Tackling bullying in schools

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This week was anti-bullying week, so it was the subject of my column in the Ham & High:

No school should tolerate it. No bully should get away with it. No child should experience it. And yet we know it goes on day in and day out in our schools.

There were two sets of bullies in my class at secondary school. They terrorised their victims with threats and intimidation. They were ghastly girls and most of us, who were not the target, just kept clear. There was also bullying of the ‘exclusion’ variety – less obvious but just as diminishing for the victim who was left out of everything and made to feel ugly and unwanted.

Most schools now (unlike then) actually have bullying policies – and bullying is taken much more seriously now than then. But it’s still a problem we have to face up to and work against.

This week is anti-bullying week. To highlight this locally Haringey Youth Council are marching today: about 250 young people, ending the march at Spurs football ground with a series of events.

It is fantastic to have a youth organisation taking this on and taking direct action on such an important issue. Congratulations to them.

Bullying damages lives – it isn’t just about harming a child’s schoolwork. Whenever I listen to programs on bullying (sometimes the subject of a phone in on the radio) and I hear adults – sometimes in their sixties or seventies – talking about having been bullied at school, what strikes me is that the hurt has never really gone. They often cry as they talk about those long ago experiences. Those are the psychological hurts that can and do blight entire lives.

You can read the rest of the column on my website.

The man who told the truth about Robert Maxwell whilst other journalists were cowed into silence

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One of the possible perils of political blogging is that you leave a trail of words behind you – on the public record – even as events and your own views may have moved on. So it was with a little trepidation that I went back to check what I wrote about the previous Liberal Democrat leadership election.

However, reading why I said back then that Chris Huhne was the right choice, I think the words are still just as relevant this time round:

Imagine the scene. It’s a few weeks before the next general election.

Gordon Brown – now Prime Minister – is reeling off another of his lists of economic statistics. He is about to launch New Labour’s general election campaign centred – as they have all been – on their economic record.

Who as Liberal Democrat leader could match him economic fact for economic fact in the debate in Parliament? Who will persuade leading journalists during the subsequent forensic media cross-examination as regards those key pocket-book issues?

For me, the clear answer is Chris Huhne.

Chris’s record as an economist, successful businessman and senior economics journalist give him the skills and expertise to do just that.

Of course credibility is not the only thing. Important to me too are the beliefs behind Chris’s economic credibility. A strong belief in the environment – to be protected and restored by taxing the activities that damage it while using the revenues to provide alternatives such as better public transport. A commitment to social justice, most importantly by taking the poorest out of income tax all together.

Chris has the right priorities for our party, and decades of experience campaigning for them.

But Chris also showed his strength of character long before entering politics. One of his first assignments as a journalist was reporting undercover from India during Mrs Ghandi’s crisis.

Chris stood up to Robert Maxwell – continuing to report his wrongdoings despite having four libel writs outstanding. This shows a certain bravery and principle that was sorely missing from many journalists who took the easy option and turned a blind eye to Maxwell’s crimes.

Now that’s the mix of principles and toughness we need in our next leader. Yes, Nick would make a great leader – but I think Chris’s record shows he would be even better. As The Times reported of him yesterday:

A FIGHTER WHO KNOWS HOW TO CAUSE TROUBLE
He would not fall for any of our [journalist] tricks because he knows them all, and more: interviewing Mr Huhne is like circling an intense, watchful cat that seems perfectly friendly but is probably quite dangerous.

When you look at the mess Labour is making of our running our country and public services – and the way in which Cameron’s Conservatives are so often aping Labour’s policies – it’s that sort of tough fighter we need to break the cosy Labour-Conservative consensus.

Who is against extending the period people can be detained without trial?

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Jail cellWell, I’ve blogged about my scepticism over the government’s case just once or twice before! But there’s also a good list of who has spoken out against increasing the current 28 day limit – and their key quotes – over on Liberal Conspiracy.

And these opponents are no starry-eyed people with their heads in the sky – they are hardened experts such as Lord Goldsmith – former attorney general, Ken Macdonald – head of the Crown Prosecution Service and Lord Woolf, former Lord Chief Justice. Given Lord Goldsmith’s willingness to back the war in Iraq then frankly – if even he thinks there is no need to go beyond 28 days, then that should give even the most loyal of Labour backbenchers pause for thought. I hope!

Being charmed by Smokin' Joe

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Lynne Featherstone and Jo FazierSmokin’ Joe and me are the best of friends!

Last night Haringey Police and Community Boxing Club had a black tie dinner to raise funds for the club. Smokin’ Joe (Frazier) – World Heavyweight Champion and one of the few to knock Ali down -was the big event. Introduced before the dinner – he was somewhat flirtatious as was his manager. At my age – this is now to be enjoyed!

It was a fantastic evening – and I hope it raised a lot of money for the club, as this is one of Haringey’s finest achievements – all down to the local police who started it some years back. It takes kids who might very well wander into trouble and gives them real attention and aspiration. Our club is also doing brilliantly on the international stage and making a really superb reputation for itself.

At the annual dinner there is boxing – but tonight there was no boxing, though there was an auction of signed memorabilia (like boxer shorts of Ali and Jo signed by both). And then an interview with Smokin’ Joe for about half an hour and time for photos. He is one hell of a character – and a bit of a charmer I found!

