Labour spends £396,000 on publication that few read, say Lib Dems

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The Liberal Democrats have expressed dismay over admissions by Haringey Labour that it is spending £396,000 per year of council money on a publication that very few households read. The revelation follows a probe by Lib Dem Councillor Susan Oatway (Alexandra ward), after Labour claims in the Council chamber last week that their magazine ‘Haringey People’ was popular with local residents.

Haringey Council produces 97,000 copies of ‘Haringey People’ each month. It was the subject of extravagant claims in the council chamber last week by Labour’s Deputy Leader, who said that a survey showed it was popular with 90% of local residents. However Lib Dem inquiries have forced Labour to admit that only 465 residents responded – less than half a per cent of the total circulation.

Liberal Democrat councillors are questioning the cost of the publication – and are accusing the Labour leadership of being out of touch with how to communicate effectively with residents in Haringey.

Cllr Susan Oatway says:

“Writing a newsletter is not the only way in which a modern council, which claims to be concerned about the environment, should be seeking to communicate with people in Haringey. Given the huge cost of Haringey people, perhaps Labour should produce real news for local residents at a much lower cost.”

Cllr John Oakes, Liberal Democrat Community Involvement spokeperson says:

“If people were reading it, you would expect a much greater response, but this is clearly not the case. Perhaps if ‘Haringey People’ reflected the real things the people of Haringey were worried about rather than just a fluffy view of what the council is up to more people would be engaged.”

Lib Dems launch 5 point prescription for Hornsey Central Hospital

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[WATCH FILM: You can watch a film about the 5 point plan on the blog]

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone and Liberal Democrat Councillor Richard Wilson (Spokesperson for Health and Social Services) have launched their Five Point Prescription for Hornsey Central Hospital.

Lynne is backing a bid for £7 million of central NHS money to be invested in a new building on the hospital site.However, the MP and local Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on the local NHS to listen to the concerns of residents about the impact on existing GPs and pharmacists.

This prescription aims to ensure that the opportunity to improve Haringey’s health provision is not lost. The plan sets out five key areas that Liberal Democrats in Haringey believe need to be addressed. These are:

1.More GPs and clinic sessions provided – not just the existing GPs and clinics we already have reshuffled and centralised. It is essential that there remains a good coverage of GPs across the area. The PCT needs to persuade the large hospitals to provide specialist services in the new Hornsey facility, so less have to travel out of the borough for treatment.

2.Real engagement and consultation with patients, residents, voluntary organisations and health workers over the development and relocation of services. There needs to be a real dialogue between the PCT and local GPs if people are to have any confidence in these plans.

3.Improve public transport to Hornsey Hospital, to ensure it is accessible – particularly for older people and parents with young children. The PCT needs to work with Transport for London to get existing bus routes extended to reach the site and the W2 route reinstated.

4.Protect our community pharmacies by working with existing pharmacists and carrying out an impact assessment before opening a new pharmacy at the Hospital.

5.Save NHS land by not selling off property to developers before the new Hospital is built and unless the sale is vital to financing new facilities. Rushing to sell off NHS property puts the future development of local health services at risk – the land can never be brought back to health use once it is sold.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“Like everyone else I want to see more money being invested in local health services.But it is vital that Haringey Primary Care Trust consults with local people and health professionals to get the project right.The development needs to expand health provision in Haringey – not just recycle the surgeries and clinics we already have in the area.”

Cllr Wilson added:

“The PCT should start building the facility in 2007. It is vital that they listen to the residents’ concerns and that they adopt our 5 point prescription.”

Lynne Featherstone and Haringey Liberal Democrat councillors will jointly write to Richard Sumray, the Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Bob Harris, Executive Member for Health and Social Services, to press for their support for the 5 point prescription.

Sustainable Communities Bill

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Sustainable Communities Bill in Parliament today. Not a sexy name – but it may go some way to meet that dreadful sense of powerlessness we all get sometimes when the Government runs roughshod over local wishes. It’s about giving local communities much more power over their issues in their own patch. It is a Private Members’ Bill with all party support – and though it is usually quite difficult to get MPs to Parliament on a Friday (those with constituencies outside London are normally travelling back to a long weekend packed full of local meetings and events) – today there were enough to see it through to the next stage. Julia Goldsworthy has been doing much of the running for the Liberal Democrats on the issue – and you can watch her talk about it on her website.

Debate was followed by a very harrowing surgery – and then followed by a weekend off(ish)!

Hossam Ghaly and Spurs help local kids

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Had to go and get lots of jabs! Looking after international development means I’ll be spending some time sharing territory with mosquitoes and worse – so immunisation is the order of the day. I go off to the Royal Free, which has a really helpful travel clinic. I gladly wait beyond my appointment time to let in a gentleman in a wheelchair who is late for his appointment (the one before mine) because he has not been able to park. Pay attention Royal Free – people in wheelchairs either need more spaces allocated or they need to be offered appointments at less busy times of the day.

