Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

2005 was a bit of a year - and then some.

As I look back over the year - I am thrilled with what we have been able to achieve. No - not just the General Election (clearly a stunning victory turning a Labour majority of 10,514 into a LibDem one of 2,395) but the causes and campaigns I and my LibDem colleagues have championed together with local residents. That's what has made the difference in Hornsey & Wood Green.

Current battles ongoing perhaps sum up some of what I am trying to do in the constituency - which all boil down to making it a better place for local people to work, rest and play - to quote a famous old advertising tag line. I don't think aiming for a clean, pleasant and safe environment is asking too much!

I'll start with the Hornsey concrete factory planning application. London Concrete want to plonk a concrete batching plant on Cranford Way - right bang in the middle of a residential area - with schools and children and narrow streets - just the sort of place for over 300 HGVs per week to wreck the local ambience! I and my LibDem colleagues have been campaigning against this application since the moment it was lodged - together with great local group Green N8.

We passed the first hurdle with Haringey Planning Committee refusing the application - but in the way of the world - the developer has appealed and as I write we are in the middle of the hearings by Her Majesty's Inspector to whom I gave 'evidence' the week before Christmas. You can read the evidence on my earlier blog posting about the concrete factory plans.

I invited both John Prescott and Ken Livingstone to see the evil that would be done. Neither accepted my invitation. Holding baited breath now and crossed fingers - this David and Goliath battle will be settled by the end of January.

Another battle that engages me is the fight against sitting mobile telephone masts near vulnerable people - like young children. The idea is to bring forward legislation that would enable local councils to refuse planning permission on the grounds of the precautionary principle - until such time as we have proof positive of what these masts do or do not do to our health. This doesn't just happen in Hornsey & Wood Green but up and down the land. And of course, we all do use mobile phones, so we can't be overly pure. The Government is still proclaiming that there is no evidence of damage to health. I have challenged the Government through Parliamentary channels to do the scientific studies necessary to look at the incidence of cancer around mobile phone masts in situ for 10 years - without which we are all in anecdotal territory. They haven't responded as yet.

Locally, of course, we occasionally succeed and see off a phone mast application - but they relentlessly return nearby or at the same site but from a different company. Good news though - recently in a statement by the local Head of Planning in regard to refusing a particular mast in Fortis Green, he went as far as to say ALL future applications for mobile masts in the Haringey conservation area will be an outright NO from now on! Watch this space.

I am also still keeping up the pressure on Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT) over the future of the Hornsey Central Hospital site. Following a long campaign against closure of the old hospital and then a long process of working with local residents and other interested parties - proposals for a new health facility finally came forth from the PCT for a mix of local health services and elderly care. However, dogged by funding problems caused by the withdrawal from renting some of the space by the Health Trust etc delays and fears about its future have crept in. So I recently met yet again with the Chair of the PCT and received personal assurances from him of his commitment to ensuring that the project goes ahead. But there must remain, until the public meeting in the New Year that he has promised me, concerns over what of the original promised facilities will actually proceed and get built.

As for policing - Safer Neighbourhood Teams are what we all want. They are what we have always wanted. But whilst London is promised complete roll-out in the next year - some 'neighbourhoods' are being left out. I have long campaigned to get a team into Highgate - and at last am encouraged that we are on our way to success. Highgate is split between three different boroughs. Now no police commander I know - despite their protestations about cross-border working - is willing to commit him or herself to an actual cross-border Safer Neighbourhood Team. So I have brought this to the Metropolitan Police Authority on several occasions. And am helped in my quest by Crystal Palace - ironically. Crystal Palace is split between five areas - and so the MPA are running a pilot there which if successful will be applied to neighbourhoods like Highgate which suffer from divided ownership. The sooner the better!

So - with obviously lots more going on than I can possibly begin to convey in this message - not to mention the fight of our lives against Labour's attack on the fundamental principles of liberty and justice in our land - I look forward to a challenging and pretty energetic year ahead.

A very Happy New Year to you all!

Labels: hornsey central hospital, john prescott, ken livingstone, mobile phone masts, mpa

Good coverage in the media (such as here) this morning for the shocking homelessness figures I've unearthed - up by two-thirds in London since 2000 and across England there are 100,000 families spending Christmas in temporary accommodation.

And with that - I am blogging off until January 9th when Parliament returns. However, if anything monumentally interesting happens - I will post in the interim.

Merry Christmas!

On Thursday, got text from office saying that the emergency surgery I was to have held this morning is unnecessary as only one person needs to 'see' me before Christmas and he is happy to talk on the phone - which I do. And having listened to a very long and complicated benefits (or lack of them) history - he tells me he has a file a mile thick. We arrange to meet early in the New Year to go through the history in more detail. So without surgery I continue to try and get my paperwork etc up to date for the break - but still the mountain stares relentlessly and resentfully at me!

Run into constituency office to sign last casework letters to make sure they get out and hopefully arrive before Christmas. Though you can't really be sure at this point of the year! Have a chat with all at the office. They are a an absolute A team in terms of quality and quantity of work they get through - and more than that - really committed to serving the public which matters more than anything in this sort of office - and even more than that – a really nice group who all get on with each other.

Ed is my diary secretary and caseworker and runs the everyday stuff at the office as well as my assistant at surgery half the time. He has turned out to be an absolute star - and cares passionately about all of it.

Thuranie is a part-time caseworker and has been with me for five years now - since I first got elected to the London Assembly and could no longer cope on my own with the volume of casework when she used to come to my house one day a week. She has the most wonderful way with people and endless patience.

Charlie works almost exclusively on immigration casework as well as being my assistant at surgery the other half of the time. He now knows the ins and outs of the Home Office (who have to be the worst and most inefficient organisation known to man).

