Tag Archives: pmqs

Pubcast

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PMQs saw the return of Hague. Still great at this – but it never carried out to the country or upped the Tory vote. Blair was fizzing over the coming debate in the afternoon – a debate on the Terror Laws coming back from the Lords – who had amended the original Bill to take out the offence of ‘glorification’ and several others.

Tony was in a right strop – and posturing – and over-doing it. He always seems to believe that if he appears to be passionate enough – body and soul Blair stake your life on it – somehow it makes it right.

I was leading for the Lib Dems on the second string of amendments – where I was trying to persuade the Government to take out the bit about ‘in the opinion of a constable’. The Government want to leave it to a constable to decide whether material is ‘unlawfully terrorist related’ and should therefore be taken off the net by the Internet Service Provider’.

Scuse – me! We wanted judicial oversight to that decision. Police constables are not trained to make such judgements – and a police officer’s opinion should not be the arbiter of the terror laws. Anyway – we lost the lot. Depressing once again.

The only light-hearted moment was more on yesterday’s comment about ‘gnawing on vitals’ – Stephen Pound came over and sat next to us and the story had got back to him. He took it in good humour!

I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath. I must watch what I say under my breath.

Evening drinks with journos for Chris Huhne’s campaign. Chris himself had gone to Cambridge for a hustings. But lots of journos turned up and the vibes are pretty good – but no idea what the ‘armchair’ members are likely to do. Find I am being interviewed by Recess Monkey and Guido Fawkes (not their real names!!) – cannot imagine what will be up on their website. It’s called a pub-cast (as opposed to podcast I assume). Lively duo – but left a recorder running for a very long time in a pub!

Channel Four political awards

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Thirty plus children from Alexandra Park School came to Parliament today. They had the tour, sat in the chamber for Prime Minister’s Questions – PMQs – and then came to question me for half an hour in a room I booked in Portcullis House.

Straight in – no hesitation – what should the public think of politicians who lie? So I gave them a very long and very direct answer – on the whole sad story of why politicians fall from grace. They were very condemnatory of George Galloway – and much, much more. I like it when children are lively and engaged as these young people were.

The Parliamentary Education Unit has produced a new brochure for young visitors to the House – and I even star on one page!

The afternoon is taken up with the police mergers debate. Nothing new to add since it was debated before Christmas. Labour’s plans are still wrong – combining illogical areas to fit in with the government’s regionalisation, hugely expensive and will not fix the real issues. Expensive nightmare! And ordinary you and me will have a double whammy. We will pay extra in taxes for the extra costs but also have less a less local and less accountable police force (except in London which remains unchanged).

I rush away at the end to go to Channel 4 Political Awards. Have been nominated for the Rising Star award – which is quite an accolade and only awarded once in every term of parliament. I am up against two Labour and one Tory. Given that it is one member of parliament one vote – I suspect I won’t win. It is a star-studded (ish) affair and I am seated next to Tony Benn (great person to sit next to) and Michael Howard on the other side of him.

They have put together packages of each category’s nominees with people, journalists or other MPs talking about them. I won’t spoil it all by giving it away here – but it will be on Channel 4 on Monday at 8pm. There were copious jokes at George Galloway’s expense – and the LibDems didn’t get away scot-free from what passed for jokes.

Meeting Ken Livingstone again

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Ring Peter Hendy to congratulate him. He has been chosen as the one (out of the two applying) for the job as Transport Commissioner for London, taking over from wiley Kiley. Peter was bus supremo – and we have argued across the transport spectrum for years now. And I still want a full time service on the hard fought for 603! What I always really like about Peter is his hands-on approach.

Whenever I put out a press release that he didn’t like – be it about the ‘free’ bendy buses or the ‘bursting into flames’ bendy buses – or whatever – he would phone me on my mobile and give me hell. Despite our opposite positions – we always got on well and I think he will be a great Commissioner. Look forward to seeing his negotiating style with the government. And – on the occasions when he was wrong – eventually he would admit I was right.

My favourite was over AVL – the system of countdown which tells passenger when the bus will be along and is plotted on a computer. Terrible system – never worked properly. I always told Peter that it was pointless finishing implementing an outmoded useless system across the rest of London (it was half in). Have to say – gave me great pleasure the day he told me I had been right all along. Anyway – he is a good thing and I hope to see London improve under his stewardship.

Sonia from the LSE is shadowing me today as part of ‘LSE Women in Westminster’. She and Mette, my researcher, come to Home Affairs Team meeting. We always run through all the Home Affairs Bills with each of the team responsible for that Bill – both Lords and Commons. Mark Oaten (Shadow Home Secretary) heads the team. Updates on Religious Hatred Bill – coming back for another row I think to the Commons soon; ID cards in trouble for the Government – as may be the Terror Laws soon. The Government seem to be having a go at getting back to 60 days on detention without charge. I trust the Lords will stick to the 28 we conceded in the Commons.

