Double dose of national media on Sunday – GMTV in the morning and then The Westminster Hour in the evening (Radio 4, 10pm or if you miss the show you can listen again on their website).
Alan Johnston
There is a petition running on the BBC website for the release of Alan Johnston in Gaza – so this is the link for you to sign up!
Lib Dems anger at yet more repair failures
Two large uncovered holes on a busy path used by cyclists and pedestrians are yet another example of Haringey Council’s complete disregard for public safety, says Lib Dem councillor Bob Hare. The inspection holes located on Penstock Path that runs alongside the eastern side of Alexandra Park were uncovered while resurfacing work was carried out in February 2007.
Penstock Path was recently reopened to residents leaving the dangerous holes still exposed. Liberal Democrat councillor Bob Hare (Environment spokesperson) has requested that the holes should be securely fenced off and suitable covers fitted as soon as possible.
The problem comes on top of other dangers to pedestrians that the Liberal Democrats have uncovered in recent weeks. Lib Dems recently highlighted the problem of a drain cover that remained uncovered outside a primary school for nearly two weeks and the defacing of a new building at Tetherdown School.
Cllr Catherine Harris (Noel Park) comments:
“This is another example of poor working practices. Someone could have a nasty accident. It is a path used regularly by cyclists and pedestrians and it’s unacceptable that they should be faced with large and deep holes in the pavement.
Cllr Bob Hare adds:
“I was shocked when I came across these holes. I cannot believe the path was reopened to the public with the holes left exposed. Haringey Council has shown a complete disregard for public safety.
“Two days after I had requested that these should be covered as a matter of urgency the holes were still unguarded. The hazard has now been aggravated by a broken streetlight leaving the holes in complete darkness and adding to the danger for anyone using the path in the evening.”
When will Alexander Litvinenko's house be cleaned up?
The killers of Alexander Litvinenko (who lived in my constituency) have not been brought to justice – and pursuit of that end continues. Meanwhile – back at the homestead – the house in which he lived remains empty with the protective plastic sheeting around the entrance and the neighbours wondering what is happening. Are they in any danger? When will the house be put right? This hit the press locally again last week as neighbours of the polluted house are concerned – and rightly so.
Well – as far as I can gather the situation is thus. The keys were literally handed over to Environmental Health at Haringey Council back on January 3rd. I contacted them to ask what would happen and was informed that they would be meeting with the house owner (not Mr Litvinenko but a company) on February 19th. And then – nothing happened.
Going back to the case and pursuing further ‘enquiries’, my understanding is that the sticking point is the cost of the clean up. Technically I am told that it is the householder’s responsibility – but this is hardly a normal case and special agencies will have to be brought in. I am pursuing this currently with Mrs Litvinenko’s solicitor who is very helpful.
However, Haringey Council have done pretty much nothing whilst the Government have washed their hands off of it – and won’t entertain any funding towards cleaning. And in the circumstances – normal rules shouldn’t apply as having a case of radiation poisoning isn’t exactly a normal circumstance.
Just Equal Treatment campaign
PMQs and you can tell that Tony B is becoming demob happy. Wiped the floor with Cameron and was snappy and sharp in all responses. Big grin on his face and a class act. Shame that Brown boy is going to seem oh so dulllllll by comparison. And I don’t even approve of PMQs as a grown up pastime!
Over to the mass lobby by Help the Aged for their Just Equal Treatment campaign. And three cheers for them. Fantastic turn out from Haringey – maybe as many as 50 – so took me ages to get the list of each of their own personal experiences of discrimination against the elderly – but it was really valuable getting real stories from real people about how the legislation we talk about and vote on in Parliament really impacts on people at the coal face. (You can see some photos over on my Flickr account).
On the list of issues raised (which is very long) were: can’t get travel insurance easily over age 70 (if at all) and the prices shoot up astronomically; get fobbed off with cheaper and inferior quality generic drugs; the Council Tax (well, the Liberal Democrats would scrap it); incentives to work beyond retirement age (i.e. not earning less by working than would on pension); when health cuts are made they so often target the old peoples’ services (true – chiropody etc) and much much more. So many questions to follow up on – and speaking as someone who wants to be an old person (it’s pretty good option given the alternative!) I declare an interest.
Liberal Democrat concern at family survey
Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern in response to a survey released yesterday showing that Haringey is considered as one of the worst places in the UK to bring up children. Haringey came 404th out of 408 areas surveyed by Reader’s Digest that asked parents to rate the characteristics of a family-friendly environment.
Good state schools and a low crime rate were seen as the most important requirements for a family-friendly area, the poll suggested. These were closely followed by good local hospitals and affordable family housing, the researchers found.
Cllr Gail Engert, Children and Young People Spokesperson comments:
“I am deeply troubled with the results of this survey. Haringey is placed at the bottom of the list for, not only London, but the UK. I am concerned that it shows a widespread failing by those in power in Haringey to provide a safe environment for children. I hope for the sake of children growing up in Haringey that these services can be improved.”