I have an intern, Angela, who is learning and gaining experience with the office. Hopefully when she has got some experience on her CV she will go on to get the job she wants.

And the last person in the local office part of the time, split between working in the constituency and in Parliament, is Andrew who is my Head of Office. Andrew just knows everything - knows how Parliament works, how constituencies offices need to be run - and has the patience of a saint.

At the parliamentary end - I have Mette. Mette is Swedish and just full of energy and enthusiasm - and loves doing 'amendments', Mette not only runs the office administration at the Parliamentary end, helps with PQs (Parliamentary Questions) etc - but has to work out the amendments to any Bill that I am taking through committee. She has a brood of interns - no more than one or two at a time (as they come and go according to gap year arrangements or whatever) - to help her with the sack loads of correspondence that arrives - up to 400 letters a day at times. The correspondence is opened, sorted and directed to appropriate place to be worked on - whether that end or constituency end.

The only real 'rule' in the offices is that 'the customer is always right'. I know it's old-fashioned (and there are some real challenges on occasion to that philosophy) but it's the way I was brought up and whilst none of us are 100% - the ethos is there and to me it is important that my office reflects my philosophy - which is being there to serve.

Labels: mette kahlin

As it's Christmas, it's time for my latest fairy tale, following on from the 2004 and 2003 tales. Enjoy!

Normal day for rubbish or recycling collection / Revised day
26th December / 28th December
27th December / 29th December
28th December / 30th December
29th December / 31st December
30th December / 3rd January
2nd January / 4th January
3rd January / 5th January
4th January / 6th January
5th January / 7th January
6th January / 9th January
9th January / 10th January
10th January / 11th January
11th January / 12th January
12th January / 13th January
13th January / 14th January

... and then back to normal.

A useful, if not exciting, posting I hope!

Clearing up my emails, phone calls, paperwork etc. - and trying to make sure Christmas happens. I ran to Highgate Village this morning to the local bookshop - always a very good choice of books despite being tiny.

Suddenly the police arrived, put handcuffs on another browser - a young man - and marched him out. One of the policemen came back in the shop to say they had nicked the chap. The staff (two women) had seen a knife sticking out of his back pocket and he had been 'browsing' for about 40 minutes. Rather than tackle him directly they had called the police - quite rightly - but now one of them was saying she felt bad.

At which point the policeman outside yelled that they had found another knife in his rucksack. I told the staff they had done really well, and one of them said how quickly the police had come - within five minutes. The thinking was that the guy was waiting for the shop to empty so that he could then perhaps hold up the two young women. If so - foiled - thank goodness.

Anyway - I just wanted to put up a good news story - as we often forget - what a fantastic job the police do for the vast majority of the time. And when you spend your time looking for flaws in performance - it is really great to have the opportunity to put up a good news story. Well done both police and shop staff. And I bought 7 books!

Labels: knife crime

Christmas is relentlessly approaching - and I'm not ready! Panic.

But not today. Today am on the front bench for the police restructuring debate in Parliament. As I arrive in my office, I find a sweet message from David Cameron on my email, inviting me to join him. Such a nice boy!

I reply thus:

Dear David,
Thank you so much for your very sweet invitation to come and join you and your colleagues. However, I must decline.
I wondered if the invitation is a sign that you are already feeling isolated. If it gets too bad, you can always come and join us.
Merry Christmas
Lynne

So now we know - all that baloney about new politics - and he is barely out of the starting blocks with a not very clever stunt. No change there.

More importantly - the police debate. The Government wants to merge police forces across the country so that they all average around 4-5,000 police officers - on the basis (they say) that current small forces don't have the capacity for dealing with serious or organised crime. Now there may be a very good argument for restructuring on the basis of making the specialist resources pooled to serve a wider area than just one force - but wholesale restructuring to the size and distance the Government is talking about is bonkers. Everyone knows that the more local the police force is, the better the intelligence and the policing. To have a Chief Constable (incidentally the Met is not changing) miles and miles away and who has no knowledge of the territory is, as I say, bonkers. And if it isn't bonkers - then the Government did not put forward any rational arguments to support their proposals. Moreover, the deadline for police forces to put in their views is 23 December and they will have had next to no time for something this momentous.

Mark Oaten was leading for us - as Charles Clarke led for the Government. I 'covered' the front bench. The chamber was full of those wishing to make their constituency case - whichever party they were from. Backbench speeches were cut to 10 minutes - and virtually every single speech begged for more time, and asked what benefit would really be delivered from such a merger. None that couldn't be gotten a better way in my view. However, for reasons I truly do not understand the Government seems determined to railroad this through regardless of common sense or argument and at a punishing pace. And the police are against it - yes, the same police the Government said we had to listen to their advice re 90 days detention or die as a consequence.

Labels: charles clarke, crime, mark oaten

Nine-year old Flutura Hoxha from Class 7, Bounds Green Junior School is the winner of my competition to design a 'fair trade Christmas card' for me to use this year:

Congratulations and thanks!

Here's the statement I gave at the public inquiry this week into the proposals for a concrete factory in Cranford Way, Hornsey:

As Member of Parliament for Hornsey & Wood Green, the western side of the application will affect many of my constituents, who have made it plain to me - as I am sure they will also do to you, that they believe, and rightly in my view - that should this inquiry overturn Haringey Council's decision to refuse planning permission it will mean that their quality of life will be greatly diminished.

Whilst there are issues of noise, pollution and ecology - I leave those to be argued by experts as to their calculated impact and to local residents as to their perceived impact but to speak to the areas where I have more specific knowledge - the Mayor's strategies and traffic.

I want to start with the opening statement from Queen’s Counsel for the appellant.

The opening thrust of the statement was about the importance of sustainability and how the Mayor of London supports this scheme.

