Teachers Without Borders: would you change the name?

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Am rung with the news that GB (not Great Britain – but he who would be PM) has announced £20 million for children’s education in war zones in Africa. So three cheers! I cannot help but notice that since the introduction of the Liberal Democrat campaign to set up an education version of the Red Cross Gordon has been a bit more visible on this issue.

Which reminds me – I am mulling over the name of our campaign. Perhaps we should call it the Ed Cross instead of Teachers without Borders? When I was looking for a catchy title for an International emergency education response team – an education version of the Red Cross in fact – someone suggested the Ed Cross, but I thought it might upset the Red Cross at the time. However, as our campaign progresses I have come round to thinking that Ed Cross expresses what we are trying to deliver much better than Teachers without Borders. What do you think?

Anyway – back to Gordon’s £20 million for African war zones given to Unicef. Save the Children – who are leading the campaign to get the government to accept education as part of first humanitarian response – identified that out of 80 million children not in education in the developing world nearly 40 million are in war or conflict-affected zones. That means Gordon’s beneficence – whilst very welcome – is delivering about 50p per war zone child without education – albeit that his money is earmarked for Africa only whilst the 40 million children I refer to are across the whole developing world. So – not looking a gift horse in the mouth – but there is much more still to do.

Older Haringey residents to suffer as care charges soar

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The Liberal Democrats have expressed anger at Haringey’s inflation-busting care charge hike for older residents, which will massively outstrip next week’s State Pension increase.

Labour-run Haringey Council plans to increase charges for domiciliary care (care in your own home) by 15%, and residential charges will rocket by over a third (35%). Meanwhile, on 9 April pensioners will receive only a 3.6% increase in their State Pension and 4.4% increase in their Pension Credit from the Labour Government.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Lib Dem spokesperson on Health and Social Services comments:

“These outrageous increases are unacceptable.Labour’s residential care charge increase is nine times higher than the Labour Government’s pension increases.How can a pensioner afford to pay up to more than a third more for Haringey’s care services, when their pension is increasing by less than 4%?

“I expect many of Haringey’s most vulnerable pensioners will have to cut back on the care they receive because of this hike in charges by Labour.

“Government inspectors found that the care services Haringey are providing to pensioners are amongst the worst in the country, and gave them only a one star rating.Why should pensioners pay so much more for services that Government inspectors say are getting worse rather than better?”

Concern grows as Haringey Council uses business support funds to plug hole in budget

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Money from central government designed to be used to promote enterprise is not being properly targeted by the Labour-run Haringey Council to help Haringey businesses, it has been revealed by the Liberal Democrats. Haringey’s £1.5 million allocation from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme (LABGI) has not been earmarked in the Council 2007/08 budget in any specific way to promote, assist or support business.

The news comes on top of revelations at a council committee last week that many of Haringey’s services to support business are still not up to standard. Telephone messages left with business support agencies are not returned and information on websites not regularly updated. Liberal Democrat councillors say these issues raise huge concerns about the way Haringey promotes enterprise in the borough.

Haringey Liberal Democrats believe that this huge amount of money should be clearly and solely used to support and promote business. They say that the Government press release trumpets the award of “Over £300 million to encourage business growth”; however, this is misleading and incorrect if the council is not using this for business promotion at a local level.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Lib Dem Regeneration spokesperson, comments:

“Despite their claims to the contrary, we know that Labour-run Haringey only provides a ‘fragmented’ business support system. How can this system get any better if money designed to promote business is only used as a plug to fill holes in the budget?”

Cllr Robert Gorrie, Deputy Finance spokesperson, adds:

“When the Liberal Democrats brought the issue of promoting local business to Haringey Council in February, Labour talked about their “focus on promoting enterprise” and promised a “charter with local businesses”. But when given the opportunity to actually do something tangible with funds provided under this scheme Labour are again failing to deliver.

“Surely Haringey Council should use the funds to support the positive impact that a vibrant business community can have in the borough. This could include a campaign to put neighbourhood business managers in place with a particular focus on encouraging the employment and training by local business of local young people.”