Cllr Neil Williams. Lib Dem Leader adds:
“We all love our area, but this shows the challenges faced by those who rely on public services in the borough – and the family agonies that this can cause. Great cities like London, and wonderful boroughs like Haringey, with its beautiful open spaces and cosmopolitan communities, shouldn’t be difficult places to raise a family. It is the poor performance of Haringey Council over many years, underinvestment, bad planning, and the relative starvation of resources for public services in London generally that cause these problems.”
Are state-regulated force-fed humour courses with every meal the future?
I am currently slowly writing – or more accurately trying to write – a chapter for a book. My thesis is that we live our lives surrounded by the unattainable – the ‘must haves’ of how our lives should be, what we should do, think, eat, be and aspire too – all of which leaves us meandering along life’s path, whichever path we are on, feeling vaguely disappointed in our achievements or our lack of them and feeling perpetually disappointed or deprived. Even in this age of unparalleled wealth in our country – it doesn’t protect us from a perpetual feeling that if we only had X or did Y, our lives would be so much better.
So how – in this world that has moved on from those ‘old-fashioned’ values – can we create structures or environment that value our human good qualities more and place less importance on wealth or status?
And what – if any – role is there for government and public bodies in all this? This is tricky territory to tread in as one false slip of the sentence and you open yourself up to pastiche as wanting a Ministry of Fun and state-regulated force-fed humour courses with every meal.
You can read where my thoughts have go to so far in my latest newspaper column, published just after Easter.
The Otterburn report
Find I have Question 7 on the Order Paper for Department of Constitutional Affairs Questions. So – turn up and give some thought to what my follow up question would be. But sadly – Mr Speaker called ‘Order Order’ finishing the session just as we got to my question.
Shame – because it was about the Government ignoring the Otterburn report which in turn criticised the Carter report which (following this I hope!) is a report that loads of constituents and those in the legal aid system have written to me about. They are not happy with its proposals for changes in the legal aid system.
The Otterburn report recommends that any of these changes should not be rushed into. So I wanted to ask the Minister why they are ignoring the findings of the Otterburn Report – and instead ploughing ahead with undue haste and controversial proposals – but it wasn’t to be!
Des Browne's statement and the Mental Health Bill
After surgery it was off to Parliament for Des Browne’s statement on the Iran hostages incident and then the second reading debate on the Mental Health Bill.
Des was humble – but not too humble. He had made a mistake. Yes – Secretaries of State were not perfect. And yes he would set up two enquiries: one around the issues to do with why the marines got taken so easily and one to understand the wider issues of how to deal with media pressure and financial bribes to kiss and tell. Liam Fox (the Conservative spokesman) made – I thought – a complete pig’s ear of his opportunity by overdoing it and not listening to what Browne actually said. Nick Harvey (our man on defence) did better – realising that the story for money media stuff is indeed awful – but really peripheral to the main issue of how we could have gotten caught out so badly by the Iranians. Where was HMS Cornwall? Where were our helicopters? Why was there no warning of Iranian ships approaching our boat? Didn’t we have a look out? Or anything?
Anyway – Des saved his bacon with suitably apologetic stance – and lives to fight another day.
As to the Mental Health B: much of it is awful, but six key amendments in the Lords passed (much to the chagrin of the Government) – so now the battle in the Commons will be in Committee where no doubt the Government will seek to re-instate all of the their worst proposals and knock out the Lord’s amendments.
Got home around 11.00pm to the dreadful news of the murders at Virginia Tech. Just makes you feel sick.
Muswell Hill Library
Straight into surgery at Muswell Hill Library. There is still no disabled access to the upstairs – which means this isn’t an ideal venue for me to use to let members of the public come and meet me. But as I hold most of my surgeries in the more accessible Wood Green Library, I do sometimes also use venues like this one – which means I can get round to the various parts of the constituency, not all of which have a perfect venue.
But this morning one constituent reminded me (inadvertently) how pressing it is for buildings to be accessible. He had no legs – so had to walk up the stairs (almost impossible on the prosthetics) – but also carrying his seven-year old severely autistic and non-walking son. Of course, had he let us know in advance, I would have made special arrangements such as a home visit. He was more worried about going downstairs carrying his son after the appointment so I got a very kind guy from the library to help and carry the boy down the stairs.
I mention this incident because it is years now since Haringey Council first made promises and talked about restoring and renovating the building and making it properly accessible – but all words and no seeming action (other than the bizarre incident a few years ago where they put in a new ramp – but, as you can see from the photo, it had steps!).
So, I will again – as they say – make enquiries. Last time I went to a meeting about the library’s future the plans were big (bigger than needed) for a restaurant and an extension – and all-singing, all-dancing – but I haven’t heard anything since.
Lynne Featherstone 