I was shocked to find that the New Statesman (owners I assume) is refusing to recognise the NUJ. It is incomprehensible to me how the ownership can be so piggish. Perhaps (and I understand that Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson still owns around half) it is because their intentions are entirely dishonourable. Is it sackings for recession? Is it sackings linked to wanting to impose a new direction editorially? I don’t know but when – of all things – a left-of-centre magazine refuses to recognise the key union for their staff – we can only fear the worst. This stinks. Shame on you Geoffrey and co!
Ada Lovelace Day
Been emailed to highlight an excellent idea – Ada Lovelace Day. As the blog post that kicked it off says:
I’ve mainly stayed away from the discussion of gender issues in technology. I didn’t think that I had any real expertise to share. But over the last six months, after many conversations, it has become clear that many of my female friends in tech really do feel disempowered…
Thus was born Ada Lovelace Day, and this pledge:
Ada Lovelace Day is an international day of blogging to draw attention to women excelling in technology. Women’s contributions often go unacknowledged, their innovations seldom mentioned, their faces rarely recognised. We want you to tell the world about these unsung heroines. Whatever she does, whether she is a sysadmin or a tech entrepreneur, a programmer or a designer, developing software or hardware, a tech journalist or a tech consultant, we want to celebrate her achievements.
It doesn’t matter how new or old your blog is, what gender you are, what language you blog in, or what you normally blog about – everyone is invited to take part. All you need to do is sign up to this pledge and then publish your blog post any time on Tuesday 24th March 2009. If you’re going to be away that day, feel free to write your post in advance and set your blogging system to publish it that day.
More about the idea behind the day here, along with how you can take part / publicise.
Sharon Shoesmith loses her appeal
Briefly – Sharon Shoesmith has lost her appeal over her sacking by Haringey Council.
UPDATE: More in The Guardian today.
Getting people back to work
Turned on Daily Politics only to find same old same old – a competition for viewers to guess how many sitting days at Parliament until their next break because parliamentarians had had a three week ‘break’ over Christmas.
Parliament was not sitting – that is not the same thing as a ‘break’ or a holiday! Do those who work in the media only care about what happens at Parliament and not the constituencies – ‘cos I think it is they who are guilty of perpetuating the idea that only Parliament matters. It may be all they care about – but it is not the only part of the job.
However, not wishing to start the year off by arguing with the media (too much!) but was soooooooooo dreary to find first political program of the day looking for miserable things to say about MPs – and then thinking themselves soooooo amusing. Bad form!
In this time of miserable news internationally and at home, with recession and crunch at every turn there is certainly plenty to keep government and Parliament busy. However, I just do not think the Government’s initiative on giving a golden hello of £2,500 will work – ‘cos surely if you are an employer after the dosh – you will just take someone who has been unemployed for 6 months in preference to someone who has been unemployed one month. So it doesn’t create a job – it just switches it from one person to another with some dosh. Or have I missed something?
And what about the company that ‘creates’ a real extra job – surely that would be a better place to put reward rather than a displacement policy?
Criticism as Haringey Council sells the family silver
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.”
Why the rules on use of mobile phones in hospitals should be reviewed
Earlier this week the government relaxed the ban on the use of mobile phones in hospitals. I’ve now written to the chief executives of the Whittington, North Middlesex and Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) calling for an urgent review of their policies.
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.
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.
Local MP demands full assurances on Oyster PAYG for overground trains
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.”
Renewed calls for fair school funding in Haringey
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.”
Heading up the party's Technology Board
I am so excited about fronting the new Technology Board for the Party. Clever move by Nick Clegg I think as I think / hope this will be a good match between me and the need for a non-geek, non-nerdy human being to lead the way (vital and lovable though geeks and nerds are!).
I have always used the internet to campaign – and to communicate with all the different people that I have wanted to reach for different reasons, different issues and to achieve a variety of outcomes. And behind the scenes, I’ve always appreciated the importance of technology to make both campaigning and casework efficient and manageable.
Now Nick is unleashing me formally on the wider world. And I will have his backing to take the party where no party has gone before – not exactly his words – but my interpretation!
Seriously – this is the new frontier and is still in its infancy. The Lib Dems have already been ahead of the game vis a vis the internet with an army of bloggers and e-campaigning enthusiasts pushing the envelope already – now is the time to continue and expand our operations. So – priority obviously will be outward facing – but the internal e-campaigning at the grassroots will also be expanded.
Nick acknowledged that my ‘technical’ technology knowledge wasn’t the reason for wanting me to be the image of a modern, cutting edge Lib Dems (thank goodness) – but it is the way to bring it on!
So – Obama schmama – watch this space. Of course – the Board itself is not yet in existence – so much to do and so little time to do it!
Rest of mini ‘reshuffle’ is over on the party website.
Making a croissant at Dunns
I made a croissant! No – I didn’t completely make the dough – but I rolled it. It was at Dunns (the bakers in Crouch End) where I went to work for an hour yesterday morning – they said it was so good that if things didn’t work out in the future I could always have a job!
I was there to really show solidarity with our local shops and small businesses – as they face the dreadful economic downturn and struggle to survive. Now Dunns (owned and run by Chris Freeman – fourth or fifth generation bakers) has seen and survived many ups and downs and works tirelessly to make sure that all that can be done will be done.
All their staff will keep their jobs – and if things go better than expected – then they will reap extra reward. Quite frankly – keeping all your staff in work is the real key that will stave off the wolf from the door and enable people to continue paying the mortgage or rent etc.
Dunns is a fabulous shop – and although I have been in there many times and walked past many times – I have only ever seen the bright welcoming interior, stuffed with fabulous cakes, bread, rolls and everything patisseriewise you could wish for – somehow I never wondered how it all got done on the site. But yesterday I was allowed behind the scenes where the baker’s elves were all working – rolling dough, baking, shaping, decorating, cutting, making and turning out the array that everyone sees in the counters.
There are many issues facing our local traders, and we the people must try and shop as locally as we can so that as many of them survive the downturn as possible. After all – our areas are just fantastic – and they are fantastic because of our wonderful local traders. So – go local and be vocal! Meanwhile – I will see if there is anything that I can do my end to help.
And just a final note – having come from a family business background myself – Dunns reminded me of my family’s business and how the knowledge, experience and understanding of trading really makes a business work in a way that no amount of systems and tick boxes ever will!
Lynne Featherstone 