Radio 4 blogging interview now available

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Thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can here in full my interview (along with Dizzy Thinks – aka Phil Hendren) with Radio 4’s PM program before it is even broadcast! It’s up on their website.

I do like the what they are trying with their Saturday show (called iPM) – doing things like making available the draft running order for the show (and showing how it changes over time) and also putting on their website the full interviews which then get edited down for the actual show. It gives the rest of us a better sense of how a radio news programme is actually put together – and also (as with this interview) some access to the fuller information behind the news stories.

Why this week has brought good news for your personal data

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Well – having been banging the drum for a long time that one of the problems with Labour’s national mandatory ID cards scheme is the risk of all that personal data being abused, misused or mislaid – I think you can guess my views this week! But good to see – as Liberal Democrat Voice reports – that the latest polls now show a decisive majority against ID cards.

So – if all the problems of people’s personal data being lost by the government has helped to highlight some of the problems with ID cards, perhaps some good will come from it all after all. As I said back in September 2006:

The introduction of ID cards will allow our personal data to be shared without our consent. Even the tightest security will eventually be breached. ID cards will only hold limited information but there are 52 categories of ‘limited’ information that can and will be held which will build up a pretty comprehensive picture of us and our lives.

Radio 4 interview on blogging

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Am doing an interview with Radio 4 today about politicians and blogging. It’s for the PM program tomorrow – and, as this is their interactive edition, you can see the work in progress on this story over on the Radio 4 iPM website. I think this means the interview will be broadcast tomorrow too, sometime after 5:30pm – so listen out!

'Labour is conspicuous by its conservatism'

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Stirring words from Chris Huhne in today’s Guardian:

… On climate change too, Labour is conspicuous by its conservatism. Carbon emissions are up, green taxes down. Climate change research has been cut. Firms have been let off reporting their environmental impact. Road freight tolling was vetoed. Flood defences were cut last year. The climate change bill sets a target lower than the science demands. None of this will meet the greatest challenge of our times …

For the country’s sake, the Liberal Democrats need to get back a sense of anti-establishment insurgency. With Labour and the Tories scrabbling over the same ground, we must set out a programme of radical change that can give back hope and trust to the millions excluded from the political system. Without trust in the process, progressive politics is dead. Only the Liberal Democrats have the vision to revive a movement of conscience and reform.

The full piece is here.

Dismay as Haringey school funding gap continues to widen

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Haringey’s schools and pupils have been dealt yet another blow after news that school funding in the next financial year is set to increase less than neighbouring boroughs, increasing the inequality of school funding in London.

Figures released this week by the Government show that Haringey schools will receive £881.75 less per pupil than inner London boroughs in 2008/09, an increase of £47.90 on last year.

Lib Dems have been fighting hard to end the disparity between London boroughs, like Haringey, who still face the financial strains of their inner London counterparts but without the financial reward. Lynne Featherstone MP lobbied Gordon Brown at Prime Minister’s Question Time on 10th October 2007, forcing him to admit that the issue needed ‘looking in to’.

Lib Dems are increasingly concerned that the new school funding settlement fails to address the situation of fair funding and only serves to widen the gap further.

Cllr Gail Engert, Lib Dem Children, Schools and Families spokesperson, says:

“Haringey’s schools have the same financial commitments and educational needs as schools classed as inner London. I am dismayed that no action has been taken to provide equal funding, not just for Haringey’s pupils but for all outer London schools that are in the same situation. We will continue to fight for a fair deal.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP from Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“Gordon Brown acknowledged that there was a problem in the disparity of school funding but now Ed Balls, his right hand man, has only sought to make it worse. This situation is appalling. A Labour government should be taking action to reduce inequality in education funding but instead they have widened the gap further.”

Liberal Democrats launch campaign to stop disbanding of Haringey Parks Police

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Residents in Haringey are likely to be more vulnerable in parks throughout the borough after it has emerged that the Labour Council plans to scrap the Haringey Parks Police next year.

Haringey Council’s newly published budget plans propose to reduce the service to a warden scheme without the power of arrest to save £200,000. Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign to stop the Labour-controlled Haringey Council from disbanding the Parks Constabulary, which has for the last five years patrolled parks and open spaces and given a vital police presence at numerous events.

They have launched their own plan for the service, which includes proper radio and CCTV links with the police, more training, and greater cover.

Cllr Ron Aitken, Lib Dem Crime and Community Safety Spokesperson, comments:

“Labour say they are in favour of more Police Officers on the beat to catch criminals, yet they plan to disband the Parks Constabulary and replace it with a warden service that will not have the power of arrest or sufficient training to protect members of the public.

“A promised radio link to the Met Police has still not materialised even though the Parks Constabulary has spent £8,000 on radios.”

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

“The Parks Police play a critical role in keeping local residents safe.Sadly all too often our parks are the battlegrounds for anti-social behaviour – and the park constabulary, with power of arrest, are the key in this battle.

“Who is going to be on hand to take direct action when someone is tearing through a park on a motorbike in the summer and to check that our parks aren’t being used for drug taking and prostitution in winter?

“We have been calling for greater integration of our local police and the park team, but Labour now seem to be working away from this. It is park users who will suffer and who are going to be unnecessarily put at greater risk.”