Home Schooling

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Green carded! This is when a constituent comes to Parliament and has the right to lobby their MP – so long as the MP is around and free. They fill in a green card and then the House Officers give it to you – or as in this case – the reception from Central Lobby phones over to let you know someone is there to see you. It’s hit and miss as to whether you are available though.

I was in a meeting – and had ten minutes before another meeting with the National Deaf Children’s Society – but managed to see the three constituents who had come to lobby me about Home Schooling for about twenty minutes – just a bit late for the next meeting.

The Badman Review of Home Schooling is making recommendations (prior to consultation which is taking place now) which is alarming this community. The young people who came to see me (and two parents) are really concerned that the state is going to step in too far and curtail their right to be home schooled in the manner of their choosing. From those coming to lobby me – it was clear that they totally believed that parents should have an absolute and unfettered right to educate their children in whatever way they see fit.

They were scared by the recommendation that the state would be able to interview a home schooled child on their own without a parent present. They were scared that the ‘broad education’ recommended would inhibit their choice about how and what the children learn. And the big fear is that this is the beginning of the end for the freedom of home schooling. They mentioned the way things went in Germany, starting with state intervention and ending with a complete ban on home schooling.

So – a really interesting conundrum – where everyone is trying to do their best by the children – but the state feels it isn’t safe to leave them to their parents alone and the parents think the state should butt out.

I do think that home schooling is something that parents should have a right to choose – but despite the protestations from my visitors that all home schooled children are happy and safe – I have heard about less happy outcomes.

I suppose it’s getting that balance right – that’s the challenge.

Colourful Radio

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When Henryy Bonsu (Colourful Radio) said, on air, that I had something about me of the Helen Mirren – I could have kissed him. I tried, thereafter, to intimate that we were probably twins separated at birth………..

Henry’s assertion was based on my Russian ancestry as we were talking identity issues and I was saying that we all have multiple identities. Take me – I’m partly of Russian descent, single mother, ex-designer, current politician, short – from Haringey, Hornsey & Wood Green, Highgate, London, England, Britain and Europe – and I could use any of those to identify me. Apparently Ms Mirren has Russian blood too.

Colourful Radio were doing a half hour interview between me and three of them – Henry Bonsu, Juju and Toby Kell-Ogg. It was fun – and it wasn’t the usual formal, sound-bite interview – it was (I thought) a lively discussion ranging over MPs’ expenses (but in a debate way – not an all MPs are scum of the earth way), about equalities and the appalling differential in pay which is at its greatest disparity when we compare white men with ethnic minority women.

I was able to give an airing to our LibDem policy on ‘no name employment’ (where applicants use something like their National Insurance number rather than their name on job applications to remove subliminal discard at first sift). 

We discussed education – and Toby thought my parents had paid for my education – so set him straight – as ironically my mother really didn’t believe in education, would never have dreamed of paying for it and would have had me working in her shop from the age of fifteen if she could. It was my Headmistress, Ruby Jobson at Highgate Primary, who called my  mother in to school and told her that she had to allow me to sit for a scholarship for South Hampstead High School. In those days one third of the girls were on scholarships. Nowadays I believe it is mostly private – but I may be wrong.

First time I’ve been to Colourful – fantastic to have a proper conversation – so hope they invite me back some day.

MPs return to Westminster

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Well – it’s back to Westminster today. We have company in the form of lots of protesters still on the roof of Westminster Hall. When I see protesters on the roof of Parliament – as was on the news today – I watch with amazement at the ropes and ladders and volume of people scaling the walls – wondering how they can possibly do all that with so many police around.  Each time there is a breach of security like this – you kind of think it can’t happen again – and then it does. Perhaps its because the government stopped protests from taking place outside of Parliament – that protesters now feel they have to protest in Parliament.

And then there’s the letters we are all going to receive from the auditor – what will that herald? I watched Gordon Brown on GMTV say that each MP would have the opportunity to question any demands answer any queries and then pay any outstanding demands. I hope it’s that simple – but if it is true that some of the requests are a retrospective change of rules – I can’t imagine this won’t be another source of major column inches and more disrepute for the body politic.

