Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Surgery all morning. Variety of cases - but the Dukes Avenue humps are still giving cause for concern. Until such time as Lib Dems take over the council, the sort of cock-ups created by Labour are impossible to properly correct.

There was an agreed plan for the area which took three years to get the agreement for. But then when some residents objected to part of the works, the council introduced significant changes to the plans – without proper consultation - and – just to add to the fun – designed badly the some of the changes. So one road after another spoke up and said it wanted the plans for its bit changed and many of those who liked the original plans are now unhappy too! And now it seems everyone is writing or coming to see me. So - the current situation is that there has been another consultation. The results are being analysed at the moment.

Meanwhile, I will continue to fight for holistic planning. I will suggest to my councillor colleagues if/when we take control after next May’s elections, that we plan better than Labour and that when there is an agreed solution we stick to it. We also need to get Transport for London to look again at the journey times for buses on Colney Hatch Lane as so many people email me with how delightful it is when the lights don't work.

In the afternoon, just one meeting - with TNG, a skill and training group who operate nationwide but seem to do really good work in Haringey. I am particularly interested in the mentoring work they do with youngsters who have had ASBOs served on them. ASBOs are a last resolution – and don’t do anything to bring their subjects back into society - which would be my aim. They agree to send more material on this to me.

And that's nearly it. My holiday plans have changed - I was going away in August but now I am going mid-August to mid-September - so instead of blogging off for August as usual, I'll be taking a break in a couple of weeks time instead.

Labels: tfl

First meeting today is with Cllr Judy Bax who is chairing the Community Partnership Board, the group developing the plan for the Hornsey Town Hall’s future. I am still convinced that the only way this site is ever going to be a community facility is for this group to succeed and Crouch End for People, Hornsey Trust and all of us to work together to deliver that.

Having now met with both Hornsey Trust and the Community Partnership Board, there still is resistance to working together - so the Community Board must push on and succeed. If they can build a cinema to start with and retain at least a good chunk of the car park, they will at least be demonstrating to all the people who signed Town Hall petition that their intentions are honourable. My concern is that the first part of the site to be developed will be housing or whatever - and then a three year gap before we see what is really wanted - the arts, leisure and community facility part of the site.

Of course, the argument will be that you can't do the good community bits without the funding by the development bits.

Anyway - my part in this is to support the journey from council control to trust and harangue and lobby for the community bits - and to lobby at high level for transport links at an early stage.

This is followed by a long, long interview by MORI. Too long and boring to go into - but basically a number of big companies - including Transport for London (TfL) and British Nuclear Fuels to name but two - want to know what I know and think of them. TfL’s ears would be burning!

In the afternoon I go to Landrock Road to join local campaigners campaigning against another backland development site application by developers. It is unbearable what they are trying to do - cram four very expensive houses on a long, narrow, strip of land: totally inappropriate.

One hundred odd houses whose gardens back onto this strip of land will be blighted by this development. Currently there is a row of garages which the developer is letting dilapidate and won't rent out. Sometimes I just wish I had real dictatorial power to tell the developers to get lost! However, what I do is write to the Planning Department to let them know what I think.

Labels: planning issues, tfl

First appointment of the day fails to show up - so left twiddling thumbs until Hansard Society Interview. Extensive interview on how I find various aspects of being an MP after the grand total of around 9 weeks. Hansard are doing an in depth study of a number of MPs and will follow us through our first term. As I say - ask me in a year what I think - as right now I don't even know what I don't know or what I need to know. However, always a useful exercise talking to a stranger - helps consolidate own thoughts - even ones I didn't know I had.

In the afternoon I visit Arbours Crisis Centre in Crouch End. This is an establishment working in the mental health sphere that doesn't fit - doesn't fit into categories that would encourage the Government or
Haringey Council or any specific body to fund it. And yet it does invaluable work and has a world-wide reputation.

It’s a small site – one house – where the clients and therapists live together. A novel approach to mental health issues. Of course - being outside the box - funding is a struggle. And perhaps of even more concern is the Government being unable to treat them as a one-off. No says the Government - they must be an institution that comes within the care homes standards. I can see the point, but surely there must be a way which allows different sorts of therapeutic environments to survive - and perhaps have standards that would apply more to a normal house than an institution.

In the evening went to a meeting with the Bowes Park Residents' Association and officers. It's about Myddleton Road. This is a road that’s as a microcosm of every problem in the borough. It has numerous small shops, many of which fail and are only open for a short time. Amongst the shops is a trading timber yard that started small, has grown (hurray) as a business, but now through loading and unloading, huge lorries and huge loads on a narrow residential street, no longer really fits being in that location. Add to this - lots of property owners converting every spare inch of space into properties for rental as temporary accommodation and tales of illegal immigrants, twenty to a dwelling creeping in and out. And even more - no apparent enforcement of planning laws, parking laws, health and safety laws and trading laws - and you have - voila - Myddleton Road.

Now the good news is that the residents' association seems good and strong. They have got together an action plan of which some of the easy stuff has been done – e.g. a couple of raised levels on the road corners. But the tough stuff is untouched. To be fair to the council, some of this stuff - particularly the housing for immigrants - is a hard nut to crack. However, if the council would put someone in charge of pushing forward the Myddleton Road scheme, it could happen - or at least most of it could happen.

All the council officers in attendance at the meeting seemed really committed and full of good intentions - but you could see that without a driving force it would just drift along not happening. We agreed to meet every three months with a list of things to be sorted in the meantime and a report back on the action plan.

Hurrah! A day of paperwork to catch up and tidy up loose ends before I go on my hols at the weekend. One of the issues to catch up on is the "Twin Towers" site – where an awful development is proposed.

I write a stinker to Livingstone for condoning the original tower plan. He is so keen on his (huge) housing targets that all his fine words and ideas about sustainable development and good design are forgotten and steamrollered out of existence. I will send the letter either at the weekend - or save it for beginning of September, as August is not a great month for getting action. I tell him to get Richard Rogers and the Urban Design Unit's backsides down here to Wood Green to understand just how much crap local residents are having to put up with in his name. We will see if he acts.

The area needs the best of design to raise aspirations and hope – not to have dumped on it dreadful designs with poor materials.

