Lib Dems secure £700 tax cut for 86,500 people in Haringey

Posted on 20th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Today’s Budget announced that the Income Tax Personal Allowance will be raised to £10,000 in April 2014 – one year sooner than had been expected.

This means 86,500 ordinary working people in Haringey will get a further Income Tax cut, bringing the total tax cut to £700 a year since Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition Government.

In Haringey, this welcome news also means that 7,520 low-earners will have been lifted out of paying Income Tax thanks to Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone said:

“Liberal Democrats are working for a stronger economy and a fairer society, so that everyone can get on in life. That’s why we are cutting taxes for ordinary working people.

“Liberal Democrats want fairer taxes, which is why we made raising the tax-free allowance our number one priority at the General Election – so important that we put it on the front page of our manifesto.

“When times are tough, with rising bills and wages not keeping pace with inflation, we want to give people real, practical help.

“Cutting Income Tax will not deal with all of those problems, but it will help. And I hope it will make a big difference to every family in Haringey, and this country.”

Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes £1bn childcare investment

Posted on 20th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed news that families in Haringey – and across the UK – are to get greater financial support for childcare, thanks to a major new Government initiative.

Liberal Democrat analysis shows that the £1bn boost to help parents with childcare costs could benefit around 10,972 families in Haringey.

The Coalition Government’s scheme will save the typical working family with two children up to £2,400 a year.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP has today welcomed the plans, which were announced by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, as “much needed help” for working families.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“An extra £1,200 for each child will make a real difference to families in Haringey and families across the country.

“Everyone knows that the cost of childcare is a big worry for many families. Almost a quarter of employed mothers say they would like to work longer hours but can’t do so because of the cost of childcare.

“Making sure all families, and mothers in particular, can afford to work is important to help build a stronger economy as well as deliver a fairer society. This has been an absolute priority for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats and I am delighted we are able to give parents this much needed help.”

Lynne Featherstone MP visits Muswell Hill LOCALgallery exhibition

Posted on 19th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP visited theLOCALgallery in Muswell Hill on Saturday, to view an exhibition of photographs and discuss measures to keep local trade alive in the area.

The event organiser (local business owner and photographer Matt Humphrey) also took the opportunity to unveil a new public portrait display of local traders who are speaking out in support of local trade, as part of a global art project called Inside Out. The project in Muswell Hill is being co-organised by Matt Humphrey and photographer David Gould.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green viewed the ‘Paris in the Sixties’ photographs by local photographer Alan Scales, and took a wander through the French themed street event on Avenue Mews.

The Liberal Democrat MP then gave a brief speech about the measures she is taking to support independent retailers and high streets – including her independent shops competition and a campaign for 30 mins free parking on high streets.

After the event, organiser Matt Humphrey said:

“It was great that Lynne could visit Avenue Mews and theLOCALgallery at the weekend. Our mews and the ‘Paris In The Sixties’ exhibition are prime examples of the hidden creative talents that are bountiful yet overlooked in N10.

“Through the Inside Out Project and portraits of local traders, we wanted to literally give a face to the plight that we are facing as independent local traders, shopkeepers and creatives. This is a theme that not only resonates within our area, but across the country, as high streets lose their individual characters and shops to become clones of one another.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I really enjoyed visiting this wonderful exhibition and gallery. I am so happy that Matt has taken the initiative to showcase local art, and bring the Inside Out project to Muswell Hill.

“In my constituency, we are lucky enough to have many unique, independent shops and retailers. During these tough times it is vital that we protect them. That’s why I’m running a competition to find our best independent shops, and campaigning for 30 minutes of free parking on high streets to encourage people to stop off at local retailers, rather than big multinationals.”

Lynne Featherstone MP meets Banksy building owners

Posted on 18th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone MP last Friday met the owners of Wood Green Investments Ltd. The company owns the property on which street artist Banksy painted his ‘bunting boy’ piece last year.

During the meeting, the representatives of Wood Green Investments said that the piece was taken without their knowledge, yet they would not be reporting the incident as a crime.

The representatives also said that they would allow their wall to be used for street art, provided that the Council protected the wall from now on.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green contacted the property owners in February after the Banksy piece disappeared from the wall, and ended up at an auction house in Miami.

The auction, however, was pulled at the last minute, and the exact whereabouts and current ‘owner’ of the piece remains unknown.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It is deeply disappointing that the property owners have chosen not to report this as a crime. If they really did not know anything until after the piece disappeared – then the person who currently has the Banksy piece is getting away with theft.

“Allowing the wall to be used for future street art is a nice gesture from Wood Green Investments – but what we really want is our Banksy back.

“I will continue to try and find out who has our Banksy, and hope that the property owners change their mind about reporting this as a crime.”

Lynne Featherstone MP slams Haringey Council over Lightfoot Road scandal

Posted on 18th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone wrote an urgent email to Haringey Council on Friday, after a local resident alerted her to a dangerous pothole on Lightfoot Road – the same road on which a man previously tripped on a pothole and suffered brain damage.