I have not seen the letter of support from Mr Livingstone. I would very much like to see exactly what his words of support actually are - not just that his plan supports movement by freight – but his words on this specific application. There is a substantive difference between the Mayor writing and saying 'I support London Concrete's application' and the appellant claiming he has the Mayor's support because the Mayor's strategies for London recommends moving freight from road to rail. I believe that Joanne McCartney, the GLA member for Enfield and Haringey - who I spoke to on Wednesday morning - believes that the Mayor does not specifically support this scheme, and will be making a statement later today.

I would like to see what support the applicant actually has over and above the publicly stated strategic guidance for transport in London to see raw materials transport by freight rather than road - which if you will excuse me saying - is a no-brainer.

Having spent four of the last five years as a London Assembly member, prior to being elected to Parliament to represent Hornsey & Wood Green in May this year, I am well aware of the need to move from road to freight. It is the right strategic approach to planning. And it is indeed part of the Mayor's strategy for London.

However, the nature of a strategic framework is such that it needs to be applied locally subject to local conditions. And I am sure the Mayor of London did not intend that this would give rise to a concrete factory in the midst of residents, schools and children walking to school.

And I am sure that the Mayor of London if he were fully cognizant of the local situation and came to see it for himself (an invitation he failed to respond to from myself) that the benefits of bringing aggregates in by rail three times a week will be completely undermined by the dis-benefits of the hundreds of HGV journeys per week it will spawn in the heart of this high density residential area.

As I understand it London Concrete have estimated 56 vehicle movements daily (which is a rate at only 50% of plant capacity). These are huge HGVs totally unsuitable for this location. Moreover, that estimate by London Concrete of the number of vehicle movements is hardly set in stone and in my view is more than likely to rise. Not only is there a history of a planning permissions starting with a particular number of movements and then going back within a short time with an application for more vehicle movements - but when questioned at one of the public forums, the representatives for London Concrete did not even know the size of the vehicles to be used.

It is completely spurious to use strategic intent to argue against local conditions and impact - and that is why the decision of the local planning authority and the overwhelming views of local residents are so important and which will, I hope, hold sway.

During my time as a London Assembly member, for four of the five years I was also Chair of Transport. I don't believe that the transport study's findings are accurate based on my own knowledge of the local traffic situation.

I believe that the transport report looked at the turn vehicles will have to make from Cranford Way into Church Lane. However, the report did not look in any substantive way at the turn the HGVs will have to make at the top of Church Lane - virtually doubling back on themselves to go down the other leg of the one way system into Tottenham Lane. This is a nightmare that, if allowed, will cause jams and possible accidents. I believe this particularly dangerous turning point for the lorries needing to exit the area back to a main road is not properly examined in the existing report. Church Lane residents will also have to endure a great impact in terms of traffic, noise, pollution and vibration - which will exacerbate an already worsening situation.

I would expect this, together with the base vehicle movements, the unsuitability of the roads and the other vehicle movements bringing staff and customers, to make this location unsuitable for this type of development.

There are times of the day when I believe that bus journey times in Tottenham Lane will increase substantively - and that is against the strategic thrust of the Mayor's transport strategy.

Public transport and particularly the swift passage of buses have been and are the major priority in the Mayor's transport strategy. I believe that the impact on bus journey times will be significant at peak flow traffic times of the day.

Moreover, this is an area with schools and children walking to school. The whole effort to create safe routes to school - a priority of the Council, the Government and the GLA which will be jeopardized and noise and disturbance will plague local residents.

I also have some difficulty believing that London Concrete's claim that they will only sell and transport concrete within Haringey. Great difficulty - and wonder what happens if for the first year they supply Haringey and then expand their activities for example? What action will be taken then against them?

The working day will be 7am-7pm and include Saturdays. The amenity of the area will be seriously compromised by the operation of the plant.

Economic dangers also exist. Employment in Haringey is a key issue and the local economy is also threatened by this application. The current industrial estate has a few vacant sites. They are unable to fill such sites, as potential businesses do not want to take sites near to the proposed concrete factory. As I understand it, the meat business and possibly already others have stated that they will have to move out.

I leave noise, pollution and ecology - which are all in my view substantive issues where detriment will be caused - to those who know more about those areas and can argue the case more conclusively than I - but those issues to will impact on local residents.

In conclusion, I don't believe there are any conditions that Haringey could impose that would make granting this application acceptable and ask you as the Inspector to listen to all of the argument and moreover, to use your knowledge of planning to uphold the decision of Haringey Council and reject the application for this inappropriate sitting of a concrete plant.

Labels: ken livingstone

Surgery at Wood Green library - from which I exit in order to run to the Civic Centre where the Public Inquiry on the Hornsey concrete factory plan is being held to make my statement. I do my best to make the Inspector understand that he should uphold the decision of Haringey Council to refuse the scheme. Fingers crossed. I rush back to my surgery and continue to try and help everyone who comes to me. Surgery is pretty draining. So much desperation, need and unhappiness. One man sobbed today.

I then go to meet the Learn Direct team and HALS - so that I can know more about what is available to skill people up so that they can engage better in work or whatever. Very impressed with the whole team. Clearly Learn Direct is helping raise education and skills for those people who, for whatever reason, missed out on some of their education.

And then last port of call of the day is a visit to meet the Chief Executive of the Whittington Hospital. Ostensibly it is a meeting so that we can meet. But I suspect from the conversation that he had been surprised by the coverage of particular complaints with regard to care that elderly people received when they were at the Whittington. I had written to the Secretary for Health describing the cases as a way of suggesting to the Minister that there needs to be some attention paid to whether these are infrequent occurrences or whether there is nationally any need to review training etc.