However, my hope is that we can also concentrate on the issues of the day and the business of Parliament. I believe Gordon Brown is going to be making a statement on Afghanistan this week – and it is important that he define our mission more clearly than has been the case to date. I can only assume with Hilary Clinton in town yesterday to shore up the Government position on  Afghanistan that the statement will be a continuation of our presence there.

Today’s business is the next stages of the Health Bill. The bone of contention here is around a proposed ban on displaying tobacco. So – if you go into your corner shop for example – that wall of cigarettes behind the counter would have to disappear and such sales items kept out of sight. Whilst I supported the smoking ban – I have to say that I think this is daft. Firstly, hiding cigarettes is not the way to reduce sales. Secondly, it will probably make them more ‘exciting’ if they somehow gain an aura of secrecy about their purchase. Thirdly – at this critical time in the recession – I doubt whether it would be an expense that such corner shops could tolerate financially at this point in time. Conversely – I am against cigarette vending machines in public places where those under 16 evidence shows are purchasing their cigarettes so would support those disappearing.

And then, of course, I am hoping that there will be an early debate / statement on the economic crisis, what the government plans are for repaying the deficit and the timing thereof .

Off we go………

Nick Clegg came to dinner

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You lot certainly have a good sense of humour. Yesterday morning I ‘tweeted’ that I was frantically tidying up the house ‘because Nick Clegg was coming in the evening to be my Guest of Honour at my annual Backers’ Dinner. What to do with the dog……?’

And your suggestions were:

– slow-roast it
– don’t have a dog’s dinner
– sit him next to Nick of course!
– Speak to him nicely. The dog of course…..
– Dog-sitting available
– 1 1/2 hours gas mark 5, pop a few onions and potatoes around and serve with gravy

Thanks for that. The dog tasted great!

It was, if I say so myself, one of the best Backers’ Dinners ever. Nick was on top form and extremely feisty –which is just as well as my ‘backers’ are an argumentative lot and not ones to hold back.

Needless to say, have since spent today frantically tidying up and cleaning again! Obviously I would have taken the dog for a walk but…………..

The postman never rings twice

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The Telegraph has been doing some good work for all those people who find one of those ‘sorry you were out when I tried to delivery your letter/parcel’ but who were actually in!

Is it the case that we are all deaf – which is the line most commonly used to explain why a card was left – or are lots of postmen and women terminally lazy?

Maybe there’s another explanation. Maybe the time assessment for parcel or signed for delivery is not right. I have no idea – but it seems to me that the powers that be need to look into this sharpish as the number of incidents is beyond a rogue postie.

I have to say whenever I go to my local sorting offices – which I do generally at Christmas – the people I meet are hard-working and very good natured. So – that doesn’t add up to a workforce that doesn’t bother taking parcels out but would rather stuff a card through the door without ringing.

A recent local case of card through door while local resident was in which I brought to the attention of my local sorting office was met with a postive response about talking to the staff and providing extra training. But the volume of people contacting the Telegraph and the number of people I heard on a phone-in radio show with real examples of confronting the postie having seen the card come through the door is too many for it just to be training.

And I would have thought that basic training would be pretty simple. If you have a parcel, take it to the door and ring. If no one comes – well – surely the postman always rings twice? Hey – now there’s a good idea!

Labour propose to cut transport funding for old and vulnerable

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Following the recent secret announcement that the Labour Government is proposing to cut funding for the popular freedom pass, Lynne Featherstone MP has now written to the Transport Minister to demand a re-think. Local Liberal Democrats are also encouraging residents to sign an online petition, demanding the proposal be halted.

Labour plan to take £1.8 million from the concession Haringey Council receives to finance the freedom pass for the elderly and disabled, and give it to other parts of England to plug the gaps in the cost of the scheme that they have rolled out nationally.

Outside London, most concessionary fare schemes are fully funded by Government grant, but in Haringey the scheme is only 66% funded by the concession.