Last week, Haringey Council were ordered to pay £1 million in compensation to Kyle Bullock, who tripped on a three inch deep, fifteen inch wide pothole on Lightfoot Road in 2007. He spent four months in hospital and suffered a severe brain injury.

After the court judgement, the Council issued a statement saying it had: ‘introduced a comprehensive maintenance programme to prevent such accidents happening again.’

Despite these assurances, however, another local resident later tweeted a picture of a current large and dangerous pothole on Lightfoot Road.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone said:

“This is an absolute disgrace. A man was seriously injured and Haringey Council were forced to pay out £1million in compensation, yet they still leave gaping potholes unaddressed on the same road.

“It is insulting to tell residents that their maintenance programme will prevent accidents happening again, whilst the danger still remains.

“Haringey residents pay one of the highest Council Tax rates in London. The least we deserve in return is safe roads and pavements.

“In Haringey, we are unfortunately used to being let down by the Labour-run Council. Local residents deserve better.”

Today's Whittington March

Posted on 16th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Together with the Haringey Lib Dems, I joined the Whittington march today. We repeated our call for local health services to be protected.

The Whittington Board recently announced its intentions to sell off a third of the Hospital site and reduce the number of and staff at the hospital. It came as a shock to politicians, residents and staff alike and caused a great deal of concern.

It was, of course, only three years ago that we took to the streets to march, petition and fight against the Labour Government’s proposed closure of the Whittington A&E. We were successful then, as the community made it clear how important the hospital is to them.

Now the Hospital faces another challenge. But this is not the same as three years ago. The A&E is not under threat. And also – this time it is nothing to do with the Government (although many on the march with a purely political agenda would tell you otherwise.)

The Whittington Board have said that they are making these changes in order to improve their chances of becoming a Foundation Trust, which would secure a long term future for the Hospital.

We want the Hospital to be successful – and to be clear, we do not oppose selling off derelict buildings and using the money to improve maternity, for instance. Some changes could be positive and better for patients.

But we do have serious concerns about other parts of the plans, and we have some demands.

The Haringey Lib Dems and I are running a campaign to reflect these concerns. We don’t want any service lost without an equal or better replacement in place. We have serious concerns about how moving care into the community will be managed, and whether the appropriate social care would be provided. We also want the Whittington to go back to square one and consult residents.

That’s what we’ve been petitioning for, and we have collected 2,500 signatures so far. The future of the Whittington hospital and good quality health and social care is our priority. That’s the message we wanted to put across at the march, and this is the campaign we will continue to pursue.

You can sign the petition here.

UN Commission on Status of Women – Conclusions agreed by consensus

Posted on 16th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Having spent months lobbying across the world to try and ensure that at the end of the 57th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) we had agreed conclusions – when the good news came through last night – I was very relieved.

Last year when the theme was Rural Women – much to everyone’s surprise – consensus was not achieved and therefore there were no agreed conclusions. This may have passed many by (as this world meeting on women never gets the attention it deserves) but had this happened a second time – the consequences would have been very serious.

This year the theme was Violence Against Women – and with the world shocked at the rapes in India and the shooting of Malala (let alone the fact that violence against women and girls is epidemic across the world in all countries including the UK) focus and attention was very high. That didn’t, however, stop this negotiation going to the wire.

Not only did I (and the Secretary of State) spend a lot of effort lobbying across the world in advance – but when I was in New York at CSW I had many meetings with other ministers to persuade and discuss with both like-minded countries and with those of the other persuasion that we must deliver – for the sake of women across the world – agreed conclusions.

So when the good news came through last night – I was heartily relieved. Well done and thank you to all the team who worked so hard to deliver this successful result.

The news was tinged with a touch of sadness as, in announcing the result of the negotiations, Michelle Bachelet (the President of UN Women) announced that she was stepping down and returning to Chile.

Lib Dems slam response to unlawful Haringey Council investigation

Posted on 14th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

The judgement of a Judicial Review into Labour-run Haringey’s Children and Young Persons Service department was today handed down by a High Court judge. The Judge held that the Council acted indefensibly and unlawfully on an anonymous complaint against two parents.

The Review was granted in relation to a complaint by a parent about an aborted investigation into alleged abuse of their child. The Judge determined that Haringey acted unlawfully in that:

They did not launch relevant investigation at the right time
They made intrusive enquiries of their child’s GP and school before speaking with the family, contrary to regulations
Their belated attempt to launch Section 47 inquiry into allegation was flawed and was quashed

The Judge also ordered Haringey Council to pay £2,000 compensation to the parent under the Human Rights Act (Article 8 – right to family life.)

