Should an MP blog?

Posted on by

Earlier this year I wrote a piece for Iain Dale’s Guide to Political Blogging in the UK about why I think MPs should blog. I’d not got round to uploading it to my website previously but with the question knocking round on various blogs as to whether or not the Liberal Democrat leadership candidates should be engaging online (e.g. by commenting on blog pieces) now seems a good time to get round to that:

I started blogging back in 2003 because I could not bear the ‘you politicians you’re all the same’ type of comment. I wasn’t an MP at the time I started blogging – but I was a local councillor (Haringey) and also on the London Assembly, and I wanted to tell the people who elected me what I was doing and what I was thinking about what was going on in my working world – the world they had elected me to. I wanted to create a relationship with readers of my blog, that would give them an insight not just into how I spent my day on their behalf – but also some sense of me as a human being.

You can read the piece in full on my website.

Crouch End – Liberal Democrats keep up pressure on parking chaos

Posted on by

Lib Dem councillors in Crouch End have vowed to keep up the pressure on Labour parking boss Brian Haley to ensure that solutions are brought forward for the parking chaos in the Crouch End area.

Residents of Crouch End met with Cllr Haley for a tour of streets affected by acute parking displacement. During the two-hour tour he met with four groups of residents.Lib Dem Cllr Lyn Weber instigated the tour to firmly ram home the seriousness of the parking problems.

Cllr Haley heard from residents about the severe problems in the Claremont Road and Stanhope Gardens, as well as several other areas in Crouch End with severe parking problems. He witnessed vehicles reversing down roads; the difficulties posed by no parking spaces, and heard distressing stories of a young child in pain who had to be carried to a far-off car to get to the Whittington Hospital; a dog being hit; road rage, small business being affected by lack of access to houses, and much, much more.

Several times the Safer Neighbourhood police team, whom Cllr Weber had invited to give advice to residents about how to handle increasingly angry incidents, were also put to good use directing traffic.A ballet of vans was reversing, but Cllr Weber says that when the police are not about there have been incidents of no one wanting to give way and a lot of shouting, vehicles being damaged and frustration boiling over.

Cllr Lyn Weber comments:

“Cllr Haley was very late, and I can’t begin to describe the frustrations we went through. However he has now seen and heard for himself, that a large swathe of Crouch End is having serious difficulties and he needs to be kept to a plan of urgent action.”

Liberal Democrats delighted at outcome of pioneering links with independent schools

Posted on by

Liberal Democrat councillors are delighted that all children in the London Borough of Haringey will now benefit from valuable partnerships between independent schools and community schools.

Opportunities, pioneered by Lib Dems, have now been developed in conjunction with Highgate School, including Oxbridge Tuition for secondary school pupils, Gifted and Talented sessions for aspiring Years 9-13 including Music, Sciences and Environmental subjects and Summer Schools aimed at Year 4 pupils from Haringey and Camden including Design and Technology, Science, Music and Maths.

As part of a scrutiny review into the ‘extended services’ provided by schools, Lib Dem councillors proposed that Haringey Council should seek links and partnerships with independent schools and the councillors discussed their ideas with the Masters and Bursars of both Channing and Highgate schools, who responded very positively to this pioneering proposal for the benefit of pupils from both the state and independent sector.

Cllr Martin Newton, who chaired the review, and Cllr Gail Engert, member of the review, and Lib Dem spokesperson for Children, Schools and Families, comment:

“The review was an opportunity to see if potential links and partnerships with Haringey schools were possible. We were delighted by the wonderfully positive response we received. It is fantastic that this pioneering idea has now been taken forward and that real benefits are being provided by Highgate School for the children of Haringey. It is vital that we keep looking for innovative ideas to ensure that all Haringey’s children receive a better education.”

Publicity stunt criticised by Liberal Democrats

Posted on by

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the move by the Labour Council to finally take seriously the problem of potholes and road repairs in the London Borough of Haringey – but fear that actions may be too little too late. Last week Haringey Council announced that potholes and road repairs will now be prioritised after consultation with the public. Lib Dems have criticised the move as a publicity stunt which has covered the inaction of the Council nearly two years after a major Scrutiny Review identified that pothole repair and highway maintenance were well below par.

