David Schmitz fighting Seven Sisters by-election

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My Liberal Democrat colleague David Schmitz has been selected to fight the Seven Sisters ward by-election, caused by the sad death of long-serving councillor Fred Knight.

David is also the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tottenham and a seasoned campaigner. He’s a barrister – which can come in handy – like in the case of the Wards Corner development where he has been giving free legal advice to members of the Wards Corner Community Coalition who are fighting to save the Latin American Market and building.

David is also campaigning on holding Labour-run Haringey Council to account over the hideous mismanagement and dreadful behaviour over the tragic death of Baby P – in which I too have been holding Haringey Labour’s feet to the fire. And he has been vocal and effective in ensuring that not a single penny in pay off is made to anyone found to have been guilty of gross misconduct.

David’s story of how he became involved in local campaigning is one to warm my heart – seeing a problem, doing something about it. As he recounts:

A few years ago, the house next door to us became a drugs den. Haringey Council’s inability to deal with the problem turned me into a local campaigner.

When the drug den was destroyed by fire, my partner and I bought the wreck and spent a year doing it up as our home. I was so impressed by what Lynne and the Liberal Democrats were achieving in Haringey that when our building work was done, I decided that the time had come for me to join in their campaigns.

So – I am optimistic that Seven Sisters will take this opportunity to send a message to this arrogant Labour Council by electing a Liberal Democrat who will fight and stand up for local people!

An early start, a Christmas hat and the problem with tradesmen's bells

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Lynne Featherstone with Ben at the Wood Green Royal Mail sorting officeVisited Wood Green Delivery Office to meet the postmen and women who bring us our post all through the year – and at Christmas when the post bag must be ginormous!

There’s an absolutely wonderful atmosphere there – banter and fun all the way. The one very serious issue that was drawn to my attention, however, was the increasing problem they are having with tradesman bell times. Before, generally blocks of flats had access through tradesmen’s bells from say 7 – 10am. But the post office has changed its delivery times so that the last rounds go out even as late as 2pm. This is resulting in the posties not being able to deliver blocks – sometimes going back over several days.

Obviously people want their post ASAP. And obviously people don’t want the tradesman bells working all day as that would defeat the object of keeping people out. Keys are one possibility. A change in hours the next. Getting the post office to change its last deliver van to Hornsey & Wood Green – a long shot!

So that’s my task – to see if that conundrum can be solved – as it’s clearly a difficult but very important issue.!

And yes – my office made me wear the hat! Christmas cheer to all and thanks to everyone at Wood Green for being so welcoming – and at such an ungodly hour!

Congratulations to Tulip

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I recently visited mental health charity Tulip recently to congratulate them on becoming The Mall’s charity of the year – and helping over 400 local people with mental health problems to live fulfilling lives.

They are based in Wood Green, providing dedicated, personalised support. That is such a worthy cause and they fully deserve to be congratulated on a fantastic year.

I’m especially delighted that Tulip is The Mall’s charity of the year. I really hope the New Year’s cheque from the Mall will help this amazing charity continue its successful work for many, many years to come.

Identity of Baby P spin doctors hidden by Haringey Council

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Haringey Council has concealed the identity of the media consultants used to provide PR advice during the Baby P tragedy. In a censored answer to a question from Liberal Democrat Cllr David Winskill to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny ‘watchdog’ committee, the Council confirmed that £19,000 was spent on PR/Media advice to the Council. It came from three sources and included media training for key spokespeople. However, the reply declared that the consultants’ names to be “Exempt”, i.e. they must not be revealed.

Further inquiries by Liberal Democrats as to why the identity of media consultants were hidden has forced the Council to reveal that the restriction was due to solicitors for one media company expressing concern that revealing their client’s identity would lead to “adverse publicity and personal distress to their client.”

Haringey Council argues that the public interest is served by not revealing the consultants names:

“… because the Council corporately has a legitimate interest in receiving professional media and public relations advice and, in an environment of very adverse and indiscriminate press comment, this can only be ensured if the identities of consultants are kept out of the public domain.”

Liberal Democrats have demanded further information from the Council regarding their media costs during the Baby P tragedy.

Cllr David Winskill says:

“It is a measure of how toxic Haringey Council has become: professional companies are happy to get the business, send in an invoice and get the dosh from local taxpayers but don’t want any one to know who they’re working for.

“It is legitimate for a council to use PR to help present information in a clear and transparent way but this exercise reeks of political spin, obfuscation and has shattered Haringey’s already shaky reputation.

“I want to get to the bottom of this and make sure that ratepayers are not landed with the bill for Haringey Labour trying to hang on to power.”

Cllr Winskill has submitted a list of twenty further questions on this matter.

