Night thoughts

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I went through the night with Mike Mendoza last Saturday. No, it’s not a new man in my life – he’s the presenter of the most listened to night radio show.

LBC sent a car for me at half past midnight. Yep – even the Chair of Transport at the London Assembly has been known to give in to the motor car! And I was entirely grateful to do so on this occasion. Going out after midnight is an exciting but long ago forgotten experience.

It was a phone in. First up was what I thought of the Tory Shadow Home Secretary, David Davies, and his support for bringing back capital punishment.

I thought it was a clear sign that the temporary euphoria of getting rid of IDS was already evaporating to expose the real old-fashioned true nature of Tory politics. Hang ’em and flog ’em!

Next – did I think Simon Hughes should have replaced Susan Kramer as the Liberal Democrats’ mayoral candidate?

Yes I did. Sue is a friend and was an absolutely fabulous candidate in 2000. But once Simon put his hat in the ring, it was clear to the party that he could actually win the Mayoral contest – not just do a good job.

North Southwark and Bermondsey have returned Simon as their MP six times. And I know why – door-knocking there for him in the 1997 election, every door that opened seemed to have a resident who would say “Oh yes – Simon. He’s a lovely boy! He ‘elped me grandmother. He ‘elped me husband when we was in trouble…” and so on. He is much loved there. He is charismatic and he has vision.

Did I think that the shenanigans between Mayor Livingstone and Labour Mayoral candidate Nicky Gavron were bringing the mayoralty into disrepute? Yes, I did. It’s not that long ago that Tony Blair virtually declared Livingstone the devil incarnate. Leopard and spots are the words that TB should remember.

Indeed, at the very moment of his possible readmission to his beloved Labour Party Mayor Livingstone has (as usual) metaphorically dropped his trousers in public to embarrass Blair by his anti-Bush pronouncements and actions. How can TB reconcile Labour policies – pro-Bush, pro-PPP – with the Mayor’s avowed opposition (an opposition in this case that I endorse)?

All the talk of letting Livingstone back into Labour is just a rather desperate and sordid power play – Labour are scared of seeing Nicky Gavron finish an embarrassing fourth and so will do any sort of deal to avoid that.

It’s just the sort of clever-boys fixing that turns people off politics. Livingstone’s position isn’t much better – why is he so keen to rejoin a party responsible for so many policies he says he deplores? Principles seem in short supply all round.

Now while we’re on Bush – questions and comments poured in. So: no I didn’t think it was an appropriate time for President Bush to be invited on a State Visit. It had an aura of triumphalism which, given the situation, left a nasty taste. Exit strategies may get our joint troops out in due course but what we leave behind is still in question. By the time you read this the visit will have come and gone, and I hope that Bush was able to hear the demonstrations – to understand at first hand the very real and deep feelings that run through all stratas of our society.

And there were questions on congestion charging, rickshaws and cabbies, policing and racism – and so on. It was the most fun I have had in media terms for ages, and who knows – if I ever get booted out of politics, I wouldn’t half fancy a radio show!

Lunch at the Tower

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Lunch with the Governor of the Tower of London in the Tower of London.

Well – that was fun! Good lunch and very interesting history of the Tower plus extremely interesting insights from the Governor himself about living over the shop. Not repeatable!

Then a tour of the Tower and the Crown Jewels. I still think all that elaborate gold looks tacky – but pretty impressed

with the rocks.

Mayor's Question Time

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Today was Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall. As ever much of the debate was around transport issues – and as I lead on Transport for the LibDems as well as being Chair of the Transport Committee, I get to do all the talking.

Mayor Livingstone, the Tories, Labour etc al. – they all had a go at the LibDems for one thing or another. I can only assume that they are all feeling threatened. The Tories are apoplectic because we have come out against the Mayor’s proposals to extend the Congestion Charge westwards into Kensington & Chelsea. When the Tories are against congestion charging – no one blinks with surprise. But when the LibDems, who are 100% supporters of the congestion charge say no to the extension – then the Mayor really ought to take notice.