Rush off to Prime Ministers’ Questions (PMQs) next. Will Ming pass the test? Well – his question was on the Soham murders – so the House fell silent. And he was absolutely fine – not that in my view PMQs should have any sway. It’s just a blood sport. I do wonder why jeering, leering and making rude gestures is rated so highly by the boys and the media!

I race to City Hall for a London Day event with my old sparring partner – Ken Livingstone. He gives me a double peck on the cheek and I observe that he is clearly missing me since I left. He denies this assertion and tells me what a terrible thing we have done to that nice Charles. And what’s wrong with a drink anyway? Well – this from the man who claims to get bored at parties and only drank three glasses of chardonnay! Hey, Ho.

The lunch was fine – and then Ken orated. He is a good speaker – something to do with nasal tones and trying to shock. I learned a lot from Ken during my five years as an Assembly Member (only the good bits) so have a lot to thank him for in as much as I learned to keep in mind when I speak the audience outside the room as well as those present. And to be direct!

Ken wittered on for some time about water and desalination – but his surprise announcement was his endorsement of Simon Hughes as LibDem leader. Not sure if that’s the kiss of death for Simon!

David Cameron's debut

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Off bright and early to Parliament for a ‘Green Ministers’ breakfast briefing on the proposed Marine Bill – still in its infancy. I am the ‘Green Minister’ for our Home Office team. Our manifesto commitment was to interweave green issues into the heart of all issues – so each Lib Dem team has its own Green Minister.

Today’s subject is really interesting – although not directly related to my constituency (being landlocked). It is helpful to be briefed by the experts in the field of marine life to understand the issues. What strikes me is the point they make about us having land planning laws and regs until they are coming out of our ears – but virtually nothing for our seas. Rare species and environments are disappearing, virtually nothing is protected and there seem to be no rules about priorities in terms of planning at sea. So someone can create a port – anywhere – with no regard to damage by placement and no requirement to even consider it. At least the Government is prepared to bring forward the legislation – but not all the departments seem fully engaged and you need the ODPM and the DTI fully on board!

Home Affairs team meeting is followed by Prime Ministers’ Questions. Of course, it’s David Cameron’s debut! He did really well on his first bite of the cherry, nicely telling off Hilary Armstrong for sitting there shouting childish comments at him. She does this all the time and it is unedifying and a public telling off saw her blush nicely. However, he didn’t make much impact on his environment question – I guess the Tories and environment caring, sharing are still not believable even with that nice David Cameron saying he agreed with Tony Blair on this and education.

Tony B pointed out to the Notting Hill Prince that if he agreed with it all – he had better vote for it and the budget to fund it. They were both well-behaved – which personally I found quite refreshing. However, I suspect that the Tories agreeing with Tony Blair and the Government line is a one trick pony. Tony Cameron can’t say that every time he speaks – it just won’t ring true or (I suspect) be deliverable. Still an adequate start. Style 8 – content 3!

Now Charles Kennedy, on the other hand, asked a stonkingly good question on Extraordinary Rendition (that’s the American policy of picking up suspects around the world, and flying them off on secret flights to secret locations with no trial, no legal representation and no accountability). Charles put Tony B on the back foot for not knowing what he was talking about and not telling Jack Straw – anything! And this is what question time should be about – serious stuff.

Dash back to my office to do an interview with the Westminster Hour to go out Sunday night on Cameron and what it means for the LibDems. Pontificate – but the truth is – who knows fopr sure … yet!

Last port of the day is attendance at St Andrews Church in Alexandra ward to see the local amateur dramatic society perform three plays. This is their last outing after 81 years – as the Church is renovating (lottery money) and is taking away their storage room and the stage which will make it impossible to go on. Such a shame. I don’t quite understand as when I visited the Church recently to look at the plans for the renovation I thought they had built in storage for the theatre company and I didn’t remember the Vicar saying that they would have to go. Must write and ask if any chance of them staying – somehow.

The production was very professional. I used to do a fair amount of am / dram myself from the age of about 9 until about 22! It took me back to those days. And as I have been told that ‘politics is showbiz for ugly people’ I obviously found an alternative outlet for my thespian aspirations.

Policing in Haringey

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My sister and her husband came to Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today. Given that I only get four allocated tickets for guests for PMQs per year – and these were my first personal guests – and the allocated days were given back in May – we got lucky! This was Michael Howard’s swan song – and it was pure theatre. Personally, whilst huge fun on occasion – PMQs is the most unedifying of political boys stuff you can get with all the shouting, barracking and point-scoring that goes on.