MP pays early morning Christmas visit to Wood Green sorting office

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To thank the local postmen and women for their amazing work getting cards and presents to us in time for Christmas, Lynne Featherstone MP this morning paid a special visit to the Wood Green sorting office.

The local MP gave the team a small present and card as a thank you for all their hard work, and took the opportunity to hand over her Santa list to ensure its safe delivery to the Arctic Circle.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The local postmen and women brave the winter chill every day to spread Christmas cheer and make sure we get our Christmas post on time. Thanks to their hard work, friends and family stay connected at Christmas and I just wanted to say a huge thank you to them all.

“I also want to wish all post office staff and all constituents in Hornsey and Wood Green a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.”

Hornsey Trust for Children works wonders

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It was National Volunteering last week – so went to the Hornsey Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy where they do the most wonderful work. They did a performance of the Christmas Show they are doing for parents. These children have such joy in themselves – as you can see from the photos (and that’s why I held off blogging until now – the photos really tell the story!):

Lynne Featherstone with children and staff from the Hornsey Trust
Lynne Featherstone with children and staff from the Hornsey Trust

Given the level of disability – it is extraordinary and my recent contact with these children has completely changed my understanding of what quality of life can be achieved. And to understand the love and joy these children bring to not only their parents – but those who work with them.

They are looked after by such a committed and wonderful team I was really pleased to go here for my ‘volunteering’. Having watched the performance – I then went and helped with a computer class – and to my amazement the little girl Erin that I was holding and helping did hit the button that made things move on the screen – and then again and again. And her helper said I could come and work there! I can’t tell you how great it made me feel.

And that is the point really – volunteering of course helps those you go to help – but the rewards and the feelings you get back are better than anything and certainly nothing that money can buy.

Local MP congratulates charity of the year on inspiring record

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As an exceptionally successful year comes to an end, local MP Lynne Featherstone recently visited mental health charity Tulip to congratulate them on becoming The Mall’s charity of the year, and for helping over 400 people with mental health problems locally live fulfilling lives.

The Wood Green-based charity gives tailor-made support to help people manage all aspects of life, ranging from specific help with their mental health problems, to support for independent living, as well as help in accessing work, education and managing their finances. As The Mall’s charity of the year, Tulip will get the proceeds from all the shopping centre’s charity fundraising activities that have taken place this year, which include a sponsored walk and Christmas Craft activities.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Tulip gives dedicated, personalised support to vulnerable people to help them live fulfilling lives. That is such a worthy cause and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate them on a fantastic year.

“I’m especially delighted that Tulip is The Mall’s charity of the year. I really hope the New Year’s cheque from the Mall will help this amazing charity continue its successful work for many many years to come.”

Local MP marks international volunteering day with Christmas fun at the Hornsey Trust

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To mark international volunteering day on Friday, Lynne Featherstone MP went to help out at the Hornsey Trust’s school for children with cerebral palsy in Muswell Hill. The Liberal Democrat MP saw rehearsals for the Christmas play ‘Ralph the Reindeer’ and lent a hand with the kids’ computer class. Volunteers working in the trust’s charity shops bring in much needed resources to keep the centre going.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“The work that takes place here every day is truly inspirational. You see it in the children’s smiles when they have overcome a hurdle or done something they’re really proud of.

“But that wouldn’t be possible without the generous time and commitment of people working in the trust’s charity shops locally. They, like so many other volunteers, give their time so selflessly to make this world a better one.

“But often, volunteers do not get recognised for the impressive work they do every day. That’s why I want to take this opportunity to say well done, and keep the work up.”

Mike Terry OBE

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I was very sorry to hear news of the death of Mike Terry, best known to many of us as the Head of Science at Alexandra Park School. He died last week when he was training for a charity run. Nigel Scott, one of our councillors for Alexandra Ward, who is also a governor at the school told me more about him:

Although he was not the head of the school, in many ways, Mike was its heart. He was a pillar of strength to the founding head, Roz Hudson and to her successor, Michael McKenzie. He always had time for everyone, with a kind word and sound advice. It was Mike Terry’s drive, determination and enthusiasm that secured Science Status for the school and he was instrumental in setting up the school’s links with Ephes Mamkeli School in South Africa.

While most people in the school community knew that Mike had been involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, few appreciated the depth of his commitment. He was its Executive Secretary for twenty years and oversaw its emergence from being a small campaign group to becoming a key player in changing world opinion and reforming South Africa. When reform came to South Africa and the Anti-Apartheid Movement was wound up, Mike’s enthusiasm was diverted into a new career as a teacher and Alexandra Park School was the main beneficiary.

He was loved and will be missed not just in the school community, but by his many friends in South Africa and elsewhere. We need more like him.