Firstly it’s premature. We won’t have any of the proper analysis from the monitoring data until next February – nothing about the impact on business, the economy or the social aspects of the charge. Secondly – it’s going to cost £120million that we haven’t got to set it up – and there will be roughly break even when up between income and running costs. When there is so much that needs doing, it wouldn’t be my first choice for that £120million.

Also – it’s the wrong technological way forward. We must move to Global Satellite Positioning so that we can target congested hot spots – the blunt tool of area charging won’t work to expand the scheme. The first central area was OK because there was a definable logic – people coming into and going home from work.

Congestion Charging needs to grow up and become far more sophisticated and planned for those areas that need it and want it anywhere in London – not just Zone 1.

Only fools (and Ken) rush in …

The other battle we had was over the Governments’ CriminJusticetic Bill to which the LibDems had put down an amendment. What the Government is suggesting is that anyone who is detained at a police station should have

a DNA test AND that the records should be held in perpetuity regardless of whether that person goes onto be charged or convicted. So even if completely innocent – that person would forever have their DNA on record. Moving towards a police state very fast at the moment with ID cards, CCTV cameras, removal of trial by jury.

Obviously there is a balance between catching and incarceratinging criminals and civil liberties – but it is too easy to become draconian in justice’s name and to wake up and find that we live in a state not so different to the communist states we used to loathe. Big Brother is knocking on our door.

If the Government wants to keep a DNA register of citizens – then let it fight for that and have a proper debate – not remove our freedoms by stealth.

Putting the world to rights

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Later in the evening in London’s Living Room (the reception area on top of City Hall with panoramic views of London) there was a joint reception between Mayor and Assembly for pan-London organisations. Spent a long time chatting to one of the witnesses from the morning session from Positively Women and Elizabeth Manero who heads London Health Link. I am sure we three women could put the world to rights just between us!

Rushed back to Highgate to a ‘shopping evening’ at one of the village gift shops and, much to my surprise, managed to buy quite a few bits and pieces. I am already panicking about Christmas …

HIV

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In the morning at the London Assembly’s Health Committee there was one of those really rare moments – when the evidence given by witnesses is riveting and new.

We are carrying out an investigation into AIDS /HIV in London – it is rising and these days unheard and unseen compared to its arrival on the scene years ago. Then we were all terrified by the unknown quantity it presented and haunted by our pasts.

One of the witnesses from one of the voluntary agencies was giving her own experience of being an African woman, HIV positive, arriving in this country with children – and how hard it was to deal with such a stigmatised illness, particularly coming from a culture where such things are not discussed and certainly not discussed with ones children.

MORE INVESTMENT NEEDED IN LOCAL LIBRARIES

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The Leader of the Lib Dems on Haringey Council last night called for more investment in the borough’s libraries.Ross Laird (Muswell Hill ward) was commenting on the latest report on the performance of the borough’s library service.

While welcoming the improvements in the running of the service, Cllr Laird raised concerns about the state of the borough’s library buildings and called for additional funding.

Ross Laird comments:

“While we all welcome the improvements that have been made to the library service, more needs to be done, and needs to be underpinned by investment in library buildings, many of which are in a poor state.

“As part of the Council’s budget planning for next year, no money has as yet been identified for these vital improvements, so the state of the buildings is a cause of continuing concern.”

Haringey full council

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Full council in Haringey Chamber. Full council often feels pointless and tonight was no exception.

The only moment of interest came when local residents came to make their presentation and present a petition for a pelican crossing on Priory Road (which I heartily support) and none of the microphones were working except the Mayor’s.

Fifteen minutes of embarrassing nothingness – until eventually the spokesperson for the deputation made the presentation from the Mayor’s mike on the dais. 800 odd signatures – I hope the Council acts as it is only a matter of time before there is a serious or fatal accident there.

BUS ROUTE – FEATHERSTONE CHAIRS MEETING WITH RESIDENTS

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As local residents focus on plans for a trial of the long-awaited Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage bus route, Lynne Featherstone has chaired a meeting at the invitation of the Highgate Society to hear the concerns of residents in Southwood Lane, Highgate, over the possible trial of the route in the lane.The meeting with residents followed an inch-by-inch walk of the route by Lynne Featherstone and Highgate councillor Neil Williams with TfL officials to highlight Southwood Lane’s concerns and to seek answers over TfL’s choice of the lane as a route.