I found the Chief Exec extremely easy to get on with and look forward to working closely on health and public health issues. From what we discussed, the Whittington is actually doing pretty well. Forgetting the stars (not my favourite system) they are hitting their targets, they were not one of the hospitals on the recent expose of dirty hospitals and it looks like they will have a balanced budget this year. But even more importantly, I felt that Mr Sloman really cared about delivering good services at the hospital. And in the end - that is what counts the most. It is always down to people and leadership. We agree to meet quarterly to keep updated on all the key issues and hope to be able to attend the opening of the new building in the spring.

Labels: david sloman, whittington hospital

Lots of journalists and broadcasters haranguing me to speak on the record or off the record - all desperate for news on Charles. I am not interested in speaking either on or off the record. Charles will stay.

Today is Christmas card day. I launched a Fair Trade Christmas Card competition for school children in Hornsey & Wood Green. Having picked the winner - to be announced next week - they have finally arrived printed and ready. So - hours upon hours of signing and messages on and off for the next few days … The card looks absolutely lovely - but you all will just have to wait.

Events get in the way of me going over to help colleagues in Barnet in their council by-election today – but they still won without me! Superb result – coming from third place to take a Tory seat on a massive swing. Not much of a Cameron effect there! Particularly pleased as many of the people working on the campaign have come over to help me in the past.

Also - update re Jerry Springer DVD issue. This is what Sainsbury's have sent me as their version of events: "We sell many DVD titles throughout the year and our range changes from week to week based on what customers want and, of course, sales. In the first week that Jerry Springer - The Opera was released, we sold only 111 copies in all stores nationwide and received a high number of complaints from unhappy customers. In the early part of the second week we sold only 21 more copies and received further complaints. Due to these very poor sales figures this DVD would have been withdrawn at the end of the week, but in view of the complaints we had received we removed it a few days earlier than planned." I've told them that I'm surprised and disappointed that they should have been willing to respond so easily and quickly to complaints from a very extreme organisation - and that the different messages they've given the media at different times have certainly left some confusion over what really happened and when.

Busy bee today! First engagement of the day is 8am to a Haringey Peace Alliance breakfast. (If you’ve not heard of them, this is how they describe their aims: “The Peace Alliance was launched in July 2001 as a local initiative in Haringey. It was the result of a Church–led response to crime in the community. Key partners from the Church, the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and the Borough Council, as well as local MPs, and community leaders pledged to work together to promote peace in Haringey.”)

Pastor Nims, who started this movement, is just an inspiration and I am really happy to be invited to attend and to speak. Having only been informed I was speaking a couple of days ago and with no time before today to prepare - I rise at 5am to compose my speech and my thoughts. I could have winged it - but I like always to give thought and time to those events that I attend.

I arrive and literally before I can get my coat off we are on. I make my speech. Seems to go down quite well. I think they are used to things in Haringey being a Labour show, with Labour MPs etc, so with me there, there is a kind of 'let's see what she says' sort of atmosphere.

My main thrust is that we should put young people as a priority and that social cohesion (which is the theme of the breakfast) is best achieved by different groups doing activities that interest them - and then the activity is the common interest and the differences are irrelevant. In light of which I have my first stab at upping the ante on the regeneration of the Scout Park – eight acres of wild land in the middle of Hornsey & Wood Green. That was very well received as an idea.

Then it is onto the African Caribbean Leadership Council lunch for the elders. Here is a very large room and Christmas cheer. Very pleasant time talking to various people and a good lunch. Quick speech and then I have to rush off to Parliament. I missed Prime Minister’s questions because of all the engagements so far today - but caught it later. Between the rumour mill around Charles's leadership and Cameron's very weak performance - it was a shame not to have been there. I caught the program later and indeed, for all the talk of his first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions, Cameron’s appearance this time was poor and he failed to make any good points. Worse than that - when it got rowdy - he was pictured basically looking to the Speaker for help to quiet the House. You have to have more balls than that David! And his punch line - something about less of a white paper and more of a white flag - was a) not very good b) clearly scripted. So soon after being crowned too … the House can be very harsh and cruel from what I have seen - and the boy didn't do good.

As for Charles - well clearly I am not going to put any detail of the private discussion that went on in the Parliamentary Party. But I am under-whelmed by the anonymous briefings. These are difficult times, and I believe that a change of leader would simply be a gift to Cameron - who is already looking weak and in my view likely to be woefully exposed as inconsequential. The spotlight of leadership is extremely tough and I don't believe he will prove to be the saviour the Tories are hoping for.

If any of the 'would be' leaders are responsible for the anonymous briefings then I would not support them as they have not had the courage to challenge in the appropriate way and showed appalling judgement over their timing.

Labels: peace alliance

The public inquiry into the plans for a concrete factory (batching plant) in Hornsey opens today. I arrive at 10am on the dot. Packed with residents, interested parties and so on - you have to be there for the opening as that is when Her Majesty's Inspector judges the amount of public feeling and allocates the times for representations to be made by members of the public (and politicians). This is now (after a slow start by Labour) a cross-party affair. We united to fight the original planning application and are now united in fighting the appeal. So David Lammy - who is the MP for Tottenham (Labour) - and I sit together and agree that we will give evidence together. The Inspector allows us to return to make our statements next Friday at 10am. It is in the middle of my surgery - but as it is just down the road at Wood Green library I decide that I can manage both and anyone who comes in the time I am away - my assistant can either note down the case - or if they are disappointed I am not there, they can wait until I return.