MP supports new animal law at Wood Green Animal Shelter

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To help publicise the coming into force on Friday 6th April of the new Animal Welfare Act which gives new protection to pets Lynne Featherstone MP visited Wood Green Animal Shelter last Friday.

The new law makes it a legal requirement for pet owners to give their animals a proper diet, suitable living arrangement and greater protection against abuse and neglect and was backed by Ms Featherstone in Parliament.

Ms. Featherstone comments:

“This law is a mile stone in animal welfare and I hope will make a real difference in reducing the number of cases shelters like Wood Green Animal Shelter will have to deal with.

“We are lucky to have such an excellent animal rescue facility locally with such a dedicated team and I look forward to visiting again after their forthcoming refit.

“Most people locally wouldn’t even need to think twice about whether they are meeting the needs of their pet – in terms of this law – as I am sure they far exceed the law with the love and attention they give their pets.But in those sorry cases where animals are being subjected to neglect and abuse, the law which I supported will make it easier for action to be taken.”

Comment from Neil Williams regarding the Alexandra Palace lease announcement

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Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Neil Williams said:

“Despite the almost audible fanfare from the Labour Council, this does not mean that the Charity Commission has ruled that that everything in the lease is good – only that the Council had completed the process in a correct fashion.

“While it does mean that the objective of “transferring the financial risk” of Ally Pally has been achieved, the question remains: at what cost to some of the precious heritage in the building?”

Dinner in Blackheath

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Invited to a lunch by Carol Stone (political society hostess) on behalf of Camelot. Whilst it was Chatham House rules in terms of the discussion – so can’t say a word – can say that it was mainly peopled by bright, shiny Tory PPC wannabees, no Labour, two other Liberal Democrats and me! It was a girls only affair. And what was absolutely wonderful was that the lunch was healthy and low cal! A salmon fillet with a few roasted vegetables and then a beautifully laid out plate of bits of delicately cut fruit for each of us. Soooooooooooo much better than boys meals!

In the evening is was over to Blackheath Liberal Democrats Supper Club. I was the guest speaker, talking about international development. As ever with this area, there are experts in bits of the field everywhere I go – so I often pick up good info from the audience – and this being no exception.

I asked anyone there who was a GLA wannabe, a parliamentary wannabe or a Euro wannabe to identify themselves. This is a good time for socials and campaigning as those seeking selection are attending everything everywhere – and a good portion of hands went up. Well done to all of you for doing what you need to be doing!

It was a very pleasant evening – and as ever – informative. The key ‘ask’ from me was to deliver something that local activists can campaign on. Well – that is the point! I am trying to focus on areas where Liberal Democrats can make a difference – like education – as well as holding St Hilary to account! Although I suspect he’s not going to be in the job much longer – moving on to higher things when PMs change. But as I did point out to Blackheath – he is the Minister for Combating Corruption – and yet was not even consulted on the government’s decision to call off the Serious Fraud Office dogs who were about to bite BAE over the Al Yamamah Saudi deals.

UPDATE: You can read two blog accounts of the dinner here and here.

Applying the lessons of drink driving to knife crime

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It’s the sort of phone call I dread: four stabbings and between sixty and eighty youths rampaging up and down Lordship Lane. It’s not the first and it won’t be the last. Mercifully this time the ‘stabbings’ are not lethal. But a couple of weeks ago there were three high profile stabbings. These produced the usual bursts of indignation and headlines following each spate of incidents. Much hand-wringing. Number 10 holds a summit. And then what?