Cllr Martin Newton, Lib Dem Traffic and Highways Spokesperson comments:

“For years residents and Lib Dem councillors have been urging Haringey Council to get its act together and sort out our roads, which are some of the worst in London. We have one of the lowest levels of investment and consequently a backlog of repairs that reflect this neglect. For Labour to announce now that they have been listening to the people of Haringey either means they have been ignoring them for years or that this is a publicity stunt paid for by Council Tax payers.”

Two years ago Lib Dem Cllr David Winskill chaired an Overview and Scrutiny Committee Review into highways and footways maintenance that reported in March 2006 making 16 recommendations on how the service could be improved. The report was adopted by Haringey’s Labour Executive.

At a recent update given by Labour councillor Haley to the Committee on 22nd Oct 2007 it emerged that virtually none of the recommendations had been implemented or acted upon.

Cllr David Winskill, a member of the Haringey Council Overview and Scrutiny committee, adds:

“A lot of hard work went into the report – by residents, councillor and officers. We made a lot of common sense suggestions and it was acknowledged as a good report. It has been virtually shelved for all this time and the roads and pavements have been getting worse and more dangerous – not just for drivers but for pedestrians and cyclists. Action is certainly overdue, but this latest announcement by Labour will be greeted with some cynicism.”

Should MPs blog?

Posted on by

Politicians are self-seeking, egotistical, lazy good for nothings who only care about self-promotion, getting their snouts in the trough and doing sweet FA for their constituents. They drink themselves into oblivion and eat lavishly all evening, every evening at the House of Commons. In life’s pecking order – they are the bottom of the pile.

Well – that’s what how we lot are variously described. Now – I don’t believe that is an entirely accurate description of the majority of MPs! From what I see of colleagues from all parties in the House of Common – they seem on the whole to be an industrious and committed group of people who work pretty hard. There will be, amongst any group of 650 or so people from any industry a variety of competences and work rates, but many do 70+ hours a week, with work spreading all through the weekend as well as the week.

So – we have a big disconnect between image and reality. There is only one true way to fight back against such an appalling image – and that is to blog! In a time when the media – national, regional or local – give so little time to what politicians are really up to, getting your own account over of what you are doing is often the only option.

I started blogging back in 2003 because I could not bear the ‘you politicians you’re all the same’ type of comment. I’m not the same as that somewhat exaggerated introduction I just gave.

I may not be perfect – but I have committed myself to public service for the last dozen years in one political form or another – and the essential driver for me – as it is for many colleagues across all parties – is to make the world a better place. That can be anything from helping an individual with a problem through to world peace – but the ambition is quite clear.

I wasn’t an MP at the time I started blogging – but I was a local councillor (Haringey) and also on the London Assembly, and I wanted to tell the people who elected me what I was doing and what I was thinking about what was going on in my working world – the world they had elected me to. I wanted to create a relationship with readers of my blog, that would give them an insight not just into how I spent my day on their behalf – but also some sense of me as a human being.

A blog, with its chronological diary like structure and natural invitation to write in a more personal manner, can do that in the way that a website (and I’d already had one for nearly five years at the time I started blogging) isn’t really suited.

Apart from giving those who elected you an inside track on your activities – a blog is also an opportunity for two-way communication if you open it for comments. I didn’t go this for this for the first few years of being a blogger as my previous experience of looking at those comment blogs was that you got the same seven people making comments – generally opponents just being foul. However, the blogging community (which in itself has grown and flourished) itself gently persuaded me to open for comment – and comment can be pretty useful and instructive.

When an issue blows up locally over something really divisive in the community or worrying for the community – posting it on my blog not only gives local people a chance to see what is going on or gives out really relevant information – but the comments can illuminate both sides of an argument – and (crucially) it is a very good way of people seeing and understanding that there are other views. I say “crucially” because – sadly – the general tenor of comments on the internet is one of unswerving certainty – the writer of the comment is absolutely sure they are correct and can’t see how anyone who isn’t a fool could possibly disagree with them – though I am lucky to have acquired a handful of regular commenters on my blog who do engage in more thoughtful expressions of views.