The unlucky man had had to literally just leave the car somewhere on the street and wheel himself up (and the Royal Free is on a bit of a hill) to get to the main entrance. The clinic was good with him and for his next appointment have arranged an early one – but that shouldn’t be done only after an experience like that.

So – today I am replete with yellow fever and meningitis jabs and next week its tetanus, diphtheria, polio and something else I’ve forgotten. I have my malaria tablets, insect repellent (one that apparently dissolves plastic) and a tummy upset kit (polite phrasing.! So – I will be prepared!

Lynne Featherstone and Hossam Ghaly launching new football scheme for local kidsBut the event of today was visiting Spurs. I am there to launch a new sort of ‘get kids off the streets’ programme where Spurs as part of their new inclusion unit works with the local community to combat crime.

As I said to the kids from Noel Park (who are the first up for this new venture) I get lots of complaints about kids playing football on the streets – and here at last is a good idea with somewhere they can play legitimately AND with Spurs. No better partner. All of the credit really goes to the police – and more particularly Noel Park Safer Neighbourhood Team who have put this all together. Congrats to Andy and the team!

The Noel Park crew arrived and after extremely brief speeches from Spurs, me, a councillor and the police – it was on to the main menu.

Star footballer Hossam Ghaly was there to hand out the new kit to the team and then – when they got into their kit – knock a ball around with them. One of my colleagues from the constituency, Matt Davies (Lib Dem councillor for Fortis Green) had kindly come to take the photos – and I could see in his eyes the envy of these kids getting to play with a Spurs footballer. Matt is an avid Spurs fan (which is probably why he volunteered to come and take the shots)!

The world is my oyster

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A few days ago I woke up to the latest (then) scandal emanating from the Home Office. More records in a mess; more criminals lost track of. Immediately I jumped out of bed to put the line together and prepare for the onslaught that each such revelation brings as a Home Affairs spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats. Then I remembered -that’s not me any more! I have a new job; now I’m Ms International Development.

On the Monday before Christmas, Ming had telephoned me to offer me the job of International Development in his Shadow Cabinet. Given that I had thought he was ringing to wish me Happy Christmas, that was a very pleasant surprise!

Having spent five years in transport, six and a half years in policing, this is largely new territory for me. So I am in the middle of what probably equates to an ‘A’ level in International Development but without the information absorbing brain of an eighteen year old and with only a few weeks to get up to speed.

My Parliamentary political world up until now has been peopled by Home Office ministers, officials, police, judiciary, youth offending teams and my vocabulary by ASBOs, DNA, stop and search and terrorism. Now it is DFID (Department for International Development), Non-Governmental Organisations, International Development Officers – and AIDS, poverty reduction, sustainable development and so on.

In Home Affairs the daily diet is one disaster after another for consecutive Labour Home Secretaries and a Government that believes new initiatives that sound tough on crime are what matters. Over 3,000 new criminal offences have been created by Labour since they came to government. No wonder the Home Office is falling apart under the strain of continual change and over-demand. By contrast, international development is virtually a legislation free zone and there is much more cross-party agreement.

Flood and famine, drought, disaster, war and destruction – trade, aid, corruption and disease – these are now the currency of my new world. As I read into my new portfolio I am busy thinking how I can make a difference in my new role. Holding the Government to account for what they have promised against what they have delivered – obviously. Pointing out divergence between what they say and what they do – of course. Seeing where I can offer positive proposals – as there’s more to politics than point scoring. And examining carefully the issues around the need to ensure development is green – at the same time as ensuring economic growth.

I think for many people international aid used to be largely a matter of a guilty conscience – a nod in the direction of helping countries less fortunate than ours. But now for a whole host of reasons – including greater international travel which means so many more places feel familiar and the way in which events overseas can help cause terrorism on our doorsteps – I think people more and more see international development as being not just about helping other countries, but helping ourselves too.

It is quite clear to me that in this global village we live in now: whatever happens anywhere in the world reverberates on our own doorstep.

So I am putting a strategy group together at Parliament, and I am studying and learning and listening and looking. So if you have a particular view or interest or think there is something I should know about – then please get in touch.

I would be very interested to hear what you think.

(c) Lynne Featherstone, 2007

A busy day

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I went to the Save Community Hospitals’ lobby in Westminster Hall yesterday. In Haringey we are not so much trying to save a hospital and get a new one on the site of the old one – which wasn’t saved!

I also had Question 4 on the order paper in Foreign Affairs Questions.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)
What recent assessment she has made of developments in the situation in Darfur; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
President Bashir has now accepted UN support for AMIS—the African Union Mission in Sudan—and has allowed the first UN military personnel into Darfur. That is important, but it is only the first step. We urge the Government of Sudan, the UN and the African Union to work for full implementation of the joint support package and an urgent resumption of the political process. All sides need to observe the ceasefire, too, particularly the Government of Sudan, who have been bombing the rebels, as that is vital for progress on the humanitarian front.

Lynne Featherstone (Hornsey & Wood Green, Liberal Democrat)
I thank the Secretary of State for her reply, but has a timeline been developed for the United Nations and the African Union to be on the ground? At what point will that protection start to be provided for people in Darfur?