Put excellently by my colleague Jo Swinson, the youngest MP in the House at 25, who had Question 3 on the order paper. (‘Order paper’ – another piece of Parliamentary jargon; think of it like a detailed agenda for the day, listening all the business to be done). Jo’s question was:

“As the Prime Minister was saying goodbye to the fourth Tory Leader, is it not also time to say goodbye to the yah-boo style of Prime Minister’s Questions?”

Tony Blair had clearly been briefed on anything local to Jo’s constituency that she might ask as a supplementary question. (Your first question gets printed in advance, but normal MPs then get one supplementary –Michael Howard gets more – the contents of which Tony Blair doesn’t get advanced notice of) . He had clearly been briefed on all the national issues that might arise. But he clearly was left briefless – if you know what I mean – by Jo’s very clever and very direct questions.

“Yes” said the Prime Minister!

In the afternoon, as a member of the Environmental Audit Committee, I was questioning the Government about instituting good practise in terms of commissioning by the Government – green commissioning. What a wet duo came. If our green credentials rest on this lot – we are doomed. The planet has had it. Lack of enthusiasm for their chosen subject would be an understatement. I was truly gob-smacked by their lacklustre performance and seeming disinterest in the whole subject.

Thankfully, the Minister for such matters, followed on as the next ‘witness’. Whilst making virtually no progress (or snail-like progress if you prefer) at least he was enthusiastic and knew his stuff.

After close of play at Westminster I rush back to Hornsey & Wood Green for the Police Consultative Committee at the Civic Centre. The new local Commander, Simon O’Brian is there and gives his first vision for his time in charge of policing in our borough of Haringey. He knows the borough – which in my view is a great advantage. The thing I could never understand when I was on the Met Police Authority was the chess game the higher-ups played with borough commanders. The Met in its wisdom seems to rate Borough Commander as virtually a short-term job – moving commanders on every couple of years. Whereas to me, knowledge is not only power – but the only way to get the intelligence on who and how things happen, I think it should be five years minimum in post for borough commanders and rate the pay of the more senior officers. This post is the one that makes the real difference to all of us mortals scuttling around trying not to get mugged.

I asked him how he proposed to take the ‘debate’ that Ian Blair (Met Commissioner) says he wants to have with the public over policing forward. I am not sure the methodology is in place – and quite frankly – what local people still want is someone local to answer the phone when they call in about a non-urgent issue. Not an answer-phone when no one ever phones back – but a real human being who knows the area. And they want the police to come when they call. And we all want to see police on the beat (getting better!). It’s not rocket science.

Terror Bill

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On Thursday I was absolutely determined to get called in the Third Reading Debate on the Terror Bill as I wanted very much to get what my consultation with local Muslims had delivered onto the record.

The Chamber was relatively and eerily empty by comparison with the high drama of Wednesday’s votes – and so I got my chance after about the first four hours of bobbing up and down at the end of every speech.

I made two basic points: the first was to relate back the results of the consultation. The Prime Minister at PMQs (Prime Minster’s Question Time) had asserted that Muslims did not want to be associated with being against this Bill – and the inference was that everything with them was therefore hunky-dory. Well – it clearly wasn’t so simple and I read out the Secretary of the Mosque’s email to me as it makes moving reading.

There was no division at the end of the debate. Basically – the Government’s defeat yesterday means that the outstanding issues over ‘glorification’ and the definition of ‘terrorism’ will have to be sorted in the Lords. Now the aftermath of the Government defeat is the running news story. From what I can make out listening to John Reid – it was Parliament that got it wrong; Tony Blair is right. That statement appalled me. The democratic duty of Parliament and the will of Parliament were clear.

In the evening I had invited, with the help of Merel Ece, key members of the Turkish, Turkish Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot communities in to discuss informally with me the key issues for their communities. Overwhelmingly – it is education. Of course there is concern about Cyprus, minority rights in Turkey and autonomy of some sort for the Kurds – but it is here in this country that the main thrust of their problems lie. The attainment record in our schools is extraordinarily low – and relatively little seems to be being done, although some good projects are happening (at least one here in Haringey) but there is no coordination of best practise. There is clearly also a problem with the Home Office in terms of visas for students. The other issue that stood out was the lack of recognition for the Alevi – a faith and a culture but not a race.

So now I feel I have put faces to names and issues and it was a really interesting couple of hours. Simon Hughes MP also popped in to give a little troll through Liberal Democracy and our position on the international issues – which was really appreciated.

Blunkett's demise

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As I drove in today listening to the radio, the news started to roll across one of the two big stories of the day – from Blunkett may resign – to – hasn’t turned up to Pensions Select Committee – to – coming out of Downing Street – to had handed in his resignation.

I don’t think there was any way out for him really. I was talking to Menzies Campbell (Lib Dem deputy leader) later in the day who was saying (in jest) that it was my fault for asking the question and that other Ministers should be afraid.

