Gay Marriage is just live and let live!

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To paraphrase – I don’t agree with those who have spoken out against same-sex marriage – but I absolutely defend their right to do so. What I don’t defend and have been quite horrified by are those who have used extreme language or hysteria in pursuit of their argument. Hopefully we won’t hear or see that again as this live and let live policy progresses.

But you don’t have to agree with it to allow those who do want to get married to do so. If two same sex people in a love relationship want to demonstrate their love and commitment to each other in the universal institution of marriage – making  public promises for a lifelong monogamous commitment to each other until death do them part –  then our role as a Government is to facilitate that union.

Ever since I first introduced the idea that the Coalition Government should legislate on same sex marriage – in addition to state conducted marriage – there have also been a number of religious organisations who want to be able to conduct same sex marriages: Quakers, Liberal Jews and some Unitarian Churches for example. I am hopeful that when the Government response to the equal marriage consultation is published later this week that those religions that wish to carry out marriages will be permitted to do so. That is religious freedom. Of course the big fear from those religions who don’t want to carry out such services is that they will be forced to do so. Ironically, if the legislation is permissive on religious freedom to conduct same sex marriages – that will protect absolutely those who do not wish to do so in statute.

Of course I have observed the ranks on the Conservative back benches who are very vocal against same sex marriage. And today in the Sunday Telegraph another Conservative group of senior Conservatives have come out fighting for the proposals. I am pleased to see the progressives in the Conservative Party fighting back. Nick Herbert MP has been a stalwart supporter and ally in helping move this agenda forward all the way through. And I just would have thought that Conservatives would have learned the lessons of their past. Anyway – that is their business.

Same sex marriage is just a live and let live policy. Stonewall put it best:

‘To all those who don’t agree with same sex marriage Stonewall’s strong advice is not to marry someone of the same sex.’

I am also hopeful that one day when this legislation and time has passed – instead of labelling this gay marriage, equal marriage or same sex marriage – it will just be marriage!

 

Lynne Featherstone MP livid as Haringey Council swipes money from local schools

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Lynne Featherstone MP has today expressed both concern over the future of Schools funding in Haringey, and anger at Haringey Council, who devised the new funding formula.

The indicative funding figures project that twelve schools in Hornsey and Wood Green will receive less funding for the 2013/14 academic year, in comparison to this year’s allocation. The worst affected school is projected to lose over £97,000. Other schools in the constituency will receive substantially less funding than they expected.

Schools in the borough had expected a high rise in their funding, following the success of Lynne Featherstone MP’s fairer education funding campaign and the Government’s pupil premium policy. As a result of the campaign success and pupil premium policy, Haringey will receive an extra £16 million in funding from the Government for education.

The Haringey Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP are now vociferously criticising the Council, for putting together a formula which actually takes funding away from some schools, despite the boost of funds overall.

Haringey Liberal Democrats Education spokesperson, Cllr Katherine Reece said:

“Haringey Council had the final say on what went into the new formula. They have placed too much emphasis on deprivation factors. These are very important, but so are other factors like the number of children with special needs.

“The figures are not final. New pupil numbers and pupil premium need to be considered. But I am still concerned. The pupil premium should give schools extra, not plug a funding gap caused by a poorly constructed funding formula.

“Funding across the borough should be fair. We will keep fighting hard for this.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Having campaigned tirelessly to secure fairer funding and extra money for Haringey’s schools – I am absolutely livid that the Council have constructed the funding formula this way.

“They have manipulated the formula to swipe the money from schools in my constituency and load it into the east of the borough. It is a cynical act which will harm the schools, teachers and students of Hornsey and Wood Green. This is just typical of the Labour Council – Haringey deserves better than this.

“I have written to Clare Kober and demanded to know why this has happened. I have written to all head teachers advising them of the action I am taking. I will be sure to keep them updated on the progress I make.”

An unwanted Christmas present from Haringey Labour

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Here’s my latest email to constituents in Hornsey and Wood Green – 

It’s getting closer to the festive period, and Labour-run Haringey Council have an unwanted gift in store for vulnerable residents – a 20% increase in their Council Tax bill.

Next year, Council Tax benefits will be replaced by a Council Tax localisation scheme. Pensioners will be unaffected, but all adults of working age who were receiving benefit may have to pay the extra money – if the Council refuses to cover the cost.