After the 'arrangements' are all made and the Inspector has delineated the procedure, the two Counsels for each side make their opening statement. It is clear from London Concrete’s side that we are David up against Goliath in terms of the resources they are throwing at trying to get their plans through. His main thrust is that this application is sustainable, the very best way to make concrete and that he has the Mayor of London's backing - that is the inference. He also infers that it is just the usual nimby's who are turning out to make a noise about nothing. Hmmmmmmmmmm - don't like him! Cannot bear it when real concerns and genuine fears are termed as basically an annoyance because they stand in the way of big business!

At lunchtime I go to Cranwood - which is a home for the elderly in Muswell Hill. Children from Tetherdown School are coming in to sing carols to the fold. They have been renovating - and as I walk up the builders are desperately trying to sweep up the external environs. Inside it is newly painted, brand new carpet and just lovely. The residents are brought into the lounge and the children sit on the floor waiting to start. It was absolutely lovely - shining faces and all that. Sentimental fool that I am - always a tear! At the end a bit of socialising. One of the helpers bangs into me and spills the drink being carried. First accident to brand new carpet - like the first scratch on a new car - you know it’s going to happen, it’s only a matter of when.

One of the children, Stefan I think, comes up and asks if he can ask me some questions. Given the focus and intelligence of those questions - definitely a politician in the making.

It's a small, small world - it turns out Sainsbury's Director of Communications lives in my constituency - and has some views about the Jerry Springer DVD controversy!

The background first. The various campaigns against Sainsbury's and Woolworths over their decision to pull the Jerry Springer: The Opera DVD from sale are gathering quite a head of steam - and both supermarkets seem to be feeling the heat.

Sainsbury's first apparently told The Independent it has only received ten complaints before deciding to withdraw the DVD.

In subsequent media coverage this was upped to 10-20 complaints though outside the BBC and The Independent all the coverage seems to have been on blogs - most of the mainstream media have missed the story so far. That may be about to change as the actors' union Equity have taken up the case too.

My favourite complaint to Sainsbury's is The Customer is Always Right's: - Jim Davidson and Rabelais in the same email - not often you see that!

So - what do Sainsbury's now say? Well, their Director of Communications (Pip Wood) says they received "hundreds" of complaints, the DVD was selling badly and would have been withdrawn from sale anyway. The complaints just speeded it up.

This leaves some interesting question - where did the 10 and then 10-20 figures come from, and why were they left out there for so long? And why was the initial coverage all about how Sainsbury's had been responding to customer complaints? Of course the media don't always get stories completely right - but then why was none of this either given in the various replies from their customer services that people received either? Could it be that they realised they've blundered and are looking for a way out ... ?

As for Woolworths, they're now saying - "The product is not currently available in stores, however should a customer wish to purchase it, it is available from our website." Looks like they're trying to back out of their earlier decision a bit ... especially as they're now telling the press that they didn't pull it after all because of complaints - see the PA story

So - in summary, keep the letters and emails going I think! More on this in my earlier Jerry Springer: The Opera DVD blog post.

I get to welcome Santa at the YMCA 2005 Dance Show held at St Mary's School. The YMCA does a lot for kids in our area. It's a shame that Haringey Council doesn't count them as a partner and help their work - as it is one of the organisations that actually does something about giving youngsters alternatives to misbehaviour. Sadly, Haringey Council does not seem particularly interested in these sort of alternatives. The YMCA also recently set up a nursery for single mums - really fantastic - and organises the annual Fun Run!

Anyway - back to the dance show. An extraordinary number of children took part - aged about 4 -18 I would guess. Lots and lots and lots of short dances ranging from modern to ballet to tap and street dance. Kids on. Kids off. Gorgeous and talented. My kids are too old now to do shows at their school - but I remember crying every year when they used to. There is something so pure and so wonderful about kids performing. And the talent on show - absolutely unbelievable.

The pianist for the first section was introduced - Krystyna Budzynska. I thought that name sounds familiar - well you would wouldn't you?

So at the end I go on stage to welcome Santa. I hear music, Santa must be coming ... and we wait - and wait. The chap who told me what to do suggested that as the music played I should leave the stage - but Santa was still sorting himself out. Eventually he arrived and distributed presents to all the children who took part.

And as I left the stage and passed the piano, I said to the pianist, "Did you go to South Hampstead?" She looked at me and said, "Lynne? Lynne Ryness?" We had been in the same class and hadn't seen each other for about 35 years! Now that was really lovely.

In the late afternoon I set out for Kingston where I am doing the Liberal Democrats Christmas Prize Draw at a dinner. The Christmas Prize Draw is one of the big fund-raisers for the Lib Dems and is a national one with really fantastic prizes. There are 50 prizes to be drawn for. It takes me two hours to get there. I drive because I know I will be coming home late - and then remember why I hate driving in London! The dinner is very pleasant and Ed Davey - the local Lib Dem MP - comes over at the end of the meal to say he will introduce me and then I will speak.

So I did. And then the hard work began. The tubs holding upwards of 45,000 tickets were deep - and I needed to be sure that I took from every corner of all three containers and at every depth! After the first 30 or so (which happily did seem to cover the length and breadth of Britain) - I decided that Ed should do some work and handed over to him for the last 20. It only took and hour and a quarter coming back. Partly less traffic - but coming back is always quicker than going doncha find?

Labels: ed davey

Really pleased to see that my Lib Dem colleague, Cllr Laura Edge (Stroud Green ward), is doing some stirling local work on a mural for Quernmore Road. It follows on from the work I did with her to improve the local railway station when I was on the London Assembly. I eventually managed to get the station surrounds improved with new bins, fencing and cleared dumped rubbish. The mural and other she is doing are great project - well done Laura!

Labels: laura edge

Outside of surgery this morning not a lot to report as I took my staff (from both constituency and Parliament offices) out for Christmas lunch (yes - a long lunch).

They have really coped superbly in an office that is mega-busy. And we have all been on a steep learning curve - but what is really great is everyone gets on and it is a good-natured office - which under the stresses and strains of the nature of such an office is just fab!