Margaret Beckett (Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office)
There are three stages to the deployment: first, light support, in which 180 personnel, 34 of whom have already arrived, are expected to be involved; secondly, heavy support; and, finally, the establishment of a full hybrid African Union and United Nations force. There is no specific timescale, but everyone who wishes the position in Darfur to improve is anxious that as many of those people as possible should be deployed as soon as possible, and that is something for which we are all working.

Ironically, had had to move my meeting with Secretary of State for International Development from 3pm because of the question. It’s like a ballot – so until a couple of days before you have no idea that the question you have tabled has been selected. Anyway – Hilary Benn’s office were very accommodating and moved the meeting which had been initiated by Hilary as a meet and greet me in my new role.

I went to DFID unarmed. Having heard tell that Hilary Benn doesn’t have an enemy in the world, I judged it safe. Which meant I found myself not just with Hilary as I had expected – but with four of his key aides. Five to one! The first thing you notice is that it is nothing like the Home Office – they are nice and civilised. I think in the year and a half I was on the front bench for Home Affairs – Tony McNulty (Labour’s equivalent) only said hello about twice!

Anyway – we had a chat about the Department and the work they carry out. I look forward to working with him – as we say.

Then it was straight on to Haringey Civic Centre for the presentation by the four bidders for the new school to be built in my constituency. This is one of those insane Government forced bids to bring in an Academy. Boroughs of all political persuasions have seen these privately sponsored new schools take over. I suppose the original idea was enabling the Government to intervene where schools were failing and the LEA was appalling (understandable).

However, this is about businesses really getting hold of Government funding. Listening to the four bids – from a variety of sponsors – it was clear that there was very little to guide one as to which one would deliver exactly what. The crying shame – and actually complete travesty – was the lack of real people at the meeting. There were the bidders, the councillors, some heads, the press – but only six (other) members of the community.

So one has to wonder about Haringey’s efforts to publicise the event (not much). Gail Engert (Lib Dem Education Spokesperson) asked that they consider a better-advertised second meeting. The consultation period needs to be longer and there is a problem with the timing of the decision – which is going to be in the Easter holidays. That is not good – as people can come and present to the decision making meeting – but at that time lots of people are away.

And of course – home to watch Big Brother. This has turned political as a Labour member has tabled an EDM. I am not sure that is the way forward in this case. If there is anything that has broken our laws – then it is really a police matter. However, I am not sure whether it is that clear that it would result in a successful prosecution. It is more the bullying by a gang of girls on one who is different. I can only assume they were jealous of her and because she is posh and classy (as well as non-white) they focused their nastiness on her difference.

I wonder if their punishment won’t be ending up pariahs when they come out. If only the world was that fair!!!

Save the Children

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Today Ming asked me to attend his meeting with Save the Children. Jasmine Whitbread laid out her stall very clearly and is, I thought, a very able advocate for the work they do. All the organisations are keen to influence me at this early stage of my thinking – and that is their job and their advocacy. I am looking and learning at the moment. Absorbing it all and asking many questions. In a field like this I am keen to add value and champion what not only needs championing but the things that strike a chord with me, with Liberal Democracy and with need – and where I think I and we as a party can add value.

The unacceptable face of Celebrity Big Brother

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I am working my way through the countries, the diseases and the disasters. Today I met with Malaria Venture – a group researching and developing a new raft of drugs to treat malaria. There is no vaccine in sight – so it’s a matter of treatment by drugs and prevention by nets, better systems for no stagnant water in which to breed etc. Their major backers are Mr and Mrs Microsoft, who foot the bill for the largest slice of their work – but they still need funding to move a procession of new drugs work forward and for those coming out the other end with imminent registration. And they need the politicians to push out the barriers in terms of how such drugs can be delivered.

I was interested to learn that one of the barriers to delivery is that the people themselves often won’t take the drugs – preferring first to go to local stalls or shops where often they are sold tablets by unscrupulous merchants which cost a fortune and don’t treat the disease. Often these tablets are made of chalk. So – clearly governance is an issue. How, in these types of territory can you stop such criminal activity?

Watched in horror in the later evening (my children insist – that’s my defence) as Celebrity Big Brother let one of the inmates, a Bollywood Film Star (and very beautiful) be mercilessly bullied by three stupid, young idiots. It was just what bullying is – nasty ganging up on someone who is different from the pack. But these three ghastly girls are way out of school age. Shilpa was clearly hurt – but handling it very gracefully I thought. However, this is unacceptable television – but more importantly demonstrates quite clearly how unpleasant the views of some people are. This won’t end here – nor should it.

How should council group leaders be elected?

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Following up on the piece I wrote for Liberal Review querying whether only councillors should have a say in the election of council group leaders (after all, party leaders aren’t elected just by MPs) – London Region have put a discussion on the agenda for the regional conference coming up in a few weeks. Should make for an interesting debate – especially as lots of councillors normally attend!