Gang culture is not something society in general really understands. And the carrying of knives and guns is not something that is fully understood either. It is said that young people carry knives because they are scared not to – because other kids are carrying and they don’t feel safe. It is often said that it is about ‘status’ (who’s going to dis you now – if you carry a knife?). It’s said that the lyrics of rap songs encourage violence, degrade women and so on. It is said that when a kid can get £20,000 per year taking packages here and there versus £12,000 per year stacking shelves at a supermarket… It is said that it is easy to get a gun. It is said that a being part of a gang delivers loyalty stronger than family. It is said that kids have nothing else to do. It is said that it is family breakdown. It is said that the male role model has disappeared from families and primary school classrooms. It is said that there is a group of extremely alienated youths outside all society. It is said that when at home, gang members are as sweet as pie.

So – there’s a lot of saying going on – but – I don’t think we really know. I don’t think we have the empirical back-up. We are rightly lengthening prison sentences for carrying a bladed instrument in a public place or carrying a gun – but as with so much other crime, changing jail sentence lengths is only at best a very small part of the solution.

I raised the Lordship Lane rampage in Parliament with Jack Straw, the Leader of the House, asking him to arrange time for a proper and detailed debate of these issues in Parliament. Credit where credit is due – he said he would try and make time for a debate on the wider issue.

I’ve drawn the parallel with drink driving before (see here). That too was an issue of needing massive cultural change – making being drunk whilst hurtling around at high speed in a lump of metal no longer acceptable. Laws were needed, but so to was a long run investment of time and effort to change people’s habits and attitudes. What we’ve done for drink driving we need to go for the knife touting culture too. They are different problems – but the solution is not about the punishment alone – it’s about changing so much more. And hand-wringing and headlines definitely aren’t the answer.

(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2007

Future uncertain for business support in Haringey

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Haringey Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern over the sustained failure of Labour-run Haringey Council and its partners to provide adequate support services for businesses in Haringey.

Liberal Democrat councillors highlighted at a meeting of the Council’s ‘watchdog’ Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 27th March 2007 that services still failed to provide an acceptable, up-to-date service and that recommendations made in 2004 had not been implemented.

Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) highlighted that many of the present business support tools available are still not up to standard. Telephone messages left with business support agencies were not returned and website portals not regularly updated.

Top regeneration officers present at the meeting themselves admitted that Haringey only provided a “fragmented service” and agreed with Lib Dem proposals that the Council should work towards a single point of advice for businesses in Haringey.

Cllr Wayne Hoban, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Regeneration comments:

“The admission of the fractured service Haringey provides confirms what many in the borough, not just Lib Dems, have believed for a long time. The vast majority of our businesses employ less than four people and it should be a priority to support them and attract new businesses and start up companies.

“Labour are guilty of hypocrisy, as Labour councillors recently supported a Council motion that claimed the Council had a ‘clear focus on promoting enterprise and string of successes in making Haringey a great place to do business’. In reality, the Council’s own officers seem to be saying that the exact opposite is the case.”

Cllr David Winskill (Crouch End) adds:

“Many businesses, particularly in the East of the borough will be reeling from the latest Labour budget that has increased the burden on small businesses. The fact that their own borough is offering little support will only add to the woes of small businesses in Haringey.”

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds

“We are in the run up to the Olympics and it is hard to see how Haringey small businesses, particularly in the east of the borough, will be able to take full advantages of the opportunities that it will bring if business support is so woeful.”

Hornsey still not on the map after further broken promises by Haringey Council

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Liberal Democrats are again questioning the management Haringey Council services following a further delay in the installation of ‘Welcome to Hornsey’ signs. This follows a catalogue of missed deadlines, which has infuriated Liberal Democrat councillors in Hornsey. The issue was first raised by Cllr Monica Whyte in July 2006.

On two occasions deadlines laid down by the Haringey Council department responsible for highways maintenance, have been broken. A first promise was made on 8th January 2007, that the signs would be installed by 26th February and another made on 27th March 2007 that they would be installed by 31st March 2007.

Cllr Whyte has again written to Streetscene to demand that these signs should be fitted as a matter of urgency.

Cllr Whyte (Hornsey ward) comments:

“This is just unacceptable. This issue has been going on for nine months and still the Council have not got their act together. It would be great to see these signs installed to give Hornsey its place on the map – as has been long promised.”