Labels: ken livingstone

Open London Region Conference on the Ethiopian Community Centre in the UK's Regional Development Project - a mouthful I know, but really some much needed support for this community struggling through the maze of health, benefit, housing and other hurdles to life in this country.

I stay for the morning to listen to the distinguished panel of speakers - all deeply involved in immigration and asylum and all of whom know much more than a nine-week old MP! Given that something like 75% of people coming to see me in person have issues to do with asylum and immigration, I am keen to understand as much as I can as soon as I can.

What I do know from nine weeks of holding surgeries is that the Home Office is a mess. Initial decision making is extremely poor quality and vast numbers of appeals succeed because of this. There is a random nature as to who stays and who goes - which leads to upset when what seems like a precedent - isn't. Far too often it takes years before decisions are made, leaving people living in limbo. The misery caused by the protracted system is appalling to see.

My afternoon is filled with a series of meetings in the pub - as our new office upstairs is not ready and flat pack furniture is being assembled. First in line is Groundwork - a federation of trusts who go into an area and support a range of sustainable projects. I try to persuade them to focus on Hornsey - both the council estates and the High Street which are in need of loving care.

Followed by a woman who is writing a report for Haringey Police on issues such as where road works are, where trouble spots are, where youths have nowhere to go but on the streets - presumably so that the police can then plan their work better.

Then an interview with N8 magazine, after which off to a meeting in N8 (coincidentally) with residents against the concrete factory proposed to be dumped in the middle of a residential area. There is a train track - so theoretically aggregates can come in by rail but they would still go out by HGV lorry – not at all suitable for the area, and would get stuck as they try and do the turn from Church Lane back on themselves into Tottenham Lane. Outside of the increased vehicle movements, the pollution, the noise and the general unsuitability of the location - jamming up the roads is probably the best hope for refusal of the planning application (there are quite strict rules on what issues can or can’t be considered when deciding on a planning application) - as this area comes to a standstill with traffic snarl-ups on a daily basis already. I undertake to write a variety of letters to Mayor Livingstone, Peter Hendy and Haringey Council’s Planning Department.

Labels: ken livingstone, peter hendy

News dominated all day by revelation that man shot dead by police was nothing to do with the bombings.

This is the ultimate nightmare for the police. Cool heads are what we need. And no rush to judgement - as knife edge decisions that may save us citizens from being blown up are clearly difficult for the security forces to make.

This tragedy should not have happened. We are used to the idea that if someone is down – there shouldn’t be a need to shoot them in the head. But elsewhere it’s much more common – how else can you be sure to stop a suicide bomber? We would not want it the other way round - that they didn't kill through hesitation a bomber - giving him long enough to detonate a deadly device. And the person detonating does not need to be the same person carrying the bomb either.

Tough choices. Clearly this appalling error needs to be investigated so that police (if it was the police) can reduce the potential for such a mistake in future. But let us not fool ourselves - in the circumstances we face at present – these tough choices won’t go away.

Surgery all morning and then home to find office moving out - finally! After eight years of having a Lib Dem office in my home, including the general Lib Dem phone and email address, things are now moving to my new office. For the time being, it is above the Three Compasses Pub in Hornsey - which was our HQ during the election. We will be hopefully moving across the road to a proper office within a few months after that. Hurray!

I am nervous about the changeover. It’s necessary to have staff dealing with much more to cope with the workload, but I have had such a very personal relationship with everyone and want to maintain that as far as possible.

And I get my front room back!

At 3pm I start my journey to Melcham where I am appearing on 'Any Questions'. Three tube lines to get to Paddington - noticeably empty and we are all staring at each other to check that none of us is a terrorist. At Paddington I get on the train and study the papers - as you have no idea what will come up on the programme. It is my first appearance on this one - although even more terrifying was the appearance on Question Time the first Thursday after the election - and I lived.

Arriving at the station, I am whipped off in a car to a country hotel/restaurant/pub where the panellists and Jonathan Dimbleby have dinner. My tummy is not really up to a big meal before the event - and I can't decide whether it would be good to have a couple of glasses of wine or bad to have a couple of glasses of wine. I decide in favour of the wine. Pleasant, if somewhat fake, repartee during meal. My co-panellists are Peter Hitchins (Mail on Sunday columnist), Lord Strathclyde (Tory Peer), Shahid Malik (new Labour MP from Dewsbury in the heart of the area where three of the 7/7 bombers come from) and me.

I think Shahid has being a real star during this period. He has said difficult things in a tinderbox situation - and deserves to be supported in what he is doing. In fact during the show Shahid said – in response to a comment about the police starting to do stop and search on the tube – that those who 'look' Muslim will be disproportionately stopped and that the Muslim community shouldn't hate the police for it but should turn that hatred on those who had perpetrated the crime and brought this upon the Muslim community. Absolutely spot on - and tough stuff. Hats off!

I had been briefly watching Sky News at lunchtime and the police had just shot a suspect point black in front of tube passengers at Stockwell. Shocking stiff - and desperately hoping that the person was a terrorist rather than an innocent. Sadly as we now know - he wasn't. That's for another discussion. But Sky was running a poll which showed that around 48% of Muslims questioned believed that Imams or Mullahs who preached extremism and violence were not out of line with mainstream Muslim views.

I was shocked - because my own Muslim friends bear no relationship to the extremists and I spend huge amounts of time saying things like 'the vast majority of Muslims condemn the bombings and condemn extremist views'. So this poll really chilled me and I chose on the program to push at what I consider an area that needs a bit of spotlight.

I am a white, middle-aged, middle-class woman. I don't know the Muslim community intimately. I am exposed to views of Muslims by the media. I don't like the idea of people hating me because they regard me as an infidel. I can live with hate - this is a democracy. But when that hatred turns into indiscriminate killing - and that killing is supported by extremist leaders – that’s something else. But it then becomes very easy to fear the whole community.

That is one of the dangers of segregation of communities. And the Muslim community is more segregated than most others. Segregation breeds ignorance of each other. Ignorance of others breeds fear of the unknown. And this is the feeding ground for extremists and a fertile territory for suspicion to grow.