In these tough economic times, the Government cannot give local authorities an endless supply of money, so some funding has been reduced. But it is down to local authorities – like businesses, government and families – to adapt and prioritise their spending.

Some Liberal Democrat controlled councils such as Cheltenham will not pass on any costs to their residents, so they will be unaffected by the change. Others such as Bristol have applied for funding from the Government to make sure residents don’t lose out.

We’re calling on Haringey Council not to make vulnerable residents pay more. We think they should instead cut their massive publicity budget (£2.5 million in one year!) and cut wasteful spending.

The Council could also decrease their outrageous spending on agency staff – £38m on agency staff since 2010 and £1.6m on consultants in the last 18 months.

Cutting this expenditure would ensure that vulnerable residents do not lose out in the New Year.

Please do send me your views on this. Please also pass this email on to any friends, colleagues or neighbours who may be affected.

Lynne Featherstone MP shows support for local soup kitchen initiatives

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Photo taken by photographer Richard Gardner

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, visited the Muswell Hill Churches Soup Kitchen at Muswell Hill Baptist Church on Sunday.

The Kitchen – which serves around 50 people per night, four nights a week – has been providing meals for homeless people for 19 years. It is staffed entirely by volunteers and the food is donated by local churches, schools, synagogues, and businesses including Dunns, Sainsburys and a local butchers.

Alongside providing meals, the kitchen also offers supportive services which aim to empower visitors to start new lives away from homelessness. As a result of the kitchen’s wellbeing programme, several guests have already been resettled into flats and rooms. The kitchen leader reports that one-to-one motivational sessions have also been very effective, as have the housing advice surgeries.

The volunteers have also introduced a ‘munch box’ initiative – large boxes made from scrap wood, which volunteers hope will encourage food to be collected throughout the year.

Following the visit, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“It was a great pleasure to visit the soup kitchen and see the volunteers in action. It is great project, providing essential food to those who are really in need.

“But this is also more than just a soup kitchen. Through their wellbeing programme the kitchen is looking to support homeless people and help them overcome their challenging situations.

“I will be writing to schools in Hornsey and Wood Green to ask if they would like to support the kitchen by having a munch box. I am happy to assist the volunteers and kitchen leader with their project in any way I can.”

 

Grocery Code Adjudicator will get the power to fine supermarkets

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Lynne Featherstone MP has today welcomed the announcement by Liberal Democrat Competition Minister, Jo Swinson MP, which confirmed that the new Grocery Code Adjudicator will be able to fine large supermarkets who deal with suppliers unfairly.

Prior to the debate on Monday, dozens of Hornsey and Wood Green constituents contacted Lynne Featherstone MP and asked her to ensure that the Adjudicator is as strong and effective as possible, to ensure suppliers get a fair deal. The Liberal Democrat MP contacted Jo Swinson MP to represent her constituents’ concerns.

The Coalition Government has now listened to concerns and given the Adjudicator more power to protect farmers and other small suppliers.

Following the announcement, Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said:

“I was more than happy to represent my constituents’ concerns on this issue.

“Too often, the farmer or small supplier is squashed under the might of the major supermarkets that dominate our daily shopping. That is why I and the Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for a strong, independent regulator that has real teeth to stand up for hard-working suppliers.

“Liberal Democrats are working hard to create a stronger economy and that means we need to ensure everyone is treated fairly. That is why the beefed-up powers for the Grocery Code Adjudicator are an important step forward.”

Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes police response to Linden Road burglaries

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Lynne Featherstone MP last week visited Linden Road in Muswell Hill, following a recent spate of burglaries in the area.

In November three houses were burgled in the space of two weeks. A car was also stolen and on one occasion an armed response unit was called.

The Liberal Democrat MP subsequently received numerous emails from constituents, who were worried about safety in their local area.

The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has since been making enquiries into the police response to the incidents. The safer neighbourhood team for the area are treating these burglaries as a priority.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Muswell Hill, Gail Engert, commented:

“Burglaries are always distressing for the residents concerned, and their neighbours. Muswell Hill Councillors work closely with our local police Safer Neighbourhood team.

“At a meeting in November between local residents, the police and Councillors, Linden Road was made a priority. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“I was shocked to hear about these incidents. People should feel safe in their own homes.