Early morning meeting with Richard Sumray, Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT). I have asked him to come and update me on the proposed development of Hornsey Central Hospital. It is now years since I joined local campaigners to campaign against the closure of the old hospital and then with local campaigners to ensure that a community health facility replaced what was lost.

Richard had been hoping to have a public meeting in December but this is now delayed until January because the relevant policy paper has not yet gone to the trust’s Board and won't do now until January. The proposed scheme - the Primary Care Resource Centre, the Healthy Living centre and other health functions yet to be decided by the practitioners - is still on but there are still some big stumbling blocks remaining before the project can proceed. The second floor of the 2nd Stage, which was to provide offices, hit a dead end when it became clear that the costs were too high. The Strategic Health Trust rejected the project as it was thought to be unaffordable. Since then Richard Sumray and the Board have been re-examining the whole project for ways of making it more affordable and therefore viable.

The redevelopment is being funded through the Government’s LIFT scheme, which means involving a private partner. The PCT consulted their private partner over the idea that the private partner take on the risk of the top floor - developing it for themselves. This would theoretically make it financially feasible, and mean that there were no major changes to the amount of health services to be provided. However, there are risks. The PCT is pretty desperate to get the plans for Hornsey Hospital finished and through by March, because otherwise they will be left with a large financial deficit at the start of the next financial year. But because of the huge level of bureaucracy involved in LIFT schemes it is even money as to whether they will make it.

In the afternoon I am see an 'informant'. Since my days on the Met Police Authority (MPA) I have been pursuing the use of DNA in the search for an abhorrent rapist. The crimes - against old women - are an abomination and have been going on for around ten years with no success by the police in capturing the criminal.

However, in recent years the police have been trawling the black community for 'voluntary' DNA samples. These samples have not, in my view, been voluntary at all. 125 refusniks received an intimidatory letter from a senior detective saying that he was going to look into their reasons for refusal and then let them know of his decision. Well - if it was voluntary - no need to look into anything or decide anything. Furthermore, five of those written to continued to refuse and in the end were arrested. Two gave in at that point, and the remaining three arrested had their DNA taken - as once arrested it is compulsory.

It is so easy to say end justifies means. It is easy to see the argument that this crime is so horrific that it is right to take DNA voluntarily or otherwise. Don't get me wrong. The police are doing a great job. But it is a complete misnomer to call this type of testing 'voluntary'. It is clearly mandatory in practice. And if mandatory DNA testing is happening, that should only be after a proper debate results in a decision to change the rules – we shouldn’t get mandatory testing introduced by the back door. Balancing civil rights, personal freedoms and the fight against crime are tricky - which is all the more reasons why such decisions should not happen on the quiet and without proper public debate.

Since then the trail had gone somewhat cold - for me. The police still hadn't caught the culprit. Then I got an email from someone who only recently was pulled in to give a sample on a spurious excuse and refused. He said he couldn't put it all in an email - so today he came into see me. And he had quite a tale to tell. Needless to say - I will be pursuing this as soon as I have put together an appropriate strategy to so do. It was extremely disheartening to hear some of the treatment he encountered.

Ironically, I then dash over to Earls Court for the Met Police Authority's Christmas do! Very nice to see everyone again. I do miss the MPA - however being LibDem spokesperson on Police, Crime and Disorder and Prisons at least keeps me in the right portfolio.

Labels: dna, hornsey central hospital, mpa, richard sumray

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.

Labels: charles kennedy, david cameron, jack straw, pmqs, the westminster hour, tony blair

There's been quite a lot of coverage on other blogs and some in the mainstream media already about the news that Sainsbury's and Woolworths have both withdrawn the Jerry Springer opera DVD from sale after lobbying from a small Christian movement. (See The Independent for example).

Sainsbury's say they decided to do this after receiving just 10 (yes ten!) complaints. Well - I know that toleration of other people's religious views is important, but bowing to such a small number of people on what is after all a freedom of speech issue (the DVD is legal, it has a proper classification etc.) is really poor. I'm sure that the vast majority of Christians - as well as people of no religion or other religions - know that freedom of speech is something to be cherished and involves letting other people say or do things that you might not agree with or like.

So - I'll be writing to the Chief Exec of both Sainsbury's and Woolworths asking them to change their minds - hope you do too. Emailing their customer services is good idea (as quite a few people are suggesting) but I suspect any such email will be answered by someone relatively junior - I'm under no illusion that the Chief Exec of either company reads all the letters addressed to him, but they are likely to be read by someone closer to the real seat of power. Especially if the letter comes from an MP ... I hope!

(And whether you live in my or not constituency - why not lobby your MP too? You can do so very easily at www.writetothem.com).

The Chief Execs are: Justin King, Sainsbury's, 35 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT
and Trevor Bish-Jones, Woolworths PLC, Woolworths House, 242-246 Marylebone Road, NW1 6JL.

A final whimsical thought: if Sainsbury's takes the DVD off sale after ten complaints, perhaps 20 of us should write demanding they stop the sale of bread ... ?

UPDATE: See my subsequent blog post.

Visit the Scout Park in Alexandra Ward with my colleague councillor Wayne Hoban and Ken (scout master) and John (architect adviser). What a fantastic site - like being in the wilds but in the middle of the constituency. Seriously in need of renovation to the buildings (scout hall, sleeping accommodation and various other buildings). Some have been condemned by Health and Safety - but no successful funding bids despite trying for several years - each year. And yet - here in our own territory is the answer to meeting the needs of not only the scouts - but outdoor activities for all the youngsters in the borough. Why, why, why has the Council not stepped into help fund and attract funding for this?