Nothing, in my view, excuses terrorism or suicide bombers. The democratic process is paramount. I don't care how many people of any culture have different views - they are welcome to argue the case and get elected. But never should a minority - even if they are the majority within one group - believe for one second that they have any right to kill to make their point or their case.

Sorry, getting very heavy - lightening up we moved onto the Tory leadership - always good for a laugh. We now have a long and protracted process ending in a beauty parade at the Tory Conference in the autumn.

I think the important point is the what - not the who. And judging from Cheadle by-election where we Lib Dems comfortably held the seat (a massively safe Tory seat the last time they won a general election) despite the Tories throwing everything at it that they could - not a whisper of a recovery. Blair appears to have left them nowhere to go - and if they go to the right - to their core vote - there aren't enough votes there. They just don't wash as liberal in any sense - and so hard to see them as anything but on a continuing downward slope.

The show passes very quickly - and then it is home by car to London.

Labels: any questions

Up early to be at Sky News crack of dawn to speak for the Lib Dems as the latest crime figures are published today.

There are two sets: the British Crime Survey which is a massive survey of people and how many crimes they have experienced. These figures show overall crime is reducing - including violent crime, which is down by 11%.

The other set of figures published is from the police, and shows the numbers of crimes recorded by them. As these are absolute figures rather than a survey they might seem more accurate – but they are very dependent on the rules for recording crime and a change in the rules can make a big change in the numbers even if reality hasn’t changed. One example – when the police got much better at taking rape seriously there were big increases in the figures for rape - because they were recording and investigating more – not because there was a big leap in rape.

The recorded crime figures also record crime dropping – but violent crime up 6%. So it is obvious to me that the story will be the difference between these two figures.

As indeed it is!

It strikes me that as 48% of violent crime is alcohol related that the Government might just pause for thought about relaxing the licensing laws and introducing 24 hour drinking just at this moment in time.

The problem with the Government’s Violent Crime Reduction Bill is it does the 'tough on crime' bit of the equation - but doesn’t have any measures to address the seemingly British malaise where young people drink themselves to oblivion on a Friday and Saturday night.

Whilst I am personally in favour of changing licensing hours so all the pubs don’t empty out at the same time - the timing of Labour’s licensing plans really isn't smart.

Spend much of the morning yoyo-ing between the Commons and doing media interviews. Then back to the Commons to gen up on what's in the papers ready to go back to Millbank to the Beeb for the Daily Politics show with Andrew Neill.

My only encounter thus far with him was during the General Election of 2001 when Sky did a late night program on 'rising stars' on which I went with a Labour and Conservative equivalent. At that time I was a distant third hoping to rise to second in the election. I remember Neill saying something derogatory about the Lib Dems - like well you're only a Lib Dem so who cares what you say. And I remember giving as good as I got! He loved it.

The other thing I remember about that night was outside of the studio I spoke to a psephologist who was pontificating on the election and is likely swings and directions. He asked me what I was hoping for - and I said 'obviously to win - but a good second would be an achievement in itself'. He said he would eat his hat if I even got into second place. I swept magnificently into second place - but sadly couldn't remember this guy’s name to recontact him with a view to watching said spectacle of hat-eating ceremony!

Anyway - today we will be discussing Muslim communities and retired people abroad getting winter fuel allowances. Neill starts by having a go (as it is the last day of the Parliamentary term) about the so-called long holidays MPs have.

Bollocks to that - I have only had a couple of days off since going back after Christmas, I do a seven-day week, and weekdays are usually 10 to 18 hour days. So pooh to you Andrew Neill. He is unmoved - and obviously thinks all MPs do nothing. He says he will come and check on me in the constituency and I say just fine!

I think the only way political pundits will be happy is if we have no holidays, reduce our pay, cut our staff and office allowances and expenses and I hear that Marks and Sparks do a good line in hair shirts!

David Davis joins us for a section of the show and for reasons that remain a complete mystery to me spends the entire time of his interview refusing to admit that he is going to stand for the leadership of the Tory Party. Completely bonkers.

Rush back to Commons for lunch with someone who wants to discuss the future of the Liberal Democrat party with me! My researcher appears to tell me that 4 bombs have gone off - or more accurately 4 detonators have gone off which appear to have failed to detonate the bombs themselves - thank God. Much evidence will therefore be available to the police and security forces.

Labels: andrew neill, crime, daily politics, david davis, violent crime reduction bill

Interview with the BBC World Service about an extremist ex-leader of a defunct group called Al-Mujahidin who has been spouting bile attacking Britain and the police for being terrorists and causing the bombs on 7/7.

I think Blair is wrong to say that Iraq has nothing to do with the bombing. It may not be a direct causal link, and it may not be the only contributing factor – but it is a denial of the bleeding obvious to ignore the fact that our involvement in Iraq makes it easier for those attacking us to recruit more supporters. Moreover, the vacuum it leaves in the argument allows ridiculous statements like those made by Al-Mujahidin to ferment in its wake.

I am also concerned that we give (including me going on the program to talk about it) air time to extremists - as the knock on effect can be to heighten the feeling that this may be a view held in the mainstream Muslim community. One good thing about much of the media coverage recently has been the increasing description of the range of beliefs held by people who call themselves Muslims – i.e. an understanding that the extremists are just that and don’t represent all Muslims. This is a time where we need to hold hands across our cultures and our faiths to come together against murderers and criminals who seek to divide and destroy our world.

Attend a panel debate about mobile phone masts. What is clear here is the passion in the room and the frustration of the people with the blanket refusal of the authorities and Labour to truly examine the situation.

Whilst myth and anecdote undoubtedly mix with fact in some people’s views, my take on the meeting is that some serious scientific studies need to be done to examine whether there is an increase of cancer incidence in the area that lies directly in the beam of greatest intensity from masts in place for, say, 10 years.

In the meantime – planning law should be based on the precautionary principle and we should permit through planning law only those masts which avoid schools etc until the studies are complete.

Labels: mobile phone masts

Away Day for the Parliamentary Party - as private can't tell you what we said! Parliament has been adjourned out of respect for passing of ex-Prime Minister Ted Heath. Interesting that it was he, a Tory, who believed so passionately in our joining the European Community (though Churchill’s views on European unity would also make many current Tories shiver!). I remember the debate and the referendum. Needless to say I voted for. Ted Heath was the last Prime Minister to see active service and I do wonder whether that is what gave him such an internationalist view. Certainly his successors appear myopic in European, nay, global terms.