TfL officials told the meeting that they felt the routing of the bus was sound – especially as buses have used the road in the past – but that they recognised the strength of feeling in Southwood Lane. They further said that they would call a halt within days if the trial ran into the sort of problems that the residents envisage. However, Southwood Lane residents rejected the trial and rejected the offer of TfL to bring a bus along the route at peak hours so residents could judge the situation for themselves.

Lib Dem GLA member Lynne Featherstone comments:

“Southwood Lane residents would prefer another route, and ideally so would I. However, with TfL claiming at this point in time that the routing is sound, they should be given the chance to show this via the trial. After so many years of campaigning by local groups, it would be a tragedy if this vital route does not move forward.”

Highgate councillor Neil Williams, who attended the meeting, adds: “Residents are particularly worried about the Southwood Lane routing, and I am pleased that Tfl has at least given a clear indication that they will put a stop to the trial if the problems feared do materialise.

“I will be watching the situation closely, and will continue to press Tfl to consider alternative routes for the future. With this in mind, the meeting highlighted the important point that roadworks required on alternative routes, while ruled out as too expensive for such a small trial, could be considered if the route were to expand in future.”

LIB DEMS URGE COUNCIL TO HELP PENSIONERS FIGHT TO KEEP THEIR PENSION BOOKS

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At Haringey’s Full Council meeting tonight, Liberal Democrat councillors will propose a motion that the Council should oppose plans by the Government to phase out the pension book as a method of pension collection. Pension books, which are used by over 8,600 older people in Haringey, are to be ended by 2005 as the Government-imposed timetable of change takes affect. The Lib Dems are concerned that people who are happy with the books are being forced to change to alternatives that are complicated and confusing.

The plan by the Government is to replace the pension book with three alternative ways by whichthe elderly can receive their pension:

·Into a normal bank or building society account
·Into a new basic bank account
·Through a new Post Office Card Account

The Lib Dems are unhappy that the pension book has not been allowed to remain alongside the new systems. They are also concerned about aspects of the alternative means of payment and will ask the Council to raise the matter with the Government.

The main concern that will be raised by Highgate councillor Neil Williams when he proposes this motion, is the complexity of the application process for the Card Account. The applicant will have to make at least one phone call, fill out two forms and visit the post office before their application is complete. Cllr Williams is also concerned about pensioners who forget their new card PIN numbers. There is currently no way that a pensioner can access their money without a PIN.

Cllr Williams hopes to have the full support from both sides of the chamber. He says that this motion’s aim is to ensure that the elderly in Haringey do not have to worry about how to claim their pension.

Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate) comments:

“The Government has made a decision without assessing the worry and stress that these changes will have on much of our elderly population. Over 40% of pensioners in Haringey use the pension book. These are not changes that will effect a small minority, but a huge section of our elderly population, especially in the east of the borough.”

Cllr Peter Floyd, of Crouch End, who will second the motion, adds:

“I am also concerned that pensioners face further problems with the closure of post office branches in the borough. Two within Haringey have already gone, and others near the borough have also closed, with further major closures in the pipeline. This is a further attack on pensioners’ ability to receive payments in ways which are familiar to them.”

Through the Night with Mike Mendoza

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A car came at half past midnight to whisk me off to LBC.

Through the Night with Mike Mendoza was the programme – a night phone-in for the insomniacs of the capital. I love the intimacy and womb-like feeling of radio studios, particularly at this hour – in the dead of the night.

Loads of people telephoning in, and the presenter Mike Mendoza was experienced in handling the variety of human life with care and consideration. One woman phoned about how people who aren’t well and have to go to hospital should be exempt from the congestion charge and rambled fairly incoherently on about her experiences. Mike passed me a note just tipping me that she had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Peoples’ lives are so complex.

Most of the questions were quite political – and for once as I was there as a LibDem I could give political answers – and not in the usual 30 second soundbite way: I had an hour and a half. Complete bliss!