remove an online debate on its website labelled, ‘should homosexuals face execution’. The title was a topic for debate on the BBC News ‘Have Your Say’. Since my news release condemning this – the BBC has changed the headline.
 
I would be the first person to stand up for open debate and free speech, but any conversation that starts, ‘should homosexuals face execution’ is completely skewed and unacceptable in this forum.
 
Suggesting that the state-sponsored murder of gay people is OK as a legitimate topic for debate is deeply offensive.  The BBC are only fanning the flames of hatred as many of the comments demonstrate.  They must act and apologise for their gross insensitivity. What were they thinking?
 

Airbrushed Twiggy removed

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Done a lot of interviews today about our Liberal Democrat campaign to make advertisers fess up when they have been enhancing images.

Proctor & Gamble withdrew the advertisement which has a very airbrushed Twiggy looking perfect in the under eye area –  her secret being Olay eye cream. Of course – the other secret which wasn’t mentioned – was the airbrushing!

After over 700 complaints to the Advertising Standard Authority the ASA said that the ad was ‘misleading’ and credit to Proctor and Gamble for then voluntarily withdrawing it.

The LibDem campaign is really about honesty in advertising. All we are saying – is that if an image is retouched – there should be labelling that tells us to what degree. There is a great deal of difference in airbrushing out a stray hair or pimple – as opposed to removing five inches from the waist and disappearing all the dimply cellulite on thighs. 

The medical evidence is overwhelming for the damage done to peoples’ self-image by the perpetual drip drip of unrealistic and perfect images.

Our campaign to label airbrushed ads and ban airbrushing in ads aimed at the under 16s has received the support of 50 of the top medical experts in the world field of eating disorders and psychology.

Our campaign has received a huge amount of support – and if you want to join in then www.realwomen.org.uk is our campaign site.

Haringey Council: worst in London

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Labour-run Haringey Council charges us one of the highest Council Taxes in London but provides the worst services of any London Council.

The latest rating from the Comprehensive Area Assessment (the body that rates councils right across the country) has found Haringey to be the worst performing council in London and one of the worst in the whole country.

(Also available on YouTube here)

It is so dispiriting to continually find out how poorly Haringey Council performs – particularly as we pay such high Council Tax. High tax, poor services – that’s the worst of all worlds.

The answer to all this? Well one answer is in the ballot box – council elections give us a chance to end Labour’s reign after more than 40 years of letting us down!

Boost Youth Centre hours, say Liberal Democrats

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Liberal Democrats have called for the opening hours at the Muswell Hill Youth Centre to be increased, to let young people in the area have the same access to youth facilities as in other parts of the borough.

Information on staffing and costs at youth clubs was revealed, in a written response from the Labour Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to Cllr Gail Engert, at the last Full Council meeting on 30th November 2009. It showed that Muswell Hill Youth Club only opens for three hours on weekdays, in contrast to 5.5 hours at the Bruce Grove and Wood Green centres and opens for a total of 720 hours per year, compared to 1320 hours at others.

Cllr Engert has written to Haringey Council to urge that Muswell Hill Youth Centre is opened for longer hours, in line with other centres in the borough.

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

“Giving local young people their own dedicated facility provides a much needed focal point, where they can meet and experiment with arts, sports and creative projects.

“It seems entirely unfair that young people in Muswell Hill have fewer opportunities than those in Wood Green or Bruce Grove, to attend their youth club.

“I will be writing to Haringey Council, to urge them to change this unfair situation.”

Lynne Featherstone MP adds:

“Haringey Council should give an equal opportunity to all young people to go to youth clubs, especially during the winter months, when outside activities are limited.”

New Deal of the Mind

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Went to Xmas drinks with the Trustees and others involved in New Deal of the Mind. For anyone who doesn’t know what this is – is it the result of Martin Bright’s original article in the New Statesman titled ‘New Deal of the Mind’ which laid out a brilliant vision for creating work or training for an army of young people so that rather than become a lost generation without jobs or hope in this dreadful recession – they would be charged with projects throughout the land taking living histories, recording the recession – and many other such programs.

The New Deal of the Mind came into being and now exists to enable young people to find work or apprenticeships or training in the creative fields. If you want to get involved – just let me or Martin Bright know.

I was so enthusiastic about New Deal of the Mind – that I am now one of their Patrons. You can see a short film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDlOCs3_ZBs

Posties or management?

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I see on the news this morning, that a new survey by Consumer Focus is showing that half of those ‘sorry you were out’ slips delivered by posties because things are too big to get through our letterboxes, were shoved through the door when people were in.

The response by the Royal Mail is to repeat the mantra that this is against company policy and that any post person found sticking these notes through the door without ringing – and judging from the report – without even carrying the parcel to the door – will be disciplined.

So – if the Royal Mail is so shit hot on clamping down on this practise – how come it is such a common experience? During this so-called disciplining – are posties noses growing longer?

Or is it the management – not really walking the talk? I am tabling a Parliamentary Question to find out how many disciplinary actions have been taken in each delivery office over each of the last three years.

The Royal Mail needs to show us that it is an exemplar service right at the moment when the battle for survival is so fierce. We love our Royal Mail – but we need them to shape up – otherwise they will write their own obituary.