I asked him whether he thought it would have made any difference if Blunkett had chosen, instead of attacking me for daring to ask a question about whether his judgement being so publicly called into question meant he was still able to do his job as a minister, to instead say something like ‘the Honourable Lady is right. I have had so many personal disasters in recent times that I have done things, albeit unwittingly, that have resulted in my making errors of judgement – but I apologise to the House and am putting all in order as the job I have to do is the single most important thing on this nation’s agenda and on mine …’ Menzies said he thought that contrition went a long way in the House. But contrition so isn’t David Blunkett. His position worsened between Monday’s questions and today – and the inevitable conclusion was reached.

It is extraordinary that a man so brilliant in a work situation (whether you love or hate his policies) could be so floored by personal relationships – but that’s just the truth of how life is.

Prime Minister’s Questions followed quickly on – and Tony B decided on a strange defence of his actions vis a vis Blunkett. He said that Blunkett had broken the Ministerial Code – but that he shouldn’t go. He said that it wasn’t a sacking offence. This shouldn’t be anything to do with what Blair or any other Prime Minister thinks is ‘serious’ or not. So I would suggest that the decision is taken out of the Prime Minister’s hands – and that there is an independent panel to decide about such matters. You simply cannot have a Ministerial Code that is broken and have a Prime Minister saying basically – well it doesn’t matter.

On the run and wounded Blair looked weak as he wanly defended himself against accusations of being a lame duck as power and influence and friends in the Cabinet drained away. The colour drained away too from his face. Nasty business today.

And it got worse as we spent the rest of the day debating the Terror Bill where the Government was forced into retreat on its proposals for extending detention for 90 days without charge. Having come within one vote of defeat on an earlier amendment – Charles Clarke (who is no fool) backed down and conceded talks –  thus avoiding a vote against the proposals. We’ll see what happens. Only other thing to report is dashing out into pouring rain to meet with the lobby for Trade Justice. There was a Hornsey & Wood Green delegation and I am so glad I was able to get out and talk to them (the votes and getting out the chamber was not easy).

Nuclear power

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After the Lib Dem Home Office team meeting, where we discuss our position on the relevant bills going through Parliament, I decide I’ve too much work to do to go to Prime Ministers Questions and instead head off to my office. At 2.30pm we have the first ‘evidence’ session of the Environmental Audit Select Committee where we are looking at energy. With the Government raising the nuclear flag again – we are alert to what may be coming down the line.

Darfur and Incitement to Religious Hatred

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International Development Questions – and I have Oral Question Number 4. I am asking the Minister about Darfur. The Chamber – at 11.55 when I get called to ‘put’ the question – is heaving as Prime Ministers’ Questions follows.

I ask the Government if they do not now recognise the need for the United Nations Security Council to increase the presence of the African Union and strengthen their mandate so that the level of protection is increased in Darfur. The situation there is so insecure and unstable that refugees and internally displaced persons are still unlikely to return. The Minister is nice about it – but basically says no.

Then it is Prime Ministers’ Questions – always a blast!

Then I am into the second session of the Committee Stage on the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. I know that the following day, for the two Thursday sessions, Alistair (my Lib Dem colleague on the committee) is going to have to leave me on my own as he has to return to Orkney for a prior commitment. However, by the time he leaves just before the end of today’s session, all our amendments on which we have to lead will have been moved. So I will only have to interject on the Tory amendments and general arguments.

Best laid plans of mice and men … Dominic Grieve (for the Conservatives) makes a brilliant argument on one of the amendments – but it takes an hour – so Alistair has to leave and I am left to introduce amendments myself.

And I do. And it is absolutely terrifying. And it goes fine. I make the points – albeit briefly in comparison to my learned other members – and get out alive. I have always been thrown in the deep end – seems to be my destiny. I remember becoming Leader of the Opposition on Haringey Council when I had only visited one meeting in my life. I became Chair of Transport on the London Assembly – when I had never chaired anything in my life!

It’s always terrifying – but it is the best way on this earth to learn. So I guess I was grateful – but it was (even for me) a testing experience.

Prime Minister's Questions

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I missed the first Prime Minister’s Questions as I had to attend Mayor’s Question Time at City Hall a couple of weeks ago – but today I am in situ and waiting for this contest. Tony gets himself into all sorts of trouble over the EU Constitution mess we are in. I think it is probably a very good lesson for politicians not to forget that the people in the end have a way of expressing themselves and whilst I am for a new constitution – I think it is quite good to get a kick up the backside and have to re-examine both guiding principles and practicality of implementation and consequences.

Interesting to me (trying to learn procedure so that I can join in) that in these questions – there is no notification on the Order Paper as to what the question will be and the chosen ones get to ask the Prime Minister the actual question – but don’t have a supplementary (unless they are the Leader of the Official Opposition etc). Mere mortals – just get the one go – which in the end means the Prime Minister generally wins. Thus democracy is always stacked in favour of the chosen ones.