Catching up on the week – on Friday I visited Highgate School. Now this was a repeat visit – obviously wowed Year 9 boys last year – so that I’m back by popular request. Always enjoyable to make politics live for young people. The questions were more serious than the ones I had to field last year – which seemed to concentrate on the shenanigans by certain grown up men in my party. This year it was very much about politics itself. I also met the new Headmaster who seemed very enthusiastic about working with other schools in the Haringey community to see where Highgate (independent) could perhaps offer other schools extra things that were available at Highgate but not at some other schools. All seems very exciting as a prospect. Never can get over how you walk into a completely different world once you walk through the front buildings into the seclusion of the inner open spaces of the school.
Livingstone refuses gay fire nomination for not being diverse enough
London Lib Dems have today reacted with anger at Ken Livingstone’s refusal to appoint their borough nominee, Councillor Ed Butcher, who is openly gay, to the London Fire Authority.
Haringey borough councillor Ed Butcher (Stroud Green ward) was selected as the Lib Dem nominee following an election amongst all London Liberal Democrat councillors.
However the Mayor took steps to refuse to appoint nine representatives on the grounds that they were ‘completely unrepresentative’.
It seems likely the decision will be legally challenged on the grounds that the Mayor does not have the power to refuse nominations.
Councillor Ed Butcher comments:
“I have always considered my sexuality as secondary to my ability to scrutinise the Fire Brigade’s performance and ensure it is ready to respond to emergencies on behalf of all Londoners.
“But if the Mayor wants to make a point about diversity, it is quite astounding that he has refused to appoint me for not being diverse enough. London has the highest gay population in the country but it seems the Mayor thinks they do not deserve representation.
“Ken Livingstone can now add gay and lesbians to the lists of groups and minorities he has personally offended.”
Mike Tuffrey, Liberal Democrat leader on the London Assembly adds:
“I don’t think there is a respectable party in London that doesn’t consider women and black and ethnic minority under-representation as a serious issue. However throwing the Fire Authority into crisis weeks before it appoints the Fire commissioner is hardly the most constructive way of solving the problem.”
Robert Zoellick set to head up the World Bank
Still no change in the world order I see. Once again the United States has simply nominated their political appointee to the position of President of the World Bank.
No doubt when nominations close on Monday – he will simply then be appointed as the sole nominee.
Closed processes are not acceptable.
Mr Zoellick may well be the best man for the job – but we will never know -‘cos he’s the only name in the frame!
Highbury and Islington station is set to be moved
A quick update on the saga of the Finsbury Park sign that puts Highbury & Islington on the Northern Line – Tim O’Toole from Transport for London has got back in touch with me:
Dear Lynne
I refer to your email dated 5 June and addressed to Peter Hendy. I have been asked to respond.
The sign is certainly misleading and the local Group Station Manager has arranged to have it amended.
The comment [on your blog] posted by Mr Mark Valladares, is indeed correct. The line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate was, until the 1970s, a spur ofthe Northern line. This is the type of quirk one finds on such an oldsystem and that is treasured by the cognoscenti. You are right toexpect us to eliminate such items, however.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Yours sincerely
Tim O’Toole
Now that’s what I like – Tim O’Toole, hands on and dealing with it! Thanks Tim and all hail the power of the internet!
What's next for international development?
Haringey Council challenged by MP over cigarette littering inaction
Fears over a huge increase in cigarette butt littering on the streets of Haringey following the forthcoming smoking ban have caused Lynne Featherstone to urge Haringey Council to do more to help smokers dispose of their butts legally.
Following enquiries to council officials Ms. Featherstone was alarmed to discover the only action they are planning ahead of the ban is to write to all traders merely requesting that they purchase cigarette bins which Haringey Council will empty for free.
Ms Featherstone, who supported the ban in Parliament, has urgently written to the council’s chief executive urging more cigarette bins to be installed by Haringey Council.
Ms. Featherstone comments:
“You don’t need a crystal ball to predict that the smoking ban will mean more smokers in the streets and without more cigarette bins there will inevitably be more cigarette butts litteringpavements.
“In many cases, the public highway will be the only legal place for people to smoke away from home so the council should be thinking ahead.Failure to take urgent action will see any plans for better Haringey simply go up in smoke.”
US Government should not dictate World Bank President
The Liberal Democrats have called on the Government not to support the appointment of Robert Zoellick as president of the World Bank without a fair and open nomination process.
Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP has written to Gordon Brown and Hilary Benn calling on the Government to nominate another candidate or, failing that, to instruct the executive director on the board of the World Bank not to support the nomination.
Lynne Featherstone said:
“Recent events should have demonstrated to the World Bank the importance of a fair selection process, but this appointment has been neither transparent nor open.
“It is hard to justify how we can lecture others on how to conduct their business when such an important position is decided in this fashion.
“The selection process must be based on the merits and appropriateness of the candidates. This is vital for the future legitimacy of the World Bank and in order to ensure responsible conduct and effective working.
“Time is short, but the British Government can still act. They have a clear choice – ensure that the best candidate is chosen through an open and transparent process or allow the US to reign free once again.”
Text of letter:
It is my belief that the World Bank President should be appointed in an open selection process, based on the merits and appropriateness of the candidates. This is vital for the future legitimacy of the institutions and in order to ensure a responsible conduct and high effectiveness in their work.
I understand that the board has declared that other nominations can come forward before June 15. I therefore urge you to nominate an alternative candidate and to open up the process. No offence to Mr Zoellick but the appointment has been neither transparent nor open.
Failing that, I would be grateful if you could consider instructing the executive director on the board of the World Bank not to support the nomination of Zoellick on the grounds set out above.
Yours sincerely,
Lynne Featherstone
Litvinenko house update
Today it is the three weeks since we were told the report from the company who had gone into do a critical survey assessing the risk would be back. Now it looks like Monday. I don’t think we are expecting anything other than a diminution in the danger from the Pollonium 210 originally assessed – unless they have found new hot spots. Outside of that the report is likely to make recommendations based on the results of their findings as to what remedial work is necessary and what the specification for that work will be. So we wait…
What next for international development?
Addressing the All Party Group on Overseas Development today. In weekly succession they have had Gareth Thomas (Labour Minister), Andrew Mitchell (Tory) and obviously saving the best til last – me – today! The title of this series is ‘What next for International Development? Political Perspectives.’
Despite the Labour Deputy Leader hustings on International Development being scheduled at the same time – the room was comfortably filled. Speaking on a subject where everyone in the room is an expert is far more testing than speaking to the public!
I spoke for about 40 minutes and then took 50 minutes of questions. It was very enjoyable and you can read my speech on my website. But for an abridged version – I said the Government has no consistency about where it is going between its different arms; that corruption eats up huge amounts of the money, hindering the good work that we try to do with development and aid – and that tackling corruption would now be seen as a bit rich given our current squalid failure to see through investigations into BAE and the Al Yamamah arms deal with the Saudis. But all of this is dwarfed by the complete failure of the Department for International Development to make the coming cataclysm of climate change central to its development funding programs. Enjoy!
UPDATE: Jonathan Fryer has an account of the meeting over on his blog. Shame about the photo though!
Penstock Path: concern at missing railings
Liberal Democrat councillors in the London Borough of Haringey are concerned by the mysterious and repeated disappearance of railings on Penstock Path. The railings, installed to stop motorised vehicles using the path, were taken out by Haringey Council 18 months ago to facilitate works to the path but vanished before they could be reinstalled.
Cllr Bob Hare, a keen user of the path, asked Haringey Council to replace them on two separate occasions. On each occasion, Liberal Democrat councillors have returned to the site only for the railings to have been removed by person(s) unknown.
Liberal Democrats have highlighted that the issue has serious implications for pedestrians and cyclists using the path. The staggered railings are intended to prevent vehicles including motorcycles but with the absence of this deterrent this type of vehicle are able to gain access and speed along the path.
Cllr Bob Hare comments:
“While we were taking the photograph, many pedestrians were using what is a popular walking route, and a scooter zoomed past us. Given there are several sharp turns that are blind corners on the path, its use by motorised vehicles must be prevented.
“We are discounting the possibility that there is an extension of the Bermuda Triangle in Hornsey causing these to disappear and will be seeking the best way forward.”
Cllr Robert Gorrie (Hornsey ward) adds:
“Clearly, someone is determined to be able to use this cut-through from Hornsey to Wood Green and is prepared to go to the trouble of pulling out railings before cement has set, and entirely removing them from the location. However, we are determined that local people will be able to use this route without danger from fast vehicles, and councillors will be liaising with the department responsible to determine the best approach to achieving this.”
Lynne Featherstone 