Of course, the probable cry is why not sell off a bit of the eight acres of prime development land. Well the answer is - NO! This is land paid for by the scout movement so that through generations to come this would be preserved so that youngsters would be able to learn about working together, fighting the elements, and community - and with councils everywhere selling off every bit of land and sports fields they can - more vital than ever to preserve this.

I am amazed that it has remained almost a secret - given its location. I will take this on. Who knows - just putting it in my blog will undoubtedly wake up various opponents to my intentions and hopefully they will be goaded into helping fund the necessary work! If they don't - then if we take over Haringey Council in the May elections - I will be nagging my own side. I will also approach a couple of the funding agencies to see why the previous bids have failed. What an opportunity for the whole of Haringey - right under our noses and virtually untapped.

On the way into Parliament I slip in some shopping. I know - what am I doing Christmas shopping during the week? How dare I abscond for a couple of hours? Well - it's in my diary. As I have no days, evenings or weekends free - I have to diarise Christmas shopping - as there is no normal time to do it. Looking at Christmas decorations, my pager goes off to inform me that Cameron has won the Tory leadership by two to one - no surprises there then!

Then I go on to my Parliamentary Office where a letter has arrived from Channel 4 saying I am one of 4 nominees for the Channel 4 Political Awards. I have been nominated as a 'rising star' along with two Labour and one Tory new kid! Nice to know you can be a rising star at my age! I am pleased - as this is one of the more serious political awards of the year.

Watch the news when I get home. Cameron anointed king of the Tories. Their faith in the newly anointed smacks of desperation - and they are right to be desperate because if they cannot change their fortunes - they are doomed. So in the Notting Hill Prince - are placed all their hopes and dreams. I guess his 'overnight' rise to fame and fortune is a measure of the Tory desire, not only to get their hands on power again - but to wash away their 'nasty' past. I am not sure this will do it but it will be interesting to watch. You can never tell whether when greatness is thrust upon someone whether they will rise to the occasion - and quite frankly the glare of leadership is harsh and unforgiving. Cameron will have his honeymoon - but then - his metal will be sorely tested and I think there is a 60% chance he will be found wanting! I think the problem is the Tory creed itself - and that's much harder to change than the leader.

Labels: wayne hoban

This evening I was the guest of honour on a table hosted by a taxi manufacturing company, LTI, at the RADAR People of the Year Awards at the old Billingsgate fish market. (Smell is gone!). RADAR is a charity working for diabled people; in their own words their job is "to promote change by empowering disabled people to achieve their rights and expectations; and by influencing the way that disabled people are viewed as members of society."

Black tie is always a bit of a struggle when you are at Parliament in meetings or debates and then rushing off. I have developed a really clever outfit. No long dresses for me - but I have a black suit slightly dressier than my normal business uniform, which I wear with a white T-shirt all day - then into the Ladies to change the T-shirt for a gorgeous chiffony evening top which looks really dressy under the suit jacket - and out.

For the Chancellor's pre-budget statement I am still sporting the white t-shirt. He gave a particularly grumpy performance I thought. Outside of the content - I wonder if Gordon is really going to make it to Prime Minister - or if he does, it won't be for long and he won't be popular. Middle-England will desert Labour in droves once he inherits - if he does. Osborne gives a limp response for the Tories and our Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable, does a really good job. Even Gordon acknowledges publicly the respect he has for Vince.

So between the pre-budget and my next meeting, because of the timing I have to change into my evening gear before my last meeting of the day so arrive seriously over-dressed for a meeting with the Commission for Racial Equality. Trevor Phillips has come to talk through issues with some of us at the House.

At 6pm I run to get a taxi to the 'do'. The evening is lovely - and my hosts at the table very charming. Unfortunately I get a pager message that there are two votes, possibly three expected at 10pm and so arrange for a cab at 9.30pm to take me back to the Commons. It is a shame as I have to leave after the first two of eight awards. Earlier on there is a deaf comedian who is funny - but actually swears a lot. Now I am no prude (I don't think) - but I wasn't too keen on the obscenity side. I myself have been known to let rip on the odd occasion but this was the wrong occasion - wrong place. He was still very good - despite battling with a series of microphones that didn't work. As he said - 'how long were you f****ing going to let me go on without telling me'?

These awards are well deserved. The battle in this country for rights for the disabled have been long and hard fought for - and still there is a long way to go. But tonight - from the size and import of the evening itself - you can feel that at long last change is happening.

At 9.30pm precisely Cinderella flees and jumps into her carriage - and sods law - as I arrive at Parliament about 10 minutes before the expected vote - another pager message arrives saying that there are now no votes expected tonight after all! Exasperated, I go into the chamber to listen to the end of the debate very, very cross.

Labels: trevor phillips

Good news! After months of campaigning by local campaigners, Liberal Democrat councillors and the Ham & High - I get the news that Labour have done a u-turn and are not going to close Red Gables! Hurrah.

Lib Dem day really. Early morning campaign meeting followed by looking at my HQ with an architect friend who I have persuaded to do some space planning for me as we need to get another desk in an already full room! Followed by some paperwork - followed by a Lib Dem social of mulled wine and mince pies! Home by 6pm and just veg out with fast food takeaway and movies!

First craft fair opening of the day is at the Highgate Society. Next door is the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute one too. I say a few words and wander around all the stalls. We are so lucky in Highgate to have these two organisations. I bump into Mike Hammerson who has defended the area with his committee against the vagaries of the planning decisions of Camden and Haringey.

On to St Mary's School for their craft fair. Very very busy - with lots going on for the children and parents. I call the raffle and then wait for an hour outside with the children and their lanterns to join the parade along Hornsey High Street to turn on the Xmas lights. The parade is very late in arriving - and I walk a little way with it before having to peel off to get to another engagement - a fund-raising dinner for the London Islamic Cultural Centre who have done amazingly well to raise all the money to build the mosque and the centre.