Surgery all Friday morning and then rush to meeting in the Pavilion in the Albert Road Recreation Ground where yobbery is ruining peoples' pleasure and intimidating adults and children alike.

I brought this up a while back and wrote to the police along with my Lib Dem councillor colleague for Alexandra ward - Wayne Hoban. At the time the Chair of the Friends of Albert Road Park led a blistering attack on us in the press for so doing saying there was no yobbery and that I was scaremongering. Perhaps the fact that Wayne had taken the seat off him in the previous council elections clouded his judgement?

Anyway, the views of residents are very clear – there’s a problem. A key local group like the Friends can’t ignore this – so the chair has now done the right thing and gathered all the partners needed to sort out what is turning into a serious problem.

Around 30 youths are terrorising the users of the recreation grounds and the surrounding area. There are two ring leaders who according to the police are actually setting fire to things and carrying out criminal activities. Although they are in the system of criminal justice, they are currently on bail and out on the streets.

Local residents describe the muggings and the threats and the thefts and it is clear that this is a case where they need to gather evidence to issue an ASBO on the ring leaders so that a clear message goes out that unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated. There is also a clear need for engagement by the partners with the youths in the wider groups in terms of activity and possible Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (a much better and broader approach to problems than ASBOs).

I leave the meeting with some confidence that appropriate action will now be swiftly taken.

Run to Haringey Civic Centre to sign book of condolences there - and then go down for meeting with Labour's Leader on the Council. He seems keen to form a good working relationship with me - which is a sensible approach. After all - I am a resource for the constituency and he would be stupid to ignore the benefits of a lobbying voice at parliamentary level albeit from someone of a different party.

Last act of the day is to take my daughters and a friend to Hampstead to Waterstones at about 11.10pm and to queue along with other insane Harry Potter fans for the shop to open at midnight to purchase the sixth in the series.

Whilst in the queue the photographer from the Ham & High came past and much to the childrens' embarrassment thought finding the MP in the queue with them was too good an opportunity to pass up. Happily, one of the members of Boyzone (apparently) was also in the queue and I dare say the Ham & High will use the celeb and my kids’ blushes will be spared.

Labels: wayne hoban

Commons all day with a variety of business to take care of - but leave at 4pm to go to the Chief Executive of Haringey's leaving do at Ally Pally. Held in the Palm Court - it is thronging. The Palm Court is so named because it is a vast space akin to a greenhouse with huge plants and glass roof – so the greenhouse effect is present and we are all melting.

Speeches begin at 6pm with Charles Adje, Labour Leader of Haringey Council. He starts by saying he is going to read a letter from Peter Forrest (a former Tory councillor, who was leader of the opposition for a few years before the Liberal Democrats stared winning council seats in 1998). Now - given there are no Tories on the council and haven't been for several years - it does make me wonder about the cosiness we often see between Labour and Tories in Haringey …!

However, it is clear to me from the three people lining up to speak - that Labour has forgotten to ask me or any Liberal Democrat to say a few words, despite the fact that the Chief Executive was the Chief Exec for all of Haringey Council – not just the Labour party.

I take matters into my own hands - and circling the back of the room - I make my way to the guy who is introducing the speakers and tell him that I would like to say a few words too. Of course, I haven't prepared anything because I hadn't been asked to speak originally. Labour are always trying to exclude me / us from everything - but this was quite shameful.

I am then faced with a dilemma. I am furious with Labour over their 'sacking' of the Chief Exec. Publicly - David Warwick is leaving because he has decided to take early retirement. Pigs might fly in my view. Out of the blue - with never a mention of such an idea - and leaving virtually immediately upon announcement - this looks like a sacking, smells like a sacking and walks like a sacking.

I suspect the Labour leadership could not bear the fact that this Chief Exec wasn't a Labour hack and that he did not simply go along with everything they wanted however mad.

So - what do I do? Say what I really think or simply say nice things? Resort to humour is my get out. I keep it brief. I say that it was an extraordinarily fast retirement. I mention that I hope that the entire management board won't follow as Haringey needs stability (they will go - one already on her way to Hammersmith and Fulham). And I am cheeky - which I won't go into here!

I make a hasty exit with Cllr David Winskill - not in case of repercussions but because I am speaking at a local vigil at the Crouch End Clock Tower for the victims of the bomb blasts. I had been asked to speak at the one at Trafalgar Square - but because Haringey residents were so affected personally by the attacks as four of our tube stations are on the Piccadilly Line, it seemed far more important to be here.

About a hundred turn up - which considering shortness of time is a really good show. Inevitably - and rightly - in speeches Iraq and the Middle East creep into the frame. I concentrate on unity - believing absolutely that what all of us from every faith, creed and colour have in common is so much stronger than anything that divides us by our differences. It must be 'us' - and us is everyone - against them - deluded and fanatical extremists who murder with no true understanding.

However, I do believe that every action has a reaction - and we certainly received intelligence prior to the Iraq war that if we went to war - we would be likely to increase the chance of terrorist activity against us. The government clearly still felt it right to go to war - I didn't. However, it is no excuse for terrorism. It is just a fact that it would increase. And festering sores of unresolved disputes will always be a source from which politicians can drink and then poison young men’s minds.

I have to leave the vigil at 7.30pm as I have promised to speak at the NO2ID cards meeting in Haringey. I literally turn up to speak and take questions before having to run onto a meeting with Hornsey Town Hall Trust who wanted to meet me post election.

They opt to take me to dinner to do so - which on a lovely evening is extremely pleasant. The two men are reasonable and I, as I repeatedly say, would love both sides of this stupid divide to work together. But I fear they are both going to stick to their absolute positions and that therefore despite my best efforts which I wish to employ will remain divided - which is a pity for the community.

One of the problems is that the Hornsey Town Hall Trust want the site first handed over to a trust, whilst the Council’s plan has more of a role for a developer earlier in the process. The reality is that I think it very unlikely the Council (whose property the site is, and so has both a financial and a moral a responsibility to ensure that whatever happens to the site doesn’t turn out to be a disaster) will be persuaded the risks of handing over the site just like that to a trust are really low enough to justify this course.