I don’t get a huge amount of comments (nothing like Iain Dale or Political Betting) but enough to be helpful and instructive and most months, even if not most weeks, I learn something new from a comment or pick up a useful lesson in how to be clearer in expressing my views. In addition, when blogging about an issue you also get people contacting you (not in the comments but often privately) with insider information. It is a great source of information and knowledge.

Blogging has become an important communications channel and people all over the country, even world, check in. Certainly the opinion formers and media do – both locally and nationally. And it would be disingenuous to say that isn’t an advantage to those MPs who blog to be accessing that valuable community – but it isn’t and can’t be the main purpose – the media are not stupid.

And neither are my constituents – so you need to be as real and open as is humanly possible without committing political suicide. If MPs are going to simply bleat the party message without any personalisation – then no one will bother to read their blog. It has to be a bit edgy, a bit dangerous politically – and more than anything – be what the MP actually thinks (and actually written by them too!).

I think it is essential to keep writing in bad times as well as good. Difficult or embarrassing issues for the party – I still blog. Difficult or embarrassing issues for myself – I also still blog. Otherwise you are letting down your audience – and also missing out on the chance to put over your side of the story, with your own words and as briefly or as verbosely as you wish.

The main danger for wannabe MP bloggers is what they say on their blogs being taken and used against them. Being the author of hundreds of thousands of words that are published for all to use and abuse is a danger. But you can pick what you say without making it anodyne or 100% tediously on message.

Which brings me to the last benefit – having to assemble my thoughts on my day or on an issue helps me decide exactly where I stand on issues in particular.

So – my advice to MPs generally is to blog. Other MPs have very different types of blogs and an MPs blog can be anything that MP wants it to be. However, if you hate writing – don’t do it. If you think you can get one of your staff to do it – don’t do it. It is something that demands you yourself and constant devotion. Your blog must be the essence of you if you are to succeed. It is a modern medium for modern MPs – at least the brave and the good!

This article originally appeared in Iain Dale’s Guide to Political Blogging in the UK.

(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2007

Topping out the new TreeHouse Trust building

Posted on by

Have the real pleasure of ‘topping out’ at TreeHouse on Friday. TreeHouse is a centre of excellence for children with autism and is our pride and joy in the heart of Muswell Hill. To walk around and see the love and care that these children get makes you weep wishing that all autistic children could come here.

When TreeHouse first set up shop, they were housed in a mega portacabin – portacabin on the outside but inside a two story building. Despite early concerns from residents (and me) about building on open land – they won us all over – thank goodness.

Today’s ceremony was for their new building. ‘Topping out’ is the traditional ceremony of the building profession when you get to the top floor. I had to hold trowel with concrete for the photos.

Lord (Tim) Clement Jones chairs the Trust and all the people who work there, the Trustees, the parents, the friends of the Trust and all work with an energy and commitment I have never seen to that degree in any organisation.

So – we climbed up, and up, and up – and with the sun shining and standing on the roof we topped out! The building should be finished next summer. Can’t wait to see it. What a lovely start to my day.

Last stop of day was as Guest Speaker at Ashford Liberal Democrats’ Annual Dinner. It took three and three quarter hours to get there – nightmare. However, as always, once there it was a lovely evening – and they have a great prospective candidate in Chris Took.

Then it was up at 6am to go to Ditchley Park near Oxford for the one day of three I can manage in a new relationship building forum – Chinese / Anglo. It’s a great challenge and a good way forward as China is one of the great powers of the world and there are some challenges for both of us to begin to really understand each others needs and ways of doing business.

The idea is that we will meet at least once a year in this way to build strong ties between our two countries and that way – hopefully – we will be able to work together. It wasn’t an occasion for having a go or hectoring over issues where we think each other could bear improvement – that will come with time. Instead the first steps were team building and relationship building.

The new Chinese Ambassador to Britain gave the after dinner speech in the evening. Madame Ambassador is quite something. Not only delightful and charming – but the way she said things made me think that there really will be a way forward. China is engaging now in the world – and is even helping in Darfur (not enough yet – but definitely engaged). As Madame Ambassador said – we have to help China understand what being a responsible world power means as they don’t have the experience and understanding. And she wants us to help China to gain that knowledge. So – she sold me!