Residents who want to sign the petition should go to http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/freedompass

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Other parts of the country already get 100% of the costs of the free travel scheme covered. Here local residents pay a third. The Labour Government cuts would reduce that support to 50%. It is a sly and unfair move.

“This is not acceptable and I urge all local residents to sign the online petition calling for this ridiculous idea to be dropped.”

Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey Liberal Democrats adds:

“Haringey Labour are already responsible for residents having to pay one of the highest Council Tax rates in London. Now the Labour government wants to make a change that could add almost £20 to those bills.

“I hope the government will think twice before burdening local residents with even higher charges when so many are suffering from the recession. This idea couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

Sharon Shoesmith's day in court

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So Sharon Shoesmith is having her day in court. That’s her right. But none of the furore in the media, in my view, is responsible for her sacking. The media fire storm was undoubtedly a dreadful thing to go through – but my understanding is that it was her attitude in the press conference Haringey Council held after the trial verdict that brought the media down on her like a ton of bricks. She did that to herself.

The apparent arrogance of saying that Haringey was wonderful, and showing the media charts to point out how brilliant her department was, said everything you need to know about Labour Haringey. In fact, Clare Kober the new Labour Leader, is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying “I have the utmost respect for you (Sharon Shoesmith) as a public servant … I have every confidence that you are the individual to get us where we need to be” demonstrates the sort of poor judgement she and Labour have.

And it is a judgement based on a long history of blag it out, say the moon is the sun, and get out of trouble that way. It is precisely that sort of attitude that leads to the situation where a baby can die even with sixty visits from Social Services because Haringey always rejects criticism, is arrogant and refuses to listen when people try to warn them of problems or trouble. That is the part that worries me the most – because the culture at Haringey is one of cover-up, rank-closing and refusal to accept or deal with problems.

No wonder Haringey supported Sharon Shoesmith at first – regardless of the facts. They had paid a fortune to media trainers to prepare her and others to face the post-trial storm (money they should ask for back). It was all about protecting Haringey’s reputation regardless of the real underlying situation.

That is why Victoria Climbie died and that is why Baby Peter died.

At least this time, unlike with Victoria Climbie, there has been a clear out of those in charge of Children’s Services and I hope that the new Director and new managers will ring the changes and turn the department around – no easy task.

So – back to Sharon and why Ed Balls was 100% right to sack her – regardless of the media and regardless of David Cameron and my contributions at the now famous Prime Minister’s Questions.

After Victoria Climbie died and Lord Laming’s public inquiry made its recommendations – one of the key problems Laming identified was that the leadership was weak and at fault – but took no blame in the consequences. Only Lisa Arthurworry, the social worker at the end of the food chain took the blame. George Meehan (Labour Leader at that time), Gina Adamou (Chair of Social Services at that time) and Mary Richardson (Director of Social Services) all suffered not one bit as a result. The two Labour politicians stayed in post and Mary Richardson subsequently moved to Hackney to be Director there.

The Director of Children’s Services this time with Baby Peter was Sharon Shoesmith. In law, she is accountable and responsible for the litany of failures that went on under her stewardship. She should without doubt have instantly resigned. That – not only would have been the right thing to do – but would also have spared her some of the media fire that followed her dreadful performance at the press conference and beyond.

The investigations that followed Baby Peter’s death all show a litany of casualness and failures by individuals and agencies. The substance of the failures and being the person in the accountable and responsible position in law is why she went.

As Ms Shoesmith refused to do the honourable thing, Ed Balls, therefore, had no choice but to sack her. He understood what had happened – and that if she remained in post despite the law that placed her in the accountable position and despite the terrible things that had occurred under her supervision – then Victoria, Peter, all Lord Laming’s work and the safety of children at risk in future would all be for nought.

How to look good naked

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Screenshot from How To Look Good NakedI have joined forces with Gok Wan and How to Look Good Naked. They contacted me before the summer recess to see if I would help with their campaign to give young people ‘body confidence’. Obviously this fitted in brilliantly with our Liberal Democrat campaign for Real Women.