Cllr David Schmitz – Liberal Democrat, Harringay ward – commented:

“Section 47 enquiries are very serious. The Judge himself observed that they can easily damage the life, career and family relationships of anyone caught up in them. If Haringey had got its way on this case, it would have got away with threatening to use their powers against innocent parents, who had done nothing more than make entirely justified complaints about the way that council officers were ignoring safeguards which are in place to protect all of us.

“During the case, Haringey argued that the statutory guidance was getting in the way of child protection. That guidance was written for the purpose of teaching social workers everywhere the lessons that needed to be learnt from Haringey’s failures in the Baby P case. It is outrageous that the guidance should not be followed by Haringey itself.”

Cllr Katherine Reece – Haringey Liberal Democrat spokesperson for children – commented:

“It is such a shame that Haringey has been found to have failed yet again. In this case they have been found to have acted overzealously resulting in a breach of parents’ rights.

“This comes on top of the recent case of the Haringey baby left on a bus by a foster carer, they can’t get the balance right.

“These two cases confirm that despite recent progress Haringey Council’s children services still have a long way to go and still require improvement.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green commented:

“Not only did Haringey Council act unlawfully throughout the investigation, they have also breached the Human Rights Act and will have to pay compensation accordingly. Compensation following a Judicial Review is very rare, and indicates that the judge feels a real abuse of power has occurred.

“This is a damning verdict. Yet again, Haringey children’s services have failed. Even after Baby P, they still have not managed to get the department in order. Haringey Children, parents and residents deserve better.”

Flyer Article – Independent Shops Competition

Posted on 13th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Here’s my latest Muswell Flyer article on Independent Shops:

I’ve launched a competition to find our best local independent shops – and I’d like to invite everyone to take part via my website – www.LynneFeatherstone.org/Independent-Shops

There’s nothing I like more than taking a wander around my constituency and popping into some of our local independent retailers. From Highgate to Bounds Green – via Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Wood Green (to name but a few!) – we have independent antique shops, art galleries, bakeries, toy shops and more.

Far more often than not, our independents offer unique, high quality products, and the staff give excellent customer service. Many have wonderful shop fronts which contribute to our vibrant and diverse high streets.

But during these tough economic times, many of our local independents are struggling. Last year a Muswell Hill based retailer contacted me and reported months of poor trade around the Broadway.

The Labour Council isn’t doing our shops any favours either. They’ve raised high street parking charges to an extortionate £3 an hour, which is discouraging people from stopping off on our high streets. Instead, they go to superstores or shopping centres, where the parking is free or significantly cheaper.

I think it’s about time someone started standing up for our independent retailers. That’s why the Haringey Liberal Democrats and I launched the 30 minutes free parking campaign – which I wrote about here two months ago. We’re still fighting hard, pressuring the Council and collecting petition signatures on this campaign.

I also hope to encourage residents to start talking about our local shops by running a competition to find our best independent shops. I hope this will raise the profile of the constituency’s independents, and encourage more residents to try the retailers’ products and services.

Residents can vote for their favourite shops across three different categories:

Most attractive shop front
Best customer service
Best all-round independent shop

There are only two rules – the shop must be independent (not a chain store) and must be in my constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green.

By placing their votes in each category, residents will be entered into a prize-draw with the opportunity to win £100 to spend in one of their chosen shops. Residents have until the 30^th May 2013 to choose and vote for their favourites.

The winning retailers in each category will also be invited to parliament for a drink with me on the parliamentary terrace. All voters and nominated retailers will be invited to a big, local event in the summer to announce the winners.

The competition is already well underway. We have had over 500 nominations and it is very tight at the top! Many independents have agreed to actively participate, and are handing out voting slips to their customers.

Please do take part and nominate your favourite shops here: www.LynneFeatherstone.org/Independent-Shops

If you are a resident or retailer who would like further information, just email me: Lynne@LynneFeatherstone.org.

Thanks for taking part – I very much look forward to seeing who wins!

Apprenticeship numbers increase by 194% in Hornsey and Wood Green

Posted on 12th Mar 2013 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone has today welcomed a massive increase in the number of apprenticeships in her constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, and Haringey borough as a whole.

Final figures have revealed that there were 530 apprentices in Hornsey and Wood Green last year – a 194% increase compared to the last year of Labour’s Government.

In the entire borough of Haringey there were 1,350 apprentices, representing a 164% increase.

These figures have been released in tandem with National Apprenticeship Week, which aims to raise awareness and celebrate the successes of the apprenticeship scheme.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Apprenticeships are a brilliant way for young people to learn the skills and get the experience necessary for a successful career.

“Recently I visited the job centre in Wood Green and saw the positive impact apprenticeships have had on reducing unemployment – particularly amongst young people.

“Also, a young electrical engineer from Bounds Green was recently one of 10 finalists in the JTL National Apprentice Awards 2012.

“I’m proud that the Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have promoted and invested heavily in apprenticeships.

“The huge rise in apprentices in my constituency, and the borough as a whole, has clearly had a positive effect!”