So - my ideal would be for Anthony Westbrook and Anthony Charnley from the Hornsey Town Hall Trust to go onto the Community Partnership Board – set up by the Council - as I think they have fantastically valuable skills which the Community Partnership lack - and put their efforts into that pot so that what comes out at the other end is nearer to the vision wanted by the community.

Seems easy, hey? But the Hornsey Trust folk - although they do say that they are happy to have any Trust (not necessarily theirs) in the seat - are not willing to give up their model. And so - I guess they won't join the Community Trust.

Impasse - but I am still going to do my best to try and bring these two sides - who are both genuinely wanting roughly the same vision - together.

Leave restaurant about 11pm - and rush home to see by-election results. Way before results come through – I get texted from Cheadle to say we’ve won. Fab! That will put paid to the endless rumours and whispering about Charles Kennedy's likely survival. He's not going anywhere!

Labels: dave winskill

I go up to Cheadle to lend a hand in the by-election which followed the sad death of Patsy Carlton. I canvas for about three hours in the midday sun - and despite lashing of sun cream - the bit on my back I couldn't reach bears bizarre strap marks the next day.

Then I do some delivering - but we all have to be back for a photo-op with Charles K at 4.30pm. After which I (and Susan Kramer) decide we have had as much as our old bodies can cope with and travel home on the train together.

Labels: susan kramer

I pass Simon Hughes on route from one part of Commons to another - and as he passes he turns and says 'loved your review'! As he had a wicked grin on his face and I didn't have a clue what he was talking about - I asked my Head of Office, Andrew, to find out.

It turned out to be a column by Quentin Letts in the Daily Mail writing about Parliament yesterday. I quote:

"A less generous eye might have fallen on the blinking figure of Charles Clarke, stretched so hard at the Home Office in recent days.

"It might hover, too, over the currently reduced form of Charles Kennedy - not to mention the outfit of a glamorous new Lib Dem MP called Lynne Featherstone, who was wearing an outfit that resembled a bathing costume.

"For spectacle Miss Featherstone's top was matched only by an extraordinary, glowing object halfway down the Government front bench. This turned out to be the sunburnt bald head of John Reid, Defence Secretary."

I desperately try to think about the decency of my attire the previous day. I was pretty sure that, although I didn’t wear my usual combination of dark trouser suit with jacket and white T-shirt, I hadn't entirely lost the plot and worn a swimsuit. I had indeed, although unusually, worn a dress - it was a sweltering day. But to me - it was my formal summer dress (grey and discreet) - and although it has no sleeves and is not high cut at the neck, it is virtually knee length and very respectable. I remember wearing it with its matching coat to meet the Queen when she opened City Hall.

When I was young, I used to get upset at such comments - or indeed - wolf whistles as I walked past building sites. Now at my advanced age - I am simply grateful. Thank you Quentin - I say!

I stick around for the Tory Opposition Debates in the afternoon and evening - but there is an 'incident'. On the information screens around Parliament, moving text along the bottom informs us that entrance to the Commons is barred to all for the time being because of an 'incident ongoing'.

David Heath whispers to me in the chamber that the story doing the rounds is the police are chasing a suspected bomber along the South Bank - no idea if that was the case. My pager goes saying because of the incident there are no votes tonight - so I go home around 9pm. I get home around 9.50pm at which point my pager goes again informing me that votes are expected at 10pm. Well - I can't get back quite that quick! Next day Whips apologise for the cock-up.

Labels: charles clarke, charles kennedy, simon hughes

Arrive City Hall to take part in ceremonious signing of Book of Condolences following last Thursday's terrorist attack on London.

A rabbi comes up to me and started to harangue me suggesting that I (presumably as a Liberal Democrat) should go to Jenny Tonge and ask her to make the same statement she made about understanding suicide bombers now to our home-grown suicide bombers.

I understand the point he was making - but felt it totally inappropriate moment to raise it. I generally end up with both Israeli and Palestinian being cross with me whatever I say in such cases - as I passionately believe that only a solution which gives enough of what each side needs (a two-state or an equally shared one-state) will ever work and cannot bear the repeated calls on history which can stretch back centuries with the old rights and wrongs paraded endlessly - getting nowhere. Only moving forward together will ever create peace.

OK - rant over.

We go upstairs to the chamber. One by one various people come forward to sign - Bob Kiley (Commissioner of Transport), Tony McNulty (Minister), Trevor Phillips (Chair of the CRE), Peter Hendy (Director Surface Transport, TfL), Tim O'Toole (Managing Director of Surface Transport TfL) and on.

It was very moving - very silent - very appropriate.

When the main group had finished, everyone else lines up to sign. I don't know what others wrote - I wrote something like 'Love is stronger than hate. Love will triumph'.

Then off to Westminster for the Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill. I sit through the debate as having taken this bill through committee stage with my colleague from the Home Affairs team, Alistair Carmichael, I want to support him and also speak if I can get called.

Prior to the debate - there is a statement by the Prime Minister. I don't agree with him on many issues - but he is head and shoulders above the others in Labour in performance terms. Maybe it goes with the territory. For sure - Gordon doesn't have it in that same way. The statement updates us on the situation with regard to the attacks and progress made. There is this time more of a debate and Charles K does dare to raise the issue of Iraq - which all steered clear of last time which Charles Clarke made his emergency statement on the day of the attack.

At 4.30pm-ish we begin the debate on religious hatred. During the debate I pop out to the lobby where I have received a green card from - slipped into me in the chamber. A green card is filled in with the details of someone (a constituent usually) who has come to Central Lobby to lobby their MP. By the time I can get out - about 40 minutes after receiving the card - the person is nowhere to be found. However, I do bump into Pastor Nims (who leads the Peace Alliance) and he tells me that about 3-4,000 black religious leaders are outside Parliament to lobby against the Labour Government's Incitement to Religious Hatred Bill.

Hurrah I say - about time everyone realised that the people that Labour set out to help by trying to stop incitement to hatred on religious grounds - will be exactly those who find they cannot practise their religion freely any longer.