We Liberal Democrats are campaigning for advertisers to have to label adverts to let readers know if and how much the photography in it has been retouched. With rocketing numbers of ever younger girls with eating disorders – we have said enough is enough. We are also campaigning for the lessons in school to contain issues like body confidence – so it obviously fitted in perfectly with what the campaigning program ‘How to look good naked’ is also doing to make women feel happy in their own skin. They have a young champion, Shona, who has a six minute slot in each program in which she takes her campaign forward particulary targeted on young women and their body image.

When I originally went into my office and one of my staff said that How to Look Good Naked had phoned – I was a bit concerned as to whether I would have to bare all for the campaign. Luckily for both you and me – this wasn’t necessary! According to the program – they approached all three parties but only the Liberal Democrats responded positively.

So – whilst I have explained to the program that campaigning and Parliamentary procedures are long-winded and demand perseverance that doesn’t fit neatly with the demands of TV – we are going to be pursuing the issue through both the program and through Parliamentary means too.

In terms of the program I have advised them to start with a No. 10 petition (as they need to garner support across the poltical spectrum and more importantly have a mandate from the people) and to encourage through the very popular program enough people to write to their own local MP – lobbying them to get involved and support the campaign.

Thank goodness I didn’t have to remove a stitch!

You can (for the moment) still catch the program online. I’m just over 30 minutes in.

Haringey Council to investigate digital aerial 'opt out' after action by Liberal Democrats

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Haringey Council will now investigate the feasibility of an ‘opt out’ from the installation of new digital aerials scheme for local leaseholders. The success for the campaign led by leaseholder groups and Liberal Democrats came after a special meeting of Haringey Council’s ‘watchdog’ committee last week (1st October 2009) to hear concerns raised by Liberal Democrats.

The committee agreed that Homes for Haringey should report back on the possibility of an opt-out for leaseholders who do not want the new aerial system installed. Since Haringey Council started the scheme, many leaseholders have paid more than £1,000 for installation.

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the feasibility report but have said that they will not stop the campaign to get a better deal for local leaseholders and will continue to closely scrutinise the financial management of the Decent Homes project, which has come under increasing criticism.

Cllr Richard Wilson, who presented the Liberal Democrat ‘call-in’ last week, comments:

“Whilst we welcome this small step in the right direction it was disappointing that the Labour councillors, once again, rubberstamped this dubious cabinet decision.

“The Decent Homes programme and budget continues to be out of control. Agreed standards of work have been exceeded without finance in place, leaseholders have been ignored, and consultation has been non-existent.”

David Winskill, Liberal Democrat lead on the Overview and Scrutiny committee, adds:

“I was shocked at the lack of understanding of how this £198 million scheme has changed so much. Nobody seemed to know how Homes for Haringey had veered away from the specifications agreed by Haringey Council in 2005 and, more worryingly, nobody seemed to grasp that this may have an effect on the standard or amount of homes that will be renovated under Decent Homes.”

Lynne Featherstone MP, adds:

“The way in which leaseholders have been treated is a symptom of the failure by Haringey Council to get value for money from this project. I’m glad efforts from local leaseholders and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are making progress, but we will not stop there.”

Note: Local Liberal Democrats have set up a petition at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/aerialscampaign

Come on Girlguiding UK

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I was just listening to the radio – Nick Ferrari – to be precise. Bridget Stevenson, Brown Owl leader in Hammersmith to 24 brownies is being forced to retire (after 20 years) having reached Girlguiding UK’s mandatory retirement age of 65.

Given that Girlguiding UK says this policy is under review – and having listened to Bridget (who skis, plays tennis and is much loved by the girls) surely this is an opportunity for Girlguiding UK to use common sense and suspend their policy pending the outcome of that review.

It is so hard to find enough good people to volunteer for guides, brownies, scouts, cubs whatever – when you have someone this good and this popular – and the threat of closure of the group if another leader can’t be found – surely this is a time for Girlguiding UK to lead by example and banish ageism.