A lovely evening with very spicy food, music and speeches. The trustees of the local mosque have made me very welcome as the new MP and I am learning so much more about the community from this engagement. And that's the point really. Our human similarities and needs far outweigh any differences in religion or culture. I get home about 10.30pm and watch the X Factor results. Glad Chico has gone!

Spent a long, lonely five hours on the front bench in Parliament leading for the Lib Dems during a Private Member's Bill (that's a bill brought in by an individual MP rather than by the Government) debate brought in by a Tory member. In brief, this is about the Tony Martin case and politicking. Tony Martin is the chap who got a life sentence for shooting at the two boys who robbed his farmhouse. One was killed - but the shot was in the back and Martin was done because it was deemed that he had not used 'reasonable force' as the boy was fleeing at the time. The Tory member's bill wants the wording changed to 'grossly disproportionate force'. This is as indefinable and open to interpretation as the 'reasonable force' and really the only sensible thing is to put our trust in the judge and jury who will be in charge of all of the facts and all of the circumstances. However, it takes five hours of debate to facilitate the Tory desire to be seen to be pro-rural farm owners and the party of law and order.

Apart from a couple of interventions I didn't get to speak despite having prepared and being fourth in line to be called (I think). The Speaker called Andrew Dismore (Labour MP for Hendon) and he talked out the Bill. I had not witnessed this practise before - but I got a three and a half hour master-class in how its done. But it shouldn't be done. It's an appalling political game - and whilst the boys all clearly enjoy this sort of shenanigans - I am under-whelmed…

Later back in Haringey I meet Penny Nicholls who has come to brief me about the needs of homeless children. I had not realised that homeless youngsters under 16 do not have to be housed - but are basically returned to their parents regardless of context. They are campaigning for funding for refuges for such children on a national basis. I have already signed the EDM and will certainly support the cause. (I've covered what EDMs are all about in an earlier blog posting).

On the radio I hear that the Tube unions are threatening a Christmas strike. Ho! Ho! Ho! Why am I not surprised? The Tube unions have a great deal with TfL. Their conditions are fab compared to poor old bus drivers who contend with traffic and get paid far less. And yet - every Christmas they find new moans and groans and then apply the screws. I have lost all respect for Bob Crow over his leadership of the Tube unions. It's blackmail. It's an abuse of the right to strike which I have always defended. And whilst I don't agree with the outsourcing of contracts (which is what the threatened strike is about) blackmailing Londoners is not the way to win my support!

I love it when December starts. For me - that's when my kids let me watch Miracle on 34th Street (which I do every year) and it starts to feel Christmassy. Then I panic - because Christmas when you don't really have any free evenings or weekends - you cannot get your shopping done. I have put some half days or couple of hours in my diary between now and the 25th to get some shopping done but it is a real gamble as to whether it will all get done by what is an unmoveable deadline.

Anyway - today is pretty much a constituency day. First on the agenda is a visit to see a music concert at Stroud Green Primary School. Here the children are part of a project where all the kids in the class are learning an instrument. About 20 guitars first - followed by about 20 violins. I am amazed that the kids have learned so much and so well in just 8 weeks. A local secondary school has paid for this primary to hire the instruments - and it was soooooooooo lovely! And they were really good - amazing for 8 weeks only of the project.

The idea is to give the children some pride in something outside the academic; for them all to learn together; and to give them aspirations and confidence. I think it is a brilliant scheme - but sadly it is not funded by the Government and although they have had some help from a music charity the funding will run out in February - and they are desperate to find sponsors to raise more money so it can continue.

In fact part of the idea in me being there was so that the school might be able to get some publicity and attract funding or donations from local people who might read about it. The Head phoned the (Haringey) Council press office to ask them to publicise it - but was told that they wouldn't because it was too 'political'. This is an absolute disgrace. I don't go as a Lib Dem MP. I go as the MP for Hornsey & Wood Green - non-political. I will find out from the Chief Exec what the policy is on this.

Second stop of the day is to bury a Time Capsule at Coldfall School. I imagined that we (the Mayor of the London Borough Haringey and myself) would dig a symbolic first shovelful of dirt in a corner of the playground. Banish such thoughts. In actuality we are taken with lots of children and other adults to a building site - unlocked for our entry - where the foundations for the new sports hall are being dug. And building site it was. And my shoes quickly become caked with sod - into which I sink with each step. Hitching up my trousers - I gamely march forth. The children (school captains) read out a letter to the future. The Mayor and I say a few words and then - a huge mechanical digger (lethal looking) roars into action VERY CLOSE (within a couple of metres) of where we are standing - and digs for posterity. The Mayor and I hold the metal case in which the artefacts of the children’s and school’s existence will carry forward the message to the future. We ceremonially lower it into the hole and the digger roars back into action to cover it over. It was all quite dramatic and thrilling - and pouring with rain!

A quick half hour with the staff, pupils and contractors - and then off to the next engagement.

And the next engagement is to speak at the local event for World AIDS Day at the Winkfield Resource Centre. Very happy to be involved in this. I think we have been burying our heads as to the rise of AIDS. When it first raised its ugly head in the 80s the public information campaign (whilst terrifying and probably responsible for the stigma surrounding this disease) certainly changed the sexual culture of the time. But despite the continuing rise in AIDS and HIV - we seem to not bother so much with safe sex. It's as if the drugs which are indeed increasing longevity are making people believe it is under control - and continual pictures of the African continent with so many people over there suffering - also seems to contribute to us seemingly believing it is now an African problem just as we initially believed it belonged to the homosexual world. Wrong on both counts.

The users of the resource centre have made a be