Many of the arguments during the debate were repeats of, by now, well-rehearsed points. But I felt moved to intervene on Chris Bryant who was making a point (I think) about the difference between the belief and the believer - because Labour believe it is possible to hate a religion without hating the person who believes in that religion. Chris kindly lets me intervene to make the point that if you have love in your heart - then you may well be able to hate the belief not the believer - but if you have hatred in your heart - then the niceties of that distinction fly out the window. Basically - thugs and creeps likely to have religious hatred stirred up in them won't give a toss about that very academic difference!

The debate is scheduled to finish at 10.00pm sharp - at which point Mr Speaker rises to his feet to call the vote. I am called finally at 9.58pm.

'I'll be brief, Mr Speaker' makes the House laugh - sadly removing precious seconds. With little time - I make the point about the unintended consequences of this bill rebounding on those it sought to help - hence the presence of the thousands outside fearing loss of their freedom to practise their religion freely and simply state that legislation can't stop hatred.

The LibDem amendment (supported by the Tories) fell - and so I voted against the bill – which I think will be a disaster.

Labels: charles clarke, peter hendy, tim o'toole, trevor phillips

FinFest! Off to Finsbury Park to celebrate the summer festival on a beautiful, if somewhat sweltering, day.

Arrived early - so sat for half an hour (unheard of) on a chair by the Finsbury Park Trust tent in the sun. Sheer bliss. Then did a round of the stalls - bought a ring but (as with almost all my impulse buys) I probably won't ever wear it.

At 1.30pm I go over to the newly refurbished tennis courts to perform opening ceremony. It had been advertised as Ian Wright - sadly - they get me as sub!

Then onto the Chocolate Factory Open Day. The Chocolate Factory has nothing to do with chocolate (these days) but houses in its two buildings a colony of visual and performing arts small businesses, studios and artistes. It's a private operation - but run with a social conscience and some help from the borough and is a very good thing - and a great thing to have in the constituency.

Two of the performers are my nephews (twins) - both rock musicians and both in bands on the verge ... of good things.

Jake's band - 'Mad Staring Eyes' - is playing at 2pm before I can get there from FinFest - so miss out on his performance. However, I do manage to get there (dragging younger daughter with) by 5pm in time for Nick's band 'The Dirty Feel'. They are fantastic! It's the first time I have seen them live - and with guitars singing like in the good old days of proper rock bands I am well impressed.

I watch the dance troupe from Mountview Theatre School, some karaoke rappers and then home.

Labels: chocolate factory

Surgery all morning, adding in an extra Saturday session because of the high demand.

I think it is so high for a combination of factors. Firstly - there is about a five week hiatus where the sitting MP during an election is no longer officially the MP and therefore cannot hold surgeries - so there is a basic gap in service provision.

There are a group of people who were seeing the previous MP and their problems had been unresolved - and would be irresolvable quite frankly by any MP - who think they will have another go.

There is another group who were seeing the previous MP and who were now anxious about what will happen given the MP has changed – and often want to see someone in person to assure themselves that their case will be worked on.

And then there are those who want to give the new MP a try out plus - of course - the regular diet of normal issues which arise. And there are some who just, quite sweetly, come to say hello.

So - since starting - I have been doing anything between 7 and 10 hours surgeries a week. We’ll see how the demand goes, especially now that I have my casework staff in place and so more people can be dealt with more quickly by phone and other means.

Anyway - I had received reams and reams of stuff from a guy who was very angry about a matter. Many agencies had obviously found him very difficult to deal with - and in the correspondence that I had received in advance it was obvious to me that there might be some difficulty.

He didn't turn up for his appointment at 9am. However, he did turn up about an hour later. I explained that his appointment had been at 9am but said I would try and fit him in – though with everyone else arriving on time it might take a while.

Anyway - at about 11.30 I asked him to come in as the gentleman who had arrived for an appointment at that time had arrived but was clearly unable to talk he was so out of breath - so I asked if he minded waiting for a few minutes.

So - it began badly. Mr X heard nothing I said. Jumped down my throat. Started shouting at me. Called me a liar. Was extremely aggressive. Said that I was basically as bad as everyone else who was against him and so on. I tried to help by explaining that some of the difficulties he was encountering with all the agencies involved in this case might be because of his aggressive approach - and that he might be making it difficult for people to work with him even if they supported him. This did not help. And he stood up shouting and saying he was going to leave. So I opened the door for him. There is nothing you can do in such situations - other than hope it doesn’t escalate into physical violence.

There is a panic button under one of the desks in the room where I do my surgeries - but I don't know what happens if you press it. I will find out! I haven't felt until now very threatened - but I know Barbara Roche (my predecessor) had to wrestle someone to stop them setting fire to themselves and a Lib Dem MP was attacked and badly hurt and his assistant killed at a surgery. So these things are no joke and it is why I don't do surgery alone.

Also today my latest newspaper column comes out – on ID cards. Tragically the issues about terrorism are now very topical, though I had written it a week before. Manage to update the internet version though.

Surgery all morning and then off to North Middlesex Hospital at 2pm for a meeting with the Chair of the Trust and the PFI team who are involved in the massive redevelopment of the site.

I have big boxes to bring back from Parliament - so for the first time - drive in. I give my daughter (Jenna) a lift to Bedford Square where she is studying. We leave at 9.00am. Shortly after begin reports on the radio about a major incident at a tube station - a power surge is being mooted as the cause. Other reports of other incidents at other stations are now being reported. I am trying to imagine why a power surge would be surging to this effect - given the amount of safety devices which must exist to stop surges surging.

Jenna and I think it is a terrorist attack despite what is being said on the radio. I hear Christian Woolmar (rail and tube pundit) verbalising on the radio the exact thoughts running through my brain. All the hallmarks of a terrorist attack. The National Grid is not reporting any signs of electrical surges in London. Cut outs cut in when there is a power surge. Christian hypothesizes that this is a terrorist attack.

We have always believed that the tube would be a key target. We have always known that G8 would be a 'high alert' status day/period. Add it all up together with the new report of an eyewitness who says he has just seen the top blown off of a bus in Woburn Place - and any last doubts have fled.