Paddick attacks Labour for politicising the police

Posted on by

Got an email through this morning from the Brian Paddick campaign team drawing my eyes to an interview he has given to The Telegraph. The very fact that he’s got such a large piece there is a good sign about how credible Brian’s candidacy will be with the media – and he also gives an excellent account of why he’s the best choice for London Mayor.

His comments about Ian Blair’s records at the Met is one of the most interesting parts of the piece:

The problem, according to Mr Paddick, is that Sir Ian has politicised the Met. “When Labour were the only party who wanted ID cards, Ian Blair came out in support of ID cards. When Labour wanted to extend the 90 days detention he sent one of the assistant commissioners into the House of Commons to persuade rebel Labour MPs to vote with the Government. When during the last general election the threat assessment for Tony Blair was that he should travel around in an armour proofed police Range Rover, Number 10 phoned the commissioner’s office and said we want ‘Vote Labour’ on the side of the police car, and Ian Blair did it. The decisions Ian Blair has made, the things that Ian Blair has said, have been very helpful to Labour. He has allowed himself to be seen as too aligned with Labour.”

Mr Paddick claims that Sir Ian forced him to put his name to a press release supporting Government proposals to allow terrorist suspects to be detained for 90 days without trial – even though he had made clear that he opposed the plan. “His office said ‘you are a deputy assistant commissioner in the metropolitan police and as such you will support 90 days’. It felt as if I had a gun to my head,” he said.

The political independence of the Met is, in his view, being compromised. “Police officers want the public to be proud of them, if there’s a perception that their chief is aligned to a political party that undermines rank and file officers.”

You can read the rest of the interivew here.

This is going to be an interesting contest! On Thursday evening I spoke alongside Brian at the Finchley & Golders Green Liberal Democrats AGM – I briefly began my political life there before moving to Hornsey & Wood Green – and he was, as I’d expect! – very impressive. Having this man who knows and cares passionately about London, and was a very senior police officer for years, will change this contest completely. So go and sign up to support him on his website if you haven’t yet!

Fear and control freakery in the Gordon Brown bunker

Posted on by

Following up the account in the FT earlier this week about how Gordon Brown has already cut himself off from most people and is only listening to a tiny circle of advisters, today it is Martin Kettle in the Guardian:

Relations between the key players at the top are worse than in the summer. Brown’s long hours and short temper – he lost his cool with Bob Shrum, his American adviser, the other day – shape a bad mood inside No 10. Some staff are leaving already. Others are having second thoughts about staying. Good people feel excluded. The animus against Balls in particular is very great. He should concentrate on being a better minister, they say. Michael Heseltine was right, says one veteran. The problem isn’t Brown. It’s Balls.

Some of this stuff comes from the usual suspects. And, yes, similar things used to be said about the Blair government. For Mandelson and Campbell in 1997, read Balls in 2007. But if the large domestic lesson from the Blair years was that they wasted too much time thinking like an opposition not a government, the same already seems true of the Brown years. Blair, though, had time on his side. Brown does not.

(Hat tip: Guido Fawkes)

This sort of bunker mentality comes to just about any political leader in the end – but usually after years in the job, rather than before they’ve even been in the post for their first 12 months. Not a good sign for the future!

Fixed term Parliament bill to go before Parliament

Posted on by

Gordon Brown’s ‘will he? won’t he?’ antics this autumn over possibly calling a general election highlighted the absurdity of letting the Prime Minister choose when to call an election.

Yet why should the PM get to choose the election date? We all know how PMs have chosen the date – they choose a date when they think they have a decent chance of winning. Fixing part of an election system just so you can maximise your own chances of winning – isn’t that normally called fixing an election?

Democracy after all is for all of us – it’s for the public to control who runs things, not for those in power to manipulate the public into re-electing them.

The alternative is to have fixed terms for Parliament. My colleague David Howarth has come out 12th in the ballot (polite Parliament speak for lottery) to choose which MPs are given (a small amount of!) time to present their own bill to Parliament. David’s said his private member’s bill will be one for fixed term Parliaments.

Even Gordon himself used to be in favour of fixed term Parliaments, so it’ll be interesting to see what he says and does on this!