“I was, however, glad to be made aware of the burglaries, and to hear that the local police are treating this as a priority. I hope the quick police reaction will prevent further burglaries here, and in the surrounding areas.”

Lynne Featherstone MP gives speech at Westminster Fly-In

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Lynne Featherstone MP last month gave a speech at Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Westminster Fly In at Parliament.

The Fly-In is the biggest event in Breakthrough’s Campaigning and Advocacy Network calendar. For the past 13 years, hundreds of campaigners and advocates from across the UK have attended this flagship campaigning event. The aim is to raise the importance of breast cancer in Westminster and to put breast cancer priorities on the Government’s agenda.

The Liberal Democrat MP spoke about her parliamentary background and duties, representing constituents on health matters, and why engaging politicians on breast cancer issues is so important. The MP for Hornsey and Wood Green then took questions from the floor.

After the event, Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“It was a privilege to speak at this event in Westminster, which was very well organised and attended.

“In the past, I have fought hard to ensure all women in Haringey and North London have access to breast cancer screening. I am very happy to see Breakthrough Breast Cancer campaigning to increase awareness and for better treatments and screening.  I wish them all the best in their future campaigns.”

World AIDS Day

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I recently blogged about HIV and AIDS here following my visit to the AIDS Consortium AGM. And of course – today is World AIDS Day.

There is a message from Nick Clegg on the DFID website setting out some of our work on HIV and AIDS. And it was good to see David Cameron too raising the issue of the number of people in this country who are infected and don’t even know.

Whether here or in Africa – the crucial step is to get tested. The world has moved on so far, thank goodness, from those early terrifying days and years. Now we can live with AIDS – so long as we know our status.

Pinkham Way waste contract delayed until March

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Haringey Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) have delayed the bidding period for a contractor to run their proposed waste plant at Pinkham Way.

Originally the authority was due to sign a deal with a contractor for waste services in the seven boroughs covered by the NLWA in the New Year.

The Liberal Democrats in Haringey have been campaigning against a waste plant at Pinkham Way. Over a thousand people have signed the Lib Dem petition against the plant.

The Lib Dems have said the delay is an opportunity to think again about the contract and are urging the NLWA and Haringey Council to call a halt to the Pinkham way project.

Because Haringey Council is a member of the NLWA, two Labour councillors, Nilgun Canver, Environment Cabinet Member and George Meehan, former Leader of the Council are board members of the NLWA.

The delay follows a recent Council debate called by the Local Liberal Democrats and a delegation of local residents concerned about the plans for a waste processing plant at Pinkham Way made a presentation of their case.

Cllr Jim Jenks, Lib Dem spokesperson for the Environment, comments:

“The delay in handing out the waste contract is an opportunity for the NLWA and Haringey Council to think again about Pinkham Way.

“This contract is wrong for Haringey. The last thing that local residents want is this waste plant on their doorstep and the council and NLWA now have a chance to change their minds.”

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

“Now is the time for the NLWA and Haringey Council to finally call a halt to these disastrous plans to build a waste plant at this thoroughly unsuitable site.

“I will continue to work with the Pinkham Way Alliance, local residents and my Lib Dem colleagues to stop a waste plant being built at Pinkham way.”

Lynne Featherstone MP delighted as the Energy Bill enters Parliament

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Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, yesterday welcomed the introduction of the Energy Bill to Parliament.

The Bill will put in place a legal framework to transform our electricity market from fossil fuel dependent to low carbon by 2030. The Liberal Democrats believe that this will help achieve legal obligations to meet the 2020 European renewables target and to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 – as set out in the Climate Change Act, which was supported by all parties in 2008.

The reforms have been worked on for two years by two Liberal Democrat Secretaries of State, Chris Huhne and Ed Davey. The Bill will bring in an estimated £110bn investment and support an estimated 250,000 jobs in the clean electricity industry and supply chain.

Commenting, Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government have secured a good deal for households who are worried about rocketing energy bills, and also secured a good deal for the environment by making sure we will finally move from fossil fuel to low carbon.

“Despite the arguments of those who would rather ignore the need to deal with climate change, the Lib Dems have delivered a policy that means the UK will honour our legally binding climate change targets, keep the lights on and do it at the lowest cost to bill payers.”

Further information on the Energy Bill here