So what to do? I decide to continue onto Westminster, dropping Jenna at Bedford Square and instructing her not to leave the college until she hears from me again - under no circumstances. I try telephoning my other daughter who is still asleep at home - but the networks are down. I drive on as herds of people are exiting tube stations as the whole system shuts down. I see a bus driver receiving a call - stopping the bus - and emptying out the passengers.

The roads are pretty empty. Buses now are mostly empty and the pavements are thronging with people. Outside shops with TVs are small congregations of people trying to find out what is going on.

As this is the first time I had brought the car in - I am not sure of the procedure as I drive in the gates of the Palace of Westminster. First you stop at a barrier where two security guards check the car for bombs very thoroughly. Embarrassed by not knowing how to open my bonnet when required to do so. Turns out there’s a little handle on floor of car by right foot.

On to various other security bits and pieces and then down into a huge car park - which I didn't even know existed.

Rush up to office to try to use landlines to contact younger daughter and put TV on to see what is happening. I get through to my new caseworker who is still working in my house as constituency office not ready yet - and ask him to go wake Cady and tell her there has been a major terrorist attack on London and that I will phone on the house line in 5 minutes - which I do. I forbid her to go on the bus - and say if she wants to go into school for the last day of term (which it is - so all fun and no work - thus the keenness!) she will have to walk or get a lift. She begs me to come home as is worried that Westminster is key target. I tell her not to worry.

TV now reporting it as terrorist attack on London although number and timing of different incidents not clear. Pager goes off to tell me that the Home Secretary will come to the chamber at 12.15pm to make a statement. Impossible to get on with any real work.

The emergency plans appear to have swept faultlessly into operation - with all emergency services and transport staff doing an incredible job which I have no doubt saved lives and kept what actually was an eerie calm in the City.

I go into the chamber about 15 minutes before the statement - and it is business questions to the Leader of the House. As we reach the appointed hour - it is clear that Charles Clarke is not yet ready and we get whispers to keep questions going. I think of one and start standing up to get called - just an obliging person willing to help. However after about another 15 minutes where many of the questions are clearly becoming pretty unfocused - Mr Speaker decides to suspend the House until 12.50pm - so we all leave.

When I come back into the chamber it fills suddenly and the Speaker takes his seat. Charles Clarke comes to the Despatch Box and makes a truly statesmanlike announcement sticking only to facts. He gives our sympathy to the relatives of those who have died and support to those injured along with friends and family. No politics at all.

David Davis and Ming Campbell make equally strong speeches praising the emergency services and condemning speculation. The House pulls together in the way it does best in times of crisis.

I had had to cancel a radio interview that morning - but the Beeb reschedules for 2.30pm and I walk over to Millbank to the BBC studios. It is strange outside on the streets. The sun is shining and there are, albeit in hugely reduced numbers, tourists still around the Palace - but the roads are virtually empty.

I am being interviewed by Mark Darcy for the Friday “Today in Parliament” program about my on-line campaigning. I really enjoy the interview as it is so removed from everything else going on around me. Except that in another studio, Brian Paddick from the Met Police is fronting media interviews on the attack.

Back to Parliament and start to think about getting home. I ring eldest daughter to say will pick up at 4pm and to be outside her building. I give a colleague a lift too and as I leave the Westminster Village the roads are still strangely empty - and there is not a bus to be seen. But the pavements are absolutely thronging with people setting off early for the long march home. It's a different world out there today.

Labels: charles clarke, david davis, ming campbell

In the evening I go to a Hansard Society event on on-line campaigning. There are four speakers (including me). I am there as the 'practitioner' - as I actually do the business (like this blog).

The others are commentators or academics who pontificate on the subject. They were all excellent and the two statisticians/academics gave us the numbers on who was using the net in elections and why. Stephen Coleman was pretty clear that he didn't care about politicians (hurt - I was) but that his passion was for a democratic voice from the people. Stephen Ward also did some number work on how and why people use the internet during elections. It seemed to fall into different uses - some for information - some for details on issues. Young people (not surprisingly) used it the most.

It was kind of what you would expect in terms of the whys and wherefores. There was a keenness from the panel for 'interactivity' - but I'm not convinced that's what people want when push comes to shove. It may very be what people say they want - but experience has demonstrated to me that mostly information giving is appreciated better.

The other panellist was a media journalist - Bill Thompson - who took a broader look at where and how this e-democracy fits in with other media. Bill is clearly a free spirit and was clearly against the suggestion from one of the audience that bloggers who are actually political parties at work - but who don't own up to this on their sites - should follow some code of conduct.

Bill was dead against this. Obviously - because then it would limit what got said - and under the guise of anonymity people would have the freedom to be bold and brave in their pronouncements. I take the opposite view - I think they are cowardy custards (custors?)! We're not talking about issues like someone talking bravely about a medical condition, raising public awareness and understanding but wanting anonymity. For these sorts of sites we're just talking about political banter that's often barely more than insults and abuse. So - if you want to say something nasty or critical of me - fine - but have the balls to say it with your name attached! (I changed the word 'balls' to 'guts' when I spoke. Overawed by traditions of Parliament already!).

As the event is going on - simultaneously - I was one of the nominees for the media awards for the New Statesman being announced at a do somewhere else in London. As I say to the assembled - I am pretty sure I can't have won as I am not there - and you have to believe that they would have wanted me there if I had.

So - I leave the Hansard 'Spinning On-Line' evening - and rush over to the CRE (Commission for Racial Equality) reception which I was meant to speak at - but told them I couldn't get there in time. Happily I do get there in time for a glass of wine (or two) and a lively discussion with Hugh Muir of the Guardian about ID cards. Diane Abbot joins the discussion and as we are both on the side of the angels in this debate - and we need another wedge of Labour rebels to defeat the Bill when it returns. I ask her why Sadik Khan (who kicks up about a number of race/religious issues) voted for the Government proposals. Diane said she hasn't discussed it with him. Well - given how few Labour votes need to change sides - a bit of active lobbying might be a good idea.

Then rush back to chamber for a vote. In fact no vote is taken - the ayes have it. But there is a division on the 'programme' motion for the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill. More jargon! A programme motion is just the length of the time or number of sessions it will get in committee stage. We vote against – because there should be more debate on the issue.

First meeting of the day with a woman from St Mary's Estate (also known as the Lightfoot Estate) in Hornsey. The list of things Haringey Council are not doing that they should be doing is as long as my arm. So much of it is just stuff that should be done - for which we are paying. I will pursue all items with Haringey Council!

Up to the Commons for the asylum, immigration and nationality debate. The Government is rightly trying to make our laws on immigration and asylum better, however - in their usual fashion - are making a pig's ear of it. I intervene on the employers part of the bill - where I think that the new fines, inspection regime and penalties will frighten employers into discriminating against employing 'foreigners' in case they are breaking the new law. And the guidance, information and indeed, documentation, is so unclear - a risk-averse employer will simply play safe. So even though the government's intentions are good in wanting to stop the exploitation that we have seen of foreign (illegal) workers - they need to do a lot more work to make sure there are not unintended consequences.

American Independence day! No relevance to my day. My first visit of the day is to St Ann's Hospital, where the George Marsh Centre is a facility supporting sickle cell and thalassaemia sufferers.

As sickle cell affects mainly members of the Afro-Caribbean community it is a big issue here in Hornsey and Wood Green. I am there to open the 'awareness day' - an afternoon of talks and discussion about the condition and how to support the community and spread awareness. Some of the support staff were chatting to me before the opening and saying - 'well Lynne - what are you going do to raise awareness?'

I thought my best use - apart from opening things and turning up to things - was to put down parliamentary questions pushing the government into more action and support, perhaps be able to have a Westminster Hall debate on the issue and so on. And I will.

Then Alexandra Park School science block opening - a grand occasion. Mike Tomlinson (he of the report that the government is ignoring) is opening the block itself - and I am opening each of the classrooms. So Mike gets to pull the red curtain back on the plaque. I get to pull bits of red paper off the sign on each classroom.

At each class one of the children reads out the reason that a particular name has been chosen. For example - Albert Einstein - and then I pull off the paper to reveal the name.

We go into each classroom where the kids and their teacher are doing scientific things with Bunsen burners. Looks absolutely fantastic fun - and such talent being nurtured. Almost revised my opinion of government policy on specialist schools...!

They we trooped over to a classroom for 'maths in the 21sst Century'. I loved the way they taught maths. If I had had such an enthusiastic and innovative and alive maths teacher as Iraj - I might have learned more myself. So - the key to the amazing atmosphere in the maths department I think had a lot less to do with the razzamatazz of the white boards and the IT and far more to do with having a brilliant teacher - who sadly was about to leave.

Then run to Commons arriving literally as the division bell rang to vote. Phew!

Labels: alexandra park school

I spent the morning in church - a black Christian Church celebrating its first anniversary of coming to Wood Green. Housed in the old Gaumont Cinema - now called the Dominion Centre – it hosts a thriving and growing community, a bookshop and many community activities.

As I walked in to a giant congregation (with that wonderful salutary experience of being the only white person amongst around three or four hundred black people) Reverend Sam was preaching. And in the best style of preachers a la Jesse Jackson – he was absolutely compelling, riveting.

Then there was the singing, the wrap, the performances by the children. The warmth of the community wrapped itself around me. And when I addressed the congregation - they were incredibly supportive and warm. This church is doing good work. The level of caring about each other - and particularly the youngsters in their community - is what will make their future avoid the desperate culture of knives and guns which blight and sometimes end entire lives.

And I did a bit of dancing too - impossible to keep still with the music. I really enjoyed the whole service - and was incredibly impressed with the whole morning.

Off to Hornsey Carnival! Arrive at base of Ally Pally to meet Monica who is accompanying me for the duration. I find the organiser Paul and Mr Rathbone - who is Mr Hornsey Carnival.

I am to judge the best business float - so I wander up the road looking for the five 'floats' named on my judging sheet. One of the floats is for Action for Kids - well - a painted van would be more accurate. But they were all dolled up as hippies - peace and love man - which appealed as that was my youth. And I can't find the other three competitors at all. So - I declared the winner Action for Kids and the runner up - Greig Academy.

Retracing my steps to the beginning of where everyone was lining up, I was introduced to Karl Heinz and his troupe of girls from Koblenz. The Hornsey Carnival queens go over there each year and they visit back from time to time. In Koblenz the carnival is big and the streets are lined five deep with onlookers.

I am to sit on the back of an open-topped Mercedes with the Deputy Carnival Queen - Verity. Verity was Queen last year and knows the ropes. She is my mentor for the duration and knows all there is to know about carnivals, waving and smiling. She was a lovely girl, actually, and I learned a lot from her about what the girls do - from selling brochures for the carnival door to door to attending all sorts of functions as well as going to other local carnivals to take part. They raise quite a bit of money for local charities - and lots of people give their time free from the woman on the committee who makes the girl's dresses (both day and evening) to the woman who had moved away from Hornsey but still helped run the carnival as she had for years.

The parade moved slowly off and through the streets of Hornsey. Five deep the crowds were not - but there were quite a lot of people out to waive and watch us pass. The atmosphere was lovely and I have to say I really enjoyed it. Waiving at strangers is clearly an art - and it is quite a psychological study as to how to make even the grumpiest, “I am not going to smile or waive at any cost” teenager, respond. If you catch someone's eye - and you waive and smile directly at them - it is almost impossible for them not to respond.

And so the carnival parade wended its way for an hour and a half through the streets. At the journey's end I went on my way - as the carnival would go on late into the night with dancing and celebrations.

I went home and watched what was left of Live-8. My two daughters had texted and been lucky enough to get tickets. At 10am this morning they had departed for Hyde Park and at various times throughout the day they had called me to let me a) know they were alive and b) listen to the music live through the mobile.

I thought the whole thing was fantastic! Of course - I remember the first one 20 years ago. And I don't subscribe to the cynics who say that this will do nothing. Of course this won't solve poverty in Africa - but it is a start. We need to make sure that the aid that is given is given to agencies who will help enable the local African people to build small businesses and sustainable lifestyles so that they can survive and build an industry of their own to sustain the economy.

Sir Bob and Live-8 have delivered the increased debt write-off and the increased aid - but more than that - they brought us all together to say we do care and we will act.

Labels: hornsey carnival

Surgery all day! My latest column also gets published today - about life in Parliament compared with the GLA.